The Ultimate Science

Questioning is the mother of all sciences!

(Because Newton questioned why the apple came down, the law of gravity was discovered; Because the color of a leaf was questioned, chlorophyll was discovered; similarly all the different sciences like physics, chemistry, biology, oceanology, astronomy, cooking, communicating, etc. came into existence)

No questioning ==> No Science!

(The day man stops questioning its environment; its perceptions, there would be no science!)

Questioning the questioner ==> is the Ultimate Science!

(When a rare being questions the one who is asking all these questions, that is the most auspicious moment. As the investigation goes deeper and deeper, the result is a revelation that is beyond words, beyond description, beyond comprehension, but can only be expressed in deep Silence!)

Maya => That Which Does Not Exist!

This body is Maya. It simply does NOT exist. 

Avidya or Ignorance!

The belief "I Am This Body" is the ignorance. This 'thought' is the root of everything! Introspect and Truth Shall Be Revealed!


Read on... for a deeper dive!

INVESTIGATE YOUR SELF!

A key requirement: There has to be inquisitiveness within to know the Truth. The deeper the inner longing, the faster will be the finding. The truth is that there is nothing lost and nothing to be found. That which already Is, will come to be known with clarity with the removal of the wrong understandings which seem to be covering the truth. Its like a cloud covering the sun.

The first step is to find the truth about this body-mind equipment.

Can “I” Be The Body?

• What part of the body can be severed off that “I” will be lessened?
• If “I” am aware of the body, how can the object be the subject?
• The body doesn’t exist with me in sleep and dream states.
• At conception, the size of this body was like a peanut. Since 3 years old, “I” is constant but this body has gone thru all the changes.

Can “I” Be The Mind?

• If “I” am aware of the mind, how can the object be the subject?
• The mind doesn’t exist in deep sleep.
• Mind constantly changes with thoughts. But, “I” am aware of all them.
• How can the object be the subject?

So then:

• When the body-mind equipment is rejected, there is a sense of presence that is left behind that knows that “I Exist”.
• This “Sense of Presence” or “I Am” is Consciousness.
• This has no qualifications but feels like space (an expansive feeling)
• Hence, there is no person or individual as we have normally understood and believed.

Can “I” Be The Consciousness?

• The “sense of presence” or “I Am” doesn’t exist in deep sleep.
• Some intelligence within knows that “I Exist” in the waking state.
• If there is awareness of “I Exist”, this cannot be the subject.
• What is this Intelligence? Can this be observed?

Consciousness, without all opposites (conscious and unconscious; light and dark; knowledge and ignorance; existence and non-existence; etc.); without any identification with the senses or mind (like in deep sleep) is Pure Consciousness. This is Pure Being or Presence. The True indication of “I” is the Absolute.

That is who You Truly Are! You Are That and That Alone is the Ultimate Truth!

Any and every word used is only an indication and not the Truth. The Pure Consciousness (or Awareness) is who you really are and everything is That alone. The manifest world of bodies and minds (sub-atomic particles moving at ½ billion mph and contain 99.999% of empty space, according to quantum physics) is the mysterious play of Divine Awareness. These are like the t.v. images where everything is just a dot of light, but we are able to see as live happenings and enjoy the movie. All changing “things” are only a manifestation of that changeless awareness.

One can never know this objectively but this CAN be experienced subjectively (intuitively). All that is required is to remove the veil of ignorance to experience It; That which you already are.

The “sense of presence” within is key that can unravel this mystery. As Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi said: “The I removes the I and yet remains as the I”. The Pure I removes the ego-sense I but still remains shining as the Pure I till the end of the body.

Clearly understand that there is nothing to be done to BE THAT. There is nothing to be found. You Are Already That!

Let the body-mind function spontaneously according to Divine Will, and simply abide as what you fundamentally always are: the unlimited expansive Awareness beyond all pairs of opposites. That which is observing everything, yet It cannot be observed. Know that, amidst all the names and forms, YOU are the nameless and formless.

Om Tat Sat.

