Consciousness and Conscience

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Jaya Guru Datta,

 

Here is today's saying:

 

"This concept causes a question to arise in the mind.

 

Question: While discussing about Atma, it was said that Atma is only one and is

second to none. But in the manifest universe, the Chetana type of beings are

many and different! Therefore, Atma and Chaitanya may be two different entities.

 

Answer: It is not so. Let us try to understand with the help of an analogy.

 

Avachchinna Vaada.

 

Consider the example of Akasha. It pervades all around us in the same form. But

we are not able to comprehend it. When we see an empty vessel (Ghata), we say

that it has space (Ghata Akasha or Ghataakaasha) in it. Similarly, when we see

an empty room (Matha), we say that there is space in the room (Matha Akasha or

Mathaakaasha). Are these two spaces different? No. We are not able to comprehend

the existence of Akasha directly. But we are able to appreciate the existence of

the same Akasha in a vessel or a room. Here, a vessel and a room have helped us

to appreciate the existence of space. These (vessel, house etc.,) are referred

to as Upadhis. It must be remembered that the Upadhi does not bring about any

variation or modification in Akasha. But they served as factors responsible to

differentiate the Akasha, which is only one as Ghataakaasha and Mathaakaasha.

 

Similarly, although the Chaitanya, which is of the form of Jnana is present

everywhere, we are able to appreciate its presence only in the Antah Karana (the

seat of thought and feeling. The Conscience) of different beings. Just as we

call the space inside a vessel as Ghataakasha, when Chaitanya enters to the

body, it is called a human being, an animal, a plant, as the case may be. Thus,

because of the Upadhi called Antahkarana, the same Atma appears to be

different."

 

Sri Swamiji

Lessons in Vedanta - 29 part III

Bhakti Mala, March, 1998

 

Sri Guru Datta,

Swamiji Says

 

 

 

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