little-self

ls workshop) Quest In Reality………71
Student Sir, today we don't find any subject for discussion.
Shantnu Now, you should stop using the Sir, appellation.
Student Then how should we address you, Sir?
Angelee I can solve this problem of yours. You may address him with the appellation of 'Dada', which connotes different relationship in India: such as, elder brother, grand father, group leader etc.
Student Madam, what is the difference?
Angelee Master does not want to interact with you on impersonal level, as ‘sir’ word creates the distinction of superiority of rank, age, knowledge and degrees. It is a western style of class-segregation which instead of establishing personal relationship between the pupil and the teacher, servant and master, subordinate and officer, keeps them apart. But in old traditional style of education the Guru (teacher) established direct personal rapport with his pupils. This system created not only an atmosphere of equality but at the same time it inspired reverence in the hearts of the pupil. Close proximity and interaction reflected the latent virtues of the teacher. His noble life became a living example for the students.
Student You mean to say, there should be Guru-pupil relationship in place of student-teacher impersonal interaction i.e., there should be personal basis interaction. But madam, students, I mean pupils, may not take wrong notions of the sense of equality?
Angelee If a teacher, besides his acumen of intellect, also leads an exemplary life; he will automatically leave an immediate impression of virtuosity, on the impressionable young hearts of his pupils. Instead of their derision he will inspire respect and reverence.
Student Oh yes, now we understand. You, yourself, are an example. Though you are the VC of this University, still you are sitting and behaving with us, like equals. In our pursuit of knowledge you have not only brought us here, before a real master, but are also sharing an experience with delight and happiness.
Shantnu My dear little one's, I am neither a teacher nor endowed with the worldly honors. So I don't deserve any kind of appellation. Like the scholars of today, I have not assumed degrees or the wealth of knowledge. That way I am a pauper. Rather I have de-hoarded whatever I ever possessed or acquired and today I feel as empty of knowledge as you students. I am as anxious and curious of knowledge of Reality, as you are, so in our quest of Reality, we are on equal footing. There is absolutely no difference. Our equality of relationship is not a myth but a reality, I am your elder in age, and so as your VC has commanded, you may call me, from now onward, as 'Dada' (Angelee eyed questioningly).
Student We are extremely happy, Dada this has also brought a major break-through in the removal of our mental block-ups. Dada does these mental block-ups or the changing identifications of the self, also represents the doubter's nature in us?
Shantnu Bravo, my dears. You are doing very fine. A good question indeed! Why do we develop doubts?
When we completely identify ourselves with any one of the 'self (of body' mind, intellect, wisdom - consciousness) we don't have any doubts. But as soon as we are free of that identity and are ready for refining our consciousness, our mind develops apprehensions, which we call as doubts. You know when we are no more plagued with the negative tendencies - the playthings of ours senses - and our mind is in their grip we are immersed in the gross-level living of body-conscious, we decline our-self to lower regions of conscious. This leads to bondage of the mind with the material-objective world of sensual pleasures. But soon, it (mind) leaves the region of grosser-self, it moves towards the pastures of refinement, improvement, enhancement and enlightenment, it liberates itself and attains Reality. Thus our mind is the basic, as well as the only factor (entity), that creates its bondage and its liberation also. It is the cause of its ruin and the fruits of its own liberation...
Student Dada, gross-conscious produces only negative tendencies?
Shantnu Actually there are no lower or higher, or negative or positive tendencies. These words only connote type of life we live in and the impressions produced thereof. If we are excessively involved with the indulgences of our senses, the resultant impression or the vibrations produced would reflect only baser/lower quality of life. If the same intensity of involvement is also exercised in the subtle states of our mind (intellect-ego-wisdom), our mind produces the vibrations of positive qualities of life. So when our mind is in degeneration process, it develops psychosis of fear/doubts because of its slackening grip on Reality and substituting the gross-conscious levels as the Reality. But when it starts unshackling itself from lower-regions of negative tendencies and elevates itself towards Reality realms, it exhibits faculties of compassion, love - sacrifice and affection. Negative to positive, positive to neutral, neutral to reality, is the way. And the way leads via self-enquiry.
Student Self-enquiry! Can it remove the doubts?
Shantnu When we are in the baser regions of body-senses-mind trilogy, only sense of perception, can take us out of their slush. The direct impact of noble virtuous lives of our parents, teachers and leaders would impel our mind to change its direction from bondage to liberation. Only at this stage of change-over, self-enquiry takes on the charge.
Student Dada, you mean, when our mind identifies itself with body-senses concept, its reversal journey comes through only precept and as soon as it normalizes itself, it can raise its level of conscious through the agency of self-enquiry.
Shantnu Yes. And to simplify it more clearly, we may state that when we are living in the physical-state of mind, only beautiful (positive) things of the ephemeral world could produce any impact on our mind and turn its direction.
Student Then at what stage we develop doubts?
Shantnu When we are in the physical state of conscious and get bored with the constant similarities of our daily life, we look up for more, for something higher than the stagnation of the present day life. This disaffection with the present identification and the non-conception of the higher level of consciousness is the doubting state. We are hanging in the middle because having loosened our grip of the sensual-living and finding as yet, no firm grip of the next level; we find our-self, temporarily in the doubters lobby. But as soon as we enter the subtle conscious levels we are, no more, tormented by the doubts. At this stage we are stalked by the naked truth of our ignorance-level of reality. Then we don't entertain doubts and lack maturing but observe the complete paucity of knowledge.
Then the instrument of self-enquiry, slow and steady removes the layers of our ignorance and unfolds the thinnest cover of ever blooming ever permeating ever pervading reality. So doubt no more, Realize ever more.
Tbc…..