Name and Form - A Deception

Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj 

A small boy was told to pass stools only when going over to the toilet. He went there and defecated, but he did not remove his trousers nor did he take sufficient water to clean himself. He was asked why he did this. He said, "I did what was told to me. I did not do what was not told." You are doing like this. How can someone tell you everything? You must understand for yourself. A child who reads everyday, who studies everyday, gives a quick reply. He can reply like this because he is continuously studying. One should study like this. You listen, then you go home, and do many other things but forget the teaching. How can you understand fully in this way? That is why everyday you have to be told again. What is taught is not retained. The study should by fully imbibed. Life itself, all atoms, all molecules and the Self which subtler than the subtle, "All this, am I". Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Sky are One. There is no below, no above, no back, no front. All names and forms are all false. Elephant, horse, whatever; all is illusion. What is, is one "Pure Spirit", the Self. Name and form are all deception.

The "River of Knowledge" is drowned in name and form. All knowledge is like a river, but the river has become petty, little and insignificant because of name and form. The great vastness that is the Self is beyond name and form. By name and form, it is as if the river is drowned in the boat. Elephant, horse and mountains are all drowned in that water, but even a sparrow cannot quench its thirst there. Brahman in the form of a sparrow cannot quench its thirst. Do not be deceived by the illusory ego of name and form. Remain as you are. The mouse should not ride upon Ganapati. Ganapati was seated on a wooden seat. The mouse climbed on his back and stole away the laddoo from his hand. He said, "Everyday Ganapati rides upon me but today, I am sitting on his body and eating his laddoo." When Ganapati rides on the mouse, he gets all of the power, but if the mouse sits on the body of Ganapati, the mouse takes away all of the power. If you conceive of yourself as a petty little creature, you will think of making more and more demands. You are certain to feel like asking for this and that. If you conceive and realize that you are the ancient, always-existing, "Deathless Spirit", then your urge to demand anything diminishes. You no longer want to be a beggar. There is more and more peace, contentment and health. Automatically you start getting what is sufficient and ample to meet your needs, and there is peace and contentment.