Atma Bodha - Post 40

Verse 30

निषिध्य निखिलोपाधीन्नेति नेतीति वाक्यतः ।

विद्यादैक्यं महावाक्यैर्जीवात्मपरमात्मनोः ॥ ३०॥

NISHIDHYA NIKHILA-UPAADHEEN

NA ITI, NA ITI” ITI VAAKYATAH

VIDYAAT AIKYAM MAHAA-VAAKYAIH

JEEV-AATMA PARAM-AATMANOH

(By the process of negation of all conditionings   as per the scriptural statement “Not this, not this”, know the oneness proclaimed by the Mahavakya, “The individual soul is the Supreme Soul”.)

In this verse the central objective of all our Sadhana is highlighted. “Neti-Neti” refers to the negation of all the Upadhis which keep us separated from our identity with our true Self. This negation process is a Sadhana of discrimination, done within the intellect.

By seeing the defects at each level of existence, the intellect rejects the ‘falseness’ level by level. This is done at two major levels, the individual level and the cosmic level, the microcosm and the macrocosm.

This is the philosophical term given to the human predicament. It means “the Self is veiled by Ignorance”. Another term used is “Ajnana Upahita Chaitanyam” which means “the Self is conditioned by Ignorance.” The word Upahita is connected with Upadhi. Upadhi is that which conditions, whilst Upahita is that which is conditioned.

The perennial problem for us is that Jiva always goes along with both Atma and Anaatma.

We always experience:

(1) Original Consciousness

(2) Reflected Consciousness (Chidhabhasa) and

(3) Gross, Subtle and Causal Bodies simultaneously.

When I experience the ‘I’, there is always a false transference of the limitations and attributes of the Sareera Thrayam to the Original Consciousness.

These limitations and attributes of Anaatma must be clearly understood to be those of the Sareera Thrayam / Anaatma and not those of the Original Consciousness, the real I.

There is no new experience in this but a clarity of understanding. How is this to be done?

This process of negation of the impermanent step by step is eulogized by the great sages as an effective method to arrive at the ultimate Self / ultimate Truth.

We must negate each of the Upaadhis and each of the limitations of these Upaadhis, dis-identifying from them step by step but completely. This process is called “neti, neti, neti..” meaning “not this, not this, not this…”.

I am not this. I am not this. I am not this. I must negate this way, all that is impermanent, and all that is not ‘I’.

By removing all that which conditions the Self and renders it as the conditioned self or Jiva, the latter is restored to its original pristine pure state. This is the realized state or the enlightened state.

As the reader can realize, Adi Sankara is leading us from a detailed analysis of Anaatma and Atma to the difficulties in identifying with Atma and from there, to the effective processes of arriving at the oneness of Jivatma and Paramatma – in other words, towards Nischaya Jnanam.

Love.

PS - Exactly the same essence of negating the Anatma , all that is unreal and thus reaching that which is Atma / Eternal truth, was given by the author through a session to few sadhakas couple of weeks before, taking the famous line of Sankara:

"Brahma Satyam,

Jagath Mithya,

Jivoh Brahmaiva naParah"

Love.