Frequently asked Questions (FAQ)
It is very important that you think about these questions and answers from strictly your own perspective.
It doesn't make sense to me, why should I bother ?
It doesn't have to, but bookmark or print it for later in your life. There is a time for everyone.
Why is Awareness my most natural state ?
What about you is completely effortless? Even breathing takes effort. Stop your breath and you are still aware. Shut your ears and you are still aware. Close you eyes and you are still aware. Which really means that even if all your senses were shutdown, you will still be aware. Your awareness is not dependent on your senses, rather your senses are dependent on you for awareness. Between heartbeats, you are still aware. Vision is interrupted by blinking of eyes, awareness is still there, uninterrupted.
If it is so simple, why don't I understand it ?
When you see, your attention is on the objects appearing in your sight. When you hear, your attention is on the sounds. We take an extraordinary interest in all that appears in our sensory perceptions, including our bodies. Remember, our bodies are only known to us via our sensory perceptions. When the sense of 'I' arises, there's a 'You' that is automatically created. If there is a thought of good, then there is bad, if there is right, there is also a wrong.
Throughout your life, you search for happiness in external objects, activities or thoughts. Turn that search inwards and ultimately you will find what is permanent, bliss. All that appears to be merely proves that you are awareness. Draw your focus or attention away from what that appears and realize what they point to - awareness. Then abide in your awareness.
I think I understand. Is that enough ?
No, since the mind fools you by the thought 'I understand' and then the next moment you are back to your normal way of life. It is only when you realize that there is no I, then true knowledge or absolute awareness will remain. Until then, you continue on your journey to self-discovery. This can only happen by becoming aware of awareness and then abiding in it. Self-realization or enlightenment, when it happens, is not a thought.
What is the meaning or purpose of life ? If there was a God, why is there sorrow and suffering? Etc. Etc.
All questions are nothing but thoughts, thoughts that you are aware of. Be aware of your awareness, discover your real Self and the questions will all disappear.
Why is Brahman said to be Sat-Chit-Ananda (Existence-Awareness-Bliss) ?
Remember, all scriptures insist that the truth has to be experienced by you, so you must investigate this from your perspective alone. All that you have read, heard or other people, books etc. are known to you only via perception of your senses, so you have to get beyond that and discover it for yourself. This goes for whatever your Guru might have told you.
When you are 'awake', you discover that there is awareness of every action, thought or object. This awareness is always with you, even though the actions, thoughts or objects keep changing. Awareness is constant while everything else is not. The sense of 'I am' is also there during this phase.
When you are dreaming, you are aware of yourself in the dream, there is still that sense of 'I am', but of a dream body, people and places. Awareness continues to be there.
You don't remember anything of your deep sleep period, except of a vague recollection of deep peace when you wake up. There is no sense of 'I am' in deep sleep. Which really means that there is nothing external to be aware of. Awareness is still there, but without any objects, thoughts, feelings or emotions. In this state, there is just awareness alone. Only then, when you wake up, or the sense of 'I am' returns, it is instantly recognized.
If you ponder over this, you realize that awareness is constant and not dependent on any thing else, including the sense of 'I am'. Hence, awareness is called the Absolute Truth, because it alone is changeless, therefore real. It is not born, it doesn't die, it is formless. You also realize that through all this, there is existence, otherwise there wouldn't be anyone to conduct a self-enquiry. This existence doesn't depend on any external object, form or shape. The realization of and abiding in this absolute existence and absolute awareness (not dependent on anything external) results in bliss. This is why the Truth, or the One, or Brahman is said to be Sat-Chit-Ananda.
Another way to look at it from your own perspective is that you are always aware of awareness. When you think you are seeing, you are actually aware of the awareness of seeing. In hearing, you are aware of the awareness of hearing. In dreaming, waking, walking or talking, you are aware of the awareness of those things. Which really means that all there is awareness of awareness, since it is not dependent on any other object. That is why Brahman is said to be self-aware, or that awareness can know only awareness. This is also your direct experience without you consciously recognizing it.
Why is the world called an illusion ? It certainly doesn't seem that way to me.
You have to understand this point very carefully. It is an illusion only from the perspective of the Absolute. As long as there is the sense of 'I am', the world is very very real. Only when you realize that there is no I, only awareness, and continue to abide in that awareness, then the world is known to be an illusion. This statement doesn't give you a free license to do anything you please, since the world is very real for you. Similarly, from the perspective of the Absolute, there is no right or wrong, good or bad, since the Absolute alone is. But, from a normal human perspective, there is this and that, right and wrong and one will reap what one sows.
Alternatively, the world is called unreal since everything is constantly changing. The definition of Truth is that it doesn't change, ever. Your body is not the one you were born with. The body you wake up with is not the one that you slept with, it has changed a bit. The body of every person, animal is constantly changing. Even inanimate objects are changing. What changes can not be real or Truth.
Why is it said that the universe exists in one's mind ?
Who witnesses your dreams ? Only you, but the you that is not the physical body or the senses. While the dream world and the dream 'I' feels very real, you realize upon waking up that it was just a projection of your mind.
