Eternal nature of the Self : The Hindu Newspaper Article

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Eternal nature of the Self

 

CHENNAI, AUG.25 . The root of man's sorrows is ignorance about his

true nature— the Self (Atman). Instead of knowing that he is the

Self, which is eternal and blissful he identifies with the body-mind-

intellect personality. As these faculties are subject to natural

changes like birth, growth, disease and death man grieves over these

transformations. Although he is aware of this truth he finds it

difficult to accept it when it affects him or his kith and kin due to

the deluding power of Maya, which can be surmounted only by divine

grace. Arjuna developed cold feet seeing his elders, friends and

relations arrayed in battle and surrendered to Lord Krishna seeking

His counsel, as he feared their end in the battle.

 

Krishna's teaching of the truth commences from this point in the

Bhagavad Gita and the Lord has taught this to the entire humanity

using Arjuna as a pretext. He pointed out that like an ignorant man

he was distressed about those who should not be grieved for and yet

was adducing reasons like a wise man to justify his action of laying

down his arms and said that the wise did not sorrow over the dead or

the living. Thus Arjuna's predicament was similar to that of the

majority of people who were aware of these existential truths but

were unable to face them when the situation demanded in day-to-day

life, said Swami Omkarananda in his discourse.

 

Then it becomes incumbent on every individual to know what are the

distinguishing marks of a wise man as he will be an ideal role model

to emulate. While it is difficult to identify them, as they will also

live like ordinary people there are many descriptions in scriptural

texts including the Gita for one's edification. It is enough to test

one grain of rice in a pot to check whether all are cooked;

similarly, when one realises the Self everything else becomes known.

A man of wisdom will identify with the Self and hence will not be

affected by the joys and sorrows of life.

 

The teachings of the Gita centre round Self-knowledge because this

realisation will enable one to come to terms with the ephemeral

nature of the body and as a consequence stay anchored in the Self,

which is permanent. An example cited here to emphasise the transience

of the body-mind-intellect is that of the process of change from

birth to childhood, youth and to old age; it is the body that

undergoes all these transformations while the Self remains the same.

It is thus evident that the Self will continue to exist when the body

ceases to be.

 

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