Atma Bodha - Post 53

Verse 43

अरुणेनेव बोधेन पूर्वं सन्तमसे हृते ।

तत आविर्भवेदात्मा स्वयमेवांशुमानिव ॥ ४३॥

ARUNENA EVA BODHENA

POORVA-SAN-TAMASE HRITE

TAT AAVIR-BHAVET AATMAA

SWAYAM EVA AMSHUMAAN IVA

[As by the Lord of early dawn, so too, it is by knowledge, the former dispels the darkness existing before dawn. So too, (ignorance is dispelled) when the Self rises of its own accord, just like the sun.]

“Aruna-Amshuman” Simile:

The Dawn & Rising Sun In this exquisite simile of sunrise, we

see the same process from another angle.

In the minutes before sunrise, the dense darkness of the sky lightens up slowly until the sky has a reddish glow to it. This period, called dawn or ‘aruna’, symbolizes the period of intense meditation when the darkness of ignorance is being gradually removed.

As the process advances and the skies turn red and then orange, the sun rises of its own accord, as it were, bringing on the bright day. Nothing needs to be done to the sun to reveal it. The darkness had to be removed by Sadhana to usher in the state of illumination of the Self.

“When the egocentric existence in us, that obstructs the vision of the Self, is falsified by constant and diligent meditation, the vision of the true Self arises in all its glory” 

(Swami Chinmayananda.)

The removal of the darkness of the sky is itself due to the approaching presence of the sun. There is nothing that is being done to brighten the sky. True, we have compared that to meditation, but meditation is a state of ‘being’, not of ‘doing’.

As Sadhana progresses and the dirt clears away, the mental ‘sky’ becomes brighter and brighter. The revelation of the Self is inevitable. It comes of its own accord. In this way, Sri Sankara, a great lover of nature with a keen observation, conveys to us another great Truth to inspire us into the practice of deep meditation, when only Awareness alone clears away the dross and leads naturally to Self-illumination. 

Dear All,

In this verse, Sankara beautifully  equates the sadhana process with the rising of sun, wherein, like the sun slowly rises, dispelling the darkness, in spiritual sadhana, one shines slowly, with rigorous sadhana and meditation and in that shine (of one’s SELF), the darkness of ignorance is dispelled.

The beauty of vedantha is much more than this.

In the path of wisdom, the acharya, having accepted the disciple in His fold, in His ashram, gives series of discourses on Upanishads, drives in the essence of Upanishads through a maha vakya, “Tat Twam Asi”. “That Thou Art”.

When the Acharya takes the disciple through this mahavakya, the teacher shows the disciple the glimpse of his state once all darkness of ignorance in him would get dispelled, i.e., the sun shine in his sadhana, even if it is going to take years to achieve that, is already shown to the disciple through Acharya’s compassionate teachings!!!

Love.