Now I will tell you what vichara is. Vichara means enquiry.
It is an enquiry into the nature of Brahman or Atman. Enquiry of "Who am
I?" is also vichara.
What is bondage? What is freedom? What is the relation
between the jiva and Brahman? How was this Universe born? Who is the Creator?
These constitute vichara.
Vichara leads to Brahma-Jnana (realisation of the Infinite).
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You are imprisoned in this cage of flesh for a long time on
account of your identification with the body. Cut this illusion with the sword
of knowledge. "I am the all-pervading Sat-Chit-Ananda Brahman" - and
be ever blissful.
Give up "I ness, mine ness", agency or doership.
Become a silent witness. This is wisdom.
Brahman or the Absolute is the only reality. Mind and the
universe are unreal. Mind alone is the universe. Action of the mind alone is
karma.
Renunciation of egoism and desires constitutes real
renunciation. This leads to atma jnana (self-knowledge). Practise Brahma Vichara
and you will soon attain Self-realisation.
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Identification with the body is bondage. Identification with
the Atman or soul is liberation.
"I am body", "This is mine", "He is
my son", "She is my wife" - this is bondage.
"I am all-pervading immortal soul", "Nothing
belongs to me", "All is Brahman" - this is liberation.
If the mind is attached to objects, this is bondage. If it
is unattached, this is liberation.
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Where there is no duality, there is immortality. When the
three knots are cut, one attains immortality.
If your object in life is immortality, shun sense-objects as
poison. Where there is nothing to be seen, or heard, or thought of, there is
immortality.
Immortality is the very nature of Atman. The road to
immortality is steep and thorny. The help of a realised sage is necessary - at
every step.