Is there an ultimate knowledge? Are there ultimate answers to all the questions we have?
One may use any word, or words, to describe the ultimate understanding; but it doesn’t really matter what words are used because a word is not the “thing.”
The problem here is that there is nothing to describe. As far as our knowledge is concerned we can only know what we consider. We can never know what lies beyond these considerations. We may certainly consider what lies beyond; but then, we would only know the consideration we make.
Thus, what lies beyond considerations is unknowable. As we dig deeper to know more we shall simply find more considerations. Actually, we may simply uncover more of our own hidden assumptions, speculations, etc.
This unknowable would then be nothing more than a carrot to help uncover the considerations, which may be hidden deep in our consciousness. That is more than wonderful.
What then is this consciousness? What is at the core of consciousness? Who or what is THAT, which considers, and which is conscious of these considerations?
THAT, which considers, and which is conscious, is beyond time because time itself is a consideration. Whether THAT exists for ever or for just a blink of an eye, is the same thing. All that we find existing is the consideration of TIME.
THAT is also beyond space because space itself is a consideration. Whether THAT occupies all space or no space at all, is the same thing. All that we find existing is the consideration of SPACE.
Similarly, THAT is beyond the considerations of energy and matter. Whether THAT is all powerful, or with no power at all, is the same thing. Whether THAT is complete substance, or with no substance at all, is again the same thing. Power and substance are considerations too.
Is consciousness just a consideration? Is THAT, which considers, and which is conscious of these considerations, itself a consideration? Would we ever know who we truly are?
The ultimate identification of “who”, “what”, “where” and “when” seems to be unknowable, as these questions lead to speculations and more considerations. I do not know what others’ experience has been in this regard; but for me the ultimate identification has been unknowable. I have to accept that.
Any answers to “who”, “what”, “where” and “when” then must be self-generated and self-contained. The seed must appear spontaneously and randomly somehow… from where… that is impossible to know. This seed may then balloon into a “sphere of considerations” in a background of unknown.
All considerations in this “sphere” must be interconnected. All these considerations must support each other somehow. We try to look for linearity, and a beginning and an end; but, on the ultimate scale, I do not find such linearity to be there.
No wonder, others find me to be going around in circles. There is definitely a truth to this accusation. I do not have the ultimate answer. Nor do I think that anybody else has the ultimate answer.
A seeming answer may lie in this self-contained and self-generated “sphere of consideration.” But that may only take one around in circles. Sorry! This is my conclusion.
But there seem to be freedom beyond a mere consideration of freedom. One can only be constrained by one’s own considerations. Freedom may mean not constrained by one’s own considerations. Only those considerations may constrain one that are being generated unconsciously. One may enjoy life fully; participate in any and all adventures, while also being aware of all considerations one is generating even at the deepest level.
That would be Nirvana of Buddhism… that would be Mukti of Hinduism… that may be the “salvation” of Christianity; for this doesn’t mean forsaking life and adventure.
Nirvana would simply mean absence of hidden considerations even at the deepest level. It would mean total command over oneself. The Vedic concept of Brahma, as built into the process “neti, neti,” helps one move in that direction. With the process of “neti, neti,” one is simply saying, “This may not be the ultimate answer because this could just be a consideration of mine.”
This process then helps one question what one has been taking for granted, and look at it more closely to see if it is not just what one is considering. It is boring into the unknown and finding more and more of one’s own hidden considerations. When one knows that there are no more hidden considerations then only one knows oneself fully. That, to me, is Nirvana. From that point on one knows when one is generating, sustaining or dissolving considerations. It is the state of perfect equilibrium. This is just my take. It may or may not be true for another person.
Thus, Nirvana would simply mean the ability to generate a consideration, hold on to that consideration, and then dissolve that consideration. Nirvana would not mean forsaking this universe. Nirvana would simply mean total control over one’s considerations. One may then attain Nirvana while being in this universe. In fact one’s enjoyment of this universe would be infinitely greater after attaining nirvana. Buddha lived to a grand age of 80, quite rare for his time, after attaining nirvana.
In that Nirvana… in that Mukti… in that Salvation… seems to lie the ultimate knowledge.
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Glossary
KNOWLEDGE
As far as our knowledge is concerned we can only know what we consider. We can never know what lies apart from these considerations.
NIRVANA
Nirvana would simply mean absence of hidden considerations even at the deepest level. It would mean total command over oneself.
NETI NETI
“Neti neti” is a Vedic process to locate THAT which is not an outcome of your consideration.
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