It is only a
partial view. It gives us only one
aspect of truth, not the whole truth. We err only when we mistake what is relatively real
for what is absolutely real. It is what is
absolutely real that is declared by the famous mahavikyas or great utterances of the
Upanisads, namely, Tattvamasi or "Thou art That" and Aham Brahmasmi or "I
am the Absolute."
Thus from the absolute point of view the soul is identical with God. There is in us
something uncreated, something higher than all our highest faculties, something untouched
by sin or suffering. The real 'I' is 'That'. But in actuality we find the soul is subject
to upadhis, which prevent it from realizing its identity. All our sin and suffering are
due to the false notion of a separate self. Therefore our salvation consists in overcoming
this separateness, by righteousness, by love and spiritual in sight a man has to go out of
himself
and feel the one ness of all beings in God. And
this feeling should be come not a mere passing emotion, but an abiding possession. Then
the scales fall from his eyes, the vision of God comes to him and he realizes the truth of
the mahavakyas of the Sruti. This is his moksa or liberation. As it is an eternal state,
it is not something that is, strictly speaking, attained, but something that is only
realized. It is the awakening of the soul into the divine life and coming into its own.
|