Why are you convinced that the physical world exists ? Because it feels very real, you can see, feel, hear objects. But all this seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling or tasting is just perception of your senses. You conclude the existence of your spouse, children, parents or friends but only through perception of your senses. Perceptions are nothing but thoughts, thoughts are the nature of mind. So everything you think exists, or you perceive or you think you know are nothing but thoughts in your mind.
Suddenly, you are confronted with the fact that the waking world suddenly seems exactly like the dream world, since you are the only witness. Everyone one else who can convince you otherwise can only be a perception. All perceptions are in your mind.
That is the reason the universe is said to exist only in your mind. When you sleep, the physical universe disappears, replaced by a dream world. In deep sleep, the mind shuts down and nothing whatsoever exists except you, awareness.
Remember, this is all from your own perspective. If you think that other people saw you sleeping, that a clock showed how long you slept, how do you think you conclude the existence of that someone or the clock ? Only by your sensory perceptions or thoughts. Advaita guides you to rely only on your direct experience, only through that you'll know the truth.
What about Yoga or Pranayama ?
All asanas are for the body and they'll surely ensure your physical well being until you discover the truth. There are many varieties of breathing exercises, the supreme form of which is inhaling, retention and then exhaling of breath in a certain ratio. It is also said that the breath retention or Kumbhaka is most important and that one is connected to the universe in that period. Yogis attempt to stay in Kumbhaka for as long as they can, including inducing samadhi.
However, the knowledge of Advaita prepares you to understand the intent of Pranayama to actually utilize it for self-enquiry, or abiding in the source, as Ramana Maharshi said. Without proper understanding, ordinary meditation or pranayama give you peace for that duration but you are brought back rudely to life and the world after that period. Realize that when you stop and retain your breath, you are actually trying to identify with the awareness that exists then. Shift your focus and intent away from how long you can retain your breath to the awareness that exists during retention. Stay focused on that awareness as you inhale or exhale. Slowly, you'll feel that you are merging with that awareness, the breath simply seems to come and go. As you continue to stay with that awareness, you will realize that for certain periods you aren't even aware of your breathing. With some practice, you can do this anytime during the day, as you pull back your attention from whatever activity you are engaged in. The focus is not on the breath, or how you breathe, but on awareness that precedes each breath and remains during and after.
How do I conduct my daily life if I'm practicing all this ?
As you have been doing, but keep being aware of your awareness. The only helpful hint is that since there is only 'One Self', if you hurt someone, think bad of someone etc, your are doing it to your Self (Atman). If you donate, you give to your Self, if you steal, you steal from your Self. Your inner guidance or inner voice usually does a great job in guiding you along the right path.
I have read this, or some Guru told me that, or that the Vedas can also be interpreted in this way ?
All that you have read or heard are nothing but perceptions in your mind. The nature of mind is thoughts, thoughts and more thoughts. Ignore what your think you know. The Truth can only be experienced, and only by yourself.
But it is so difficult, people have spent a lifetime and have not succeeded. How can I do it ?
All these are thoughts in your mind, aren't they? The belief about spiritual books, other people or thoughts of difficulty are exactly that, perceptions and thoughts, that you are aware of. Be aware of your awareness and let Divine Grace guide you. If it helps, before you start your practice of being aware of your awareness and abiding in it, recite the Gayatri Mantra, understanding the meaning that you are calling to the Divine Light that is present in all things and in you, to guide you as you meditate on it. Then, be aware of your awareness and stay with it.
Do I need to read more books, go for Satsangs etc.?
They are all helpful, including yoga, prayer etc, but only to an extent. There are probably different paths for everyone, find one that resonates well with you. Advaita is the direct path, a short-cut to realizing your true identity, but this self enquiry must be relentless. When the time is right, when all apparent effort is stopped, when the mind has completely ceased by abiding one's self firmly in awareness, the truth will reveal itself.
What about faith or devotion to God ? Is there a right way to devotion ?
Absolutely. Perhaps an easier path for many. The right way to practice devotion is to acknowledge the presence of a God, believing that He/She is Absolute, all there is, in everything including the devotee. That all actions, events and situations are controlled by God, that the devotee has nothing under his control. The devotee feels deeply that God abides in his heart and guides every action, thought of his. Over time, the devotee realizes that there is no difference between him and God, he loses his identity in God. Then, God alone is, the identity of the devotee merged with Him. The path of Advaita leads to the same conclusion, but in a different way. There are many paths, all lead to the same conclusion in the end.
But, I have so many other questions !
In Douglas Adam's book, The Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy, the computer finds 42 as the answer to the meaning of life, universe and everything. That answer shocks everyone who had assembled to hear it. The computer asserts that the answer is absolutely correct, it's only that the question was wrong.
Similarly, most questions will merely lead you astray, the answers to which will fill you up with what has been termed Avidya, Ajnana or nescience. Ramana Maharshi asserted that only the question worth asking is 'Who am I' or only the desire to discover your true identity can succeed. At some point, all quest needs to be stopped, for only when the mind is completely vanquished, truth will reveal itself.
