Introduction

The nature is full of intelligent life. Yet in humans the intellect is taken for granted kept away for critical situations of our life and we always are driven by senses and emotions.

Emotions are like relatives. They visit us, they stay with us and then they leave. After leaving they leave a foot print in our memory. All the foot prints are not welcoming and of our choice. It is like you are the tape recorder whose microphone is not in your hands. Anyone can come and record on your memory recorder. That is not a wise way to live not at least in this human form.

Then there is other realm of desire and the hunger to accumulate more and more. It is as if some life long winter is approaching and you need to gather all that you can. Never satisfied we just gather and gather like the squirrels that gather nuts for winter. But where is the winter in our lives? It is an illusion created by desire, by hunger. There is never a winter coming. Look around yourself and count the unwanted things you have gathered in your home, in your life and in your memory, the list is endless.

With accumulation comes the problem of garbage and disposal. How much garbage have we generated in our home in our life and in our memory? The things that you feel are shiny and glamorous are actually trash. They do not give your eternal peace or freedom. They bind you and make you accumulate more and more. Sooner or later we wish to go back to the realm of intellect and take that broom of our own wiser nature and begin cleaning our homes of unwanted articles, the life of unwanted goals and ambitions and the memories of unwanted past.

Many also make themselves introduced to spirituality. They read books and some gain knowledge via an able master. But they are soon stuck at few steps from the start line. For they lack in right knowledge required to understand the truth as it is meant to be known. This short booklet is an attempt to align such as person to its true nature who has started the journey in the realm of intellect yet has wandered off on the trails of ignorance.

The booklet describes everything to be known in a shortest way as possible since it encourages reader to think themselves elaborately i.e. contemplate later on each section completely. Hence readers are requested to pay due attention to some concepts which even found basic have a deeper agenda behind it to be discovered in the due course of your own contemplation. May your learning take you to your destination!

The Gross and the Subtler

The nature (Prakriti) contains gross matter in the form of living and non living. All that you can see with your eyes is gross matters.

A matter when in gross state has attributes visible or derived (invisible) using which it can be completely defined as separate from all the other forms around it. This process of discover is well known to science. Science is all about discovering new attributes within the universe. Example a cube of ice has height, width, length, chemical composition, temperature, weight and other attributes using which you can completely define it separate from all the other forms known to us.

Gross matter due to its large number of fixed attributes makes it difficult to pervade space and time. Hence gross matter seems to be caught in the net of space and time localized (non living) and partially localized (living). But as the gross matter loses some of its attributes, it becomes more and more eligible to pervade the given space and time.

An ice cube in a glass cannot pervade the entire space in the glass due to its cubical solid form, but when ice renounces some of its solid attributes and becomes water it can pervade all the space in the glass. Thus water is considered to be subtler than ice or its own solid form. The water can further renounce some of its attributes and becomes vapor which can then pervade space beyond the glass as it escapes in the air above it. Thus water vapor is subtler than the water as it is able pervades all over the room.

It is mandatory that all objects have to renounce certain attributes in order to get from gross form to their own subtler nature. Without renunciation none can expand beyond its gross form.

This renunciation in the living entities should be performed in the form of tapasya (dedicated resolve and self effort). Tapasya is the only fire which burns the gross attributes in the living entities and allows them to pervade the subtler nature of their own form. Tapasya takes time and effort. For one to pervade space and time, one must realize that the space is non-changing constant and eternal. The time on other hand is the only tool or the variable in ones hand. With enough time tapasya burns the gross attributes of your own form and makes it eligible to align with the subtler nature of your own self.

Without tapasya you cannot climb the ladder of progress. Tapasya demands all, entire and complete. Partial and half cooked is of no use here. As anything you put in fire becomes fire, tapasya demands that renounced attributes become the fire itself. One cannot go back to those renounced attributes or even be in a partial state of recognition with them.

The ladder of our progress has many steps. Where it ends is unknown to us. Few in hundreds climb to reach the step one. To climb the step one you should renounce the current ground on which you are standing. Many on reaching the first step are compelled by ego to turn around and look back to see millions still standing down on the ground. Here they make a vital mistake to turn around and they get paused moving forward. This leads to a break in their tapasya. They haven’t learnt enough to know the real truth or even to discriminate properly between the real and the unreal. They are never able to perceive what is beyond step one going to the top of the ladder. The one who is sincere realize the nature of this climb and keep his focus upward till he is sure of the realization of the truth as it is meant to be seen.

The ideal tapasvi accumulate nothing. Whatever he takes he gives it back. The taking cannot be stopped until you have life and body. Hence instead of balancing the taking and giving in a acrobatic style, the sincere one know that keep on giving endlessly and the balance will always tip to the giving side than the taking. The litmus test is always what one has accumulated so far. May it be his treasured belongs, his desire and ambitions and his past in the form of memories.

