THE MYTH OF SEPARATION - PART 1
The most striking shift in Advaita Vedanta is from viewing the world out there from the perspective of the individual self to identifying with the True Reality that is prior to the manifestation of the world. As Nisargadatta says: Who was born first, you or the world? As long as you give first place to the world, you are bound by it; once you realize, beyond all trace of doubt, that the world is in you and not you in the world, you are out of it. Of course your body remains in the world and of the world, but you are not deluded by it. However, this shift in vantage point, while seemly simple and effortless, has a requirement – giving up all identification with the personal self and the network of desires and fears that fuel the sense of self. For the individually bound seeker, this price can seem too high: What about my position on the mountain? What about my relationship with the pebbles nearby to me? What about my smooth edges and unique colours? What if I...