Knowledge of the Absolute True Self
Action cannot destroy ignorance because it is not contrary to or opposed to ignorance. Knowledge truly destroys ignorance as light destroys deep darkness. Action cannot destroy ignorance because it is not contrary to or opposed to ignorance. Knowledge truly destroys ignorance as light destroys deep darkness. The Soul seems to be finite because of ignorance. When ignorance is destroyed, the Self, which admits of no multiplicity, truly reveals itself by itself: like the sun when the clouds disappear.
The world that is full of attachments, aversions, etc., is like a dream. It seems real while it lasts, but it seems unreal when you are awake (that is, when true wisdom dawns). The ego appears to be true as long as it is Absolute Being; the subsurface, the basis of all this creation, is not realized. It’s like the illusion of silver in mother of pearl. Like bubbles in the water, the worlds rise, exist and dissolve in the Supreme Self, which is the material cause and support of everything.
Space becomes one through the destruction of these restrictive additions: so also the omnipresent truth appears to be diverse because of its association with the different relations. Because of its association with various conditions, ideas like caste, color and position are imposed on the pure consciousness, as taste, color, etc. are imposed on water.
Realize that you are an Absolute Being who is Non-dual, Indivisible, One and Blissful and which is referred to in Vedanta as the Immutable Substratum, realized after the negation of all tangible objects. All objects are imbued with Absolute Being. All actions are possible because of the Absolute: therefore it pervades everything as butter pervades milk.
Realize that the Absolute is neither subtle nor gross: neither short nor long: without birth or change: without form, qualities, color and name. That which by the light of which the luminous globes such as the sun and the moon are illuminated, but which are not illuminated by their light, realize that this is an absolute being. The Supreme Being pervades the entire universe, outwardly and inwardly, and radiates from itself like the fire that penetrates a red-hot iron ball and glows from itself.
Pure Consciousness is always and everywhere present, but it is perceived only by the eye of wisdom: but one whose vision is darkened by ignorance sees it not; as the blind do not see the bright sun. The meditator who is free from impurities, heated in the fire of knowledge, kindled by knowledge and so on, radiates from himself like gold. Pure consciousness, the Sun of Knowledge rising in the sky of the heart, destroys the darkness of ignorance, pervades and sustains everything, and radiates and makes everything radiate.
He who renounces all activities, who is free from all limitations of time, space and direction, worships his own pure consciousness which is everywhere, which is the destroyer of heat and cold, which is bliss-eternal and spotless, becomes All – knowing and all-pervading and then attains immortality.