The material mind is condemned to suffer the pains of duality

The following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

पौर्णमास्यां यथा चन्द्र एक एवातिनिर्मलः। तेन तत्सदृशं पश्येद्द्विधादृष्टिर्विपर्ययः।।

There is only one very clear moon on the full moon night. One should perceive That (the Self) like the moon. Seeing duality is perversion.

Avadhuta Gita (Chapter 2, Verse 21)

Acharya Prashant: This one is from The Avadhuta Gita.

It says, “There is only one very clear moon on the Full Moon night. One should perceive the Self, like that moon. Seeing duality is perversion.”

The example that has been chosen to teach, is a very wise example. The moon is one, the moon is resplendent. But you never perceive the moon, as One. You keep on saying that the moon is waxing and waning, you keep on talking about the very kalas (different waxing and waning phases) of the moon. You keep on saying, “This is Krishna Paksha (the period of the waning moon), this is Shukla Paksh (the period of the waxing moon).”