No Cause and Effect

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

April 10, 1981

The Unmanifest ever exists but this manifest knowingness arises and departs. Presently I do not have any individuality - what is available is only the consciousness for the expression of which this material instrument is available. This consciousness is not a very desirable thing, it is an imperfect state. 

There is no reason or law of cause and effect for the functioning of this universal consciousness. Why something happens at a particular time cannot be explained in this dualistic state. We can only watch the functioning and cannot ask for any reason for any functioning which takes place. If we had the choice of taking on this body-cum-consciousness, who would be foolish enough to accept it? It is only because there has been no choice, everything has been spontaneous. The suffering also has to be taken on because it is the part of the total functioning, and there is no entity who can pick and choose. 

There is no individuality left; nevertheless, so long as this body is part of the total functioning, whatever comes in the total functioning has to be suffered. There is any amount of suffering in the total functioning - this body is one of the millions of forms and the share of this body from the total suffering has to be experienced. 

Q: I am trying to understand this.

M: You are hanging on to an entity that is trying to understand. All of this is simply for the sake of communication. Who is an entity trying to understand what? You are carrying on a lot of activities because of certain concepts you entertain, to satisfy the concepts that have arisen spontaneously in you. All this process of communication, expounding, etc., will go on so long as this conscious presence is available, and all this merely to satisfy the concept I AM, and you, the Absolute, are not the primary concept I AM.

I am telling you all this and probably you like it, you enjoy it - but it is almost impossible for you to assimilate or perceive what I am saying. I am sure you have not understood exactly what I am saying. These are two great personalities, legal pundits. By coming here and listening to my talks how can they put to use their legal knowledge?