ENLIGHTENMENT BY SELF-INQUIRY–pt111

[The Teaching  of Non-Duality has been adapted from Master Nome, disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi.  Sections appended below derive from Sri Ramana's Teaching.]

Sri Ramana says, "The World is not seen, & no 'I'-belief."  Why is giving up the objective outlook mentioned ?  It is because, when we have an objectified view of things, inherent in that view, or perspective, there is some definition or set of definitions of the "I".  There must be some definition of "I" so that the objective World can appear as it does to one. Those definitions should be abandoned. The best way to utterly relinquish the "I"-notion is to inquire to see if it actually exists. What you are attempting to negate then is not so much the word or the idea of "I", but the assumed Individuality (jivata), the perspective of existing as a particularized thing.  Such is the base upon which the entire samsara (Illusion) rests.

The same Absolute Brahman appears according to one's understanding as "Gos", who is said to be the "Lord" who dispassionately distributes the results of karma.  Or else Brahman appears as the Witness, which is Consciousness in relation to all.  Or else Brahman appears as the attributeless, Eternal "I" of the nature of Indivisible, Non-Dual Existence–Consciousness which alone exists, without–a–2^nd.  The Self has neither rise nor set, is neither in darkness nor illumined, but is always the spiritual Light, with nothing material or mental in its nature at all.  The distinction between the Self & oneself is due only to super–imposition. This super–imposition is like imagining different "holes" to be different "spaces" due to emphasizing the structure with the openings rather than perceiving the Space itself.

[Ramana]

There is a story about a lady who had a precious necklace round her neck.  Once in her excitement she forgot it & thought that the necklace was lost.  She became anxious & looked for it in her home but could not find it.  She asked her friends & neighbors if they knew anything about the necklace.  They did not.  At last a kind friend of hers told her to feel the necklace round her neck.  She found that it had all along been

round her neck & she was happy.  When others asked her later if she had found the necklace which was lost, she said, "Yes, I have found it."  She still felt that she had recovered a lost jewel.  Now did she lose it at all ?  It was all along round her neck.  But judge her feelings.  She was as happy as if she had recovered a lost jewel.  Similarly with us, we imagine that we will realize that Self some time, whereas we are never anything but the Self.

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“There is no Creation, no Destruction, no Bondage, no longing to be freed from Bondage, no striving for Liberation, nor anyone who has attained Liberation. Know that this to be Ultimate Truth.”
–  the “no creation” school of Gaudapada, Shankara, Ramana, Nome – Ajata Vada

 for very succinct summary of the teaching & practice, see:  www.ajatavada.com