Is there any
evidence to support my belief that I am a limited being?
A sentence I
heard from Francis Lucille really got me thinking that is there any evidence to
support my belief that I am a limited being?
This
investigation into my true nature depends on my capacity to keenly discriminate
the nature of the subject and the object.
My belief
that I am a limited being is based on my capacity to perceive limitations. Limitations are perceived – there
is no doubt about that. Limitations are perceived in the body. Limitations are
perceived in the mind too. The very fact that they are perceived clearly show
that they are objects of my knowledge or experience.
The question
is can they belong to me, in whose ever-presence they are perceived. Am I an
object of knowledge? Or am I fundamentally different in nature, being the awareness
or consciousness in whose presence they
are perceived?
We must ascertain
this clearly for ourself – each person has to clearly ascertain for himself or
herself.
What
evidence is there to support the belief that the one in whose presence limitations
are perceived is limited by those limitations?
The one in
whose presence changes are perceived has to be changeless awareness – otherwise
how can changes be perceived?
The body is
changing moment to moment and it has many limitations for whatever reasons –
could be effects of karma (genetic), wrong lifestyle choices. The mind is
changing moment to moment and it has many limitations too for whatever reasons –
could be karma (genetic), faulty habits of thinking, childhood experiences etc.
Can these changes and limitations belong to the one in whose changeless presence
they are perceived?
A proper
study of Vedanta will reveal that there is absolutely no evidence to support
our belief that limitations of any sort whatsoever can ever belong to be me,
the changeless ever-present awareness in whose presence they are illumined.
Vedanta does not say limitations at the level of body, mind are not there or
not perceived. Vedanta simply says they do not belong to me as I am – ascertain
that for yourself and be free. This is the first step.
It is
only through identification with the body and mind due to ignorance that one lumps
limitations with the oneself, the pure awareness in whose presence they are
perceived. And at every moment there is a choice present to be alive to one’s
presence as it is and be free or to identify with the issues of the body-mind and
be miserable. The choice that you take is the destiny that you make! So make
the choice to study Vedanta with an open mind and understand what it has to
say.
Om Tat Sat