'Ignorance itself gets transformed into Knowledge' - Vidyaranya.

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Namaste.

The following is in fact a supplement to my ABCPN – 10 , under

Comments to Sloka No.28. It is taken from Vidyaranya’s

introduction to the study of Upanishads. The English

translation is by Alladi Mahadeva Sastry.

 

“ …. A thing is said to be unknown, as the Vedantic authorities

declare, when veiled by ajnana or ignorance; and it is said to

be known when illumined by the organ of knowledge. And both

these facts are illumined by the Witness, by the unfailing

Consciousness. Every thing always presents itself to the

Witness, to Consciousness, either as known or unknown. Such is

the main truth taught in the scriptures. Thus it is

Consciousness by which a thing is realized as unknown; and by

all organs of knowledge we cognize what has remained unknown. ….

The result of a thing being unknown is the veiling of the thing

and nothing else. The inert unconscious matter being in itself

veiled and dark, how can there be a new veiling of it? On the

other hand, Consciousness, which is luminous, is affected by

something else veiling it, just as, a white cloth is affected

by the dyeing ink. Rahu may darken the moon, never the dark

clouds. Thus it is Consciousness that is the unknown and the

inert matter is formed of ajnana. Whatever is the cause or the

effect should be regarded as the inert matter”

(I do not quite comprehend the inclusion of the words ‘the

cause or’ in this last sentence. I am happy with the sentence

without these three words! -- VK)

“By the whole of that inert matter the self-luminous

Consciousness is veiled. By Consciousness thus veiled, both

itself and the inert matter shine forth, just as both the moon

and Rahu – the shadow eclipsing it – shine by the moon. Thereby

Consciousness neither becomes extinct nor loses its light, any

more than the moon. If the moon becomes absorbed by the shadow

of Rahu, it is only to our vision that it appears to be so

absorbed. Similarly, to the vision of the ignorant alone,

Consciousness appears to be unknown. Thus it is the one

self-existent Consciousness which is the thing unknown before by

the senses etc., and on whose becoming known by them afterwards,

they constitute the sources of knowledge. Though all organs of

knowledge proceed to grasp only the pure Consciousness, still,

all of them apprehend it only in association with some inert

material forms in virtue of their many blemishes. Though the

eye proceeds only to perceive the mother-of-pearl, still, owing

to its blemishes, it perceives but partially the mother-of-pearl

in association with silver. The eye and all other organs of

knowledge, except the Upanishads, are defective. The knowledge

to which they give birth apprehends Consciousness only in

association with colour etc. Accordingly, just as the deluded

man thinks his own perception of illusory silver as an authority

to its existence, so men think with regard to colour and other

material forms which they perceive. Philosophers agree that

every cognition is true as far as the substratum is concerned;

it is only with regard to its mode, -- as for instance, when the

mother-of-pearl is perceived in the mode of silver, -- that

illusion occurs. So all cognitions are right so far as the One

Existence – the one substratum of all attributes – is concerned;

they are wrong so far as they concern the colour etc., which is

perceived along with the One Existence. Thus, by sound

reasoning, it is to be concluded that all organs of knowledge

are such only as regards Brahman; while the ignorant regard them

as such with regard to the colour etc., in the same way that the

deluded man thinks that his vision, which is right only as far

as the basic substance – viz., mother-of-pearl – is concerned,

is right in perceiving silver. Those who know how to reason hold

that the senses etc., are right as far only as they grasp

Brahman, whereas the unreasoning men declare that they are right

as far only as they perceive colour. In short, because

Consciousness is the thing before unknown, it is the thing to be

known by all organs of perception, which operating, the thing

ceases to be unknown. ….”

 

praNAms to all advaitins

profvk

 

 

 

 

 

 

=====

Prof. V. Krishnamurthy

My website on Science and Spirituality is http://www.geocities.com/profvk/

You can access my book on Gems from the Ocean of Hindu Thought Vision and

Practice, and my father R. Visvanatha Sastri's manuscripts from the site.

 

 

 

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