Hari OM
Application - that is what
'Workings-days' are about!
For as long as it takes to complete
it, we are going to be using today as well as Text-days to fulfil study of the
SadaachaaraH. If you have not been following that text, then use the relevant
label to go back to the beginning. It is, as might be surmised from its title,
about how to go about saadhana, but also explores more of the Sanskrit
philosophy; it is therefore both a 'working' as well as a 'thinking' text.
Further exploration of knowledge is now made.
AwaRkara
ÉveÖ&iÄ> )lenawR àkazte,
AwR}an<
ivjanait s @vawR> pr> Sm&t>.33.
Arthaakaara bhavedvRttiH phalenaartha prakaashate,
Arthajnaanam vijaanaati sa evaarthaH paraH smRtaH ||33||
The thought takes the form of the
object. The object is illumined by the reflected Consciousness. That which
knows it has the knowledge of the object, that alone is the Supreme Self.
...it will not have escaped your notice that in studying it, itself,
you are acquiring knowledge! What is more, the process requires some
effort to comprehend. Even if that comprehension feels lacking, the
attempt is being made. What is driving the desire to learn?
The word 'artha' is used here, in the context of 'object'. It is
one of those flexible Sanskrit words… which used in conjunction, such as
purushaartha, it refers to the efforts made. You are using purushaartha to
wrangle with the concepts of Vedanta. It can also relate to the goal - the
thing sought. If the effort is for yourself, it might be called 'svaartha', if
for others it becomes paraartha and striving for the Supreme is paramaartha. So
artha is a 'carrier' word concerning the effort of learning.
When an object (artha) is in front of our eyes (say the screen you
are reading this from) and we are paying proper attention to it (in our
example, reading these words carefully), then a thought modification takes
place in our mind. This modification is the removal of ignorance of the object
and replacing it with knowledge. Further, it is to be understood, which is the 'illumination' part and takes place in
the presence of the chidabhaasa (reflected Consciousness). This is 'knowing'.
In this case, the very words you are using to read this have an effect upon your
mental structure such that you cannot leave this page without having gained
something. How much depends on your purushaartha!
What is essential to grasp now is that the reflected Consciousness
can only be present as a result of the source Consciousness. Our thoughts can
only be modified in the presence of Consciousness. The thoughts themselves are
the reflective medium, but the light remains the same always.
Think of the sun shining through a crack in the drapes. It beams a
light upon, say, a table or chair arm (representing a thought). In turn, this
bounces onto the wall (reflected light) and makes us aware of the condition of
the wall - perhaps a crack, or a dirty mark. Without the reflected light, we
would have remained ignorant of the wall condition. Without the thought to
reflect the light we might also remain ignorant, but there is also the
possibility that the sunbeam might strike the wall directly (inspiration), in which case we
still become aware. Either way, without the light coming from the sun in the
first place, darkness (ignorance) would remain.
