Sage Vasishtha
THE LORD said:
In response to Vasishtha's questions: 1. in the infinite consciousness how did duality arise and 2. how does that duality which has been strengthened by aeons of confirmation, cease, the LORD continued:
Since that omnipresent infinite consciousness alone is present at all times, diversity (duality) is absurd and impossible. The concept of one arises when there is a concept of two and vice versa: when the diversity is realized as of consciousness, the diversity is also that! The case and effect are one in their essence. This essence is indivisible. Consciousness being its own object, is consciousness at all times; the modifications are but vain thinking. (To assert that there are waves upon the surface of the ocean is like saying 'Mountains made of water float upon the surface of the ocean'. Are the waves outside of the ocean?) Consciousness alone is that, this and in the middle (the factor that perceives the modification). It is the one infinite consciousness that is variously known as Brahman, truth, god, Shiva, void, one and supreme self.
That which is beyond all these forms and states of consciousness, that which is the supreme self, that which is indicated by the pure 'I' - that is not for words to describe. That which is perceived here is itself indivisible. When this consciousness invests itself with a secondary vision (upanayana also means the sacred thread of vedic learning!) then it perceives duality. It is bound by its own ignorant imagination. This imagination gives rise to the confirmation of the reality of that object. The egosense gains credence thereafter and is firmly established, assuming the role of the doer of actions and the experiencer of other experiences. Thus, what was accidental coincidence to begin with soon becomes an established fact.
Briefly in the existence of the goblin creates it. Belief in the duality (diversity) establishes it. When the non-dual being is known, the duality vanishes instantly. Belief (or imagination) gave rise to diversity; when that belief gives rise to sorrow; to abandon such thinking is not painful! It is feeding these thoughts and beliefs that has brought about this sorrow; and this comes to an end by not entertaining those thoughts and beliefs: where is the difficulty in this? All thoughts and beliefs lead to sorrow, whereas no-thought and no-belied are pure bliss. Therefore, with the help of the fire of wisdom, vaporize the waters of your beliefs and become peaceful, supremely blissful. Behold the one infinite consciousness.
It is only as long as the king remains forgetful of the fact 'I am king' that he is miserable. Once he regains that knowledge, that sorrow vanishes. Even as after the rainy season, when the winter season has set in, the sky is unable to collect clouds to veil itself, once the infinite consciousness is realized, the clouds of ignorance are banished for ever.