Verse 66
श्रवणादिभिरुद्दीप्तज्ञानाग्निपरितापितः ।
जीवः सर्वमलान्मुक्तः स्वर्णवद्द्योतते स्वयम् ॥ ६६॥
SHRAVANAADIBHIR UDDIIPTA
GYAANA AGNIPARI TAAPITAH
JIIVA SARVAMALAAN MUKTAH
SVARNAVAD HDYOTATE SVAYAM
[The ‘Jiva’ free from impurities, being heated in the fire of knowledge
kindled by hearing and so on, shines of itself like gold.]
In the previous slokas we learnt that Atman
though ever present is perceived only by the eye of wisdom and not by the
ignorant ones. In the next two slokas Acharya is explaining that such an
ignorant one when purified by the fire of knowledge, the Atman shines by itself
just like Gold.
In obtaining knowledge, Vedanta recommends
three courses, first is sravanam or listening to the truth from the scriptures,
then mananam or reasoning of the truth heard and finally nidhidyasanam which is
deep contemplation on what has been heard and reasoned out.
Such a systematic learning and contemplation
is necessary to clean one from the impurities of thoughts and only when
ignorance is removed thus, does the Self reveal itself in all glory.
“Swarnavat Dyotate Swayam” Gold Shines Forth
The beauty of these similes is again and
again seen to be the right simile for the right situation. In nature, what do
we see that needs to be heated in order to be extracted in pure form? The
mining of gold is a brilliant example.
The gold ore contains the tiny gold nuggets
in the midst of solid rock. The whole ore has to be heated to a very high
temperature in furnaces. Then, with both in liquid form, the gold separates
from the rock completely, and is siphoned off as it sinks below the molten
rock. When cooled down to form gold bars, it has a beautiful golden shine.
In the same way, the Jiva is Consciousness
(the gold) mixed with the impurities of Vasanas, as well as ignorance together
with all its effects (the subtle and gross body).
This Jiva (the raw gold ore) has to be
smelted down through the rigorous processes of Sadhana. After undergoing this
“heating” process, the impurities are removed and the pure gold Consciousness
shines forth in the realized sage who has discovered his
true identity as Atman, by this process.
Dear All,
How Sai reminds us of the need for intense
sadhana to shine as Gold, when He addresses us as “Bangaaru”??
Also, to remind us that even while undergoing
the rigorous process of rock getting converted to Gold, the rock, in its
essence, had the gold always (Even when a spiritual aspirant has to undergo
intense Sravanam, Mananam and Nidhidhyasanam to get rid of all impurities in
his mind, at the end, when he shines in and as the fire of Knowledge, the truth
is that He is the Gold, He is that Atman ever), Swami writes in the very 1st chapter
in Jnana Vahini thus:-
I Quote Bhagawan
“When gold is melted in the crucible, it
shines with a strange yellow glory. Where did that light emanate from? From the
gold or the fire? What happened was only the removal of the dross by the fire;
the effulgence belonged to the gold itself; it is its very nature. The fire is
only an instrument for the removal of the dross. Nothing has been added to the
gold by the fire in the crucible! If fire could give the splendour, then why
doesn’t a stick or blade or pebble placed in the fire become as shining as
gold? One has to conclude that the splendour came not through fire but out of
its own inner nature.
The inner presiding Atma (Pratyagatma) is
separate from the five sheaths of the individual (the panchakosas). It shines
with its own splendour; it is the witness of the activities and consequences of
the three qualities (gunas); it is immovable; it is holy and pure; it is
eternal; it is indivisible; it is self-manifested, it is peace; it has no end;
it is wisdom itself. Such an Atma has to be cognized as Oneself.”
I Unquote Bhagawan.
Love.
