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Bottom Line: How
Does This Work?
There is
nothing mystical or magical about this. It is simple, logical
and applicable to everyone. This is not just for special beings
who were able to transcend their earthly fetters, and rise above
the lowly egoic peasantry through years of self-sacrifice and
meditation. That’s all nonsense. This is true for anyone and
everyone. These words apply to you and to me:
"We
are free here and now, it is only the mind that imagines
bondage. Seeing that there is no such thing as a permanent,
separate person, all becomes clear. You are the immensity
and infinity of consciousness. It is lucid, silent,
peaceful, alert, and unafraid—without desire and fear. To
realize this is the end of all seeking."
—Nisargadatta Maharaj
These few
words say it all. Let’s break them down.
1. "We are
free here and now, it is only the mind that imagines bondage."
Is this true?
Consider your own experience. When you are sitting quietly, not
thinking about yourself and your problems, can anything trouble
you? Can there be any bondage if you are not imagining yourself
to be bound? Of course you are free here and now! Nisargadatta
puts it another way, too: "Nothing can trouble you but your own
imagination." There is no such thing as bondage. It is merely a
concept!
2. "Seeing
that there is no such thing as a permanent, separate person, all
becomes clear."
Is this true?
Look for yourself. What is the common denominator in all of your
suffering, all of your problems? What is at the center of your
life situation? What is this ‘me’ that says, ‘my’ life, ‘my’
problems? If it is seen that there is no separate me, no
separate person here at all, can there be any suffering? The
‘me’ who was bound and suffering is just imagination. Reading
the words and agreeing or disagreeing is not enough. Seeing this
for yourself is the key.
3. "You
are the immensity and infinity of consciousness. It is lucid,
silent, peaceful, alert, and unafraid—without desire and fear."
If I am not
the separate person I thought I was then what am I? Isn’t
consciousness your essential nature? If you are not conscious
can anything else exist? Can there be a ‘me’ and ‘my’ story if
consciousness is not there to witness it? What is the nature of
pure consciousness? Isn’t it clear, silent, peaceful, alert,
unafraid? So consciousness is what you are: not a separate
person.
4. "To
realize this is the end of all seeking."
For what are
you seeking? Aren’t you seeking for clarity, peace, freedom from
desire and fear? Aren’t these the characteristics of
consciousness? You are what you are seeking! Realizing that you
are consciousness, not the separate person you imagined yourself
to be, the seeking comes to an end and you are free! When these
words are understood and known as the truth they become your
daily living experience. It’s as simple as it looks. There’s
nothing magical or mystical about it. There is no need for any
mystical experience of universal love and union. The
understanding brings on a simple experience of Peace and
well-being that is felt as the common ground of all your daily
experiences. Happiness and sadness, laughter and tears, anger
and joy: all come and go in this awareness of peace and
well-being. Nothing to gain. Nothing to lose. Everything is as
it is.
