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.
