CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE ABSOLUTE: NOV 18, 1980

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November 18, 1980 Page 13

M: My present outlook is without limitation, total freedom.

Ultimately one must go beyond knowledge, but the knowledge must come,

and knowledge can come by constant meditation. By meditating, the

knowledge `I am' gradually settles down and merges with universal

knowledge, and thereby becomes totally free, like the sky, or space.

 

Those who come here with the idea of getting knowledge, even

spiritual knowledge, come here as individual aspiring to get

something; that is the real difficulty. The seeker must disappear.

 

When you know your real nature the knowledge `I am' remains, but that

knowledge is unlimited. It is not possible for you to acquire

knowledge, you are knowledge. You are what you are seeking.

 

Your true being exists prior to the arising of any concept. Can you,

as an object, understand something that existed prior to the arising

of a concept? In the absence of consciousness is there any proof of

the existence eof anything? Consciousness itself is mind, is thought,

is all phenomenal, all manifestation. Apprehending this is being dead

to `I am the body' while alive. This kind of knowledge comes only in

a rare case, and is a very elusive kind of knowledge where no effort

is necessary; in fact, effort itself is a hindrance. It is intuitive

understanding.

 

Q: Then should all spiritual disciplines be dropped?

M: At the highest level this is so; at the earlier levels you have to

do your homework.

 

Those who are able intuitively to grasp this lose their interest in

worldly affairs. Having lost it, what will they get? Whatever they

have lost, they will have lost as an ordinary person, but what they

get in return will be fit for a King. Those who have comprehended and

who have reached a certain stage will not ask for anything, but

everything will come to them spontaneously. There will be no wish for

it; nevertheless, it will be there. 14

 

This does not happen for an individual – it happens for the universal

manifestation, or for the one who has become one with his true

nature. For the Jnani (Sage), only witnessing is taking place.