Now and again one runs across texts which in the words of the Advaita masters point luminously at ‘that’. Although ‘that’ is beyond description or definition for ‘that’ is ‘this’ which is trying to describe ‘that’. ‘Oneness’ is merely revealing itself in its appearance as the many, which originate from that ‘Oneness’.
This perceived by itself, as itself is the end of all seeking. Nothing more can be said, needs to be said. All is as is. And while it is true that once this truth is seen through nothing will remain the same for illusion has lost it’s power to deceive. At the same time we succumb to a life of conditioning which if we are not careful drags us into ingrained habits – even if we know these habits to be nothing but ripples upon the surface of our being.
So when we read or listen to these luminous texts by the great non-dual sages who are the embodiment of “Know Thyself” we are led back to the place where we are – which had been temporarily veiled from us – just as the sun is obscured by clouds – (which were originally formed from the sun’s heat).
Recently a friend brought my attention to such a text by Ibn al-‘Arabi called: A Treatise in Being. It is one of the clearest examples of that pointing.
Another such text is the Hsin-hsin Ming by the Third Patriach of Ch’an Seng-ts’an.
The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu begins with the memorable lines:
The Tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao;
The Name that can be named is not the eternal Name.
Then there is the Ashtavakra Gita, the Heart Sutra and many more.
So many jewels, lying on the table right before your very eyes. Open books, their secrets waiting to be uncovered. But are they withholding any secrets? Or just pointing to that which is already here.
Is it not for this reason this everyday miracle is often referred to as the Open Secret?
behind the thoughts 