WHERE DOES THE ATMA SHINE? ATMA BODHA 17

                                         

                                            WHERE DOES ATMA SHINE? ATMA BODHA 17

SADA SARVAGATO-PYATMA NA SARVATRA-AVABHASATHE

a BUDDHAVEVA-AVABHASETA SWACHESHU PRATIBIMBAVAt

“THOUGH HE IS ALL-PERVADING THE ATMAN DOES NOT SHINE IN EVERYTHING. HE MANIFESTS ONLY IN THE INNER EQUIPMENT, THE INTELLE#CT (BUDDHI) JUST AS THE REFLECTION INA CLEAN MIRROR”  

“As a spider moves along its threads, and as from a fire tiny sparks fly in all directions, even so from the SELF come forth all organs, all worlds, all deities and all beings. Its mystic name is ‘the TRUTH of truth.”The senses are the truth and the SELF is the Truth of truth.” (Brihadaranyakopanishad) The Atman is infinite by nature. It is All pervading “Ekah Paratma bahu dehavarthi.”  We understand that Atma  is  embedded in every creature in the universe. Is it possible for anyone to perceive the Atma? It is absolutely impossible. It is available in the cognition of all objects. The mirror reflects all objects. But if it is covered with dust and other materials no reflection can be seen. It is because the reflecting surface is tainted and full of dirt. But if the dust and dirt are removed completely the mirror gets back its quality of total reflection.

Sri Sankara thus gives us the simple and well known simile of the mirror and its reflection to drive home the point.  Atma is there in all of us. But we cannot easily realize it as we are all enveloped by maya or illusion. We are steeped in avidya and there is a very thick layer of ignorance. Our mind and intellect are not pure. We are involved in Samsara and incapable of thinking on lofty subjects like the SELF or SOUL.  It is the PURE INTE#LLECT (Buddhi) alone that can realize the SELF ( Atma- tatva) in all its essential  splendor just as in a clear polished mirror we  see our reflection distinctly. According to the principles of reflection our faces are reflected everywhere on all objects. According to Physics light falling on the object gets reflected and these reflected light rays again get reflected at the reflecting surface; and when they fall on our retina we see the reflection. This process goes on even on a granite rough wall-surface but we don’t see our reflection there.

 As an illustration we can take the Central Government stationed in Delhi. Does it mean that the government is in Delhi only and not in other parts of the nation? The Government may have its headquarters in New Delhi but even in a little home away in the south, the overall hold and grace of the Government falls equally. On every inch of the country it has its sway. Its laws are applicable throughout the length and breadth of the land. Yet to meet the Government one must go to New Delhi. Similarly, even though the Lord,  the Supreme Brahman, the substratum  for all this plurality is within us, as well as ‘without’ us, it is only in the subtle intellect ( Buddhi)  purified and steadied  that can clearly see fully “reflected.

The body is gross and our mind is always agitated over something or other.  So it is in the “subtle intellect” that one can learn by practice to be calm and steady. In that serenity and quietitude of a   settled and pure mind the radiant SELF is recognized just as we see clearly our own image only in a steady clear mirror!

Sankara’s simile of the clean mirror is apt and quite relevant. It is the experience of all  that no reflection is possible if the mirror is laden with dirt and dust. Even in our homes we wipe the mirror to see our reflection clearly.  How is it possible to realize the Atma with an intellect which is full of many impurities? Hence the comparison of the intellect to the mirror and the need for cleaning it thoroughly for realizing the Atman!WHERE DOES ATMA SHINE? ATMA BODHA 17

SADA SARVAGATO-PYATMA NA SARVATRA-AVABHASATHE

a BUDDHAVEVA-AVABHASETA SWACHESHU PRATIBIMBAVAt

“THOUGH HE IS ALL-PERVADING THE ATMAN DOES NOT SHINE IN EVERYTHING. HE MANIFESTS ONLY IN THE INNER EQUIPMENT, THE INTELLE#CT (BUDDHI) JUST AS THE REFLECTION INA CLEAN MIRROR”  

“As a spider moves along its threads, and as from a fire tiny sparks fly in all directions, even so from the SELF come forth all organs, all worlds, all deities and all beings. Its mystic name is ‘the TRUTH of truth.”The senses are the truth and the SELF is the Truth of truth.” (Brihadaranyakopanishad) The Atman is infinite by nature. It is All pervading “Ekah Paratma bahu dehavarthi.”  We understand that Atma  is  embedded in every creature in the universe. Is it possible for anyone to perceive the Atma? It is absolutely impossible. It is available in the cognition of all objects. The mirror reflects all objects. But if it is covered with dust and other materials no reflection can be seen. It is because the reflecting surface is tainted and full of dirt. But if the dust and dirt are removed completely the mirror gets back its quality of total reflection.

