Atma Bodha - Post 24

VERSE 17

सदा सर्वगतोऽप्यात्मा न सर्वत्रावभासते ।

बुद्धावेवावभासेत स्वच्छेषु प्रतिबिम्बवत् ॥ १७॥

SADAA SARVA GATHO API AATMAA

NA SARVATRA AVA BHAASATE;

BUDDHAU EVA AVA BHAASETA

SVACCHHESHU PRATIBIMBAVAT.

(Although the Self is always all-pervading yet It does not shine everywhere (in everything). It manifests in the intellect only, just as the reflection (manifests best) in a mirror.)

In the previous slokas, we learnt that the Atman is all pervading and all the duality on the world are just an illusions superimposed on Self. Here Acharya is explaining that the Atman though infinite and all pervading is manifested only by the inner equipment. In this verse the intellect is given its proper place as the prime instrument available to human beings to explore their spirituality.

It is in the intellect that the Lord shines more clearly than in any other sheath of the human being. Vedanta, in the same breath proclaims that only purity can capture clarity of intellect. Hence, the intellect that is given prime place is not a biased intellect leaning towards the mind and its desires, but a clean and clear instrument that is unswayed by desire. Such an instrument alone is capable of arriving logically at the Truth.

“Swaccheshu Pratibimbavat” Simile:

All objects reflect light in varying degrees. What appears dull is only dull because the light is not being reflected fully off that object due to roughness of its surface.

The smoother the surface the greater is its power to reflect light. Perfect smoothness is found in a mirror, which reflects most faithfully all the light that falls upon it. Hence it is a fitting object to be used as an example for the light that reflects off a purified intellect.

Of all the objects produced in nature that which reflects the light of the Self most faithfully is our INTELLECT. Other objects are too gross to be able to reveal the Self, although in a Sattwic person, there is a distinct purity that radiates even from his physical body, and his mind, being calm, radiates an aura of calmness and peace wherever it goes. However, even in a Sattwic person, it is his intellect which truly shines as we see in him the highest example of complete control over his mind and senses.

Dear All,

It was 3 weeks before that the Author gave a question to few selected sadhakas.

There are these following Truth about Pure consciousness / SELF /Atman.

1) Consciousness does not rise

‘Rising' means birth, i.e., coming into existence of an entity previously non-existent.

This cannot be predicated of Consciousness as it is    the Witness of even previous non-existence. Otherwise no one will be aware of such non-existence.

It means that when there was nothing, not even the 5 elements were there, Pure Consciousness or Brahman existed formless, attribute less.

This has to be TRUE because, every effect has a cause. So, if the 5 elements and out of that also, SPACE is the first effect that has emerged, then before the emergence of SPACE, there has to be some CAUSE for this SPACE to emerge as EFFECT.

So, there is no Birth for Brahman or God, as the first effect – SPACE is created by God whereas, there is no prior CAUSE for the creation of GOD.

2) Consciousness does not set

Setting   means disappearance of an existing entity, i.e., it’s becoming non-existent again. This state, though possible for relative entities, cannot be predicated of Consciousness.

No disappearance or destruction can be cognized without a conscious Witness.

The death of even this creation, during PRALAYA, is witnessed by God / Brahman and therefore, there can be no death for God / Brahman

3) Consciousness does not increase / suffer / decay.

Every perceived entity of the empirical world possesses six characteristics, viz., birth, existence, growth, change, decay and destruction.

Consciousness has none of the characteristics of a perceived entity. By negating birth and decay, the four other characteristics are also negated in Consciousness. Growth and decay are only possible for those entities which have parts.

With the above TRUTH being clear, the question given by the Author to the Sadhakas was,

“How, such a birth less, death less, motion less, Mindless pure consciousness can go and illumine our intellect”.

  

As an answer to this question, a full session was taken by the author couple of weeks before.

In the next post, the answer to the above question would be dealt with.

Love.