The Play of Realization

1. Quantum Isvara and Maya Stuff

Which came first? The waking dreamstate, the sleeping dreamstate, or the deep sleep state.

Consciousness is of course primary and is the only one of these three present in deep sleep.

The mind appears in consciousness as the sleeping dream, and the body appears in the mind as the waking dream.

In consciousness, does the dream mind appear and project a world body to act its dreams out? Like Isvara and Maya?

2. Vidyaranya Says

Furthermore, is avidya simply the feedback of forgetting the world is appearing in the mind and the mind is appearing in consciousness, believing instead that dreams are projections of the waking world and not vice versa?

Vidyaranya says, "The half manifestation of ego is the dream state. The full manifestation of ego is the waking state."

And "Thought modifications of the inner mind identifying with the reflection of consciousness projects various ideas in the dream state, and in the waking state imagines objects outside with the senses."

a. On Sun Mountain: Purple Mountain Majesty

Driving the highway to the summit of Pikes Peak, I see bighorn sheep, and stop the car.

They’re less than a football field away but I still want to take a closer look and get a better picture. Desire gets the best of me.

Hopping from rock to rock, avoiding the fragile surface vegetation, I find myself breathing heavy, and although it’s been but a few minutes, I have to stop and catch my breath.

It suddenly dawns on me we’re in the rarified air of 13,000 feet of altitude. This first encounter with bighorn sheep has literally taken my breath away.

For these Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (ovis canadensis canadensis) are like angels. Their summer range lies above 10,000 ft. Like gods, they walk the heavens. Excuse me while I kiss the sky.

b. Isvara and Maya are Alright

There's this tendency to look at the surface suffering of the world and get all kinds of depressed knowing it will never change. I know it all too well.

Except within this movie, there's an unintended message, a deeper truth, a freudian slip if you will.

All shall be well, says Julian of Norwich. Isvara and Maya are alright tonight.

c. See Satcitananda

The material world cannot grow consciousness. Consciousness is the ground.

This subtle astral body is reflecting pure consciousness like a mirror reflects light. (Caution, the image in the mirror is just an illusion.) The reflection of consciousness is consciousness as the reflection of light is light.

Satcitananda is the source. Plug in, turn on, shine. See I am Satcitananda.

d. Mirror, mirror

The world is this false image of individual consciousness. As if universal consciousness can be divided.

Let this mirror be a subtle evolutionary astral body. Let this mirror be so subtle, it actually reflects pure consciousness.

Within the mirror there is a bizarro consciousness. Some call it samsara. Some know it as hell.

I am not in the mirror. I am the light reflecting off the mirror.

e. nondual haiku number nine

my trinity times

your trinity

equals nine.

existence is

electricity itself.

consciousness is the light.

ananda is that seeing

of the beauty

of the truth.

Drg Drsya Viveka 9 Trans/Notes

DDV9

Between the mutually related reflection of consciousness and ego, annihilation is not possible. But through the exhaustion of karma and realization, the other two respectively disappear.

~A

Sambandhinossator-nāsti nivṛttis-sahajasya tu, karmakṣayāt prabodhāt ca nivartete kramādubhe.

संबन्धिनोस्सतो – between the mutually related which are taken to be real; नास्ति – is not possible; निवृत्ति – annihilation; सहजस्य – of the natural (identification); तु – but; कर्म-क्षयात् – with the exhaustion of karma; प्रबोधात् – with direct Knowledge; च – and; निवर्तेते – are eliminated; क्रमात् – respectively; उभे – the other two

The natural (identification) between the mutually related (ego and reflection of Consciousness) cannot be annihilated. But the other two (due to karmas and due to delusion) are eliminated with the exhaustion of karma and with direct Knowledge respectively.

~T

सम्बन्धिनो: of the mutually related (ego and the reflection of Consciousness) सतो: of those that are taken to be real सहजस्य natural (तादात्म्यस्य of the identification) तु certainly निवृत्ति: annihilation नास्ति is not possible उभे the other two कर्मक्षयात् with the wearing away of the (results of) karma प्रबोधात् च and enlightenment क्रमात् respectively निवर्तेते disappear.

The mutual identification of the ego and the reflection of Consciousness, which (1) is natural, does (2) not cease as long as they are taken to be real. The other (3) two identifications disappear after the wearing (4) out of the result of karma and the attainment (5) of the knowledge of the highest Reality respectively.

