Miracle of Consciousness/Shankaran chaitanyam

[Guest guest]

--- Sunder Hattangadi <sunderh wrote:

>

> When poets are inspired, they lead us there

> too!

 

 

Namaste All,

This seems to be a pertinent moment to report on my

present wonderment.

As a young man travelling and learning from the

diversity of cultures, those of 'Arabia' and India

were the most enlightening.

Upon entering the 'House of Indian Culture' many rooms

were open for exploration: those of the Epics, Yoga

Vasishtha, Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. I was

more circumspect with the rooms of Vedanta and the

various systems of philosophy but enthusiastically sat

listening in a corner.

There was one room however that I passed respectfully

by, feeling that this was too personal a territory and

for my hosts only; this was the room of the Vedas.

 

Over the years I had felt the need to balance the

austerity of the English translations of Shankara's

writings with the poetry of the Sufis.

 

I continued passing the room of the Vedas until

recently when an unseen host bade me enter.

For some reason books appeared on library shelves and

the Internet began to flood articles onto the

hard-disk. The 4000? years that have passed since

their authoring disappeared into a moment and the

wisdom of the poets flashed their lightning bolts into

the billowing clouds of my ignorance. The nourishing

rains of their words have encouraged shoots of

understanding of their authors' vision.

 

What an incredible treasure-house we have in the

Vedas! How valuable it would be for a society to have,

once more, these hymns at the heart and

intellect centre. Such a society would be a true place

for enlightened ritual (right action) where the songs

of the poets would transform our poverty into wealth.

 

As always, we can only begin where we ourselves stand

and I write these words here now as this forum is one

where I can offer my gratitude to my hosts who allowed

me into their palace and the song-full room of their

kavis. So I thank you all.

This is a discussion site in which the meaning of the

word Shankara may be realised:

(Sham: the bliss of the revelation of supreme

non-dualism; karoti: brings about)

Here is the last hymn of the last book of the RgVeda

and I see it as a heartening guide for such a site.

 

The English is by Griffith and if anyone out there

would like to improve upon his translation I include

also the Sanskrit transliteration:

 

Book 10 HYMN CXCI. Agni.

1. THOU, mighty Agni, gatherest up all that is

precious for thy friend.

Bring us all treasures as thou art enkindled in

libation's place

2 Assemble, speak together: let your minds be all of

one accord,

As ancient Gods unanimous sit down to their appointed

share.

3 The place is common, common the assembly, common the

mind, so be their thought united.

A common purpose do I lay before you, and worship with

your general oblation.

4 One and the same be your resolve, and be your minds

of one accord.

United be the thoughts of all that all may happily

agree.

 

 

 

Hymn 191

 

saM\-samid yuvase vRSannagne vishvAnyarya A

iLas padesamidhyase sa no vasUnyA bhara

saM gachadhvaM saM vadadhvaM saM vo manAMsi jAnatAm

devA bhAgaM yathA pUrve saMjAnAnA upAsate

samAno mantraH samitiH samAnI samAnaM manaH saha

cittameSAm

samAnaM mantramabhi maNtraye vaH samAnena vohaviSA

juhomi

samAnI va AkUtiH samAnA hRdayAni vaH

samAnamastu vomano yathA vaH susahAsati ||

 

I hope that this is useful and not a personal

indulgence,

 

 

Ken Knight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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