ATMA BODHAM “KNOWLEDGE of the SELF” : Mantram 33 - Swami Sri Adi Sankaracharya.

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Tuesday, May  04, 2021. 08 :53. AM.. 
ATMA BODHAM “KNOWLEDGE of the SELF”
(68 Slokam-s in  9 Chapters)
Chapter 6 - “The Birth of the EGO” - Sloka-s 25-37 (13 no.)
NEXT - C. “NETI – NETI” : THE DOCTRINE OF NEGATION (30-33)
Mantram - 33 : Beyond Mind and Pranas Am I (Athatvya-Vritti Lakshana)
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 Mantram - 33: Beyond Mind and Pranas Am I (Athatvya-Vritti Lakshana) :

"Amanas-tvaat na me duhkha raga-dvesha-bhaya-aadayah;

apraanah hi amanaah shubhrah iti aadi shruti-shaasanaat."||33||

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Translation :

1 Amanas-tvaat na me duhkha       =  Because I am not this mind, thus not for me is sorrow,

2 raga-dvesha-bhaya-aadayah;       =  attachment, malice, fear and so on.

3 apraanah hi amanaah shubhrah    = The Self is without Prana, and even without mind;

4 iti aadi shruti-shaasanaat.             = “It is Pure” – thus declare the Shrutis (Upanishads).

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Commentary :

We now deal with the second aspect of our Upadhis – the mind. This step is Manana on the mind. It is more subtle reflection than that described in the previous verse. It is much more difficult to negate the mind than to negate the body. The abstract is always more elusive than the concrete.

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1 Why is this negation being done? Is it because the Guru said so? No, it is because that is the firm conviction that is arising in our mind of the limitations incumbent upon these Upadhis. It is from our own intellectual conviction that we make the resolve to raise ourselves above these limitations, and not because anyone has told us to do so. This is the deep personal conviction which Vedanta imposes upon us, and from which springs the energy for the Sadhana.

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2 The mind here has to be taken as the entire Antahkarana or inner equipment, i.e. the mind, intellect and ego-sense. All these together form the mental Upadhis. Each one of them is associated with the full baggage of attachments, fears, likes and dislikes, emotions and feelings, and the joys and sorrows that are the effects of these thoughts.

We notice that from step 31, the text begins to use the first person. ‘I’ am the subject of the actions. This is because the negation process is a process that concerns only ‘me’ in my relationship with all these Upadhis. It is an individual Sadhana to overcome the individuality. No one else need even know about this Sadhana. It is a personal practice, done for self-purification, not for acquiring any accreditation from others. It must not end up as an achievement for which the ego will be expecting to be applauded.

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3 Swami Chinmayanandaji compares this step (of bringing the mind under scrutiny) as one would view or analyse one’s own dream. Once the dream is seen as a dream, it ceases to carry with it all the associated feelings and emotions it may have carried while it was still being dreamt. Upon awakening from one’s dream, the child that died in the dream does not bring sorrow. Similarly, the seeker does not lament that he has to give up all the feelings that he once associated with his experiences. He now sees his mental encounters dispassionately as a witness. The ‘death’ of all the good or bad emotions and thoughts is not a cause for mourning, any more than are the termination of the sorrows and joys of dream upon awakening.

The logic of Vedanta is simple; we need not complicate it. Complications invite impurities to set in. The process is seen simply as this: “I am not these emotions. I am free from sorrow or pain. I have no attachment, malice or fear.” This practice, if carried out in simplicity, which means with purity, is sure to bring the result of peace of mind.

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4 In other words, we should be very happy to be free from the mind! For it is the direction given by the Srutis (Upanishads) themselves. Handling of the mind in this way should bring us joy, not regret in having to lose something.

Performed in this manner, the due reward of mental peace is sure to come, and that prepares us for the third stage of Sadhana, which is Nididhyasana.….

End.

Next - D. NIDIDHYASANA or MEDITATION ON THE SELF: (34-37)

Mantram - 34: Beyond all Attributes Am I (Tatastha Lakshana)

To be continued ....

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