Devotion in non duality
Question
When praying, who is the devotee and the one to whom he is devoted? Is the ego operating when practising devotion during prayers (although it is fun)? When in unity (total surrender in non prayer action such as movement) what is the difference between the devotee and the one to whom he is devoted? Since there is no difference, what is devotion to the Supreme (in prayer)?
Answer
1. The Jiva (individual supported by the Ego) is the devotee, trying to invoke the grace of the Supreme, through devotion, in external prayer. In meditation, the same individual tries to merge his Ego with the Atman (self), again no different from the Supreme, by overcoming all other thoughts.
2. Unity occurs only when the Ego completely merges in the Supreme, as in Samadhi. Then, there is no mind. That alone is complete surrender.
As long as the Ego exists, the mind also exists and duality therefore exists. As soon as the Ego merges into its source (Atman), there is no duality. Hence duality is an illusion concerning the mind and not real. One is always the Atman and only the Atman.
ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)