The meaning and
dimension of the step covered in previous post changes totally when the
importance is given to the first word “nijagrihaat”
which means, the true/real dwelling place/abode.
Which is the
natural dwelling place where the Self dwells? Chhandogya Upanishad is specific about the dwelling place of Brahman when it declares that here in
the body, is an abode, a small lotus flower; within that is a small
place.
What is within that
should be assuredly sought and understood. It is further clarified, that the
Self abides in the heart, the etymological explanation being this one is the
heart, and therefore, it is the heart.
The serene thing
that rises from the body, reaching the supreme light appears in its own form.
He is the Self, the fearless. This is Brahman,
verily, the name of that Brahman is
the Prime Existence.
Sankara explains
that as a king has his palace in the city, within the body there is a small
space wherein Brahman is to be
realized, just as Vishnu is realized
in Saligram stone.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says that
since Brahman dwells in the body of
every one, He is called Purusha,
there being nothing that is not covered by Him, nothing that is not pervaded by
Him.
Further the same Upanishad says that Brahman, this Prime Existence is like the essence, the honey for
all beings, and all beings being the essence for this Prime Existence.
(This is the madhu vidya which was taught to a very
few aspirants from which they may not come back for a long time. How he wishes
he could give this essence / share this essence with one and all!!!)
Therefore, one
should change the direction of one’s attention from the external form to the
internal essence, to experience the bliss of beatitude.
Therefore, Brahman, That One is the true
abiding place of That One from where all that was created came about,
dwells.
Isavasya Upanishad says,
A spiritual seeker must be aware of the source (referred in the above verse symbolically as the sun light) which illumines him (I behold thy glorious form) and must strive to retrace and merger with the source (I am the Purusha within thee)
Sankara says that
even as a householder lives in one’s home like a guest without ego-sense and
attachment and without being affected by the pains and pleasures of the house,
dreams of going to one’s own original place, even so a man of wisdom lives in
his body without any concern, considering all sense caused and similar to
gathering of the clouds, arriving if they are to arrive and departing if they
have to depart.
Swami concludes the
poem “children of immortality” with the following lines which echoes the call
of this verse, “Nijagrihaat” in the
most beautiful and the most appropriate way. It came as a flash in the author’s
memory as he was writing on this step.
Let us conclude
today’s post with those lines
“Come back into My Consciousness, which is Your own true Consciousness.
Let your petty human self fade away, right now,
As you come to Me, who am your Inner Self.
You are now My radiant glorious Self...
No longer separate from Me.
Melt with Me... Merge with Me...!
Become Me! ”
Love.
