Essence of Advaita Vedanta

Essence of Advaita Vedanta

By

Sri Sankara Bhagavadpada

I remember in the morning the Self which shines in the heart, which is existence-consciousness-bliss, which is the goal to be attained by Paramahamsa sanyasins, which is called the ‘fourth’ because it is beyond he three states of waking, dream and deep sleep, and which always witnesses the states of waking, dream and deep sleep. I am that Brahman which is indivisible and not the aggregate of the five elements, ether, air, fire, water and earth.

I worship in the morning that supreme effulgent Being Who is spoken of (in the Vedas) as unborn, changeless, and the highest, Who is inaccessible to the mind and whom words cannot directly describe, but by whose blessing the faculty of speech functions, and who is described in the Upanishads by the words ‘not this, not this’.

I bow down in the morning to the infinite, eternal Being Who is known as the supreme Purusha, Who is beyond the darkness of ignorance, Who is resplendent like the sun, Who is everything and on Whom this entire universe appears, just as rope appears as a snake.

Essence of Advaita Vedanta

Essence of Advaita Vedanta

By

Sri Sankara Bhagavadpada

I remember in the morning the Self which shines in the heart, which is existence-consciousness-bliss, which is the goal to be attained by Paramahamsa sanyasins, which is called the ‘fourth’ because it is beyond he three states of waking, dream and deep sleep, and which always witnesses the states of waking, dream and deep sleep. I am that Brahman which is indivisible and not the aggregate of the five elements, ether, air, fire, water and earth.

I worship in the morning that supreme effulgent Being Who is spoken of (in the Vedas) as unborn, changeless, and the highest, Who is inaccessible to the mind and whom words cannot directly describe, but by whose blessing the faculty of speech functions, and who is described in the Upanishads by the words ‘not this, not this’.

I bow down in the morning to the infinite, eternal Being Who is known as the supreme Purusha, Who is beyond the darkness of ignorance, Who is resplendent like the sun, Who is everything and on Whom this entire universe appears, just as rope appears as a snake.

Be in the Present and Realise the Self

Be in the Present and Realise the Self

By

Michael James

Past and future are both only thoughts that occur in the present. So any thought about any moment or period of time other than the precise present moment will distract our attention away from our own ever-present self-conscious being. ‘I am’. Therefore, ignoring all thoughts of the past or future, we should contrite only on being – uninterruptedly and unforgettingly – self-attentive now, at this present moment.

The experience of absolutely clear self-knowledge will dawn in just a single moment – that is, a single moment of completely uninterrupted self-attentiveness – and that single moment is available to us at each and every moment. Therefore, our aim at any moment should not be to be uninterruptedly self-attentive for a certain period of time, or even for all time to come, but should only to be uninterruptedly self-attentive – wholly and exclusively self-conscious – now, at this very moment.

This present moment is the only moment that is now available to us to experience ourself as we really are. Therefore, forgetting every other moment, let us just be wholly and uninterruptedly self-attnetive now. Just be vigilant at this very moment to concentrate our entire attention on our present self-consciousness, thereby preventing it from being interrupted now by even the least momentary pramada or self-negligence.

(Taken from the monthly magazine “Splendour”, November 2010)

Be in the Present and Realise the Self

Be in the Present and Realise the Self

By

Michael James

Past and future are both only thoughts that occur in the present. So any thought about any moment or period of time other than the precise present moment will distract our attention away from our own ever-present self-conscious being. ‘I am’. Therefore, ignoring all thoughts of the past or future, we should contrite only on being – uninterruptedly and unforgettingly – self-attentive now, at this present moment.

The experience of absolutely clear self-knowledge will dawn in just a single moment – that is, a single moment of completely uninterrupted self-attentiveness – and that single moment is available to us at each and every moment. Therefore, our aim at any moment should not be to be uninterruptedly self-attentive for a certain period of time, or even for all time to come, but should only to be uninterruptedly self-attentive – wholly and exclusively self-conscious – now, at this very moment.

This present moment is the only moment that is now available to us to experience ourself as we really are. Therefore, forgetting every other moment, let us just be wholly and uninterruptedly self-attnetive now. Just be vigilant at this very moment to concentrate our entire attention on our present self-consciousness, thereby preventing it from being interrupted now by even the least momentary pramada or self-negligence.

(Taken from the monthly magazine “Splendour”, November 2010)

Is the state of 'being still' a state of involving effort or effortless?

It is not an effortless state of indolence. All mundane activities which are ordinarily called effort are performed with the aid of a portion of the mind and with frequent breaks. But the act of communion with the Self is (atma vyavahara) or remaining still inwardly is perfect effort, which is performed with the entire mind and without break.

Maya (delusion or ignorance) which cannot be destroyed by any other act is completely destroyed by this perfect effort, which is called 'silence' (mouna).

... Bhagawab Sri Ramana Maharshi (Spiritual Instruction, Chapter II)