I wrote this article while answering a student’s question—a query raised by a student to which I responded and turned into an article. 📝 If you find it interesting, feel free to read it. 👀 I’ve used emojis to make the reading experience more enjoyable. 😊 If you think the emojis are unnecessary or inappropriate, feel free to comment and let me know. 💬 So, let’s dive into the ocean of knowledge and begin! 🌊
The Illusion of Reality and the Journey of Self-Discovery?
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Understand one simple thing: we often talk about things we don’t even truly understand. If you don’t know where knowledge originates, how can you expect to perceive reality or even reach it? The words we use, the meanings we assign to them, are tools—created by humans to serve themselves over the last 3.5 million years. Yet, no matter how much you think or do, you cannot grasp reality until you ask yourself the right questions. After asking, validate your answers: are your thoughts and understandings truly correct?
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When we speak of the soul (‘atma’), its essence is simply “I am.” But why stop there? Keep searching for the meaning of the Supreme Being (‘paramatma’). 🔍 You claimed to have decoded Nirvana Shatakam, but your words betray how little you’ve truly understood. 🕵️♂️ You can lie to the world 🌍, but you can’t lie to yourself. 🚫🤥 If you genuinely want answers, read Nirvana Shatakam until its essence becomes clear. 📚
Nirvana Shatakam declares that every aspect of the universe and humanity can be negated: “I am none of these.” It challenges us to discover, “Who am I?” 🤔 This process, known as “to negate everything,” leads to the ultimate question: “How am I?” Reflect on this. 🧘♂️
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You asked whether I am an atheist or a theist. Reflect on what I might be. Both your question and my response already hold the truth. You question me without knowing who I am. Have you ever asked yourself: “Who am I? Why do I exist in this world?”
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Forget it. No matter how much I explain, you might not understand. The concept of nothingness is profound. Does a flower truly exist? When we see a flower on a tree, we say it belongs to the tree. But if you think deeply, you’ll realize there is no such thing as a “flower” in isolation. A flower exists only because of the elements that come together to create it: the plant, soil, water, air, sunlight, and time. Without these, the flower’s existence would be zero.
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In the same way, your existence, my existence, and everyone else’s existence are the results of countless factors coming together. But the identity you hold onto—your name, your self—is essentially nothing. Everything requires something else to exist, and that “something else” depends on yet another factor. This is the essence of the illusion (‘Maya’) and the concept of nothingness.
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At midnight, engulfed in endless thoughts, I detached my name from myself. As my name separated, all the bonds of my life—family, friends, and society—broke away. That night marked the beginning of self-discovery. A name is the biggest bond in life. It’s through a name that countless other bonds form around us. Oh, the purpose of life is not to be entangled in these bonds but to be free from them. We were born nameless; society gave us names, identities, and thrust us into the race of life. Self-discovery begins when you detach your name from yourself.
The Conclusion: Do You Truly Seek Reality?
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You don’t truly want to understand reality. A person who genuinely seeks reality starts with the question, “What do I really know?” and often concludes that they know nothing. Most of what we think we know is borrowed knowledge. Those who wish to understand reality strive to learn from those more knowledgeable. They listen rather than argue over right or wrong.
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If you ask the right questions, you’ll receive the right answers. But if you believe you already have the answer to every question someone poses, you’re mistaken—just as you misunderstood the concept of perception. We are insignificant. Our existence has no inherent purpose—neither in our birth nor in our death. When humans first came to Earth, they created the idea of God to unite their communities under fear and shared belief, ensuring everyone stayed together. They didn’t want individuals to think deeply or question their existence. Instead, they created an ultimate power to prevent such questioning.
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Ironically, one day, when humanity’s time on Earth ends, the very humans who invented God will claim to be gods themselves. In every scripture or sacred text, the message is the same: You are God, but you don’t know it. Even if I tell you this, you likely won’t understand its meaning until you put in the effort to ask the right questions about reality.
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You think I’m leaving you in a place where you know nothing, but that’s where you should begin—with zero knowledge. Only then can you ask whether God exists. If you know nothing, how can you conclude whether God exists or not? Think about it.
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Everything here is created, and everything perishes, just as time itself is a creation—an illusion of what was never there to begin with.
Here is Student Answer
so if its a madeup concept then how the practices are real and it’s really beyong human limit to know such things in 1 life
what you’re exploring is the deep question of “Who am I?”, which is central to both the Bhagavad Gita and the concept of Maya (illusion). The Atma (soul) is beyond the physical body, and true understanding arises when we detach from our false identities (name, ego, societal labels). Everything in the universe is interconnected, and what we perceive as reality is shaped by our senses and mind, making it an illusion. The journey to understanding reality begins by questioning everything, recognizing our ignorance, and seeking the truth within. True self-realization comes from experiencing this inner truth, not from external beliefs or knowledge.
FAQ on Self-Discovery and the Concept of Nothingness
Q: What is the main theme of the article?A: The primary theme is self-discovery and the exploration of the concept of nothingness, challenging the reader to question the nature of reality and identity.
Q: What does the article suggest about the illusion of reality?
A: It posits that what we perceive as reality is largely an illusion (‘Maya’), constructed by human tools like language and shaped by our senses and mind.
Q: How does the article describe self-discovery?
A: Self-discovery is depicted as a journey where one must question everything about their existence, identity, and the labels (or ‘tags’) society and life assign. It starts with recognizing our ignorance and questioning “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?”
Q: What role do labels play in our lives according to the text?
A: Labels create bonds that connect us to various aspects of life like family, relationships, and work. However, the article suggests that true self-discovery requires freeing oneself from these labels to understand one’s true self.
Q: How does the text interpret the concept of ‘Atma’ (soul)?A: ‘Atma’ is described as fundamentally “I am,” suggesting an essence beyond physical or societal definitions. It encourages a deep introspection to understand this essence.
Q: What is the significance of the number zero (0) in the article?
A: Zero represents the concept of nothingness and the interconnectedness of all things. It implies that our existence, like a flower, is dependent on numerous elements, and without these, there’s essentially ‘nothing’—highlighting the illusory nature of individual existence.
Q: What does the article say about understanding the universe?
A: True understanding of the universe begins with questioning one’s own thoughts, recognizing that much of what we think we know is borrowed knowledge. It suggests listening and learning from those more knowledgeable rather than arguing.
Q: How does the article view the purpose of life?
A: The purpose isn’t to get entangled in worldly bonds but to seek freedom from them, leading to self-realization, which is beyond external validations or labels.
Q: What is the relationship between human practices and the concepts discussed?
A: The practices, like those suggested by the Nirvana Shatakam or the exploration in the Bhagavad Gita, are seen as human attempts to transcend the physical and mental limitations to grasp these profound truths, even if such understanding might be beyond one lifetime.
Q: What’s the final advice or warning from the article?
A: The author humorously suggests that one might be considered foolish for discussing such deep concepts, and advises enjoying life without overthinking these ideas unless one wishes to risk their happiness.
Final Words
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I must be crazy to talk like this. You just enjoy your life and don’t pay attention to what I say, or else you’ll end up ruining your own life. THANKD fOR EVERYTHING. You you read Article end then tell in comment I read it.
