Home » Lessons on Vedanta » Panchadashi Lessons » Panchadashi Module - G: Joyful Living » Panchadashi Unit - G02: To be this ONE » Panchadashi Lesson G0210: Steady Knowledge

Panchadashi Lesson G0210: Steady Knowledge

Panchadashi
Module - G
Unit - G02
Lesson G0210: Obstacles to Steady Knowledge
By Raja Subramaniyan

After gaining the knowledge, we should make it steady. The knowledge that "I am this ONE" does not become steady due to three different obstacles or hurdles in the path. They are:

Confusion in the Instrument of knowledge (Scripture)
Believability of the Object of knowledge (ONE / SELF)
Deficiencies in our mind

It is quite common that the seekers of joyful living do not reach their goal soon after gaining the true knowledge. These three obstacles are to be overcome before one could reach the goal. Each of them along with the solutions is detailed below.

Statement 14: The first obstacle is confusion on the central message of the scriptures.

Obstacle 1: Confusion in the Instrument of knowledge:

The only source, which can tell us about God and ONE, are the scriptures. Since there are multi various religions, each having its own version of the scriptures, even after gaining the ultimate knowledge one tends to get confused.

There are various religions advocating seemingly different messages. The reason for such diversity is the diversity among the followers. Each one of us is at different intelligence level comprehending the meaning of the statement, "YOU ARE THAT" according to the limitations of our intelligence.

The only solution to come out of this confusion is to relearn until one is sure of the central message of all the religions. If one arrives at a different message nothing else could be done except to relearn the scriptures until one understands "I AM THIS ONE".

Since it is not possible for everyone to decode the original teachings of the various religions, it is necessary to depend on a teacher. One should choose a teacher according to the tradition in which one is brought up and to whom one is naturally inclined. Having chosen the teacher one should go through the learning sincerely.

In this stage, the capabilities of the teacher should not be questioned. One should depend on the teacher 100% and hope to reach the goal of Joyful Living.

Supposing there is a limitation on the part of the teacher, it will become obvious in the next stage. In the next stage, the student is supposed to inquire and validate the teaching. At this stage, the responsibility is 50% each. During inquiry, the student may find out that the teacher has taught him to the maximum level of his capability and move on to a higher teacher.

If one has to choose the highest teacher, one should check if the ultimate teaching is "YOU ARE THAT".

This is the ultimate teaching because logically it can be shown any other teaching is inferior to this.

Our goal is to reach a stage wherein there is perfect satisfaction resulting out of non-diminishing happiness, everlasting peace and undisturbed security. Such a joyful living is possible ONLY when there is only ONE and that ONE is I. Else I cannot be secured.

Nevertheless, the teacher who is teaching, "YOU ARE THAT" may not be appealing or effective. This only means that we are not yet ready for this knowledge. One should stick to the chosen teacher (who may be teaching a lower version of truth) until one gain enough wisdom to move on to the next teacher.

Finally, one can reach the ultimate teacher who can teach, "YOU ARE THAT"

Thus, the first obstacle is the non-availability of the single source from where we can get the knowledge from the scriptures and the solution is to keep learning until this obstacle is removed.

Statement 15: The second obstacle is the doubt on the practicability of the knowledge gained.

Obstacle 2: Believability of the object of knowledge:

Once it is understood that "I am this ONE" is the central message of all the scriptures, the next stage is to realize the impact of this truth. It is difficult to grasp this ultimate knowledge since it is contradictory to our experience.

We need to believe that we are the real source on which the entire universe rests AND that the universe, which is perceived by our senses, so clearly, does not exist!

It is not easy to believe these two factors.

The first obstacle is not getting the right message and the second one is having received the right message, inability to believe in it.

Example: "He eats 30 loafs of bread in 15 minutes". When one hears this, the first obstacle is to wonder whether the message is correct. Then one will wonder about the possibility of such a feat. It sounds impossible. The only way to believe the statement is to see him eating!

In the case of the knowledge "I AM THIS ONE", since it is against our normal belief, we need to reflect on it until one is sure of the meaning. Logic should be applied to show it is quite possible that this message could be true.

One should collect all relevant data about the universe and conduct a cause and effect analysis. The logical conclusion of this will convince our intelligence that it is quite possible for us to be the ONE. Reflecting on the central message until it is no longer unbelievable is the solution for the second obstacle.

Statement 16: There are two deficiencies in our mind, which pose the third and final obstacle.

Obstacle 3: Deficiencies in our mind

There are two major deficiencies.

Deficiency 1: From the time one is born one is under the impression that he is the body/mind complex. When the true knowledge from the scripture is gained, he realizes that he is ONE and not the body/mind complex. This new knowledge is just the opposite of the conventional knowledge. Therefore, the mind is not steady on the new knowledge.

Statement 17: The deep Imprints formed in the countless previous births prevent the mind from being steady on the new knowledge.

Deficiency 2: All the sense organs continuously report the presence of the world around. All along, the mind was thinking that the world exists for real. Only after gaining the true knowledge, it has realized that the world is an illusion. Even after this realization, the mind is overwhelmed by the inputs received by the sense organs and habituated to believe them. Therefore, the mind does not get steady on the new knowledge soon.

Statement 18: The sense organs keep reporting the existence of the universe and the mind cannot be steady on the new knowledge.

This deficiency is due to the fact the information reported by the sense organs (on the reality of the world) appears to be much stronger than the knowledge gained from the scriptures that the world is unreal.

Thus, these two deficiencies have made the mind strong in the wrong knowledge. It will be difficult for one to move away from this steady wrong knowledge and be firm on the true right knowledge. Even if we gain the true knowledge after learning the scriptures thoroughly and reflecting on the truth in it, we slip from this knowledge.

Example: A person known to us from the time we are born changes his name officially and he wants to be known by the new name by everyone. In spite of being told many times about the change, it takes lots of time and effort NOT to use the old name.

We do know the new name but still due to the years of practice, we refer that person by the old name.

Similarly, we are aware that we should move away from the notion I am the body/ mind and start saying that I have a body/ mind. Nevertheless, we are not steady on this new knowledge. Very often and at a very fast pace the notion that I am the body returns.

Similarly, when we deal with the people/ object/ situations in the life we give the undeserved reality to them. Although we know for sure that the world is an illusion, we continue to get affected by the object/ events/ people of the world. For brief period, we think the world is real but it happens very frequently and the brief period is long enough to make us suffer.

These two deficiencies are to be removed in order to resolve this obstacle. Only after overcoming these two deficiencies, we can hope to reach our destination of Joyful Living.

Panchadashi Lesson G0209: Gaining Knowledge << Home >> Panchadashi Lesson G0211: Resolving Deficiencies

Requires Log-in
Log-in Required Register * Log-in * Log-out

Online Books

All Rights Reserved. Unauthorised Copying, Distribution and Publication of these Online Books
without the prior written permission of the Publishers or Translators are prohibited.
MySQL: 0.0286 s * PHP: 0.5118 s * Total: 0.5404 s
Document Retrieved from database.
Copyright © 2002-2012 Celextel Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.
Vedanta Spiritual Library is Powered by MODx CMS.
Wednesday * February 22, 2012 * 11:35 PM [IST]

Rama

Swami Vivekananda

Sri Ramakrishna

Sarada Devi

Krishna