Sankaracarya's Vivekachudamani 389

यत्र भ्रान्त्या कल्पितं तद्विवेके

तत्तन्मात्रं नैव तस्माद्विभिन्नम् ।

भ्रान्तेर्नाशे भाति दृष्टाहितत्त्वं

रज्जुस्तद्वद्विश्वमात्मस्वरूपम् ॥

yatra bhrāntyā kalpitaṃ tadviveke

tattanmātraṃ naiva tasmādvibhinnam |

bhrānternāśe bhāti dṛṣṭāhitattvaṃ

rajjustadvadviśvamātmasvarūpam ||

(Sankaracarya's Vivekachudamani 389)

Whereby mistake, something is imagined to exist, there, on right discrimination, the Real itself is recognized---there being nothing other than it. With the error removed, the falsely perceived snake vanishes, and the rope appears as the truth. So too, the entire universe is, in truth, only the Self.

Truth is often very difficult to accept, after all, we are living in a world of illusion. Nonetheless, it is essential that we find and honor the truth. Isn't that what Bhakti to Brahman is all about? Distinguishing truth from illusion for the welfare of all; no matter how great our attachment to the illusion might be. But attachment to illusion is very strong. Yet when the falsehood which covers us is removed. For example, every limb and organ in our body is temporary. The surroundings and family are temporary. Everything which related to us is temporary and false. Even the body will be removed from us. finally, the soul will prevail, that is the truth. The truth is the soul and its relationship with the Super Soul who is the creator.