If you are intrigued, read on...! 

Contemplation Hint # 1:

You Are NOT Who You Think You Are or Appear To Be!

You are dreaming!

• Even though “i” is so strong and feels real in the waking state, there is no-thing in the universe that can pointed out objectively as “me”.
• Simply because, if “i” am perceiving it, how can “i” be that.

This is a bubble bursting point.

• The non finding of the “i” entity objectively implicitly indicates that “I” can only be Infinite. Actually, even infinity is a dualistic concept. Anything that can be expressed is dualistic. Just Silence.

• Just as space can never find itself in anything that is appearing in itself (like in a jar); OR just as the ocean can never find itself in anything that is appearing in itself (like a wave or foam);  So also the Infinite can never find itself in anything (including time and space) that is appearing in itself.

• When this “point” is contemplated again and again, the “i” bubble eventually burst. The i-entity will be seen as purely illusory.

• This is the first taste of That (indescribable). Truly exquisite.

Contemplate until all sense of separation completely dissolves!

Contemplation Hint # 2:

• “I” am aware of the Body, Mind and Intellect. I must be other than them.

• “I” am aware of light and darkness. I must be other to them.

• “I” am aware of space. I must be subtler than space.

• “I” am aware of existence and non-existence. I must be other than them.

• “I” am aware of waking, dream and sleep. I must be beyond them.

• “I” am aware of consciousness and unconsciousness. I must be prior.

• “I” am aware of knowledge and ignorance. I must be prior to them.

• “I” am aware of thoughts. I must be other than them.

• “I” am aware of “I AM” or “Sense of Presence”. I Must Be Prior.

Who Is This Great “Observer”? Who Sees (aware of) Everything But Itself Remains “unseen”? Bring attention to that which is the ultimate seer. 

If you can experience or talk about it, it is a trick played by the mind. 

There will be direct experience of nothingness, no words, emptiness, not even a sense of ‘you’. There is no sense of anything. You Are That!

Contemplation Hint # 3:

• Who is the perceiver, feeler, thinker?

• Who is the enjoyer and sufferer? Who is feeling sad and happy?

• Who is experiencing pain and joy? Who is experiencing pride and jealousy?

• To whom do all these experiences come?

DO NOT ANSWER!!! DO NOT ANSWER!!!

• The answer will come as “I” or “to me”

• Now Ask: Who is this “me”? “I” am me. Who am “I”?

DO NOT ANSWER!!! Ask again and again

• Who am “I”? Where did the “I” come from? What is the source of this “I”?

DO NOT ANSWER!!! DO NOT ANSWER!!! 

Any answer is the ego/mind playing games.

The real journey of existence is a journey towards emptiness. The illusory “I” must dissipate. “You” can only know what you are NOT That.

Some deep understanding will occur in that Exquisite Quiescence!

The Perception!

Lets start with a story. A person saw a beggar begging and offered to buy dinner. The beggar said: sir! please give me some cash. I don't need dinner'. Surprised, the person asked: 'why'? The beggar replied: 'sir! I have food stamps for food but no cash for beer and cigarettes!'

One believes there is plenty of suffering in the world and we have a moral and ethical responsibility. As one is  constantly upset with the situation in the world, one is  trying to fix and make this world a better place, without knowing the 'one' who is perceiving the suffering. This is our present situation.

Ravana, Kamsa and Hiranyakashyapu existed in the past and similar characters exist today. Our timeless scriptures and spiritual masters are constantly reminding us and pointing to nothing new, but THAT which one already is - i.e. know the one perceiving completely, before reacting to the perception. "Know the Seer before reacting to the seen", if one truly wants to help!

This is the key to one's freedom. This is the only way to help the so-called 'world'.

Read on... to explore! 

YuJ - Goal Of Human Life!

