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Kanchi Maha-Swamigal's Discourses on Advaita Saadhanaa (KDAS-52)

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Namaste.

 

For a Table of Contents of these Discourses, see

advaitin/message/27766

For the previous post, see

advaitin/message/32575

 

SECTION 37: INNER ORGAN AND HEART

Tamil original: http://www.kamakoti.org/tamil/dk6-111.htm

 

[Note by VK: I found the translation of the dense

material in this Section (and a few following sections)

very difficult. Either my English is not up to the mark or

my knowledge of the subject-matter is not enough (or

both!). So, reader, please read carefully and let me know

how the translation can be improved. But let me also tell

you. To my knowledge, these portions have not been so

elaborately and so authentically clarified elsewhere in the

literature. I therefore urge even those who have not been

reading through these discourses so far, to read these few

sections].

 

Even though the word ‘inner’ (*antaH*) is there in ‘Inner

Organ’ (*antaH-karaNaM*), in stead of looking inside it is

always turned outside. It is termed ‘inner organ’ because

it is subtle inside and not concretely visible from

outside like arms, feet, eyes, nose, etc. Its subject

matter is the dualistic world and dualistic experiences.

Generally it is so with all jIvas. It thickens by the dirt

of experience and stays like the dirty and greasy stain

attaching itself to cooking vessels. This is a matter of

the inner organ.

 

The heart that I speak of, on the other hand, is again not

the physical organ on the left side of the chest of the

human body. Nor is it the anAhata-chakra, located in the

dead centre of the chest, in the suShumnA nAdi that is

within the spine. This heart is indeed the location of the

very Atman.

 

[Note by R. Ganapthy, the collator of these discourses:

Shri Ramana Maharishi used to say:

“The (spiritual) heart, which is the location of the Atman

is within the right chest of a jIva”]

 

Of course it is true that the Atman is permeating

everywhere in such a way that there is no space for ‘space’

and so no ‘location’ to be specified for the Atman. The

words ‘sarvaM’ (all) and ‘vyApakaM’ (permeation) both need

for their meaning the concept of space, but it is true that

space itself is subsumed by the Atman as to be nowhere.

However, for the mind (antaH-karaNaM) which is always drawn

towards duality, to be turned to non-duality by the Grace

of God, and towards meditation of the Atman, it needs some

kind of a prop, at least mentally. For this reason if one

attributes a form or qualities to the Atman and makes it

totally ‘saguNa’ (with attributes) and dualistic, that is

not right. Then how do we create the prop? The Formless one

that is permeating everywhere is something which surpasses

all attempts to imagine it! That is why, even if the Atman

is not attributed with qualities and form, a point has, as

it were, been specified within the Jiva’s body itself and

the location of the Atman is to be imagined there. Who has

done this specification? No less than the ParA-shakti

Herself! She it is who showpieces all that dualistic mAyA.

And She Herself when She chooses to show compassion by

bringing some one into advaita has kept that unique ‘point’

as the ‘Atma-sthAnaM’ (location of the Atman), where the

antah-karaNaM (Inner Organ) can converge. The antaH-karaNaM

which lives on the strength of the individualistic

Jiva-bhAva created by itself, as well as the life-breath

which gives life to the whole body – both merge into that

single point, the single root of everything, The

enlightenment of the self as Self also takes place right at

that point.

 

It is a ‘point’, very small, like a needle eye.

*nIvAra-shUkavat*, that is, as slender as the awn of a

paddy grain; it has been said to be that small. Within the

heart, which is like the bud of a lotus suspended in an

inverted position, there is a subtle space. From there

spreads throughout the body a hot Fire, the Life-power;

and in the centre of that Fire there abides a tongue of

Fire, dazzling like the flash of lightning; that is the

PrANa-agni. That ends up at the point as the awn of a paddy

grain. That point is the locale of the Atman (Atma-sthAnaM)

– says the Narayana SuktaM.

 

[Note by VK: A question of language. What would be most

appropriate?

‘locale’, ‘location’ or ‘habitat’ for *sthAnaM*?]

