A thought for the day/week...

[Guest guest]

> Tim Gerchmez <fewtch

>

>

> Adi Sankara, from Viveka-Chudamani -

>

> > "The ego is a strong and deadly serpent, and the gunas are its three

> > angry hoods. It lies coiled around the treasure of the bliss of

> Brahman,

> > which it guards for its own use. The wise man, inspired by the holy

> > scriptures, cuts off the three hoods with the sword of knowledge, and

> > utterly destroys that serpent. Thus he enjoys the treasure of supreme

> > bliss.

>

Namaste

 

Thanks Tim for the beautiful verse. In the first line of the above

verse, there is an indication that the ego has the three qualities (Sattvic,

Rajasic & Tamasic). In the third line, it instructs to cut off the three

qualities. If it is so, then to realize Brahman would be to destroy even

the Sattvic qualities of the ego. Then what would be the value of goodness,

if that too has to be removed?

 

Om Shanti

Kathi

[Guest guest]

Dear Kathi,

 

This is something I can't answer, I was simply one who quoted the words of

another. Perhaps even goodness must be destroyed in order to reach Brahman

by Sankara's path. Perhaps EVERYTHING but Brahman must be utterly

renounced. It's difficult to know. There is more to Viveka-Chudamani.

The entire text is highly worth reading, in my opinion.

 

There are many yogas. Sankara's was a particularly "hard core" jnana, a

rocky and brutal path to follow, but a good one to study (and at times to

walk). If all would follow alongside Sankara perfectly, they would be

saints as Sankara is. I believe that all could, if it was desired strongly

enough. But obviously not all will. Through Grace, Atman chooses path for

Atman.

 

I certainly don't claim full knowledge, full understanding, full

renunciation, full discrimination. If I had realized Brahman to the extent

described in Viveka-Chudamani, I would not waste my time with Internet or

with anything in this objective world at all. I would remain absorbed in

Brahman, and let the body and everything else drop away. But admittedly I

still find pleasure in things of the senses, in things that are beautiful

to the senses and to the mind. I do not wish to be a 'pure' jnani. There

are other paths that temper it so the "feet" don't become bloodied and

ruined on this path. If this eventually results in another incarnation, so

be it.

 

With Love,

 

Ayam Atma Brahma,

Tim

 

 

At 03:50 PM 3/19/99 +0800, you wrote:

> Thanks Tim for the beautiful verse. In the first line of the above

>verse, there is an indication that the ego has the three qualities (Sattvic,

>Rajasic & Tamasic). In the third line, it instructs to cut off the three

>qualities. If it is so, then to realize Brahman would be to destroy even

>the Sattvic qualities of the ego. Then what would be the value of goodness,

>if that too has to be removed?

>

> Om Shanti

> Kathi

 

 

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[Guest guest]

> K Kathirasan ADM NCS <kathirasan

>

> > Tim Gerchmez <fewtch

> >

> >

> > Adi Sankara, from Viveka-Chudamani -

> >

> > > "The ego is a strong and deadly serpent, and the gunas are its three

> > > angry hoods. It lies coiled around the treasure of the bliss of

> > Brahman,

> > > which it guards for its own use. The wise man, inspired by the holy

> > > scriptures, cuts off the three hoods with the sword of knowledge, and

> > > utterly destroys that serpent. Thus he enjoys the treasure of supreme

> > > bliss.

> >

> Namaste

>

> Thanks Tim for the beautiful verse. In the first line of the above

> verse, there is an indication that the ego has the three

> qualities (Sattvic,

> Rajasic & Tamasic). In the third line, it instructs to cut off the three

> qualities. If it is so, then to realize Brahman would be to destroy even

> the Sattvic qualities of the ego. Then what would be the value

> of goodness,

> if that too has to be removed?

>

> Om Shanti

> Kathi

 

Destruction is a process-like description. One can rise above Tamas with the

aid of Rajas, one can rise above Rajas with the aid of Sattva. Once Sattva

is attained, it is difficult to renounce it. Only Self-experience will

enable one to rise above sattva. Being no longer under the influence of

gunas means one is no longer compelled to act; it doesn't mean no-action

from the perspective of onlookers.

 

Jan

[Guest guest]

Hi Jan,

 

After doing some research on the gunas, I now feel I'm qualified to comment

better and to add to your already wise comments.

 

At 12:25 PM 3/19/99 -0000, you wrote:

>Destruction is a process-like description. One can rise above Tamas with the

>aid of Rajas,

 

Heck, one can rise above Tamas with the aid of Prozac <BG>...

>one can rise above Rajas with the aid of Sattva.

 

Seems to me it's difficult to COMPLETELY rise above Rajas, unless one lives

in a cave. Modern society seems to thrive on Rajas more than anything

else. Thus, it may be as difficult for some to renounce Rajas as it is to

renounce Sattva, especially if they're the "Type A Personality" seen so

often these days. But experience of Atman can help one to rise above any

of the gunas, as you mention.

>Once Sattva

>is attained, it is difficult to renounce it. Only Self-experience will

>enable one to rise above sattva.

 

Sattva itself aids in Self-experience as well, as illustrated by this verse -

 

"Sattwa is purity. Even when it is mixed with rajas and tamas, as water is

mixed with water, it lights the way to liberation. Sattwa reveals the

Atman as the sun reveals the objective world."

 

In other words, Sattva may light the way to liberation, then once

liberation is found, the light is no longer needed, and the last "hood" of

the serpent can be cut off.

 

With Love,

 

Tim

 

-----

The CORE of Reality awaits you at:

http://www.eskimo.com/~fewtch/ND/index.html -

Poetry, Writings, Live Chat on spiritual topics.