Jans in Her Mellifluous and Devotion-Filled Voice, Where M¡ and Nutan Swamiji Lived and Worked for Many Years, Before and After They Adopted Sanny¡Sa
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1 Vicharasetu - May 2009 2 The Path of Introspection May 2009 Vol : 44 No. 08 The highest gain for the human lies within himself; but rarely one is interested in discovering it. This is the grand witchcraft ignorance plays upon one and all. The seeker has to be aware of it. Understand that the entire worldly display is an outcome of ignorance. Once you look within and begin to understand the One Reality behind everything, the mind will be empowered to dispel the effects of ignorance. — Swamiji Contents Science of Inner Redemption – 9 The Ineffable Source of Knowledge & Ignorance 03 Restoration of National Values 10 Eternal Moments - 3 Intensity in Spiritual Enquiry – M¡ Gurupriy¡ 14 Inauguration of Prajµ¡na Dh¡m – Mala S 20 News & Notes 26 Narayanashrama Tapovanam Venginissery, P.O. Paralam, Thrissur. Kerala 680 575, India. Tel. (0487) 2278302/2278363 email: [email protected] Website: http://www.brahmavidya.org Vicharasetu - May 2009 3 Science of Inner Redemption – 9 The Ineffable Source of Knowledge & Ignorance Repetition in scriptural texts Repetition is the core of ‘subjective’ teaching. For learning and assimilating too, repeated reflection or introspection is necessary. The teacher VasiÀ¶ha in elucidating, and the author V¡lmiki in rendering the elucidation into his composition, are both equally sensitive to this fundamental note, and therefore are not tired of reiterating the important principles. The examples and illustrations may be re-statements, but the seeker must heed them assiduously to reinforce his ‘manana-s¡dhan¡’ – the pursuit of reflection or rumination. Only then, the ineffable truth about the Self, the supreme Intelligence, will become clear, leading him to direct realization of the inward supreme Presence. Knowledge & ignorance – the dual notions “Therefore Rama,” says VasiÀ¶ha, “you have to rise above the baseless differential notions and exterminate all delusions, so as to get rooted in real knowledge.” ¥…t… ¥…t…o˘∂……Ë i™…Ci¥…… ™…n˘∫i…“Ω˛ i…n˘Œ∫i… Ω˛ * |… i…™……‰ M…¥™…¥…SU‰Ùn˘¥…∂……n‰˘i…p˘P…⁄u˘Ω˛ ** ¥…t… ¥…t…o˘∂……Ë x… ∫i…: ∂…‰π…‰ §…r˘{…n˘…‰ ¶…¥… * x…… ¥…t…Œ∫i… x… ¥…t…Œ∫i… EfiÚi…∆ EÚ±{…x…™……x…™…… ** EÚŒ\S…n˘Œ∫i… x… EÚŒ\S…tŒSS…i∫…∆ ¥… n˘ i… i…Œi∫l…i…®…¬ * i…n‰˘¥…… ¥… n˘i……¶……∫…∆ ∫…n˘ ¥…t‰i™…÷n˘…æ˛i…®…¬ ** ¥… n˘i…∆ ∫…k…n‰¥…‰n˘®… ¥…t…I…™…∫…∆ Y…i…®…¬ * ¥…t…¶……¥……n˘ ¥…t…J™…… ®…l™…Ë¥……‰n‰˘ i… EÚ±{…x…… ** 6p.9.19-22 Abandon the dual notions of ‘knowledge and ignorance’. Whatever exists here, that alone verily is. Differential notions like ‘knowledge and ignorance’ are created only for dialectical purposes, O Rama. As knowledge and ignorance verily do not exist at all, adhere to that which really is, and survives for ever. Neither is ignorance ever there, nor knowledge. Both are but mere creations of mentation or imagination. Vicharasetu - May 2009 4 Something is, but it cannot be described as any ‘thing’. This is the rational perception of intelligence. This is recognized as the supreme Truth or existence (sat), which brings the extinction of ignorance. Due to lack of right knowledge, it is identified as ignorance that prevails only within the ambit of imagination. The great efficacy of Knowledge-pursuit VasiÀ¶ha continues his exposition of the Truth of Oneness, with a view to drive home the undeniable fact that singular sentience or Consciousness alone is. By recognizing, accepting and actualizing this alone, mind’s vagaries and torments will dwindle and cease. At first hearing, it may appear to be a mere discussion or rational enunciation. But if dwelt upon deeply, absorbing its full worth and message, the effects are bound to be marvellous. They are completely inward. The process of ‘knowing’ makes the mind light, subtle and also bright. Finally the mind is rid of its mischievous distractions and deflections. This is how the whole process truly becomes a jµ¡na- Spiritual pursuit s¡dhan¡, knowledge-pursuit. When the idea of oneness is is far greater than heard and reflected upon again and again, spiritual pursuit the acclaimed becomes far greater and more effective than the acclaimed rituals, including the Vedic yaagas. rituals, including the Vedic y¡gas and other religious practices. This kind of effect of Vedantic manana is to be specially grasped. VasiÀ¶ha’s success consists in making Rama dwell upon the sense of Oneness consistently, until it becomes a self-transforming process for him. Rama did nothing but listen to the Sage throughout the day for eighteen days. The process became a paramount knowledge-austerity for the Prince, akin to which there is hardly anything at all. Knowledge-austerity acts upon the mind deeply and wholesomely. As Krishna involved Arjuna’s tormented mind in the Soul discussion with all its subtleties, VasiÀ¶ha too