Which Maketh the Sun to Shine
When I was a young child, someone taught me that 2 + 2 = 4. Someone else taught me how to tie my shoelaces. Due to the efforts of someone else, I learned how to use a knife and fork. To those persons, and countless others, I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude. The scope and range of that which we’ve learned collectively is truly miraculous. Along our journey, I hope we’ve not only expressed gratitude for what we’ve learned, but also recognized the importance of paying forward to other persons who may benefit. The following quote from Sir Isaac Newton succinctly sums up the principle involved:
“If I have seen further, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”
It is in that spirit of sharing that I offer this article; to “point” to an understanding (although unrelatable in terms of words–for it must be experienced directly) that will make the biggest difference in how you approach your so-called life. The giants to whom I feel most deeply indebted are more appropriately called mahatmas (Sanskrit, great souls); for they, having realized the origin of their Being, made great efforts to share Truth in whatever way possible. For those of us who are thirsty for the answer to the ultimate question (Who Am I?), they literally served as Fountains of Truth.
Why is such a seemingly silly question so important? Because the human condition is fraught with despair, especially for those who are 100 percent identified with–and invested in–their body-mind. From the human perspective, most of us realize that no sooner does life seem “just right” than it slides to its polar opposite of “all wrong.” Death of a loved one, a major health crisis, loss of a home, and financial concerns–these are only a few of the troubling scenarios that we may encounter. Such often provoke deep despair. However, what if there was a solution? What if Truth could, indeed, set us free? It can, my friends, it can. An understanding of That, which is Absolute Truth, is available to all of us here and now; and it can alleviate so much of our suffering. It is not subject to opinion, belief, or assumption. In the hope that some of the following may resonate with you on an intuitive basis, let’s begin:
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How can you be certain that you are not–now–dreaming? Is it because your so-called personal life seems so very real? If that is your reply, is it not also true that last night’s dreams also seemed real? What happened to the environment–perhaps a scorching desert, or rolling green fields–that seemed so real in the dream? Where are the accompanying dream persons and objects now? If you state that last night’s dream was but a dream, but–THIS–is made of real stuff, could it be that you have only assumed such to be true? Could investigation into your real nature reveal more? Here, I offer you a quote from Why Lazarus Laughed by Wei Wu Wei:
“The mind that dreams our dreams,
dreams as convincingly as the mind that dreams our so-called waking life.“
If you scoff that such could not possibly be true, perhaps a story that’s often used in ancient teachings may serve us. Please imagine the following, if you will:
Several persons are standing outside on a bright summer’s day. In front of them, a pail filled with water is placed at their feet. As each person gazes into the pail, he/she assumes that a sun is shining from within each pail. The reason for this is innocent ignorance (simply, “not knowing”). We, of course, realize it is only a reflection of the one-and-only sun that appears in each pail.
The account is a metaphor that is used to teach us that our apparently personal consciousness is but a reflection of Universal Consciousness. There is only one Source of Consciousness, and “That” is God. There is nothing to be gained by clinging to the dualistic viewpoint that each of us is a separate self with a personal consciousness. To believe so is the cause of great suffering. The so-called “hard problem of consciousness” (which assumes that the brain gives rise to individual consciousness) is hard because THE BRAIN DOES NOT GIVE RISE TO CONSCIOUSNESS! Please consider this: Does the core of you–the Real You–seem to have aged? No doubt, the body-mind that is fifty years of age appears different than a body-mind of twenty-five or five; but does Consciousness–the “YOU”–by which experience is known feel as though it has aged? Are you 100% certain that you are the body-mind, or is it true (yes!) that the body-mind and the world only appear when the waking state is present? Our essential nature is Consciousness eternal, aka God, Brahman, or The Absolute. Perhaps the following messages from books about non-duality (Oneness) may help:
The first is borrowed from I Am That by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj:
The second is borrowed from Who Am I? by Sri Ramana Maharshi:
The third is borrowed from Open Secret by Wei Wu Wei:
From Amrut Laya, The Stateless State by Shri Sadguru Siddhameshwar Maharaj:
“The Self is the doer of everything. The sun owes its status and light to the Self.
If not for the Self, the sun would not even be called the Sun.”
To realize the Truth of our Being it’s necessary to investigate the validity of the little “i” that you’ve assumed yourself to be. Could it be an imposter? A mere fabricatioin of the mind? We must also be willing to surrender the assumption that we are the doers of our actions. We are not; our body-minds are moved according to forces within the dream. That we would erroneously believe that we are the person is understandable; for since birth–into this apparent dream called human life–we’ve been informed by persons (who were innocently ignorant of their true nature) that we are body-mind. We are not. As Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj stated: “To be a person is to be asleep.”
The body-mind (the person) is rendered completely by Consciousness, which is the Creator of everything. True Self (Consciousness, God) is eternal, immortal, and ever fresh. Space/time and the apparent world are pulsing in and out of apparent existence with incredible speed. Consciousness does not die, because it was never born. It just IS. We are an aspect of God, dreaming an apparent human experience. When we realize our true Self, we directly recognize (know again) That, which does, indeed, maketh the sun to shine. Let’s wrap up this article with a verse from John 1:3: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Our body-mind, the world, and all objects are but dreamed. We are Spirit, eternal.
Dare to dream (and care for one another).
With heartfelt regards,
Art
Copyright © – 2021 – R. Arthur Russell
P.S. Please share this article if you enjoyed it. If you’d like to view my latest book (This Taste of Flesh and Bones–released September 8, 2020), press here. May it help you in your spiritual journey. 🙏🙏
Think2wice 