Nirvana Satka of Adi Sankara, with an Explanation by Sri Swamiji part 3

[Guest guest]

for the prefaces and introductory explanations by the Editor of Bhaktimala

and by Sri Sadguru Sevak, who translated from Kannada into English, (part 1 and

2 ) see Dattavani group.

 

Now Sri Swamiji s Explanation of Adi Sankara's six verses on Liberation,

Nirvana Satka, commences:

 

(the explanations in round brackets belong to the text of the booklet itself)

 

[have added the 'footnotes' in angular brackets of terms I looked up in my

dictionary now or some time ago]

 

"NIRVAANA SATKA

 

These six stanzas are not to be lightly read and laid aside. These stanzas

are in fact

a pilgrimage to the light eternal. A beclouded mind cannot understand these

six stanzas.

The central teaching is Self Contemplation. This can be the easiest of all

tasks because you exist. The ultimate Truth is the Eternal, Natural and inherent

state. The 'I' (Self) is everpresent (Nityasiddha). People want to 'see' the

Self as something new and as one which is eternal. It is 'Being' but different

from the real and the unreal. It is knowledge, but different from knowledge

and ignorance; It is light but beyond light and darkness. How can it be defined

at all? It is simply Being, bereft of name, form and duality. It is Eternal

and remains the same all along. It is neither light nor darkness (Na Tejo na

Tamaha). They call it light because there is no other proper word for it. Then

the 'I' spontaneously manifests in full glory, unbroken and infinite. The

superficial Ego-thought is then a bubble in this Ocean, But, the bubble too is

water. What remains in the bubble is part of Ocean. Bubble is part and parcel of

Ocean. When we call it 'Jiva' [individual person, individual soul] then there

is 'Parama'.[brahman, the Divine Self, the Absolute]

Parama must be Jiva. Nay, Parama is Jiva in disguise.

The one infinite, unbroken, plenum becomes aware of itself and says -

'Sivoham'. [i am Siva]

Objects perceived by the senses are spoken of as immediate knowledge

(pratyaksha Jnaana).

But, the subject, Siva, is direct and can be experienced without the aid of

senses and objects. 'I' is the name, 'Siva' is another name. Emancipation,

redemption or call it liberation, is from the unwanted.

That is to remain aware of Siva (Self). 'Sivoham, Sivoham' - breathed the

disciple, after realising the all-shining, unitary, unbroken state of Being,

Knowledge and Bliss (Sat-Chit-Ananda), surrendered himself to the perfect Master

and humbly prayed to know how he could repay the Master s Grace. The Master

said:

'Do not slip away from It - that is the reward'. The disciple cried 'Sivoham'

Having experienced the Supreme Bliss, how can one stay away from it? But it

happens, The Vasanas (pre-dispositions adhering to the person from time

immemorial) will draw him out and ignorance can overtake him. Ignorance is 'I am

the

body' idea and the consequent thinking that the world of objects is real.

These vasanas are overcome by hearing the Truth and reflecting over and over

again, and sometimes just by Satsanga. The body and mind consciousness arise and

sink together every day and night. The limitations that are experienced are due

to

Upaadhis. [all relative qualities that are projected upon the Self, all names

and forms. Upaadhi is superimposed on the Self if one identifies with the

body, the intellect, the senses and ego and thus covers and veils/disguises the

Nature of the Self.]

But 'Sivoham' - I am Siva here and now. Siva must persist for ever. It ever

appears anew and disappears again as in waking, dream and deep sleep states.

The body appears and therefore the world appears in one state. The consciousness

was and is pre-existent and survives the body and mind. Then who is the

mischief maker? 'I am the body' idea, This wrong notion must go. Realisation is

not

acquisition of anything new, nor is it a new faculty. It is only removal of

camouflage. It is being in the pristine state.

 

This 'Satka' or the six-step-pilgrimage to Nirvana is a process of eschewing

the untruth and the unnecessary. A man shakes off his clothes and remains

alone. Likewise, just shake off the Ego and other superimpositions which make

you

Limited. Siva is unlimited and not at all confined to the body. Steady

devotion (Bhakthi), Purity of mind (Nishkalmashatva) or say, the competent

instructions of a perfect Master help in realising the Truth. Sometimes great

efforts

are necessary mainly due to Prarabdha Karma of previous births. [effects of

actions and thoughts from previous births that are reaped in the present birth].

Reflection over the Truth also helps. Sadguru Upaasana also helps to seek

this Truth.

[upaasana, 'to sit near', service, worship; meant is not only outward

worship, but a continuous stream of concentration towards God/Guru, even while

not

physically 'sitting near' one s Guru.]

Truth is ever Truth and unreal is ever unreal. The pure consciousness is

capable of illuminating both knowledge and ignorance. No name can be attributed

to

such a self-shining Being. All objectification is a transient process.Then,

the seeker gradually pursues the Truth by the process of rejection. As the

Smritis and Srutis propound, 'Not this, Not this' is the method.

