Consciousness and the Absolute: May 1, 1980

[Guest guest]

May 1, 1980

 

Q: How does a Jnani (Sage) see the world?

M: A Sage is aware of the original and the value of consciousness,

this being-ness, which has spontaneously dawned on him. This same

consciousness plays a multitude of roles, some happy, some unhappy;

but whatever the roles, the sage is merely the seer of them. The

roles have no effect on the sage.

 

All your problems are body-mind problems. Even so, you cling to that

body. Since you identify with the body-mind, you follow certain

polite modes of expression when you talk. I do not. I might embarrass

you; you may not be able to take what I say. I have no sense of

propriety.

 

You are bound by your own concepts and notions. Actually, you love

only this sense of `I'; you do everything because of this. You are

not working for anybody, nor for the nation, but only for this sense

of `I' which you love so much.

 

Q: But I like to act; I like to work.

M: All these activities go on, but they are only entertainment. The

waking and deep sleep come and go spontaneously. Through the sense

of " I " , you spontaneously feel like working. But find out if this

sense of `I' is real or unreal, permanent or impermanent.

 

The `I' which appears is unreal. How unreal it is I have proven. The

moment the `I' is proven unreal, who is it who knows that the `I' is

unreal? This knowledge within you that knows the `I' is unreal, that

knowledge which knows changes, must itself be changeless, permanent.

1

 

You are an illusion, Maya, an imagination. It is only because I know

that I'm unreal that I know you also are unreal. It is not like this:

because I am real, you are unreal. It is like: because I am unreal,

everything is unreal. 2

 

Consciousness depends on the body; the body depends on the essence of

food. It is the Consciousness which is speaking now. If the food-

essence is not present, the body cannot exist. Without the body,

would I be able to talk?

 

Can you do anything to retain this sense of `I'? As it came

spontaneously, so will it go. It will not forewarn you by

announcing, " I am going tomorrow. " 2

 

A doubt has arisen and you are trying to find the solution but who is

it who has this doubt? Find out for yourself. 2