"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, April 18, 2011

Just be!

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

The consciousness and "I Amness" are due to what? What is the basic material necessary for that to sprout? It is the five elements, three gunas, and prakriti-purusha. All those result in this space "I Am". What do you have except memory?

Presently, the feeling that you are is also a memory. To sustain that memory of "I Am", all these raw materials are necessary. You are not that "I Am". You are, as the Absolute, prior to this "I Am".

Your most essential step is to stand firmly on your identity as the dynamic, manifest consciousness principle. You stabilize only here. This is your first step. There is nothing else but the knowledge that you are, just be that. Nothing more, nothing less.

One cannot see rays of light, as such, they reflect only when they encounter another object. Similarly, "I Amness" is the interruption because of these five elements and three gunas. That is why the feeling "I Am" is felt; but without the feeling of "I Am", still you are. Light itself emanates from the sun. Everything is stored, the five elements are there; therefore, it is reflecting as the sun. Brightness is seen as the sun because something is there; if something were not there, the rays of light would be spread all over and become invisible as a source of light.

Mahakash is the infinite space. The infinite space is dark. It is dark when you close your eyes. In that physical space all the universe arises and sets and is destroyed.

Finally, what is the result of all the experiences that are going on in the play of consciousness? They are just gone, ending up in pure space.

The whole world is in an ever-changing state. No form will remain permanently. Finally all the forms will vanish in space and become formless.

June 22, 1981.

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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