The treasure I have found cannot be described in words, the mind cannot conceive of it.
Interpretation
The greatest experiences and truths often surpass our ability to articulate them.
This quote by Adi Shankara suggests that the most profound truths and treasures of existence lie beyond verbal expression and intellectual understanding. It implies that there are experiences, such as spiritual or existential insights, that are so deep and significant that they elude our capacity to fully comprehend or describe them through language.
In practice
In a speech about the nature of love, one might reference this quote to illustrate the idea that some feelings go beyond what we can articulate.
Even after the Truth has been realised, there remains that strong, obstinate impression that one is still an ego - the agent and experiencer. This has to be carefully removed by living in a state of constant identification with the supreme non-dual Self. Full Awakening is the eventual ceasing of all the mental impressions of being an ego.
Like the appearance of silver in mother of pearl, the world seems real until the Self, the underlying reality, is realized.
Give up identification with this mass of flesh as well as with what thinks it a mass. Both are intellectual imaginations. Recognise your true self as undifferentiated awareness, unaffected by time, past, present or future, and enter Peace.
As gold purified in a furnace loses its impurities and achieves its own true nature, the mind gets rid of the impurities of the attributes of delusion, attachment and purity through meditation and attains Reality.
But the jiva [living being] is endowed with ego and his knowledge is limited, whereas Ishwar is without ego and is omniscient.
There is sorrow in finitude. The Self is beyond time, space and objects. It is infinite and hence of the nature of absolute happiness.
I have not loved the world, nor the world me, but let us part fair foes; I do believe, though I have found them not, that there may be words which are things, hopes which will not deceive, and virtues which are merciful, or weave snares for the failing: I would also deem o'er others' griefs that some sincerely grieve; that two, or one, are almost what they seem, that goodness is no name, and happiness no dream.
The media is an ally when it comes to showing the truth about terrorist groups. Attacking the media will not produce a more compliant citizenry. It will produce a more alienated, suspicious and disenfranchised public, one more likely to chafe under a government's attempts at control, all to the benefit of terrorist groups.
When all actions are mathematically calculated, they also take on a stupid quality.
If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart.
People have a right to get stoned. They have a right to think and explore their own minds. This is as intimate a part of their being as their sexuality. Any culture which mitigates that is clearly afraid of a full and fair and open dialogue about what reality is and what real human values ought to be.
It is a great comfort to know that our judge will be none other than our savior.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.