Dr. Vijai S Shankar MD.PhD.
Published on www.academy-advaita.com
The Netherlands
1th August 2017
Beliefs
“Veil”
Our beliefs are our ignorance of deep truth. Deep truth is in front of our eyes. The veil of ignorance, which is superficial, covers deep truth. Once this veil of ignorance, which is our beliefs, is deeply understood, the veil of ignorance peels away and the deep truth in front of our eyes is understood.
The ignorance is beliefs about what life is. Beliefs about life are horizontal and go around in circles. Once these beliefs are understood deeply, meaning vertically down to the roots of beliefs, the veil of ignorance fades away.
The beliefs which are horizontal and superficial are knowledge. The beliefs which are vertical and deep are wisdom. The beliefs that are horizontal and knowledge keep man as he is, while the beliefs that are vertical and deep change man to be a wise one.
Beliefs that are superficial, horizontal and knowledge are known as words. Knowledgeable words are either spoken, written or are as thoughts. Beliefs that are deep, vertical and wisdom are also known as words. Wise words are either spoken, written or are as thoughts as well.
Deep understanding of beliefs as spoken words is that spoken words are sounds and not actual words. Firstly because, when words are spoken, only air from lungs pass through vocal chords to appear as illusory words and not real words.
Secondly, the lungs contain only air and not words.
Deep understanding of beliefs as written words is that written words are made up of ink. As every atom of ink is light and not ink, it implies that written words are optical illusions of light.
Deep understanding of beliefs as thoughts is that thoughts are known as words. As every spoken word is an auditory illusion of gross sound, it implies likewise that thoughts are auditory illusions of subtle sound.
Deep understanding of the brain is that every atom of the brain is light and not brain. This signifies that the superficial beliefs of knowledge of what is seen and believed to be happening are auditory and optical illusions of light and sound.
These deep understandings reveal that even the veil is an illusion of light and sound. When this deep understanding, which is wisdom, cements, the deep truth that whatever exists is an illusion and cannot be other than what it is will be understood as well.
Beliefs, which are knowledge, make man impatient who trusts the knowledge in his mind. Beliefs, which are wisdom, make man patient who trusts the wisdom in life.
Author: Dr. Vijai S. Shankar
© Copyright V. S. Shankar 2017
Editor’s Note:
Beliefs influence the manner in which human lives are appreciated and conducted. They are the sine qua non or the very fabric of living. Nations, communities and individuals may be bitterly divided by opposing beliefs or unified by those that are shared. Such is the dynamic of belief, albeit illusory.
The deep understanding of the wise in this article reveals the superficial nature of belief and its transformation. Such is the gift of life.
Julian Capper, UK.
German Translator’s Note:
Beliefs lead to anger, anxiety, happiness and all kinds of feelings. Beliefs are the origin of feelings in man, because the mere observation without bringing in the beliefs about what is seen, don’t make man feel anything. This is the perspective of the wise: Pure observation. And the feelings, based on beliefs, too are observed as what they are: illusory and not real.
Marcus Stegmaier, Germany.