'Seek The Truth of I':

• You are NOT who you think you are or appear to be. The 'identity' you believe you are, is an identity (an i-entity) in this waking state, similar to the one perceived in a dream - an illusion, a mirage.
• Introspect and the truth shall be revealed. Everything perceived is a projection of the mind, rooted on the 'i-thought' - images are projected on a screen of Pure Awareness. Just as everything in a dream is a projection of the sub-conscious mind, everything in the waking state is a projection of the conscious mind. The 'sense of presence' or 'I Am' or 'I' in the body (which is only available in the waking state) is unreal, illusory like a mirage. Everything perceived by this is also unreal, changing and illusory. All is the play of One Consciousness - appearing as subject and object.
• The 'I Am' is very slippery - can slide from an egocentric individual bodily feeling 'i' to the pure 'I Am', encompassing the entire universe! The 'I-thought' splits as the subject (mind) and object (body) due to desire to experience. A fantastic divine illusion, a dream - dreaming separation to experience OneNess! The seeker is the sought! STOP Believing Thoughts Of Separation!
• The 'I' in the dream is witnessed by the 'I' in the waking. The 'I' in the waking is initially believed to be an individual entity. When one inquires, the 'I' slides from a person to mere presence which is all pervading, omniscient and omnipresent. But, even this is witnessed by an 'intelligence' which is beyond the 3 states, which is unmanifest and impersonal; something like Pure Presence (just there; aware of everything but itself cannot be observed). The Absolute is beyond all this; since even this is 'known' - meaning 'something' knows and understands even this - what remains is deep and utter silence! - indescribable - Pure Mounam!
  
  If 'you' and 'I' are different and separate, please find the dividing line of where 'you' end and where 'i' begin?

• In fact, there is no separation, no division, no 'you', no 'me', other than an illusory 'i-entity' imagining itself to be separate as an independent existence, seeking itself in totality & wholeness - a mere concept. Introspect & investigate deeply to the core!
• Once this Truth is 'seen' clearly, let anything happen. Once the 'i'-entity is seen as an illusion, who will be left to suffer or enjoy.
• The Absolute is beyond everything - what remains is deep and utter silence beyond the concept of silence! - Pure Mounam!
• KNOW without a shadow of doubt that all this is only a dream with 'I Am' as the producer/director/actor.  'I Am That which knows I Am'.
• When Consciousness is awake, the illusion will continue to appear. The dream continues until the body falls, but 'you' remain as was prior to manifesting in this body - nameless, formless and eternal.

Read on... to explore & experience! 

What To DO

There is really nothing to DO. To-Do or Not-To-Do is mind in action. But here are a few pointers:

• Be quiet with the understanding that there is NO "other" who needs an explanation. Stop trying to make a point, knowing clearly that all this is a play of the "I" or Consciousness.
  
• Let go everything (mentally). Drop the doer-ship. The doer is the illusory identity. Get impregnated with this knowledge.
  
• Have an intense desire to know the Truth.
• Be humble. Surrender completely. Get burnt. Consciousness will take care of everything. Functioning will be easier when the burden of "i" is annihilated.
  

When you DO NOT react to person, place or thing, U R That! That Which Already Is! This is what YOU always are but dreaming otherwise due to wrong identifications..
....

The notion of "i", the "sense of existence", or consciousness IS the illusion. Inquire its root; find the source and Be Absolutely Happy!

Read on... to explore & experience! 

Process of Self-Enquiry

D.: What is the practice?

M.: The Self is That where there is no “I” thought. That which rises in the body as “I” is the mind. Constantly search for ‘I’; the source of the ego. Find out ‘Who am I?’ The pure ‘I’ is the reality, the Absolute Existence-Consciousness-Bliss. When That is forgotten, all miseries crop up; when held fast, the miseries do not affect the person.

D.: What is that one thing, knowing which all doubts are solved?

M.: Know the doubter. If the doubter be held, the doubts will not arise. Here the doubter is transcendent. Again when the doubter ceases to exist, there will be no doubts arising. From where will they arise? All are jnanis, jivanmuktas. Only they are not aware of the fact. Doubts must be uprooted. This means that the doubter must be uprooted. Here the doubter is the mind.

