Raja Subramaniyan

joyfulliving@gmail.com

Benefits of Self-knowledge Knowledge, in general, connects the knower and the known. Self-Knowledge involves knowing the knower and therefore there is no more a division between the known and the knower (I AM THAT!). Once we gain this Self-Knowledge through consistent and systematic study of scriptures under a competent teacher for a length of time, we reap the following benefits. 1. Fulfillment: The sense of incompleteness and inadequacy (which drives all human beings into action) will disappear. 2. Security: The feeling of insecurity will vanish. There is no need to chase money, wealth, name, fame, award, reward, people, property, position, power, status, comforts and companionship 3. Immortality: I am the consciousness that supports the entire universe. I existed even before Big Bang and I will survive even after the dissolution of the universe. Therefore, death is conquered. 4. Happiness: I am the ONLY source of happiness. The sense objects including other people do not have the capability to give me happiness. 5. Peacefulness: Making noise requires effort. To be silent we do not have to do anything. Since we see inaction in action, we are always peaceful. 6. Free from mental suffering: Following negative emotions do not sustain in the mind for a prolonged period. a. Anger g. Displeasure m. Irritation b. Annoyance h. Fear n. Regret c. Anxiety i. Frustration o. Shame d. Bitterness j. Grief p. Suspicion e. Confusion k. Guilt q. Vengeance f. Discontent l. Hatred r. Worry 7. Ability to ignore mood swings: Since it is understood that mind is merely a tool and its nature is to oscillate, mood swings are ignored. 8. Freedom from action: The nature of body and mind is to be in constant action and this natural process is not resisted. In addition, there is no need to find work to avoid inaction. Action happens and we do not act! 9. Overflowing joy in actions: While others act to fill up their cups, all our actions are the results of our overflowing cups. 10. Freedom from Goals: Living joyfully is the only goal of life and there is absolutely no pressure to achieve anything in life. 11. Freedom from mistakes: There are no possibilities of making a mistake or wrong action in life. Omission and commission are always exempted.
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Raja Subramaniyan

joyfulliving@gmail.com

12. No expectations from the world: We understand that Peace, Security and Happiness cannot be obtained from the world and as a result, there will be no expectations. 13. Ease in decision making: Since we do our duty without expecting a specific result from our action/inaction, decisions can be made without much confusion or conflicts. 14. Life without problems: There are no more problems or crises in life. There are only situations. Ups and downs in the external world are two sides of the same coin. We do not label one side as problem. Since creation means variation, we are free from worry of old age and fear of death. 15. Nothing is important: We do not have to take any trouble to gain or seek anything. There are no more valuable objects, beautiful places, important persons or respectable positions out there. The world rests on me! 16. Enjoyment through Renunciation: We can possess limitless wealth and indulge in all sorts of sense pleasures since we have renounced the attachment to the world. 17. Risk-Free enjoyment: We can fall in love and if the lover leaves us, we do not suffer since we can love anyone anytime. 18. Pure Love: Our love is unconditional. All others love someone/ something as long as they derive happiness from the loved. Therefore, such love invariably gets mixed-up with sorrow. 19. Love without attachment: We rise in love while others fall in love due to attachment. 20. All inclusive love: We love everyone equally and do not hate anyone. The ignorant assume that love has to be exclusive and therefore pay special attention to few and give secondary treatment to the rest. 21. No dependence on anyone: No one can give us happiness, peace and security. Therefore, we do not have to struggle to retain or renounce any relationship. 22. Free from Likes and Dislikes: The interplay of sense objects and sense organs is understood to be a part of the illusory world and therefore likes and dislikes are neither encouraged nor discouraged. 23. Emotional Independence: While we continue to be dependent on the world for the maintenance of the body, we do not depend on the world for our mental health. 24. Freedom from haunting emotions: Frequency and Intensity of any emotional ups and downs are highly minimized. Even if they happen the recovery period is amazingly short.
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Raja Subramaniyan

