ADI SANKARA,S ATMA BODHA

 

                                                           ATMA BODHA OF SRI ADI  SANKARA

 

Adi  Sankara  is one of the greatest of ancient philosophers and poets. It is he that established the  Adwaita School of philosophy. He propagated the thought of the Vedas and the Upanishads that there is only the Brahman and nothing else. All other Gods with names and forms are but the manifestations of the Brahman. He is also called “ Shanmata sthapanacharya” ie one who brought the six paths of worship. He showed the people the way to worship the Gods Surya ( Sauram), Ganesha (Ganapatyam), Sakthi ( Saktam),  Vishnu (Vaishnavam), Siva (Saivam) and  Kumaraswami ( Kaumaram). Though he was the champion of Adwaita or non dualism, he composed numerous stotras  on  these deities to inculcate devotion among people. Apart from these, Sankara’s commentaries on our spiritual texts are famous. His ‘Bhajagovindam ‘ ‘Kanaka dhara Stotram,’ are very popular among the common people. His magnum opus “ SOUNDARYA LAHARI” is a classical poetic extravaganza  wherein he pours out his deep devotion to the Universal Mother Kameswari! At a later stage, Sankara embarked on introducing the theme of Vedanta to the young spiritual aspirants. One such attempt is his work on ATMA BODHA!

The thought content of ATMA BODHA is fully drawn from the Upanishads. These Upanishadic  ideas are “strung together  on the chord of his poetry, interspersed with his exquisite similes. This wonderful garland so offered by Sankara to adorn Mother Sruti is ATMA BODHA! Says Swami  Chinmayananda. It is a pity that modern man is totally drowned in the sea of Samsara or family life. His attachment to his wife, children, property and other illusory things drags him  down . He is incapable of thinking  about anything else. Under the influence of Maya he considers the real as unreal and the unreal as real. He is unable to devote any time to contemplate on ATMA or SOUL.  Is it not important for man to know why he is born on this earth and what is expected of him during his mortal existence? Is there no difference between him and the animals that eat, reproduce and die? Should he not, for a while, reflect on the purpose of his life which is temporary and likely to end sooner or later?

 Unfortunately, man thinks that he is the body!  Greatest importance is given to the body and its various activities!  He is unmindful of the ATMA or the Soul that is embedded in the innermost recess of heart. This Atma is responsible for all the actions of the body and its organs! It is the root cause of ‘ chaitanya’ or awareness  of the body. ATMA is the indweller of every creature in the universe and it is a grave mistake not to know its significance in human life.  Sankara offers this Knowledge of the Atma through his ATMA BODHA. When you say “ it is my hand” you are separate and your hand is separate! You are not the hand.  But the hand is yours. This ‘MY’ is the ATMA which is your true nature. Atma is formless, nameless, colorless, and odorless. It is indestructible, eternal.  But the body has a form, name, color, smell .It is temporary and destined to die! The Lord, in the Bhagavadgita, explains to doubting Arjuna, the cardinal difference between the body and the ATMA. After this revelation, Arjuna  readies  himself to fight and kill the Kauravas on the battlefield of Kurukshetra!

ATMA BODHA is the panacea for all the modern ills of society! The sorrows and troubles that man experiences, caught in the inextricable web of birth and death ,  can be mitigated and removed through the Knowledge of the Real Nature of ATMA. But, it is a pity and a tragedy that no real attempt is made by most of the generation. But it is not an easy task. It requires “Scientific  detachment, honest observation, logical conclusion,  and heroic decision  to overcome the trials and tribulations of life.

ATMA BODHA is a blend of sixty eight stanzas full of suggestions!  Every stanza  has a picturesque and striking  simile that tests your thinking. The examples are  like ‘hammer strokes that  nail the elusive  Vedantic  ideals’  on the spiritual student  novices. The examples are pregnant with suggestions and it is no wonder that to contemplate upon them is, in itself,  a profitable meditation for the aspirants!

