Let us look at a situation - that of a dead body. A dead body has all the physical elements that go to make a man, the integrated being we spoke about. But, what is that profound element which does not exist in a dead body, but exists in such glaring obviousness in a living person? Obviously, the dead body has no identity whatsoever. Ironically, when a person dies, we no longer address the body by the name of the person that once was, but we merely address it as body. The fact that the dead body does not command the same respect as that of a living person means that there is something, some profound entity that gives life to the body, which does not exist anymore in the dead body. Even when we pay our respects upon the demise of great men, we don’t pay respects to the body; we pay respect to that entity which expressed itself thru’ the physical body, with which we identified ourselves. Since the entity which expressed itself thru’ the body of a great man cannot be perceived, we pay respect to that entity thru’ the body of the departed person.
Therefore, we can conclude that the identification with ego or the “I” ness exists in a living person only & not in a dead body. In fact, the “I” ness is present only in man, & no other species. This is because of the “AWARENESS” that man has been bestowed upon. Now, when we talk about awareness, we should also answer – AWARENESS OF WHAT? It is the awareness of one’s own self and the surroundings in relation to the self. It is this profound awareness of one’s Self that is at the root of the ego or “I” ness. Therefore, what is absent in a dead person & is present in a living person is the awareness. Where from is awareness drawn? Awareness can only be drawn from an “intelligent entity”. This “intelligent entity” or intelligence itself is called "CONSCIOUSNESS". Therefore, it is Consciousness that imparts upon a person awareness of his own self. Whereas a living person who is the subject, can perceive objects because of the presence of Consciousness and thereby awareness of himself and the surroundings, a dead body cannot perceive because the same Consciousness does not exist any more. Hence, THE REAL SELF IS CONSCIOUSNESS ITSELF. There is no other self other than Consciousness. Whereas identification of oneself with Consciousness is indeed the only true identity, the “I” ness in the normal sense of use is false.
Because Consciousness is the only true identity, it naturally follows that the subject is indeed Consciousness itself. Since Consciousness is the subject, the answer to the question WHO AM I is – I AM CONSCIOUSNESS. Therefore, what the statement “KNOW YOUR SELF” means is that we have to KNOW CONSCIOUSNESS ITSELF. Now arises the contradiction – since I AM CONSCIOUSNESS, THE SUBJECT, THE STATEMENT “KNOW YOUR SELF” MEANS CONSCIOUSNESS HAS TO KNOW ITSELF. In other words, THE SUBJECT HAS TO SEEK ITSELF OBJECTIVELY TO EXPERIENCE ITSELF. But, how can the subject seek itself objectively, when it is not the object but the subject itself?
When discussing about objective knowledge, we saw that the premise of seeking objective knowledge is “OUTSIDE – IN”. Then, knowledge of the subject has to be sought differently because the subject is not an object to be sought. THE SUBJECT IS ITSELF. Therefore, the premise for seeking knowledge of subject is “INSIDE - IN”. That means, we have to seek knowledge of the subject within ourselves. I will not be able to dwell much in detail on how to seek the subject in this series of my blog because that is not the intent of this series. However, the approach in seeking knowledge of the subject is no different from that of the object. Whereas we employ our senses, mind, intellect, & all the other faculties with so much concentration upon an external object to gain objective knowledge, the same when turned within reveals the subject in all its glory and splendor.
Therefore, we can conclude that the identification with ego or the “I” ness exists in a living person only & not in a dead body. In fact, the “I” ness is present only in man, & no other species. This is because of the “AWARENESS” that man has been bestowed upon. Now, when we talk about awareness, we should also answer – AWARENESS OF WHAT? It is the awareness of one’s own self and the surroundings in relation to the self. It is this profound awareness of one’s Self that is at the root of the ego or “I” ness. Therefore, what is absent in a dead person & is present in a living person is the awareness. Where from is awareness drawn? Awareness can only be drawn from an “intelligent entity”. This “intelligent entity” or intelligence itself is called "CONSCIOUSNESS". Therefore, it is Consciousness that imparts upon a person awareness of his own self. Whereas a living person who is the subject, can perceive objects because of the presence of Consciousness and thereby awareness of himself and the surroundings, a dead body cannot perceive because the same Consciousness does not exist any more. Hence, THE REAL SELF IS CONSCIOUSNESS ITSELF. There is no other self other than Consciousness. Whereas identification of oneself with Consciousness is indeed the only true identity, the “I” ness in the normal sense of use is false.
