The following is a written Essay for Philosophy where we were asked to share what came up for us while reading the Bhagavad Gita and this is the in response to Chapter Four on Wisdom.
The Bhagavad Gita is written on two levels,
one that speaks to the mind and one that speaks to the Heart. Although, ultimately, there are not two
separate things, for the purpose of this writing, we will imagine that there
are. One cannot know why some are
“touched” by the Truth, while others seemingly are not. It does not make one better than the other;
only more Aware.
When one is touched by Truth, the mind
begins to be pushed to the backburner.
This is not always a simple process, and depends on how deeply one
relies on the mind as its tool to receive information. If one uses the mind only to process (or
release what comes through), then the transition is much smoother because the
jump from mind to Heart is not as far.
If one relies on the mind to understand the process, then one begins to
go in circles, because the mind cannot understand what it is IN, and all
attempts to understand creates a kind of insanity (which then creates fear, and
fear; breeds fear). However, it will only go on for as long as one resists and
continues the attempt to bring Heart to mind, instead of relaxing mind into
Heart. Sounds simple, and ultimately it
is, however, one is wise not to underestimate the power of mind to remain in
control (the mind thrives on complexity; and the Heart Reveals itSelf in
Simplicity). The good news is that there
are not two separate things (Heart and mind) because the mind is IN the
Heart. One does not have to fear
insanity or anything at all; because no matter what, you are always in
yourSelf. However, the cycle of
attempting to understand can get out of hand for a while, again depending on
whether one begins to accept that they will not ever understand. If that is the case then one naturally
relaxes and lets go of understanding, and begins to Know. What is the difference between understanding
and Knowing (with a capital “K”)? The
difference is that understanding comes from the mind and is something that can
be explained and understood by the mind (it is proof of something). “Knowing” comes from what the mind is IN and
is Revealed. When you “Know” something
you do not require proof (you don’t need proof of air to breath and you don’t
need proof of knowing; to Know). Words
will not ever explain this, but if you Know or are at least willing to know where
you are being pointed, then you will need no words.
There can be no other way, direction than
towards Truth. Action and in-action are
both in Truth. When the Self falls asleep too deeply … it Awakens out of the
call through the mind from the Heart.
The dream that one is in is meant to “feel” real. That is the Gift for Self to experience
itself as something “appearing” as other than what it is. However, when it gets too dark, too serious,
a call is sent out to Self, which Awakens itself, and brings the Light unto the
world.
Self is not a person, it does not think, yet
all thinking is in it. It understands
everything without understanding, its intelligence is so great that there is no
way to comprehend or describe what intelligence even is. Self is before your own breath, it is beyond
anything that can be imagined, because imagining is in Self. It cannot be used, but it uses everything to
reveal itSelf to itself. It is the only
thing that lasts and it is not a thing.
All paradoxes point to it, but will not ever help you to understand it
(and IT is not an it).
One does not need to be smart to be
wise. Wisdom is not learned in books or
in schooling; it is not something that is taught. You are born Wise and then it is covered over
by ignorance and learning. Wisdom is
available to all who seek it, however it cannot be sought in the world. The world will lead one away from wisdom,
because wisdom is not in the world. However
as one becomes Realized in Wisdom the world then begins to point one back into
itSelf. Prior to that, the world teaches
separation and that everyone is an individual.
Wisdom is the discovery that “we” are all ONE (less than One) and the
Same and that it is only “in the world” that we appear to be different. (Talks With Ramana Maharshi, Video.)
Behind the face, behind the thoughts about
who one is, is the Still Wisdom of who you are.
No one can give it to you, however you can use these words as a reminder
to begin to look. To become Wise, you
must begin to question everything you believe in, everything that you hold dear,
and nothing is held onto more tightly than the thought “I.” (Austin 31.)
When you are truly ready for Wisdom and
Knowledge, you will begin to question who you are. One does this by asking one simple question
and it is the only question one ever need ask, in any situation, it is first
person singular, the question; “Who am I?”
Ask it with all sincerity and accept no answer that comes. Dig and dig and when you tire of digging, dig
some more.
Wisdom has no path. However self-interrogation leads one Home.
Works
Cited
Austin, Wayne, Dialogues with a Master, The Spider, Create Space, Print.
Austin,
Wayne, First There is a Mountain, Who
Am I? Really, Create Space, Print.
Cinefx Productions, “Talks With Ramana Maharishi,” Talk 146, Internet Video.
"Who Am I?" A Strategy For
Self-Realization." Hinduism Today 30.2 (2008): 52-53. Academic Search
Complete. Web. 4 May 2013.
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