Indian philosophy recognises six systems (darshanas) -Vaishishika, Nyaya, Sankhya, Yoga, Purvamimamsa and Vedanta. The essence of these darshanas is to ‘see’ the supreme Reality. All the systems focus on the three entities, jiva, jagat and Paramatma.
Differences in these systems are based on how they deal with the nature and interrelation of these three entities. Some say that all the three are different. Some say that jiva is part of Ishwara and so on. These entities appear to exist as long as there is identification with the small ‘i’ (aham-mati). When we enquire and dive deep within, this identification dissolves and all three are experienced as One. These three are seen separately because of the separate identity which I have created for myself. Once that is dissolved, the three entities automatically disappear.
Let us take the example of a vacant plot. This is one, undivided empty space. On this plot if we build a beautiful house with many rooms, that same one space appears divided by the walls. With respect to the walls we give different names to that divided space like drawing room, bedroom, kitchen. But when we shift our attention from the walls to the space then the divisions melt away. When the walls are removed, what remains is pure space, free of all distinctions.
Similarly, the scriptures say that there is only One Brahman but we see the divisions. When I see myself as a separate entity, as an individual, created by the walls of my body, mind, intellect then division begins. My focus is on the walls - how to decorate the wall, how to preserve it, and so on. But through the process of enquiry into the ‘I’-notion, that created this division, the ‘I’-notion itself is dissolved along with the divisions.
Sat, the Supreme Truth, the Reality is everywhere. It is all-pervading. Nothing in this world is devoid of Sat. Just as gold ornaments with different names and forms, used for different purposes are all pervaded by gold. Similarly, all that we see is pervaded by Sat.
Then, why don’t we experience It? We experience It as Sat-pratyayah - the thought of ‘is...is...is...’ That is the very presence of God. We experience every object of this world in two ways. One experience is the form of that object and the other is the thought of ‘is-ness’ satpratyayah. Let us take the example of a watch. I can see the form and I say the watch ‘is’. Now the watch itself may undergo change but the fact of its ‘is-ness’ does not change. The thought of ‘is’ remains the same. It does not undergo any modification. But as the watch changes, the thought of the watch undergoes modification. This ‘is’ thought is related to Sat-the Reality itself, present in everything including me.
Sat is experienced in me as ‘I am’. Once, a philosophy teacher wanted to know if his students understood his teachings. He posed a question, ‘Who are you?’ One student got up and said, ‘I am..’ The teacher stopped him from adding anything further. The next one also began, ‘I am..’. The teacher stopped him too. In the same way he stopped every student soon after they uttered ‘I am..’
The common phrase used by all the students was ‘I am’. That ‘is... is... is..’ which I experience everywhere is Existence (Sat). The purpose of spirituality is to recognize and experience the essence or Sat.
The author is the regional head of Chinmaya Mission Delhi, NCR.
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