~N

Notes

When we understand that the various identifications of the ego are the cause of bondage, we are anxious to end them. The verse, however, says that the natural identification between the ego and the reflection of Consciousness which gives rise to the knowership notion, cannot be annihilated. Then is not all previous discussions and talks of Liberation in vain? Here, it should be understood that the natural identification goes naturally. No effort can be put forth, nor is there a need to exert in order to end it. When the Self is realised, this identification drops automatically.

One may wonder that since all karmas end on Realisation, man would die the instant he realises the Self. This is most undesirable. If such were the case, there would be no living Master to teach! However, Realisation only negates the ego and its identification with the body. Man is thereafter not bound by the body. The body may remain or drop away, just like the pilgrim is not bound by the dog on the wayside. It may follow or not follow. This is called Jīvanmukti – Liberation while living. Hence with Self-realisation, all the three kinds of identification of the ego end simultaneously.

~T

Attainment, etc. The identification of the ego with the witnessing Consciousness (साक्षी चैतन्य) is due to error (भ्रान्ति) which is de- stroyed only by the attainment of Knowledge. Knowledge (ज्ञान) destroys ignorance (अज्ञान) and its effects. Ahankara or the ego is the effect of ignorance. Therefore it is also de- stroyed by Knowledge. Hence ahańkāra can no longer identify itself with the Witness after enlightenment, when it disappears in Brah- man.

The three kinds of identifications described above disappear simultaneously when the jīva realizes itself as Brahman.

~N

There is difference and non-difference. Sākṣī is mistaken to be ahaṅkāra. Ahaṅkāra is sākṣī and that is okay. But sākṣī is ahaṅkāra, sākṣī is antaḥkaraṇa, sākṣī is a sense organ is not okay.

~D

Consciousness, Pure Consciousness, and Mind

Identifying with consciousness is natural

but identifying with pure consciousness is delusional.

Identifying with consciousness is the best the mind can do

but identifying with pure consciousness is the worst.

I am, says the former.

I am something else, says the latter.

~A

Translators / Commentators Legend

A: Aumdada

D: Dayananda

N: Nikhilananda

P: Paramarthananda

S: Sandeepany

T: Tejomayananda

Consciousness, Pure Consciousness, and Mind

Identifying with consciousness is natural

but identifying with pure consciousness is delusional.

Identifying with consciousness is the best the mind can do

but identifying with pure consciousness is the worst.

I am, says the former.

I am something else, says the latter.

a. Naturally I Am

Ego identifying with reflected consciousness is natural; both manifestations in the subtle body are simultaneous.

Nisargayoga is all about this natural identity of ego with reflected awareness as expressed in 'I am'.

That 'I am' is like Vidyaranya's fiery iron ball.

b. A Labyrinth in Santa Fe

We are walking the labyrinth at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe.

St Francis is the patron saint of this New Mexico city. Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy oversaw the building of the church in 1869 and beyond. Willa Cather wrote the book. I am writing this with a Lamy pen. Los Alamos is 33 miles away.

I could keep on going with these interconnections forever. Here’s one: I’m walking the labyrinth with my daughter and she bought me this fountain pen for Christmas.

Some say a labyrinth symbolizes the interior journey towards Christ consciousness. The original Greek labyrinth was constructed to hide the Minotaur from sacrifice. Nothing happens in the past. Everything is appearing in consciousness now.

c. On Drg 8 and Beyond

Egoic mind identifies with three entities: consciousness, the body, and the absolute. The first is natural, the second is karmic or evolutionary if you prefer, and the third is purely delusional. Let's investigate this last one for a minute.

Individual consciousness identifying with absolute consciousness is to cry. Free will is to laugh. This ignorant ego hasn't even understood universal consciousness yet, my love.

For universal consciousness may be an illusion but individual consciousness is absolutely unrealistic. This is the key to differentiating maya from avidya: enlightenment is in maya but not of avidya.

d. Effing Antichrist

Never deconstruct anything before knowing love. If necessary, let your god be love.

Love is not a science. That should tell you something.

Individual consciousness is the Antichrist. Isn't that obvious?

e. Love is not a science

Never deconstruct anything before knowing love. If necessary, let your god be love itself.

