UPADESA SAARAM OF RAMANA MAHARSHI – AN APPRECIATION (Verse 22)

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UPADESA SAARAM OF RAMANA MAHARSHI – AN APPRECIATION (Verse 22)

 

Vigrahendriya praanadhitamah

Naahamekasat tajjadamhyasat.

 

Aham: I am

Ekasat: the One Existence; and

Na : not

Vigraha : the body.

Indriya : Senses

Praana: vital airs

Dhi: mind-intellect

Tamah : ignorance

Tat jadam : that is all (an) inert structure (and)

Hi: indeed (are)

Asat : non-existent.

 

I am the Pure Existence, One without a second, and I am not the

body, senses, vital-airs, mind-intellect and ignorance, all of

which constitute an inert structure and indeed are non-existent.

 

When the Maharshi declares in this verse that I am Pure Existence,

One without a second, it reminds us of the glorious mahavakya `Aham

Brahma Asmi'. We say that the body exists, the world exists and so

on and on.But the truth is that Existence alone is real; other

things are mere appearances thereof. Without Existence no object can

ever be. Objects may keep on changing and differ in name, form and

their attributes, but the Existence which supports them is

absolutely changeless and stable. It is the substratum of the ever-

changing phenomena which we observe day in and day out. Therefore,

negating the name and forms of the Absolute, the seeker should

experience Pure Existence in the world both within and without.

 

This Existence – Intelligence – Bliss (sat – chit – ananda) is

the unaffected Witness of all the changes that take place. Yet it

being imprisoned by the matter suffers all the imperfections and

sorrows associated with the matter. We have to pierce the known with

the instruments of knowledge. Abidance in the sat with complete

attention puts an end to all illusory perceptions and false

identifications.Sri Ramana recommends to the seeker a constant

reflection and assertion of the truth: Naham vigrahan; Naham

indriya; Naham prana; Naham dhi; Naham tamas (ignorance). Aham eka

sat! Aham eka sat!! Aham eka sat!!! .(Source: Same as last month)

 

prof laxmi narain (prof_narain)

Source and courtesy: Sri Ramana Kendram, Hyderabad

This article was published in Sri Ramana Jyothi,

monthly magazine of the Kendram.