Below are the answers to 14 questions on consciousness ( Advaita philosophy, true self, Brahaman, nothingness, liberation or salvation ) asked by Sivaprakasam Pillai to Swami Ramana Maharshi:
1) Who am I? How is salvation attained?
Swami : By incessantly pursuing within yourself the inquiry 'Who am I', you will know your true self and thereby attain salvation.
2) Who am I?
Swami : The real 'I' or true self is not the body nor any of the five senses, nor the sense-objects, nor the organs of action, nor the Prana ( breath or vital force ), nor the mind, nor even the deep sleep state where there is no cognisance of these.
3) If I am not any of these, what else am I?
Swami : After excluding each of the above, saying 'This is not I', that which remains alone is 'I'; and that is consciousness.
4) What is the nature of that consciousness?
Swami: It is Sat Chit Ananda ( i.e., reality-consciousness-bliss), where there is not even the slightest trace of the thought 'I' at all. This is also called Mouna (silence), Atman (Self). The only thing that exists is That. The three (the world, ego, and God personal, Iswara) if considered as separate entities, are mere illusions, like the appearance of silver in the mother-of-pearl. But God, the Jiva (ego) and the world as Sivaswarupa or Atma-swarupa are the Real one.
5) how are we to realise that Real ( or Siva swarupa )?
Swami: When the external objects (drisya) vanish, the true nature of the seer or subject is realised (to be the Real, the Absolute).
6) Can we not realise that while we see objects also?
Swami: No. Because, the seer ( the noumenon ) and the seen ( phenomena) are like the rope and the appearance of a serpent therein. Unless you get rid of the superimposed illusion of a serpent, you cannot believe that what exists is only the rope.
7) When will external objects vanish?
Swami: If the mind, which is the cause of all thoughts and activities, vanishes, the external objects will vanish.
8) What is the nature of the mind?
Swami: Mind is merely thoughts. It is a form of energy. It manifests itself as objects. When the mind sinks within the Self then the Self is realised. When the mind issues out, the world appears, and the Self is not realised.
9) How will the mind vanish?
Swami: Only by pursuing the inquiry "Who am I?". Though this enquiry is a mental operation only, it destroys all mental operations including itself just as the stick, with which the funerel pyre is kindled, is itself reduced to ashes after the pyre. Then we attain knowledge or realisation of the Self. Then the thought 'I' (personality) is dissolved; breathing and other activities of prana (vitality) are subdued. Both, personality and breathing have a common source. Whatever you do, do it without egoism, i. e. without feeling "I am doing this." In that state, even one's own wife is seen as the Mother of the universe. True Bhakti ( devotion ) is the surrender of the ego into the self.
10) Are there not other methods to make the mind disappear?
Swami: Except enquiry there is no other adequate method. If the mind is lulled by other means, it keeps quiet for a while, but again jumps up and returns to its former activity.
11) When will these instincts and innumerable self preserving and other latent tendencies be subdued?
Swami: The more you withdraw into the Self, the more they pale off, and finally leave you.
12) Is it indeed possible to root out all these tendencies, which have soaked into our minds in numerous births?
Swami: Never give room to such doubts. But with firm resolve dive into the Self. The mind constantly directed by the above inquiry, becomes dissolved, and transformed in the end into the Self. Whenever you feel any doubt, do not try to clear it; but try to know him who feels the doubt.
13) How long should one go on with this inquiry?
Swami: It is needed so long as there is the least trace of tendencies in the mind to create thouths. So long as your enemies occupy a citadel, they will be issuing out. If you kill each as he issues out, the citadel will be captured by you in the end. Similarly, each time thoughts rear their heads and issue out, crush them by the above inquiry. This process of crushing all thoughts at their birthplace is termed Vairagya ( dispassion). Hence inquiry is needed right up to Self-realisation. What is required is a continuous and uninterrupted "thought" of the real Self.
14) Is not all this universe, with what takes place therein, the result of God's will; and if so why should He will thus?
Swami: God has no purpose. He is not fettered by any action. The world's activities can not affect Him. As the sun rises without any desire, purpose, or effort, yet directly it rises numerous activities takes place on this earth: the lens placed in its rays produce fire in its focus; the bud of the lotus blossoms, water evaporates, and every living being enters upon, maintains, and finally drops its activity. But the sun is not affected by its activity, as it merely maintains its nature, acts by fixed laws, has no purpose, and is merely a witness. So it is with God. Again, take the case of space or ether. Earth, water, fire, and air, are all in it, and have their motions and modifications therein. Yet none of these affects ether or space. The same is the case with God. God has no desire or purpose in His acts of creation, maintenance, destruction, withdrawl, and salvation, to which the beings (Jivas) are subjected. As the beings (Jivas) reap the fruits of their acts in accordance with His laws ( the law of Karma, etc. ) the responsibility for such fruits is theirs, not God's. God is not affected or bound by any acts.
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Below are some of the most popular Blogs on the topic which will interest you:
Two fundamental concepts LILA ( the game ) and MAYA ( the illusion )
Advaita Vedanta - God and Soul (Isvara and Atman)
Atman its bondage and freedom - Swami Vivekananda on Advaita
Atman - Swami Vivekananda on Advaita
Realisation - Swami Vivekananda on Advaita
1) Who am I? How is salvation attained?