MOKSHA OR EMANCIPATION

 

Every individual born on earth is expected to achieve Four important things in life. They are called the “PURUSHARTHAS.” They are 1 Dharma or righteousness 2 Artha or earning wealth 3 Kama or Desire and finally 4 Moksha  or Emancipation. In fact that is the basis for the life of man on earthI . it is also the purpose for which man is born. Man is expected to lead a life of Dharma or righteousness laid down by the Vedas and other scriptures. He should do things prescribed by the Vedas and avoid those prohibited. Artha means money. It is impossible to live without Money and one has to earn money for his livelihood. Sikshavalli  of Taittiriya Upanishad ordains, “ Satyam vada, Dharmam chara, swadhyayaan pramadaha,  Achaaryapriyam dhanamahrutya..”---Speak the Truth always; Follow Dharma; Do not neglect reading the Vedas; Lead a Vedic life following the path of Satya and Dharma. In other words, all earnings should be in accordance with Satya and Dharma.  

Kama means Desire or Wish.  For every aspect of life Dharma should be the basis. Money has to be earned in a righteous manner, not in devious ways. Similarly all desires must be satisfied according to the rules laid down in Dharma. In fact desires are too many and man is never satiated when a desire is fulfilled. One desire leads to another and there is no end for it! Man in this world is the victim of multiple unquenched desires! His craving has no end at all He is ready to go to any extent to satisfy his desires! This attitude leads to his ultimate doom. But a desire according to Dharma shall surely satisfy him and  lead  to progress. So man has to follow the path of Dharma, earn his wealth through the principles of righteousness, and at the same time satisfy his desires according to the tenets of Dharma! Any deviation from the path of Dharma is taboo and looked down upon

The last and final aspect of Man’s life on earth is Moksha or emancipation or salvation. Many definitions are prevalent on it. It is believed that Moksha  is a state obtained after death! It is also said that Moksha is a state of supreme bliss unperturbed by any mundane disturbances and troubles. It is all imagination and we do not have any evidence to know what it is! None has come down to earth to explain what Moksha  is after enjoying it! People believe that a good person, pious and religious, devoted to God and one who serves humanity selflessly shall surely attain Moksha or salvation. Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Saibaba  gives a wonderful definition for the word Moksha! “ Moha kshaya is Moksha, ie  giving up attachment is liberation. When you gradually reduce attachment, that itself leads you to liberation

Most of us are unfit to attain Moksha because we are unable to achieve Moha Kshaya or reduce our attachments! From the child’s birth attachments add on to it. Even as it grows up these attachments increase in leaps and bounds. Involved in his material existence, man increases his burden of attachments and finds it extremely difficult to get rid of it! He is immersed in the inextricable cycle of Samsara or family life. His attachment to his wife, children, kith and kin, property weigh him down  and there is absolutely no chance for him to think of anything else, leave alone Moksha! Under the illusion of Maya he thinks that he is right while it is not so! As long as this “ mamakara” or attachment persists there is no chance of obtaining Moksha  or emancipation. One of the Azwars describes samsara or family life as a great ocean.  Desire is the waters of the ocean!  The wind of love and lust has roused the waves in the ocean! Wife is the moat! Sons are the alligators ready to swallow! Samsara is a great Ocean “ mahati  jaladhau”!  O Lord! Grant me the boat of Bhakthi to cross it”

Does it mean that Man can never attain Moksha because he is drowned in the sea of Samsara?  No! The majority of people in the world are involved in their material existence and are not bothered about moksha or salvation. But here and there, a class of rare men spring up with amazing qualities of non attachment, devotion, piety, determination, and commitment for selfless service to humanity!  A child Dhruva who left everything for the vision of Lord Vishnu, child Prahlada the ardent devotee of Sri Hari and the son of the inveterate enemy of Vishnu are perfect examples of pure non attachment or Vairagya!  There are many more illustrious people like the sage Valmiki who from being a robber,  transformed himself into the Adi Kavi of the Ramayana!  In our own days we have the great Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, the epitome of Non attachment  and a model for selfless service to humanity! Saint Sri Thyagaraja is another example of one with family but who transcended all family responsibilities in his tapas on Sri Rama! There is absolutely no doubt that these eminent personalities have attained MOKSHA because of their Non attachment!!