[ this method is called: Neti, Neti; Smrtis: Vedic scriptures that are said

to have been written by men, like Manusmriti, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Puranas;

Shrutis: scriptures that are said to be eternal and 'uncreated' - a direct

Divine Revelation: the Vedas, their eternal, sacred sound was heard by the

Rishis, the Upanishads etc]

The unnecessary is rejected leaving the Self (Siva) as ever before. God and

Guru are the same. Siva and Guru are the same. Siva' s grace begins to manifest

in and through the Guru.

 

You know how you come to the perfect Master, Guru? A person begins his life

with dissatisfaction. Not content with what the world can offer, he seeks

satisfaction of his desires (ishtaartha) by prayers to Lord Siva, Sakthi,

Subramanya, Ganesha etc.

By this, the mind is purified; he longs to know Siva more, more than to

satisfy his carnal desires. Siva then takes the form of a Guru and teaches the

Truth. The disciples should be ripe for the instruction. The mind gains

strength.

The Guru (perfect Master) is both external and internal. Guru helps the mind

to achieve NIRVANA which is GRACE.

Why are we not satisfied? Yes, until the Truth is known there will be

dissatisfaction.

Jnani [self-realised person, knower of the Self] has the satisfaction and

Ajnani [ignorant person] does not have. How do you differentiate between a Jnani

and a Ajnani? Both Jnani and Ajnani have body idea. But Jnani knows that he is

NOT the body. A Jnani has transcended the mind. His activity is only apparant

and lasts as long as the mind is.

There are no vasanas in a Jnani's mind. It is like the remains of a burnt-out

rope.

[vasanas: desires, tendencies, impulses, lines of thought that have been

created over a long period of time, and stored over several births in case of a

Ajnani]

Jnani's mind being barren, it cannot contain seeds of Karma. Even though he

acts, he is actionless. He is not aware of the body as being apart from the

Self (Siva).

Then how can there be Mukti (liberation) for him? He is beyond duality,

beyond both bondage and liberation. He is 'Samskararahita'.

[without Samskara]

Samskara is acquired-knowledge and is kept in stock since many births.

Samskara manifests under favourable circumstances. Those with strong Samskara

understand Swamiji and those with weak, do not. That is all. Japa, Tapa, Niyama

Pranaayama, Dhyana- all are necessary for you now. Do not say 'no' to any of

them. Upaasana and Dhyana [meditation] are possible so long as there is mind.

They cease with the cessation of mind.

They are of course, preliminaries for the eradication of thoughts and

duality.

They all lead to the desired state of inaction.

 

Tell us, how the vision of Siva comes? Somebody asked Swamiji. 'You speak of

vision of Siva'. Vision is always of an object. When there is an object, there

must be a subject.

The value of the vision is the same as that of the seer. [relative, limited,

unreal]

But Siva is Eternal; Siva is that which lies behind sight and buddhi

[buddhi: discrimination, intelligence, intuition]. Siva is the consciousness

underlying the seer.

The seer cannot deny the existence of the Self. There is not a moment when

Siva Consciousness does not exist; nor can the seer remain apart from Siva

Consciousness at any time. The seer cannot see himself. Does he deny then, his

existence, because he cannot see himself? Nothing can be without Siva.

Surrender

to Him and abide by His will and do as He pleases. Leave everything and

unburden yourself. You have no longer any care. That is surrender, true

surrender.

That is Bhakti. Siva then is the background

underlying the subject and object. Siva is repose and Siva is action.

 

We do bhajans, namasankeertana and the rest. But we have hardly come across a

person who says he has seen Siva. One cannot see Siva and yet retain

individuality. The seer and the seen unite into one Being. There is no cognisor

or

cognition or the cognised.

All merge into Supreme Siva only.

What is Reflection or Vichara? - Where did I come from?

Where do I go? I was not before, now I am, I shall not be in future. I did

know that I existed in

Susupti (deep sleep); but I woke up from sleep and the world appeared for me.

Did the world say to me that it exists, and can it exist without me? Did

dream come to me from outside or was it in me? Even in sleep I should have

existed

and even now I exist.

Reflection presupposes a purified mind. The disciple should not be attached

to the attire and the outward personality of the Guru. Seek his company by all

means. Without Vichara

Mathana (reflection and churning of ideas) Guru would not help you.

Spiritual growth, no doubt, is greatly dependant on suitable association.

(Satsang).

Company of saints is therefore held to be essential for a seeker of Truth.

The seeker must draw inspiration and guidance and get himself thoroughly

awakened to the consciousness of the indwelling Reality. Guru drives you in to

that extent. Continued dwelling under the shade of saints may make sceptics and

scoffers, too, if, the seekers fail to develop strength and stature under the

guidance of the saint. If a person is merely attached to the outward

personality of a Guru and spends all his days in close association with him,

even then,

the initiative for a free expression of the seeker's unique spiritual

possibility is stifled, if he fails to cultivate the fundamental qualities of

endurance, fearlessness and self-dependance. Struggle and grow by your own

strength.

Learn what surrender is. By your own endeavor, seek the Self (Siva). It must be

admitted that greatness

and efficacy of the company of God-realised souls help a lot. Then there is

rapid evolution towards Siva. Satsang is an invaluable aid for

Sadhana.[spiritual practice] Reflection is a must. It is a

Sine-qua-non of Sadhana.~~~~~

 

to be continued JGD