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Panchadashi Lesson G0204: To be this ONE

Panchadashi
Module - G
Unit - G02
Lesson G0204: Meaning of the words 'to be this ONE'
By Raja Subramaniyan

The meaning of the words 'to be this ONE' in the key statement 'If a person knows himself to be this ONE, desiring what and for whose benefit will he struggle?' is discussed here.

ONE means the only reality, which is changeless. The entire universe is an illusion that is projected on the ONE.

The word 'this' is a pronoun normally refers to someone or something that is close by. When we refer to one of our hands, we say 'this hand'. The word 'this' here signifies the doubtlessness, clarity, familiarity, confidence and the authority with which we talk about our hand. Supposing we are to talk about something that is far away, not fully known, we do not use the word 'this'. We may use the word 'that' instead.

In the above statement the word 'this' is pronoun to the noun 'ONE'. The primary reason for the usage of the word 'this' is to emphasize the need of knowing oneself to be this ONE. We need to know ONE as intimately and as closely as we know our hand. The direct, doubtless and strong knowledge that 'I am this ONE' will enable us to live joyfully.

We have knowledge of an object. The knowledge could be direct or indirect. Direct Knowledge refers to the knowledge gained through our sense organs directly. If we hear about the object and gain knowledge, it is Indirect Knowledge.

Statement 4: The term 'this' refers to Direct Knowledge. If we have indirect knowledge of an object we refer to it as 'that'.

Similarly the term 'this' is associated with those objects that are directly available for perception. We use the word 'that' to refer those objects that are not within the reach of our sense perception.

Thus, both our knowledge and the object can determine the usage of the words 'this' and 'that'.

In case of ONE, it is always self-evident. Therefore in general we should be referring to ONE as 'this' and never as 'that'. However, in practice most people refer to ONE as 'that' because of ignorance. When a wise man says, "You are that ONE" if they trust him it becomes knowledge and if they do not, it remains just as a thought.

When it becomes knowledge, he assumes that ONE exists somewhere far away. This is indirect knowledge. From this stage he moves on to the direct knowledge of knowing that he is ONE. Then he realizes and says, "I am this ONE". This can be explained by the story of the tenth man.

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