You are Already Whole and Complete!
Everything in the creation unfolds toward wholeness, blossoming into the fullness of being. This seemingly outward stretch is accomplished paradoxically by taking the inward step—by delving deep into the core of one’s being. This is an inward journey, a voyage of discovery of retreating into one’s soul. This journey requires supreme humility and patience, since one could be the biggest obstacle in one’s own path. This journey is not about acquiring something new; it is about owning up to who we truly are. It is blossoming into who we truly are. This inner truth is the truth of our real Self.
Effective leaders know how to look within for truth and guidance.
Vedantā, the culminating wisdom of the Indian books of knowledge (Vedas), states that we are not what we take ourselves to be. We take ourselves to be limited, wanting, and mortal beings. Our experience also tells us that we are small, fragmented, limited beings. Essentially, all our pursuits are geared towards overcoming this sense of limitation and inadequacy. And we continue chasing one object after another, never really getting fully satisfied, no matter what we get. This also proves our fundamental search for everlasting fullness which is at the core of our being.
Vedānta uniquely tells us quite the opposite: that we are whole and limitless. If in fact we were limited beings, then no matter what we do, we will always remain limited, for limited actions cannot accomplish unlimited results. Vedānta tells us that we already are what we want to be—limitless, whole, and complete. Perhaps our conclusions about ourselves have been wrong all along. The ultimate aim of Vedānta is spiritual freedom through Self-knowledge. It is accomplished through experiential realization of the truth of the Self as Pure Consciousness, by oneself, in one’s own experience. But Self-knowledge is no mere intellectual creed gleaned from reading books, for how can the Self be found in books. Sri Ramana Maharshi, an Indian sage, explains succinctly:
As for reading books on Vedanta, you may go on reading any number of them. They can only tell you, ‘Realize the Self within you.’ The Self cannot be found in books. You have to find it out for yourself, in yourself.
This Self, our true nature, is discovered by first looking within. Although, always the Self, we vainly search for it outside until someone, as the following story illustrates, does the favor of turning our attention inward so that we can notice the obvious.
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