Swami : By incessantly pursuing within yourself the inquiry 'Who am I', you will know your true self and thereby attain salvation.
2) Who am I?
Swami : The real 'I' or true self is not the body nor any of the five senses, nor the sense-objects, nor the organs of action, nor the Prana ( breath or vital force ), nor the mind, nor even the deep sleep state where there is no cognisance of these.
3) If I am not any of these, what else am I?
Swami : After excluding each of the above, saying 'This is not I', that which remains alone is 'I'; and that is consciousness.
4) What is the nature of that consciousness?
Swami: It is Sat Chit Ananda ( i.e., reality-consciousness-bliss), where there is not even the slightest trace of the thought 'I' at all. This is also called Mouna (silence), Atman (Self). The only thing that exists is That. The three (the world, ego, and God personal, Iswara) if considered as separate entities, are mere illusions, like the appearance of silver in the mother-of-pearl. But God, the Jiva (ego) and the world as Sivaswarupa or Atma-swarupa are the Real one.
5) how are we to realise that Real ( or Siva swarupa )?
Swami: When the external objects (drisya) vanish, the true nature of the seer or subject is realised (to be the Real, the Absolute).
6) Can we not realise that while we see objects also?
Swami: No. Because, the seer ( the noumenon ) and the seen ( phenomena) are like the rope and the appearance of a serpent therein. Unless you get rid of the superimposed illusion of a serpent, you cannot believe that what exists is only the rope.
7) When will external objects vanish?
Swami: If the mind, which is the cause of all thoughts and activities, vanishes, the external objects will vanish.
8) What is the nature of the mind?
Swami: Mind is merely thoughts. It is a form of energy. It manifests itself as objects. When the mind sinks within the Self then the Self is realised. When the mind issues out, the world appears, and the Self is not realised.
9) How will the mind vanish?
Swami: Only by pursuing the inquiry "Who am I?". Though this enquiry is a mental operation only, it destroys all mental operations including itself just as the stick, with which the funerel pyre is kindled, is itself reduced to ashes after the pyre. Then we attain knowledge or realisation of the Self. Then the thought 'I' (personality) is dissolved; breathing and other activities of prana (vitality) are subdued. Both, personality and breathing have a common source. Whatever you do, do it without egoism, i. e. without feeling "I am doing this." In that state, even one's own wife is seen as the Mother of the universe. True Bhakti ( devotion ) is the surrender of the ego into the self.
10) Are there not other methods to make the mind disappear?
Swami: Except enquiry there is no other adequate method. If the mind is lulled by other means, it keeps quiet for a while, but again jumps up and returns to its former activity.
11) When will these instincts and innumerable self preserving and other latent tendencies be subdued?
Swami: The more you withdraw into the Self, the more they pale off, and finally leave you.
12) Is it indeed possible to root out all these tendencies, which have soaked into our minds in numerous births?
Swami: Never give room to such doubts. But with firm resolve dive into the Self. The mind constantly directed by the above inquiry, becomes dissolved, and transformed in the end into the Self. Whenever you feel any doubt, do not try to clear it; but try to know him who feels the doubt.
13) How long should one go on with this inquiry?
Swami: It is needed so long as there is the least trace of tendencies in the mind to create thouths. So long as your enemies occupy a citadel, they will be issuing out. If you kill each as he issues out, the citadel will be captured by you in the end. Similarly, each time thoughts rear their heads and issue out, crush them by the above inquiry. This process of crushing all thoughts at their birthplace is termed Vairagya ( dispassion). Hence inquiry is needed right up to Self-realisation. What is required is a continuous and uninterrupted "thought" of the real Self.
14) Is not all this universe, with what takes place therein, the result of God's will; and if so why should He will thus?
Swami: God has no purpose. He is not fettered by any action. The world's activities can not affect Him. As the sun rises without any desire, purpose, or effort, yet directly it rises numerous activities takes place on this earth: the lens placed in its rays produce fire in its focus; the bud of the lotus blossoms, water evaporates, and every living being enters upon, maintains, and finally drops its activity. But the sun is not affected by its activity, as it merely maintains its nature, acts by fixed laws, has no purpose, and is merely a witness. So it is with God. Again, take the case of space or ether. Earth, water, fire, and air, are all in it, and have their motions and modifications therein. Yet none of these affects ether or space. The same is the case with God. God has no desire or purpose in His acts of creation, maintenance, destruction, withdrawl, and salvation, to which the beings (Jivas) are subjected. As the beings (Jivas) reap the fruits of their acts in accordance with His laws ( the law of Karma, etc. ) the responsibility for such fruits is theirs, not God's. God is not affected or bound by any acts.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below are some of the most popular Blogs on the topic which will interest you:
Two fundamental concepts LILA ( the game ) and MAYA ( the illusion )
Advaita Vedanta - God and Soul (Isvara and Atman)
Atman its bondage and freedom - Swami Vivekananda on Advaita
Atman - Swami Vivekananda on Advaita
Realisation - Swami Vivekananda on Advaita
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