Hari OM
'Text-days' are for delving into the
words and theory of Advaita Vedanta.
We are now studying Aatmabodha. As
always, with each week, you are encouraged to review the previous teachings and
spend some time in contemplation of the meanings as the affect your life.
Please do consider purchasing the text. Remember, also, to recite the mangala charana before each study and
review the lessons before each new one.
The
current verses are straight-out attempts at describing the indescribable. We
are drawing close to the end of this text. The high end of Vedanta is being
indicated here as well, then. Let us take two verses today, to complete the
purely descriptive part.
jgiÖlúa[<
äü äü[ae=NyÚ ikÂn,
äüaNyÑait
ceiNmWya ywa mémrIicka.63.
†Zyte ïUyte y*d!äü[ae=NyÚ
tÑvet!,
tÅv}anaCc
td!äü siCcdanNdmÖym!.64.
Jagadvilakshanam
brahma brahmano-nyanna kingchana,
Brahamaanyadbhaati
chenmithyaa yathaa marumariichikaa ||63||
dRshyate
shruuyate yadyad-brahmano-nyanna tadbhavet,
Tattvajnaanaachcha
tadbrahma sachchidaanandamadvayam ||64||
Brahman is other than the universe. There exists
nothing whatsoever that is not Brahman. If any object other than Brahman
appears to exist, it is unreal like the mirage.
All that is perceived, or heard, is Brahman and
nothing else. Gaining the Knowledge of the Reality, one sees the universe as
the non-dual Brahman, Existence-Consciousness-Bliss absolute.
We
saw previously the example of the iron ball being other than the fire in which
it sits glowing. In the same way, Brahman, which sits within all that we think of
as the universe, is NOT that universe, It is something other. We, the divided
parts within That, think that we see and hear, but what is actually happening
is like the mirage the thirsty traveller in the desert might think he sees.
Once that deluded mind 'sees' the mirage, it is very difficult to correct the
wrong impression.
The
mirage is different from the desert, but without the desert and the conditions
which are set up in its context, the mirage cannot exist.
Likewise
we must destroy the illusion (Maya) which keeps us in the 'desert' of our
current, limited lives.
If
we can do that, and gain the full understanding of the way things are working
in this thing we call 'universe', then we will understand that everything is
One and nothing but sat-chit-aananda.
In
this shloka (64) is hinted the pure and core focus of Advaita Vedanta;
"get Real"!!! The entirety of all other study in this philosophy is
geared toward this purpose.
