So we are born in a state of complete ignorance. A state that does not allow the mind or conscience to remain in peace.  A state that is ever changing, a state in which we are always dependant on others for our own nourishment and sustenance.

It is this state of turmoil and inadequacy that causes indebtedness, anguish, conflict, need for acceptance, and causes the birth of the desire in our minds.  The desire is to exist in a state of permenance and complete tranquility. 

Unfortumately, since we are born in a state of complete ignorance, we do not know what we need to get out of the situation that we are in. So we develop a desire to transition to a better existence where we are not any longer in a state a constant turmoil. 

Desire is a multi headed creature, much like Ravanna.  Desire takes many shapes, forms and sizes that pull in different directions, play havoc with the mind and if we allow the mind to succumb, we will be completely entangled and destroyed. More on desire in the subsequent pages. For now let us focus on the desire to know. 

We start with the presumption that it is possible to attain a state of complete peace and permenance. We have a strong desire to attain that state.  We believe that our present state of managing a bunch of imbalances cannot be sustained and will push us into complete destruction.

So we sift through many experiences, many phenomena, many people, and many many lives looking for that which will deliver us to a state of tranquility.  We call this state the TRUTH.

THE TRUTH IS THE STATE OF TRANQUILITY AND PERMENANCE.  

THE TRUTH EXISTS.

THE TRUTH ALWAYS EXISTS. IF IT DOES NOT EXIST IT CANNOT BE KNOWN OR IT CANNOT BE ATTAINED.

THE TRUE STATE EXISTS BECAUSE IT IS ALREADY KNOWN TO EXIST.  

IF IT IS NOT KNOWN TO EXIST, IT CANNOT EXIST FOR THE KNOWER. UNTIL IT IS KNOWN BY THE KNOWER, IT CANOT EXIST FOR HIM. 

FOR SOMETHING TO BE KNOWN TO EXIST, THERE MUST BE A KNOWER.

SO WE SUSPECT THAT THE TRUTH IS KNOWN AND EXISTS,  BUT THE KNOWER IS DIFFERENT FROM US.  

SO THE KNOWER OF THE TRUTH EXISTS. WE THINK OF THE KNOWER AS SOMEONE THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM US.

The Truth that we seek to Know is already Known. It may not be known to us, but it is already out there. Let us ask ourselves the question - is it possible to know something that does not exist?  To explain a little bit more, are we trying to create something that never existed before? Or are we trying to find something that is hidden from us? By this is meant that although the seerker of knowledge is unaware of the shape, size, form or content or location of what he seeks, he or she is being guided towards that destination by the one who knows.

SO WE SEEK THE KNOWER.  WE SEEK THE KNOWER SO WE CAN ASK HIM ABOUT THE TRUTH.  

When we get to know something, we become one with that which is known. There is no difference between the knower and the known. 

The knower or the seeker is in pursuit of something that will put the seeker in a state of complete independance. with no conflict, in a state that will never change. It has been known for ever. This is because the truth never changes. It is always the same. 

It must be kept in mind that what we are seeking is already known.  The knower is the Paramathma.  The Jivaatma, which is us, is not the knower.  We are being taught the knowledge that is already with the Paramathma by being put through the journey of life. 

The Paramathma is trying to teach us the ultimate truths on an ongoing basis.  But we, his desciples, do not know how to learn the lessons. This is where the experience of life comes in.  We are being imparted the knowledge of the self by being endowed with the ability to preceive life thru the experience via the five senses and the intellect. So life becomes an experience in learning.  We first learn to learn and then begin to evolve and become self sustaining based on the learning. 

Since learning is the process of knowing something that the Paramathma aleady knows, what we learn is a revelation. 

However there is no revelation unless we are receptive and are ready to receive and accept the knowledge that is revealed to us. We will not be receptive unless we embark on a path of discovery.  

We are presented with a bafling array of needs, desires, ambitions, and greed, which in turn lead to fear, insecurity, feeling of inadequacy, etc.  The discovery aspect relates to identifying and choosing the correct path from a wide range of options.  This is partly accomplished by trial and error. As we explore the different options, the ones that are incorrect and do not fit our needs and abilities, will cause us pain and misery. We will attain peace only when we discard the paths that are miserable and painful and choose the one that fills us with peace and is in synchronization with our abilities. 

Discovery of the correct path will signal the beginning of the revelation that we call learning. 

ONCE WE ACCEPT THAT WE ARE SEEKING THAT WHICH ALREADY EXISTS BECAUSE IT IS KNOWN TO EXIST, THE JOURNEY BEGINS FOR US.