II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कबीर सुपनैं रैनि कै, पारस जीय मैं छेक I
जे सोऊँ तौ दोइ जनाँ, जे जागूँ तौ एक II

The idea of separateness arises when, in ignorance, we think that we are the individuals, that there is the world and that there is God beyond the cosmos. But in reality, neither God nor the universe nor the cosmos is separate from us. It is the man's conditioned consciousness, limited state of understanding, vanities, self-conceit, false ego or false "I-ness" that forms the sense of separateness from the Source. This separation is none other than duality or "two-ness."

For the wave to think it is separate from the ocean is its ignorance. In reality, the wave and the ocean are just the same water. There is no difference, although they appear to be different. The difference is created by the name and form only. It is only when the wave identifies itself with the name and form and assumes itself to be separate. In the same way, when the false "I" identifies with the body-mind, it sees the objective world of names and forms, and mistakenly takes itself to be separate from the Ultimate Truth. But in reality, there is "no-two". All Consciousness is one, a Homogenous Oneness. In other words, when the Consciousness identifies with the name, form, time, space, color and attributes, it itself causes the sense of separateness.

"Kabir says, Ignorance gives rise to duality, a sense of "two-ness." The whole experience of duality, made up of perceiver and perceived, is pure imagination.There is no ignorance apart from the mind. Just like in the dreaming state, the dream appears to be true to the dreamer. However, on waking he realizes that it was just a passing dream! On account of conditioned consciousness due to false ego-sense, the mirage-like phenomenal world of names and forms appears to be reality when it is not. Wisdom leads to unity, but ignorance to separation. So long as God seems to be outside and far away, there is ignorance. But when God is realised within, that is true knowledge. Behind all multiplicity of this manifold universe, the One Unconditioned Consciousness persists in all its splendor. That One Homogeneous whole is the Changeless in changing phenomena. All forms emerge out of this One Reality, remain sustained by this Reality, and ultimately merge back into this Reality. The skillful living is to identify the Homogeneous Oneness within and yet play in the outer world of plurality with no emotional attachment, living in the world but not of the world."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II