Sri Sankara thus gives us the simple and well known simile of the mirror and its reflection to drive home the point.  Atma is there in all of us. But we cannot easily realize it as we are all enveloped by maya or illusion. We are steeped in avidya and there is a very thick layer of ignorance. Our mind and intellect are not pure. We are involved in Samsara and incapable of thinking on lofty subjects like the SELF or SOUL.  It is the PURE INTE#LLECT (Buddhi) alone that can realize the SELF ( Atma- tatva) in all its essential  splendor just as in a clear polished mirror we  see our reflection distinctly. According to the principles of reflection our faces are reflected everywhere on all objects. According to Physics light falling on the object gets reflected and these reflected light rays again get reflected at the reflecting surface; and when they fall on our retina we see the reflection. This process goes on even on a granite rough wall-surface but we don’t see our reflection there.

 As an illustration we can take the Central Government stationed in Delhi. Does it mean that the government is in Delhi only and not in other parts of the nation? The Government may have its headquarters in New Delhi but even in a little home away in the south, the overall hold and grace of the Government falls equally. On every inch of the country it has its sway. Its laws are applicable throughout the length and breadth of the land. Yet to meet the Government one must go to New Delhi. Similarly, even though the Lord,  the Supreme Brahman, the substratum  for all this plurality is within us, as well as ‘without’ us, it is only in the subtle intellect ( Buddhi)  purified and steadied  that can clearly see fully “reflected.

The body is gross and our mind is always agitated over something or other.  So it is in the “subtle intellect” that one can learn by practice to be calm and steady. In that serenity and quietitude of a   settled and pure mind the radiant SELF is recognized just as we see clearly our own image only in a steady clear mirror!

Sankara’s simile of the clean mirror is apt and quite relevant. It is the experience of all  that no reflection is possible if the mirror is laden with dirt and dust. Even in our homes we wipe the mirror to see our reflection clearly.  How is it possible to realize the Atma with an intellect which is full of many impurities? Hence the comparison of the intellect to the mirror and the need for cleaning it thoroughly for realizing the Atman!WHERE DOES ATMA SHINE? ATMA BODHA 17

SADA SARVAGATO-PYATMA NA SARVATRA-AVABHASATHE

a BUDDHAVEVA-AVABHASETA SWACHESHU PRATIBIMBAVAt

“THOUGH HE IS ALL-PERVADING THE ATMAN DOES NOT SHINE IN EVERYTHING. HE MANIFESTS ONLY IN THE INNER EQUIPMENT, THE INTELLE#CT (BUDDHI) JUST AS THE REFLECTION INA CLEAN MIRROR”  

“As a spider moves along its threads, and as from a fire tiny sparks fly in all directions, even so from the SELF come forth all organs, all worlds, all deities and all beings. Its mystic name is ‘the TRUTH of truth.”The senses are the truth and the SELF is the Truth of truth.” (Brihadaranyakopanishad) The Atman is infinite by nature. It is All pervading “Ekah Paratma bahu dehavarthi.”  We understand that Atma  is  embedded in every creature in the universe. Is it possible for anyone to perceive the Atma? It is absolutely impossible. It is available in the cognition of all objects. The mirror reflects all objects. But if it is covered with dust and other materials no reflection can be seen. It is because the reflecting surface is tainted and full of dirt. But if the dust and dirt are removed completely the mirror gets back its quality of total reflection.