 

By the statement about the subtle space-point which is the

locale for the Atman in the heart, it follows that all

around the point there is the heart. That is also a small

locale. The Upanishads use the two words ‘daharaM’,

‘dahraM’ for this. Both mean ‘small’. In later times

this ‘dahraM’ became ‘dabhraM’. The heart and the

Atma-sthAnaM (location for the Atman) within are called

‘daharaM within daharaM’ and ‘dahraM within dahraM’ in the

Upanishads (Ch. U. VII- 1; Taittiriya AranyakaM XII – 16).

The Absolute Reality of Brahman which is permeating

everywhere ‘is’ in such a small space.

 

The entire universe is the cosmic expansion of the

VirAT-purushha. The heart of this Cosmic Purushha is

Chidambaram. The ChitsabhA (the assembly in the temple

there) is the ‘point’. This is the meaning of the

well-known facts: “It is a subtle gate; there is nothing

but space there. It is a secret. Among the kshetras

corresponding to the five elements, Chidambaram is the

AkAsha (Space)”. Chit-sabhA is also called ‘dabra-sabhA’.

The direct Tamil equivalent of this is ‘ciRRambalam’

(meaning ‘small ambalam’). The popular opinion that

‘ciRRambalam’ and ‘cidambaram’ are mutations of the same

word is wrong. ‘cit ambaraM’ means JnAna-AkAshaM

(Knowledge-space). The Sanskrit word ‘ambaraM’ has two

meanings – one is ‘Space’, the other is, something

unrelated to the present context, ‘cloth’. But ‘ambaraM’

never means ‘sabhA’ (assembly). But there is a Tamil worl

‘ambalam’ – possibly derived from the Sanskrit word

‘ambaraM’; and that has two meanings: ‘space’ as well as

‘assembly’. The principle behind the Space-ambalam (in

Tamil) is also the God Nataraja of the Sabha-ambalam,

namely the Assembly of Dance.

 

That is the case of the Cosmic Purushha. But in every one

of us, in our hearts, there is a small subtle gate, which

is point-size.

 

I said the disposition of Jiva goes into that, shrinks and

shrinks and finally merges there. This is what happens when

the Jiva gets Godhood (of Shiva). It is delightfully called

‘Involution’. It is the submerging action, by a convex

caving in, of something which was expressing itself by

expansion. On the other hand, Shiva who is nothing but Sat

(Existence), that is, the ParamAtmA, when he evolves into

the Jiva with body, senses and antaHkaraNaM, that happens

again in this same heart by the sprouting of the ego in

the expression ‘I am an individual Jiva’. I told you

earlier I will tell you about ahamkAra (Ego). That is this

matter. AhamkAra is nothing but the thought of ‘I’ as

distinct from Brahman. That thought is the starting point

(dramatically termed as ‘pillaiyAr chuzhi’ in the Tamil

world) of the process of evolution of Shiva into a Jiva.

 

Evolution is called ‘SrshhTi-kramaM’ (the regimen of

creation) and Involution is called ‘Laya-kramaM’ (the

regimen of dissolution). ‘Laya’ is also known as ‘samhAra’.

But I did not use that word lest you may be scared. The

‘samhAra’ word has no connotation of freight. ‘hara’ means

the action of grabbing. ‘sam-hAraM’ means the process of

the Lord taking us over fully (*saM*) into Himself!.

 

It is the heart that is the locale at the time of creation

for the ego to make the Jiva separate (from Brahman) as an

individual separate from Brahman; it is the same heart

that is the locale at the time of dissolution (not

‘temporary’ but as a permanent ‘identity’) for the inner

organ to converge inwardly to the Ultimate. Further when it

converges further and stays at the sharp point at the

centre of the heart, that is when Enlightenment takes

place.

 

Let it be. Note that both when the JivAtma separates from

the ParamAtmA and when it goes back and becomes one with

the ParamAtmA, the locale is the heart that we spoke of

above. The ordinary example of the door of a house being

both the entrance and the exit is good enough!

