Sandeha Nivarini - Post 12

Devotee: It exists in experience in the wakeful stage, so it is existence (sat); it doesn’t exist in the deep sleep stage, so it is non-existence (a-sat).

Swami: Oh! Existence, non-existence (sat, a-sat), did you say? These two words together give sadasat, right? This is what is spoken of by us as illusion (maya), do you know? 

Devotee: Is that illusion (maya) similar to magic?

Swami: Is it not? “All this is magician’s work (indra-jalam idam sarvam).” That is what the sages have been saying for ages. 

Devotee: Then there must be a performer of all this magic, right? 

Swami: Certainly, there is. That magician is God. He is endowed with countless auspicious attributes. The great sages have formed a name on the basis of each attribute and a form on the basis of each name and have attained Realisation meditating on those forms, making the Attributeless attributeful and the Formless formful. 

Is it not their experience that is being proclaimed through a thousand tongues? In the holy scriptures (Sastras), Vedas, and Upanishads haven’t they declared how they have realised God in their totally absorbed meditation (dhyana samadhi), each in their own way, according to their attitude and devotion and worship? Haven’t they declared how each has been blessed with the vision of the Lord and the actual consummation of union with Him? 

Devotee: Yes. Swami! I have understood that. But you said that name and form are based on attributes. Kindly explain this to me. 

Swami: Certainly. We must now pay attention to such important topics only because the others are beyond your powers of imagination. 

Listen carefully. Since the Lord pleases all, He is known as Rama. So also He is the embodiment of love (Prema-swarupa); He is full of affection to His devotees; He is the ocean of mercy. In each such name and form, He has vouchsafed direct experience of the Lord (sakshatkara) to devotees and blessed them with union with the Divine (sayujya). The formless God assumes all forms in order to bless devotees. 

Devotee: I am happy. I am indeed so happy, Swami! Through Your grace, I am understanding quite clearly. Just one doubt: You said that the formless Supreme Self (Param-atma) has countless names. Are all names and forms equal? Is there any difference? 

Swami: What a question! Certainly, all names and forms are equal. Whatever name and form are worshiped, the Lord is only of that unique real form (swa-rupa). It is possible to realise Him through that name and form. But, the devotee should pay attention to one matter. In whichever form the Lord is worshipped, the favour prayed for, the purpose, must be one. 

Devotee: What type of purpose, Swami?

Swami: Desire for liberation. The Lord alone should be loved, nothing else. Love That. Meditate on That. Con-cretise That. Finally, resolve to merge in That. You should have only this type of acute desire. 

Continued.....