MIND AND SERENITY - SWAMI TATWANANDA

[Guest guest]

"In that which is night to all beings, the wise man is awake. That in which

all beings are awake, that is night for the sage who sees." (Chap.2-Verse

69-B.G.)

 

 

Day and night are marked by light and darkness. Darkness has no capacity to

destroy things but it can hide things from one's perception. Light does not

produce a thing, but it can make it available for one's perception and on

seeing, there is every chance that it can be the object of one's pursuit.

Ignorance and knowledge work in a similar manner. Ignorance keeps things away

from your attention, while knowledge brings it to your awareness and there by

it can be the object of your pursuit.

 

For the wise one the Reality is One and the One is oneself. The reality of

the Oneness, which is the vision of Vedanta, is the truth understood by the

gnani. The differences perceived are understood as "apparent" because for him

this creation has no "independent existent" apart from its very source. The

agnani, however, does not see the Oneness because for him the world of names

and forms seems valid and is as the source of happiness. As such, he is

caught in the "changes"(samsara). Therefore, Krishna says, "to that which is

so clear to the gnani the ignorant one is not awake, just as for the gnani

the apparent world and samsara has no reality."

 

"You" are the Truth, yet one sets out on a route to discover it. Truth alone

is the basis and is invariably "Special" in all experiences. Yet in ignorance

when man seeks it, he goes in for "special experiences" to gain it. It is no

wonder for the ignorant one to declare that "I am not Atma" and for the man

of wisdom, it is no more a wonder to see the ever existing, all pervasive

Truth in him, others and everywhere. Therefore, what is so clear to the

gnanni - "aham purnah" - is not "seen" by the ignorant and what is so

glaringly attractive and clear - "the names and forms, the agents of joy for

the ignorant" - is meaningless to the wise one.

 

Ignorance hides the Truth, which is indestructible, from you. The "Uncreated

Truth" is brought to your awareness by Knowledge. When Truth is recognized,

it is the object of your reverence in life. From that moment it makes you a

lover of Truth and a different journey in life is begun. This simple act of

knowledge deserves all glory!

 

(Excerpted from Swamiji's talks published in Mind and Serenity1984.)