Love is not a science. That should tell you something.

Individual consciousness is the Antichrist. Isn't that fucking obvious by now?

The only thing you may truly do is love. Anything other than love is a virus.

Drg Drsya Viveka 8 Trans/Notes

DDV8

The ego identifies with the reflection of consciousness, the body, and also the witness. The first is natural, the second is due to karma, and the third is born of ignorance. 

~A

Ahaṅkārasya tādātmyaṁ cicchāyā-deha-sākṣibhiḥ, sahajaṁ karmajaṁ bhrānti-janyaṁ ca trividhaṁ kramāt.

अहंकारस्य – of the ego; तादात्म्यम् – the identification; चित्-छाया-देह-साक्षिभिः – with the reflection of Consciousness, body and the witness; सहजम् – natural; कर्मजम् – born of past action; भ्रान्तिजन्यम् – born of ignorance; च – and; त्रिविधम् – is of three kinds; क्रमात् – respectively

The identification of the ego with reflection of Consciousness, the body and the witness is of three kinds – natural, born of past actions and born of ignorance, respectively.

~T

अहंकारस्य of the ego तादात्म्यं identification चिच्छायादेहसाक्षिभि: with the reflection of Consciousness, body, and Witness क्रमात् respectively सहजं natural कर्मजं due to past karma भ्रान्तिजन्यं च and due to ignorance त्रिविधं of three kinds (भवति is).

The identification of the ego (1) with the reflection of Consciousness, the body, and the Witness are of three kinds, namely, natural, (2) due to (past) karma, (3) and due to ignorance, (4) respectively.

~N

Notes

The word tādātmya means identification. Thinking of ‘that’, ‘I’ become of the nature of ‘that’. This is called identification.

Sahajam tādātmyam:

The subtle body can by its very nature manifest Consciousness (verse 6). Consciousness is eternal and omnipresent, so its reflection too is potentially ever-present. The ego manifests itself under the influence of this reflection. There is a natural identification of the ego with the reflection, the instant the ego rises. For instance, whenever I stand in front of a mirror in a lighted room, my reflection comes into being. Sunlight cannot help but be reflected in a pool of water. This identification is expressed as the notion of knowership (jnātā). Knowing, however, is a characteristic of thought and not the Self.

Karmajam tādātmyam:

The present body too, is the result of actions performed in the past. The ego identifies with this body and says ‘I am a man’ or ‘I am a woman’. The identification is due to past actions. The ego is neither a man nor a woman. The body is only a mass of inert matter, yet I think that the body is alive.

Bhrānti-janyam tādātmyam:

Thus man falls into a vicious circle of birth and death (action-enjoyment-action), all because of the notion that he is finite. This notion is born due to the identification of the Witness Self with the ego. Ignorance of our true nature gives rise to this fundamental error. The Self is infinite Consciousness-Existence-Bliss. The ego is finite, inert and changing. The mutual superimposition of characteristics is due to non-apprehension of the Self. This delusion is the root cause of bondage. It has been in existence since beginningless time and shall continue to bind the individual till true Knowledge takes place.

~T

Ignorance of the real nature of Consciousness is called here भ्रान्ति (delusion) which is without beginning and cannot be described as real or unreal. This identification of the ahaṅkāra (ego) with the Witness (साक्षी चैतन्य) is based only upon ignorance (भ्रान्ति). It can be removed only by knowing the real nature of Consciousness. The experience resulting from this identification is ‘I am’ or ‘I exist’ (अहमस्मि).

~N

I am the sākṣī and I do not have connection with the mind but I am worried about the mind and its conditions and I say I am disturbed, I am happy, I am jealous, etc. In all such expressions I am connecting ‘I’ the sākṣī with the mind because of delusion. The whole Vedānta is about knowing that I do have no mind and that I do not have any connection with the mind. Therefore the conditions of the mind cannot make me a saṁsārī. I do not have this knowledge and so I feel connected to the mind and jumping to the tunes of the mind and throughout life I am trying to satisfy the unsatisfiable mind. It is all because I have bonded with the mind out of sheer delusion.

~P

Sahajam means the ahaṅkāra is a conscious entity naturally. What is the problem in this? There is no problem. Some people want to remove ego. What for? If you want to remove ego, ego becomes real. If it’s real you can’t remove it. If it is not real, you need not remove it.

