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Path to self-realisation religion

CHENNAI: While scriptures attempt to describe the Supreme Reality, they also accept the limitations and inadequacy of their definitions and descriptions since the goal of self realisation goes beyond the boundaries of this world. It all depends on God’s grace and the ensuing enlightenment; the grace flows when each Atma sincerely seeks God. Those who enjoy inner peace know this truth.

In a lecture, Swami Gautamananda drew attention to Sri Ramakrishna’s clarification regarding the non-committal standpoint of Buddha on the existence or otherwise of God. Buddha neither denied nor affirmed the presence of God, thereby giving room to people to misinterpret this as representative of atheism. Sri Ramakrishna, who perceived God in all aspects of creation, understood Buddha’s experience of enlightenment as an intense merging of intellect with pure consciousness. It was an attainment gained from spiritual practice. By continually meditating on the Supreme Reality, Buddha gained enlightenment, when he eventually got transformed into pure intelligence.

Buddha did not believe that he could convince others about God’s existence. The Absolute Reality is all pervading and both evil and good are subsumed in it. It is left to each one to learn to accept its esoteric nature or deny it. When a dumb person eats a sweet, he is happy, but he cannot express it in words.

Just as it is not possible to contain or describe the sky that defies any comparison, so also God experience is unique with each individual and cannot be caught by words. It is a process where one explores the Self through the self. In the state of Atma Jnana contradictions meet. It is a state between “is” and “is not” in which one realises one’s own real self. The existence of the universe is real to those who are involved with sense objects. But others believe that the entire universe is illusory, Maya. Existence and non-existence are attributes of nature. Buddha transcended both these states.

Great realised souls also are unable to express their God experience. Even when they are engaged in their ordained work, they remain connected to God at all times.

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