“From Worship to Knowledge — The Truth of Non-Duality”#Brahma Sutras
1️⃣ Gauna vs Mukhya — The Vishnu Idol Analogy The teaching begins with the famous Vishnu-idol analogy to clarify the difference between symbolic superimposition (gauna) and essential reality (mukhya). An idol is stone before worship, stone during worship, and stone after worship. The divinity is not in the object itself but in the devotional vision of the worshipper. This is meant only as a support for concentration (upāsana) — not the ultimate truth. In contrast, the Self is not like an idol. You are not a jīva who later becomes Brahman. You are Brahman even now, whether you recognize it or not. Knowledge does not create Brahman; it only removes ignorance, like recognizing the rope that was mistaken for a snake. Thus: Idol-divinity → superimposed (gauna) Jīva-Brahman identity → real (mukhya) The Mahāvākya Tat Tvam Asi is not telling you to imagine divinity, but to recognize what is already true. 2️⃣ Rejection of Difference — Liberation Through Non-Dual Vision The second section strong...