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Infinite Consciousness · **RE: The Light of the Great Void -** 03-31-2007, 07:17 PM

The Self or Atman

The basis of truth lies in Self-certainity. The Self precedes everything else in the world. It comes even before the stream of consciousness and all concepts of truth and untruth, reality and unreality, and before all considerations, physical, moral, and metaphysical.

Consciousness, knowledge, wisdom and understanding presuppose some kind of energy known as "Self" to which all of these are subservient; and in fact, they flow from it. All physical and mental faculties, even the vital airs (prana energy) and empirical experiences, appear in the "light of the shining Self," the self-illuminated atman.

They all have a purpose and an end that lie far deeper than themselves and which form the springboard for all kinds of activity, whether physical, mental, and supramental. All these, however, fail to grasp the real nature of the Self, being themselves in a state of continuous flux. Self being the basis of all proof and existing before proof, cannot be proved.

How can the Knower be known, and by whom ? Self is in fact, the essential nature of everyone, even that of the atheist. This Self then, is eternal, immutable and complete, and in its essence, is ever the same at all times, under all conditions and in all states.

The nature of the Self

Though we know that the self exists, yet we do not know what it is, for knowledge itself follows the Self and is due to and because of the Self. The true nature of the Self may however be comprehended by the Self if It could be stripped of all the enshrouding sheaths of senses, mind, understanding and will, in which It is clothed and covered.

What is then left is variously described as "Undifferentiated Consciousness," "Eternal knowledge," or "Pure Awareness," and is characterized by the "Light of the Great Void." It is the supreme principle whose essential nature is self-effulgence. It is infinite, transcendental and the essence of absolute knowledge.

It has three attributes of Sat, Chit and Anand, i.e. , pure existence, pure knowledge and pure bliss. As the Self is complete in Itself, and by Itself, It has no activity of Its own, nor has any need for it, nor requires any outside agency. All-pervading and self-existent, It knows no limits and no motives.

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Infinite Consciousness 1st degree Black Belt Status: Offline Posts: 253 Thanks Given: 6 Thanked 18x in 18 Posts Join Date: Aug 2006 Rep Power: 10	RE: The Light of the Great Void - 03-31-2007, 07:17 PM The Self or Atman The basis of truth lies in Self-certainity. The Self precedes everything else in the world. It comes even before the stream of consciousness and all concepts of truth and untruth, reality and unreality, and before all considerations, physical, moral, and metaphysical. Consciousness, knowledge, wisdom and understanding presuppose some kind of energy known as "Self" to which all of these are subservient; and in fact, they flow from it. All physical and mental faculties, even the vital airs (prana energy) and empirical experiences, appear in the "light of the shining Self," the self-illuminated atman. They all have a purpose and an end that lie far deeper than themselves and which form the springboard for all kinds of activity, whether physical, mental, and supramental. All these, however, fail to grasp the real nature of the Self, being themselves in a state of continuous flux. Self being the basis of all proof and existing before proof, cannot be proved. How can the Knower be known, and by whom ? Self is in fact, the essential nature of everyone, even that of the atheist. This Self then, is eternal, immutable and complete, and in its essence, is ever the same at all times, under all conditions and in all states. The nature of the Self Though we know that the self exists, yet we do not know what it is, for knowledge itself follows the Self and is due to and because of the Self. The true nature of the Self may however be comprehended by the Self if It could be stripped of all the enshrouding sheaths of senses, mind, understanding and will, in which It is clothed and covered. What is then left is variously described as "Undifferentiated Consciousness," "Eternal knowledge," or "Pure Awareness," and is characterized by the "Light of the Great Void." It is the supreme principle whose essential nature is self-effulgence. It is infinite, transcendental and the essence of absolute knowledge. It has three attributes of Sat, Chit and Anand, i.e. , pure existence, pure knowledge and pure bliss. As the Self is complete in Itself, and by Itself, It has no activity of Its own, nor has any need for it, nor requires any outside agency. All-pervading and self-existent, It knows no limits and no motives.