ATMA BODHAM “KNOWLEDGE of the SELF” : 21 - Swami Sri Adi Sankaracharya
=======================================================================
=======================================================================
14/02/2020.
(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 21: As Blueness is Superimposed on the Sky.
=======================================================================
Slokam-21.
"Deha indriya gunaan karmaani amale sat chit aatmani;
adhyasyanti avivekena gagane neelat-aadi-vat."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Deha indriya gunaan karmaani = Qualities and functions of the body and senses,
2 amale sat chit aatmani; = are, upon the pure Self, whose nature is Existence and Consciousness,
3 adhyasyanti avivekena = superimposed due to lack of discrimination (by fools),
4 gagane neelat-aadi-vat. = just as colours like blue, etc, are superimposed on the sky.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#This slokam is indirectly a tribute to the intellect in man which has the capacity to distinguish and resolve the situation of superimposition described here.
The actions and functions of the body and senses are ascribed to the Self. That is the error which is the subject of this verse. Anyone with a sharp intellect can see without much difficulty that the Self cannot be blamed for the actions performed by the body and senses, as It is beyond them and is unaffected by them. Hence, to ascribe this activity to the Self can only be the work of fools, who do not have their reasoning power awakened. That is the view of Sri Shankaracharya in this slokam.
“Gagane Neelatadivat” Nyaya : The Blue Sky. The sky is not actually blue. It may appear in varied colours, depending on the time of the day. At sunrise and sunset it is of quite a different hue altogether. Blueness is a quality that is superimposed upon it. Not only its blueness, but also various other qualities such as misty haze, fogginess, air pollution, dustiness, have their origins in things which are not the sky. Yet, it is the sky that is described as misty, foggy, etc. although it has nothing to do with those conditions.
This is the superimposition of the conditions which occurs in relation to the Self. Only when we use our discriminative reason to look into the truth of things can we correct this erroneous superimposition of such qualities upon on the ever Pure Consciousness.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEXT : Slokam-22. AS TREMBLINGS ARE ATTRIBUTED TO MOON.
======================================================================
=======================================================================
14/02/2020.
(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 21: As Blueness is Superimposed on the Sky.
=======================================================================
Slokam-21.
"Deha indriya gunaan karmaani amale sat chit aatmani;
adhyasyanti avivekena gagane neelat-aadi-vat."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Deha indriya gunaan karmaani = Qualities and functions of the body and senses,
2 amale sat chit aatmani; = are, upon the pure Self, whose nature is Existence and Consciousness,
3 adhyasyanti avivekena = superimposed due to lack of discrimination (by fools),
4 gagane neelat-aadi-vat. = just as colours like blue, etc, are superimposed on the sky.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#This slokam is indirectly a tribute to the intellect in man which has the capacity to distinguish and resolve the situation of superimposition described here.
The actions and functions of the body and senses are ascribed to the Self. That is the error which is the subject of this verse. Anyone with a sharp intellect can see without much difficulty that the Self cannot be blamed for the actions performed by the body and senses, as It is beyond them and is unaffected by them. Hence, to ascribe this activity to the Self can only be the work of fools, who do not have their reasoning power awakened. That is the view of Sri Shankaracharya in this slokam.
“Gagane Neelatadivat” Nyaya : The Blue Sky. The sky is not actually blue. It may appear in varied colours, depending on the time of the day. At sunrise and sunset it is of quite a different hue altogether. Blueness is a quality that is superimposed upon it. Not only its blueness, but also various other qualities such as misty haze, fogginess, air pollution, dustiness, have their origins in things which are not the sky. Yet, it is the sky that is described as misty, foggy, etc. although it has nothing to do with those conditions.
This is the superimposition of the conditions which occurs in relation to the Self. Only when we use our discriminative reason to look into the truth of things can we correct this erroneous superimposition of such qualities upon on the ever Pure Consciousness.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEXT : Slokam-22. AS TREMBLINGS ARE ATTRIBUTED TO MOON.
Comments
Post a Comment