guru-upadesa

MUKTI IS EVER-PRESENT, BONDAGE IS EVER-ABSENT

Mr. Subbaramayyah, the late Professor of English, is a frequent visitor. Whenever he comes he discusses ancient Vedantic books with the Master. Today’s talk is about Kaivalyam. Maya comes up in the middle and claims attention. Sri Bhagavan explains:

“Every plane has its own illusion, which can be destroyed only by another illusion on the same plane. For example, a man takes a full meal and goes to sleep. He dreams of being hungry in spite of the jagrat food in his stomach. To satisfy the dream hunger, he has to take dream food. A wound in dream requires dream treatment. 

A great king once dreamt that he was ill but was too poor to call a doctor. He had to beg the doctor’s fees from his friends to receive medical help. Although he had fabulous wealth in the waking state, it could be of no use to him in the dream state. Similarly, the illusion of ajnana (ignorance) can be destroyed only by the illusion of guru-upadesa (the Master’s teaching). 

Mukti (liberation) is ever-present and bondage ever-absent, yet the universal experience is the reverse.”

- GURU RAMANA