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
a description of the Realised one given, the Guru now goes on to impress upon
the shishya the imperative verses of saadhana. These following shlokas, then,
might look all the same and could be given as a whole; but each is phrased
differently to bring out the emphasis and to give the student something to
fully meditate upon; therefore they will be given singly. The notes may be
short, but the contemplation is a lifetime's work!
y‘a_aaÚaprae
la_aae yTmuoaÚapr< suom!,
yJ}anaÚapr<
}an< td!äüeTyvxaryet!.54.
Yallaabhaannaaparo
laabho yat-sukhaanna-aparam sukham,
Yajjnaanaannaaparam
jnaanam tad-brahmetya-vadhaarayet ||54||
Realise that to be Brahman, the attainment of which
leaves nothing more to be attained, the blessednesss of which leaves no other
blessing to be desired and the Knowledge of which leaves no more to be known.
The method of presentation here (and for the next two
shlokas) is called tqzw
l][ /taThashtha lakshana.
Lakshana is the 'inner meaning' and taThashtha is akin to saying 'that is the
place', it is a pointing-out; for example if we'd asked where is Datta's place
the answer might come, "that house there, the one with the crow perched on
it - that is the house". The crow is of course not always there - it is
there now though and helps in giving the directions in that none of the other
houses have that crow on them at the moment. Even if it moves to another house,
we will now have identified the place we are heading for and thus firmed up our
direction.
This
is an important technical point for students of Vedanta. TaThashta lakshana is
used quite a lot in order to keep the focus and to assist in ascertaining when
one's own contemplations and cogitations are well-directed or, perhaps have
missed the mark.
Here,
then, we have the Supreme Experience explained as the greatest Knowledge,
which, having obtained it, one can no more feel any sense of incompleteness. It
is the pinnacle of understanding of 'life, the universe and everything' and
whilst all other knowledges in the world are good things of themselves, having
gained this ultimate Knowledge, there is found to be no more requirement of
seeking knowledge. A blissful state indeed.
Our
constant striving to gain more learning, to acquire more status and possess
more things is driven by the sense that we neve have enough; enough knowledge,
enough funding, enough security and so on. There is a constant dissatisfaction
and desire for more. This is the life we must lead in our current state of
imperfection; it belongs to the jiiva, the individualised ego-self. When the
jiiva rediscovers Itself to be the One Self Alone, all imperfections felt till
now are understood. They are now seen in the context of the destiny of the BMI
matter envelopments and cannot soil the Perfected One.
That
which, when it becomes our experience, causes there to be the sense of
endless completion and fulfilment of life; that is the Supreme Goal.
