ADVENTURES IN ADVAITA VEDANTA...

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


Reflections on Discourse; 9


Hari OM

From 8/4/19 to 12/4/19, Pujya Swami Swaroopananda-ji presented evening discourses to the public at the Merrylands Civic Centre, NSW Australia. The focus of his talks this year was Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita, and more specifically, shlokas 1-32. Some of the learning and insights will be shared over several posts.

Learning of the All-pervasiveness of the Aatmaa, Its Eternal Nature, how are we to view it? Sloka 29 states;

Some look upon this Aatmaa as a wonder,
Another describes it as wonderful,
And others hear of it as a wonder.
Even after hearing about it, no one actually knows it.

In the parampara of teaching, we know that there are Masters who develop the advanced mental state which permits them to 'look upon' the Aatmaa, upon Brahman. In their attempts to tell others of It, almost all they can think of is 'what a Wonder It Is!' A great many of the Masters did, and continue not to, speak of what is seen, for it escapes language. When they do try, the words are of those in awe.

Those who listen to the Masters hear of The Wonder and it gives them hope that, one day, they too may be able to gaze upon the Impossible. No matter what words are used in attempts to describe It, however, there is a failure in transmitting The Truth , and this means that - apart from a very rare few - nobody can honestly say that they Know It. This is because there is too large a variance between our current experience of 'what is' and the Truth That Is. At all times, due to our limitation, we see That as being something to be reached out for. We continue to think in terms of separateness.

To the body, mind and intellect (remember the BMI chart?!) the very existence of the Self beyond this physical existence is an idea too far to be fully conceived. Yet, if this mere mortal can put in the necessary depth and breadth of self-perfection, it is possible to glimpse That Beyond.

Enough people have practiced the exercises given by the Rsis and Masters throughout the years and attained high levels of 'beingness', to bring back the news that there is a Truth greater than the sum of our current parts. This is a scientific approach, the application within our 'personal laboratory' of the BMI which has been written down (saadhana chatushtaya), and which is reproducible. All that is required is determination, curiosity, clarity, courage and a burning desire to see That which few have seen.

We are held back from it, though, because we are so attached to this physical persona. Maya weaves her magic and we are again enamoured of the world and its objects. Life 'happens' and provides us with excuses for delaying our real purpose. In this day of 'seeing is believing' we are not prepared to make an effort to remove the veil from our 'eye'.