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.
With
the previous shloka, there as an attempt at explaining the existence of Pure,
Unconditioned Consciousness within a conditioned form, that is to say, within
the jiivanmukta. The nature of this "PUC" is to have a human being
who is unattached and indifferent to the world;
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Upaadhi-stho-pi
taddhar-maira-lipto vyomavanmuniH,
Sarvavin-muuDhavat-tishthed-asakto
vaayu-vach-charet ||52||
Though he lives in the conditionings, just as the
space, the contemplative one may remain like a fool, ever unconcerned with
anything - or he may move about like the wind, totally unattached.
The
perfected personality is one who has renounced all his clinging attachments to
the finite objects. The mind has a tendency to hold on to something or the
other, and what is the alternative offered here? It is the constant Bliss in
him.
What
happens, though, is that at times he appears to be associated with the world.
How to reconcile this? Even though he may be outwardly cognising and appearing
to be aware of their physical existence, we are assured that these upaadhis
(BMI) no longer bind the soul to them, for true freedom has been won. As an
illumined person, s/he has learnt to live constantly in that Knowledge of Self
and the conditionings have no weight to pull them down.
This
can lead to such a personality appearing, to those of us who remain mere
ego-bound jiivas, eccentric, even insane; certainly aloof. They may move about
like a devil, a child or as if drunk. Be assured, the only 'intoxication' is
the Bliss of Realisation!
This
does not always have to be the case. Some will still operate within their
communities but will not feel the bindings of obligation or get caught up in
the minutiae of living. Their day to day operations will be untainted by ego
and everything will be dealt with in a manner unlike any other. Even if they
are not in a direct teaching role in their current incarnation, they will still
set an example of what is the best of service. They do not look for accolade or
any of the other accrual of human life. Once the work day is ended, they will
re-enter their samaadhi contemplation and cannot be pinned down - they will
move about as freely as any breeze.
The
reference to space is to make us think. Space has absolutely no boundaries. We
can look at the room in which we sit and call this the lounge space; or the
place where we cook as the kitchen space and so on. We in our limited state
place walls and fences and name the 'spaces'. However, space itself has no
concept of being labelled, of having compartments or divisions or multiplicity.
Quite simply, space has none of these things. When the walls and fences and
names are removed, space remains space and revolves around itself only ever as
space. This is the condition of the Realised Master who now resides in the
Self, which knows now containers, boundaries or names.
