Summary:

Lesson 100 reconciles apparent differences between limited individual and limitless Ishvara by showing they both resolves into one same Brahman.

So far we've done two inquiries:

• 1) Who are you?
  • You are that in whose presence, everything is objectified (including your own body/mind changes).
  • Only difference between body-mind and other objects is you have special relationship/connection with one body-mind. Like with with one house.
  • But in both cases (body-mind / objects), I don’t become what I know about.
    • EG: I know of table, I don't become table. I know of thought, I don't become that thought.
    • Meaning I am presence which is free of everything.
  • Next question: Is this Presence unique to just me?
    • Method 1: If it was different to another, then it must have some attribute. But all attributes belong to body-mind.
    • Method 2: EG: There is one undivided space in which all objects are. But presence of objects, as though, creates divisions.

• 2) What is cause of universe?
  • Above inquiry doesn't answer where all objects come from. And HOW they, seemingly divide the undivided Awareness.
  • Any effect requires two causes:
    • Maker: If whole universe is intelligently put together, then maker MUST BE all knowledge-power.
      • EG: Maker of pot has knowledge of pot, but maker of everything, has knowledge of everything.
    • Material: What makes time-space-objects.
      • If there is material separate from the maker (all-knowledge, all-power), that implies there is already space, time and objects. Logic breaks down.
      • Therefore only other possibility: Material and maker are not-two. Meaning, Ishvara is in-and-through every form in universe.
• Next question: If Ishvara is everywhere, how come I don't see Ishvara?
  • Look into any form, you see it is forms within forms. We end up where?
    • If use normal knowledge, end up at quantum physics, which stops at question: What is final building block from which the smallest of the smallest is made?
  • Vedanta continues where quantum physics stops: Final building block of everything is not any particular particle, but all-knowledge, all-power.
    • Organizing every level of form to become next successive assembly.
    • Hence there is one intelligence appearing AS all objects.
• Next question: Where was all knowledge-power before time-space-objects manifested?
  • Same intelligence was there, but in potential.
    • Metaphor: Today you have potential for tonight's dream-world, which it yet to manifest. Meaning same entity is present, in whom potential for world exists.
  • This means there is no “start” of creation. It’s in beginningless cycles.

What if I don’t know about the one Cause of the Universe?

• Then even if I know about Nature of “I”, there will be continued seeking/fascination into world. Sucks me into the small things. Worry. Loss of childlike beginners mind. Hinders evolution.
• If don’t see relevance of Ishvara, one is bound to exhibit heavy treats like: Lack of humility, living in a bubble, hard to relate, intellectual superiority, prone to criticizing/complaining, poor manners/culture, questionable integrity, not easily trusted.
• Instead, if recognize every word, idea, thought, postulation comes from the One Cause (from which Time/Space itself is born), then you are at general peace with anything from thereon. Which brings lucidity.

Final part of Oneness equation:

• So far it seems that the One Cause (all-knowledge-power) is the final truth (satyam). However there is one more final reality which even Ishvara depends for it’s being.
• To demonstrate this, we need to bring in Oneness equation called: tat tvam asi.
  • tat (that): referring to Cause of Universe (Ishvara).
  • tvam (you): referring to the the individual jiva.
  • asi (are): You, the individual, are equated to Ishvara in reference to Consciousness. Meaning both you and Ishvara enjoy the same reality appearing as two different things.
    • QUESTION: But how can I (limited knowledge-power individual) be equated to Ishvara (limitless knowledge-power)?
    • Firstly, we must acknowledge there is a difference in knowledge/power between individual & Ishvara. However difference is apparent and resolved upon inquiry. How is it apparent? Let’s demonstrate with an example…
      • E=mc2 (Energy = Matter).
      • Before resolving: two sides of equation are dissimilar.
      • After resolving: we understand that matter transforms into energy; vice-versa.
        • Thus difference between two sides is apparent; not real.
        • And the understanding is not pointed out directly in the formula. Formula only shows what is true.
        • How to understand what is true, takes place through guru-śiṣya paraṃparā.
• To test understanding of what is an equation:
  • Is (5 = 5) an equation? No.
  • Is (Individual = Ishvara) an equation? No.
  • Is (3 + 2 = 6 – 1) an equation? Yes. Even though looks different on both sides, upon solving, there's no difference.
  • Meaning if we make a mistake on either side, then you’ll be in a deeper delusion then before solving it.
• In terms of Oneness, we need to discover:
  • What is the relationship between “tat” (Ishvara) and “tvam” (individual that I find myself to be)?
  • So far we know:
    • Individual = limited knowledge/power.
    • Ishvara  = all knowledge/power.
    • And goal is to find a resolving point between these apparent differences. Where is identity between individual & Ishvara? What is point of resolution between individual & Ishvara? Existence-Awareness (sat-cit).
• RIGHT SIDE OF EQUATION: tvam
  • Individual intelligence depends upon Consciousness/Awareness for it’s existence. Because without Consciousness, there’s no thought. IE: What is there to illumine the thought?
  • Thus content of every thought, emotion, memory, cognition & I-sense… is Consciousness.
  • While Consciousness remains independent of intelligence. And is present in thought and silence, as we’ve seen in 3-states of experience example last week.
  • Therefore, what is the irreducible reality, without which there's no individual intelligence? Presence of consciousness/awareness.
• LEFT SIDE OF EQUATION: tat
  • Firstly let's revise some points about Ishvara…
    • Ishvara is All-knowledge-power, constantly undergoing change to create, sustain and transform every particle in the universe.
      • EG: Take any object. Takes lots of intelligence to put it together. Meaning, wherever there is object (at any level), there is intelligence. EG: We don't know how many cells in own body. Thus it's obvious we didn't create it.
    • Ishvara is the total intelligent order as both manifest & potential.
      • EG: My body in 5 years will continue aging in a predictable way. Meaning potential carries order how body will be in 5 years.
    • Isvara manifests itself in form of cause-effect order, which matches present results to corresponding past actions.
    • There’s no final material in the universe. Because every form resolves to time/space, which further resolves to all-knowledge-power that existed before time-space-objects came.
      • So there is only intelligence appearing as names-forms.
        • EG in Mundaka Upanishad: Many sparks arise from conflagration of one flame. Meaning there is one flame appearing as many sparks.
  • And for this very intelligence to put together the entire universe, in requires presence of Consciousness. Just as no amount of knowledge is useful unless entity is Conscious.
  • So what is the irreducible reality, without which there's no all-knowledge? Presence of consciousness/awareness.

