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Nonduality Highlights: Issue #3632, Saturday, August 22, 2009, Editor: Mark
10. Then, addressing Nidagha, Ribhu said: I shall tell you about
the definition of the Self, which is not available in all the
triad of time--past, present, and future--
11. ever the most secret of the secret, by summarizing what has
been expounded by Siva. There is nothing that can be talked of as
non-Self, neither the mind as the non-Self, nor the world as the
non-Self. Be of the certitude that there is nothing that is
non-Self.
12. By the absence of all sankalpas, by the elimination of all
forms, by the conviction of there being only Brahman, be of the
certitude that there is not anything that is non- Self.
13. In the absence of mind, there is no thinking; in the absence
of the body, there is no aging. With the conviction of there
being only Brahman, be of the certitude that there is no
non-Self.
14. Because of the absence of feet, there is no walking; because
of the absence of hands, there is no work. There being only
Brahman alone, be of the certitude that there is no non-Self.
15. Because of the absence of Brahma, the Creator, there is no
world; in the absence thereof, there is no Hari, the sustainer.
There being only Brahman alone, be of the certitude that there is
no non-Self.
16. In the absence of aging, there is no death; nor is there the
world or the Vedas or the gods. There being only Brahman alone,
be of the certitude that there is no non- Self.
17. There is no dharma (righteous conduct), no purity, no
[concept of] truth, no fear. There being only Brahman alone, be
of the certitude that there is no non-Self.
18. Because there is no decay, there is no movement. Because
there is no decay, there is no insentience. There being only
Brahman alone, be of the certitude that there is no non-Self.
19. The Guru, indeed, does not exist; truly, there is no
disciple. There being only Brahman alone, be of the certitude
that there is no non-Self.
20. There being nothing that is the first, there is nothing that
is the second; there being no second, there is nothing as the
first. If there is the concept of truth, something as nontruth
will also arise.
21. If there be any concept of nontruth, a concept of truth will
also arise, with it. If there is inauspiciousness, know that
there is a notion of auspiciousness. Likewise, if there is
auspiciousness, there will be inauspiciousness.
22. If you think of fearlessness, fear is postulated; fear is
concomitant with fearlessness. There being only Brahman alone, be
of the certitude that there is no non-Self.
23. If there is bondage, there is liberation; in the absence of
bondage, there is no liberation. If there is death, there is
birth; in the absence of birth, there is no death either.
24. If there is "you," there is" I;" if there
is no "you," there is no "I." If there is
"this," there is "that;" in the absence of
"that," there is no "this" either.
25. "If it is there" implies something not being there;
"it is not there" implies something being there. If
there is an effect, there is some cause; in the absence of
effect, there is no cause.
26. If there is duality, there is (a concept of) nonduality; in
the absence of duality, there is no (concept of) nonduality
either. If there is something to be "seen," a seer is
also there; in the absence of anything to see, there is no seer
at all either.
27. If there is an interior, there surely is an exterior; if
there be no interior, there is also no exterior. If there be (a
concept of) completeness, it implies something of incompleteness.
28. If there is a little that can be thought of, it becomes all
in no time; if there is not a little--nothing whatsoever of
anything at anytime--nothing arises.
29. Therefore, all this does not exist in the least at any time:
neither you nor I, neither this nor that. There being only
Brahman alone, be of the certitude that there is no non-Self.
30. There is nothing by way of example in this world, nor is
there anything for which an example is to be given. There being
only Brahman alone, be of the certitude that there is no
non-Self.
31. There is no mind to think, "I am the Supreme
Brahman," "This universe is only Brahman alone,"
"You are also only Brahman."
32. I am Consciousness, and there is no non-Self. Be of this
certitude. Thus, in brief, the definition of the Self has been
told to you.
33. By hearing this once, one becomes Brahman oneself.
- Excerpt from the Ribhu Gita, translated from the original
Sanskrit by Dr. H. Ramamoorthy and Master Nome
Essentially the realization of enlightenment brings with it the
sudden comprehension that there is no one and nothing to be
enlightened. Enlightenment simply is. It cannot be owned, just as
it cannot be achieved or won like some trophy. All and everything
is oneness, and all that we do gets in its way by trying to find
it.
Tony Parson, posted to The_Now2