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Source: thThe Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/06/25/stories/2002062500310800.htm)

 

Miscellaneous

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Religion

 

 

Knowledge of the Self, beyond intellect

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI

JUNE 25

 

.. The scriptures of Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) are the collective wisdom of many

seers who have experienced the truth. These scriptures are the ultimate

authority on spiritual knowledge, which after study must be validated by direct

experience. One method, which these texts adopt, is to indicate the blissful

nature of the Self by analysing the three states of consciousness, which all

experience. Man experiences bliss in the state of deep sleep but he is not aware

of it in that state. There are no objects or thoughts or demands and hence no

craving in the mind in sleep. But, there is no conscious awareness of the bliss

of the Self either.

 

The state of Samadhi (union with the Self) in deep meditation is also silence of

the mind. But in this state there is total awareness of bliss. Everyone yearns

for the peace of deep sleep experience because human beings leave behind the

agitations of the mind, which they face in the waking state. But, this does not

last and as though propelled by some force man wakes up. What makes man wake up

from the state of sleep and drives his mind for sense gratification in the

world? It is the latent tendencies of the mind (Vasanas), which drive him to

action.

 

In his discourse, Swami Mitrananda said man's ignorance of his true blissful

nature was due to the power of Maya. It is a power of the Lord and without a

beginning. When study of the scriptures is undertaken it is natural for the

intellect to probe when Maya began. In Vedanta, it is made clear right at the

outset that it is beyond the ken of the human intellect. Though it is without

beginning, it has an end. The spiritual aspirant can exercise his choice and put

an end to it, by Self-knowledge. Maya is experiencing that which is not there

and hence can only be inferred. When the truth is not known misapprehension

occurs because of Maya.

 

The Vivekachoodamani describes Maya as a great wonder, which cannot be

explained. When the intellect cannot understand something it becomes lost in

wonder. The text further says that it is neither existent nor non-existent, nor

both and hence beyond description. The intention is to stun the intellect and

make it surrender. Then the aspirant develops faith in the scriptural teachings.

This faith is different from the belief a spiritual aspirant has initially. True

faith results due to surrender of the intellect when it is quietened after its

probing does not yield knowledge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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