by Viswanathan Subramanian
[box]Taking the discussion on memory and mind forward, here’s the third part to the series on the nature of the human mind. This month, Viswanathan Subramanian explores an interesting question, ‘Are you the World?’[/box]
In our discussions thus far, we have seen the role of memory in our lives – as to how memory is the root cause for problems that man faces, particularly in his relationships. We also saw how mind has to cease for life to be. Examining this further, I would like to point you to a book by Jiddu Krishnamurthy. It is entitled “You are the World”. The title brings about an interesting question for us to examine – Are you the world?
Before we answer that question, let’s understand this. Plethora of questions – this is what the mind throws up. The nature of the human mind is to seek to know something other than itself. Hence, any initiative to know your reality starts from the mind which looks outside itself.
Verse 1 of “Ulladu Narpadhu” by Bhagawan Sri Maharishi, which I had touched upon in last month’s column, starts from this aspect.
Because we see the world outside us, it is logical and indispensable to accept the existence of one “first principle” which has the power to appear as many. Here is an analogy:
When we see a movie in a theatre, there is the light from the projector. This powerful light gets dispersed through the film reel running at a particular speed. There is a screen at the distance. On the screen is captured the moving illusion of a cinema. Now, let’s draw the parallels to the world one sees.
What do we see around us? We see a picture of names and forms; there is a seer who sees, the mental screen on which the picture appears and the pervading light which illuminates this picture. In the normal course, the seer and the world seen are taken for granted. But what we should perceive is that without the seer to see, there is no world. This is what happens when one is in deep sleep.
Having said that, there is always this argument – there may be no world for those in deep sleep; but, at the same point of time, there is the world experienced by people who are awake. This argument will not hold water, as experience of people in waking state cannot be proof enough for those in deep sleep.
There is yet another facet here. In a dream, there is only the dreamer who is transformed into the seer, the picture, and the background screen. Thus, the dreamer gets transformed into many in the dream. Can you deny this experience? Same is the case in the waking state, when our ego gets transformed into multiple dimensions. Hence, ego is the starting point of world seen around one.
The entire appearance consisting of the world, the seer, the screen and the light are not other than the first principle, which is affirmed to be the reality, the real self. But, as long as we experience a difference between our self, the seer and the world we see, the one first principle will be experienced by us as God, a third separate entity, who is endowed with unlimited qualities such as Omnipotence, who govern the entire world and all the souls therein.
Even when we see this world of duality and multiplicity, non-duality alone is the Truth and hence all duality and multiplicity should be understood to be merely an unreal appearance (like a mirage in a desert).
(Ref: Sri Ramanopadesa Noonmalai- Word-by-word in English by Sri Sadhu Om and Michael James)
A mind (which is a reflection of the real light of self-consciousness) is posited when we see the entire picture of names and forms.
Are we not then the world? Yes, you are the world! A separate entity called “World” is only imagination and not real. Any multiplicity is an appearance in name and form and nothing but becoming.
We are all then, in a common platform – infinite energy consciousness, with nothing other than itself. If there arises a doubt on this, then who is the doubter? Is he independent of the consciousness that you are ever?
Viswanathan Subramanian is a retired banker who is enjoying retirement life pursuing his interests. He loves poring over business newspapers and journals and making notes. Spirituality also interests him, and so a good number of Sri Ramana Maharishi’s and Jiddu Krishnamurthy’s books find space in his bookshelf. He is extremely passionate about movies and music too. You are sure to find some good old English movie DVDs and an enormous collection of old mp3 Hindi and Tamil songs at his place!
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