/lit/ - Literature

>>11028520
> Though theoretical knowledge participates in true knowledge, or else it would be illusory, it nonetheless does not effectively capture a state like, for example, sense knowledge does. Have you read much about this in the texts you have studied?

Yes, this point is revisited again and again in most Advaita primary texts from multiple angles.

As the Atma Bodha says:

>Just as the fire is the direct cause for cooking, so without Knowledge no emancipation can be had. Compared with all other forms of discipline Knowledge of the Self is the one direct means for liberation.
>Action cannot destroy ignorance, for it is not in conflict with or opposed to ignorance. Knowledge does verily destroy ignorance as light destroys deep darkness.

>Can you explain to me your understanding of the process of realization? This is one of the biggest obstacles to me in understanding the material.

If you are just attempting realization based on conceptualizing summaries of the teachings in the writings of Traditionalists it will be hard to get far. I would recommend trying reading the various primary texts, which give practical steps one can take towards self-knowledge and liberation but which also give many poetic metaphors that illustrate the ideas in helpful ways. The Ashtavakra Gita is a great example of this, from the first chapter:

>You do not consist of any of the elements — earth, water, fire, air, or even ether. To be liberated, know yourself as consisting of consciousness, the witness of these. 1.3
>If only you will remain resting in consciousness, seeing yourself as distinct from the body, then even now you will become happy, peaceful and free from bonds. 1.4
>You are unconditioned and changeless, formless and immovable, unfathomable awareness, unperturbable: so hold to nothing but consciousness. 1.17
>Recognise that the apparent is unreal, while the unmanifest is abiding. Through this initiation into truth you will escape falling into unreality again. 1.18

Adi Shankara's commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita is an incredibly detailed guide to attaining liberation with copious notes and explanations on every step of the process. I would recommend it highly. He sites from the Brahma Sutras and Upanishads but it's just to note that they back up his conclusions, it's not really needed to read those before understanding his Bhagavad-Gita commentary. He will often go out of his way to play the devil's advocate and mention multiple. hypothetical opposing views one could take only to refute those in turn, just to preemptively prevent any misconceptions along those lines arising in the reader.

Here is an example of some of his commentary on it. It's 500-something pages of a huge wealth of information and advice, on attaining knowledge.