Hari OM
Story-day is for cultural exploration, puraanas and parables and finding out about leading lights in spiritual philosophy.
Due to absence, for each Story-day during this time a link for review will be given.
One Alone
Hari OM
'Freedays' are the 'gather our
thoughts' days; Q&As; a general review of the week so far…
Colourless
Hari OM
'Text-days' are for delving into the
words and theory of Advaita Vedanta.
Continuing in efforts to understand our mind;
icÄ<
icCc ivjanIyaÄkarriht< yda,
tkarae
iv;yaXyasae jparagae ywa mpaE.36.
Chittam cichcha vijaaniiyaat-takaararahitam yadaa,
Takaaro cishayaadhyaaso japaaraago yathaa manau ||36||
When the chitta is without the 'ta',
know that chitta is itself the Chit (Consciousness). The 'ta' represents the
superimposition of objects just as in the crystal, the colour of china-rose is
superimposed.
A very clear definition is provided here. Chit = Pure Consciousness,
ta = modified thought/object. If we recall earlier lessons on antaH-karana, we know that there are four
components of the human mind. ManaH is what we are very familiar with as
thought process, Buddhi is the intellectual and analytical process, Ahangkara
is the ego "ownership" and individualising process and then there is
Chitta. Often described as 'memory', as we advance in our understanding we find
that it is actually our doorway to the Universal Self. Yes, it connects the
jiiva with their vaasanas and karma 'account', hence the memory aspect, but it
is also the clue to our being much more than the physical body to which we are
so attached.
Pure Consciousness, we are told here, reflects upon the objects and
ideas of the world and leave an impression upon our thoughts in the same way
that a crystal, when held in a certain way against a certain colour (here given
as 'China rose') will take up an appearance of that colour for however long it
is there. The crystal is ever pure and colourless, but able to 'modify'
according to reflection and refraction of light. The aim of a saadhaka is to
drop all reflection and refraction and return to the pure, colourless state.
In saadhana, then, we can offer all that we see and do to the
Higher, live life simply and with self-discipline, tune ourselves into nature,
develop an attitude of acceptance and seek out the company of souls who exhibit
the levels of devotion, spiritual practice and knowledge that we ourselves
desire. We can reduce our attachments to the material world and to the thoughts
generated by it. We can work on sitting in our 'unmani'.
Beyond Thought
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.
In the further dissection of what constitutes the mental nature of Man
the next question - and one frequently asked by those in saadhana - will be,
"do the thoughts of the mind ever cease?" When we go into deep sleep,
we experience a 'no mind' state which in our waking state we can look back on
and describe as bliss. In waking and also in the dream state, however, thoughts
are like a torrent, relentless and at times drowning.
AwaRdwaRNtre
b&iÄgRNtu< clit caNtre,
inraxara
inivRkara ya dza saeNmanI Sm&ta.35.
Arthaad-arthaantare vRttir-gantum chalati chaantare,
niraadhaaraa nirvikaaraa yaa dashaa sonmanii smRtaa ||35||
Thoughts move from one object to
another. In between that state of mind which exists without any support and
without any modifications is known as unmani.
Again we are reminded that the thing we call 'mind' is a continuous
flow of vRttis - thoughts and their modifications. The mind is not one large
homogenous lump, but a mass of individual thought-packets. Each thought is
around for a fraction of a second upon the 'screen' provided by the hardwiring
of our brains. No sooner has a thought entered than it moves along for the next
thought. Each thought may be directly inherited from the previous one and thus
give consistency of concepts and ideas or discussions. How we think is
dependent on many factors of geography, circumstance, whether we are mainly
sattvic, rajasic or tamasic in personality and so forth.
However, due to each thought being a self-contained unit, it means
there are spaces between our thoughts. It is one of the key tactics of
meditation to work our way into those gaps, lengthening them and shortening
thought and working to a state of 'no mind'. This is the state referred to here
as unmani.
This is the most challenging state of Knowledge to attain for most of we
ordinary saadhakas! Indeed, many would claim this is a fiction because they are not prepared to put effort into achieving it for
themselves. It is put down to madness or trance state. However, the one who is
able to attain this state cares not what others may think. They have achieved
sahaja samaadhi - a natural completion.
This differs a little from bhaava samaadhi (love completion) in that
bhaava is closer to what we refer to as trance state. Many great saints, not
just in Sanatana Dharma, have displayed this level of complete immersion in
love and worship of the Higher that they are transported and disconnected with
the world around. It is incomprehensible to the ordinary person, where the
normal state is one of agitation and distraction. It can be tough to
accept the possibility of pure bliss which is lasting and not dependent on
sleep. Yet we are envious of it. Many will try to attain a stilling of the mind
through artificial means. Drugs, alcohol, changing environments. Yet the age-old practice of meditation, devotion and seeking of Knowledge are considered
'unscientific' and therefore worthless. Despite aeons of having proved worthy to
those prepared to travel these routes.
Ultimately, only one who is able to attain the unmani can truly
experience Realisation and we can only guess at the bliss by comparison to that
we find in a deep sleep.
Your Choice; Link no.3
Hari OM
Each 'Choose-day' we will investigate
the process by which we can reassess our activity and interaction with the
world of plurality.
For the next several weeks here on Choose-day, you are going to be
provided with a link to an article/vid clip at other sites worth the visiting.
It is your choice to follow them, or not…
Process
Hari Om
Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation
A series of words and imagery (taken from the Vivekachoodaamani) to be used as both a guide to and item for meditation. These will be advanced concepts and assume that the reader has been following the teachings here consistently in order to gain maximum benefit from the contemplation.
Faith, devotion and the practice of meditation - these are mentioned in the songs of shruti as the chief factors that help a seeker to attain liberation. Whoever pursues these is liberated from the bondage of the body, which is a projection mysteriously accomplished by spiritual ignorance.
A Pleaful Hymn
Hari OM
Sounds-day is for listening/viewing devotional items from and for all ages and traditions.
Lent is all about remembering the lessons of Christ and surrender ourselves to Him.
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