Guest guest Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Hari OmIn the previous posting we were discussing about Self-realization. We will continue to deliberate on that topic here. "I am verily that Supreme Brahman" is the thought that should pervade us if we are keen about self-realization. We are not talking about a mere intelligent understanding of the Mahavakya. One has to live according to the Mahavakyas. That I am the Immaculate Brahman different from all the perishable conditioning equipment is an understanding and realization which has to be lived. Atman is permanent and imperishable in contrast to the transient and perishable nature of this world. Just as the water drop playing on on a lotus petal has an extremely uncertain existence so also life is ever unstable. How ephemearal is the uncertain existence of the embodies is to be brooded upon. As Sankaracharya puts it in his famous Bhajagovindam --- "Nalinidalagatam jalam ati taralam tadvat jeevitham atisayam chapalam viddhi". The lotus grows in water, exists in water and is nurtured and nourished by water. Ultimately it perishes in water. The return of the trembling drop of water back to the waters of the lake is the culmination indicated by the Mahavakya--- Tat Twam Asi. Unless a Sadhak attitude pervades the entire life of a human being self-realization is a far cry. The one constant factor that should pervade us is that our hearts are pursuing the Truth and that we are seeking the pure and deathless Self in and through all the experiences. The infinite alone is happiness and the infinite alone should be sought after, says the Chandogya Upanishad ( Bhumaiva Sukham Bhumaatmeva Vigjaasithavyam). Swamy Vivekananda says, consciousness is bound by the senses. Without extraordinary intelligence and discrimination it is not possible to overcome the identification of the Self with the body. Man should realise by proper discrimination that he is not the body, not a mere bundle of sensations, thoughts and emotions but that he is Divine. Such a knowledge does not come to us easily. It calls for penetrating discrimination for which penetrating intelligence and great moral courage is required. " The wise men after separating the Atman from the sense functions, rise out of sense-life and attain immortality through Self-Realization" says the Kenopanishad ( Dheerah atim uchya pretya asmat lokath Amruta bhavanti) . An uninitiated individual wrongly identifies the Atma with the body and senses. We need to give up the delusory misconception,"I am the body". " Dehoham matih tyajataam' says Sankaracharya in his Sadhna Panchkam. Incidentally, the body is only an efficient tool to serve others. Paropakaartaaya Idam Sareeram--- as Swamy points out often. Thus the dull-witted man thinks he is the body. The book-minded man identifies himself with a mixture of body and soul. But the intelligent one possessed of discrimination looks upon the eternal Atma as his Self and thinks I am Brahman-the Self of all. "Brahmaham Ityeva Matih Sadatmani" as Acharya Sankara says in his Vivekachoodamani. In short, to spend the entire lifetime in sheer body care and worship is stupidity. For, if body be the alter of worship, it may not remain permenently there as the days of and old age are not far away even for to-day`s young bodies. To live in the body, for the body is the cult of Rakshasas--- the Virochana cult. Incidentally, the animal body has some value when it is alive and dead; a human body once dead has only a nuisance value even assuming its vital organs like eyes, etc. have been donated. No doubt, body has to be looked after, but always with a firm and steady understanding that this is only an instrument which may not remain for ever. Nor will it serve with the same efficiency at all times. It will perish. The visible body is not the whole reality. Behind the apparent body exists an entity called Atma, which is unseen, but ever active, master of the house, the possessor of the body. The main obstacle in the path of the man striving for the higher life is the identification of oneself with the body. " You are not the body. You are the Pure Atma. Find it within yourself", says Vedanta. (to be continued) G.Balasubramanian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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