Posts Tagged ‘Members’
Non-duality and Mysticism
The main doctrines of the non-dual philosophy may be described as mystical, not in the sense of being mysterious or magical, but in their firm focusing on what is beyond the realm of appearances and which transcends the subject-object dualism of everyday experience. What are the chief doctrines that we are concerned with? 1. Reality…
Read MoreThe Holy Quran
The Quran is the scripture of the Muslim faith. It was revealed inspirationally to Mohammed, whose reception of the teachings was unplanned and unanticipated. Their importance was immediately recognised by him, and his words expressing them were carefully written down by his companions. By the end of his life, hundreds of teachings had been communicated…
Read MoreThe Nature of Truth
Why do we bother to ask the question: ‘What is Truth?’ We are obliged to do so by one of the most fundamental urges in the human mind. Whenever we see an unfamiliar object, we ask: ‘What is it?’ Whenever we come across a new person in our social life, we ask a friend: ‘Who…
Read MoreAwakening the Higher Intuition
One of the things that science has taught us is that we can perceive nothing unless we have the necessary sense organs. We are completely unaware of those parts of the universe which we are not equipped to perceive. One instance of this is the discovery by the use of radio telescopes of many radio…
Read MoreThe Reflection Theory
Based on teachings in volume three of the Shankara Source Book (on the Soul) The reflection theory is an account of human nature for those who are seeking the highest wisdom. It shows how this wisdom is essentially present in every human being, and how the mind can be progressively adjusted so that what is…
Read MoreThe Ultimate Aim of Our Enquiry
This Self is the one unbroken witness of the dance of every intellect… It is the light that illumines all intellects and is illumined by none. It stands motionless amid the presence and absence of modifications of the mind. Naishkarmya Siddhi, 2:58 and 2:66. Our path to Self-knowledge brings with it the awareness of our…
Read MoreThe Light Behind the Mind
There are two entities which comprise the whole Universe, the perceptible and the imperceptible. The perceptible is only a small part of the imperceptible, that which is unimaginable. These two entities are really one. It is not that they have split themselves into parts. They are like two aspects of the same coin. At the…
Read MoreNon-Duality—Preparation and Achievement
The greatest achievements are usually hard-won. The achievement that surpasses all others is the awakening to the higher self-knowledge. This is to realise, as a matter of direct experience, that one’s innermost Self is not different from the Reality which underlies the whole cosmos. Through sustained efforts and an ever-deepening interest in the goal, we…
Read MoreEndeavour to be a Sant
Whose bodies, minds and words overflow with goodness; Whose chief delight and satisfaction is benevolence to all beings; Who swell the merits of others to mountains when they are like atoms, And are ever fully pleased by the inner vision— Such sants are indeed rare. Bhartrihari A Sant* is not distinguished by any external signs.…
Read MoreThe Realisation of Brahman through Love and Knowledge
Knowledge in the sense in which Shri Shankara uses the term, means the highest knowledge, a supra-mental knowledge through a spontaneous experience of the Self as the highest good and supreme Reality. The otherness of the absolute Reality passes away like a dream, and the individual self (jiva) realises its essence in identity with the…
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