The second one Is tādātmyaṁ between ahaṅkāra and deha. Both have become almost one and the same. The body is conscious due to ahaṅkāra identifying with the body. This is also not a problem. This is karmajam. This association is born of karma.

Third is tādātmyaṁ of ahaṅkāra with sākṣī. The conclusion that I am as good as the body is because of this tādātmyam. The sākṣī is not recognised at all because of tādātmyaṁ. Really speaking sākṣī is always sākṣī.

~D

Translators / Commentators Legend

A: Aumdada

D: Dayananda

N: Nikhilananda

P: Paramarthananda

S: Sandeepany

T: Tejomayananda

Drg Drsya Viveka 7 Trans/Notes

DDV7

Of the reflection of consciousness and ego, there is an identity like that of a heated iron ball. It’s further said that ego in turn identifies with the body causing it to attain consciousness too.

~A

Chāyā’haṅkārayor-aikyaṁ taptāyaḥ-piṇḍavan-matam, tadahaṅkāra-tādātmyāt dehaś-cetanatāmagāt.

छाया-अहंकारयोः – of the reflection (of Consciousness) and the ego; ऐक्यम् – the identity; तप्त – heated; अयःपिण्डवत् – like an iron ball; मतम् – it is considered; तत् अहंकार – that ego; तादात्म्यात् – due to identification (with the body); देहः – the body; चेतनताम् – consciousness (life); अगात् – has attained

It is considered (by the wise) that the identity of the reflection (of Consciousness) and the ego is like that of the heated iron ball. That (identified) ego (in turn) due to identification (with the body) enlivens the body.

~T

छायाहंकारयो: of the reflection and egoism ऐक्यं identity तप्त-अय: पिण्डवत् is like the identity of fire and the heated iron ball मतम् opinion (of the wise) तत् that अहंकार egoism तादात्म्यात् owing to the identification देह: body चेतनताम् consciousness अगात् has attained.

In the opinion of the wise, the identity of the reflection (of Consciousness) and of ego (1) is like the identity (2) of the fire and the (heated) iron ball. The body (3) having been identified with the ego (which has already identified itself with the reflection of Consciousness) passes for a conscious (4) entity.

~N

Notes

An iron ball is circular in shape, heavy in weight, black in colour and cold to touch. Fire is formless, weightless, bright in colour and hot to touch. When an iron ball is heated for a long time, fire envelops it so completely that we no longer perceive two different entities, but only a red hot fire ball. The ball now has the shape and weight of iron and the colour and touch of fire. Fire can never have weight, nor iron heat, but their characteristics seem to have become inseparably united. This mutual superimposition of characteristics is called ‘anyonya dharma adhyāsa’. Such a fire ball can, in turn, transfer heat to objects which come in contact with it.

The reflection of Consciousness is different from the ego. The reflection of Consciousness is sentient and unchanging. The ‘I’ notion or ego is inert and changing. The ego rises with every thought. The identification of the ego with the reflection of Consciousness brings into existence the ‘sentient ego’ or jīva.

~T

Conscious entity — That is, movement, etc., are ascribed to the body on account of this identification. Consciousness (चैतन्य) imparts the appearance of sentiency to all objects from egoism to the gross body, because it is the innermost essence of all. The body includes the places where the sense-organs are located. Therefore there is no separate identification with the sense-organs.

~N

Just as the fire and the iron ball get intimately connected, the mind and the reflected consciousness get intimately connected. This is the teaching of the tradition. This mind-RC (reflected consciousness) mixture comes in contact with the inert physical body at the time of every birth and the body borrows sentiency from the sentient mind. The mind borrows sentiency from the sākṣī and the body borrows sentiency from the mind and not from the sākṣī. The body becomes sentient because of its intimate contact with that mind, which has become sentient. The physical parts of the sense-organs in the body being available, the sense-organs become the seers. Thus seer 1 is formed. Seer 3, the sākṣī, makes the mind, seer 2. Seer 2 through the body, makes the sense-organs, seer 1. Sense-organs operate through the respective physical parts in the body. Thus seer 3 creates seer 2 and seer 2 creates seer 1.