 

                                                                     YOU YOURSELF ARE GOD

\         “ You yourself are God: There is no need  to search for Him anywhere” declares Bhagawan Sri Sri Sathya Saibaba. We are all very happy to think that we are God Himself. Outwardly it gives us great pleasure to think and imagine that we are equal to that indescribable entity called God. To compare ourselves to God who is formless and without attributes is very difficult. The God we know has many forms and names. God has wonderful powers. He is called the creator, protector and destroyer also. How can these qualities apply to us?  The Upanishads proclaim that Atma or Soul is the Brahman. “ ayamatma  Brahma”—This Atma is Brahman. Again the Upanishad confirms, “ Aham Brahmasmi”—I myself am Brahman. Being mortals as we are it is intriguing to think that we are God Himself! Then why does Swami declare that you yourself are God? In what way can we accept that we are God? We have to go a little deeper to understand the statement of Swami.

The very purpose of man on earth is to realize himself.  In other words he has to realize that he is not the body that is destroyed ultimately but the Atma or Soul that is eternal, indestructible and without attributes. The pity is that man identifies himself with the body rather than the soul. He is always concerned about his body but not the Atma embedded in the innermost recess of his heart. A simple logic establishes that the body and soul are different and separate. When you say” This is my hand”  hand  is separate and you are separate. You are not the hand. You are the owner of the hand. That owner is the Atma  or Soul that is the root cause of all action or ‘chaitanya’.  Arjuna is baffled on the battlefield of Kurukshetra  on  seeing his own kith and kin and mentors .He lays down his Gandiva and arrows and refuses to kill his own brothers and gurus! He does not want to enjoy the bloody meal.  He prefers sanyasa  to such a gory deed. It is then the Lord admonishes Arjuna and explains to him the nature of the Atma or Soul and the body. “ Naim chindantisastrani nainam dahati pavaka….” Atma cannot be wounded by arms or burnt by fire. It cannot be made wet or dried by air . It is indestructible, eternal as opposed to the transient and perishable body. Arjuna’ doubts vanish and he rises to do his Swadharma, the duty of a Kshatriya.

We are under the illusion that we are independent and act accordingly. Not a single act of ours is independent! Everything is dictated by the Atma or Soul that is present in everyone in the universe. Our Indtriyas do their activities egged on by the Atma  or Soul that is equated to the Brahman of the Upanishad. The Upanishad asserts  “ the eyes see not but That by which the eyes are made to see, know that as the Brahman. The ears hear not but That by which the ears are made to hear know that as the Brahman. We are all enveloped by Maya or illusion and it is impossible to get rid of it. Under its influence  we cosider the right as wrong and the wrong as right, The cycle of samsara has led man to a materialistic existence devoid of the thought of God.  He considers life on earth as permanent  forgetting that the frail body has to fall sooner or later. There is no time for him to think of God and the significance of the Atma in the body which is Brahman itself! The understanding should dawn upon man that he is not the body but a chip of the same block namely God Himself!

We must understand that the Atma or God  Or Soul in our body is the same in all the creatures in the universe. God is the cause of chaitanya or any form of activity. “ Ekah Paratma bahudehavarthi” say our sastras. Like the clay that forms into different pots and sizes, gold that forms into different jewels, and milk that is collected from different cows, the original object is the same. Atma is ONE but it resides in different bodies. We attach importance to the forms and bodies but not the Atma within! That is the root cause of all trouble. Atma  or God or Brahman has no form, color, name, or any attachment!  It is immortal, eternal! We are deeply attached to our families, kith and kin and property! That prevents us from realizing the Atma or God. The best way to realize  oneself is to detach yourself from these material bonds! But it is not very easy to achieve. Desires have to be curtailed. The effect of the inner adversaries or Arishadvargas has to be annulled or controlled to the maximum to come near god realization.

