Monism ( Advaitha ) Part 3

05/28/2004

Sarwa Mangala Maangalyeh Siveh Sarwaardha Saadhakeh
Saranyeh Thriambikeh Gauri Narayani Namosthuthay !

( I take refuge in Thee, Oh three-eyed One, Oh Goddess Gauri
(consort of Siva), Oh Narayani, my salutations to Thee. Oh Siveh
(the emblem of propitiousness), the Accomplisher of all aspirations !
By the ornament symbolic of auspiciousness in Thy necklace, Thou
dispenseth auspiciousness to all )
- - - - - - - -
Hello everyone ! Sukravaaram Suprabhaath !

The thrilling, interesting and enlightening Upanishadic knowledge
(as revealed to me by my Preceptor), dealt with in the two immediately
preceding FCs (Fri-Calls), now leads to the concluding part of the brief
presentation of the concept of Advaithic (Monistic) philosophy, wherein
the grand synthesis will be worked out. A quick revision of the FCs of
14th and 21st, would help us in a proper comprehension of this
concluding part.

In FC of 14th, the concept of Absolute Truth was discussed, and its
characteristics listed. In FC of 21st, the trio of: the individual ( Jeeva ),
the external universe ( Jagath ), and the unseen God ( Eeswara ) was
elaborated. Then, the vast scope of the pronoun 'my' was revealed, in
the external universe as well as within the individual itself, leading to
the ultimate queery about the 'real you'. An overall broad view of the
above discussions, should lead us to a synthesis of all that has been said,
and help in understanding the real nature of our 'True Self', a clear
visionless vision of our 'True Identity'. From what has been discussed
thus far, 'That' has to be outside the limitations of the trio of Jeeva,
Jagath and Eeswara. 'That' has to be 'One and only One', to satisfy Its
permanent and unchanging Existence as Absolute Truth. 'That' has to be
the Power and Beacon behind one's body, mind and intellect, and has to
be the very basis for their functioning, just as the electric current passing
thru various equipments. 'That' has to be the Silent Spectator and the
Eternal Witness of all that is happening wthin and without. 'That' then
can be inferred to be 'Pure Universal Consciousness', an 'Eternal
Awareness', an 'Existence - Consciousness - Bliss', a beginningless and an
endless Entity, illuminating everything as does the sunshine, Itself being
self-luminous. 'That' has to be stationary, not in a negative sense, but
because it is Infinite and All-pervasive, like sky, and hence nothing
remaining unoccupied to move to.
Then, the queeries arise: What are all these entities of the individual,
the universe and the Godhead ? What are all these movements and
changes, the myriad names and forms, the endless qualities and attributes,
and these vast diversities that are witnessed ? Monism (Advaitha) answers
these queeries by way of illustrative examples of: (1) Waves and the Ocean,
(2) Illusions and Reality, (3) Actor and the characters enacted, (4) Dream
and awakened states etc. Let us briefly review these illustrative examples:
(1) There are a myriad waves, big and small, low and high, fast-moving
and slow, all dancing over the ocean surface, but all transitory and ephemeral.
Their appearance is no doubt a reality, but their substance is nothing but
water, the same substance that is Ocean itself. All that appears in the
Universe, is like those waves on the Ocean of Existence.
(2) Whatever appears to be so 'real', need not be 'really real'!. The water
in the mirage tells you that. The meander-shaped rope lying on the ground,
when seen in the twilight, appears and frightens one as a snake, hissing and
making one run! It appears so 'real' at the moment, until one realises, by
whatever means it be, that it is nothing but the silent static harmless rope.
(3) The actor enacts innumerable roles. The audience experience
'really' the enacted role with all its characteristics, all of which conceal the
real actor. The roles enacted are mere illusions, tho they appear so very real
momentarily.
(4) A whole world is created in a dream. Fantastic voyages and even
incredible happenings. A three-dimensional world with all its pleasures and
pains, social interactions, events and happenings. And, you are, in reality,
quietly sleeping on the cot ! On waking up, you laugh it away, knowing it
was all an illusion, a mere mental false creation.

The above examples show that the problem lies not in what is perceived,
but in one's vision. It is all the projection of the mind. The whole world is
said to be nothing but a projection of the mind ! When thoughts cease,
what remains is one's 'true self'.

Next, a doubt can arise: how the 'Real Self', the Nischala (static) Tatwa,
a mere 'Awareness' appears as dynamic. How can change be associated
with the Changeless Eternal Truth ? Again, if there were to be another
Primal Force, say, Nature or Prakrithi, exclusively for creation, which implies
change and movement, then, how can 'That' be 'One without a Second'?
Advaitha clarifies that it is Its own Sakthi, Its own 'Maaya' or Prakrithi
(Nature), Its own 'Dynamic Aspect', that appears as all that appears. But,
at the core of all appearances, behind all the illusions, and, bereft of names
and forms, and other attributes, is the One Eternal Changeless Truth. Every
individual ego dissolves into the 'Pool of Universal Divine Consciousness'.
What eternally remains is mere Existence, Awareness and Bliss !

The narrations in these three FCs, are just a peep into the realm of this
vast subject, and, a mere spoonfull from the vast Ocean, more intended to
arouse one's interest in this enlightening Knowledge and Wisdom, rather
than a comprehensive exposition.