Self-Enquiry - 3~Steps:

• Step 1: Be empty of all knowledge/understanding as "I know nothing" (w humility)
• Step 2: Recognize the feeling "I exist". Simply, recognize your own existence.
• Step 3: Identify/understand/analyze the "I" and find out the source of "I".
  

Knowing Who You Are - Stages:

• Stage 1: Know with certitude the non-finding of the "I".
• Stage 2: Know with certitude that all is this "I" or "Consciousness".
• Stage 3: Know with certitude that this "I" or "Consciousness" is an illusion.That which is perceived but cannot be found when investigated is an illusion like a mirage.

Illusion or mirage cannot exist without a sub-stratum. So, everything, anything and nothing are all just THAT, Which Alone Is, as the Substratum - call it Brahman, God, or whatever.

Delusion is:
Going from (Eternity) Absolute => to Presence => to Person

Going from (Avyakta) Absolute => to (Vyakta) Presence => to (Vyakti) Person

Parama Shreyas is:
Going from Person => to Presence => to (Eternity) Absolute 

Going from (Vyakti) Person => to (Vyakta) Presence => to (Avyakta) Absolute

Individuality is the illusion. Believing that to be true is delusion.

Know there is no person but only Presence.

Finally, KNOW that Presence itself IS the primary illusion.

Read on... to explore & experience! 

What is 'I' - An in-depth Analysis!

• Nothing can be taken out of the waking state, just as no-thing can be taken out of a dream.
• Everything outside and inside of “me” is constantly changing. The entire universe is changing. The world of gross, subtle and causal bodies is changing. Thoughts and emotions are constantly changing: like images on a movie screen.
• Scientifically, it is known that 95% of an atom composition is space. If everything is space, the appearance of the body seems contradictory.
• AND FINALLY…, the “i” or “sense of existence” which has been at the core of this individuality; the one who has been seeking, searching, trying to be successful; complaining or enjoying the perceptions & feelings, is itself constantly changing. When inquired, it CANNOT be located. If the one experiencing cannot be found, how can the experience be trusted?

That which is perceived but cannot be located when searched, is termed an illusion. The “i” or “sense of existence” in the body is only a thought. The body is also conceptual. Each conceptual body has a notion of the “sense of presence” or “i”, but cannot be located. The “sense of presence” or “i” or ego is the primary illusion. There are no individuals, but all this is a play of  ONE consciousness. A “sense of presence” or pseudo-entity or ego projects itself as the doer  in a body, which is the root cause of this delusion.

In an illusion, the appearance is ever in-motion; always of the nature of change; constantly altering and transforming. But the sub-stratum is always motionless, changeless and static. That which is aware of everything, pure subjectivity is my natural state. The 'i' is ever changing - the nature of the world, similar to an illusory appearance. The seeker (personal 'i') in each body is seeking itself in totality; as complete and in wholeness. This is the play of duality. Separated to know OneNess!

Sages & Scriptures say THAT is the nature of:

• SAT           - Existence   - the sense of presence as "I Exist"
• CHIT         - Knowledge - Absolute Subjectivity or Pure Awareness
• ANANDA  - Bliss              -  Such is IT's Fragrance

'Deep Sleep' is That blissful experience but in ignorance! 

This is NOT experienced in 'waking' due to identification with the illusory body!

You Are Beyond All This – incomprehensible & indescribable, simply!

Read on... to explore & experience! 

YOUR OWN UPANISHAD

You Are The Immortal Self - timeless, nameless, formless and eternal. Here, now and always. This is the ultimate truth. In this mortal body, there is an immortal being. You are never bound. Know for sure that You are Free.

The Seer and Seen are both objects in consciousness. They are both unreal, because consciousness is itself ephemeral. That pure and objectless Awareness; the stillness of no-thing-ness; the silence on which consciousness spontaneously appears IS your Swaroopa.

This consciousness IS the Illusion; just like the snake on a rope; ghost on a post; blueness in the sky; images seen in the clouds or water in a mirage.

