Moment to Speak

This phenomenal universe is not real, expounds Swami Sivananda. It has a mere appearance, like a snake in the rope or silver in the mother-of-pearl. It has no independent existence. Therefore, there cannot be any Vijatiya Bheda (difference between members of different classes or kinds). Ātman is Brahmān . That, according to Adi Shankaracharya, clearly manifests itself in the states of wakefulness, dream, and profound sleep, which is inwardly perceived in the mind in various forms as an unbroken series of egoistic impressions, which witnesses the egoism, the Buddhi , etc., which are of diverse forms and modifications, and which makes itself felt as the Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute; know thou this Ātman , thy Self, within thy heart ( Vivekchudamani , Verse 217).    Ātman is beyond words and definition, and to define it is to limit it. It is limitless, self-luminous, imperishable, eternal, and non-ascribable. Ātman, according to Swami Sivananda, can provisionally ...

Spiritual state is eternal. It is newer. processes of experience, consciousness, and realisation of Ātman as an integral aspect of Brahmān , Cosmic Self or Absolute Reality revealing through a newer sense of values in the infinity of the infinity dimension. Sage philosopher Swami Krishnananda provides a clear explanation of the spiritual nature of experiences. According to him, a spiritual state of experience is not a sudden emergence of an existing experience that gives way to an entirely new type of consciousness, but rather a newer interpretation and a newer reading of meaning in the existing experiences. It is often asserted that truth does not originate. Truth is not a future event that is yet to take place but an eternity revealing itself with a new sense of value. Reality is the Cosmic Self in the eternity of the infinity of the infinite dimension. It is not a futuristic event or experience that takes place on a future date; rather, it is an in-depth expression of the horizon...

Reflections on life and the mind prompt a question, "Who am I?." "I-AM-WHAT-I-AM," an aphoristic statement by sage philosopher Swami Krishnananda. He says that the maxim is that our lives and minds, in some way or another, are caged or moulded by our bigoted ideas and prejudices. They are also tremendously conditioned by our worldviews, religion, customs, culture, and linguistic backgrounds into which we are born. All these have no connection with the truths of life. Usually, we do not want to know the truth as it is. As long as our individuality is pre-oriented into a specific family, culture, tradition, morality, and worldview, we cannot break free from this habit. Aspirants must insulate themselves from preconceived and prejudicial notions of life. They need to meditatively search the knowledge of Brahman  (Cosmic Self, or Absolute Existence) through Self-knowledge and realisation. They need to imbibe the virtues by exercising tremendous control over the mind t...

Reality is ultimate, Truth is one, Existence is Absolute and Brahmān or Cosmic Self is the cause of all causes and the sublime reality of all that is perceptible and imperceptible, visible and invisible actuality and experiences.  Brahma  is Satyam-Jñānam-Anantam Brahma , which means Truth-Knowledge-Infinity. This is an aphoristic statement by Taittiriya Upanishad (2.1.1). Realisation of Brahmān is really nothing but identity with the Self of all. Because the attainment or non-attainment of Brahmān is contingent on Its realisation or non-realisation. Human beings encompass themselves in a psycho-physical framework. He forgets his sentient essence and moves toward the insentient dimension to satiate his psychophysical needs. Humans perpetually crave security in the present state of nature. He feels insecure about the world's potential for chameleon-like transformations, which could occur at any moment, dimension and  context. Latency and a feeling of insecurity are the...

The heart, or Antaḥkaraṇa , connotes differently to the different perceivers, ranging from the macro-micro continuum and consciousness to the internal organ of a being. It is the Self, or soul, the seat of thought and feeling, thinking faculty, mind, and conscience of a being. In Vedantic philosophy the space within the heart, or the Hridaya Guha , or cave of the heart, is an expansive macro-micro continuum. Chandogya Upanishad (8.1.1–8.1.3) states the sun and the moon and the stars, the very space and the clouds and the lightning and the rains—all this miracle of creation is within the heart of man. When it rains outside, it rains inside also, and the stellar regions shine resplendently within the heart of man. This Upanishadic statement, according to sage philosopher Swami Krishnananda, reveals that the macrocosm (the universe) and the microcosm (the human heart) are completely identical. Its primary theme is the unity of Atman that resides in the deep cave of the hunan heart with...

Transmigration is Ātman's (Self, or inner spirit) migrational journey from its existing abode, upon its death, to another. The migrational journey begins from one form to another after its death, invalidation, or demise. According to the Brihadaranyak Upanishad (3.2.1-3.2.9), death encompasses the Grahas (organs) and Atigrahas (objects), bound by physical and elemental things and attached to ignorance. We must achieve liberation from this relative existence of means and ends; hence, we are elucidating the nature of death, as it is the individual in bondage who requires emancipation. Although we have delineated the characteristics of an emancipated individual, their physical form and possessions remain bound by mortality. A liberated person remains subject to mortality through their physical organs and material possessions. Death manifested through organs and objects represents confinement, along with avenues for liberation from it. Bondage encompasses the entire spectrum of en...