ATMA BODHA 29

 

                                                                        ATMA BODHA 29-1

           

              “SWA-BODHE NA-ANNYA BODHA-ICCHA jBODHA-ROOPATAYA-ATMANAH

                         NA DEEPASYA-ANNYA-DEEPA-ICCHA YATHA SWA-ATMA-PRAKASANE.”

“A LIGHTED LAMP DOES NOT REQUIRE ANOTHER LIGHT TO ILLUMINE IT. SIMILARLY, ATMAN WHICH IS KNOWLEDGE ITSELF DOES NOT NEED ANY OTHER KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW IT.”

Light is absolutely necessary to see any object in the dark room.  But is any other light is needed to see the light that has already illumined the objects in the dark room of the house?  It is totally unnecessary.  We do not require any light to see the sun that illumines the entire universe. That is because  the sun is, itself, illumination complete. The Self  is the illuminating light in all our experiences in all beings at all times. No other light is necessary because the Self alone is  the Real and lights up the knowledge of creation known and unknown. Thus  this Self is the all awaring Consciousness  Absolute.

 Even when all objects are removed from the dark room of the house, nothing happens to the light. The light continues to shed its power. In the same manner, when all our experiences in the waking, dream, and  deep sleep states have ended the Awareness continues to shine  because the Atman is Self-effulgent and Eternal.  No other light is necessary to know the Source of all Light. When we delve deep and turn our attention inward We realize that That light alone is the Real One illuminating  all experiences in the entire world of beings. We are bound to realize  this Reality if we faithfully follow footsteps of the learned sages and experienced seers.

The intellect is incapable of understanding the One Homogenous whole  as It is not an object of cognition. With a telescope I cannot see myself. I can see other objects in front of me and around me. Intellect is very useful  to discriminate, to reason out, analyse and understand in a different field. But when we try to comprehend the Transcendental Truth with our limited intellect we fail miserably.We should understand that the Self is the” Subject” that illumines the very intellect itself.

The body is gross and the mind subtle. The intellect is subtler As we delve deeper we reach the subtlest of thought experience. These thought waves sleep down and there is nothing for the Consciousness to illumine. In such a rare and sacred moment the Pure Consciousness  alone remains illuminating itself like a silent street lamp at midnight throwing light on itself.

It is interesting to draw an analogy with a dream. The dreamer is none other than the waker. He wakes up from the dream and rediscovers that he is himself the waker. Similarly in the Supreme plane of Self- Awareness and Bliss, at the end of all duality one remains in his Own Real nature and experiences  the Bliss of Self For this no other illumination is necessary It is in this state that one awakes himself to that state of God- consciousness---the Self—hood.

 

 

ATMA BODHA 28

vATMA AVABHASAYATYEKO BHUDYADEEN-INDRIYANYAPI

 

DEEPO-GHA  TADIVAT-SWA – ATMA JADHAI-STIR-NA-AVABHASYATE

 

Similar to a lamp illuminating a jar or pot so also the Atman illumines the Mind,and  the sense organs etc.  These material objects by themselves cannot illumine themselves because they are inert!”

Adi Sankara explains the significance of the Atma or Self in the human body. The street lamp is a silent , unperturbed witness of  all that happens  under its light.Its light falls on all objects good or bad. Whether it is a marriage procession or a funeral march, the light is unmoved by the feelings of joy or sorrow. II illuminates all those that come under its range. The post man is unconcerned with the nature and contents of the communication he delivers to the addressee.

In fact we are indifferent to and unconcerned with  the different experiences of a co passenger when we  get into a rain or bus. We never consider his loss or gain as our own thouh we may sympathise with his lot and help him.

The Self or the Atman---the Pure Consciousness in us is  the One illuminating factor which alone illumines the good and bad in us at all times. The One Power on account of which the physical activities and mental yearnings and intellectual throbbing become vivid  and living for us  is the Atman or the Self or the Brahman. The matter combinations may vary in their endless variety, in their strength, vitality and energy but the  one Spirit unchanging through all these manifestations of matter, is the One and only glory offering the glitter of a show to the entire ‘jagat’-----a lively show indeed!!

KENOPANISHAD establishes the nature and significance of the SELF or the ATMA or the Brahman.

“That which is not seen by the eye, but that by which the eyes are made to see----know that as Brahman and not what people worship here.

“That which is not heard by the ear, but that by which the ears are made to hear—know that as Brahman and not what people worship here.”

“That which is not inhaled by breath,but that by which breath is made to inhale--know that as the Brahman, and not what people worship here.” people worship

“That which is not thought by the mind, but that by which, they say the mind is made to think—know that s the Brahman