Analects of Swami Sivananda

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Chapter 4

 

RIDDLE OF THE UNIVERSE

 

(i) Unreal and the Real

(ii) Web of Illusion.

(iii) The Light of Lilghts.

(iv) Strive After the Truth.

(v) Truth Transcendental.

 

(i) Unreal and the Real

 

1. The phenomenal world is a reflection of REality, or a shadow cast

by it on the empirical plane.

2. Brahman appears as the world when cognised through the mind and

the senses.

3. Ignorance is neither real nor unreal.

4. If ignorance is real, it will continue for ever and there can be

no possibility of attaining release from its bonds or limitations.

5. Maya means erroneous cognition.

6. If appearances are to be taken real, then why do they change? Why

do they give satisfaction today but not tomorrow? Why do various

people have various views about them?

7. " I and mine " constitute that initial illusion which is responsible

for the phenomenon of individuality and man's feeling of separation

from God.

8. Each of the three states contradict the other two. This proves

unreality of waking, dreaming and deep sleep states.

9. Sometimes it is said that names and forms are unreal and at other

times it is said that all is Brahman. Is it not a contradiction? No.

Names and forms are not real. They are not Brahman. The substratum

alone is Brahman. Names and forms re Maya.

10. The rings, chains and bangles made of gold are all gold, though

the names given to the modifications of gold are unreal. The

modifications of gold should not be taken as independent of gold and

real. Brahman alone is real. The names and forms which are

modifications should not be taken independent of Brahman and ral.

11. Para Brahman is the Substratum for this world. He is the silent

witness.

12. The relation between Brahman and objects of the world is itself

illusion, becausae there cannot be a real relation between a real and

an illusory thing.

 

Contd...