joyfulliving@gmail.com

25. Discrimination: We have complete understanding of everything and therefore we can differentiate between the following effortlessly. a. Right and Wrong b. Truth and False c. Natural and Artificial (EVERYTHING is natural) d. Eternal and Ephemeral e. Infinite and Limited f. Cause and Effect g. Selfish and Selfless Actions 26. No more debates: Debates are due to incomplete understanding. It is not possible to understand ANYTHING completely without self-knowledge. 27. Money becomes more valuable: Material success that is earned through worldly knowledge will become meaningful only with Self-Knowledge. a. The leading digit 1 in a number gives value to all the following 0s. Similarly, Self-Knowledge makes the Worldly Knowledge valuable. b. Without Self-Knowledge all luxuries will progressively become necessities. With Self-Knowledge even necessities are seen as luxuries. c. With Self-Knowledge we will be satisfied with the current level of comforts. Without Self-Knowledge we will not be satisfied with any level of comfort. 28. Relationships become more rewarding: Since there is no expectation from any relationship, we can have stress-free and meaningful relationships with everyone that we get to meet. 29. Complete Knowledge: with Self-knowledge everything is known. a. A scale need to be correct in order to have right measurements. In the absence of knowledge of the knower, the known is really not known. True knowledge is possible only with Self-Knowledge. b. Without Self-Knowledge all our actions are based on wrong or faulty knowledge of the world. c. The desire to know will come to an end with Self-Knowledge since there is nothing else to know. d. By knowing gold, the essence of the ornaments is known. By gaining self-knowledge, the essence of the world is known. Knowledge of the names and forms is not important if the essence is known. e. The questions WHY or WHAT or HOW cannot be answered COMPLETELY without Self-Knowledge. There are NO MORE questions in our mind regarding our life, other human beings, world or god.
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Raja Subramaniyan

joyfulliving@gmail.com

30. No more nagging questions about life: a. What is life or why are we here? b. What is the secret of success? c. Why are there ups and downs in life? d. Why do certain things make me happy, while others don't? e. Why did I make that huge mistake? f. Why is this happening only to me? g. Can I get back to my happy childhood? h. How can I make this world a better place to live? i. How can I make others understand the truth? j. What lies beyond death? Is rebirth true? k. What lies beyond the boundary of the universe? l. What was there before the Big bang? m. How can the entire universe be compressed into Singularity? n. Is it possible and will I be able to know everything? o. Will I miss the fascinating understanding of the universe that is being uncovered by science? p. Is there a freewill or everything happens according to Gods will? 31. No more curiosity about others: a. Why that person does behaves the way he does? b. How do the minds of other people work? c. Why cant people change? d. Why are some people violent? e. Why is there a high variation in the levels of intelligence f. Why does a stupid succeed in life while an intelligent person fails? g. Why do good people suffer while bad people seem to enjoy life? h. Why is it that two people who are close to me cannot get along with each other? 32. No more haunting questions about the world: a. Why was the world created and how did life originate? b. Why is there so much suffering in the world? c. Why cant the world be free from social evils such as exploitation, crimes, corruption, dirty politics, poverty, terrorism and war? d. Is it ever possible to bring about a new world in which everyone lives comfortably and peacefully? e. Is there no end to new discoveries about the functioning of the universe? f. Where will the developments in science and technology take us? g. Is the world heading towards self-destruction? h. What will happen if we encounter alien life?
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Raja Subramaniyan

joyfulliving@gmail.com

33. No more suspense about God: a. Does God exist or is he an invention of man? b. Who created the world? c. Is it possible to do miracles? d. Is there black magic? e. Is astrology true? f. Which is the true religion? g. With so many religious conflicts causing violence, do we really need religions? h. Whether Atheism and Agnosticism are correct? i. If I do not believe in God, will I go to hell? j. Why should we pray to God? k. If God is all powerful why is he so partial? l. If God is merciful why cant he eradicate poverty and suffering? m. Is there a Satan? n. Is there heaven and hell? o. Is it possible to see God?

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