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Panchadashi Lesson - A0834: ONE alone Exists

Panchadashi
Module - A
Unit - A08
Lesson - A0834: Practical - ONE alone Exists
By Raja Subramaniyan

Doubt: But I perceive the universe and how can you say it does not exist, just because I am not able to explain it?

Answer: What is perceived but cannot be explained is called Illusion and not real. What is real should be perceived and it should be possible to explain it as well.

Doubt: Then how can ONE pass the test of existence?

Answer: It passes in the very first step. We can explain ONE by saying, 'ONE is the substratum on which the universe rests'. Is ONE related to the Universe? NO. For all the objects in the universe, if the answer is NO in the first step, it is self-contradiction. For ONE it is not, because it belongs to the higher order of reality.

Example: Can you be hungry and feel full at the same time. Yes, in the dream you may feel the hunger while in reality you are full.

Can water and dryness coexist? Yes, in a mirage.

Thus, the self-contradiction is applicable only if both belong to same order of reality.

Doubt: If ONE does not have, any attribute how can it be explained in the Scriptures?

Answer: ONE is explained by indirect statements since it is attribute less. In order to describe it through indirect statements, it has to have a relationship. It has a relationship with the universe, which is not absolute relationship, but a relationship that is imposed on it. ONE is the substratum upon which the entire universe is perceived. This superimposition is the relationship.

It is just as a snake is seen on the rope in the twilight. If the rope is not there, one cannot see the snake. Nevertheless, the rope does not have any relationship with the snake. We superimpose the form of snake on the rope due to our lack of knowledge. If we critically examine the snake, snake will vanish and only the rope, which is the connectionless substratum of the snake, will remain.

Similarly, we see the universe and do not perceive it to be ONE. If the ONE were not there, we would not have seen the universe. Nevertheless, the ONE does not have any relationship with universe. We superimpose the universe on the ONE due to our lack of knowledge. If we critically examine the universe (as we tried to explain an object but being caught in the Five Problems and accept our inability to explain), the universe will vanish and only the ONE which is the connectionless substratum of the universe will remain.

Doubt: If we call universe an illusion then we should call ONE an imagination because, it can be explained but cannot be perceived. ONE also fails the test of existence.

Answer: ONE can be perceived as well.

We have five sense organs. Assume that none of them are available to you. Then you cannot perceive the existence of the universe. Nevertheless, you can perceive the presence of your self. That is ONE. Moreover, the Scriptures declare that YOU ARE THAT ONE.

So ONE can be perceived and explained. Therefore, it is the only reality.

Just like in the dream world is a lower order of reality, the waking world is also a lower order of reality comparatively. When we wake up, we realize that the dream world is an illusion entirely created by our mind.

We assume that our five senses report the existence of the world around us and therefore the world exists as a fact. This is a wrong assumption. Our sense organs report only what is perceived and do not comment on whether it is a fact or not.

Example: If we see an object, the eyes report the color and shape of the object. Eyes do not say that the object exists as a reality. (In a magic show, we do not believe the eyes, since we are aware that we are seeing a show. Unfortunately, we are not aware that life itself is a magic show. This is so because of our Delusion)

Due to our ignorance, we assume that the object exists. Scientifically it is proved that the object is nothing but a dance of atoms, which is actually pure energy. Our current inquiry about the Scriptures is guiding us to see the truth as truth, that nothing (except ONE, since one is aware) in the universe exists.

When we are awakened to the knowledge given by Scriptures, we realize that the so-called real world is also an illusion created by our ignorance in the mind!

When this ignorance is wiped out, we complete this second step to knowledge, namely, Introspection.

Until we get the right knowledge, we should continue our Inquiry.

In addition, until we clear all our doubts, we should continue our Introspection.

Once we have doubtless right knowledge we should proceed to the final step in gaining knowledge, namely, Inner Transformation.

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