Sri Sankara thus gives us the simple and well known simile of the mirror and its reflection to drive home the point.  Atma is there in all of us. But we cannot easily realize it as we are all enveloped by maya or illusion. We are steeped in avidya and there is a very thick layer of ignorance. Our mind and intellect are not pure. We are involved in Samsara and incapable of thinking on lofty subjects like the SELF or SOUL.  It is the PURE INTE#LLECT (Buddhi) alone that can realize the SELF ( Atma- tatva) in all its essential  splendor just as in a clear polished mirror we  see our reflection distinctly. According to the principles of reflection our faces are reflected everywhere on all objects. According to Physics light falling on the object gets reflected and these reflected light rays again get reflected at the reflecting surface; and when they fall on our retina we see the reflection. This process goes on even on a granite rough wall-surface but we don’t see our reflection there.

 As an illustration we can take the Central Government stationed in Delhi. Does it mean that the government is in Delhi only and not in other parts of the nation? The Government may have its headquarters in New Delhi but even in a little home away in the south, the overall hold and grace of the Government falls equally. On every inch of the country it has its sway. Its laws are applicable throughout the length and breadth of the land. Yet to meet the Government one must go to New Delhi. Similarly, even though the Lord,  the Supreme Brahman, the substratum  for all this plurality is within us, as well as ‘without’ us, it is only in the subtle intellect ( Buddhi)  purified and steadied  that can clearly see fully “reflected.

The body is gross and our mind is always agitated over something or other.  So it is in the “subtle intellect” that one can learn by practice to be calm and steady. In that serenity and quietitude of a   settled and pure mind the radiant SELF is recognized just as we see clearly our own image only in a steady clear mirror!

Sankara’s simile of the clean mirror is apt and quite relevant. It is the experience of all  that no reflection is possible if the mirror is laden with dirt and dust. Even in our homes we wipe the mirror to see our reflection clearly.  How is it possible to realize the Atma with an intellect which is full of many impurities? Hence the comparison of the intellect to the mirror and the need for cleaning it thoroughly for realizing the Atman!WHERE DOES ATMA SHINE? ATMA BODHA 17

SADA SARVAGATO-PYATMA NA SARVATRA-AVABHASATHE

a BUDDHAVEVA-AVABHASETA SWACHESHU PRATIBIMBAVAt

“THOUGH HE IS ALL-PERVADING THE ATMAN DOES NOT SHINE IN EVERYTHING. HE MANIFESTS ONLY IN THE INNER EQUIPMENT, THE INTELLE#CT (BUDDHI) JUST AS THE REFLECTION INA CLEAN MIRROR”  

“As a spider moves along its threads, and as from a fire tiny sparks fly in all directions, even so from the SELF come forth all organs, all worlds, all deities and all beings. Its mystic name is ‘the TRUTH of truth.”The senses are the truth and the SELF is the Truth of truth.” (Brihadaranyakopanishad) The Atman is infinite by nature. It is All pervading “Ekah Paratma bahu dehavarthi.”  We understand that Atma  is  embedded in every creature in the universe. Is it possible for anyone to perceive the Atma? It is absolutely impossible. It is available in the cognition of all objects. The mirror reflects all objects. But if it is covered with dust and other materials no reflection can be seen. It is because the reflecting surface is tainted and full of dirt. But if the dust and dirt are removed completely the mirror gets back its quality of total reflection.

Sri Sankara thus gives us the simple and well known simile of the mirror and its reflection to drive home the point.  Atma is there in all of us. But we cannot easily realize it as we are all enveloped by maya or illusion. We are steeped in avidya and there is a very thick layer of ignorance. Our mind and intellect are not pure. We are involved in Samsara and incapable of thinking on lofty subjects like the SELF or SOUL.  It is the PURE INTE#LLECT (Buddhi) alone that can realize the SELF ( Atma- tatva) in all its essential  splendor just as in a clear polished mirror we  see our reflection distinctly. According to the principles of reflection our faces are reflected everywhere on all objects. According to Physics light falling on the object gets reflected and these reflected light rays again get reflected at the reflecting surface; and when they fall on our retina we see the reflection. This process goes on even on a granite rough wall-surface but we don’t see our reflection there.

 As an illustration we can take the Central Government stationed in Delhi. Does it mean that the government is in Delhi only and not in other parts of the nation? The Government may have its headquarters in New Delhi but even in a little home away in the south, the overall hold and grace of the Government falls equally. On every inch of the country it has its sway. Its laws are applicable throughout the length and breadth of the land. Yet to meet the Government one must go to New Delhi. Similarly, even though the Lord,  the Supreme Brahman, the substratum  for all this plurality is within us, as well as ‘without’ us, it is only in the subtle intellect ( Buddhi)  purified and steadied  that can clearly see fully “reflected.

