ATMA BODHA 59

 

ATMA BODHA 59

“TAD-YUKTAM-AKHIAM VASTU VYAVAHARA-TADAQNVITAH

TASMAD- SARVAGATAM BRAHMA KSHIRA-SARPIRI-EVA AKHILE.”

BRAHMA PERVADES ALL OBJECTS. ALL ACTIONS ARE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF BRAHMAN. HENCE BRAHMAN PERMEATES EVERYTHING LIKE BUTTER PERMEATES MILK.”

Brahman is the substratum of everything in the world. It is Real and all other things are false. “Brahma Satyam Jagan mithya” declare the Upanishads. Nothing can escape the touch of Brahman as it is all pervading in nature. Brahman is the illuminator of all actions and thoughts within the body or without in the outside world. Without the grace of Brahman the sense organs in the body are mere holes on the flesh. The outer  world of objects are also gross and inert without any symptom of life. Thus Brahman is the all permeating  life giving fire of existence that flows through them all.

Sankara gives a beautiful example. Butter is already an ingredient and permeates milk though it is invisible for the naked eye. W e cannot see butter directly in the milk. Similarly Brahman remains invisible while IT is the substratum of every object in the universe. How do we get butter? It is through churning milk that we can extract butter.

Likewise, ATMAN can be separated  from the world of names and forms by serious and intense meditation. When Brahman is realized and experienced the plurality of world is no more.  Butter has no more milk in it!!

KENOPANISHAD brilliantly explains what Sankara has said in this stanza.  All the sense organs are mute and helpless contraptions on the body without the Atman that breathes life into them!

 

“That which is not seen by the eye, but hat 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 Brahman, and not what people worship here.” 

KENOPANISHAD   I (Up. 1.) 7, 8, 9