What is Bondage-6 (and concluding)

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Sai Ram Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

All our sorrows of samsar arise out of the confusion between the Atma and anatma, the Self and the not-self. In order to end these sorrows, this confusion has to be ended. This confusion is called " bondage " . How can one cut this bondage? Can one destroy and end it?

Weapons of destruction are of two types:-

1. When it leaves the hand of the wielder, then whether it strikes or not, it never comes back like arrows, bullets etc. and

2.When it leaves the hand of the wielder , it strikes the target and returns, just like the guided missiles of modern warfare.

The first type of weapons are called astra and the latter is known as shastra. These are the two types of weapons of destruction with which the whole world can be destroyed. But confusion of the ATMA with anatma ---the idea that " I am the body " , can not be destroyed by either of these types of weapons. Wind and fire are natur`s powers of annihiliation. Wind destroys things by drying up. Fire detroys them by burning them. The conviction that " I am the body " , this ignorance, can neither be dried up nor can it be burnt down.

 

 

Habits, or even some of the imbecilities can be changed by acting contrary to them. Activity is an instrument with which human beings can put an end to habits, tendencies, urges etc. but ignorance can not be ended even by millions of activities, because ignorance is the very cause for all activities.

Avidya (ignorance) can not be ended by any known scientific instrument of annihiliation, nor by any of nature1s rupturing reactions resulting in destruction, nor by millions of activities, noble or ignoble.

 

 

Mere erudition is not sufficient, At best it can puncture ignorance- but it can not cut it down. Thus the non-apprehension can be ended only by the sword of discrimination as Lord Krishna says, in the Gita

(Asanga sastrens dhrudena chitva) and this results in the first-hand experience of the pure Self(Atma). This sword has to be sharpened by cleansing of the inner instruments---the mind and intellect

(Anthahkarana). This purification can be done by reducing the vasanas , by which agitations of the mind are reduced. Quieter the mind, the greater is the contemplattive power in man. And a developed power of contemplation makes man`s discrimination sharper. With this sharpened sword alone can the bondage be finally removed.

 

(to be concluded)

With Loving SAI RAMs,

G.Balasubramanian