Atmabodham

======================================================================== ======================================================================= 30/12/2019. (68 Slokam-s in  9 Chapters) Chapter - 5 :  AN ERROR OF MISAPPREHENSION (Slokam-s 15 – 24) Slokam-s 15-24 (10 Numbers.) B. CULTIVATING WITNESS-SHIP : (18-22) Slokam - 20 : As Sunlight Keeps People Busy ======================================================================= Slokam - 20. "Aatma chaitanyam aashritya deha indriya manah dhiyah; swa-kreeyaartheshu vartante sooryaa-lokam yathaa janaah." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Aatma chaitanyam aashritya    = Depending on Self, of the nature of consciousness, 2 deha indriya manah dhiyah;    = the body, senses, mind and intellect 3 s

======================================================================= -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22/11/2019. Chapter - 5 :  AN ERROR OF MISAPPREHENSION (Slokam-s 15 – 24) Slokam-s 15-24 (10 Numbers.) B. CULTIVATING WITNESS-SHIP : (18-22) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Slokam - 19 : As the Moon – Appearing to Run ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Vyaa-priteshu indriyeshu aatmaa  vyaa-paaree iva avivekinaam; drishyate abhreshu dhaavatsudhaavan iva yathaa shashee." 1 Vyaa-priteshu indriyeshu aatmaa = The Atman, observed through the active senses 2 vyaa-paaree

======================================================================= -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 05/10/2019 Chapter - 5 :  AN ERROR OF MISAPPREHENSION (Verses 15 – 24) Slokam-s 15-24 (10 Numbers.) B. CULTIVATING WITNESS-SHIP : (18-22) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SLOKAM -18 : As a King – Distinct from the Crowd "Deha indriya manah buddhih prakriti-bhyah vi-lakshanam; tad-vritti saakshinam vidyaat aatmaanam raja-vat sadaa." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Meaning by words : 1 Deha indriya manah buddhih - The body, senses, mind and intellect – 2 prakriti-bhyah vi-lakshanam; - constitute Prakriti or matter; distinct from them, 3 tad-vritti saakshinam vidyaat - and known to be their w

 ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13/09/2019 Chapter 5 Slokam-s 15-26 (12 Numbers.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SLOKAM -17. "sadaa sarvagato.apyaatmaa na sarvatraavabhaaste . buddhaavevaavabhaaseta svachchheshhu pratibimbavat" .. 17 Pada Artha: Sadaa: always Sarvagataha: all pervading Api: although Atmaa: the Self Na: not Sarvatra: everywhere Avabhaasate: shines Budhyav: in the intellect Eva: only Avabhaasate: manifests Swacheshu: in the transparent surface Pratibimbavat: just as the reflection The Atman does not shine in everything although He is All-pervading. He is manifest only in the inner equipment, the intellect (Buddhi): just as the reflection in a clean mirror. In the previous slokam-s we learnt that the Atman is

31/07/2019 Chapter 5 Verse 15-26 (12 Numbers.) VERSE 16: "Vapus Tushadibhih Kosaih Yuktam Yuktya Avaghaatatah, Atmanam Antaram Suddham Vivichyaat Tandulam Yatha." "Just as rice is obtained by poundingpaddy and separating the husk, bran etc., wecan separate Pure Atma within from theencircling of Five Kosas through carefuldiscrimination. When one clearly realises thesoul to be distinct from the Kosas, he becomesdetached from them. This detachment isfollowed by knowledge of the self." 1. Just as husking the paddy exposes the grain within ( the rice ) , so also should one judiciously separate the pure Atman from the sheaths covering it . 2. One should , through discrimination , separate the pure and inmost Self from the sheaths by which it is covered , as one separates a rice kernel from the covering husk by striking it with a pestle . 3. Through discriminative self-analysis and logical thinking one should separate the Pure self within from the sheaths as one sepa

ATMA BODHAM : 15 - (68 verses, 9 Chapters) - “KNOWLEDGE of the SELF” 18/06/2019 Chapter 5 Verse 15-26 (12 Numbers.) “An Error of MISAPPREHENSION” THE PROBLEM VERSE 15: As a Colour Appears in a Crystal "Pancha kosha-aadi yogena  tat tanmayah iva sthitah; shuddhaatmaa neela vastra-aadi  yogena sphatikah yathaa." 1 Pancha kosha-aadi yogena = Due to Its closeness with the five sheaths, etc, 2 tat tanmayah iva sthitah; = appearing to be identical with them is the 3 shuddhaatmaa neela vastra-aadi = Pure Self – as in the proximity of blue cloth, 4 yogena sphatikah yathaa. = a clear crystal also appears to be blue. In this verse the precise distinction between the Self and the sheaths discussed above, is explained using a superb simile. The main reason for the misplaced identity of the Self is given. The Self is pure and clear. It has no qualities in itself. The qualities all belong to the five sheaths. However, because of the close association of the Sel

ATMA BODHAM : 14 - (68 verses, 9 Chapters) - “KNOWLEDGE of the SELF” 18/04/2019 Chapter-4. Verses 10-14  ( 4.nos ) : VERSE 14: The Causal Body "Anaadi avidya anirvaachyaa  kaarana upaadhih uchyate; upaadhi-tritayaat anyam - aatmaanam avadhaarayet." 1 Anaadi avidya anirvaachyaa - Ignorance is beginningless and inexplicable; 2 kaarana upaadhih uchyate; - it is said to form the Causal Body. 3 upaadhi-tritayaat anyam - Other than these three conditioning bodies, 4 aatmaanam avadhaarayet. - we should understand the Self to be. The reference is to verse 6.5 of Tattva Bodha, which defines the Causal Body. This is one of the few verses without a simile. The “Desire-Lineage”: Here, the new point brought out is on the subject of “The Consequences of Desire”. 1 Ignorance is said to be the form of the causal body. The causal body is just pure Ignorance. We do not know the cause of Ignorance. Logically there can be no cause for it. It is said to Causeless. Ach

