Dr. Vijai S Shankar MD.PhD.
Published on www.academy-advaita.com
The Netherlands
11th August 2018
Self-Enquiry 2
“Light”
Self-enquiry is honest enquiry of not only who you are, but also what you are.
Self-enquiry is also an honest enquiry into what objects, vegetation and animals are.
Self-enquiry is honest if the enquiry is whether the egg came first or the chicken came first. This enquiry is difficult to answer by those with knowledge. It is, however, explained by those with wisdom of self-enquiry. So what is the explanation by the wise, is the question?
It is paradoxical that, when the meaning conveyed by knowledge is deeply understood by humans, the wisdom of self-enquiry is revealed.
The meaning conveyed by scientific knowledge is that every atom of an egg is light. This meaning of scientific knowledge, when deeply understood, reveals that an egg is an illusion of light.
It also reveals that whatever comes out of the egg is an illusion of light as well. This signifies that the chicken is an illusion of light, because a chicken comes out of the egg.
It only means that an egg is a compressed chicken and a chicken is an expressed egg, just as the animal seed is a compressed animal and the animal is an expressed animal seed.
The question still remains regarding the presence of an egg before the chicken. Again, it is the wisdom of self-enquiry of elements and matter that gives the clue for understanding.
Wisdom of elements reveals that every atom of an element is light. This wisdom further signifies that an element appears as an illusory matter. As an egg is matter, it further signifies that elements appeared as an egg first.
This signifies that an egg came first and the first egg expressed as a first chicken. The elements within the first chicken appeared as an egg in the chicken and the cycle was set in motion by the intelligence in life.
The enlightened, due to self-enquiry, understand the wisdom of an egg and, therefore, accept every chicken or an egg as it is in any moment. They do not expect them to be other than what they are in any moment.
Author: Dr. Vijai S. Shankar
© Copyright V. S. Shankar 2018
Editor’s Note:
Man has always respected knowledge and the knowledgeable. Those believed to be responsible for breakthroughs in knowledge leading to improvements in skills, treatments and technology have been rewarded by society with special accolades. However, it is clear from this article by Dr Shankar, that knowledge and understanding are by no means synonymous. Knowledge has great merit, but may nevertheless leave important questions unanswered. Understanding leads to wisdom where no questions remain. The illusory egg is a gift of the intelligence of life.
Julian Capper, UK.