by Viswanathan Subramanian
[box]In his column on spirituality, Viswanathan Subramanian has thus far discussed ego and how memory or thoughts are the root cause of all troubles in the world, particularly human relationships. He has also raised several crucial questions such as ‘Are you the world?’ and ‘Does the world really exist?’ discussing them in the context of Ulladhu Narpadhu (Forty Verses of Reality) by Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharishi. Continuing with the series, the next question is ‘What should we strive for’?[/box]
Ulladu Narpathu by Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharishi is the pointer to the primary act expected of us. That is to KNOW YOURSELF. Every motive for action springs after the ego ‘I’ has risen. The spurious ‘I’ is recognized but one loses sight of the ever-lasting source from which it has arisen. That is why there is the prescription of hunting for the ‘I’. We start thinking and questioning only after ‘I’ as an independent entity has come into being. This ‘I’ sees the world of pluralities and further questions arise. When the ego has already come in, dynamic intellectual search has begun. The mind which started it all and the world it sees are present at this moment and not at another moment, when one is in deep sleep. It is within the ambit of experience that the underlying reality exists – oneness of consciousness from where ‘I’ and then ‘World’ sprout. But the paradox is no one can question his own existence! Can anybody disown himself? Suppose you say, “I do not exist”, who is the ‘I’ that says it? Hence there is only consciousness of which we are, the wholesome.
Is there, then, a way/method to recognizing that we are the Reality – Self – the Consciousness? Any method implies duality, an entity who understands. This is what the intellect does, preserving the ego intact. But to be one with our Reality, the very intellect has to be dropped! Hence, any methodical approach takes you back to the mind and its network of thoughts. Therefore, Reality is pathless, it is experiential, where experiencer is not! When talking about self-attention (if we could call it so), Michael James is emphatic on the following:
Whenever any doubts, queries or new ideas arise, reflect on whether they could arise in your sleep. Obviously, they could not, as queries and doubts are external to you.
(Ref: Sri Ramanopadesa Noonmalai- Word-by-word in English by Sri Sadhu Om and Michael James)
Now arises the million dollar question: Does all this mean I sit idle and vegetate?
No, the awareness we focus is experiential and such awareness does not make a choice, when there is realization of the illusoriness of ego.
So, what about the material world (which itself is not real)?
Your initiative is to know your Reality. You are the wholesome timeless Reality. When we are so, action will go on automatically without volition and perfectly sans any conflict in oneself (as there is no oneself). Hence Reality is neither subjective nor objective. As Michael James points out, objects have the same degree of reality as the subject but both subject as well as object are unreal. So, doubt whether you exist as doer.
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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