Tony: Hello, Tan, long time since…

I think it worked. I’m able to completely throw my own assumptions, opinions and beliefs about reality aside and let Vedanta do the work. It’s just so clear. I’m, as they call it, “abiding as the self.” I feel this weird kind of “high.” I think it’s bliss, which just comes from clear understanding; it’s just the result of knowledge.

Tan: Yes, that is really good to hear. Yes, it is the bliss of knowing who you are without the ignorance of any limiting beliefs. Confidence in the knowledge will grow as you continue to apply the knowledge “I am the self, I am non-dual, actionless, limitless, ordinary awareness.” Then also you will no longer “think” that it worked. You will know that you are free and limitless awareness.

Tony: Before this was all a bit vague to me. I had beliefs about the self and believed my jiva turned into the self or something like that, and that was supposed to be “enlightenment.” Now I understand my own opinions don’t count, Vedanta is the truth.

Tan: Yes, our opinions don’t count as far as our identity is involved, because we are what we are: limitless awareness – and the intellect can think with ignorance about the truth or without ignorance about the truth. One mind is enlightened, the other mind is not. Regardless, all minds are the self, are awareness.

Tony: I’m able to relax, knowing without a doubt that I’m the self. I mean, if this knowledge gives you happiness (maybe you don’t like that word, although James used it before) then sign me up. Last time, after I was into Vedanta, I turned back to Neo-Advaita, and now, through Isvara, my jiva is back to real Vedanta again.

Tan: Knowledge always seems to create bliss through removal of ignorance. Whether relative knowledge removes ignorance about relative objects (e.g. not knowing where my glasses or my car keys are) or absolute knowledge removes ignorance about our self (e.g. not knowing who I am and believing I am a limited entity), the bliss is always coming from us, from our true nature.

Tony: My jiva figures it’s all that ever needed to be done. Watching James speak and teach, something just transformed in me. I think I understand why James said enlightenment is for and from the jiva. For because the jiva knows its own nature. From because my nature is not the jiva, it’s me, awareness.

Tan: Yes, knowing this without a doubt and hard and fast is moksa.

Tony: The whole confusion for me was that I thought my jiva could experience awareness or “get to” awareness. I now realize it’s just ignorance that had to be thrown away. Now that I think about it, Isvara had a great role in leading me from ignorance to truth,

Tan: You were always awareness free and unlimited. Isvara played the game of being ignorant as a limited jiva, and removed the ignorance of the jiva through Vedanta. The appearance of the jiva continues, but the ignorance of the jiva is gone. You were always awareness, free, untouched, unconcerned, limitless and ordinary.

Tony: It’s as if I get the big picture now. Whenever I believe my own experiences, my beliefs about myself, my opinions, I turn to Vedanta and find that happiness I was always searching for.

Let me know what you think, if you want to of course.

Tan: Your email was clear, open and honest.

Just continue applying the knowledge of who you are. Confidence in the knowledge is what remains to be observed by you. But Isvara has created a sattvic environment for you, so all the good ingredients are there. Continuous diligence is the price of freedom before and also after moksa.

~ Love, Tan