It is when you begin to feel in your heart that you are boundless space that something begins to happen. As you feel yourself as boundless space, all your stuff begins to drop away. Yet you do not affirm to yourself that you are boundless space. You merely observe, you watch, you become the witness. You look out at the world and you see that the trees, the mountains, the planets, are all hanging in space. And you begin to consider that your body, what appears to be your body, is like the trees, and the moon, and the sun. It seems to be a thing of itself, and it is also hanging in boundless space.
Because you are able to observe this and see this and feel this, the realization will come to you that you must be this boundless space, which your body and your mind and the rest of the things of this world are attached to. As you begin to consider this, the mind becomes quieter and quieter and quieter, until the day comes when it falls away completely. Then you become boundless space. And yet you appear to be a body also. This is a paradox. This is why it's better to sit in the silence and not talk at all.
Teachings of Robert Adams a disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi. Source - The Mountain Path - 1993 - Aradhana Issue page 26
Explanation And Additional Information:
The above passage evokes profound spiritual insight, echoing concepts central to many contemplative traditions, especially within Hinduism, Advaita Vedanta, and other non-dualistic teachings. The realization of being "boundless space" is a metaphor for recognizing one’s true nature beyond the body and mind, a core principle in many spiritual paths. Let's expand on this idea by diving into its symbolism, importance, examples, and connection with Hindu scriptures, as well as its relevance and practicality in modern life.
Symbolism of "Boundless Space"
"Boundless space" is often used as a metaphor for consciousness, which is vast, infinite, and without form. In this metaphor:
- The body is seen as a finite entity that occupies a small part of this boundless space, much like a tree or a planet exists in the vast expanse of the universe.
- The mind is an ever-changing element that operates within this space, but it is not the space itself.
- Boundless space represents the deeper awareness, the unchanging witness, the pure consciousness that underlies everything.
In Advaita Vedanta, this idea reflects the concept of Brahman (the ultimate reality, or absolute consciousness) and Atman (the individual self). The two are said to be ultimately one and the same — Tat Tvam Asi ("That Thou Art") — meaning that the individual self is none other than the infinite consciousness.
Importance of Realizing Boundless Space
The significance of recognizing oneself as boundless space lies in liberation, or moksha. As long as we identify with the body, mind, and ego, we experience limitation, suffering, and separation. But when we shift our identification to the boundless space (pure consciousness), we recognize that we are not limited by the physical or mental. This realization brings about freedom from attachments, suffering, and the cycle of birth and death, known as samsara.
The practice of shifting attention from the body and mind to the formless space of awareness leads to a gradual dissolution of ego, or Ahamkara. As ego and mind "drop away," what remains is pure awareness, the Self or Atman.
Similar Example in Hinduism:
A famous analogy from Hindu philosophy that illustrates this concept is the pot and space analogy:
- A pot encloses a certain amount of space inside it. When the pot is broken, the space inside merges with the infinite space outside.
- Similarly, the body and mind are like the pot — they seem to enclose consciousness. However, when the identification with body and mind is dissolved, the consciousness realizes its oneness with the infinite Brahman.
Quotes from Hindu Scriptures:
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (2.4.14):
- "As a lump of salt dropped in water dissolves in water and cannot be taken out again, but wherever we taste the water it is salty, so, verily, this great being, infinite, boundless, consciousness, dissolves into its elements and there is nothing distinct from it anymore."
- This quote from the Upanishad speaks to the ultimate dissolution of the individual ego into the boundless reality, much like the analogy of boundless space.
Bhagavad Gita (13:32):
- "Being without beginning and devoid of qualities, the supreme Self, imperishable, though dwelling in the body, does not act nor is it tainted, O Arjuna!"
- This quote emphasizes the idea that while consciousness appears to dwell in the body, it remains untouched and untainted by the body's limitations — it is boundless.
Simple Stories from Hinduism:
The Sage Ashtavakra and King Janaka:
- Ashtavakra, a sage, taught King Janaka the non-dual philosophy. He asked the king to imagine that the world around him was like a dream, and that his true nature was the formless consciousness that witnesses everything. After much contemplation, King Janaka realized his true self as the boundless awareness beyond the body and mind, becoming enlightened.
This story highlights the practice of shifting one’s awareness from the physical and mental realm to the formless, boundless Self.
Story of the Salt Doll:
- A salt doll wanted to measure the depth of the ocean, so it walked into the water. As it went deeper, the salt dissolved into the water. The doll eventually realized that it had become one with the ocean and could no longer distinguish itself from the water.
- This simple story symbolizes the dissolution of the ego in the infinite consciousness, where the individual self is no longer separate from the boundless awareness.
Modern-Day Relevance and Practicality in Daily Life
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, we often get caught up in the dramas of daily existence, identifying ourselves with our roles, possessions, and mental states. The teaching of recognizing oneself as "boundless space" offers a profound way to reduce stress and anxiety by realizing that these external factors don’t define our true nature.
Here are practical ways this teaching can be applied:
Mindfulness and Meditation: In daily meditation, one can practice observing thoughts and emotions as they arise and fall away in the boundless space of awareness. By doing this, we create distance between ourselves and our mind, reducing the intensity of reactions and attachments.
Emotional Detachment: When faced with challenging emotions, you can remind yourself that emotions are transient, like clouds passing through the vast sky of your awareness. You are the sky, not the clouds.
Facing Difficult Situations: In stressful or overwhelming situations, recognizing that the body and mind are merely "hanging in space" can help bring perspective. If we identify more with the boundless space, we recognize that circumstances, like the physical body, are part of the cosmic play but don’t affect the essence of who we are.
Additional Thoughts:
The paradox mentioned in the passage — being both boundless space and appearing as a body — is key in non-duality. It recognizes the co-existence of the relative (our experience in the world) and the absolute (the infinite consciousness). Both perspectives are valid, but the deeper truth is the infinite consciousness from which everything emerges.
This is why in many spiritual traditions, silence is considered the most profound teacher. Words can only point toward the truth, but direct experience — beyond words and concepts — leads to realization.
As Ramana Maharshi, the great Advaita sage, said:
- "Silence is ever speaking; it is the perennial flow of ‘language.’ It is interrupted by speaking, for words obstruct this mute language. Silence is unceasing eloquence."
In essence, the idea of boundless space invites a practice of detachment, quieting the mind, and realizing our true nature, which is infinite, eternal, and free from the limitations of body and mind. It’s not just a philosophy but a profound practice for those seeking inner peace and liberation.