The Maya (The Illusion)

Two opposite force acting together create Maya or illusion. Consider yourself in a swimming pool similar to your height. In this pool your feet can touch the bottom as you are able to stand it in comfortably. In water the air in the body causes a buoyant force in upward direction. The gravity of earth on the other hand causes a downward force on your body mass.

Two opposite forces make you feel the illusion that you have lost weight or are lighter like a bouncing ball. Soon anyone having spent enough time in such a pool is guaranteed to attempt to walk or run as they are caught under the influence of maya, only to realize that even trying to walk a couple of steps forward is a tremendous task due to the pressure of the water mass surrounding them.

The sincere one must understand that the influence of maya cannot be put to rest while residing inside the physical world of Prakriti. Only with steady discrimination one can get the knowledge of working along with it to overcome the obstacles. Tapasya along with steady discrimination is guaranteed to give you the fruit of purity.

The Fruit of Purity

It is in nature of the fire to convert anything into its own kind. Fire is thus considered the purest. Matter when put in the fire becomes fire itself. All the attributes of matter are lost in the fire. What remains is fire. Fire knows no other attributes than itself. This form of purity is the highest fruit of tapasya. Purity is the necessary condition for any progress. Without purification progress of any kind is not possible.

In our ice cube example the ice has certain impurities. They are impossible to get rid off from the ice in the solid form. But when ice melts into water the impurities settle down to the bottom making the water more pure than its own solid form. The water vapor on the other hand is more pure than water as the impurities in water are left back as residue. This is the well know process of distillation. Same is the case with tapasya. The gross impurities are left behind as you begin to pervade the subtler pure nature of your own form.

The fruit of purity is also the nectar which nurtures you on the path to perfection. It brings in the ability to discriminate better at each stage allowing you to navigate your path in the right direction. Along with mental purity, moral purity brings purification of the highest order.

One should never ignore the purity of form or the body. Many make an ignorant assumption that body is the perishable form and ignore the body completely. They just focus on purification of the mind and intellect. A fresh honey how much pure if keep in a dirty jar is going to be impure in the end. Your body is your vehicle to navigate the space and time. We cannot make an ignorant assumption that the engine of the vehicle is super tuned and the rest of body is rattling, misaligned and imperfect. Such a vehicle will hardly get you to your destination. Even if such a vehicle is in running condition now it is going to load the transmission or the engine in due course of time and one of them is bound to fail.

You can take a pit stop and service your automobile. But a pit stop in your tapasya is brutal. It wipes the progress you made with such an honest effort. The sincere one ensures purity of body, mind and intellect as one inseparable unit.

The Body, the Mind and the Intellect

The body is the solid or gross form of all living entities. When you are sitting in the chair, you cannot be simultaneously sleeping in the bed, or be out in the garden along with your body. The mind is subtler than the body. You can be sitting in the chair and your mind can be wandering in the garden.

You mind can also go to the past and dream of the future. Your mind is able to pervade space and time only because it renounces the gross attributes of the body. When in deep thinking, sleeping or dreaming your mind casts off from the body and renounces control over it. It is only then it is able to pervade the space and time and go beyond the physical form.

The intellect is subtler than the mind. For mind can go anywhere it likes, intellect is already present to greet it, like an honest guardian. There can be no place in space and time where mind can hide from the intellect.

As intellect is already present in all places where your mind can travel, intellect has to be subtler than the mind. What is beyond the intellect then? If you think in the right direction one realizes that there must be subtler forms beyond the perceived form of intellect. It cannot end here just yet.

But what is beyond the intellect? It becomes very difficult to perceive the nature of anything beyond this limit. This is due to lack of knowledge of discrimination and purity. One may then read it in the books and understand it as spiritual knowledge. Yet one feels hungry to know for himself. What good is it when I have not known it yet myself? If you feel the same, you are on the right track.

If one reaches such a stage it is defined by the great masters as “Athato brahma jijnasa”. Now is the time to inquire about the Absolute Truth.

The 'IS IN' Contemplation

We all have stood in the front of a mirror. We just love to see our self don’t we? Yet few realize the intensity of such a see through act. When we look at ourselves in the mirror we say I am able to see myself in the mirror. We use word ‘IN’ even when the reflection is actually seen behind the mirror.

The one who discriminates knows that he is able to see his own reflection standing behind the mirror and not in the mirror. The mirror is just an object of illusion. Yet the mirror is seen encapsulating your own self. Hence we use the phrase ‘we see our reflection in the mirror’ on regular basis. This is maya.

