Acharya Pranipata Chaitanya

The Absolute or the Brahman alone is real

The Absolute or the Brahman alone is real and the individual self is the Absolute.
Brahman is undifferentiated Pure Consciousness, devoid of parts, attributes, form,
changes or limitations whatsoever. It is self-luminous and all-pervading and one only,
without a second. The Atmam (Self) is ever-free, pure consciousness. The empirical
world is non-real, an appearance born out of Maya (illusion) or avidya (ignorance). The
be-all and end-all of Advaita is the absolute non-difference of Atman and Brahman.
The term ―Vedanta‖ literally means ―end of Vedas‖ (the sacred books of
knowledge of Hinduism). It refers, within Indian philosophical tradition, to the teachings
of the Upanisads, the Brahma-sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita. Advaita Vedanta is the
non-dualistic system of Vedanta expounded primarily by an 8th century Indian
philosopher called Sankara (Deutsch, 1973, p. 3). Advaita means not two, One only
without a second (Ekamevaadvitiyam). The basic truth of Advaita is the Self which is of
the nature of pure consciousness. This truth is self-existent and cannot be denied, for
to deny consciousness is to actually prove its existence! The experiential realization of
this truth is the goal of Advaita.
Advaita Vedanta postulates one single reality, Brahman, as the ultimate truth of
the world. It then equates this reality with the sole reality of our individual self, called
Atman. Advaita says that One alone exists, and the rest is all superimposition on that
One, due to ignorance. Through a systematic inquiry into the nature of our self and the
world around us, Advaita arrives at the position that the self which is of the nature of
pure consciousness is constant and therefore real, while the phenomena constituting
the world is constantly changing and therefore unreal. It finally concludes that, in
essence, our essential nature (and the nature of the universe) is ‗Existence-KnowledgeBliss
Absolute‘—satchitananda.

–Geoffrey D. Falk The Science of the Soul: On Consciousness and the Structure of Reality

We are individualized waves of consciousness on the Infinite Ocean of Spirit; so say the sages.

But, although the Ocean has become the wave, and the wave, when it dissolves the illusion of ego-separation and limitation, realizes that it has always been one with the Infinite Ocean, the form-bound wave itself is not the Ocean. Nor is the Ocean merely the sum of its waves—the Ocean can exist without the waves, but the waves cannot exist without the Ocean.

Everything you can see, hear, smell, touch, taste, and much more, is part of this Ocean. For all matter, energy and consciousness is merely waves of certain rates of vibration on the surface of the Ocean of Consciousness; Spirit has become, and is present in and as, every created thing. That is, consciousness is the “water” of the Infinite Ocean of Spirit, and all phenomena arise as modifications of this one stuff, or ripples on/of this Ocean of cosmic consciousness.

                                         

Adi Sankaracharya the Four Perfections Tattva Bodha (The Awakening to Reality)

By Adi Sankaracharya, Translated by Charles Johnston



To the Master, the World-Soul, the Master of seekers for union, obeisance; to the teacher, the giver of wisdom. To fulfill love for those who would be free, this Awakening to Reality is addressed to them.

The Four Perfections

We shall tell of the way of discerning reality, the perfection of freedom, for those who are fitted by possessing the Four Perfections.

What are the Four Perfections?

Viveka - The Discerning between lasting and unlasting things;
Vyragya - No Rage for enjoying the fruit of works, either here or there;
Sad Sampatti - the Six Graces that follow Peace;

Mumukshutva - and then the Longing to be free.

 

                                             

 

Guru Vachaka Kovai (The Garland of Guru’s Sayings) by Sri Muruganar

When the delusion which has veiled Self, the Light of Consciousness of unlimited Bliss [Sat-Chit-Ananda], is destroyed by the clear enquiry “Who am I?”, one’s own Nature will shine forth gloriously as the Atmakasha [i.e. Space of Self].


                                                            

Huang Po

Those who seek the truth by means of intellect and learning only get further and further away from it. Not till your thoughts cease all their branching here and there, not till you abandon all thoughts of seeking for something, not till your mind is motionless as wood or stone, will you be on the right road to the Gate.

                                                                  

Mundaka Upanishad

To Angiras came upon a time Sounaka, the famous householder, and asked respectfuly: “Holy sir, what is that by which all else is known?” “Those who know Brahman,” replied Angiras, “say that there are two kinds of knowledge, the higher and the lower. “The lower is knowledge of the Vedas, and also of phonetics, ceremonials, grammar, etymology, meter, and astronomy. “The higher is knowledge of that by which one knows the changeless reality. But this is fully revealed to the wise that which transcends the senses, which is uncaused, which is indefinable, which has neither eyes nor ears, neither hands nor feet, which is all-pervading, subtler than the subtlest—the everlasting, the source of all.


                                                                                      

~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Maintain that state of simplicity
If you encounter happiness, success, prosperity,
or other favorable conditions, consider them as dreams or illusions, and do not get attached to any of them.

If you are stricken by illness, calumny, deprivation, or other physical and mental trials, do not let yourself get discouraged, but rekindle your compassion and generate the wish that through your suffering all beings suffering may be exhausted.

Whatever circumstances arise, do not plunge into either elation or misery, but stay free and comfortable, in unshaken serenity.”

HRI LAKSHMI NARAYANA ॐ

Shri Krishna said:

“After being situated in this yoga practice and vibrating the sacred syllable Om, the supreme combination of letters, if one thinks of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and quits his body, he will certainly reach the spiritual planets.”~Bhagavad Gita as it is 8.13

                                                                               

—Albert Einstein

A human being is part of a whole, called by us the ‘Universe,’ a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest —- a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.

This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us.

Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.

Robin S. Sharma, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

Within you lies the sun, the moon, the sky and all the wonders of this universe. The intelligence that created these wonders is the same force that created you. All things around you come from the same source. We are all one.