The Vedantic Method
-What is learning - in the spiritual realm, how can we use finite perceptions to conceptualize the Infinite
-The difficulty begins with our conditioning of using finite words to define finite experiences relating to finite concepts
-The key is to realize there is more than meets the eye and to look beyond the words
-This is the nature of our Upanishadic mantras, Zen koans, etc., that challenge the mind/intellect to its limit - with deeper reflection the limits disappear leaving not awareness of any 'thing' rather only Awareness
-Focusing on the silence between two thoughts guides us in the unlearning process - what is the nature of this Silence
-Amazing that we think we are able to have complete experiences without even having understood the nature of experience, i.e. the experiencer (man), the experienced (object) and the experiencing (event joining the experiencer and experienced)
BUT who is actually experiencing - do we really know ourselves
-No experience is complete unless all three factors of an experience are known
-Can someone attain enlightenment independent of the Scriptures/Guru - why can't i start my own religion
-Someone trying to understand a baseball game ('Infinite') has to understand the rules, the sequence and the purpose of each strategy and play, before actually knowing/experiencing baseball - similarly, we need to need to follow the Scriptures/Guru to actually know what Awareness is thereby enabling us to actually seek Awareness
-To reach a finite goal trial and error is possible - to reach an Infinite goal, trial and error will only keep us in the finite
-To define the Truth is to defile the Truth - the Truth will always be the Truth only regardless of whether it is called black, white, brown, etc.
-There are examples of enlightened people who reached Awareness without the Scriptures/Guru, how is this explained - it is understood that the impressions of our previous lives influence our tendencies; therefore, logically the Scriptures/Guru-shishya Parampara must have been observed in their previous lives
-Our Scriptures/Guru state that the following are the means to realization: shravanam (listening), mananam (reflection) and nidhidhyasanam (meditation) - by engaging in these means repeatedly we will eventually reach Awareness
-It should be noted that meditation is not a verb, but a noun - meditation is our True Nature
-In sleep, intoxication, etc, there is absorption of mind ('samadhi'), however on emerging from such a state we are the same sad entities - only when we achieve absorption of mind (samadhi) through reflection on Self Knowledge do we emerge as glorious personalities.
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