Dakshinamurthy Stotram - Part 3

Now, let us get deeper, line by line. 

First line of the first verse.

 

“Teaching through Silence the highest knowledge of the Supreme Reality, the young Guru is surrounded by Rishi-disciples and Vedic scholars, themselves established in the Truth.”

 

Meditation on the line

 

The one who is surrounded 

Surrounded by whom? Surrounded by the group of four rishis.

What kind of rishis?  

Who is living with guru, meaning the students. In ancient time, students always lived with teacher in the ashram. These rishis were elderly. They, because of Dakshinamurti’s teaching, became established in the knowledge of Brahman. Dakshinamurti himself was young. 

How did Dakshinamurti teach to these four rishis? How did rishis become established in Brahman? How did they become enlightened?

The ultimate reality (the truth of GOD) is revealed through a silent exposition. This is symbolic. What could silent teaching mean?

Is it possible to express the reality of Brahman in one or two sentences? Is it possible to express the reality of Brahman in one or two books?

Any extent of teachings is not adequate to define what is Parabrahman. No number of words could ever define the reality.

We truly must admit that the reality that is Parabrahman is beyond words. 

There is a famous quotation from “Taittiriya Upanishad”.

“The reality we seek is that from which words fall back, failing to grasp that reality.”

This is very profound Vedantic teaching. Does that mean words are useless? No. Words help to remove the misunderstanding. The words of Vedanta (the teachings) can not reveal Brahman.

Ultimately, they don’t need to reveal Brahman. However, the words are useful to remove the ignorance.

An exposition of silence is a poetic way of saying that the TRUTH being conveyed is beyond words, beyond the reach of language.

It would be known to sincere seekers that whatever glimpse of that divine SELF which they have experienced for few seconds, could be possible only when they have gone into absolute silence, silence of the mind, silence of the body and silence in terms of speech.

So, the Guru of Gurus, Sadhguru Dakshinamurty chose to impart the Brahma Vidya directly to the disciples in the depth of silence.

This was possible then, this was possible even in few cases like few disciples who realized SELF, seated at the feet of their Guru Ramana, in absolute silence.

But in the present day world, with materialism at its peak, it would be very difficult or rather impossible for disciple to observe his master’s silence and get absorbed in silence, as the restless mind would wander here and there within seconds.

So, the masters have to impart knowledge initially through spoken discourses till the time they know that their disciple has reached a ripe state in sadhana where nothing more needs to be taught through words.

In the contemporary world, when it comes to teaching the disciples through silence, it is impossible not to think of, not to meditate on Sri Ramana, who taught and even graced liberation to few, though His silence.

Maharishi’s disciple, Sri Muruganar, who attained liberation under his Master, writes,

“He is the teacher of the eternal law through whose glance the truth unfolded, filling my heart with the dazzling radiance of blissful consummate grace, so that the body, ego and intellect were all no more. I became merged in the divine silence, which is abiding knowledge of Lord Siva.

My poor helpless mind was swept along in the swirling torrent of objective phenomena until my Lord guided my deluded understanding into the broad calm of his holy silence so that the light of his majesty shined in my heart.

Setting me on the straight path of true knowledge he led me to the glorious goal of union with him in the one-pointed state of holy silence. My heart’s gracious jewel, true wisdom’s sun, he dissipated the dark clouds of the senses’ illusory world.”

(Extract from Ramana Anubhuti, written by  Sri Muruganar, about his sadhguru Sri Ramana)

 

Love.