The Non-Dual Reality

Nidagha: "Master, what is the relationship between jiva, jagat, and Ishvara—the soul, the world, and God?"

Ribhu: "There is no relationship."

Nidagha: "How can that be? The scriptures speak of all three."

Ribhu: "The scriptures speak to those who believe in three. To the one who sees, there is only Brahman. No soul separate from Brahman. No world separate from Brahman. No God separate from Brahman."

Nidagha: "But I experience myself as limited, the world as vast, and God as supreme."

Ribhu: "In a dream, the dreamer appears small, the dream world appears vast, and dream gods appear supreme. Upon waking, where are these three? They were one dreamer, playing all parts."

Nidagha: "So the soul is Brahman?"

Ribhu: "Yes."

Nidagha: "And the world is Brahman?"

Ribhu: "Yes."

Nidagha: "And God is Brahman?"

Ribhu: "Yes. Now drop the 'is.' There is not soul-is-Brahman. There is only Brahman, appearing as soul. Not world-is-Brahman. Only Brahman, appearing as world. Not God-is-Brahman. Only Brahman, appearing as God."

Nidagha: "Then who worships whom?"

Ribhu: "Brahman worships Brahman. Brahman seeks Brahman. Brahman finds Brahman. The seeker, the seeking, and the sought are one reality playing at three."

Nidagha: "This is the non-dual reality?"

Ribhu: "Not non-dual as opposed to dual. Simply reality, as it is, without your interpretation."