Buddhi's Contact with Pratyagatma is Not Real

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Jaya Guru Datta,

 

Here is today's saying:

 

“We have discussed in earlier lessons as to why the body, senses, mind, etc. are

erroneously identified with the atma. Let us now examine this from a different

angle.

 

When we are afflicted with some physical disease, we say 'I am not well.' It

was established in earlier lessons that because the body is a 'drishya' (seen),

it cannot be 'I'. Senses are subtler than the gross body. Sometimes we mistake

the senses to be 'I'. Even this confusion has abeen removed in the earlier

lessons. Buddhi is subtler than the senses and ahamkara is subtler than the

buddhi. Though they are 'drishyas', they are subtler than one another.

Therefore in different levels they appear as though they are the Atma. Why is

it so? It is because, at each level, they are somehow connected with the

'Pratyagatma'. Though water is cold by nature, when it comes in contact with

fire, it acquires the quality of 'hotness'. Similarly, by the contact of the

Pratyagatma, the body, etc., appear as though they are themselves 'Atma'.

 

When heat is applied to a water pot from below, it becomes hot. This is one

kind of contact. When water is poured on a flame at once, it is also a kind of

contact. But now, the flame gets extinguished and becomes cool. On the same

logical grounds, is it possible that when the contact between the senses, etc.

and the Pratyagatma is established, the latter becomes inert? Certainly not,

because the contact is only a seeming one (adhyaasa) and not real."

 

Sri Swamiji,

Lessons in Vedanta - 10 part IV

 

Sri Guru Datta,

Swamiji Says

 

 

 

 

 

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