ADVENTURES IN ADVAITA VEDANTA...

Adventures in Advaita Vedanta, the philosophy and science of spirit. We are one you and I; are you curious why?..


Heart of the Matter

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.

Two verses today, before we get to the final one of this text. There is a sense, in these, of the teacher summarising for the student.
 
ïv[aidi_aéÎIPt }anaiGnpirtaipt>,
jIv> svRmlaNmu´> Sv[Rv*aette Svym!.66.
ùdakazaeidtae ýaTma baex_aanuStmaepùt!,
svRVyapI svRxarI _aait _aasyte=iolm!.67.
Shravanaadibhiruddiipta jnaanaagniparitpaapitaH,
jiivaH sarvamalaanmuktaH svarnavaddyotate svayam ||66||
hRdaakaashodito hyaatmaa bodhabhaanustamopahRt,
Sarvavyaapii sarvadhaarii bhaati bhaasayate-khilam ||67||
The jiiva, on being heated in the fire of Knowledge kindled by listening to the scriptures and so on, becomes free from impurities and shines by itself like gold.
The Aatman, the sun of Knowledge that rises in the heart, destroys the darkness of ignorance, pervades and sustains all, shines by Itself and also makes everything shine.

Having provided, throughout this teaching, many examples and comparisons to the student, the teacher now very succinctly states that in order to have a hope of even glimpsing the Glory of Aatman, one must first listen attentively to Truth which emanates from the scriptures as taught by the teacher (this of course refers to the oral tradition of Sanskrit, but today we have many methods of 'shravanam' open to us); next it is necessary to take away all the rote knowledge and churn it within oneself (mananam) in order to bring out any doubts or questions and then return to the teacher to discuss and clarify; then thirdly, armed with better understanding, sit in contemplation (nididhyaasana), going ever deeper into the Self inquiry.

This requires discipline. If one can exercise this discipline upon oneself, though, the reward is to make The Knowledge of Self one's own, watch one's ego drop away and find a level of beingness matched by no other. This is the 'gold ore' of the wise. Gold is used in the context of this verse because, in fact, when the ore comes from the ground it needs to be boiled and washed and polished before its true beauty and lustre emerge.

In that heart alone, where there is ethical purity and moral goodness, can spiritual unfoldment take place, culminating in the Experience Divine, a union with Aatman, which is the very Light of All. No darkness can remain once the sun rises!