The company of sadhus and devotees will go a long way in developing the most important quality of Detachment. Compassion for all and service to the needy and the downtrodden is nothing but service to God who is in their hearts! Service to others helps in removing your ego or Ahankara! Over indulgence in family life should be avoided. Japa or repetition of God’s name or chanting shall help in concentration on God which shall surely lead to realization of God .The story of sage Valmiki, who transformed himself into “Adi Kavi” of the Ramayana is a classical example!  Let us, therefore, try to realize what we are and recognize the Divinity in us and improve it further for our own emancipation!!!!

ON DIVINITY

 What is Divinity and how to understand it? “ If you want to understand Divinity, you should have the firm faith that Divinity is everywhere. There is no place or object without Divinity.” declares Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai baba. In fact entire creation is the act of God and hence it is Divine. Man has Divinity in himself but rarely recognizes it! He is a combination of Divine and asuric impulses. As William Wordsworth says “ Like trailing clouds of glory do we come from God who is our home.” The spark of Divinity in man is encircled by various other sheaths or layers that make it impossible for him to realize! The formidable inner adversaries viz the “ Arishadvargas” like Kama, Krodha and others suppress  the inherent Divinity in man! Hence, to a very large extent, man becomes the slave of these passions and strays away from the path of divinity. He walks the path of materialism, the path of samsara, family life full of incessant troubles! There is not even an attempt to understand his own divinity or the divinity in the entire universe and objects. It is because of this lack of understanding that humanity is caught in the inextricable web difficulties and dangers! Thus man hates another man, hates another religion, language attacks another language ending up chaos and confusion!

The life principle in man, animal, beast, bird, and every other creature is one and the same! This  is otherwise called as the Soul or Atma. Every being in the universe is blessed with this life giving principle!  In spite of his knowledge and other qualifications, man refuses to recognize this essential principle in other beings and hence all differences and difficulties. When once we recognize this life principle or divinity in every  being and creature , we become one with all! Forms, appearances, qualities, feelings, emotions and many more things may differ but we belong to the same group of divinity! When we pay respects to elders we are respecting the divinity in them not because they are aged!  That is the spirit of respect. Our ancients offered their respects to hills and dales, streams and rivers, trees and shrubs, even birds and beasts recognizing specifically the principle of divinity in them! Modern civilized man is far from doing so! Rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Cauveri, Brahmaputra are considered as divine and worshipped! Snakes too are considered divine and worshipped! Nature with all its glory and variety is the manifestation of God and hence divine!

A single object can take many forms and names. Names and forms differ but the essential thing remains the same. Lost in these forms and names we forget the essential thing. “ Mruthpinda eko bahu bhanda rupaha suvarna mekam bahu bhushanani gokshiramekam bahudhenu jatam ekah Parathma bahudeha varthi” The clay is one and the  same but pots are many and of different forms! Gold is the same but ornaments are many and of different names and shapes! Cow's milk is one and the same but it is from many different cow’s! Similarly the Atma or the life giving principle or Soul is one and the same but it is manifest in every single creature in the universe!

Man is under the illusion that he is the body! He doesn’t recognize the eternal, indestructible Atma embedded in the innermost recess of his body! He attaches more importance to his body and its acts, neglects totally the significance of the Soul! That is because he is in the grip of Maya which makes things appear real which are actually unreal! Maya lures man into thinking that unreal things are real! It is the chief reason for man's non recognition of divinity in the other person or animal or other things! The very purpose of human birth is to realize himself! What does that mean? In short, he has to realize that that he is not the frail, transitory, destructible body but the eternal, indestructible, Atma! As such  divinity is present in every creature and being that has been created by gracious God!