Bringing point of resolution for both sides of equation: asi

• Point of resolution is: Consciousness (Brahman), which is explained by 3 words: sat-cit-ānanda.
  • Sat: Existence / presence. Is-ness of things.
    • Knowledge IS. Time-space IS. Quark IS. Proton/electron IS. Atom IS. DNA IS. Cell IS. Heart IS. Human body IS.
      • “IS” = always true, unchanging, in which mithya names-forms resolve into.
  • Cit: Neither individual-intelligence nor all-intelligence can exist without Awareful, conscious presence.
  • And the glory/nature/beauty of this Conscious Existence (sat-cit) is: ananda (limitless).
• Therefore, satchitananda is the final (satyam) which everything depends on… including Ishvara.
• So what is satcitananda? The awareness in whose presence I come to know Īśvara and my own body.

Context using a hierarchy model:

• Stage 1: From Limitless Consciousness (Brahman), there is a potential to manifest the universe. Unmanifest potential called: maya.
• Stage 2: When potential manifests as universe, that same potential is called: Ishvara (God).
• Stage 3: Ishvara manifests individuals called: jiva. (You happen to be one of them). Just like you (ishvara of your dream), manifests characters in the dream, called jivas.
• Meaning, the One non-dual Consciousness appears as:
  • Microcosm: jiva (body-mind-sense complex).
  • Macrocosm: Ishvara (time/space and laws governing all forms, including jiva forms).
  • While Consciousness does not undergo any changes whether universe is manifest or unmanifest. Consciousness is satcitānanda. Enjoying itself as limitlessness.

Applying to real life while living:

• How to see oneness in all beings?
  • We recognize, where there is individuality, there is all knowledge-power, that's not only organizing your body, but everyone's form.
    • This same all-knowledge-power was available even before universe came.
    • And what is truth of all knowledge-power? Satcitananda.
• Order:
  • Brahman: The final reality.
  • Maya: All-knowledge (sarvajna), all-power (sarva-shaktiman) in potential. 
  • Isvara: All knowledge, all-power manifesting the universe. Ishvara knows all that is here is One appearing as many.
  • Jiva: doesn't know that all that is here is One appearing as many.
  • And right now, all 4 are present. This is why Vedanta can't be contradicted by any logic, because all 4 are true from different standpoints.

To help understand the One Reality further, let’s bring back wave-ocean metaphor:

• Wave can understand itself as water, and entire ocean is water.
  • Meaning there is only water, as though, appearing in form of waves and ocean.
  • And only after PROPERLY grasping all 3 realities (wave, ocean, water) – wave can say:
    • I am the ocean.
    • I am everything that is here, because the content of both wave and ocean is WATER alone.
• This very understanding is called mokṣa.
  • What is mokṣa?
    • Truth of me is the truth of everything.
    • And while alive, one’s limitlessness is understood in spite of apparent limitation of individuality.
  • What is non-mokṣa?
    • A wave continues to live as a wave, until it recognizes two more realities.
    • Until then, the individual lives in samsara (caught up in individuality / focus on beads). Keeps being reborn to continue notion of itself as a limited entity.