~P

The being of aham, the consciousness of aham, is perceived as consciousness of the body. This mutual tādātmyam being there, one is taken for the other. This is sahajam, it is very natural, but it is a mistake. That is natural means avicāra-siddha, that it is a conclusion arrived at without any enquiry, without any pramāṇa. There is no analysis, no viveka. And so, an incorrect understanding, like the iron is taken to have the attribute of heat in hot-iron-ball, persists, unless it Is enquired into. If we look into it, we learn that the heat in the iron belongs to the fire, even though they are together. We understand which belongs to what. Heat belongs to the fire, the ballness belongs to the iron in the perception of a fireball and hot iron. In spite of both of them being together, our understanding is with viveka. If this viveka is not there, there is confusion.

~D

Translators / Commentators Legend

A: Aumdada

D: Dayananda

N: Nikhilananda

P: Paramarthananda

S: Sandeepany

T: Tejomayananda

On DDV 6: Reflections of Consciousness

Call the central nervous system, the subtle body. Call this subtle body, organic chemicals and functional compounds. Call its amplification of intelligence, a reflection of pure consciousness. Call this mind and ego complex, a superimposition of ignorance upon the self.

Do not mistake the mind’s synthesis of data for a means of knowing reality.  At best, the mind can lead you to the water. For the mind is an instrument of avidya, using all the wrong ways to drink in truth.

Pure consciousness may be indescribable, no matter what kind of mathematics are being used, but truth is not unknowable. Only to the mind is reality unknown. To nonconceptual being, that’s all that’s known.

a. Almost Mile High in the White Mountains

I never hiked Mount Washington. I might have been solo-hiking the Whites for therapeutic purposes, but I wasn't crazy. The almost mile-high (5249') Mount Lafayette would be my Everest.

It all started on a crystal clear blue June day with temperatures of 70° at the trailhead. Later it would be in the '50s on the summit where one can see for miles and miles and miles.

Somewhere where the birches disappeared, I hit the wall. Whether it was endorphins or just seeing through negative thoughts I cannot say but I broke through and soon was catching the first real view.

From then on, I wasn't hiking the mountain as much as it was hiking me. To the tree line and beyond! Where the woods become a desert and Henry David is turning into Anthony the Great.

At the summit, sitting on an outcrop facing east towards Owl's Head and the surrounding Pemigewasset Wilderness, I am taking 13 panoramic photographs with my Canon A1, later setting them in a purple mat and framing that in rosewood. Thirty years later it still hangs behind my head like a fading halo.

b. I'm Ananda When You Smile

Reflected consciousness is amplified consciousness. In other words, consciousness is foundational, and the body-mind complex doesn't produce it but only makes it louder.

Like pure consciousness is eternal music and the body-mind complex is like my Kenwood receiver. Jackie Wilson said.

Lightning strikes and the wilderness burns. Fire is fire.

c. The Happiness of Satcitananda

Appearance or not, the world exists. 

The world exists but only I am existence and consciousness. Eka jiva vada.

Knowing that is the happiness of satcitananda. Not that I know it all the time. And not that there's anything wrong with that.

e. Satcitananda Calling

Being Existence Presence Consciousness Awareness Intelligence Holistic Bliss Infinity—say it soft enough and sound precocious.

Nirguna Brahman is like the black hole. Saguna Brahman is like a sun.

Gaia is as Maya. Its people are eight billion moons. Werewolves of Brahman. Om!

f. ATTN:LOVE

Attention to thought equals attention minus thought.

Attention minus thought equals pure consciousness.

I, pure consciousness, am like the deepest sea.

Wave-particle duality is purely superficial to me.

Drg Drsya Viveka 6 Trans/Notes

DDV6

Because of the reflection of consciousness within, the intellect appears to be conscious. This understanding is of two kinds. One is called ego and the other, the inner instrument of mind.

~A

Cicchāyā’’veśato buddhau bhānaṁ dhīstu dvidhā sthitā, ekāhaṅkṛtiranyā syāt antaḥkaraṇa-rūpiṇī.

चित्-छाया – the reflection of Consciousness; आवेशतः – on account of entering; बुद्धौ – in the intellect; भानम् – there is awareness; धीः तु – and the intellect; द्विधास्थिता – is of two kinds; एका अहंकृतिः – one is the ego; अन्या – the other; स्यात् अन्तःकरणरूपिणी – is of the nature of inner instrument (mind, intellect, memory)

The intellect (thoughts) appears to be conscious on account of the reflection of Consciousness present in it. The intellect (thoughts) is of two kinds. One is the ego and the other is the inner instrument (mind, intellect, memory).

