Dr. Vijai S Shankar MD.PhD.
Published on www.academy-advaita.com
The Netherlands

23th October 2017

Intelligence 24

“Ownership”


The intelligence in life has manifested knowledge and wisdom as well as a process in evolution. Man and woman have neither manifested knowledge nor wisdom, and they cannot either because neither man nor woman controls evolution. 

Every man and woman claims ownership. A child too as it grows up claims ownership of its toys etc. An adult claims objects, pets and his family as his or her own.

Knowledge that evolves in man or woman convinces them that whatever they possess and is seen by them is owned by them. Knowledge also convinces them that whatever they see, but do not possess, is, however, not owned by them.

When wisdom evolves in man or woman, they understand deeply what is seen by them. Wisdom reveals that whatever is seen by man, woman and a child exists before they can see it.

Wisdom also reveals that whatever man or woman may make has existed before. If whatever they make had not existed before, they would not be able to make it or improve it.

Wisdom further reveals that the first man or woman on earth evolved to exist. This signifies that neither man nor woman is owned by the other just because they can see each other.

Wisdom also reveals that the first man or woman evolved to create the first object though they neither knew the object nor that they had created it. As knowledge evolved, man and woman believed that they create and own what they possess, though it has evolved.

Wisdom reveals that just because we see each other and see what we possess, it does not prove that we own them. Knowledge, however, is convinced that we own what we possess, which is seen. 

Wisdom also reveals that we own neither the seeing nor the sight. Both seeing and sight have evolved to happen to a seer who is either a man or a woman. Only knowledge makes us believe that the seer who possesses and sees what he possesses also owns it. This is a belief, which is not the truth.

The enlightened have indicated that the seer, seeing and the seen are one. This signifies that neither man nor woman owns anything. They merely believe that they do.

When this understanding happens to a man or a woman, they will be grateful to whatever they see and to sight.
Author: Dr. Vijai S. Shankar
© Copyright V. S. Shankar 2017

Editor’s Note:
Man is proud of what he owns. He may also wish the world to know of this ownership, which is usually not disputed, though it may arouse envy. But there are occasions when a man or woman will wish to assert his or her own ownership, either at the cost of a lawyer or by force, if he deems it necessary. Such is the burden of ownership that may be experienced. The words of the wise, as expressed in this article, show that it is neither necessary nor possible to own anything in this lifetime. Understanding this is the beginning of wisdom.
Julian Capper, UK.

German Translator’s Note: 
Among many other topics of the mind which need to be understood clearly in order to live life as it is, “ownership“ is a tough one! “Fortune favors the brave“ is a common saying. Man is conditioned to believe that he gets what he earns. This belief strengthens the belief that man is the maker of his fortune. But fortunate is he or she who begins to understand that even ownership has to be illusory if life is indeed illusory as proclaimed by the enlightened. Dr. Shankar shares this really important topic with those who are meant to listen. Gratitude happens to those who are meant to understand deeply. 
Marcus Stegmaier, Germany.

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