ATMA BODHAM : (68 verses, 9 Chapters) - “KNOWLEDGE of the SELF” - 7.

14/11/2018
Chapter 2
Verses 2-5 (4 no.)
“Self-Knowledge”

VERSE 4: As Sun is Revealed When Clouds Pass Away

Ava-cchhinnah iva ajnaanaat tat naashe sati kevalah;
swayam prakaashate hi aatmaa meghaa-paaye amshumaan iva.

1 Ava-cchhinnah iva ajnaanaat  = Appearing as finite because of ignorance,

2 tat naashe sati kevalah;  =  when ignorance is destroyed, then alone

3 swayam prakaashate hi aatmaa  =  does the Self reveal Its own true nature,

4 meghaa-paaye amshumaan iva. =  as the Sun is revealed when the clouds pass away.

Here the previous idea is continued, but from the perspective of ignorance. It is ignorance that makes the individual self feel limited, although in truth the Self is limitless. The identification with the body, mind or intellect, known as the Upaadhis, causes one to feel very restrained and limited.

The following three aspects may clarify this limitation : -

i) Limited in Space : - The pure Self is defined to be Sarvavyapi or omnipresent. Due to the identity with the body, it is experienced as being Alpavyapi, that is, limited in space to just here, not everywhere.

ii) Limited in Time : - The pure Self is also eternal or Nitya. Again we do not experience this as our very nature, because we are limited in time by the Upaadhis. Time is a mental concept superimposed on the Self, and hence we feel we are Anitya instead of Nitya. We are oppressed by the idea that we have a temporary existence only. We do not wish to die. The very thought instills fear in us. Yet, our true Self is deathless. (This is the theme the Geeta takes up at the very outset of its teaching.)

iii) Limitation in Body : - The pure Self is also not limited to one object, it is Sarva-Atman. However, because of identification with one body only we feel limited and threatened by all the other bodies or objects around us as we see them as “not us”. Thus we experience the severe limitation of being “Mama-Atman” and not the Sarva-Atman that we are in reality.

Thus ignorance has robbed us of knowing ourselves as we are. To restore us to our original nature, we need to have knowledge of who we are. Then ignorance automatically gets destroyed. Knowledge is in direct opposition to the ignorance of “I am the body”.

Example of Sun and Clouds : -

What example best illustrates this limitation we feel?

The example in this verse is of clouds shielding the direct rays of the sun. The sun is self-luminous; we need not show a light on it to see it. And if clouds are shielding it, nothing needs to be done to the sun to get its rays again. Just the clouds need to disperse by a strong gust of wind. Once they have moved away, the direct rays of the sun are seen.

In this example the sun stands for the Self which is self-effulgent and not in need of anything to enable it to be known. Ignorance is the dark cloud that is shielding the sunlight.

The wind to blow away the cloud of ignorance is the strong gust of the Brahmakara Vritti. For driving away the clouds blowing “phew, phew” from the mouth on the ground would not help.

The wind has to blow high up where the cloud is situated. Even so, the Brahmakara Vritti must be ‘blown’ deep within in the silence of meditation. Then it can be effective in driving off ignorance.

By removal of ignorance by the “wind” of knowledge is meant the whole routine of Sadhana to the point of total Chitta Shuddhi and Chitta Ekagrata. This is taken for granted in this verse. The first offshoot of ignorance is identification with the Upadhis; from that arises the feeling of being limited; from that arises discontent or the feeling of incompleteness; and from that arises desire.

All this happens at the internal level. With the manifestation of desire, the first steps are taken to engage with the external objects in order to fulfill the desire. Thus begins the vast network of actions by which ignorance becomes more and more deep-seated in us. In the simile used here, this process is like the cloud building up bigger and bigger, getting darker and darker and concealing the sun more and more.

Beyond the Limitations : -

When the limitations are recognized and negated, we get closer to our pure or Kevala state beyond limitations. Three types of differences are not to be there for anything to become unlimited : -

i) Swagata Bheda: no parts are seen to exist within itself.

ii) Sujaatiya Bheda: Within the same species of the thing, say trees, no differences are seen between different trees. The ‘tree-ness’ is seen in all objects in that category.

iii) Vijaatiya Bheda: Between different species, e.g. between man and animals, no differences are seen. This can only be possible when that which is common in both becomes the determining factor. The common life-force existing in each object in this category becomes the unifying factor.

When, at each of these levels, we go to the common factor, then the ‘limitedness’ associated at that level disappears. At the level of the Self or supreme Consciousness, every object becomes limitless, as we now go beyond the form of the object and see only the common consciousness in all objects.

In this manner, by deep meditation and enquiry we can transcend our limitations. As this process is taken to its logical extreme at the Self level, knowledge dawns, and that removes all the limitations imposed on our life by ignorance.

NEXT :VERSE - 5: As Coagulent – Settles After Cleaning Water

To be continued ..