Purpose of life...Dialogues between a Guru & Shishya - Part III...

That night, after the startling conclusion that Siddhartha arrived at, he slept peacefully. But, he was still restless; for, his intellectual thirst to seek answers to his questions weren't fully quenched. So, the next morning, as always, Siddhartha wakes up early in the morning. After offering his morning prayers to Mother Gayathri, he heads to meet his Guru. Even today, he finds his Guru in absolute calm, contentment, & peace. He wonders whether his Guru is truly in such absolute state or is it just his perception. So thinking, Siddhartha sits near his Guru waiting for him to open his eyes. When the Guru comes out of meditation, Siddhartha notices the infinite compassion that his Guru radiates. He also observes that his Guru does not have any questions in his mind; the kind that Siddhartha was seeking answers for. On the contrary, the Guru not only seemed to be without any questions, but also seemed to express "complete understanding" of all the answers to Siddhartha's questions. This was something strange to Siddhartha. He wondered,"how can my Guru be so confident about the total understanding of such an abstract thing like life"? So thinking, Siddhartha pays his respects to his Guru & sits beside him.

Guru: My child, did you have good sleep at night?

Siddhartha: Sir, I did have a relatively good sleep yesterday. But, there are still questions in my mind. Please be gracious in clearing these doubts that I have.

Guru: Yes, my child. I shall try answering your questions with whatever little understanding I have gained in my life thus far. Without any fear, ask your questions.

Siddhartha: Sir, yesterday you made me come to the conclusion that - THE SELF AS THE SUBJECT IS SEEKING ITSELF. But, my question is, if The Self is seeking Itself, where does that leave me?

Guru: You? Who are you Siddhartha? Is that not the question that we began our deliberations with?

Siddhartha: Yes sir. We indeed began our deliberations with that very fundamental question. And, you very rightly pointed out that there is nothing more to Siddhartha than a name. But, what about this body sir? This body, that has been named Siddhartha?

Guru: My dear child, be patient. Let the "understanding" dawn upon you slowly & steadily. Do not hurry. Let me answer your question about the body. When you say,"the body named Siddhartha", which body are you referring to? Is it the eyes, nose, limbs, heart, or any other organ? Which body are you referring to, Siddhartha?

Siddhartha: Sir, I am unable to make sense of what you are asking. Why would I be any of these organs independently of each other? Am I not the sum total of all these?

Guru: Listen my child, for argument's sake, let's take your point of view that you are the sum total of all these organs. Where does that leave the independent functioning of most organs irrespective of your awareness, liking, or disliking? What I mean is, what you call as you by referring to the body, is by & large working the way it should, irrespective of your wishes. Your stomach gets hungry when there is no food & sends signal that you have to feed; your eyes see objects & send signals about them to comprehend the object; your heart works untiringly from the moment you took birth in this body, till the time you depart the body; likewise it is with almost all the other parts. If these organs were to wait for your permission to do their work, the body called Siddhartha would be dead by now. It is only because they are functioning independent of your wishes or otherwise, you are able to seek answers to your questions. Having said that, should you choose to identify yourself with the body, you'll have to answer the question, which of the organs in the body is you? The reason you have to answer this question is because, what you call as the human body, is not actually one body. The human being is an INTEGRATED BEING. This human form along with the mind & the intellect constitutes what I call as the HUMAN INTEGRATED BEING. What value has this human form without "THAT" which gives it life? What gives life to the integrated human being is The Self. It is the same very Self that powers each of the organs to perform their work. This Self is also the BEING. Therefore, The Self & The Being are one & the same.

Siddhartha: Sir, in that case, The Self exists in other forms also. The Self is also a dog, a tiger, a donkey, a rock, everything.

Guru: My dear Siddhartha, not only does The Self exist in various forms as you said, but The Self also exists in non-forms. The Self exists in all forms, non-forms, & also beyond.

Siddhartha: Sir, if, as you said, everything is The Self, then, The Self should also have been "SELF AWARE". Why then does The Self seek Itself?
Guru: That is indeed a very profound question my dear child. As you very rightly pointed out, THE SELF IS INDEED SELF AWARE. But for your coming in the middle in the form of this "I"ness, The Self is aware of Itself. This "I"ness is like a temporary separation between a small water body & the ocean. The moment this temporary separation is removed, there is no more "I"ness. There is only The Self. To make it even more clear, suppose there is a empty clay pot. As you know, there is space within the empty clay pot & so also outside of it. Is the space inside the pot any different from that outside? No. This apparent difference is not because of the space, but because of the transcient existence of the pot. The moment the pot ceases to be, there is no more any duality. There is only one Self & It is universal.

Siddhartha: In that case, the pot also is nothing but the space. Only that the same universal space has been modified. That means, there is no such absolute existence of the pot; only space exists. The pot is a temporary form arising out of the universal space. Therefore, The Self exists in Its Universal Being; & the same Universal Being takes all the forms & non-forms. By Itself, The Self is not just the Being in all the forms & non-forms, but Is beyond everything.
Guru: Yes my dear Siddhartha. Your understanding is becoming clear.
Siddhartha: Sir, since it follows that The Self is transcendental, does it also not follow that IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO "UNDERSTAND OR COMPREHEND" THE SELF? For, The Self is nothing but The Being. And, Being, is an experience & cannot be a subject of intellectual debate. The "understanding" aspect exists because of the "I"ness.
Guru: (Silently observing Siddhartha's deductions, deeply smiles).
Siddhartha: Which means, the very existence of "I"ness is a hinderance to experiencing The Self.
Guru: Yes my dear. This "I"ness is the root cause of all the evil & hence, the most formidable opponent "TO BE". The moment this "I"ness vanishes, there is no more you or me. There is only The Self.

Siddhartha: Does that mean I do not exist?

Guru: No, my child. Most definitely, you exist. But, you do not exist in the way you think you exist. YOU EXIST AS EXISTENCE ITSELF & not in any form. Moreover, remember that even in all the forms, "EXISTENCE MANIFESTS ITSELF IN THAT FORM". The form, by itself, has no existence, unless existence manifests in that form.

Siddhartha: Sir, how then do I experience The Self?
Guru: My dear Siddhartha, too much knowledge is a hinderance to Being. Transcend the "I"ness & you shall experience The Self & Be.
Siddhartha: Please guide me on how to lose the sense of "I"ness, sir.
Guru: Seek, my dear Siddhartha, seek. You have to relentlessly seek The Self before you lose sense of this "I"ness & Be one with The Self, which you have always been.
Siddhartha (in tears): Please bless me my most revered Master. Only your grace can save me.
Guru: Do not grieve, Siddhartha. You shall attain to oneness. Let there not be any duality about that. Continue to seek, & you shall Be; for, THAT YOU ARE.