Hari OM
'Text-days' are for delving into the
words and theory of Advaita Vedanta.
We are now studying Aatmabodha. As
always, with each week, you are encouraged to review the previous teachings and
spend some time in contemplation of the meanings as the affect your life.
Please do consider purchasing the text. Remember, also, to recite the mangala charana before each study and
review the lessons before each new one.
The
shloka last week was said to be 'shravanam', an instruction given out by the
Guru, that the shishya is expected to listen attentively too. By taking in the
essence of the teaching in that given instruction, the student must attend to
further study and consideration of the subject. This is 'mananam' -
contemplation.
degaNyTvaÚ
me jNmjrakaZyRlyady>,
zBdaidiv[yE>
s'gae inirNÔytya n c.32.
Dehaanyatvaanna
me janma-jaraakaarshyala-yaadayaH,
shabdaadivinayaiH
sango nirindrayatayaa na cha ||32||
I am other than the body and so I am free from the
changes such as birth, aging, senility, death and so on. I have nothing to do
with the sense objects such as sound and taste, for I am without these sense
organs.
The
shishya has been learning that everything which can be perceived, including his
or her own thoughts, are external to the True Self, our natural state of being.
Through the teaching thus far it has been established that there is an eternal
'substratum' upon which all else is placed. In the preceding shloka, the Guru
asked of the student to pay attention to what had been taught and get serious
in saadhana and begin to apply the theory in practice. Therefore,
in this shloka, we 'hear' the shishya beginning the process. REMEMBER - YOU ARE THE 'SHISHYA! Don't just read and
close; make it real.
Yes
indeed, and here we are given the biggest clue as to how to begin the negation
of the pluralistic existence. We can only undertake this level of contemplation
if we have worked our way steadily through all the novice training, asked our
questions, cleared our doubts and so forth. It is not that all doubts will be
gone, but certainly any which remain will be very much more specific to
Vedantic enquiry. All extraneous, mundane, worldly 'interferences' will have
been largely removed by the time we are ready for this advanced level of
thinking upon the Pure Self. Our questions will have moved from general 'faqs'
to dedicated and pertinent inquiry.
As
you sit in your next period of contemplation, you are to consider the points
given above, from your own perspective. Being in Sanskrit, the lot is given at
once, as well us giving the impression this can all be done at once. Not the
case. Whilst the text must necessarily flow onwards and keep piling up the
activity (as you will see), the actual practice is a much slower process and
requires that each part falls into place before moving on to the next. The mind
can certainly entertain the lot in one go, but the intellect and - most
importantly - the spirit require much deeper analysis and inculcation.
Therefore,
for practical saadhana, start with the physical level "I am not this
body". Keep on keeping on in daily contemplation until there is a point
where, even if it is only for a few seconds initially, there is a suspension of
body-awareness. Don't get over-excited,
keep at the practice, but now, when those moments come more readily and for
longer periods of time, it is possible to move into the slightly more esoteric
contemplation, that as the body is not 'me', neither can the changes which are
wrought upon the physical being be 'me'. Keep on keeping on with this
contemplation until such time as it makes sense and is fully accepted by your
whole individual self. Then the next step, separation of that individual self
with the experiences which come from the physical. This is the suggestion - nay, the instruction
- which has been given to us and which we must carry out if we are seriuos
seekers of Self Realisation.
SAADHANA
Are
you ready? Begin!
