No Mind No Duality

Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj

Pure Brahman is experienced as Pure Consciousness. It is called Nirguna, or the "Attributeless Absolute." Illusion (Maya) is within it with attributes, and is visible. What should be called Maya and what should be called Brahman? I will tell you. It is only the mind that thinks about Brahman and Maya. Not to make any statement in the mind is Brahman, and to make a statement is Maya. To be identified with Brahman is a thought. To imagine anything "other" is also a thought. That which is natural, is attributeless. Even if you say, "I am not," it is a concept as the basis of your statement. Is it the case that it will be Brahman only if you declare it as such, and not otherwise? No! Even without any statement about it, it is there. It simply is, as it is. Whether you say so or not, it simply is, as it is.

To know that "This" is Brahman and "that" is Maya, is called the fourth body or "Turya State," which is also called the "all-seeing" state. Turya means to know all, but when "all" is non-existent, what is thre to be known? Right thought is Brahman and Maya is false thought, imagination. The "Witness", the "Life-Force", the "Power." are all only impositions on Brahman. The quality of witnessing comes without cause. Why? Because there is contradiction in duality, the quality of observer comes into being. The "Power of Chaitanya," the Life-Energy, is also a false imposition. The space within the pot, the space int he room, and the space outside, are names that are unnecessarily used. As Maya is felt to be real, all these innumerable shapes and names have come into use.

In deep sleep there is no time and no space. The waking state is but a long dream. As long as the Illusion appears real, the witnessing seems true. Mind is witness to all, but if it has nothing to say, it becomes "no-mind," or "beyond mind." Mind now has no complaint, and it has no desire for anything more. By realization of our own Being, desire becomes quiet. Only by this realization is the mind peaceful. That means it has nothing to say. The desiring mind is no more. It is "no-mind," or unmani. These are all scientific terms. This world is Illusion. All the words and laws exist only in Illusion. When there is duality, everything is there. When duality goes, everything goes. All the laws, science, rules, everything, is gone. It is like a thing without any owner that is confiscated by the government, and is then owned by the government. The government is all-powerful. In this Illusion, you are your possessions. A moneylender lost ten thousand rupees. He became poorer by that much, as his wealth was lessened to that extent. The princess was married to a pauper, and she became a pauper. Had she been married to a price, she would have became a queen. a piece of sandalwood was given to a cobbler and it was used daily to beat the hide of animals. One who keeps the company of the great becomes a great man himself. Then he is the owner of this entire world. When mind disappears the knowledge contained at the level of the fourth body (I Am), the Turya state disappears, and the duality of the individual and God (Jiva and Shiva) also disappears. Duality and non-duality are both gone.