Man has crossed all bounds of decency and behavior in hating others and creating difficulties for himself and others! He mercilessly kills others and murders without compassion! He butchers animals without any compunction and feeds himself with their flesh! He doesn’t leave birds and snakes but makes them his food regularly! He cuts off trees without understanding that they weep even as he cuts them! Man has become so selfish and materialistic that he tramples everything under his foot and destroys for the sake of his benefit! The world has become poorer because of man's non recognition of divinity in other creatures and things! It is of paramount importance that man should realize his own Self and also the spark of divinity in every other being, creature and things! Peace and happiness shall prevail in the world if only Man recognizes his own divinity and that of every other creatures and things!

ON SACRIFICE

 “ Take to the path of Sacrifice… Sacrifice is verily God.” declares Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai baba. Human existence is wound inextricably with sacrifice. It is impossible to live without sacrificing something for the other. The quality of Sacrifice is innate in every human being and even in animals. But many are not aware of this rare and precious quality. It is almost forgotten. Chances and opportunities for sacrifice do not present themselves in the lives of many individuals. As such the quality of sacrifice lies dormant and is totally neglected! Mother is the very embodiment of sacrifice. From the time of conceiving the child she sacrifices many things for the sake of her future baby! She bears the fetus in her womb for full nine months till it is delivered! She totally devotes her time, body, mind and everything for the wellbeing of the child growing in her womb! It is not an easy thing to conceive and bear a child! Sometimes it is a

 question of life and death for the mother! Her body, and mind changes and suffers to the maximum during the period of bearing the child! All these changes are borne by her in the hope that she would be bringing into the world a new, vibrant life, a son, a daughter, or a heir to her family! Though she blames her husband for making her life so painful, she is very happy at the sight of the new born and forgets all the misery and pain she has endured! She has taken the role of the Creator and brought forth  a new human being! Her happiness at this task of creation is more than a match for her patience, labor  and all other sufferings she has undergone! The statement of the Taittiriya Upanishad thus gains very great significance: “ Mathru Devo Bhava.” One who sacrifices everything for the sake of her child, no doubt, is equal to God the Creator! “ Like trailing clouds of glory do we come to God who is our home” says William Wordsworth!

We call Sacrifice “Thyaga” in Sanskrit language. Thyaga has to be done for a noble and lofty cause. Giving up certain common, ordinary things for other things cannot be called Thyaga. Preferring coffee to tea is never a sacrifice! Dedicating your heart and soul, energy and thought for an impersonal, universal benefit can be called real Thyaga or Sacrifice. How to attain immorttality being mortals that we are? The Upanishad declares very emphatically. Is it your deeds that can make you immortal?  Is it your people who can help you in making you immortal? Is it your riches and wealth that brings you immortality? All these thing can never turn a mortal into an immortal The Upanishad proclaims “ Na karmana na prajaya na dhanena thyage naikena amrutatwa masnusaha.” It is by sheer Tyaga that one attains immortality, not by one's deeds, people or riches! Civilizations have come and gone. Generations of people have dis appeared. We do not remember them all.They have died unhonoured, unwept and un sung! But in between we come across a being who makes a difference by his new flash of thought, and is ready to  die for the sake of his country and the wellbeing of humanity!! Actually he dies for others!  

 As Swami Vivekananda observes “He lives who lives for others!” That is called immortality. It is not necessary to live for a hundred or more years. It is impossible to live for long on this earth. Life is short. But within the short span of our life, we should conduct ourselves in such a way that we are remembered for ever and not eternally forgotten! In short, we should not be living dead but dead and living! That is immortality due to Tyaga or Sacrifice!

Indian History is full of persons who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the country from the clutches of British imperialism. The name of Mohandas Karam chand Gandhi should be inscribed in Golden letters. But for him India wouldn’t have secured freedom easily! He was a votary of truth. He had an iron will determination to free the country and worked day and night for the purpose! He sacrificed his barrister profession and plunged into politics! He led the freedom fighters from the front. He was jailed many a time and beaten and manhandled! But his imperturbability and perseverance as well as his indomitable will brought a bloodless revolution and made India free! His Satyagraha became the watchword for the liberation of India! Let us sacrifice our lives for the sake of the country or for any Nobel cause that may benefit the entire universe! Hi honey bunny