Sad Eva Saumya; Idam Agra Asi; Tat Satyam; Sa Atma; Tat Twam Asi Swetaketu. Tat Twam Asi.

This may sound crazy, hard to believe, and difficult to understand, because you are trying to comprehend this with your mind. 

Just as an ice cube seems different than the ocean, the illusory “I”, identifying with the body, imagines to be an independent entity imagining this world. Just as space in a jar is the same space everywhere, "You" are the infinite and absolute, bound by the limitations of the body. Identification with the body has given rise to the feeling of an individual personality which is not the truth. Annihilation of the “I” by inquiry unravels the eternal happiness within. You are like the jar space moving in the infinite space. The intellect and waking state are only for this inquiry and recognition.

Thinking this world as real is ignorance. Knowing your Self to be REAL and the world as unreal is knowledge. The outer Guru guides you to the inner Self. The SatGuru is your own Self, who is the Guide and also the Goal.

The physical outer Guru is like a mirror reflecting the Truth.
 

The first step is to start observing the mind and witness the happenings every moment. This will clarify clearly that you are NOT the mind and the thoughts. Everything perceived is an illusion and has no reality. Everything is a projection of the mind. Simply, when there is no mind there is no world. 

From living non-living things like nails and hair are born; and from non-living things living things like plants/organisms, are born. This implies that they are both one, but appear differently. Everything perceived is the changing aspect on the substratum of That which is Changeless. They only appear to be different. The changeless and that which is changing are One and the same, just as wind and air. This is the illusion. There is no individual seer and everything seen is NOT what they appear to be. The body is itself the illusion and bondage. When questioned, there is no body or mind, but just space.

As long as there is identification, the world is perceived. Conversely, if the world seems real, that clearly means there is some identification left. The ego is hiding deep within. Cleanse your Self completely. Be the perfect mirror.  The waking state is similar to a dream because you cannot take anything out of this world just as nothing can be taken out of a dream. And, "I" am aware of the waking state. If the waking state is negated as an appearance, what is left? This is very subtle. When contemplated deeply and the true meaning jolts your inner being, the mind cannot create any more disturbances.

It is something like this: When the pure light is projected on the screen of consciousness, dream and waking states appear to be existent. Just as the light dots projected on a t.v screen form images and when moved at 20 frames per second produces the illusory effect of a movie to the human eye; the entire world is a projection of the mind on the screen of consciousness. When the screen of consciousness is moved away, no-thing is perceived, causing the deep sleep state of ignorance. But the Pure Light exists in all the 3 states and beyond. Just as a movie on the t.v screen, the light, the screen and the power to perceive are all real but the images perceived are unreal.

The ONE aware of all the three states of existence and beyond, is Real but the states are unreal. This is why "you" can perceive them but they cannot perceive you. For example, "you" (the REAL) can be aware of your mind, but your mind (the unreal) cannot find "you". The ultimate; the substratum of everything is completely unaware of all this; just as the ocean is unaware of the waves or the space unaware of the sky and the blueness seen in it.

This realization is only possible during the waking state due to the availability of the discriminative intellect. Observe, be a witness, stay quiet and do not react. When the mind is ignored, all that is left is a Silence that is Indescribable. This is all you have to do. This is the instruction. And something will be revealed or rise up to the surface of your Being.  

Give up the idea of the doer or the karta-bhava. There is no doer, but work is done. Allow the cosmic flow to unfold. Ignore the mind by constantly reminding that "you" are the one aware of the mind, so how can the subject be the object? There is no person or individual as we think we know. All is a play of Consciousness which itself is an illusion. Once questioned, the illusion starts to lose it power. Everything is a happening in You but You are NOT happening.

Consciousness is an illusory movement in the Absolute, just as the wave is a movement of the ocean. Consciousness is illusory because it cannot be found and is only available in the presence of the body, which is discontinuous. The substratum on which Consciousness appears is the source and the Absolute.

Even this knowledge is not the Truth since this is only known in the waking state which is not REAL. All knowledge must go including the thirst for knowing or liberation must be dropped.

