Two Branches

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Bhagavan Ramana describes the two branches that originate from the single source

- the roots of the tree. Ramana describes:

cittavaayaH citkriyaa yataaH|

shaakhayo dvayaa shaktimuulaka||

The mind and the praaNa or vital air are activated by the mere presence of

consciousness forming two branches of the same basic power.

 

In Gita it is said -

uurdhva muulam adhaH shaakam aswastham praahuravyaham|

 

The roots are above and the branches are below for this aswastha or papal tree

-which can be cut by proper discrimination.

 

The two branches described by Ramana indicative of the jnaana shakti and kriyaa

shakti - capacity to learn through pramaaNa or means of knowledge through the

jnaana indriyaas or sense argons; and the ability to transact with the world

through karmendriyas or organs of action - these two from inherent divergent

branches of the papal tree that is spreads across into subsequent sub-branches.

 

Since they both originate from the same source, the two are interrelated - by

controlling the praaNa - praaNaamaaya - one can control the mind and by

controlling the mind one can control the praaNa.

 

Knowledge and the means of knowledge is part of one branch - jnaanedriyas and

mind and buddhi are involved in this.

 

The physiological functions related actions at organ level - in effect all

transactions with the world or vyavahaarica satyam arise from the second branch.

Consciousness forms the basis for the both which constitute as roots above.

 

Realization, as Ramana emphasizes, is not keeping the mind out of business by

controlling the mind via controlling the breathing, etc.,but by transcending the

mind using the mind to find out the sources of the mind.

 

Transaction is an action - vyavahaara; transcendence involves understanding -

the mind by the mind with the mind. - aatmani aatmanaa aatmaanam - where aatma

stands for the mind.

 

Hari Om!

Sadananda