engages Rama’s mind in startlingly effective Soul deliberations. The seeker should not fail to grasp how the philosophical deliberations become deeply inner and personal. In the ocean, bubbles and waves are visibly there, making the observer feel a strong note of difference. But on truthful introspection the sense of differences will be understood as a constricted perception. None can deny the fact that the bubbles and waves are but an offshoot of water. As offshoots they exist, but not as independent or separate existence. Vicharasetu - May 2009 5 Similar is the case with sentience and the object-world. The sensory observations have to give place to inner rational The sensory perception. With that, all the delusion and torment the visual observations have assessment brings will have to fall. Will it happen so in to give place to inner rational reality – one may wonder. If the seeker is sincere to the perception. pursuit of knowledge – its absorption and the resultant introspection – he cannot but find it as fully true, effective and experiential. VasiÀ¶hadeva introduces a stunning note of introspection, when he holds that knowledge alone engenders ignorance and delusion. It is like water generating waves and bubbles; or like getting evaporated to form the clouds that spread and cover the sky above. Are not clouds water in essence? With no other entity by its side, the singular Source projects the notion of other existences. It is intriguing, but enlightening. For, it acts as a compulsion to grasp the lesson it imparts. But disregarding the message, we tend to get deluded and go on suffering. Knowledge and ignorance constitute a duality, which does make us enquire into their source. That which originates knowledge, also gives rise to ignorance. The same water, by virtue of its movement, suddenly appears in the form of countless different waves. Can there be waviness in the absence of the water? Once plurality sets in, its source has to be ascertained. It becomes a compelling quest for rational intelligence. It reigns fundamentally and ultimately, beneath the surface of distinctions and plurality. Introspection of this kind makes the mind and intelligence greatly subtle, taking them to deeper and loftier levels of understanding. Qualities and dimensions, which the seeker hitherto could not imbibe, begin to grace his mind making him greater, more enriched and expansive. The seeker has to understand that ignorance is not an The one reality independent positive entity. Even knowledge is not ultimately is that singular real. Both are products of the mind. The one reality is that source of both singular source of both knowledge and ignorance. That source knowledge and alone is the Truth of the whole knowledge-ignorance display ignorance. and all that results from it. To treat both knowledge and ignorance as products of imagination, the work of the mind, and thereby to lead the seeker’s introspection to the still loftier and ultimate pinnacle, is a unique note of spiritual analysis and exhortation. It reflects and evidences the ultimate phase of jµ¡na-s¡dhan¡, aimed at dissolving and Vicharasetu - May 2009 6 transcending the entire tri-pu¶i – the threefold differential notion of knower- knowing-knowable. Our spirituality, with its thoughts and findings, has remained impeccable and unassailable, solely because of this unique subtlety, whereby it penetrates into the whole labyrinth of mind and intelligence, unearthing the very core and source of everything. Spiritual research cannot hope to reach deeper or greater levels than this any time! The Singular Origin of dual notions ®…l…: ∫¥……xi…‰ i…™……‰Æ˙xi…∂UÙ…™……i…{…x…™……‰ Æ˙¥… * + ¥…t…™……∆ ¥…±…“x……™……∆ I…“h…‰ u‰˘ B¥… EÚ±{…x…‰ ** Bi…‰ Æ˙…P…¥… ±…“™…‰i…‰ +¥……{™…∆ {… Æ˙ ∂…π™…i…‰ * + ¥…t…∫…∆I…™……iI…“h……‰ ¥…t…{…I……‰% {… Æ˙…P…¥… ** ™…ŒSUÙπ]∆ı i…z… EÚŒ\S…u˘… EÚŒ\S…u˘…{…“n˘®……i…i…®…¬ * i…j…Ë¥…∆ n˘fi∂™…i…‰ ∫…¥…» x… EÚ\S…x… S… n˘fi∂™…i…‰ ** 6p.9.23-25 Like sunlight and shadow meet extinction on the setting of night, knowledge and ignorance dissolve in oneself by truthful introspection. When ignorance fades away, the imaginary notions of knowledge and ignorance also become weak. When both get dissolved, then is the remainder gained instantly. When ignorance is dissolved, even knowledge meets the same fate. What endures then can either be nothing at all or something from which everything emerges. In it is all that is, or it is nothing indeed. x…¶…∫……‰%{™… v…E∆Ú ∂…⁄x™…∆ x… S… ∂…⁄x™…∆ S…n˘…i®…EÚ®…¬ * ∫…⁄™…«EÚ…xi…‰ ™…l…… ¥…Œºx…™…«l…… I…“Ɖ P…fii…∆ i…l…… ** i…j…‰n∆˘ ∫…∆Œ∫l…i…∆ ∫…¥…» n‰˘∂…EÚ…±…GÚ®……‰n˘™…‰ * ™…l…… ∫°÷Ú ±…R¬ÛM…… +x…±……tl…… ¶……∫……‰ n˘¥……EÚÆ˙…i…¬ ** 6p.9.27-28 It is a greater void than the space. But it is not really void, because it is Consciousness in essence, like fire in the ‘s£rya-k¡nta’ stone or ghee in milk. In that, like sparks from fire or light from sun, inhere everything and all – space, time, sequence and orderliness.