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!