SOME THOUGHTS ON ATMA---102

[Guest guest]

Loving Sai Rams,

In posting no.101, we have mentioned about " crossing the ocean of delusion " . A member has requested for elaboration of this term. By delusion, we mean false identification or hallucination or illusion. Delusion is born out of ignorance and infatuation. An instance of delusion is water in a mirage. The world of dream is again an illusion. When the sense of attachment is sponged away from the inner equipments, delusion (Moha) and all the delusory false values that we give to the world will no longer remain. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita " when your intellect will have fully crossed ( yada buddhih vyatarishyati)

the mire of delusion (mohakalilam)you will then grow indifferent to the enjoyments of this world and the next that have been heard of as well as of those that are yet to be heard of(tada gantasi nivedam srotavyasya srutasya cha).

Incidentally, " Tarati sokam Atmavit iti " says the Chandogya Upanishad. It means the knower of Atma crosses the ocean of sorrow. Acharya Sankara uses a parallel in ATMA BODHA " Teertva Moharnavam " , which means " having crossed the jungle of delusion " .

 

 

Continuing with our discussions on the revelling in Self by a self-realized person, we find this mantra in the Mundaka Upanishad according to which " A realised saint after realising the Self lives " sporting with the Self and ever in the service of the world " ( Atmakreeah Atmaratih Kriyavan).

Verse 70 of Chapter 2 of Bhagavad Gita portrays graphically the picture of a man, full within as a result of his realization of the Atma on account of which he ceases to be the slave of desires. The verse states, " As the waters of the different rivers enter the ocean ,which though full on all sides, remains undisturbed, likewise he in whom all desires merge themselves attains peace; not the one who hankers after such desires. From the simile of the ocean we understand that just as the ocean is full of unfathomable water, even so the stable-minded god-realized yogi is full of infinite joy. Just as the ocean requires no water, even so the man of knowledge requires no worldly enjoyment; he is fully satiated. Just as the sea is immoveable and knows no floods or spate even when tossed by a tornado or gale and even though all the rivers discharge the waters into it even so the yogi who has established himself in union with God remains immoveable or unshaken under all circumstances.

 

(to be continued)

G.Balasubramanian