Atma Bodha - Post 39

Verse 29

स्वबोधे नान्यबोधेच्छा बोधरूपतयात्मनः ।

न दीपस्यान्यदीपेच्छा यथा स्वात्मप्रकाशने ॥ २९॥

SWA-BODHE NA ANYA-BODHECCHHAA

BODHA-ROOPA-TAYAA AATMANAH

NA DEEPASYA ANYA-DEEPECCHHAA

YATHAA SWAATMA PRAKAASHANE

(To know the Self, needs no other knowledge, for, one’s own Self is of the form of knowledge.  A lighted lamp does not need another lamp, to make it visible as it illumines itself)

Let us start with the understanding that we cannot avoid the reflection of consciousness. It is the way we have been created. We cannot change that, and we will get nowhere if we deny this fact.

All we can do is to say that we are not the Jiva, the individualized being. Our strategy for escaping from our self made prison is to dissociate ourselves from the body, mind and intellect as much as possible.

Therein lies our only practical recourse for liberating ourselves. If we did not have the “I”-sense there would be no problem in the first place. But it has happened like that, it is unavoidable. So the only way out is to feel we are the Supreme Self, and not this Jiva.

In this process our greatest instrument to accomplish this is the intellect. We have to use its power of analysis, of thought construction, of decision and command over the rest of the body’s components to the ultimate. 

In this verse we are given the assurance that once we have done that part of the Sadhana, using the intellect, the Self will reveal itself to us.

It is not in need of ‘any other lamp’ to show itself to us.

There is a classical, oft-repeated example of 10 friends   trying to ensure that all of them have reached the other side of the shore after swimming. 

One by one, each of them starts counting heads, misses counting himself and finds only nine in the row. Each one's heart sinks. The tenth man is MISSING!! Dasamo Nastaha!! 

A wise man, a sanyasi, passing that side asks them the cause of their weeping and understands their predicament and first assures them that the tenth man is ALIVE and AVAILABLE. 

 

Then, he makes all of them stand in the row and counts all ten people and proves to them that all ten are safe and available. 

When each person has counted the other nine, the wise man takes that person's fingers and makes it point out to himself (the one who has counted the other nine) and says, you are the tenth. 

Here, this "you are the tenth" is to be understand as the grand mahavakya, “Tat Twam Asi” / That though Art.

The very fact that the identifier is identifying and proving the existence of all others is proof of his own existence. No further proof of his existence is needed.

I have to check the existence of others but not of myself. I am myself the proof of my existence. Atma is the original Consciousness – which is ever evident. All of us experience it.

“Na Deepasya Anyadeepeccha”

There is no need for another lamp to light one that is already lit. In the same way there is no need for anything to light the Self, that is, reveal the Self to us, because the Self has this capacity built into it. It is self-luminous.

When all the things that conceal the Self from us are removed, It shines forth by Itself. 

All our Sadhana is to undo all the harm that has already been done in numberless births of ignorant living. 

Once we can grasp with our intellect the knowledge of the condition of the entrapped Jiva, then alone can we take the steps to remove the veils one by one, and permit the Self to shine through.

Love.