~T

बुद्धौ in the buddhi (intelligence) चिच्छाया reflection of Consciousness आवेशत: on account of entering भानं appearance (of specific knowledge) भवति happens धी: intelligence (understanding) तु and द्विधा of two kinds स्थिता is एका one अहंकृति: egoity स्यात् is अन्या other अन्त:करणरूपिणी of the nature of mind (mental faculties).

Buddhi appears to possess luminosity (1) on account of the reflection of Consciousness in it. Intelligence (buddhi) (2) is of two kinds. (3) One is designated egoity (अहंकृति, the other as mind (अन्त:करण).

~N

The reflection of Consciousness enters into the intellect,

and energises the whole “inner equipment”, Indeed, this has a twofold structure:

One part is the Ego; the other is

Of the form of the “inner instrument” (Antahkarana).

~S

Notes

The Self is of the nature of Existence-Consciousness. All objects are known to exist because of this alone. The objects, however, differ in their subtlety. Generally, subtlety is measured by its pervasiveness. The subtler an entity, the greater is its pervasiveness. Inert objects, including the body, pervade their own form. The mind’s pervasiveness extends beyond objects. The mind, being subtler than the body which houses it, is part of the subtle body. The gross body manifests the Existence aspect of the Self only. The subtle body is capable of reflecting both the Existence and Consciousness aspects, thus appearing sentient.

The mind which reflects Consciousness is of two kinds, the ahaṅkāra (ego) and the antaḥkaraṇa (inner equipment). Here, the ego does not mean pride but refers to the ‘I’ notion. The inner equipment has three types of thoughts – the mind, intellect and the faculty of memory.

~T

The Conscious Self (चिदात्मा), though self-luminous, has no manifestation, because from the absolute standpoint there is no other object which can be manifested by Consciousness. But on account of the superimposition of ignorance (अविद्या) a modification appears known as mind (अन्त:करण) which, though insentient (जड), (being the product of अविद्या) appears as conscious on account of the association of Consciousness or Ātman with it. The Ātman appears as buddhi when associated with antaḥkaraṇa. The buddhi, on account of its association with Consciousness, appears to be endowed with agency, will, etc.

~N

I don’t use the word reflection of consciousness. If you use the word, understand in this way: sūkṣma-śarīra becomes conscious, means mind becomes conscious. The consciousness obtaining in the mind is as good as consciousness. That consciousness is in the form of vṛtti.

...

Ahaṅkāra is not a bad thing. Ahaṅkāra is the inner dynamics. This is how it works. Some people say “Remove ahaṅkāra, remove ego”. I ask, but you are talking now. Have you removed ahaṅkāra? If yes, then how do you talk? How do you get up? How do you decide? This is vyāvahārika. This ahaṅkāra is Īśvara manifesting in this form. Ahaṅkāra is not a bad thing or a good thing. That has to be understood. If you are trying to remove ahaṅkāra, in the name of removing ahaṅkāra, ahaṅkāra will be sitting there! If you have the delusion of having removed ahaṅkāra, ahaṅkāra will get stronger.

~D

How does the mind become the seer? A good example here is the moon. How does the moon illumine the earth on a full moon night? The moon borrows the light from the sun. A reflection of the sunlight is formed on the moon’s surface. When the reflection is formed, the moon gets illumined and the moon becomes the illuminator of the earth. The author says that the same phenomenon takes place with regard to the mind. Sākṣī can be compared to the sun and the mind can be compared to the moon. The caitanyam of the sākṣī is formed on the mind called chāyā praveśa. Chāyāmeans the pratibimba caitanyam or ābhāsacaitanyam is formed on the mind. The moment the reflected consciousness is formed, two things happen. First, the mind becomes known, experienced and shines. Not only does the mind gets illumined, the mind also becomes the seer or the illuminator of the sense-organs. This is how the mind becomes seer 2. Because of the formation of the reflected consciousness (RC) in the mind, the mind becomes sentient as though it has its own light or sentency.

