ATMA BODHA 54

 

ATMA BODHA 54

“ALLABHAT –NA-APARO  LABHO YAT- SUKHAT- NA – APARAM  SUKHAM

YAT- GYANAT- NA-APARAM GYANAM TAD –BRAHMETI- AVADHARAYET.”

“THE ATTAINMENT WHICH LEAVES NOTHING MORE TO BE ATTAINED IS TO BE REALISED AS THR BRAHMAN. THE BLESSEDNESS WHICH REQUIRES NO OTHER BLESSINGTO BE DESIRED IS TO BE CONSIDERED AS BRAHMAN.  SIMILARLY, the KNOWLEDGE WHICH LEAVES NOTHING MORE TO BE KNOWN IS TO BE REALISED AS BRAHMAN.”

In the following three stanzas of ATMA BODHA, SANKARA , tries to explain the nature of SUPREME BRAHMAN by a technical process used in Vedanta to express the ABSOLUTE called “ TATASTHA  LAKSHANA.” As an example,  to identify someone’s house we may say “ That house on which the crow sits is his house.” The point here is that the crow doesn’t sit there permanently. The crow is not a part of that house. The crow differentiates the house from other houses. But the house is recognized as the building  without the crow on it. Even when the crow has flown away, the owner of the house can recognize it from all other houses. This method, according to Vedanta, is called “ TATASTHA LAKSHANA.”

Th Supreme experience  is the greatest gain, the greatest Knowledge There is no more sense of incompleteness  after gaining this state.  None shall desire to add any more gain to it. After tasting and enjoying the Bliss of the SELF none will try for a greater Bliss.  There will never be any thirst to know  anything more-----------that State of Absolute   Gain- Bliss- Knowledge is Brahman, the experience of the SELF.

Aii struggles in our mortal existence, desire for more acquisitions, and fresh joys and incessant effort for more knowledge are indicators of the sense of dissatisfaction felt by the imperfect. Imperfection is the property of one’s individuality—the ego ( jiva). When the jiva rediscovers itself to be the SELF, all its imperfections are understood as belonging to the Body- Mind-intellect.  Hence, in this condition of Spiritual rediscovery the aspirant finds that all his struggles have ended.

The realized one feels that such an endless fullness in our life, is the Supreme Goal.

“ HE CONTAINS ALL WORKS, ALL DESIRES< ALL ODOURS<, ALL DESIRES AND ALL TASTES----HE PERVADES THE WHOLE WORLD< SILENTAND UNMOVED. HE IS MY SELF WITHIN MY HEART. AND THIS IS BRAHMAN. AND WITH HIM SHALL I BE UNITED ON DEPARTING FROM HERE. HE WHO HAS THIS FAITH WILL HAVE NO MORE DOUBTS.”    (CHANDOOGYOPANISHAD)   VII (UP. III. 14 4)