SOME THOUGHTS ON ATMA--107

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Loving SAI RAMs,

(Continued from posting no.106)

The Sruti tells us, " Realise that to be Brahman having seen which there is nothing else to be seen, having becoming which there is no rebirth and having known which there is nothing else to be known. " Self-realization is the highest experience and there is nothing beyond it. This statement of the Sruti is in some respects comparable to the following statement viz., a particular master`s course in some university is not only the highest that one could obtain but there is no other master`s course anywhere else in the world which is higher than that.

On realizing the Atma one reaches the highest experience. On realization of Brahman one gains the Pure Absolute Knowledge-- the culmination of all knowledge. Realisation of

Brahman marks the destruction of the three bodies viz., gross, subtle and causal and consequent destruction of all vasanas and consequent cessation of further reincarnation.

 

Incidentally,the Bhagavad Gita declares, " the God is Knowledge itself worth knowing and worth attaining through real wisdom and is particularly seated in the heart of all " (Gyanam Gyeyam Gyanagamyam Hridi Sarvasya Vishtitam).

Knowledge denotes the essential nature of God ie., Brahman. The qualification Gyeya with reference to It is intended to reveal that the highest duty of man is to know God, the only entity worth knowing. He can be known by means of true wisdom acquired through the practises of virtues like'abscence of pride etc. which are conducive to knowledge . God can be known only by acquiring true wisdom through practice of the virtues mentioned in the scriptures. The highest to be known is called as

Mahagyeyam in the Narayana Sooktam.

 

Even at the cost of repetition it is worth stating that we experience Brahman on the destruction of our limiting equipment. That is the absolute State of Perfection beyond which there exists nothing . Since our mind is attached to the joys of the world, we can not conceive the infinite glory and bliss of

Brahman. In the next posting we will try to understand more about that all-pervading Reality.

(to be continued)

G.Balasubramanian