Question:
What is the direct explanation as to why exactly we are not our individual physical bodies ? Why do Enlightened beings give such ambiguous answers to this pertinent question?
Sri Prabhuji:
Enlightened beings donot offer explanation ! They teach exploration. Shri Ramana Maharshi teaches us to explore – “Who am I”. Shri Ramana does not explain “who are you”.
Difference between explanation and exploration is to be understood. If some one explains how sweet is a dish, it does not help us. We need to explore and experience sweet ourselves. Explanation at best can help us to explore. Ultimately we have to explore and experience.
Explanation is second hand experience. Exploration is direct experience. Hearing about food (explanation) does not solve our hunger. Eating food (exploration/experience) solves hunger.
Explanation leads religion. Religion requires you to believe what you don’t experience. Exploration and experience leads you to spirituality – direct experience.
All religions are based on explanations and beliefs. Authentic teaching of vedanta leads to deep exploration to realize Truth that you are not the body. On the otherhand authentic yoga teaching lead to experience of oneness – union.
For Vedanta or Yoga, guidance of Enlightened Master is needed.
Vedanta has several techniques called prakriyas and meditation practices to realize I am not Body. Yoga has several techniques to realize unity of existence. Need the guidance of Realized Master to experience Ultimate Truth.
Vedanta is about clarity of intellect by becoming free from our limited belief “I am body”. Yoga is about purity of mind – stillness.
In general purity of mind and clarity of intellect leads to realization.