All the religions of the world are correct by their viewpoint. The religion which investigates“Who am I ? and ‘Who is the doer?’ is the final religion. This is the absolute religion. Absolute religion imparts liberation.

Once the wrong belief that ‘I am the doer’ is destroyed and the nature of the real doer is known, all our puzzles are solved.

Gnan is knowing “Who am I ?and ‘Who I am not’.

‘I’ and ‘My’ are always separate. There is not a single characteristic of ‘I’ in ‘My’ and ‘My’ in ‘I’. ‘My’ can only be understood exactly once ‘I’ is realized. The slightest element of ‘My’ is an illusion.

Knowing “Who am I ?results in loss of ego. Otherwise it is not possible.

It is impossible to know the Self through one’s own efforts. This is because ego is required to make any effort.

It is not important to make one realize that ‘I am not the doer’. It is important to realize that ‘I am pure Self’.

For Self-realization, a Gnani Purush is needed. The Gnani Purush is able to dissolve your ego because he is completely devoid of ego. Lets consider this example.

Gnani: What is your name?

Questioner: My name is Chandulal.

Gnani: Are you really Chandulal?

Questioner: Yes.

Gnani: Chandulal is your name. Is Chandulal not your name? Are you yourself Chandulal or is your name Chandulal?

Questioner: It is my name.

Gnani: Then who are you? If Chandulal is your name then who are you? Are you and your name not separate? If you are separate from your name, then who are you? Do you understand what I am trying to say? If you say “These are my eye-glasses” then you and the glasses are separate, right? Similarly, do you not feel that you are separate from your name?

 

…to be continued in next part…

–from the book shivoham

–Shikha Punjani