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Is the direct immediate realization of the Self a unique scintillating & ecstatic experience or is it more of a convincing knowledge, or is it more of a firm belief? Well, partly it is all of these, yet it is none of these too, in the classical sense of the terms. One does start with a belief, yet belief never liberates, it only motivates us for a closer encounter.

The so called Aparoksha-Anubhuti can neither come under the category of an experience nor it can be a knowledge in the ordinary sense of the term, because both these require the duality of an experiencer & the experienced, or the knower and the known. Realization of the non-dual truth implies the negation of all duality. So what is the nature of the direct realization?

One thing is definite that it has to do something with Knowledge alone, as it is clearly discerned that Ignorance alone is the problem behind all sense of limitations, seeking & the subsequent sufferings. If ignorance is the problem then knowledge alone can be the solution. No experience ever sticks on. Every joyful experience is a momentary elation, and it shortly becomes a matter of our memories, leaving us back on square one. If I am happy about some thing then it doesn't mean that 'I' am a fulfilled & complete person. The very fact that I still want an experience means that I am still a wanting and also a dependent person. Such a person alone is susceptible to all grief and pains.  

If Knowledge alone has to be the real & ultimate sadhana, the final step, then it is important to appreciate as to what is the nature of this knowledge. What does knowledge mean? Normally knowledge means two things. Information about something; or awareness of something brought about by a direct experience. Valid information could be considered to be knowledge in various cases, but it obviously cannot be the meaning here. Information is of great importance yet it is not knowledge. Information motivates and inspires us to know a great & valuable thing directly, like the information of a hidden treasure motivates us to get that treasure. Study of scriptures does provide us the information on various matters, but that is not enough, this needs to culminate in direct knowledge. We need to see it rather than just believe it. So while knowledge alone is the answer, we need to try to understand what exactly is meant by knowledge. How does knowledge take place?  What happens when we say 'we know' something, and what difference does it make when we want to know the self.

Knowing something is an interesting phenomenon & process. It basically means that using a valid means of knowledge, we have become conscious or aware of something; in other words it means that a thought or vritti that object has been brought about in our mind. Suppose there is a person who wants to know an object X, then he will have to take resort to the appropriate means of knowledge, focus his attention on the object and know it. When the mind is focused on an object of knowledge then the mind flows out to the place where the object is, it as though 'envelopes' it and brings back the awareness of the object back to our mind, then a thought of the object is created in our mind and then we say that we know it. Technically there are two processes which simultaneously happen. One is called Vritti-Vyapti and the other is called as Phala-Vyapti. In the first stage is the going of our awareness to the place of the object and the final presentation of the thought - this stage removes the ignorance of that object.  In the second stage of Phala-Vyapti, the knower illumines the thought and then comes the experience of 'I know'. This is in short the process of knowing. Vritti-gyana alone is real knowledge. We need to become conscious of the object then alone we have known it. This is the process of knowing for all the objects of the world. All objects of the world are basically inert, and thus need to be finally illumined, and even after being illumined by the conscious knower are obviously seen as something extraneous to the the conscious knower. Such a vritti is Khandakar. Khanda means division. When it however comes to the knowledge of the very truth of the knower, which is pure consciousness and also non-dual, then the process here is very different. Here the vritti is Akhandakar. There is no division or fragmentation of knower or the known. It is the same one truth which is seen to be the self of all.

In the case of Self-Knowledge, the very fact that we realize the existence of ignorance means that the first stage of Vritti-Vyapti is certainly required here. This is done with the help of the valid means of knowledge, which in this case is Sabda pramana. The study of Upanishads helps to bring about the right awareness or the vritti. However, as the 'object' of knowledge here is the very consciousness itself, therefore the second stage doesn't follow. It reveals by itself, and the nature of the Self is such that no division or fragmentation remains. The knower is no more a knower, neither he is a known. The very division of knower & known are transcended, and there is just one blissful self-effulgent existence which remains and it is known as the very Self. This awareness of the Akhandata (non-duality) of the Self is called Akhandakar Vritti. This vritti alone another name for direct realization or Aparokshanubhuti. The knower certainly starts in duality, but after sravana & manana of the vedanta shastra's the process culminates in the Such a vritti starts in duality but culminates in non-duality. So all students of Self-Knowledge must aim for this Akhandakar Vritti alone.

Quote

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."

Kahlil Gibran

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Story

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar...... and the coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded with a unanimous "Yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. We do need to keep filling it with big & small things, and still there is place for coffee."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for more. Life indeed has infinite potential & possibilities, so keep learning & learning."

Quote

"God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons we could not learn in any other way."

Stanley Lindquist

Letter Section

Quote

"We cannot become what we need to be, by remaining what we are."

Max Depree

Mission News

Earlier Programs

Imp Dates

Important Dates in Jan 2008

Forthcoming Programs

Gita Gyana Yagna, Ahmedabad : 

Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji will conduct a Gita Gyana Yagna at Sri Ramkrishna Kendra at Maninagar, Ahmedabad from 6th to 12th Jan 2008. The subjects of the discourses will be Mandukya Upanishad, and Gita Chapter 8th. 

Sadhana Camp, Pune : 

Poojya Guruji and Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji will conduct a Sadhana Camp at Punya Dham Ashram at Pune from 23rd to 27th Jan 2008. The camp is open to all sadhaka's who can live in an ashram atmosphere with simplicity and sewa bhava. The subject matter will be Drg-Dryshya Viveka and 16th chapter of Gita.

Mahashivratri Camp, Indore : 

A four days Sadhana Camp just before the Mahashivratri will be organized from 2nd to 5th March 2008. Devotees will be taught the Shiv Mahimna Stotram, Shiv-Puja, and other details of Shiv Upasana. Conclusion will be with the celebration of Mahashivratri.

Mahashivratri, Indore : 

Mahashivratri is on 6th March this year. At the Gangeshwar Mahadev Temple it will be celebrated in a grand way with Rudrabhisheka, chanting, decorations etc. 

Gita Gyana Yagna, Lucknow : 

Poojya Guruji Sri Swami Atmanandaji will conduct a Gita Gyana Yagna at Hari om Mandir Hall just before the Holi. Dates will be announced soon.

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. Om Tat Sat .