ADVENTURES IN ADVAITA VEDANTA...

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


Travail

Hari OM
Application - that is what 'Workings-days' are about!

The text under study is BHAJA GOVINDAM, song of despair of time-wasting, by Sri Adi Shankaraachaarya.

Continuing the lament of the Guru, he regales the listener…

idnyaimNyaE say< àat>
izizrvsNtaE punrayat>,
kal> ³Ifit gCDTyayu>
Tadip n muÂTyazavayu>.12.
Dinayaaminyae saayam praataH
Shishiravasantau punaraayaataH,
KaalaH kriidati gachcchatyaayuH
Tadap na munchatyaashaavaayuH ||12||
Day and night, dawn and dusk,
Winter and spring, again and again (come and go);
Time sport and life ebbs away,
And yet, one leaves not the gusts of desires.

The wheel of existence continues to turn, the months steadily glide along and the flood of time rolls up in waves the years, sweeping all before its relentlessness. Before we know it we are looking back and asking, 'where did it go?'

That which was future becomes present and, in a blink, becomes past. Man, gathering memories from his past, barricades his present and any vision of future is blurred by anxieties and anticipations and expectancies. We waste so much time manoeuvering and negotiating life versus time. We see the lesson taught well by Nitchketa (Kathopanishad), who succeeds in talking with Lord Yama ("Death") and, when offered many boons by that lord, rejects them; "even the longest life that you can give is but a trifle - may you keep to yourself the dance and the music!"

Man is constantly under the thrall of 'dance and music'… the allure of the external world of objects and experiences. Life is spent in obtaining more and more of these stimulations, mistaking in them a happiness. Nothing of it can be carried with us into the realm of Death… but the desires which have been built up in pursuit of those things has left imprints - adding to the vaasana account of the jiiva to be carried forward into a further life. Each life is a chance for the jiiva to cancel that account, to grasp the true purpose of living and reach for the Highest Reality… but it will take many lives for the roaming soul to Realise. Each time the illusion created by Maya's siren call will wreck the jiiva upon the rocks of existence.

Be wise, give up desires. Seek the all-satisfying Reality that lies behind the mental show of change and sorrow. Seek it with mind withdrawn from the fever of all passions!