Advaita Bhoda Deepika #23

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End of post #22

 

18-20. D.: What is this practice?

M.: It consists in discarding the body, senses etc., as being

non-Self and always remembering that 'I am Brahman',

remaining as consciousness witnessing the insentient sheaths.

Meditating on Brahman in solitude, speaking of or teaching

only Brahman in the company of others, not to speak or think

of anything but It, but always one-pointedly to think of

Brahman, is the practice.

 

So say the wise. By this transcend the ego and then proceed

to eliminate the idea of 'mine'.

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21-22. D.: What is the nature of this idea?

 

M.: It consists in the single concept of 'mine' in relation

to the body or whatever pertains to it, such as name, form,

clothing, caste, conduct or professions of life.

 

D.: How does this go away?

M.: By a steadfast meditation on the Reality.

 

D.: How?

M.: Always to be aware that the body etc., its interests and

effects, enjoyments, activities etc., are only figments of ignorance

on pure knowledge i.e., the Self, that like the appearance of silver

on nacre, ornaments in gold, water in mirage, blueness in the

sky or waves in water, all but the Self are only false presentations

or illusory modes of the Self. In reality there is nothing but our

'Self '. Next the sense of differentiation (bheda vasana) must go.

 

23-25. D.: What is this sense of differentiation?

M.: It consists in ideas like: "I am the witness of this; all

that is seen is only insentient and illusory; here is the world;

these are the individuals; this one is the disciple and the other,

the master; this is Isvara, and so on." This must go by a practice

of non-duality.

 

This practice is to remain non-dual, solid Being-

Knowledge-Bliss, untainted and free from thoughts of reality

or unreality, ignorance or its illusory effects, and internal or

external differentiation. This is accomplished by a constant

practice of modeless (nirvikalpa) samadhi. Here remains the

experience of Brahman only.

 

After leaving the sense of differentiation far behind, the

attachment to non-duality must later be given up.

 

26-27. D.: How is this to be done?

M.: Even this state must finally pass into untellable and

unthinkable Reality absolutely free from modes and even

non-duality. The Bliss of Liberation is only this and nothing

more. When the mind is cleared of all latent impurities, it

remains untainted, crystal-clear so that it cannot be said to

exist or not to exist and it becomes one with Reality,

transcending speech and thought. This unmoded, untainted

fixity of the mind is known as Realisation or Liberation while

alive.

 

28. Though direct knowledge of the Self has been gained,

yet until this Realisation ensues, to be liberated while alive one

should always meditate on Brahman with proper control of

mind and senses.

 

Thus ends this chapter.

 

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Taken from Advaita Bhoda Deepika

as published by Sri Ramanasramam

Tiruvannamalai 2002.

 

To be continued...

 

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