Hari OM
'Text-days' are for delving into the words and theory of Advaita Vedanta.
In the shloka we were studying last in August we were advised that putting theory into practice was essential, but that keeping in mind the fullness of Advaitic understanding was, itself, an essential part of practice. That essence is that the "I" which enquires, observes and experiences is unchanging, even as our bodies change throughout this thing we call life. Seeking the meaning of the "I" is the purpose of Vedantic research. You are reminded here, that the SadaachaaraH is about making the philosophy a practical means of self-development. It is an intellectual pursuit, but we must not lose ourselves in that alone. Finding the essence of each teaching and bringing it into daily life is the saadhana, the practice.
Thus, in shloka 20, having described what "I" am not, the obvious question which must arise is now addressed… "then, who am 'I'"?
ivzuÏ< kevl< }an< inivRze;< inrÃnm!,
Yadek< prmanNd< tÅvmSyÖy< prm!.21.
Vishuddham kevalam jnaanam nirvishesham niranjanam,
Yadekam paramaanandam tatvamasyad-vayam param ||21||
That which is extremely pure, free of differences, (of the nature of) Knowledge, without impurities,
Without attributes, the one supreme Bliss non-dual Supreme; That Thou Art.
We say it all the time; "I" know, "I" am. We know ourselves only as "I". Yet we are learning through Vedantic study that all which can change, develop, decay - which is everything we perceive - is not this essence which knows and exists and states knowledge of its existence. What then is this thing which we term as "I"???
This paada states it very clearly. The unchanging part of our being which endures above all is Pure Consciousness also referred to as Knowledge (vishuddham jnaanam). It cannot be categorised the way we do in the world through species, type, form, colour et cetera, therefore is said to be without difference (kevalam). By the same token, there is no attribution which comes with physical forms (nirvishesham) - in having no such qualities it is not easy to distinguish. Likewise, not having physical traits, it also lacks contamination of any kind (niranjanam). This which you know as "I" (tatvamasyadvayam) is One, (ekam), Supreme (param), Undivided (advayam) total Bliss (paramaanandam).
