Guest guest Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 As Jnaneshvar talks to his father, trying toconvince him to return to the city ....Jnaneswar: Knowing one’s Self and being that Self alone is Brahmanishta, and not living in forests... Father: Even though one may know the Self in the presence of one’s Guru, is it not necessary to stay in solitude to remain fixed in that Self? Jnaneswar: True jnanis realized that ajnana (error) will not be destroyed, nor the sense of “I” and “mine” be got rid of by living alone in a forest and doing penance, and therefore practiced nirvikalpa samadhi, with a firm mind, ignoring all such distinctions as city and forest, home life and asceticism. If that is so, why should you oppose home life and live in this forest? Father: If those who have seen the sakshi (witness) and become one with the Self, who is the witness of all, remain in family life, it will hamper their practice of samadhi, and they will lose their experience of realization of the Self. Therefore, those who have attained the bliss of the sahaja (spontaneous) state will not entertain, even in a dream, the desire to engage in family life. Jnaneswar: Sahaja nishta (spontaneous realization) consists in being free, both from desires and aversions. Can hating the town and loving the forest be such nishta? Father: How can one carry on with the affairs of the world who has no desires either to do or not to do? And what is the use of living in the world if one is not fit to engage in the affairs of the world? One should not at all remain in a place where one would be a prey to many difficulties arising from the desire to cater to the comforts of this body. Such catering can be compared to celebrating the marriage of a corpse. Jnaneswar: If one who has given up all desires to engage in any activity, engages in the practice of samadhi, is not that practice also an activity, and why should not he who has this occupation have also the activity of the family? Father: Even if samadhi is an activity, it will remove all thoughts and anxieties. On the other hand, domestic business will create all kinds of thoughts and worries and cause grief always. Jnaneswar: When one is Sat Chit Ananda (three fold Self) himself, why should one engage in nishta sadhana (practice with faith)? to be continued... Attachment: (image/jpeg) jnaneshwar.jpg [not stored] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 , "Lady Joyce" <shaantih@c...> wrote: > > As Jnaneshvar talks to his father, trying to > convince him to return to the city > > ...Jnaneswar: Knowing one's Self and being that Self alone is Brahmanishta, and not living in forests... > > > > Father: Even though one may know the Self in the presence of one's Guru, is it not necessary to stay in solitude to remain fixed in that Self? > > Jnaneswar: True jnanis realized that ajnana (error) will not be destroyed, nor the sense of "I" and "mine" be got rid of by living alone in a forest and doing penance, and therefore practiced nirvikalpa samadhi, with a firm mind, ignoring all such distinctions as city and forest, home life and asceticism. If that is so, why should you oppose home life and live in this forest? > <courtesy snip> > > to be continued... thank you, lady, for posting this teaching. wonderful and illuminating. yosy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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