Summary:

The satya-mithya teaching in Advaita Vedanta explains that Awareness (Consciousness) is the only reality (satya), while everything else, including time, space, and objects, is dependent on it (mithya). By understanding this relationship, we see that objects like a table are actually wood, which further reduces to atoms, and ultimately, intangible concepts. This analysis shows that the entire universe, reducible to concepts, depends on Awareness. Thus, Awareness is the ultimate reality, free from distinctions, revealing the non-dual nature of existence where only Awareness truly exists.

Kena Upanishad, Chapter 1, Verse 2: Continuing…

COMPLETE SATYA-MITHYA TEACHING:

So far we've seen:

1. If Awareness is attributeless, thus it can’t be two.
2. Everything is dependent on this One attributeless Awareness. But it still makes Awareness different from everything-else (so the seeker naturally concludes it thus must be ultimate bliss!). This assumption makes awareness vijatiya-bheda (another limited object).

To resolve this assumption we need to see how you can’t put Consciousness into vijatiya-bheda category…

• Step 1: Context
  • So far we’ve understood: While awareness is free from time-space-objects, Time-space-object has no reality independent of awareness.
  • Satya-mithya teaching makes you see the relationship between Awareness and time-space-objects. Showing HOW time-space-objects resolves into Awareness (the final reality).
  • Without satya-mithya, analysis is incomplete, and leads to dvaita-advaita (EG: I am Awareness, and everything else is illusion!)
• Step 2: Define
  • Satya: That which has an independent existence. It means it is self-existing and does not rely on anything else for its being. Mithya borrows its existence from Satya.
  • Mithya: That which has a dependent existence. Its being-ness is contingent on the substance (satyam) from which it derives its existence. 
• Step 3: Explain
  • Take any object. So far “table” is one thing, and “wood” is another thing. However upon analysis, reality of table is wood. For time being there is satya-mithya relationship between table and wood. There seems to be table and wood, but in reality, there’s only wood. Because if take away wood, there’s no “Table”.
  • Then why don’t call it wood? Why do we call it “table”? Has a distinct form. But substance for any form (which name is given), is wood.
  • What is relationship between of table/wood? While table’s existence is entirely dependent on wood, wood is independent of table. Entire table is pervaded by wood. Pervading entire table, wood remains free of table.
  • Forms within Forms:
    • So wood is called satya, and table is mithya. But Vedanta goes further…
    • What is wood? Atoms. If take out atoms, no wood. Thus wood is mithya, and atoms are satyam.
    • Then reduces to quantum level, which says, we’re used to thinking of physical particles, but at quantum level, the distinction between physical-particles and wave (probabilities) becomes fuzzy. So there’s no tangible objects remaining.
  • Reduces to concepts.
    • Doesn’t mean “mental concept”, else becomes “subjective idealism”.
    • Means the object further reduces to something which isn’t tangible (like particle/wave), but intangible blueprint/knowledge which can’t be seen. Similar to how the stuff of our dream isn’t a tangible object, but intangible concepts.
  • What about time?
    • Units within units: 1 hour > 1 min > 1 sec… what is final building block of time?
  • What about space?
    • Units within units: How far am I from you? 4 meters. 1 meter = 100cm. 1cm = 10mm.
    • Math: Suppose I create dots between you and I? How many dots I need? Infinite. How can infinite dots create finite distance? EG: You can keep cutting 2meter infinitely into half.
• Step 4: Relationship between Concepts & Awareness
  • If everything reduces to concept, then what is relationship between entire universe (reducing to concept) and Awareness?   What is the final base into which everything reduces? Consciousness.

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Recorded 9 July, 2024