The space inside a pot is called pot-space. If the pot-space assumes its own self-identity, it will naturally suffer from a sense of limitation and will compare itself to the space inside other pots and to the entire space within the room. In terms of this analogy, Vedanta tells the apparent individual that he is not pot-space, but rather the space that exists everywhere, the space that accommodates all that appears to be, the space that is ever present and all-pervasive, the space that is itself limitless and in which pot-space abides as nothing other than anapparently limited unit. In truth, there is no question of limitation, and any suffering caused by the sense of limitation is only due to ignorance of one’s true nature. In order to remove the self-dissatisfaction that results from this sense of smallness, the pot naturally longs to become the room. In reality, however, it need not become anything, for it already is limitless space. Just so, according to Vedanta, the self is the whole and, therefore, there is no reason for dissatisfaction.
