ATMA BODHAM “KNOWLEDGE of the SELF” : Mantram 34 - Swami Sri Adi Sankaracharya. Reflections by SWAMI GURUBHAKTANANDA. Chinmaya Mission.

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Saturday, May 29, 2021. 7 :15. 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.)
D. NIDIDHYASANA or MEDITATION ON THE SELF: (34-37)
Mantram - 34: Beyond all Attributes Am I (Tatastha Lakshana)
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Mantram - 34: Beyond all Attributes Am I (Tatastha Lakshana)

"Nirgunah, nishkriyah, nityah,  nirvikalpah, niranjanah;

Nirvikaarah, niraakaarah, nitya-muktah asmi nirmalah." ||34||

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Translation : 

1 "Nirgunah, nishkriyah, nityah, Without attributes, without actions, eternal,

2 nirvikalpah, niranjanah; without any desire (thought), without dirt,

3 Nirvikaarah, niraakaarah, without any change, without form,

4 nitya-muktah asmi nirmalah. ever liberated, and ever Pure I am."

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Commentary :

Now the most important step of all is being dealt with in the next 4 verses, up to verse 37. We keep in mind that this discussion on the role of the discriminating intellect began with verse 26, and covers 12 verses. Here we come to the final phase of the discussion, which is Nididhyasana or meditation on the divine qualities of the Self.

Up to now we were focusing on NEGATION (“Neti-Neti”). Now the time has come to focus on positive ASSERTION. The divinity of the Spirit is asserted in Nididhyasana.

Nididhyasana is where we bring the whole process to its glorious end, where we reap the full benefits of all the laborious efforts of earlier Sadhana. There is actually nothing to discuss. The spirit of these verses is purely to assist us in the meditation Sadhana.

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No Need for “Why” & “How” Now
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To bring in why and how at this stage will sully the experience of Truth.

Most important to derive the full benefit of these verses is to know that at this stage we are not interested in the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ anymore. All the ‘whys’ and the ‘hows’ have been dealt with in the previous stages. We have passed that stage already and come to the last phase which requires us to hold our focus steady and imbibe the richness of the Self-experience.

We must feel the full flow of these qualities throughout our system, body and mind.

Acharyaji gave a stunning simile of his own in this regard. He said, “We do not need the speed-breakers of ‘why’ and ‘how’ to arrest the smooth flow of these qualities into our bloodstream.”

What a beautiful illustration of the state of meditative ecstacy! Surely, that can only come from one who is himself immersed in such a state of bliss.

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1-4 Nine qualities of the Self are listed in this Mantram.

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i) Nirguna – without attributes

ii) Nishkriya – without actions

iii) Nitya – eternal

iv) Nirvikalpa – without any desire and thought

v) Niranjana – without any dirt

vi) Nirvikara – without any change

vii) Nirakara – without form

viii) Nityamukta – ever free or liberated

ix) Nirmala – without impurity; ever pure

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What a line-up! – An awesome, invincible team indeed!

We experience our deepest Self as these beautiful qualities. It is such an experience that makes the spiritual quest so intensely rewarding and worthwhile. It is for a glimspe of these qualities that Yogis and sages make huge sacrifices in their personal lives. Do they not now richly deserve to reap the harvest of all their hard work?

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An Indirect Simile: “Ni” – the Highest Note in Music

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All nine words for the nine qualities of the Self begin with the prefix ‘Ni’. The seventh and highest note of a music octave is Ni, in Indian music. Is it significant here that in talking about the qualities of God, the name of this note is in all of them?

A classical musician, when he gets to the highest note, tries to hold it for as long as he can. Is it significant then that when the spiritual seeker scales the heights of spirituality, he tries to maintain that state for as long as he can? – Perhaps for ever!

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End.
Next - Mantram - 35: Beyond All Change and Taint (Tatastha Lakshana)
To be continued .....

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