Tripura Rahasya

Sage Dattatreya

The Goddess Continued..

Theoretical knowledge consists in differentiating between the Self and the non-Self through a study of the scriptures or the teachings of a Master, or by one's own deliberation. Supreme wisdom is that which puts an end to the sense of non-Self once for all. Non-dual realization admits nothing unknown or unknowable and pervades everything in entirety so that it cannot in anyway be transcended (i.e., a mirror and the images). When that is accomplished, the intellect becomes quite clear because all doubts have been destroyed; (doubts are usually with regard to creation, the identity of the Self and their mutual relationship) and then the predispositions of the mind (e.g., lust, greed, anger etc.) are destroyed, though any remnants of these that may remain are as harmless as a fangless viper.

The fruit of Self-realization is the end of all misery here and hereafter and absolute fearlessness. That is called Emancipation. (Note: There is an end of misery in sleep; but the potentiality of misery is not ended. Realisation destroys the cause of misery and sets the man free forever.)

Fear implies the existence of something apart from oneself. Can the sense of duality persist after non-dual Realization, or can there be darkness after sunrise? O Rishis! There will be no fear in the absence of duality. On the other hand, fear will not cease so long as there is the sense of duality. What is perceived in the world as being apart from the Self is also clearly seen to be perishable. What is perishable must certainly involve fear of loss. Union implies separation; so also acquisition implies loss.