Skip to main content

I am 'that'

Shloka (14-21- remaining shlokas of week 16)

Sharing my notes here for the next shlokas, I would first like to remind myself of the prayer with which the journey began (as I am now more humble and mindful of the auspiciousness of the cosmic song I am trying to interpret);

करचरण कृतं वाक्कायजं कर्मजं वा ।
श्रवणनयनजं वा मानसं वापराधं ।
विहितमविहितं वा सर्वमेतत्क्षमस्व ।
जय जय करुणाब्धे श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥

Meaning: "O God, kindly pardon my incorrect actions done consciously or unconsciously, either through my organs of action (hand, feet, and speech) or through my organs of perception (eyes, ears) or by my mind. I adore the God, who is the ocean of kindness".

Just like God (Ishwara) who is apparently not the doer (akarta) but as He adorns maya, He is the one who has created expanse of the three worlds. Even if we call Him the creator, He remains indifferent to His creation as He is completely detached and remains in the undisturbed state of  ‘yoganidra’ (the deep cosmic sleep), so non-action is not lost. Even though He embodies all the beings, He doesn’t belong to anybody. He remains unaware of when the creation comes into existence, and also when it’s destroyed. The good deeds and the bad deeds (paap and punyas) though remains with Him but He doesn't know them—He even takes the form (incarnates) to perform the play but His formless nature is not destroyed.

He creates, preserves, and destroys—This is how He is being described, and those who believe this are ignorant. (shloka15)

When this ignorance is destroyed, the darkness of illusions disappears, and the non-action (akarta-bhava) of the divinity becomes evident. Thus, the one who embodies the principle of ‘I am not the doer’ naturally adorns the principle of 'I am that' (the singularity). Such enlightened wisdom reveals the liberated nature of the world—just as the light of the rising sun not only destroys the darkness of the east but of every direction.

The one whose intellect is enlightened by the knowledge of the spirit displays ‘samdrishti’ (the ability to see everyone and everything equally- without any discrimination). The one who embodies brahma (the supreme spirit) sees the world as the embodiment of the supreme spirit only. He is thus brahma himself. He doesn’t discriminate between an ant and an elephant—higher caste or lower caste (untouchables)—my child or other’s child— (such discrimination exists when the principle of duality is manifesting) and thus he displays the principle of singularity (shloka 18).

Such a being doesn’t punish his senses and doesn’t give up pleasures of the world as he embodies the principle of ‘I am not the doer’. Even though he seems to enjoy pleasures, he is free of lust and indulgences. Just like the mountains cannot be swayed away by the floods of the river, he remains unaffected by good or bad achievements. And just like the chakor bird who is used to take bites from the moonbeam cannot eat sand, this attainment of the spirit detaches one from the desires of the senses as he already has attained the greatest joy—the joy of the spirit.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ananya Bhakti (the singularity)

Week 32, Chapter 11, Shloka 32-55 Tremendous form of Krishna, as seen by Arjuna shows everything and every one of the mortal world rushing towards the fire-filled mouth of Shri Krishna- like the moths rushing towards the fire are consumed by the fire, the same way Arjuna can see the warriors of the mortal world and the army of the battlefield rushing towards the tremendous fire of destruction in the mouth of Krishna. Having been witnessed this universal form, trembling with fear, Arjuna requests Krishna to return back to his gentle human form. Says Krishna— The universal form that you saw cannot be attained by studying Vedas or scriptures…nor by charity, penance, sacrifices can the universal form be attained. भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन | ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परन्तप || 54 || bhaktyā tv ananyayā śhakya aham eva ṁ -vidho ’ rjuna j ñā tu ṁ dra ṣ h ṭ u ṁ cha tattvena prave ṣ h ṭ u ṁ cha parantapa The only way to attain my universal form is...
Post a Comment
Read more

The universal being

Chapter 12, shloka 15-20 The way the ocean remains unaffected if the number of sea creatures increases or decreases nor is it annoyed by their activities…also the sea creatures remain unaffected by the roar of the ocean. In the same way, the one who is unaffected by other people’s behavior; has overcome the ideas of mine and others, has overcome the ideas of pleasure and sorrow, remains devoted to me and so is always the one who is most dear to me. He who has overcome his lust and greed, is a being so full of purity and his company is so auspicious like the rays of the sun –the mere presence is sufficient to remove all the darkness (that lies within). Such a being is fearless and is contained with ‘samadhaan’(the most peaceful state). The one who has assumed his position as a universal being is uninterested in anything other than the joy of the spirit. Does not rejoice nor despair the worldly gains or losses. The one who is equipoised in pleasure and sorrow and considers everyone e...
Post a Comment
Read more

The 'sadbuddhi' (some more reflections on Buddhi- yoga)

    As Krishna continues talking about the buddhi- yoga , that is, when the heart is calm in both success and failures, pleasures and pains. Also, when the mana and buddhi are coordinated (are on the same page). One may say that buddhi- yoga is superior to  karma- yoga but on the contrary, buddhi- yoga cannot be attained till one perform karmas with detachment. The supreme state of karma ( uttaravastha ) is a natural state of yoga. By not desiring the outcome of the karmas, one gets liberated from the cycle of birth and death. And eventually, they also get liberated from the buddhi- yoga and attains their salvation- the state of brahmananda (shloka-51). I feel when Krishna talks about sadbuddhi , he talks about the pure desire of a seeker that consistently lights his path towards accepting that (deeds) which will lead him towards his enlightenment, and at the same time gives him wisdom to not accept those deeds that are prohibited or that are futile in ord...
Post a Comment
Read more