the fool who takes this world to be real

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ADVAITA BODHA DEEPIKA[LAMP OF NON-DUAL KNOWLEDGE][Originally

Sri Shankaracharya and other great Sages hadwritten several works like the commentary on the Vedanta Sutrasand thus furnished the methods for those engaged in Self enquiryto accomplish their purpose.From those, Sri Karapatra Swami later condensed thesalient

points

into

Sanskrit

verse

in

a

work

of

twelve

chapters,called Sri Advaita

Bodha Deepika.Still later, some great man seems to have translated thisinto Tamil prose. For some unknown reasons only some eightchapters

of

the

same

are

found

published.]ON SUPERIMPOSITIONDisciple: How can the scriptures say what is false?Master: They are guides to the ignorant and do not meanwhat appears on the surface.D.: How is that?M.: Man having forgotten his true nature of being the allperfect Ether of Consciousness, is deluded by Ignorance intoidentifying himself with a body, etc., and regarding himself asan insignificant individual of mean capacity. If to him it is toldthat he is the creator of the whole universe, he will flout theidea and refuse to be guided. So coming down to his level thescriptures posit an Isvara as the creator of the universe. But it isnot the truth. However the scriptures reveal the truth to thecompetent seeker. You are now mistaking the nursery tale formetaphysical truth. In this connection you may remember thechild's tale in Yoga Vasishta.119-134. D.: What is it?M.: It is a fine story to illustrate the emptiness of thisuniverse. On hearing it the false notions of the world being realand its creation by Isvara, will all disappear. Briefly put, thestory runs as follows:-A child asked its nurse to tell an interesting story.Accordingly she told the following:Nurse: Once upon a time a most powerful king whosemother was barren, ruled over all the three worlds. His wordwas law to all the kings in these worlds. The barren mother'sson had extraordinary powers of illusion to make, foster andunmake worlds. At his will he could take on any one of thethree bodies, white, yellow or black. When he took on the yellowbody, he had an urge and would, like a magician, create a city.Child: Where is that city?Nurse: It hangs in mid air.Child: What is it called?Nurse: Total Unreality.Child: How is it built up?Nurse: It has fourteen royal roads, each divided into threesections in which there are respectively many pleasure gardens,huge mansions and seven luxurious tanks — adorned withstrings of pearls. Two lamps – one warm and the other cool —always light the city. In it the barren mother's son built manyfine houses, some on high, some in the middle and others onlow ground. Each of them has a black velvety top, nine gateways,several windows to let in breeze, five lamps, three white pillars,and walls plastered nicely. By his magic he created fearsomephantoms, one to guard each house. As a bird enters its nest, heenters any of these houses at his will and sports at his pleasure.135-140. With his black body, he protects these homesthrough the phantom guards. With his white body heinstantaneously reduces them to ashes. This barren woman's sonwho like a fool repeatedly produces, protects and destroys thecity at his whim, was once tired after his work, refreshed himselfbathing in the quaffing waters of mirage and proudly wore flowersgathered from the sky. I have seen him; he will soon come here topresent you with four strings of gems made from the lustre ofbroken fragments of glass and anklets of nacre-silver.The child believed the tale and was pleased. So it is withthe fool who takes this world to be real.