ATTACHMENTS

[Guest guest]

50-Internal and external attachments

 

"I" consciousness, the effulgence of the Supreme Self, is, in its

natural state, the Supreme Self. However, because of inner

attachment that takes the form of the I-am-the-body belief, it

attains the state of Jiva (the individual self or soul). This is the

primary fault that arises in it. This inner attachment is the cause

for external attachments that take the form of association with

sense objects. Rooting out one of the attachments [the inner or the

external] facilitates the removal of the other one also. The ego is

not destroyed without discrimination, and the vasanas (the

tendencies of the mind that make one think and behave in repeated,

habitual ways) are not destroyed without dispassion. It is

dispassion and discrimination followed by jnana (true knowledge;

realization of one's true nature) and liberation that redeem the

seeker. However, jnana and liberation are not obtained as something

new. Like the cloud that hides the sun, the ever-present jnana and

liberation are merely veiled by inner and outer attachments. The

culmination of all spiritual practices is the removal of these

attachments.

 

In the Tirukkural, there is the phrase, "He who destroys the pride

of "I" and "mine"". The two attachments are collectively referred to

in the singular. Unless these two are simultaneously destroyed,

removal of bondage is not achieved.

 

NOTE: TAKEN FROM "SRI RAMANA DARSANAM", BY SADHU NATANANANDA, EDITED

BY DAVID GODMAN, PAGE 92.