Tattva Bodha Lesson # 11

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Tattva Bodha

 

of Bhagwan Sri Adi Sankaracharya

 

 

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Lesson # 11 ..... by Swami Atmananda

 

(Explaining Samadhanam)

 

The last of the six qualities enumerated under Shama etc.Sampatti is Samadhanam.

In this lesson we shall discuss this quality. Regarding Samadhanam the Question

& Answer which come up in Tattva Bodha are as under :

 

Q : What is Samadhanam ?

 

A : It is the ability to fix one's mind on some thing.

 

Samadhanam is concentration with a difference. Samadhanam is something more than

concentration. The difference is that in the latter it is just focussing the

attention on one thing but the former is more dynamic. In Samadhanam both our

emotions and understanding are also involved and thus it results in bringing

about greater joy & better understanding of the 'object' of our attention. The

mind is quiet & at peace, yet fully awake & dynamic.

 

Samadhanam is brought about by the a combined effort of 'having clarity of our

goal', 'having love for our goal', and 'practice of Japa'. If a person is not

clear about his / her exact goal which also brings about great enthusiasm in his

mind, then this quality can never be understood. A person with this quality not

only can understand what the teacher is talking about but also directly 'see'

the thing. It indicates an integrated mind. Normally our emotions are not where

our convictions are. A person at work maybe putting his / her mind at the work

at hand but his love is generally somewhere else. It is this divide which

reduces our efficiency, productivity and also sustains the lingering discontent.

If a person can turn all his faculties on the thing at hand then, with this

integrated state of mind not only there is greater satisfaction & joy at

everything which one is doing, increase the efficiency & productivity manifold,

but also invoke the intuitive power of understanding something properly. This

training helps one to live every moment of life thoroughly.

 

The exercise of Japa is an exercise of concentration, invoking & increasing love

for Lord, but the most important to integrate all our faculties. The ability to

concentrate is the basic requisite in all our endeavors. Whether it is worldly

activities or realisation of the truth within we should have the ability to turn

our entire attention wholeheartedly on one thing and keep at it till we

understand & feel that thing properly. A person with Samadhanam has this

ability. It is not difficult for such a person even to glide into the state of

Samadhi - effortlessly.

 

Now, in the next lesson we will go into the last of the quality - of

Mumukshutvam, of a person who is ready to directly realize his Self.

 

Love & om

 

 

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