 

In the antaHkaraNaM there are four entities: cittaM, manas

(mind), buddhi (intellect) and ahamkAraM (Ego). Of these

the locale for the mind is the neck. That of the Ego is the

heart. That of the intellect is the face. CittaM is

specifically referred as memory power. When it is the

memory power its locale is the navel. But really, the

basics of all the three, namely, mind, intellect and ego is

that which is called thought and this originates from

cittaM. Therefore cittam does not need a separate locale

for itself. When we vacillate between this decision and

that, cittaM is at the neck. When we finally decide, by our

intellect, to do something in a certain way , cittaM is in

the face. When we establish ourselves as ‘I, the Jiva’,

cittaM is in the heart which is the locale for the Ego.

 

 

(To be Continued)

PraNAms to all students of advaita.

PraNAms to the Maha-Swamigal.

profvk

 

 

 

Prof. V. Krishnamurthy

 

The contents page of my website has been updated now to include a topic-wise list of every page of the site and a link to each. You may want to have a look at

http://www.geocities.com/profvk/gohitvip/contents.html

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advaitin, "V. Krishnamurthy" <profvk

wrote:

>

> SECTION 37: INNER ORGAN AND HEART

>>

> [Note by VK: A question of language. What would be most

> appropriate?

> `locale', `location' or `habitat' for *sthAnaM*?]

>

> By the statement about the subtle space-point which is the

> locale for the Atman in the heart, it follows that all

> around the point there is the heart. That is also a small

> locale. The Upanishads use the two words `daharaM',

> `dahraM' for this. Both mean `small'. In later times

> this `dahraM' became `dabhraM'. The heart and the

> Atma-sthAnaM (location for the Atman) within are called

> `daharaM within daharaM' and `dahraM within dahraM' in the

> Upanishads (Ch. U. VII- 1; Taittiriya AranyakaM XII – 16).

> The Absolute Reality of Brahman which is permeating

> everywhere `is' in such a small space.

>

> The direct Tamil equivalent of this is `ciRRambalam'

> (meaning `small ambalam'). The popular opinion that

> `ciRRambalam' and `cidambaram' are mutations of the same

> word is wrong. `cit ambaraM' means JnAna-AkAshaM

> (Knowledge-space). The Sanskrit word `ambaraM' has two

> meanings – one is `Space', the other is, something

> unrelated to the present context, `cloth'. But `ambaraM'

> never means `sabhA' (assembly). But there is a Tamil worl

> `ambalam' – possibly derived from the Sanskrit word

> `ambaraM'; and that has two meanings: `space' as well as

> `assembly'. The principle behind the Space-ambalam (in

> Tamil) is also the God Nataraja of the Sabha-ambalam,

> namely the Assembly of Dance.

 

Srigurubhyo NamaH

Namaste Sir,

The above explanation is very nice. I had always thought that

'chitrambalam' is the tamil mutation of the sanskrit 'chidambaram'.

Would you say something about this:

'Sri Arunaachaleshwaram' is, i think, made into 'Tiru Annaa malai' in

Tamil. The Mother there 'apIta-kuchAmbA' is called in Tamil 'uNNA-

mulaiyAL'. The translation is intact - the Mother whose breast is

not drunk.

 

>

> That is the case of the Cosmic Purushha. But in every one

> of us, in our hearts, there is a small subtle gate, which

> is point-size.

>

> I said the disposition of Jiva goes into that, shrinks and

> shrinks and finally merges there. This is what happens when

> the Jiva gets Godhood (of Shiva). It is delightfully called

> `Involution'. It is the submerging action, by a convex

> caving in, of something which was expressing itself by

> expansion. On the other hand, Shiva who is nothing but Sat

> (Existence), that is, the ParamAtmA, when he evolves into

> the Jiva with body, senses and antaHkaraNaM, that happens

> again in this same heart by the sprouting of the ego in

> the expression `I am an individual Jiva'. I told you

> earlier I will tell you about ahamkAra (Ego). That is this

> matter. AhamkAra is nothing but the thought of `I' as

> distinct from Brahman. That thought is the starting point

> (dramatically termed as `pillaiyAr chuzhi' in the Tamil

> world) of the process of evolution of Shiva into a Jiva.

