Abstract

No one believes that he does not know himself or the world around him because everyone is familiar with both these. Therefore the question naturally arises as to what exactly is meant by the Advaitin’s claim that no one really “knows the Self” and hence everyone must attain Self-knowledge. What is this “Self-knowledge” which everyone is said to be ignorant of? It is argued in this chapter that according to the non-duality thesis, there cannot really be “another” besides the non-dual Self and therefore not knowing this is itself ignorance. If so, naturally, knowing that whatever exists is the Self alone and nothing else (_sarvātmabhāva_) must truly constitute “Self-knowledge”. Therefore ignorance must truly be not knowing that whatever is, is the Self itself and nothing else. Then, obviously, not only the _jīva_ but the world too is the Self.