Guest guest Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 ----- Forwarded Message ----G Balasubramanian <gbsubviprasamhitha (AT) googl (DOT) comSent: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 10:15:14 AMSOME THOUGHTS ON ATMA--5 The Katopanishad declares that the Atman being hidden in all beings is not manifest to all but can be realized by all who are accustomed to inquire into subtle truths by means of their sharp and subtle intellect. In other words, Atman is unknown to him whose intellect is not refined (Asamskrita Buddheh Avigneyam). as Sankaracharya puts it. Atman is the witness of all the pulsations of the Budhhi, which is the highest product of evolution. A pure Intellect is closet to Brahman( Nedishtam Brahma). What the senses fail to achieve viz., Realization of the Atman is achieved by the Buddhi. Atman is the very centre of the Buddhi, where it becomes self-revealed. Even at the cost of repetition it may be pointed out that Intellect here does not refer to the sense-bound equipment possessed by each one of us but a Buddhi that has the light of Atman playing upon it, that embraces the totality of of experiences and that takes into account the data of the states of waking, dream and dreamless sleep. Atman is distinct from the body, sense organs, mind,intellect and our Vasanas . Nevertheless, it is a witness of their functions like a king . Atman is called Panchakosaatheetha ie., it transcends all the five sheaths which are created by the identification of the Atman with Gross Body etc. Atma is the substratum from which all activities emanate either in the form of subtle manifestations as thoughts and desires within or gross expressions as perceptions and actions in the external world. The Katopanishad puts it this way: " Just as one fire having reached various wicks expresses itself as different flames, so also the one Truth(Atma) burning different bosoms ( Sarvabhutaantaratma) expresses as the good, the bad, the wretched, the noble etc." Though it is the activating principle, Atman remains ever detached and and independent of all activities. It is a mere witness( Sakshi) . It is never involved in any of the activities. In its prescence every being bristles into activity just as everybody becomes alert and active at the sight of Swamy in Puttaparthy. It has no activity of its own. Swamy activates all his devotees and students but Himself remains a detached observer of them. (to be continued) G.Balasubramanian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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