The Vichar Sagar expounds upon Advaita Vedanta philosophy regarding the concept of non-duality, that Self and the Highest Self *Param-Atmaa* are identical. The text has numerous dialogues wherein doubts from students are raised and answered according to the precepts derived from Advaita Vedanta. The following passage is from the first chapter, before the meat of the question answer portions that follow in later chapters. .
ਜੀਵ ਕੋ ਸ੍ਵਰੂਪ ਅਤਿ ਆਨੰਦ ਕਹਤ ਵੇਦ ਤਾਕੂੰ ਸੁਖ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤਿ ਕੋ ਅਸੰਭਵ ਬਖਾਨਿਯੇ ॥
Although the Vedas proclaim that the true nature of a person (jiva) is supreme bliss; attaining this bliss is not possible.
*Why?*
ਆਗੇ ਜੋ ਅਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਵਸਤੁ ਤਾਕੀ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤੀ ਸੰਭਵਤ ਨਿਤਯ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਵਸਤੁ ਕੀ ਤੋ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤਿ ਕਿਮਿ ਮਾਨਿਯੇ ॥
One may attain something that is previously unattained, but how could one attain something that has already been attained?
*Reply*
ਐਸੀ ਸ਼ੰਕਾ ਲੇਸ਼ ਆਨਿ ਕੀਜੇ ਨ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ ਹਾਨਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਤੈਂ ਕੁਤਰਕ ਭਲੇ ਭਾਨਿਯੇ ॥
Do not allow even a trace of doubt to harm one's faith; through the Guru's Grace, may this faulty argument be destroyed.
ਕਰ ਕੋ ਕੰਕਣ ਖੋਯੋ ਐਸੋ ਭਰਮ ਭਯੋ ਜਿਹਿ ਗਿਆਨ ਤੈਂ ਮਿਲਤ ਇਮਿ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤਿ ਜਾਨਿਯੇ ॥27॥
Through the arising of wisdom the attained becomes attained again, just as one who has forgot there are wearing a bracelet eventually realize its presence.
ਵਿਚਾਰ ਸਾਗਰ, ਪਹਿਲੀ ਤਰੰਗ
[[Vichar Sagar]], Chapter One
[[Vedant]]
![[vichar sagar.png]]