~P

Reflections of Consciousness

Call the central nervous system, the subtle body. Call this subtle body, organic chemicals and functional compounds. Call its amplification of intelligence, a reflection of pure consciousness. Call this mind and ego complex, a superimposition of ignorance upon the self.

Do not mistake the mind’s synthesis of data for a means of knowing reality. At best, the mind can lead you to the water. For the mind is an instrument of avidya, using all the wrong ways to drink in truth.

Pure consciousness may be indescribable, no matter what kind of mathematics are being used, but truth is not unknowable. Only to the mind is reality unknown. To nonconceptual being, that’s all that’s known. 

~A

Translators / Commentators Legend

A: Aumdada

D: Dayananda

N: Nikhilananda

P: Paramarthananda

S: Sandeepany

T: Tejomayananda

On Drg Drsya Viveka 4-5: Self-shining Witness

Pure consciousness witnesses the modifications of the mind in all its thoughts and emotions, including the tangled knot of ego.

The witness can’t be seen by the mind but is always the seer seeing all. The sea can’t be seen by an island.

Big science of the mind mistakes reflected consciousness for pure consciousness. Neuroscience will never get water from a stone.

Beginning with ego, drop the ‘e’, and add a ‘d’ at the end. Eka jiva. Remove avidya and I am God. Remove Maya and I am Brahman.

Self-shining consciousness does not rise nor set. That's the point of view on earth. Make your point of view the sun instead.

a. The Outer Banks

On Kitty Hawk, there’s wind and the windswept dunes of high seclusion. No wonder the Wright brothers took off there. They were lighting out for the territory.

Going further south on North Carolina Highway 12 one comes to Hatteras Island where 21st century east coast beach boys surfer girls are coexisting with summer mid-atlantic bon jovi vacationers.

At Hatteras Village, NC 12 takes a time out and Walt Whitman is crossing Ocracoke Ferry—shrimp boats on the sound and wild horses waiting for me on the island at the end of the world. Aum.

b. pure nonconceptual consciousness

The body sees the world. The mind sees the body. Consciousness sees the mind. And the buck stops here—self-shining consciousness.

What is consciousness? Pure consciousness is attention minus thought.

Pure nonconceptual consciousness is that which is aware of the mind even when the mind is turned off during deep sleep.

Drg Drsya Viveka 5 Trans/Notes

DDV5

Neither rising nor setting, this Consciousness does not increase nor disintegrate, but is self-shining, illuminating all without support.

~A

Nodeti nāstametyeṣā na vṛddhiṁ yāti na kṣayam, svayaṁ vibhātyathānyāni bhāsayet sādhanaṁ vinā.

न उदेति – does not rise; नास्तमेति – does not set; एषा – This (Consciousness); न वृद्धिम् याति – does not increase; न क्षयम् याति – does not decay; स्वयम् – itself; विभाति – shines; अथ – and then; अन्यानि – others; भासयेत् – illumines; साधनम् – aid; विना – without

This (Consciousness) does not rise (is unborn) and does not set (is immortal). It does not increase or decay (is immutable). It shines by Itself and It illumines others without any aid.

~T

एषा this (Consciousness) न उदेति does not rise न अस्तम् एति does not set वृद्धिं increase न याति does not undergo क्षयं decay न (याति) does not undergo स्वयं of itself विभाति shines अथ on the other hand विना without साधनं aid (of other means) अन्यानि other objects भासयेत् illumines.

This Consciousness (1) does neither rise (2) nor set. (3) It does (4) not increase; nor does it suffer decay. Being self-luminous, it illumines everything (5) else without any other aid.

~N

This (Witness) does not rise, nor does It set;

It does not increase, nor does It decrease;

It shines by itself and then others

Does It illumine, without any external aid.

~S

Notes

The pronoun ‘this’ refers to the Consciousness indicated in verse 1 as Sākṣī and in verse 4 as Cit. The very same Consciousness is called Sākṣī (masculine noun), Cit (feminine) and Caitanya (neuter). This means that Consciousness is neither masculine, feminine nor neuter. It is beyond classification.

~T

‘Rising’ means birth, i.e., coming into existence of an entity previously non-existent. This cannot be predicated of Consciousness as it is the Witness of even previous non-existence. Otherwise no one will be aware of such non-existence. All entities from the empirical ego to the gross object perceived have a previous non-existing state, because their appearance and disappearance are cognized by Consciousness.