The body is gross and our mind is always agitated over something or other.  So it is in the “subtle intellect” that one can learn by practice to be calm and steady. In that serenity and quietitude of a   settled and pure mind the radiant SELF is recognized just as we see clearly our own image only in a steady clear mirror!

Sankara’s simile of the clean mirror is apt and quite relevant. It is the experience of all  that no reflection is possible if the mirror is laden with dirt and dust. Even in our homes we wipe the mirror to see our reflection clearly.  How is it possible to realize the Atma with an intellect which is full of many impurities? Hence the comparison of the intellect to the mirror and the need for cleaning it thoroughly for realizing the Atman! 

WHERE DOES ATMA SHINE? ATMA BODHA 17

SADA SARVAGATO-PYATMA NA SARVATRA-AVABHASATHE

a BUDDHAVEVA-AVABHASETA SWACHESHU PRATIBIMBAVAt

“THOUGH HE IS ALL-PERVADING THE ATMAN DOES NOT SHINE IN EVERYTHING. HE MANIFESTS ONLY IN THE INNER EQUIPMENT, THE INTELLE#CT (BUDDHI) JUST AS THE REFLECTION INA CLEAN MIRROR”  

“As a spider moves along its threads, and as from a fire tiny sparks fly in all directions, even so from the SELF come forth all organs, all worlds, all deities and all beings. Its mystic name is ‘the TRUTH of truth.”The senses are the truth and the SELF is the Truth of truth.” (Brihadaranyakopanishad) The Atman is infinite by nature. It is All pervading “Ekah Paratma bahu dehavarthi.”  We understand that Atma  is  embedded in every creature in the universe. Is it possible for anyone to perceive the Atma? It is absolutely impossible. It is available in the cognition of all objects. The mirror reflects all objects. But if it is covered with dust and other materials no reflection can be seen. It is because the reflecting surface is tainted and full of dirt. But if the dust and dirt are removed completely the mirror gets back its quality of total reflection.

Sri Sankara thus gives us the simple and well known simile of the mirror and its reflection to drive home the point.  Atma is there in all of us. But we cannot easily realize it as we are all enveloped by maya or illusion. We are steeped in avidya and there is a very thick layer of ignorance. Our mind and intellect are not pure. We are involved in Samsara and incapable of thinking on lofty subjects like the SELF or SOUL.  It is the PURE INTE#LLECT (Buddhi) alone that can realize the SELF ( Atma- tatva) in all its essential  splendor just as in a clear polished mirror we  see our reflection distinctly. According to the principles of reflection our faces are reflected everywhere on all objects. According to Physics light falling on the object gets reflected and these reflected light rays again get reflected at the reflecting surface; and when they fall on our retina we see the reflection. This process goes on even on a granite rough wall-surface but we don’t see our reflection there.

 As an illustration we can take the Central Government stationed in Delhi. Does it mean that the government is in Delhi only and not in other parts of the nation? The Government may have its headquarters in New Delhi but even in a little home away in the south, the overall hold and grace of the Government falls equally. On every inch of the country it has its sway. Its laws are applicable throughout the length and breadth of the land. Yet to meet the Government one must go to New Delhi. Similarly, even though the Lord,  the Supreme Brahman, the substratum  for all this plurality is within us, as well as ‘without’ us, it is only in the subtle intellect ( Buddhi)  purified and steadied  that can clearly see fully “reflected.

The body is gross and our mind is always agitated over something or other.  So it is in the “subtle intellect” that one can learn by practice to be calm and steady. In that serenity and quietitude of a   settled and pure mind the radiant SELF is recognized just as we see clearly our own image only in a steady clear mirror!

Sankara’s simile of the clean mirror is apt and quite relevant. It is the experience of all  that no reflection is possible if the mirror is laden with dirt and dust. Even in our homes we wipe the mirror to see our reflection clearly.  How is it possible to realize the Atma with an intellect which is full of many impurities? Hence the comparison of the intellect to the mirror and the need for cleaning it thoroughly for realizing the Atman!