SUPERIMPOSITIO ON THE ATMA-- ATMA BODHA 11

SUPER IMPOSITION ON THE ATMA-- ATMA BODHA 11

NANOPADHI- VASADEVA JATI-VARNA-ASHRAMADAYAH

                               

ATMANYAROPITAH-TOYERASA-VARNADI BHEDAVAT

“ Many upadhis or conditionings like caste, color, and position are superimposed on the ATMA! It is like flavor and color are superimposed on water.”

 Sankara elaborates on the same idea he has expressed in the previous verse. Man is the same and his personality factors are the same.  He may be a doctor, an advocate or a porter. The only difference is in the education he receives, his apprenticeship, and the profession he pursues. Though man belongs to the same society, he is called differently because of the professions he follows. Thus each person differs from the other. Physical shape and form may differ, name and caste may be different, emotions and beauty  and intellectual grasp may be totally different, but  the ATMAN is the same in each and every creature! Can we differentiate the ATMAN as  young ATMAN, an old ATMAN, a Christian ATMAN, a Hindu ATMAN, a poor ATMAN,  or a rich ATMAN? The unchanging Substratum of Life in the varied existence of things is the One Reality. It is a silent witness of everything and remains unaffected and unattached to all outward marks. It is always a dispassionate observer of the continuous drama of life!

Kenopanishad   declares,” Smaller than the small and greater than the great, the SELF is hidden in the heart of every creature. A man who is free from desires beholds the glory of that SELF through the tranquility of his mind and senses and becomes freed from sorrow.” (III Up 1. 2, 3.) 7 The fan revolves, the refrigerator cools and the red, blue, and green bulbs are illuminated by the same electric current. This is because of the difference in the manifestations of the energy passing through the different equipments! Forgetting the underlying basic factor that activates these contraptions, we call them all by different names!  It is the one energy that makes all other equipments work smoothly.

 Water by itself is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. But it can change its color, smell and taste according to the nature of extraneous matter it contains.  Sometimes the water is muddy. Sea water looks blue in color. When we add sugar or jiggery water tastes sweet. Numerous drinks and beverages have different colors and tastes depending on the various ingredients mixed with them. Why is one individual different from the other? We wonder at the creative genius of the creator God in bringing into the   world people who are totally dissimilar to one another. The difference is because of the type of  ‘Vasanas’ in each individual. ’Vasanas ‘are the remnants of our past actions, associations and interests in our previous births.Some part of those associations cling to the person in his present birth! As these ‘vasanas differ from one person to the other, People appear different in their nature.

 We have to remove the contamination created by the upadhis, and experience the one inner spirit  running through all the individuals. It is then we realize that the differences we notice are merely a  superimposition on that glorious Substratum. Without that illumination life would be dark and impossible a nonexistent non entity!