And the Truth will set You Free

Jiva is who you are. Right at this moment.  Yes, You! The one who is reading this.  But, guess what? This is just the apparent reality.  

You are way more amazing !!!  

The Truth, Vedanta, tells us is that this very Jiva is the One Reality, the all-pervading Brahman.

The mind immediately rebels.  How sacrilegious!! 

How can this little me, the one beset with problems and doubts, the one held captive by small desires and fears, be Brahman?    What monster sized sin am I incurring by equating myself with Lord God, the Alpha and the Omega? 

Along comes Vedanta, calms us down, and says – Know Thyself.  Know the Truth.  The Truth will set You free.

So what is Vedanta really trying to tell us?  Let us unpack this.

Rupert Spira, in his meditations, often calls the Individual (the Jiva) a wilful localization of the Infinite (the Brahman) to a Finite existence, an apparent act of self-limitation.  

The Infinite One appears as Many through infinite number of such localizations.  And as these Many, experiences Itself in the infinite variety of appearances.  

Om Puurnnam-Adah Puurnnam-Idam
Puurnnaat-Purnnam-Udacyate 

The inherent ability which allows the Brahman to appear as Many is call Maya. 

Maya enables Brahman to project itself as an infinite number of what I would call “conceptual entities”.  These “conceptual entities” in conjunction with Brahman becomes something which appears or manifests.   These manifestations can be Jiva or Jada, depending on the characteristics of the “conceptual entity”.   In Vedantic Terms these conceptual entities are called "Nama-Rupa" which literally translates Name and Form and is the mechanism for the One to appear as Many.  

Closely tied with the concept of Nama-Rupa is the process of “Upadhi” that governs how the conjunction/association of the “conceptual entity” with Brahman actually occurs and results in the appearance of a manifested entity.   Upadhi is the processes through which an item appears to transfer its own characteristics to another.  

Recently, Swami Sarvapriyananda ji demonstrated this process by placing objects of different colours behind a clear glass of water and showing how the water appears to have taken on the colour of the object placed behind without actually changing.  When a orange flower is placed behind that glass of water, from the perspective of someone seeing the glass from the other side, the water will appear orange.

Similarly, the association of the "conceptual-entity", the Nama-Rupa, with the Brahman, results in an entity appearing in the Cosmos.   It is important to understand that both the Cosmos and the manifested entities are Mithya, dependent realities that appear on the substratum of the One Reality Brahaman,   

Some of the "conceptual entities" in conjunction with Brahman, manifest as inert material, such as a stone or AI, called Jada, they manifest the Existence aspect of the Infinite.  Some manifest both Existence and Consciousness, and those are us, the Jivas. 

So, as Jiva we are essentially Brahman with the Upadhi of the individual “Conceptual Entity” that we think we are. 

Each of us. 

The same.

Brahman has been described as Satyam, Jnanam, Anantam.   Existence, Consciousness, Infiniteness.     

As Jiva we are Really non different from Brahman.  Jivo brahmaiva naparah.

That is the Truth.

But how will this set us free?

 The moment we realize that we not the “conceptual entity”, but we in truth are that One Brahman, we are instantly freed of the “conceptual entity” that we thought we were and all associated problem.   What’s more, we realize that this Cosmos is but a Cosmic Play, our Real role is that of a detached observer.  Just like the screen, upon which a movie is appearing. 

Of course in this empirical reality that we call our Cosmos or Jagat, the Jiva that we manifest still has a role to play. 

As Sri Krishna, instructs us in Bhagavad Gita, the knowledge of Truth allows us to play this role to the best of our ability but with detachment. 

We work for the outcome as required by the Dharma of the situation we find ourselves in, but not for the result that accrues to the “conceptual entity”.    It’s all funny money anyway. 

This concept is not unique to Vedantic thought process alone and finds echo in other cultures as well. Lord Jesus knew the Truth and I think this is what he tried explaining to his audience: 

"I and the Father are one."   - John 10.30

"You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” - John 8.20

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  - John 8.31-32.  

These statements about knowing the Truth and the Truth setting one free resonate deeply with Vedanta’s core message of liberation through self-knowledge.

In India, of course, this Truth has always been known and understood.  My brother and I have grown up hearing our mother repeat the following saying quite often 

Dharma pothe Mati rekhe Karma Kore Jao.

Keeping Mind Focused on the tenets of Dharma, perform your duties as a Karma Yogi.   

In this endeavour there is no greater friend that our own Sri Krishna and no bigger support than our devotion to Him.

That’s the secret of eternal happiness and cessation of all sorrow.

So How do you get there? 

By Sadhana.

The process of Sadhana involves prising apart the limiting Nama-Rupa from Brahman. Not physically, but spiritually.  Until Brahman alone shines forth in all its glory.

This, essentially, is the Subject Matter of Bhagavad Gita where Sri Krishna, explains masterfully, the mechanics to knowing your identity.  Do it through Devotion, through Mediation, through Service or through the path of Contemplation and Knowledge. Or through a combination of those.  

Let Sri Krishna, Lord God Himself, be your guide.  It is His Grace, His Grace alone, that allows us to reach the Truth. 

Sri Krishna Saraman Mamah.