Pratyak v. parAk

[Guest guest]

sri:

Srimate Srilakshminrisimha Parabrahmane Nama:

Srimate Sri Lakshminrisimha Divyapadukasevaka

Srivan Satakopa Sri NarayanaYatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

namo narayana!

 

There was a question about pratyak and parAk during upanyasam

today. Chapter 5 of Srimad RTS deals with this topic. A

thorough study of this chapter is a must for a clear understanding

of the basic principles of material as well as spiritual entities.

 

Chapter 5 (tatvatraiya cintana adhikaram) is one of the most

technical and difficult to understand chapters. Yet, it is a

matter of wonder and amazement that Srimad Azhagiya Singar has

made it very simple to understand even to " adiyEn siRiya jnyanaththan " ,

in " Srimad Rahasyatraiya Sara Vivaranam " published by Sri Ahobila

Matam.

 

From this book,

 

all AtmA = pratyak; everything else = parAk;

Thus, pratyaktvam is SvaSmai Svayam prakAshatvam

 

The two adjectives used for " prAkashatvam " are very important

to fully and properly define " pratyaktvam " .

 

If just " prakAsham " is pratyaktvam, then even acEtanAs that

are seen will be considered pratyak. Therefore, just " prakAsham "

is woefully inadequate to define " pratyak "

 

Next, let us add " Svayam " to prakAsham. Now we have " Svayam

prakAsham " as definition for pratyak. This also falls short.

Being able to be seen without the aid of another means is

" Svayam prakAsham " . acEtanAs like pot can be seen only

with the aid of dharmabUta jnyAnam. Therefore they are not

Svayam PrakAsham. However, dharmabUta jnyAnam is self shining.

Another jnyAnam is not needed to see/feel/understand its presence.

So, if we define pratyak as just Svayam prakAsham, then dharma

bUtajnyAnam, which is not pratyak will get included into the

category of pratyak. If we did, then we will be in the untenable

position of having to accept that dharma bUta jnyAnam is AthmA.

Therefore, just " Svayam prakAsham " is not precise enough.

 

Now we add " SvaSmai " to the definition. Then, we have, " SvaSmai

Svayam prakAsham " . That is, pratyak is self shining for itself.

Dharma bUta jnyAnam is self shining, but it shines not for itself,

but for the entity to which it belongs.

 

Thus, pratyak is " SvaSmai Svayam prakAsham " ; i.e. all AthmAs.

Everything else is parAk.

 

There is lot more to pratyak. Srimad Azhagiya Singar explains

this concept over 44 pages of riveting reading.

 

-- adiyEn ramanuja dasan

srimad azhagiya singar thiruvadi