Sri Shankaracharya on Sushupti and Moksha (Contd)

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Dear Advaitin,

 

In the same book the author quotes Sri Shankaracharya and says:

 

Sri Shanakracharya says in Aparokshanubhuti:

 

Remaining identified with pure existence, with the idea I Am Brahman

which gives us supreme bliss is known as dhyana. Following this

takes place what is called jnanasamadhi in which thereis no vritti,

or which is the same as the form (or nature) of brahman which is

brought about by the complete forgetfulness of the vritti I am

brahman. Vrittivismarana is the essential condition of nirvikalpa;

for this is not brought about without forgetting all vrittis. And

when all vrittis are forgotten, it is the same as susupti, as

susupti is total forgetfulness(sarvavismriti), total non congnition

(sarvagrahana). If no knowldege can arise in sushupti, no knowledge

can arise in nirvikalpa samadhi also. I am brahman should have risen

earlier by reasoning on the experience of cittavritti nirodha or

susupti. There, vrittinirodha in itself is not productive of jnana

any more than vrittivismarana of sushupti as both are identical in

their content.

 

But in contrast Swamiji says

 

What makes the difference? From one state a man comes out

the very same man that he went in, and from another state the man

comes out enlightened, a sage, a prophet, a saint, his whole

character changed, his life changed, illumined. These are the two

effects. Now the effects being different, the causes must be

different. As this illumination with which a man comes back from

Samadhi is much higher than can be got from unconsciousness, or much

higher than can be got by reasoning in a conscious state, it must,

therefore, be superconsciousness, and Samadhi is called the

superconscious state.

 

Another point here to notice is the author by extensively quoting

from acharyas works maintains that the real knowldege dawns in the

waking state either prior to experience of samadhi or after the

samadhi by reasoning on the chitta vritti nirodha. If real knowledge

is already there befor nirvikalpa state it is utterly useless to

undergo the excersise of meditation.

 

But Swamiji says in the completly reverse way. He says in the

samadhi illumination takes place and if at all the yogi descends to

normal plane of consciousness he remebers the distinctly the

knowledge of the self experienced in deep meditation.

 

Learned members are requested to discuss on this pussling issue.

 

JAI JAI RAGHUVEER SAMARTHA

 

Yours in the lord,

 

Br. Vinayaka