~N

This Consciousness, seer 3, does not rise nor is it born. It does not have origination or creation. Therefore it does not end. It is never destroyed. Thus consciousness is not limited by time. This is a very important teaching because according to Science, consciousness is generated in matter at a particular time. For Science, matter is fundamental and as matter evolves and combines in a particular form, life originates. Science says that life or consciousness originated in time. But Vedānta says that what Science talks of as origination of life is the origination of cidābhāsa. When matter forms in an ideal configuration, the reflected consciousness originates. When the reflecting medium originates, the reflected consciousness originates. Science talks about the origination of RC (reflected consciousness), whereas Vedānta talks about the eternity of OC, the original consciousness.

~P

On Drg Drsya Viveka 4-5: Self-shining Witness

Pure consciousness witnesses the modifications of the mind in all its thoughts and emotions, including the tangled knot of ego.

The witness can’t be seen by the mind but is always the seer seeing all. The sea can’t be seen by an island.

Big science of the mind mistakes reflected consciousness for pure consciousness. Neuroscience will never get water from a stone.

Beginning with ego, drop the ‘e’, and add a ‘d’ at the end. Eka jiva. Remove avidya and I am God. Remove Maya and I am Brahman.

Self-shining consciousness does not rise nor set. That's the point of view on earth. Make your point of view the sun instead.

~A

Translators / Commentators Legend

A: Aumdada

D: Dayananda

N: Nikhilananda

P: Paramarthananda

S: Sandeepany

T: Tejomayananda 

Drg Drsya Viveka 4 Trans/Notes

DDV4

Desire, determination and doubt, faith and faithlessness, perseverance and its opposite, humility, understanding, fear. and more is illuminated by unchanging consciousness.

~A

Kāmaḥ saṅkalpa-sandehau śraddhā’śraddhe dhṛtītare, hrīr-dhīr-bhīr-ityevam-ādīn bhāsayatyekadhā citiḥ.

कामः – desire; संकल्प-संदेहौ – thought of willing and doubt; श्रद्धा-अश्रद्धे – belief and disbelief; धृतीतरे – fortitude and its opposite; ह्री – modesty; धीः – understanding; भीः – fear; इति एवम् आदीन् – and such others; भासयति – illumines; एकधा – remaining the same; चितिः – Consciousness

Consciousness remaining the same, illumines the thoughts of desire, willingness, doubt, belief, disbelief, fortitude, and its lack thereof, modesty, understanding, fear and such others.

~T

चिति: Consciousness काम: desire संकल्पसन्देहौ determination and doubt श्रद्धाश्रद्धे faith and want of faith धृतीतरे steadiness and its opposite ह्री: modesty धी: understanding भी: fear इत्येवमादीन् and such others एकधा unified भासयति illumines.

Consciousness illumines (such other mental states as) desire, (1) determination (2) and doubt, faith (3) and want of faith, steadiness (4) and its opposite, modesty, understanding, fear and others, (5) because it (Consciousness) is a unity.

~N

The thoughts of desire, willingness or doubt,

belief or disbelief, fortitude or its lack,

modesty, understanding, fear, and such others –

Consciousness, remaining the same, illumines them all.

~S

Notes

These thoughts may be of different degrees of intensity. For instance, desire may be just a wish, a need, a longing, a panting hunger or an overwhelming obsession. All dramas on the stage of life are a complicated intermingling of different thoughts. These are all witnessed by the same Consciousness. The seen is limited, changing, inert, perishable and sorrow giving. The Seer is free from the nature of the seen. I am the infinite, immutable, eternal Consciousness and of the nature of Bliss.

~T

The list of the states or functions of the mind have been adopted from the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad (1.5.3).

~N

This seer 3 is unlike the other two seers. It is ever the seer and never the seen. It is ever the experiencer and never the experienced. One should never look for the experience of ātmā. When we say that we do not have the experience of the ātmā, we make the blunder of thinking that one day we will get that experience in future and this indicates that we think that ātmā is an object of our experience. The author says that there is no such thing as the experience of ātmā because ātmā is ever the experiencer.

~P

Translators / Commentators Legend

A: Aumdada

D: Dayananda

N: Nikhilananda

P: Paramarthananda

S: Sandeepany

T: Tejomayananda