Consciousness is One

[Guest guest]

Shanti Benjamin,

 

(belately!) I would like to offer this quotation.

 

««««

 

....The Advaita issue is this one: who is That from which knowledge

derives which in turn makes us comprehend every datum?

We can, therefore, see that Vedanta wants to comprehend not only the

object, not only knowledge in that act of learning, but also the knower,

the Witness-Subject.

 

According to Advaita three types of knowledge exist:

 

1) The experience of the gross sensorial object-world.

 

2) The experience of the mental-subtle world, that of ideations.

 

(These two experiences address, as one can note, sensible objects:

gross as well as subtle ones).

 

3) The experience of the conscious Witness-Subject, distinct from the

spectacle, object of knowledge. Knowledge implies a knower.

 

Further, Advaita Vedanta examines the knowledge-consciousness through

which the knower can perceive and comprehend.

The West is interested primarily in the first type of experience, and

still within certain limits. Just today with psychology there is an

interest in the second.

The East for a long time has taken into consideration all of the

experiences we have mentioned. And it gave of them not only a

logical-speculative explanation, but has learned, with adequate yoga

techniques, how to penetrate the knowing-acting-Subject, Witness of all.

 

It has thus realized total transcendence from the sensorial object and

from the mental subtle one, with the resulting recognition that these

are but simple phenomenal data.

 

Two are the modalities that lead into and establish integral awareness

of the ultimate Reality:

a) Intellective discernment (buddhi), transcendental apperception.

b) Samadhi, as conscious direct integral ìexperienceî. It stands above

perception of any order. Thought ceases to operate.

 

They represent two legs of the of a single process. Wherefore Vedanta

has unfolded not only an intuitive-theoretical metaphysics of Reality

(which at the same time provides a great contribution to humanityís

philosophical thought), but has given concrete form to an avenue-path

which can be realized and lived.

 

»»»»

 

Using a) and b) from the above quotation it is understandable that to

have "knowledge" of the fact that 'Consciousness is One' our own state

of consciousness must have gone trough the threshold, of full

realization, and into the higher state where that fact would become

obvious.

If we are not there yet, we try and grasp that idea, so to speak, using

the limited manas/mental tool, which beeing dual in its structure, is

unable to comprehend oneness.

Until through sadhana and higher realization we will have gone into that

state of consciousness I believe we can just remain silent about it, or

face endless mental frustration. We can on the other hand put our trust

and faith in those ones, like Shankara, to tell us it is so and that it

does exist within our inner possibilities to attain it..... and work on

our sadhana!!

 

I hope this can be of help.

 

Shanti,

 

Carlo

 

Quotation from:

Introduction by Raphael, to

Shankara, Vivekacudamani

Edizioni Ashram Vidya, Rome

[Translated from the Italian Edition]

 

 

MEDITATION on

Gaudapada's MANDUKYAKARIKA

http://www.vidya-ashramvidyaorder.org