Guest guest Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 A summary of chapter 1 of jIvanmuktiviveka of svAmi vidyAraNya has been posted on my website http://www.geocities.com/snsastri under Vedanta Part II. The following description of a jIvanmukta is from this summary. The Jivanmukta is one for whom this phenomenal world, in which he moves and acts, has ceased to exist. In the case of an ordinary person, his mind reacts to the various forms in the world and gives him knowledge of their variety and their differences from one another. But the mind of the Jivanmukta does not get so transformed and so he does not see differences, but sees all forms only as Brahman. In deep sleep the mind does not undergo any transformation, but the seed for transformation remains. So sleep cannot be equated with the state of Jivanmukti. The Jivanmukta remains unaffected by both pleasure and pain. He is not elated by something good happening, nor is he depressed when a calamity occurs. He does not crave for anything, but subsists on whatever comes of its own accord. Though his senses function and can experience everything, his mind is absolutely calm and does not react to anything. Though his eyes see everything before him, his mind does not judge them as good or bad, favourable or unfavourable and so he is free from agitation and attachment or aversion. The senses themselves do not cause any harm. It is the mind which judges what is experienced by the senses and develops likes and dislikes in the case of an ordinary person. Since the mind of the Jivanmukta does not make any such judgment, he is free from all attachment and aversion. Because of the absence of transformation of the mind, the Jivanmukta is free from Vasanas. His mind always remains pure. He never looks upon himself as a doer of actions since he does not identify himself with the body-mind complex which alone performs all actions. Consequently he is neither elated nor depressed by the good or bad results of the actions. Others do not have any reason to fear him, because he never insults or harms others in any way. He is also not afraid of any one. He remains unaffected even if some wicked man insults or harasses him. He does not distinguish people as friend or foe. Though full of learning, he never exhibits it. His mind is absolutely free from worldly thoughts and is always fixed on contemplation of the Self. He remains cool even in matters concerning himself, just as a man attending a marriage or other ceremony in another's house remains unaffected by the gain or loss of that other person. This coolness is due not only to his freedom from worry, but also to his awareness of the fullness of his own Self. These are the characteristics of the Jivanmukta. S.N.Sastri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Namaste Sastri-ji. Thank you very much, Sir. You have done all of us a great service. Howsoever much we read a jIvanmuktA's descripton, we will never be any closer to knowing it unless we ourselves reach there. Sugar remains a crystalline white substance to the one who has not tasted it and known sweetness. We are like that. Yet, we can still sit back, think over the description and thereby gain some much needed insights. PraNAms. Madathil Nair _________________ advaitin, "S.N. Sastri" <sn.sastri wrote: > > A summary of chapter 1 of jIvanmuktiviveka of svAmi vidyAraNya has been > posted on my website http://www.geocities.com/snsastri under Vedanta Part > II. The following description of a jIvanmukta is from this summary. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 advaitin, "S.N. Sastri" <sn.sastri wrote: > > A summary of chapter 1 of jIvanmuktiviveka of svAmi vidyAraNya has been posted on my website http://www.geocities.com/snsastri under Vedanta Part II. Srigurubhyo NamaH Namste Shastri ji, Thank you very much for that wonderful summary. There is no need to say that you will be continuing this marvellous effort with respect to the other chapters as well. My humble pranams to you, subbu Om Tat Sat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 List Moderator's Note to the new members: Please do not include the previous poster's entire message while sending your reply. Cut the unnecessary part as it is done here. Thanks for the cooperation. ------------------------- Respected Sir, Thank you very much. Appreciate you taking time to do this great service. Looking forward to reading the rest of the 4 chapters. With Namaskarams, Ravi Salem advaitin, "S.N. Sastri" <sn.sastri wrote: > > A summary of chapter 1 of jIvanmuktiviveka of svAmi vidyAraNya has been Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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