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Teachings from Advaita Bodha Dipika by Sri Karapatra Swami

A few teachings with explanation from Advaita Bodha Dipika by Sri Karapatra Swami

All is absolute, pure, infinite consciousness, non-dual, supreme intelligence, the self-existent Self or Brahman.

Maya or illusion, the powers of veiling and projection are inherent powers in Brahman. These powers manifest an apparent but unreal universe.

It is unreal because it was not before manifestation and will not be after dissolution. Therefore it is likened to a dream in the supreme intelligence or mind of Brahman. Thus the apparent universe is but an appearance based on Brahman. It does not exist apart from Brahman.

Source – article titled Is Life A Dream? By Alan Jacobs in May 2016 edition of Prabuddha Bharata.

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The statement ‘it is unreal because it was not before manifestation and will not be after dissolution ‘ is a concept or idea that suggests something is unreal because it exists only within a certain framework of manifestation and dissolution. This concept could be interpreted in various ways depending on the context, such as philosophical, spiritual, or metaphysical.

In philosophical or metaphysical terms, this notion might relate to the idea of reality being transient or impermanent. According to some philosophical perspectives, what we perceive as reality is constantly changing and evolving, and anything that comes into existence eventually ceases to exist. This view often aligns with concepts found in Eastern philosophies like Hinduism or Buddhism, where the impermanence of all things is a fundamental tenet.

In spiritual contexts, this idea might be tied to concepts of the eternal or transcendent nature of existence. It could suggest that beyond the transient manifestations of the physical world, there exists a deeper reality or essence that is beyond the realm of manifestation and dissolution.

Overall, the statement "It is unreal because it was not before manifestation and will not be after dissolution" seems to convey the idea that the true nature of reality lies beyond the cycles of manifestation and dissolution, and that anything bound by these cycles is ultimately impermanent and therefore unreal in the ultimate sense.

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The statement ‘the apparent universe is but an appearance based on Brahman. It does not exist apart from Brahman’ is rooted in Hindu philosophy, particularly Advaita Vedanta. Let's break it down for better understanding:

The Apparent Universe: This refers to the perceived reality, the world we see, touch, hear, and experience through our senses. It encompasses everything we perceive as separate objects, events, and phenomena.

Brahman: In Hinduism, Brahman is the ultimate reality or absolute reality. It is the unchanging, infinite, and eternal principle that underlies and sustains the universe. Brahman is often described as the ground of all being, transcending all limitations and distinctions.

It Does Not Exist Apart from Brahman: This part of the statement emphasizes the non dualistic nature of reality according to Advaita Vedanta. It suggests that the apparent universe, with all its diversity and multiplicity, is not separate from Brahman. In other words, Brahman is the underlying substratum of everything that exists. The universe is not independent of Brahman but rather an expression or manifestation of Brahman.

Appearance Based on Brahman: This implies that the diversity and multiplicity we perceive in the universe are like appearances or manifestations projected by Brahman. They are not ultimately real in themselves but are dependent on Brahman for their existence. Just as waves are appearances on the surface of the ocean, the universe is an appearance on the substratum of Brahman.

This perspective leads to the concept of non-duality (Advaita), which suggests that ultimately there is no real distinction between the individual self (Atman) and Brahman. The goal of spiritual practice in Advaita Vedanta is to realize this underlying unity and transcend the illusion of separateness.

In summary, the statement highlights the idea that the universe we perceive is ultimately an expression of Brahman and not separate from it, emphasizing the unity and non-duality of all existence.