Theory vs. Advaitic realisation
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
[now a Centre of the international Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission]
DAILY READINGS
Day 1007
When we look at something which belongs to us, we take it for granted. We think, 'Ah, I see this all the time, so what does it matter?' Like many people take their wives for granted. They think the wife is a piece of furniture. Only now and then must he polish it up with some good words. And they polish it up and shine it a little and they have their way out of it, they get the service they want and then let it rust again, polishing it again when necessary. Some wives do that to the husband – that's true of course, so it's vice versa.
Just like that, this book here, when you look at it on the shelf you say, 'Ah this is a Ramakrishna book'. You take it for granted. You don't look inside. Because it's Ramakrishna, because it's yours – which is familiarity. It doesn't only breed contempt, it breeds laziness. Now from the Ramakrishna Upanishad…[Swamiji begins reading – book words in italics]
An advaitin [practitioner or aspirant of Advaita Vedanta] once asked the Paramahamsa for his advice on Advaita – the non-dualistic approach to God. Non-dualistic – one without a second. But I don't like that and I know certain people will jump down my throat because some of the scriptures say 'one without a second'. But I don't like that saying. I prefer what Buddha said: 'It's not two.' Now you can imagine in your mind whether it's one, or more than two, but it's not two. You can't say anything about it – what it is, how much it is – you can't say. Even if you say 'One', you reduce it. 'One' – the concept. It's not two. I like Buddha's saying better than the other saying. 'Ah…not two.' What's it? 'Non-dualistic means One without a second'. No – not two. That's all you can say about the Atman – it's not two. It's one? I don't know. It's two? I don't know. It's three? I don't know. But it's not two – this I know.
An advaitin once asked the Paramahamsa for his views on Advaita. The advaitin said, 'Brahman alone is real. The world we see around us is false. This is the true Vedantic view, is it not?' Bhagawan Sri Ramakrishna said, 'It is easy to argue and prove that the world around us is false. That it is all an illusion. And that the Supreme Brahman alone is the Truth. But, a logical proof of Brahman as the sole reality does not amount to experience or realisation of Brahman. Between intellectual knowledge and spiritual experience, there is a world of difference.'
Ramakrishna is saying this. 'There is a world of difference'. If we know that what is yonder is only a mirage – it's very important what he's saying – if we know that what is yonder is only a mirage, we will not seek to get a pot of water from it.
Very practical. If you know that it's a mirage…suppose you're walking in a desert and you know that's a mirage, on seeing the water will you take a pot and run to get the water from it? Think, think, think carefully!
If anyone should ask us to go there for water, we would ridicule him. If we know that what looked like water was only an illusion, we would act accordingly. Act accordingly.
What we do about the mirage depends on whether we know it to be a mirage or not. But – this is not the case in respect of the truth of Advaita. By dialectics [the art or practice of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments], we reach the conclusion that the supreme Brahman alone is true. That the jivas and the multi-form things of the universe around us are only an appearance. Are only an?…appearance.
Yet the conclusion does not enter and transform our heart and mind. The conclusion that we have reached intellectually stands apart and does not touch and mould our life. Does not touch and mould our?…lives. It is not yet part of our innermost being. The conclusion that we arrive at by such learning and by much verbal argument remains with us like the burden on a donkey's back. [Swamiji chuckling] Heh! You reasoned it out that this world is an illusion – but what's so good about it? He's saying that if you know it's a mirage there in the desert, and yet you take a pot running there for water [Swamiji laughing heartily], what's so good about that reasoning? Huh? You're not acting accordingly. You're not acting accordingly.
1) Care should be taken by the reader to understand and take Swamiji's words in these postings, in context. Every teaching or instruction that he gave was specific to the people who were with Swamiji at the time.
2) Mouse-over the words highlighted in red in the posting for further explanation or links.
There are currently available, 150 different CDs or DVDs with mp3 files, of Swamiji speaking. Please email timhoare@webmail.co.za to order.
For more about the Holy Trinity, and also the founding Swamis of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, please mouse over their names below:
Sri Ramakrishna Sri Sarada Devi Swami Vivekananda
Swami Nischalananda Swami Shivapadananda
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - read online
Reference websites – please mouse over the name and click to connect:
Ramakrishna Math and Mission Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa Ramakrishna Dham