Dr. Vijai S Shankar MD.PhD.
Published on www.academy-advaita.com
The Netherlands
12 November 2017
I can
“Do”
I can ‘do’ is a conditioned belief in every man and woman. It is also obvious that he or she can do because they are able to do it and also see anything being done. The belief that the human eye can see that he or she is doing it convinces each individual that ‘I can’ do.
It is, therefore, vital to understand deeply whether the above two beliefs are true or not.
Everything in daily life is unique. This includes the moment, the space within the moment and what is actually seen in a moment. When man or woman understands deeply why every moment in life is unique, he or she will be at peace.
When man or woman understands that a moment and the space within the moment is not made by man or woman and all that there is within a moment is a movement, which is all that is seen by man or woman and an action cannot be seen.
When man or woman also understands that the movement within the moment is not made by them, but the movement has evolved within the moment, man or woman will realise that the moment is indeed unique.
Firstly, a moment has evolved in life much before life evolved man within the moment. Secondly, the duration of time present within a moment is not known by man or woman.
Thirdly, the space within a moment is not known by man or woman. The time and space within a moment has only a movement and not an action, because for an action to happen or to do time is needed.
This implies that in every moment, wherein time is not known, only a movement is possible and not an entire action. Even a movement cannot be done by man in a moment because a movement within the moment evolves just as the moment evolves too.
Fourthly, this signifies that all that could be seen by the eyes within a moment in life is just a movement and not an entire action that man or woman believes that they can do and also see that they do.
Therefore, the belief that I can ‘do’ and also see that I can do is not the truth. When this deep understanding of the moment in life happens to man or woman, they will also understand that the enlightened have rightly proclaimed that man is not the doer.
Author: Dr. Vijai S. Shankar
© Copyright V. S. Shankar 2017
Editor’s Note:
Man is born with all that is necessary for doing, thinking, speaking, seeing, touching and smelling. It is a wonder to observe these faculties evolve in a baby - without any conditions. The conditions gradually evolve also, principally in the domain of the ego. Little wonder then that man’s mind becomes beset and disturbed with ever-strengthening desires, demands and claims. In the moment of sharing this deep understanding of the enlightened, as gifted in this article, man is at one with peace.
Julian Capper, UK.
German Translator’s Note:
An action is so convincingly real to the conditioned mind, that doing and “I can“ is taken for granted. It seems difficult to understand that an action is not what it appears to be. However, difficult is not the appropriate word. Because this also implies an “I can“, which is illusory, as Dr. Shankar clearly explains in this article. The understanding may happen now, it is not a matter of will and choice. Such is the understanding of wisdom.
Marcus Stegmaier, Germany.