Sri Tandavaraya Swami
Disciple: What is this enquiry?
Master: Enquiry consists in pondering over the questions: Who is this I in the body, including mind, senses, etc.? What is sentience? What is insentience? What is their combination called bondage? What is Release?
Disciple: The cumulative effect of all the meritorious actions of past births would confer jnana on us. What is the need for an enquiry into the Self?
Master: Hear me! The unselfish actions which were rendered unto God help to keep off impurities, and make the mind pure. The mind which has thus been purified begins to enquire into the Self, and gains Knowledge.
Disciple: Holy Master! Is it not possible for rituals and other powerful actions which confer devotion, dispassion, happiness in the other world, supernatural powers, steadfastness in austerities, success in yoga, meditation and a divine form, to give right knowledge which removes illusion? What need is there for enquiry also?
Master: If you want to identify the persons in a masquerade, you set about to discover their nature, habits and traits which are now hidden. If on the other hand, you run about, jump, turn somersaults, climb posts, dance and fuss about, that will not help you recognize them. Likewise, enquiry alone can lead to the knowledge revealed in the Vedas, which only point to Brahman indirectly. Knowledge of the Self cannot be gained by a study of the Vedas, feeding the hungry, performing austerities, repeating mantras, righteous conduct, sacrifices and what not.
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