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[Prashant Sharma]

On Wed, 23 Jul 1997, Venkat Puntambekar wrote:

> Namaste to all:
>
> I have often wondered how this "True Self" is explained. Infact
> in my reading (quite limited), most authors and translators have used
> words like, "Pure COnciousness", "the real self", "your true
> identity","eternal love" and "eternal flame" etc. etc...
> Why are there such esoteric labels. I mean, why can't we just
> say (Please correct me if I am wrong), everything that you do is
> because of that. I have spent time in front of the mirror wondering
> who is it that is seeing my reflection. It cannot be my eyes, for
> they are just an instrument to see. When you see someone who is
> looking, seeing. For that matter, I am typing this mail. Who(what) is
> causing my fingers to type. Is this the real SELF.
>
> Infact Rajneesh makes ample use of such statements. "Find out
> what is causing your breathing", what is causing your heart to beat"..
>

        All causes lie in space-time.  But our Self is not part of this
space-time. It exists in a different "world", the world of endless
possibilities but no events. Therefore I donot believe that this enquiry
will lead to knowing the Self.  You will always find answers in the way
science provides them, but Self is something that cannot be found.  This
type of enquiry may "end" with knowing the Self.  Many list members have
recently talked about what "knowing the Self" is (recently Shri Allan
Curry, and Shri Gummuluru Murthy).
The Self is referred to in such esoteric terms because it is "nothing"
that can be known.  Hence any/all terms can be used.

> I believe it is in Chandogya Upanishad, where Prajapati is trying
> to explain this Self to both Indra and Virocana. He asks" What
> do you see when you see your self in a vessel of water. Both
> manage to not understand the treue import..
>
> ANd there is Ramana Maharshi. "WHo am I" and he stops right there..
>
> Does anyone get such questions or am I an isolated entity wondering about
>  these..
>
        Speaking for myself, yes I do get such and other questions.

> thanks,
> -Venkat
>

Regards,
Prashant