Understand Consciousness

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

The purpose is the addition of all these millions of combinations. Until I know - that is why I asked earlier when do we first know the nature and basis of this composition, which we identify as ourselves... unless I first thoroughly know its nature, how can I know the purpose and basis of the entire universe?

Interpreter: Maharaj is asking you, have you realized the nature of consciousness? Now he gives an example, as is his wont, of country homely nature. In the country they make a pancake. There is a fire, they put a pan on it, and then the dough is poured on it. Finally, the pancake comes into being and is removed. When the next one is put into the pan, when it is formed, it will generally appear like the previous one, but the number of dents and holes in the two will not be exactly the same. You may have dozens of these pancakes, but each one is bound to be different. That is the nature of creation itself - to have variety. So he says, understand the nature and basis of that which is created as the manifestation, and that is the consciousness. Unless you understand this consciousness, no other way of realizing Paramatman exists. It cannot be attained other than by understanding.

M: The mystery of the hypnotic power of this maya is that one identifies oneself with the body. And the mechanism of this kind of identification does not differ in any way from identification of a chunk of stone, or something created out of stone, as God, and the wholehearted worshipping of it. So far  that goes, it is alright, and this kind of worship will have its normal effects in consciousness. But unless the nature of this consciousness is understood, one will not be able to understand one's true identity. Then, having understood the nature of the consciousness, you will also understand that you are not the consciousness. Anything that you have seen and understood, you cannot be; you, as a subject, can only understand something which is an object, and you are bound to accept it as such.

If you discuss things with me, based on the traditional literature and the traditional knowledge there will be so many pandits who are so knowledgeable, they will eat me alive. And yet, where the basic knowledge is concerned, which I deal with, why do these people remain speechless? Because it is something totally different from anything that can be understood. Whatever is understood, whatever is seen, is not true.

Any questions?