 

Sir you had said you had some difficulty in understanding the

Acharya's words regarding 'ahankaarathil pOi muTTikkollum' in

connection with the earlier part of the discourse. I deliberated on

the point and thought i could share the same with you:

 

The ParamAcharya said: The sadhana of the aspirant should at this

stage develop a natural 'love' for the nirguna, nirAkAra tattvam,

ideally. If it does not by itself end up in this ideal state, it will

get pervertedly channellised into developing love for 'ahankara' and

end up in 'pralaya'. It looks like the Paramaacharya is having this

in mind when he says that:

In the cosmic level, ahamkara tattva is Hiranyagarbha, the first

Jiva. (the current discourse touches on this subtly: the Shiva

becoming Jiva. The first jiva is Hiranyagarbha and from him other

jivas, we, come.) So, if the sadhana does not lead to nirguna tattva

inclination, it will turn back to the saguna Brahma tattvam, the

Hiranyagarbha. Pralaya is the culmination of Hiranyagarbha. Vedanta

sadhaka thus ends up with Saguna Brahma vidya and becomes a fit

candidate to go to Brahma loka. That is why the ParamAcharya said:

It will no doubt lead to final Mukti, but will take eons for the

result to come about.

 

This is what occurred to me upon deliberating on the words of the

reverred Swamigal. The inputs were (i)the introduction to the

Bhagavadgita Bhashyam by Bhagavatpaadaal, especially the opening

sloka there and the Anandagiri's vyakhyanam for it and (ii) the

Bhagavadgita verse VII. 4 studied with the bhashyam and the

Anandagiri Tiikaa. Although a little tough, this throws light on the

scheme of the Saguna Brahman, the Cosmic Being. An English

translation of the work by Alladi M.Sastry might help.

>

> Evolution is called `SrshhTi-kramaM' (the regimen of

> creation) and Involution is called `Laya-kramaM' (the

> regimen of dissolution). `Laya' is also known as `samhAra'.

> But I did not use that word lest you may be scared. The

> `samhAra' word has no connotation of freight. `hara' means

> the action of grabbing. `sam-hAraM' means the process of

> the Lord taking us over fully (*saM*) into Himself!.

>

> It is the heart that is the locale at the time of creation

> for the ego to make the Jiva separate (from Brahman) as an

> individual separate from Brahman; it is the same heart

> that is the locale at the time of dissolution (not

> `temporary' but as a permanent `identity') for the inner

> organ to converge inwardly to the Ultimate. Further when it

> converges further and stays at the sharp point at the

> centre of the heart, that is when Enlightenment takes

> place.

>

> Let it be. Note that both when the JivAtma separates from

> the ParamAtmA and when it goes back and becomes one with

> the ParamAtmA, the locale is the heart that we spoke of

> above. The ordinary example of the door of a house being

> both the entrance and the exit is good enough!

 

This is excellent!!

>

> In the antaHkaraNaM there are four entities: cittaM, manas

> (mind), buddhi (intellect) and ahamkAraM (Ego). Of these

> the locale for the mind is the neck. That of the Ego is the

> heart. That of the intellect is the face. CittaM is

> specifically referred as memory power. When it is the

> memory power its locale is the navel. But really, the

> basics of all the three, namely, mind, intellect and ego is

> that which is called thought and this originates from

> cittaM. Therefore cittam does not need a separate locale

> for itself. When we vacillate between this decision and

> that, cittaM is at the neck. When we finally decide, by our

> intellect, to do something in a certain way , cittaM is in

> the face. When we establish ourselves as `I, the Jiva',

> cittaM is in the heart which is the locale for the Ego.

>

>

> (To be Continued)

> PraNAms to all students of advaita.

> PraNAms to the Maha-Swamigal.

> profvk

>

 

Pranams Sir,

subbu

Om Tat Sat

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