'Aihika' (Mundane) and the 'Paramarthika'

    The world is of duality and there is no doubt about this. But, this is the our perception due to ignorance, avidya. This avidya or ajnyan is not the inherent quality, but the acquired one! We have acquired this ignorance due to our association with the ignorant! Every thing that we are associated with here in this world, 'aihika jagat' is of ignorance. Here ignorance is not lack of knowledge, but knowledge covered by sheaths of qualities such as attachment, ego, anger, greed, etc. Thus, our ignorance is due to acquired qualities of Nature (prakruti) and knowledge (jnyan) shines again as soon as these acquired qualities are shed off!

   The essential nature of the jiva is sat, chit, and ananda. Unfortunately the jiva has forgotten this! Now, only an attained person, guru shall help the jiva to remember this. The guru comes here as an electricity Department Lineman who connects our house with electric power. The electricity flows in the wire on the Pole and the house is well equipped with the accessories to use that. However, the connection has to be there from the Pole to the House. As we know this requires a number of formalities such as application, payment of prescribed fee, sanction order, etc (that are cumbersome these days!). So also, the jiva has to make the necessary preparation. The guru will not come unless the jiva asks for one and the supreme Lord has to bestow His grace on the jiva and this depends on the earnestness of desire of the jiva to seek the help!

    Now, this duality is the cause of our ignorance. One only becomes two and many is the fundamental principle. To seek this 'Oneness', the underlying principle of creation is the first task of every jiva! But, this search for the true nature of existence, this 'Oneness' is not there in the jiva since it has waded far and deep in sansar, the aihika, physical world, full of sensuous attractions. The jiva does not seek the help of a guru since there is no desire and the conseqent effort in this direction. Hence redemption is a remote possibility.