"The very first step in understanding what this is all about is giving up the concept of an active, volitional 'I' as a separate entity and accepting the passive role of perceiving and functioning as a process." - Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Monday, December 27, 2010

The False 'I-ness'

Sage Vasishtha

When the 'I' as a separate entity is thus known to be false, how can one believe in the other notions (heaven, hell etc) that are related to it? Craving for heaven and even for liberation arises in one's heart only as long as the 'I' is seen as an entity. As long as the 'I' thus remains, there is only unhappiness in one's life. And, this notion of 'I' cannot be got rid of except through self-knowledge. When one is possessed by this ghost of 'I-ness', no scriptures, no mantras, nothing enables one to get rid of it.

Only by the constant remembrance of the truth that the self is a pure reflection in the infinite consciousness does 'I-ness' cease to grow. The world-appearance is a juggler's trick; all subject-object relationship between it and me is foolish - when this understanding takes root, 'I-ness' is uprooted. When it is seen that it is the 'I' that gives rise to the notion of a 'world', both of them cease in peace.

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सर्वभूताधिवासं यद्भूतेषु च वसत्यपि।
सर्वानुग्राहकत्वेन तद्स्म्यहं वासुदेवः॥

That in whom reside all beings and who resides in all beings,
who is the giver of grace to all, the Supreme Soul of the universe, the limitless being:
I AM THAT. -- Amritabindu Upanishad