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Re: Self - knowledge : Is it knowledge or experience ?
rajaroy@ecf.toronto.edu (Roy Raja) wrote:
> Gita describes the way a person who knows self, behaves. I have a
> feeling though that someone might be able to behave like one who knows,
> but has not really realized his self. Thinking on this, I have been
> pondering whether state of self-knowledge can be attained by reading
> the scriptures only? Can one get self-knowledge without resorting to
> a guru?
> Goswami Tulsidas is of the opinion that no-one can know himself
> without a guru? In that case self-knowledge is an experience? How
> would one know in that case whether a Guru is genuine or not without
> being fooled for a long time?
Hi Raja,
Francis Lucille (of Direct Path Advaita school) refers to the way in
which this was explained to him by his guru. He says it is rather like
trying to find out the taste of a mango. The quickest and most
reliable way is to get hold of one and try it. Once you have done this
someone can refer to it later or you can read about it in a book and
immediately you will know what is being spoken of. If, on the other
hand, you have never tasted one yourself, it is much more difficult.
It may be possible for someone (e.g. in a book) to describe in very
graphic detail e.g. orange flesh with texture between a peach and a
pear; not overly sweet, aromatic, very juicy when ripe etc. etc..
(This was not meant to be particularly graphic!) But, unless the
writer is extremely skilled and the analogies etc. which he uses
connect directly with your experience, you will only end up with an
approximate idea of the actual taste and could easily be mistaken.
In just the same way, it is possible to reach the truth without a guru
but difficult. Also, it is not really possible to do so *only* through
reading. Practice and direct experience must follow. Without this, it
is all just so much information.
Another aspect, he says, is that the 'ego' cannot destroy the ego.
You, as an individual, need the assistance of someone who has gone
before to help break down this barrier of ignorance.
As for knowing whether a person is sincere, just be totally still,
without any preconceptions, opinions or thoughts of any kind. Give all
of your attention to him/her, sound of the voice etc. and the
knowledge will be available to you. In the special case of 'one' who
is realised, I can't imagine that there could be any possibility of
doubt! (This latter aspect is my view - Francis Lucille does have
something to say on this too but I don't remember at he moment what
this was. Tapes of discussions he has had with David Jennings, a
psychiatrist who 'uses' Advaita, are avilable from Truespeech
Productions at <tru@truespeech.com>. They really are excellent, and no
I don't have any connection with them!)
Dennis
dwaite@aladdin.co.uk