When vacuum is created with the annihilation of the “I”, the Absolute seeps in to fill the vacuum. The ice cube melts to be one with the ocean. You Are That Pure Awareness, the Seer of everything but Itself cannot be seen. You Are That Absolute and That Alone exists.

This body is only a reference point; an observation point to experience the world and enjoy duality. All pairs of opposites are sides of the same coin. If you ask for one, you WILL get the other as well. You are duality, non-duality and beyond. You are the manifest, unmanifest and beyond. Return to your effortless Natural State, which is beyond words, concepts and experiences.
 

Be your Self. Love Your Self. Just shift attention to That which is the Knower of everything but Itself cannot be Known. That is the Self. The Natural State. The REAL YOU.

You will experience beyond a ray of doubt your Real Self, which is beyond words and description. Absolute Silence is the closest expression of that experience.

Read on... to explore & experience! 

WOW - What An Exquisite Dream!

• Recognize that this is all an exquisite dream, in which you are the dreamer and also an object in the dream.
• Recognize the ability to wake up and witness the dream but you cannot change or end the dream prematurely.
• Recognize that if you react, entangle or attach with the dream, the dream gets energized and keeps going.
• Simply wake up and witness the dream without any reaction. This is the only way out of this exotic dream.
• Continue daily activities, with an attitude of total surrender to a higher power, totally detached, no likes or dislikes; no reaction whatsoever, not even thinking when this dream will come to an end, yet knowing fully well that all this is a dream and there is a power that knows the way.

ReRead on... to explore & experience! 

All Is One!

The Seer Is The Seen! (The Observer Is The Observed)

This is impossible to understand with a generic intellect; but with a subtle deep thinking intellect this can be clearly understood.

The seer appears to exist only when there is something to be seen. The relationship between the two is the process of seeing (or observing). Unless there is an interest to see, there is no seer and no seen.

Implied within is the fact that only when there is a ‘desire to see’, the seer and seen come into existence. This can be extended to all the different types of experiences and perceptions. Only when there is a desire for anything, consciousness splits and the subject and object appear to exist. Once the desire is gone, the subject and object vanish as well.

Desire is the KEY requirement for an experience. 

The primal desire is "to exist & experience". Due to this, consciousness itself appears as body (the object) and consciousness also appears as ‘I’  (the subject). 

In waking state, consciousness splits as the body and 'i' to be the primal subject & object to experience the world. In dream state consciousness again splits at the sub-conscious level with a body and 'i' experiencing the dream world. In deep sleep there is no splitting, consciousness remains as whole, the fragrance being the experience of 'bliss'.

The Self is beyond everything. From That Which Alone Is, this ‘I’ has imagined the universe of names and forms. The body is simply non-existent.

In Truth, nothing has ever happened. All is the Self - appearing as Pure Awareness!

This must be contemplated deeply. Once this is clearly ‘seen’ and understood, all doubts vanish. Without desires, consciousness cannot split - the notion of subject-object vanishes – thoughts cease to exist - attention stays in the Self - mind merges as the Self - concept of separation and division disappear - the world ceases to exist.

That pure state is One’s Natural State.

Read on... to "Be Still & Know I Am"! 

ALL - An Exquisite Illusion!

Mein Aur More; Tore Te Maya - Ram Charit Manas!

The idea of "me" , a "sense of separation"  or the "sense of individuality"  or "sense of existence" is only due to Consciousness  identifying  with the body! Then comes "mine" - This is bondage!

Understand "me" thoroughly and All Is Seen As The Self!

When me" drops, you are I - The Self!

Noumenon is our true nature; phenomenon is imagined!

(n)Oneness is the natural state; Separation is imagined!

Read on... for a deeper dive! 

Perfect Beyond Perfection!

Everything is Simply Perfect, without any division or separation. All Is The One Infinite Self. The one perceiving imperfection needs to be inquired and clearly investigated! The imperfection is like  a piece of ice in the ocean. Inquiry will reveal the true nature!

Q: If all is perfect, undivided indivisible, without separation, immutable, without faults, how does one perceive this universe of names and forms?