The Illusion is the superimposition of one object on the other even when both are completed unrelated to each other. It is the same effect with which one feels that he is the body, mind and intellect.

The method of IS IN Contemplation is the portal we are going to study and practice in enquire of the truth. The method is very simple and can be applied to any type of enquire to reach towards the ultimate truth. Even after giving the knowledge of this method the one who is sincere knows that the final truth can only be perceived by his genuine practice of this method and not just by the knowledge of it.

The Knowledge and The truth

Before we start with this knowledge we need to pray with an open heart.

Om Puurnnam-Adah Puurnnam-Idam Puurnnaat-Puurnnam-Udacyate |
Puurnnasya Puurnnam-Aadaaya Puurnnam-Eva-Avashissyate ||
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

1: Om, That Outer World is Complete (Full with Divine Consciousness), This Inner World is also Compete (Full with Divine Consciousness).
From Complete is manifested Complete (From the Fullness of Divine Consciousness the World is manifested),
2: Taking Complete from Complete, Complete indeed remains (Because Divine Consciousness is Non-Dual and Infinte),
3: Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.

The knowledge of any subject can be discovered only when one is in complete harmony with the factors of induction of that knowledge. Knowledge is neither created in your mind nor destroyed by your mind. It can only be discovered by the mind via principle of induction.

For the induction principle to work one should have a sincere yearning for the knowledge of the subject. The yearning is the only guaranteed approach to tune oneself with the gateway of delivery of the knowledge. Like a radio is able to tune to the broadcasting station.

If no subscriber is tuned to the station, does the radio station still broadcast the knowledge or not? One must wonder immediately. The station is unaware of its listeners. Its job is to broadcast endlessly.

All the great scientist where able to tune themselves similar to the radios & antennas via intense yearning of the subject. The knowledge of gravity existed before its discovery. The discovery only made us aware of it. The knowledge of light and electricity existed before its discovery and so all the knowledge of atoms, molecules, chemical, physics, mathematics and other streams. The discovery only made us aware of all. This means we are not the creator of any type of knowledge. Let us clear that ignorance once for all.

Let us revisit our fundamental assumption required to pervade space and time. As the gross form loses its attributes it pervades the subtler nature of its own self. One must wonder now that the ultimate nature of oneself should be so subtler, that it actually is attributes less, hence form less, tasteless, sightless, odorless and even vibration less in its true state. Hence the mind and intellect are unable to perceive such a thing without ability to discriminate using the attributes. Yet it is a known fact that intellect is the closest to it. Hence it keeps one on the quest of searching for the absolute truth. For if the intellect was distant from it the quest would have ended here.

We should now leave the body and mind behind as one unit and move on to the realm of the intellect. Remember intellect is always present to greet you anywhere the mind goes.

Welcome. The realm of intellect has very few attributes. Before we go into details let us understand the IS IN method of contemplation. Mango IS a fruit. Thus mango is the gross form and fruit is the subtler nature of its own self. The attributes in the realm of fruit are shared by all the fruits. Similarly we can say, the cloth IS made up of thread. The thread IS made up of cotton. The IS method of contemplation directs the intellect to the subtler nature of its own form. This is our vehicle of choice for the inward journey.

Also we may say, there is truth IN the knowledge. Even when using the word IN we know that the truth is not inside the knowledge or encapsulated by the knowledge, but is the cause of sustaining the knowledge which holds it on firm grounds, makes it real, non volatile and non dual. We during contemplation should focus on the inquiry of IS form and discriminate the IN forms. The IN forms create illusion or maya and takes us round the multiplicity paths to ignorance.

IMPORTANT: Moving on further it must be noted that the contemplation mentioned from now on must happen in your own self and through multiple practice sessions until you reach the final truth. The narration henceforth is an example of the dialog that must proceed in you. Without self effort this will only remain as knowledge and nothing more. Such a dialog with oneself can happen only when you yearn for the truth in this method and the knowledge in the subject. Such a dialog can happen anywhere while traveling, while sitting on a park bench, while in your own home or even while doing other activities. It is a myth that for such a dialog to happen one must retire to a secluded environment or be in the status of thoughtless meditation. Such a dialog is not bound by time and will not terminate once you begin this discovery process. It may go in a hibernation state to emerge back when you are in harmony with the knowledge. Such a dialog will surpass any japa, mediation and other forms of purification practices. One will never have to go back to those lower forms. Such a dialog will combine everything into a complete compound purification practice fit for humans.

Maha Vyakya(Ultimate Statement) to be used for contemplation.

Intellect is the reflection of the Truth in the knowledge.