Cautions about the big picture:

• Caution 1: Wave says “I am part of the Ocean”. Jiva says “I am part of Ishvara”.
  • 2 schools of thought:
    • Visisthadvaita:
      • All that is here is Īśvara, and you are one part of Ishvara.
      • They stop at Ishvara.
      • I am one entity of total.
      • It's not wrong. Just doesn't go all the way.
    • Advaita:
      • Forms are different. Content is One.
      • Meaning at level of content, there's no difference between individual/Īśvara. This is what “Tat tvam asi” is pointing out. Both (jiva/Īśvara) are the same satyam-reality.

• Caution 2: If dig deeper into universe, we can discover consciousness.
  • This is impossible. Because wherever there is mithya, that’s exactly where satyam is.
  • Wave doesn’t need to go deeper into itself to discover the water.
  • Equation is not done at level of form, but level of content of all forms. Everything resolves in water.
• Caution 3:
  • After listening to Vedanta, person still takes “Awareness” to be function of mind. Then they superimpose limitlessness onto the mind’s notion.
  • Produces unrelatability, “I am above the scriptures, the guru, the universe”.
  • Humility is the best indicator that this mistake is not being made.
• Caution 4:
  • If I am limitless, then I can get the world to do as I desire.
  • Law of attraction mindset: I have capacity to influence the universe according to my fancies.
  • Reality check: Before 2008 financial disaster, millions read Law of attraction, expecting to make a fortune. Then crises happened. Many lost their savings.
  • Reason we buy into idea “I control variables of universe”: If I don’t know where my boundary of control ends, I will include entire universe into it.
• Caution 5: Modern teachings, “Bypass Ishvara”, since it’s mithya. Only focus on nature of “I”.
  • Rational: Why should I think of cause of universe, if everything collapses into Awareness.
  • Why do people skip Īśvara and go straight to “I am limitless Awareness”?  Want quick escape from past life pain/guilt. Just discard world as mithyā.
  • Reality check:
    • Your individuality has to undergo a certain growth, to see your connection with the universe. Need to care for self-image, emotional life, how to make decisions, build resilience.
    • If skip Īśvara, then individual growth doesn't take place. Which makes person live in delusion of Oneness.
    • To get the full vision, you need to become a Deserving Recipient. This takes effort.
• Caution 6: Since everything is One, thus I have to love everyone and be equal to all.
  • Why is this incorrect? If love everyone, you're inviting abuse. EG: Yuddhisthira was inviting abuse of Duryodhana by being just to all.
  • Solution: Need to establish boundaries.
• Caution 7: Nature of “I” is achieved through a sudden insight in deep meditation.
  • Common belief: Something clicks while meditation, then Enlightened.
  • Reason for belief:
    • Without knowledge, mind tilts towards path of least resistance.
    • EG: Religious mind imagines Jesus coming down from clouds for rapture. Spiritual mind imagines in it’s own way.
  • Reality check: Per B.Gita, only way to mokṣa is through rigorous inquiry, analyzing aspects of life.
• Caution 8: Ishvara is mithyā.
  • This is true, but Intelligent Vedantin has no need to declare Īśvara as mithyā. Here's 3 better, humble ways to say it:
    • Īśvara's truth is Awareness and Ishvara knows it, while I don't. And Īśvara through His teaching, is showing you, “Hey little child, you and me are ultimately one!”.
      • Meaning, I need to acknowledge that grasping Reality is not fully in my control. And there is one intelligence, by whom, even this little mind (trying-to-understand) is governed by.
    • Wave says: I am pervaded by the Ocean, and the reality of Ocean is water, so wherever there is Ocean, there is Water.
    • Both individual and total are appearances of One reality.
      • I don't know it. But total knows it. Therefore whole teaching comes from Ishvara.
      • So no question of negating appearance.

Final conclusion:

• How is Vedanta different from modern healing systems?
  • Other systems:
    • I have to be a better human being. Focuses on improving “I-sense”.
    • Negation. Focuses on negating what I am not.
  • Vedanta:
    • It doesn't negate the apparent differences.
    • It points out how we miss out on intelligence which makes all forms what they are.
    • This intelligence is called Ishvara, which has it’s existence in one final reality; Awareness (Brahman).
      • They enjoy a satya / mithya relationship.
      • Strictly speaking, can’t use the two terms interchangeably. Because Ishvara refers to intelligence. Brahman refers to Awareness.

How does this matter in my daily life?

• Wherever you are, that's exactly where Isvara is, making your form what it is. Meaning if don't know Ishvara, will live as isolated form.
• You no longer live in meaningless/random world.
• You will respect all the forms, which follow certain cause-effect relationship.
• Fear gone of tomorrow / feeling of persecution. Lack of trust.
• Less stressed, more patient.
• Resilient towards challenges.
• Cheerfulness, light, playfulness.
• No more victim mode.

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Recorded 3 Nov, 2020