Every soul is tied with three knots viz Maya, Anavam and Karma (Delusion, Ego and Action) and because of this, the soul is unable to find its real nature i.e. Consciousness. One may wonder whether the soul is fated to be tied with the knots forever, or it has a freewill to untie the knots and merge with the source.
Free Will and Fate are myths. This concept
arises because of the assumed binding of an assumed soul with the knots. It is the Cosmic Ego (I AM), the first appearance of Consciousness that brings along with it the Cosmic Will or Universal Will. This only reflects as 'fate' and free will' on the assumed soul. Once we have the UNDERSTANDING of the source, we are free from the dispute of 'free will' and 'fate' and also free from the knots. Thereafter, there wont be an individual soul and only Consciousness would shine. When we feel 'individuality' (ego sense of doership and enjoyership) we are ruled by 'karma' and the result of 'karma' affect us. When we realise the presence (consciousness) in us, we let go the 'karma's play' and we are least affected by the result thereof.
'Karma adheenam' and 'Iswara adheenam' are intermingled in every 'karma. 'Iswara adheenam' (i.e.Consciousness and 'cosmic will') predominates and 'karma adheenam' has only a secondary role. When we are not aware of the presence of Consciousness and Cosmic Will, then karma adheenam dominates and we are affected by 'sukha and dukka'. Ultimately the truth is that there is only Ishwara (with the expression of cosmic will) and the 'karma adheenam' is a delusion functioning under the cover of 'individuality' (i.e.ego sense of doership and enjoyership).
In the analogy of 'dancer' and 'dancing', the former is 'Iswara adheenam' and the latter is 'karma adheenam'. The dancing pattern has already been decided (in advance) by the 'dancer'!. The dancing cannot overtake the dancer. The dancer should be contemplatively aware of his real person even while appearing as a dancer in the dance costume and performing the dance as per the pattern already set. Unfortunately we are dancing forgetting the presence of the 'dancer' and the true 'person' who expresses as 'dancer' and projecting the dance.
Only the Consciousness knows why it has reflected a soul and three knots and in what way it has organised the functioning of the so- called soul. "Consciousness reveals by itself" the Upanishad declares. When an individual (soul) is bestowed with this UNDERSTANDING, he merges with Consciousness. There is no more influence of the knots on the so-called individual. Every thought and action is caused by Consciousness. This realization dawns only when the Consciousness wills it so.
An individual is no more an individual thereafter. He becomes one with Consciousness although the physical body would linger on for some more time. He is free from delusion. He has no feeling of either doership or enjoyership. He knows that he is a projection of Consciousness and he moves in Consciousness. He is never caught in emotional dualities like pleasure and pain and never indulges in the discussion of conceptual dualities like spirit-matter, birth-death, dharma-adharma, rhythm-satyam.
To sum-up "Whatever is, is Consciousness". Concepts like soul, ego, karma including Maya have only that much value like a mirage in the dessert. In the vedantic language, all these concepts are 'vivartam'.It is Consciousness that prevail in all our concepts and actions. Let Consciousness make us remember this Truth, constantly.
