Atma, Body, World - The Basics
In my ignorance, I spoke with Sri Mahaprabu about how I saw Existence as the space in which Thoughts arise, and the distinctions between Awareness and Thought. Hoping to get affirmation from him. This was his response.
Mahaprabu: There should be no more analysis.
There are only 3 things. There is the Body, the World and Unarvu (Feeling of Existence, Atma). The Body and World have a temporary existence. But Unarvu is
a) Always there 24×7, Indestructible, Nameless, Formless: Sat
b) Is Knowing, is Aware: Cit
c) Is Peace: Ananda
Yet we don’t give Unarvu any time or attention at all. And we don’t realize that it is only this Unarvu that appears as wife, son, father, friend, etc.
Now besides these 3 things, there is nothing. So where is GR? (referring to ego – my initials) He does not exist at all. Yet, he is the source of so many problems. True, the body and world give problems, but nowhere near the magnitude of the problems created by GR. The goal is to realize the absence of GR as much as possible and realize the Unarvu.
The basics
If you considered a timeline, this Unarvu existed before birth of the body (call that period X), during life (call this period Y) and continues to exist after death (call this period Z). Only the body (call it B) comes and goes.
Note: I had drawn these images later from my notes. Mahaprabu was driving to Thiruvannamalai, past midnight when he was explaining all this.
Do not worry or fear B.
A is the key.
Without A, B is nothing.
In both X and Z, you cannot even discriminate A vs. B, since B does not exist. Only in Y you can even know that A exists separately. Just like ice touching ice will not know what cold is. Only a warm body touching ice will know cold.
Only in this birth of the body, is there a possibility to know A. So do not squander this opportunity. Also don’t analyze the state before Y ie. X and Z. Focus on Y alone. If you know A in Y, it is the same A in X and Z.
The Urgency of the Situation
Do not waste a single moment doing things such as the study of Vedanta, taking care of orphans, etc. First complete the task for which you are born, which is Self Realization. Someone else will do the other tasks. Accidentally someone showed you the priority, just like a blind man is shown the way. Even if you come back to another life you should come with the priority of Realization only. So focus on Realization first. Already more than 50% of life is wasted. Even if I am born, let me not forget you Ātma. Unarvu is the same as Sat Chit Ananda Ātma is the same as God. First know the God in you, where you are established 24 hours, then worry about the rest. Everything else is a distraction only. The next 20 years are key. It will fly. Don’t waste it. Be alert.
Create an outer and inner ambiance. Without distraction outside and inside. Stop unnecessary activities. Doing them is like throwing heaps of garbage on a sapling.