A: Just as water in a mirage is perceived in a desert of pure sand and sun, so also is the 'i' thought - the one that imagines and perceives this universe of names and forms.

From THAT Which Alone IS; THAT Which Is simply Indescribable, arises a spontaneous movement in the nature of 'sense of presence' as 'I Exist' (Aham Asmi). The entire universe of names and forms has been imagined by this!

That 'I Am' or consciousness because of which everything is observed, isn't something aware of this? Can That be itself observed? This is the same as finding the source of 'I'. This is the path inward...

This 'sense of presence' or 'sense of existence' or the feeling 'I Am' is Absolute Pure Consciousness - subtler than space (since space can also be observed).

Pictures and images are imagined and identification with the image results in the sense of "me" or "individuality". This is the 'mind' or ego. A small piece of ice in the ocean believing itself to be separate.

Two guaranteed solutions to fix this aberration:

1.     Inquire 'who am i?' and 'what is its source?' OR

2.     Completely surrender and accept everything that happens without any reaction.

Absolute Truth IS - All Is Pure Consciousness Alone!

Read on... to "Be Still & Know I Am"! 

Bhagwan

Question: Who am I? How is it to be found?

Bhagavan: Ask yourself the question. The body (annamaya kosa) and its functions are not ‘I’. Going deeper, the mind (manomaya kosa) and its functions are not ‘I’. The next step takes on to the question. “Where from do these thoughts arise?” The thoughts are spontaneous, superficial or analytical. They operate in intellect.

Then, who is aware of them? The existence of thoughts, their clear conceptions and their operations become evident to the individual. The analysis leads to the conclusion that the individuality of the person is operative as the perceiver of the existence of thoughts and of their sequence. This individuality is the ego, or as people say ‘I’. Vijnanamaya kosa (intellect) is only the sheath of ‘I’ and not the ‘I’ itself. Enquiring further the questions arise, “Who is this ‘I’? Where from does it come?” ‘I’ was not aware in sleep. Simultaneously with its rise sleep changes to dream or wakefulness. But I am not concerned with dream just now. Who am I now, in the wakeful state?

If I originated from sleep, then the ‘I’ was covered up with ignorance. Such an ignorant ‘I’ cannot be what the scriptures say or the wise ones affirm. ‘I’ am beyond even ‘Sleep’; ‘I’ must be now and here and what I was all along in sleep and dreams also, without the qualities of such states. ‘I’ must therefore be the unqualified substratum underlying these three states (anandamaya kosa transcended). ‘I’ is, in brief, beyond the five sheaths. Next, the residuum left over after discarding all that is not-self is the Self, Sat-Chit-Ananda.

We are ever in sushupti. Becoming aware of it in jagrat is samadhi. The ajnani cannot remain long in sushupti because his ego pushes him out of it. The Jnani, although he has scotched the ego, it continues to rise again and again due to prarabdha. So, for both the Jnani and the ajnani the ego springs up, but with this difference: whereas the Jnani enjoys the transcendental experience, keeping its lakshya (aim, attention) always fixed on its source, … the ajnani is completely ignorant of it. The former is not harmful, being a mere skeleton of its normal self, like a burnt-up rope. By constantly fixing its attention on the Source, the Heart, the ego gets dissolved into it like a salt doll which has fallen into the ocean.

The State of non-emergence of “I” is the state of being THAT.

Therefore, leaving the corpse-like body as an actual corpse and remaining without even uttering the word 'I' by mouth, if one now keenly enquires, 'What is it that rises as 'I'? then in the Heart a certain soundless sphurana, 'I-I', will shine forth of its own accord. It is an awareness that is single and undivided, the thoughts which are many and divided having disappeared. If one remains still without leaving it, even the sphurana - having completely annihilated the sense of the individuality, the form of the ego, 'I am the body' - will itself in the end subside, just like the flame that catches the camphor. This alone is said to be liberation by great ones and scriptures.

Read on... to "Be Still & Know I Am"!