Guest guest Posted December 2, 2001 Report Share Posted December 2, 2001 As the boundaries of the intellect keep expanding, new questions keep cropping up. All these questions seek to elicit the principle behind the objects around us. Every object evokes many questions in us. >From where did this come? What is its basis? What is the basis of that basis? The questions never end. The end eludes us however deep we venture. Thus, as an individual grows in his intellectual stature, the uncertainty growing out of unanswered questions grow too, like the lengthening shadows.<br><br>As the intellect expands further, man's inquiry about the objects surrounding him stops. Now he starts inquiring about himself. Then, questions like who is 'I'? From where did 'I' come? start pestering him. Naturally, he will want to find out the mother root of the entity called 'I'. For his effort to yield the fruit, he must first figure out what 'I' stands for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 2, 2001 Report Share Posted December 2, 2001 Man, who initially thinks that 'I' stands for the physical body will soon realise his folly and assumes that it is the mind which is the real 'I'. In due course of time, he will realise that Prana is the true 'I'. After some time, he forges ahead in his understanding and decides that even Ahankara (ego) is not the real 'I'. Thus, the original question remains unanswered. In fact, if what constitutes 'I' is known, the knowledge about its source will also be known. It is because of the erroneous assumption that 'I' stands for entities such as the body, the mind or the intellect or Ahankara that the search for its true meaning continues.<br><br>Take an onion. Start peeling off its layers. In the beginning, the layers come off easily. As you progress, it becomes increasingly difficult to peel. Do not lose heart. Continue. What do you see in the end? Nothing. All the layers have come from nothing! Ahankara (ego), Prana (vital force), Manas (mind), body etc., are in fact layers around you. When you peel them off one by one, you can realise that principle which is devoid of name and form. Thus, all that you have to do to realise the true nature of 'I' is to simply peel off the layers. Observe this Sookti -<br><br><br><br>Anaama roopam yad vastu - pratyagaatmeti keertitam<br>Tadaavritam kosha bhedaih - palaandu dala sannibhaih <br>"That which is called as the Pratyagatma ('I'), which is devoid of name and form is covered by different sheaths just as an onion is made of different layers." <br><br>Remember the philosophy of onion whenever you see one! <br><br>Extracted from the Web Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2001 Report Share Posted December 4, 2001 Thank you for this post. <br><br>In fact, I see our entire series of lives as an unfolding of the layers of the onion, each round revealing yet another layer of consciousness and realization. From what I see, once we think we have unfolded them all, the process begins again, at a deeper and still deeper level, till there is nothing but the purest light. <br><br>Till then, yes, as you say, remember the onion!<br><br> <br><br>_/\_ Tat twam asi<br><br>Uma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2001 Report Share Posted December 4, 2001 thats a good one ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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