A thought for the day/week...

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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. There is no hope of a man's recovery, as long as any trace of

> poison remains in his body. Similarly, the spiritual seeker cannot

> attain liberation as long as any trace of the ego remains with him.

> Utterly destroy the ego. Control the many waves of distraction which it

> raises in the mind. Discern the reality and realize 'I am That."

 

Commentary (by 'me') -

 

The ego that Sri Sankara refers to is the false identification with the

body, mind and senses. On the path of jnana, it is renunciation and

discernment that are the two most important things to practice. Renounce

sense-pleasures (especially *attachments* to such), cease to identify the

Self with the body, the thoughts, the senses, and discern the Atman from

the dross surrounding It.

 

I like to go through a "ritual" before sleeping every night, slowly and

with concentration. I ask myself, "I am not this body. I am not the

senses that hear, see, smell, taste, touch. I am not all this clutter and

junk lying around. I am not even the mind that thinks this. When all

these are removed, what is left? Who am I? Who am I?" This is discernment.

 

 

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