ATMA BODHAM : 13 - (68 verses, 9 Chapters) - “KNOWLEDGE of the SELF” 18/04/2019 Chapter-4. Verses 10-14  ( 4.nos ) : VERSE 13: The Subtle Body "Pancha praana manah buddhih dasha indriyah saman-vitam; apanchi-krita bhootah uttham sookshma-angam bhoga saadhanam." 1 Pancha praana manah buddhih           = The five Pranas, the mind and intellect, 2 dasha indriyah saman-vitam;               = together with the ten senses combined; 3 apanchi-krita bhootah uttham             =   formed from the subtle elements, forms the 4 sookshma-angam bhoga saadhanam  = subtle body, the instrument of experience. This verse is a more compact version of 6.2 of Tattva Bodha, on the Subtle Body. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bhoga Sadhanam: “Instrument” of Experience : --------------------------------------------------------------------- The illustration here is of an instrument, such as a pe

ATMA BODHAM : 12 - (68 verses, 9 Chapters) - “KNOWLEDGE of the SELF” 27/03/2019 Chapter-4. Verses 10-14  ( 4.nos ) : VERSE 12: The Gross Body "Panchi-krita mahaa-bhoota sambhavam karma sanchitam; shareeram sukha-duhkhaanaam bhog-aayatanam uchyate." 1 Panchi-krita mahaa-bhoota = From the five elements made after Panchi-Karana; 2 sambhavam karma sanchitam; = determined by one’s own past actions; 3 shareeram sukha-duhkhaanaam = is born this body. Experiencing pleasure and pain 4 bhog-aayatanam uchyate. = through this medium, is said to be its purpose. Discussion : - This verse expresses in one concise couplet what was explained at length in verse 6.1 of Tattva Bodha where the Gross Body was defined, under the chapter heading ‘The Three Bodies’. The content is identical and need not be explained here. Bhoga Aayatanam: – “Tenement” of Experience : - The example here is that of a business premises where, at the counter, various transactions take p

25/02/2019 Chapter 4 : Verses 10-14 (4 no.) : “The UPADHIS or Conditioners” VERSE 11: As Flavours Superimposed in Water 1 Naanaa upaadhi-vashaat eva   = Because of its association with different Upadhis, 2 jaati-naam-aashram-aadayah; = the idea of caste, colour, position, etc, 3 aatmani aaropitaah toye          = are superimposed upon the Atman; as in water 4 rasa-varna-aadi bheda-vat.      = are (superimposed) differences like flavour, colour, etc. This verse continues the theme begun in the last verse, expanding on the effect of the different conditionings or Upadhis in appearing to split Reality into pieces. In the last verse the focus was on finding a solution for the removal of the differences raised by the Upadhis. In this verse we are not looking the solution, but we examine the consequences of the appearance of innumerable differences in day-to-day life resulting from these Upadhis. The Birth of Distinctions in Human Society : The direct result of differences i

07/02/2019 Chapter 4 : Verses 10-14 (4 no.) : “The UPADHIS or Conditioners” Verse -10. As Space – One Appears as Many "Yathaa aakaashah hrisheekeshah  naanaa upaadhi-gatah vibhuh; tat bhedaat bhinna-vat bhaati tat naashe kevalah bhavet." 1 Yathaa aakaashah hrisheekeshah = As with Space, so with the omnipresent Lord: 2 naanaa upaadhi-gatah vibhuh;    = The All-pervading, associated with various Upadhis, 3 tat bhedaat bhinna-vat bhaati     = due to their distinctness, It appears to be diverse, 4 tat naashe kevalah bhavet.         = but separated from them, It becomes One. The simile is given at the outset, “Just as space”. Let us first look at the real situation and then come back to consider the simile. *The Deeper Meaning Behind “Hrsheekesha” 1 This is derived from two words: Hrisheeka + Isha. Hrisheeka means “the senses” (Indriyas); Isha means the “controller”, governor, one who sustains or gives life. The combined meaning reads as “one who controls th

04/01/2019 Chapter 3 : Verses 6-9 (4 no.) : “The Nature of the WORLD” : Verse -6. As a Dream Only! "Samsaarah svapna-tulyah hi raga-dvesha-aadi sankulah;  swakaale satya-vat bhaati prabodhe sati asat bhavet." 1 Samsaarah svapna-tulyah hi  = The world is truly like a dream only: 2 raga-dvesha-aadi sankulah;   = full of its attachment and aversions, and so on. 3 swakaale satya-vat bhaati      = While the dream continues, it appears to be real; 4 prabodhe sati asat bhavet.    = when we awaken, its unreality is seen. From verse 6 – 9, we shift our attention from the Self and Self-knowledge to the world of appearance of names and forms. 1 Samsara here means the world of transmigration, the world of births and deaths in an endless cycle, which can only be escaped through knowledge of the Self. The characteristic feature of this Samsara is that “it is the realm where one thought is not like the next thought, and thoughts change so rapidly from one to the next. Th