Sathya Sai Center of Stamford Study Circle – Avarana (Ignorance)
February 7, 2016 April 18, 2016 2 What is this shroud “avarana” made up of? "This may be likened to a thick cloth covering the mirror of man’s mind, which does not at all permit of any reflection whatsoever of the image of the Self. Thus, while mala does not enable us to have a clear and correct image of the Self, and while vikshepa results in seeing the Self as wavering, avarana altogether hides the Reality (Self) and makes one identify himself wrongly with his body....
….This cloth is made up of the arishadvarga— the gang of six internal enemies of man—viz. kama (desire), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (attachment), mada (pride), and maatsarya (jealousy, envy).
Out of the six, pride may be considered as the worst enemy. Pride is of eight kinds: pride of money, learning, caste, affluence, beauty, youth, position or authority, and tapas (spiritual pride). If you ponder over two facts you can overcome this enemy namely pride.... if you want to remove the avarana covering your mind’s mirror. The best means to remove this thick cloth of avarana is to develop love for all. Love is God. Live in Love." (Summer Showers 1990)
April 18, 2016 3 Uncovering the human values
The five human values of Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa are embedded in you. They are like the five vital airs in you. They are, however, enveloped by the arishadvargas, the six enemies of kama (desire), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (delusion), mada (pride) and matsarya (jealousy).
What you have to do is to throw away this outer layer of arishadvargas and bring out the five human values latent in you.
If you want to draw water from a well, you have to tie a rope to a bucket and with the help of this bucket you can draw water. In the well of your heart, there is the pure water of human values. In order to draw that water from the well, you have to secure the rope of firm faith. However, people today lack such faith and become blind.
-SSS Vol. 39, Chp. 15
April 18, 2016 4 Clues to recognizing Avarana
Perceptions are mental projections
Acceptance
Opening
Surrender
Witness
April 18, 2016 5 For Discussion
Give an example from personal experience of how perception was different from reality. What were the factors that masked the reality?
April 18, 2016 6 Appendix
April 18, 2016 7 Do we recognize these terms?
Blinded by Anger
April 18, 2016 8 What are the vagaries that impact the mind?
Mala (Impurities)
Vikshepa (Disturbances)
Āvarana (Ignorance)
April 18, 2016 9 What is Mala?
. Mala refers to a mental state comparable to a dust-covered mirror. One can see one’s reflection clearly only when the dust on the mirror is wiped away . The heart that is naturally pure is covered by impurities created by the three gunas related to our life (Satva, Rajas and Tamas) . These impurities can be removed only when we put in an effort
April 18, 2016 10 Swami says…
. In life, man commits many offences, knowingly or unknowingly. Not only in this life but also in previous lives, birth after birth, many mistakes are committed. . The dirt associated with these defects is imprinted on the chitta (memory), life after life, birth after birth. . When dirt /dust gets accumulated on the surface of the mirror (of the mind), we cannot get a true reflection of ourselves in the mirror. . On account of this, man is unable to see clearly the reflection of his real identity, recognize his true Self, in the mirror of his mind. . Hence, it is necessary to put in efforts to cleanse the mirror of the impurities covering it. . How can we clean this mirror? What is the methodology? What is the approach to be followed to clean the (mirror of the) mind? . This cleansing is done by regulating one’s food and other living habits. Past is past. What is gone is gone. At least in the present we must follow the right path and make an effort to cleanse the mind.
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