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Promising approach

CHENNAI: The key to enlightenment lies in the ability to realise the eternal truth that is all pervading, yet remains hidden to human perception. Engaging in philosophical arguments and debates over the cryptic statements (Mahavakyas) of the Upanishads that proclaim the oneness of the soul and God is not enough to obtain enlightenment. One has to go beyond the intellectual level and experience the essence of this highest knowledge as an inner realisation.

This is because the material world engages the attention of individuals and distracts their spiritual pursuit. In a lecture, Swami Gautamananda explained Sri Ramakrishna’s pantheistic vision that saw God in all aspects of creation as the most promising approach to spiritual aspirants for then it would be possible to experience the omnipresence of God. Such a perception leads one to the highest knowledge. There is only one God who manifests in all and says “I alone exist” and He is the indwelling spirit in all of us.

“Who is the Self” is the subject of enquiry in the case of realised souls who find bliss in Vedanta and are able to realise the oneness of God and the soul in their consciousness. Such Jnanis are content with the Self and always commune with God. They have senses under control and have surpassed thirst and hunger and know no sorrow. “What is the truth” is the subject of enquiry in the case of devotees who perceive God as the embodiment of the eternal truth. Such devout souls find bliss in devotional service and attain liberation in this path of Bhakti. Truth is seen as blissful consciousness by the Jnani and as God by the devotee. Both the Jnani and the devotee meet at the same point, Truth.

Adi Sankara’s Nirvana Satakam captures the oneness of God and the soul wherein truth, bliss and pure consciousness converge (Sat-Chit-Ananda). One has to transcend the sense organs, sense objects, mind, intelligence, ego, etc., to reach this state. By a process of negation that discounts all these and also whatever pertains to the elements (earth, sky, air, fire and water), the self is identified as what remains, pure consciousness. This consciousness is eternal and in it is subsumed the cause of the entire universe.

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