Because Consciousness is the only true identity, it naturally follows that the subject is indeed Consciousness itself. Since Consciousness is the subject, the answer to the question WHO AM I is – I AM CONSCIOUSNESS. Therefore, what the statement “KNOW YOUR SELF” means is that we have to KNOW CONSCIOUSNESS ITSELF. Now arises the contradiction – since I AM CONSCIOUSNESS, THE SUBJECT, THE STATEMENT “KNOW YOUR SELF” MEANS CONSCIOUSNESS HAS TO KNOW ITSELF. In other words, THE SUBJECT HAS TO SEEK ITSELF OBJECTIVELY TO EXPERIENCE ITSELF. But, how can the subject seek itself objectively, when it is not the object but the subject itself?
When discussing about objective knowledge, we saw that the premise of seeking objective knowledge is “OUTSIDE – IN”. Then, knowledge of the subject has to be sought differently because the subject is not an object to be sought. THE SUBJECT IS ITSELF. Therefore, the premise for seeking knowledge of subject is “INSIDE - IN”. That means, we have to seek knowledge of the subject within ourselves. I will not be able to dwell much in detail on how to seek the subject in this series of my blog because that is not the intent of this series. However, the approach in seeking knowledge of the subject is no different from that of the object. Whereas we employ our senses, mind, intellect, & all the other faculties with so much concentration upon an external object to gain objective knowledge, the same when turned within reveals the subject in all its glory and splendor.
So, what exactly happens when knowledge of the subject is gained? In the most profound and most beautiful book “SIDDHARTHA” by Harmann Hesse, the protagonist Siddhartha is a seeker of this knowledge of subject. It so happens that he meets The Buddha one day and asks precisely the same question – WHAT DID YOU EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU SAT UNDER THE BODHI TREE? The Buddha smiles and says – TOO MUCH KNOWLEDGE IS A HINDERANCE, MY DEAR CHILD.
While it is important to acquire knowledge, it is necessary to recognize that wisdom 'happens' only when knowledge ripens... & we as students in life, should allow knowledge to ripen into wisdom without interfering with the process of ripening with all our false egos and prestige... the best of the best teachers in the world can impart only this much knowledge...that's it...from then on, it is our own individual journey to attain to wisdom...wisdom flows thru' each one of us, as long as we allow it to flow... if we construct massive dams of false egos and prestige obstructing the flow, all it leads to is gathering of filth, eventually leading to a slow but sure death of the wonderful river...
While it is important to acquire knowledge, it is necessary to recognize that wisdom 'happens' only when knowledge ripens... & we as students in life, should allow knowledge to ripen into wisdom without interfering with the process of ripening with all our false egos and prestige... the best of the best teachers in the world can impart only this much knowledge...that's it...from then on, it is our own individual journey to attain to wisdom...wisdom flows thru' each one of us, as long as we allow it to flow... if we construct massive dams of false egos and prestige obstructing the flow, all it leads to is gathering of filth, eventually leading to a slow but sure death of the wonderful river...
Knowledge when it ripens, leads to wisdom...And wisdom means, TOTAL, UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER...
Indian philosophy says - whereas seeking objective knowledge can make our life simple and comfortable, it does not bring about contentment and peace. It is the knowledge of the Self, eventually leading to the wisdom of total, unconditional surrender when that knowledge ripens, that MAN FINDS ETERNAL CONTENTMENT, PEACE, BLISS…
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