Verse 67
हृदाकाशोदितो ह्यात्मा बोधभानुस्तमोऽपहृत् ।
सर्वव्यापी सर्वधारी भाति भासयतेऽखिलम् ॥ ६७॥
HRIDAAKAASHODITO HYAATMAA
BODHABHAANUSTAMO.APAHRIT
SARVAVYAAPII SARVADHAARI
BHAATI BHAASAYATE.AKHILAM
[The Atman, the Sun
of Knowledge that rises in the sky of the heart, destroys the darkness of the
ignorance, pervades and sustains all and shines and makes everything to shine.]
In this sloka,
Acharya is next explaining about the rise of knowledge that removes all
ignorance.
Space, or sky, is
huge and limitless. There is another space which is considered equally
limitless. This is our mind space (Hrith–akasa) which is equated more with
the Buddhi (Intellect) rather than with the manas
(emotional mind). The Buddhi can be equally expansive and limitless.
When Sun is not
there, the limitless sky is enveloped in total darkness. This darkness of the
sky is illumined by the rise of the SUN.
Likewise, the
hrith-akasa (mind space) is enveloped in the total darkness of ignorance or
Maya. This darkness of ignorance in the Hrith-akasa (mind space or sky)
can only be illumined by the rise of the SUN of Atma Bodha or self knowledge.
It is because of this
Sun that one can see various objects and the world is known, such a sun is here
compared to Atman which is verily Consciousness.
As we have learnt in
the previous verses also, it is only due to Consciousness that all the other
senses seem to perceive and function. It is Consciousness alone that illumines
everything and hence sustains everything.
When such Consciousness
is realized as the very nature of Self, when such sun rises in the sky of
heart, all the ignorance, affections, aversions vanish just like the darkness
that vanishes with the rise of sun.
As at the approach of
dawn the darkness dissolves off and the light brings everything clearly to our
cognition; so too at the dawn of wisdom, all the ignorance is destroyed and the
Self is realized as the all pervading, sole illuminator and sustainer.
When, Atma Jnanam is
complete in the intellect, when we actually identify totally with the Atma,
we see our self in everything and everything within our self.
In this way, we are
all pervading and we are the underlying support for all actions and transactions
occurring in the world. We, as Atma or Self, illumine the whole world.
What do we exactly
mean by "Self illumining the world"? How does a sadhaka, not fully
into the Knowledge of SELF, relate to this illumining the world?
It is simple.
We are not this body,
mind and intellect, we are not these 17 instruments that drive us. That is not
How God created us.
God created us as His
own image, which means we are the same God, in His absolute
splendor, beyond any name or form, Who / That created this universe and
illumines the world.
Illumining here means providing
the Chaitanya or Consciousness energy for the world to function.
When we attain /
discover that we, as SELF or ATMAN, are the same as GOD or BRAHMAN, then what
change is brought to our existence?
Like God's
consciousness is providing strength to this world or, as we said, illumines
this world, We, existing as Atman or pure consciousness, can no more see,
identify, recognize and react to this world through our eyes / ears / senses,
mind and intellect but,
We exist as Pure Consciousness
or say, God.
So, like God has
graced this universe by creating the same with and as Him the Pure Consciousness,
We also are
now able to see / witness this world with all its diversities only with /
as Pure Consciousness or in simple words to at least understand and relate
to, as GOD.
This is what is meant
in vedanta as "We the SELF, illumining this akhilam or Jagath or Universe".
Love.
