Moment to Speak

Visible is not Real nor Real is visible in this phenomenal world. The Real is One, indivisible, eternal, infinite, imperishable, and in Absolute Existence. Identity is one and indivisible, i.e., awareness alone. The underlying essence of reality is consciousness. Consciousness is awareness, the Ultimate Reality. It is not a mere characteristic of the individual but the fundamental, all-pervading essence of reality, the source of our identity and the universe itself. The Upanishads posit that it is the underlying reality—the Brahmān , the Cosmic Self— from which the universe and all beings emerge. I am awareness alone, declares sage Ashtavakra (Ashtavakra Gita, 1.13-14) during his discourses with sage King Janaka. It is when one is aware of his own Self,  beyond the body-mind-intellect system, and in one with the Brahman, the Universal Self, or the Cosmic Self. As a fundamental aspect of Reality, it is not a product of the body-mind-intellect system; rather, it transcends that syste...

The Universal Toleration, a key aspect of Yoga-Vasistha (Yoga-Vasistha, Book VII - Nirvana prakarana, part 2, chapter CXCVIII - Excellence of Universal Toleration) advocates for a path of compassion, self-control, forbeareance, dispassion and equanimity as a means to move-up in the elevatory journey towards Moksha , or liberation. It says constrain yourself to yourself, view the phenomenal as they are of themselves, and without any concern with himself. Regard all in the one and same light with yourself, and observe a universal benevolence towards all beings, and then place your reliance on your own equanimity, conduct yourself safely and securely everywhere. Know the plan of your even-mindedness, to be productive of the fruits of purest and most delicious taste; and bearing the blossoms of unbounded prosperity, and the flowers of our unfading good fortune. Humbleness of disposition, yields the fruit of universal benevolence, and makes the prosperity of the whole world wait at its ...

Sage Ashtavakra, during his discourses (Ashtavakra Gita, 12.3) with Sage King Janaka, pronounces, 'Seeing all change, I stay as I am,' or 'I am established.' It signifies that Atman , or Self, remains unchanged while witnessing the phenomenal world's constant changes. It suggests this reflects self-realisation, where one understands Atman , or Self, as eternal, immutable, imperishable, infinite, unattached, and unaffected by transience and the state of opposites. That way, it teaches detachment, equanimity, forbearance, peace, and liberation. It emphasises the practice of tolerance, or forgiveness; sincerity, or straightforwardness; compassion; contentment; and truthfulness, like nectar. It signifies recognising that all things are subject to arising, changing, and passing away, which is their inherent nature (Ashtavakra Gita, 11.1-8). Unmoved and undistracted, realising that being, non-being and transformation are of the very nature of things, one easily finds pe...

Yoga-Vasistha of Maharishi Valmiki is a discourse between Maharishi Vasistha and Sri Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, of Ramayana fame. Yoga-Vasistha teaches that the world as we perceive it is a temporary dream or illusion created by the mind, and liberation comes from realising the true nature of reality as pure consciousness. The text is structured into six prakaranas: Vairagya (dispassion), Mumuksu vyavahara (qualifications of the seeker), Utpatti (creation), Sthiti (existence), Upasama (dissolution), and Nirvana (liberation). It emphasises the illusory nature of the phenomenal world and the importance of self-awareness, yoga, and self-knowledge for realising moksha, or liberation. It stresses self-effort, discrimination, self-enquiry, detachment from desires, and the importance of a qualified teacher in guiding one towards self-realisation. The text also explores the nature of mind, the nature of consciousness, the illusion of separateness, the path to enduring p...

Self is I am That, which is the underlying essence of Brahman of unmanifest consciousness, Sat-Chit-Ananda (Existence-Consciousness-Bliss), or Satyaṃ Jnananam Anantam Brahma (Real-Consciousness-Infinite). Self is "I am That", which is unalloyed, unattached, unbounded, unconditioned, unfathomed, uncaused, spotless, eternal, self-effulgent, pure consciousness, and pure essence of Cosmic-Self. Sage Ashtavakra (Ashtavakra Gita, 2.1-3) affirms with King Janaka that I am truly spotless and at peace—an awareness beyond natural causality. Delusion has plagued me all this time. As I alone give light to this body, so I do to the world. As a result, the whole world is mine, or alternatively, nothing is. Now, through some divine intervention, my true self emerges as I relinquish my physical body and everything else. Sage Ashtavakra (Ashtavakra Gita, 1.11-18) asserts that if one considers oneself to be free, one is free, and if one thinks of oneself as bound, one is bound. This saying is...

The statement by Ramana Maharshi, "Be as you are," is an averment to recognise and abide by one's true nature, which he describes as pure awareness or consciousness (The Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, Translation by Dr. T. M. P. Mahadevan, From the original Tamil, Published by V. S. Ramanan, President, Board of Trustees Sri Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu) . This journey is not about attaining a new state but about realising what is already present within, hidden beneath the veil of Avidya, or ignorance. Our own avidya veils us so that we remain unaware of the thought-manufacturing mind's inherent natural tendency to move outward into the phenomenal world. That is why all of our scriptures, including the Upanishads and the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, prophetically assert that we should realise the 'I', or Atman , within ourselves. Srimad Bhagavad Gita (6.34-35) says the mind is very restless, turbulent, strong, and obstinate and is indeed very di...

Ashtavakra Gita, a dialogue between Sage Ashtavakra and Sage King Janaka, explores the nature of Atman (Self), self-realisation and liberation. It teaches the oneness of existence and the non-duality of Atman (Self) and Brahman  (Cosmic Self, or Absolute Existence, or Ultimate Reality). At the heart of Ashtavakra Gita is the belief that Atman is beyond the body, mind, intellect and senses. It presents the idea that human suffering stems from identifying with the transient aspects of existence, ego and the phenomenal world, rather than realising the eternal, uncaused, unchanged, unmoved, unfettered, and undecayed nature of Atman . It focuses on the nature of Atman , the illusory nature of the external world, and the path to Moksha ,  or liberation. Atman , or Self, is the all-pervading, unchanging Brahman . It is the subject that remains constant, but the objects are subject to changes due to birth, growth and decay. It emphasises the oneness of all beings and the int...