In the realm of intellect there are only few attributes. The intellect, the knowledge and the truth behind the knowledge. As per the Maha Vyakya, My Intellect is the only attribute of my form which is reflecting continuously on something inward i.e. pointing inward. For the first time I have discovered a pointer leading inward. If we perceive this, we have landed on the pivotal shore of our inward quest.

As we are not the creators of any knowledge, my intellect can only discover different kinds of knowledge using the principle of induction. The knowledge is in the Prakriti. Or Prakriti is defined as the multifold, dispersed form of knowledge. For any knowledge to sustain there must be truth behind it. Else it will fall apart. So for all the knowledge which can be discovered in the Prakriti, the truth is the implicit sustainer behind it.

Hence my body and mind (my gross form) can be the part of dispersed knowledge in the Prakriti, but I must be someone different from it. As per the highlighted statement (maha vyakya), one more thing dawns upon us. My intellect is reflecting upon something continuously. It seems and become obvious that the intellect can only be interested in the truth behind the knowledge. It is agnostic to the details in the knowledge and the ego of the knower. Like a true devotee (bhakta) the intellect is always in continuous praise of the truth. It searches for truth in the multi fold Prakriti and it can only reflect upon it. It knows nothing else. Such is the great nature of the intellect. But I am not it. I am still beyond it.

Like the mirror is able to reflect on the sun. My intellect is always reflecting on the truth in the knowledge. If I am not the knowledge and I am also not the intellect for sure, I must be the only remaining thing here in this realm.

The only thing remaining is the truth itself. Without the truth, any knowledge will fall apart. I am that, the truth itself and nothing else! For my intellect like a true devotee is only reflecting upon me continuously. What else can a true devotee do? I cannot find words to praise such a devotee. For it is because of such a devotee that I have discovered myself.

I am the truth, the sustainer of all the knowledge in this Pratiki. As Truth I am attributes less, hence form less, tasteless, sightless, odorless and even vibration less. My body which includes my reflecting intellect is my abode in this Prakriti. From this abode now I see myself the truth, now I hear myself the truth, now I speak about myself the truth and now I only wish to know myself the truth. I know nothing else. What is ignorance, I don’t know. What is duality, I don’t know. I am the singular, non dual absolute truth. All my lower forms have been reflecting upon me all this time. All my lower forms are my true devotees. I am discoverable because of them.

All the intellects in this Prakriti are the mirrors reflecting on me the absolute truth and the sustainer of all the knowledge. Like many mirrors which can only reflect on the singular sun. As truth I cannot have any dual existence. My abode is the only multifold perceived location of myself which is due to the dispersed form of the knowledge in the Prakriti. I am not in the Prakriti. The Prakriti can only be sustained when I reside in it as the sustainer and the non changing absolute truth.
Om Shantih, Shantih, Shantih.

Such a dialog is only possible with an honest sincere effort with oneself. One cannot hack any other ways to reach it. The honest effort does not include reading about this knowledge again and again. Reading will only give you insight on the brief facts. This method of contemplation is easy to learning and is open for anyone and everyone. To the sincere the truth will be revealed in all its glory is the guarantee.

The Life of the Truth

Just as the tree sheds its leaves in winter, one who has started the IS IN contemplation will shed of the ignorance in due course of time. This practice of IS IN contemplation is not for one time seekers. The contemplation should be reiterated till all leaves of ignorance have been shed off, even the dead hanging ones. You may walk in the gust of worldly duties as per your pending karma, yet you will return to your abode of truth within no time.

In few years you will have a stable foundation in the abode of the truth. The life beyond it will be only as the truth itself. You will become the temple of truth internally. This does not mean you will have human devotee worshiping you. Remember that the change is internal in you. By becoming temple of truth, you will hear the truth, see the truth and speak the truth and you will never go back to your renounced attributes of ignorance. All this change has happened within your own self. The world around you, your family, relatives and friends will not notice any change. They can be in the realm of maya. You may be perceived by them as only someone different.

As the abode of truth you will remain calm and composed. The discovery of your true nature will be everlasting and the Prakriti will start having keen interest in you. The wheels of Prakriti will try to align with you as Prakriti will always try to preserve the temple of truth. Yet for you everything will seem normal and unnoticed. The real enlightened one will also forget his act of accomplishing his enlightenment. This will mark the end of residual footprints of sublter ego if any. You will only remain the unchanged unstained eternal abode of the truth. You will continue your life as it was before. You may broadcast the true knowledge to others or live a silent life. You know both are the same.

Even if you pass your life silently, Prakriti will reverb your silent thoughts in all its forms, time and time again via the principle of induction, the principle using which you yourself gained the knowledge of the truth.
OM Shantih, Shantih, Shantih.