Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Dakshinamurthy Stotram - Post 27

 Verse 8

 

 

He who is the Purusha (Brahman), (seeing / witnessing these) when whirled in Maya,

to that “Ultimate Seer”, the Revered Form of the Guru, do I offer my salutation;

He is the Revered Form of Sri Dakshinamurti!

This Drishti-Srishti model is the “Uttam Siddhanta” of Vedanta. The Mandukya Upanishad takes it up almost from the very outset, when it insists on taking the letters of Om to mean the objects of the respective states, and when it lumps together the waking and dream states in the very first chapter.

Drik Drsya viveka is all about Drishti-Srishti, Seer and the Seen.

In Dakshinamurthy Stotram also, this verse consciously drives us to become aware of this model. The very first verse referred to the world as “a reflected city in a mirror” and we said that the mirror is Maya. This Maya manifests in us as our mind. Transcending mind is equivalent to transcending Maya.

This is the model that will suit the full-time meditator. It is the model for the spiritual outlook on life. It is the model where the only Sadhana to be done is to go beyond the mind. No other external Sadhana is needed. 

Therefore, it stands to reason that only the most qualified ones are able to benefit from this model. The pre-requisite for this model is to have detachment, dispassion and a mind that is very meticulously trained to reason and think. Hence, this model is not so popular among the majority of people.

There are no unknown objects in this model. What one sees, that alone exists. That which is not seen simply does not exist as far as the person is concerned.

The Sadhaka’s whole world is in his mind. Everything becomes within his control. He takes full responsibility for any changes to be made in his life. This is the direct path.

The Truth About Relationships

Having understood the two theories relating the world to the mind, we now come back to the verse and explain its message in terms of the latter theory. If the Drishti-Srishti model is used, then all the relations mentioned are considered to be delusions.

The no.1 delusion is cause and effect. Since there is no creation in the Drishiti Srishti model, there is no need for a system of cause and effect to explain the origin of objects. From this primary delusion, are born the other delusions: the possessor and the possessed; the teacher and the taught; and father and son. 

However, as we have seen, the verse may be interpreted using the Srishti-Drishti model. In this case it can be reconciled with the Truth by saying that all these relationships are superimpositions on the Self. Being superimpositions, they have relative reality, but in relation to the Absolute, they are unreal or false. It is admitted that their relative reality does have some purpose.

For example, the teacher and disciple relationship is of great value, even though it exists on the relative plane, because it promotes the growth of understanding. Most relationships will exist purely in the realm of unreality. 

All relationships which do not lead one to an understanding of the Truth are of no worth at all. This applies to the majority of cases which are based on worldly interchanges without any reference to the Truth.

In addition to what we experience, there is the Time element which determines when we experience them. Deep sleep, dream and waking follow each other on a time-axis. Deep sleep is omitted here because there is no mind available to experience anything.

The above experiences of the Srishti-Drishti model are experienced by Brahman, as the Atman within man when “whirled” or tossed about by Maya. Relative reality is given to all the experiences encountered in the world.

Sri Ramana says,

Quote

“I do not teach only the ajata doctrine. I approve of all schools. The same truth has to be expressed in different ways to suit the capacity of the hearer. The ajata doctrine says, “Nothing exists except the one reality. 

There is no birth or death, no projection or drawing in [of the world], no sadhaka [no seeker], no mumukshu [no one seeking liberation], no mukta [no liberated person], no bondage, no liberation. The one unity alone exists ever.”

‘To those who find it difficult to grasp this truth and who ask. “How can we ignore this solid world we see all around us?” the dream experience is pointed out and they are told, “All that you see depends on the seer. Apart from the seer, there is no seen.”

‘This is called the drishti-srishti vada, or the argument that one first creates out of his mind and then sees what his mind itself has created.

‘To those who cannot grasp even this and who further argue, “The dream experience is so short, while the world always exists. The dream experience was limited to me. 

But the world is felt and seen not only by me, but by so many, and we cannot call such a world non-existent,” the argument called srishti-drishti vada is addressed and they are told, “God first created such and such a thing, out of such and such an element and then something else, and so forth.” 

That alone will satisfy this class. Their mind is otherwise not satisfied, and they ask themselves, “How can all geography, all maps, all sciences, stars, planets and the rules governing or relating to them and all knowledge be totally untrue?” To such it is best to say, “Yes. God created all this and so you see it.”’

unquote

How does  a Brahma Jnani sees this creation?

For Him, consciousness is a reality because of which everything exists. He will see everything in the world as Himself (Pure SELF).  

Everything in the world such as cause, and effect is seen as nothing but the manifestation of His own Consciousness. 

He sees everything in the world as manifestation of His own consciousness,  including cause and effect ,  master  and His  connection to His master, a student  and  his teacher,  a father  and  his son  etc..

In simple words, if you have attained Brahman, then everything is manifestation of the same divinity. 

The divinity is present in yourself as yourself, the same divinity manifests as the entire world, as every person, as every tree, as every rock. 

The same divinity manifests as your Consciousness. The same divinity manifests in all forms.

The last line salutes the Guru in the context of this verse as the “Ultimate Seer”, known as Sri Dakshinamurti.

The one who is Brahma Jnani, who sees the oneness of all; unto that , this salutation , who is in the form of my guru  as well as in the form of Dakshinamurthy.

Love.