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Transcending duality

CHENNAI: The scriptures state that the Absolute Reality (Brahman) is non-dual, one without a second and that the diversity that is experienced is only an appearance due to ignorance. The state of unity that is experienced when the Self (Atman) is realised is said to be blissful. One can get insight into this state of non-dual awareness from the familiar experience of sleep. On waking up a person says he slept blissfully. As there are no objects experienced in sleep, the bliss that is experienced is a reflection of one’s nature (the Self).

In his discourse, Sri Goda Venketeswara Sastri said as long as there was duality there would be likes and dislikes, and hence it was only in that non-dual state where there was no second that there would not be any sorrow. The Vivekachudamani states, “It is this Supreme Oneness which alone is real since there is nothing else but the Self. Verily, there remains no other independent entity in the state of realisation of the highest Truth. This entire universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms is nothing else but Brahman which is absolutely free from all the limitations of human thought.” Until the dawn of Self-knowledge which dispels ignorance only duality is evident to human perception. So how is it possible to grasp this truth? The example of a jar will be helpful. The jar is essentially only clay and after the clay has been fashioned into the form of a jar it is given a new name. So also is this variegated universe really Brahman though name and form create diversity.

Lord Krishna has endorsed this truth in the Bhagavad Gita, “I am the source of the entire creation, and into Me again it disappears. There is nothing else besides Me, Arjuna. Like clusters of yarn-beads formed by knots on a thread, all this is threaded on Me.” But one finds it difficult to accept this because sensory experience which is so palpable is to the contrary. But, just because sensory experience creates the impression of variety one cannot on that basis conclude that this diverse universe has not come from the non-dual Brahman. The non-dual Self can be experienced. As a mirror has the capacity to reflect an object, similarly the human mind has the ability to reflect the non-dual Self within.

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