Hari OM
'Text-days' are for delving into the
words and theory of Advaita Vedanta.
We have completed the three
foundation texts of the philosophy. First there was the Sadhana
Panchakam, which was a summary of how a seeker is to approach daily
practice and how it is expected to progress. Second we had Tattva-bodaH, which
provided the terms and definitions which are used in the philosophy. Thirdly,
we have just seen Aatmabodha, which develops and summarises the philosophical
concepts of Advaita Vedanta.
Technique, language and purpose.
These texts have been supported on Workings-days with additional
texts such as Kindle Life, Vedanta in Management, Gayatri Mantra and Narada
Bhakti Sutra. These all expand on facets of faith and worship and the
application of advaitic philosophy, the making of the Knowledge into something
practical.
There are so many more texts to research… but simply to read them
means nothing. All of Sanskrit literature has a deep purpose and to not prepare
oneself adequately to mine the depths of that purpose is to waste one's time
and energy. Out in the 'flesh world', away from this anonymous medium of the
internet, if you had happened upon a class with the teacher sitting before you,
you would actually have found yourself much more engaged, much more committed;
you would have been getting much more Q&A and the teacher would be able to
assess how ready you are for each 'next text'. Here at Aatmaavrajanam, you are
now asked to think deeply on your position in relation to what you have been
reading.
The next scriptural texts are of a higher level again and really
require a much more 'give and take' setup; some thought is being given as to how
to proceed here. In the meantime, for the next few weeks on Text-days, we will peruse a publication
(available only from India) in which questions were asked of Gurudev in regard
to ethics and morality. Vedanta is a philosophy, it is here to guide us through
the minefield of life and to provide us a structure upon which to build our
personality. It is also there to help us properly assess the purpose of life,
to give it meaning and depth and value. These next few weeks,
"listen" to the Guru, cogitate deeply upon the effect of His answers,
meditate upon the relevance to your own living.
Let us today simply read the introductory quote of Gurudev.
"Earth is round. Earth moves. This is not seen but is true.
Sky is blue, sunset is golden… seen, but false.
Energy is in the atom, vitality in the sun and gravity is a force.
Not seen, but true.
Double moon, mirage waters, dream and hallucination; seen, but
false.
World we see, but it is not true. Truth (Brahman/Consciousness) we
do not see, but it is True.
No action is absolutely good or absolutely bad. Action itself is in
a relative world, not in the absolute. Action is a relative manifestation of
Reality. In rational thinking, you are judging the thing happening today with
reference to your entire past experience, which is recorded memory. With
reference to that, we try to judge the present. The more you compromise with
it, the more the conscience is ill at ease."
