13 Characteristics of the Atman #314
The indivisible Self is called Atman in Vedanta. The limited self, called Ahamkara, or the human ego, is the repository of all assumed properties, and the dwelling-place of all dualities and their evolutes and offshoots — such things as happy/sad, successful/failure, fat/thin, worthy/worthless, etc. This wisdom chart reveals that the characteristics of Atman, the true Self of humanity, are qualities such as eternal, indestructible, immovable, and the like. Such qualities are not assumed, like add-ons after the fact, but are inherent in Atman. It is a case of the difference between ornaments that are hung on a Christmas tree, as opposed to the actual green color of the tree. The Atman, then, is full and complete by nature. Living beings many attempt to complement Atman with good qualities, or reduce the Atman through negative qualities, but It remains pure, perfect, and nondual, ever free of overlays.
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14 Qualities of the World Teacher #285
Enhanced by one of the more recently unearthed pictures of Swami Vivekananda, this complete rendering of all the main attributes required to actually call oneself a world teacher, or even an authentic leader of humanity, covers all bases in its description of that perfect soul. Always found missing in an assessment of ordinary leaders such as politicians, statesmen, and those who covet military might, are those qualities which are specifically spiritual in nature, as well as qualities of a more sensitive type such as compassion and selflessness. Swami Vivekananda, named Narendranath at birth, meaning “Lord of Men,” had them all, and demonstrated them while he was on earth and in the physical form. To study this list is to inform one of the nobility and depth of character that defines a true leader of souls.
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3 Samadhis in Advaita Vedanta #315
In Gaudapada’s great and famous commentary on the Mandukya Upanisad, his system called “Nontouch Yoga,” with its three samadhis, is introduced. Deep and profound, it nevertheless accomplishes with an economy of words and terms what other philosophies take volumes to try and explain. This nondual gem repeats India’s highest Truth of the Bliss of Brahman, declaring It to be calm, natural, and always controlled. If the soul forgets this teaching about the utter simplicity of illumination, it has only to return to the ever peaceful “Province” of its own abiding Essence, and abide there eternally.
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7 Earmarks of Realization #156
Coursing through one of the precious teachings of Advaita Vedanta while utilizing the four states of human awareness as its measure, this wisdom chart lists seven great attainments along the road to Enlightenment. Simply stated and easy of understanding, the teaching does not, however, leave out certain subtleties known to advanced and adept practitioners, such as the important role of spiritual discrimination, and a full grasp and comprehension of the rare condition of emptiness. The goal of nondual transcendence could never be reached without them.
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7 Levels of Higher Knowledge #267
Much like systems such as The Three Worlds and Five Sheaths, the Seven Levels of Knowledge have maintained and found their way through long cycles of time, gracing many a spiritual pathway in India. Many of the main darshanas of India have a version of these seven, which is both a measuring device for the sincere aspirant’s growth, and a landmark of spiritual attainment. On this dharma art wisdom chart, the seven are placed side by side with mankind’s Four States of Consciousness, and correlated, as well, with specific assignments for definite stages of progress. Most helpful is the list of characteristics of each of these seven stages, leaving the sadhaka with a clear vision of what has been previously gained, and what is still to be attained.
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7 Levels of Higher Knowledge #316
Vedanta’s version of the Seven Levels of Higher Knowledge covers a subtle gamut of very elevated accomplishments, the like of which most spiritual aspirants seldom arrive at, or maybe even aspire to. This is advaitic territory, most remote and rare of passage. To inform sincere seekers further, this wisdom chart comes replete with a description of the abilities of those who have entered this exalted realm of higher Consciousness, and who therefore have become “Fitted for the Brahman State.”
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Advaita Vedanta’s Pillar of Axioms #93
There is immense beauty and poetry abiding in the otherwise presumed sterility, or the presupposed emptiness, of that great principle seers and seekers call Nonduality. A step by step figuring of the process of the dissolving of human ignorance under the powerful press of advaitic reasoning is one of those beauties, and it is pure poetry, philosophically speaking. Striving souls seldom see this transformation happening to them. That marvel is reserved for the teachers, gurus, and acharyas of these adamant seekers. A clear explanation of this is to be seen on this dharmic wisdom chart, that outlines fourteen pillars of ultimate progress in the world’s finest living philosophy. To quote Vivekananda, whose image graces this revealing chart, “On planes physical, ethical, and spiritual, an ever-broadening generalization — leading up to a concept of Unity Eternal — is in the air; and this being so, all the movements of the time may be taken to represent, knowingly or unknowingly, the noblest philosophy of the unity of man ever had — the Advaita Vedanta.”
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Ajativada: Nonorigination #198
One of the two main axioms of Advaita Vedanta, the purest and highest truth of Nonorigination, declares that all that is contained within the realms of flux and change, meaning all phenomena, rise and fall in and out of existence free of creation and destruction and devoid of any abiding substance — despite appearances to the contrary. This is the secret to the enigmatic statement that “All Is Brahman.” There is nothing that is not Brahman, for all that is changing is not changing at all. Change itself is illusory. This chart makes a fine companion to #62, Aparinama: The Principle of Nontransformation, which is the second of the two main axioms of Advaita Vedanta.
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Asparsha Yoga — The “Nontouch” Yoga #97
Does Nonduality have a practice? The seers who abide in this singular state tell us that as long as the soul inhabits the body, just so long will it need to exert effort towards maintaining its awareness of Formless Reality. This subtle most practice has been termed Advaita Vedanta Sadhana, which can be defined as the spiritual self-effort performed effortlessly by the luminary for the purpose of keeping the mind’s impurities from rising. Gaudapada’s rendering of Asparsha Yoga has all the characteristics of such a sublime inner practice, which show up as a distilled list of observances and divine expressions in the one adhering to it.
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Christ the Sannyasin #257
From India’s universal perspective Jesus was an illumined soul, what is called a sannyasin in that country, one who is free from all the constraints of the world and the defects of the mind. India also considers him an Avatar as well, a divine incarnation come to earth to save suffering souls — much like Lord Buddha, who lived some 550 years prior to Jesus. This dharma chart poses Christ in that highest light, as seen through the eyes of some of his disciples whose temperament was particularly ascetic and renounced.
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Course in Atmic Realization #282
Swami Vivekananda’s choice of the lion to symbolize the strong and forthgoing spiritual aspirant is apropos to this time. He used to site weakness as the greatest sin. On this wisdom chart are to be found several of his quotes utilizing the lion in this context, blended in with a short list of the main qualities that he favored to bring the soul out of darkness and into the Light of the Atman. The entire flavor and atmosphere here smacks of the noble Vedanta he championed, and the Vedantic aspirant will benefit by seeing this dharma teaching again and again.
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Five Eternal & Essential Facts of Indian Philosophy #15
The simple yet profound way of Nonduality, a pathway of elevated, spiritual altitudes that is tread by rare and exquisite souls who have “seen God face to face,” has points and principles attached to it. The Five Eternal Facts provide the advanced seeker with clarity around these subtle and enigmatic truths that remove age-old doubts about the nature of both Reality and relativity. The universal mind that is armed with them encounters no problem that is unsolvable, and no impediment that is insurmountable. That soul lives in nondual Truth, “....no matter what may be his or her mode of living....”
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