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Svadyaya, Sadhana And Sakshathkara-Part III

By Staff

Atmasakshkara, atman,self realization
Continued From The Second Part

Atma Sakshathkara : Mere study and exposition of Vedas will not help much to experience Atma Sakshathkara. Those said by our Sages, Saints and Masters should be practiced throughout our life-time as long as we have the consciousness of our B. M. I, because the human beings are the only animals whose desires never end. These unnatural desires veil the Real Truth. Stopping the brooding over the dead past actions, thinking over the unborn future, one should work in the present without any selfish desires and attachments, sacrificing the existing B. M. I. for the good of others, is the greatest austerity, that one have to do in the path of Self- Realization.

The Knowledge of the Reality destroys all our hankering after the unreal objects. Vedanta or Vedantins never teach, that one should run away from the world or shut himself in a cave and live in the forest to realize the Truth (Self). To realise the Absolute is the supreme purpose of this human life. That Supreme is one's own Self. No one can show it, because the one who experience is itself the Atman. Neither the sense nor the sense organs can experience the Atman. Because of Him they all function. The Seer is the Atman. The Talker is the Atman. The Hearer is the Atman. Even the Realised Man cannot speak much of the Absolute, because it is in every word and thought we have. Mind and Intellect cannot understand the Atman, because they get dissolved in the Atman (Self).

Such of those who got engaged in the Sravana, Manana and Nidhidyasana, who have supreme devotion in their Guru and his teachings, who have surrendered themselves with all their desires and actions at the feet of their Master lives a truly renounced life. In them shine forth the Supreme Truth. Such of those students who have neither the devotion nor the faith nor the belief in the High souled one and the teachings which get over powered by their own senses will fail to understand this real Truth.

Atman is different from the known and the unknown. Neither the speech nor the mind can reach HIM. All the scriptures including the Vedas depend upon the words of description and therefore they are unable to reveal the knower who is the nature of the knower.

The highest bliss is based upon the Realization of Self. It is peace. It is Indescribable. It is totally different from all objects. Atman or the True Nature of the Self can neither be created nor destructed. It is B. M. I. that is created and destroyed and not the Atman. Just as the pot is destroyed and not the Akasa, the knowledge of the Supreme Reality is extremely difficult to be grasped. It is profound. People devoid of discrimination cannot fathom it. Further it is birth-less and always the same. This Absolute knowledge cannot be realized by any relative examples. This knowledge of Atman can be attained only through discrimination. by which one can neglect what is ignorance (Avidya). Then the Knowledge of Self reveals itself.

Conclusion: Many many wonders can be discovered, created and played with. Even what the Suras and Asuras were not able to achieve can be achieved. But to realize one's own Self, Atmasakshatkara, the truth is very, very difficult.

Svadhyaya helps for Sadhana and Sadhana helps to purify and perfect our senses, to understand the subtle points to live a spiritual life. By leading such a life Atmasakshatkara becomes easy.

We the members of the Chinmaya family are blessed with the Great Master H. H. Swami ChinmayanandaJi Maharaj of Uttarkasi (Himalayas) who has come down to our level to teach that Supreme knowledge and make us realize the Atman. But approaching, practicing and experiencing is left to each one of us.

"He who is not vigilant, will repent later in vain", thus says. Tiruvalluvar in the Kural.

About the author

M Ram Mohan has written this article for Vedanta Vani, Chinmaya Mission.

Story first published: Monday, August 10, 2009, 14:25 [IST]
Read more about: atman self realization