Saturday 28 November 2020

Vivekachoodamani Sri Shankaracharya Virachitham - Bhrama Sathyam Jagath Mithya


 


Chapter 2 – Vivekachoodamani  11 – 20

 

Karmakanda is an inseparable part of Veda/VedaThrayi  – Upasana Kanda, Karmakanda and Moksha/Gnana Kanda/, the performance of religious and spiritual rites are prescribed in the Veda in order to achieve Chiththashudhdhi/pure intellect, hence the practice of the spiritual and religious rites are to achieve the purity of mind and get rid of impurities like Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha Madha, and Mathshcharya. The performance of religious and spiritual rites are not to achieve AthmaGnana, it can be achieved only with the contemplation and meditation upon the supreme Lord. Therefore Thaththvichara/ Athmajjana, learning Veda, Vedanta, scriptures, Ithihasapurana, from the preceptor, and pondering on those highest philosophies helps the Sadhaka to attain proficiency in the Athmavichara, with the knowledge of all-pervasive supreme Bhramam,  the Sadhaka perceives the Paramathma Parambhramam in everything.   Karmacharana/performance of religious and spiritual rites are for the purity of the mind and the Thathvavichara is the source of Athmagnana/knowledge of self. The rope gives out the appearance of Mahasarppa in the darkness creates intense trepidation in the Jeeva, the clear understanding about it would remove the fear immediately. The Karmacharana will not remove the fear and anxieties of worldly existence, the knowledge of all-pervasive Bramham resides as the soul has neither birth nor death, changeless, pure and free from fear and afflictions,  in the Jeeva would remove the grief of worldly existence once for all. The Karmacharana cannot save the Jeeva drenched in worldly matters and bondage, it could provide Chiththashudhdhi, but Athmavichara is the only source to get rid of the repeated cycles of births. The Paramathma resides as soul/Athman is wielded in the Maya/Panchakosha, hence to achieve the understanding about that Paramathma will it be possible with the Karma, Snanam, Dhanam, Pranayam? Therefore it is necessary to have Thathvavichara along with the performance of the Karma, Japa, Thapa, Snanam, Tapasya to achieve the knowledge of Paramathma Parambhramam. The Jeeva who is qualified for Sadhana,  along with the Chathushtaya Sampathi*, engages in Athmavichara achieves success in it, and the Kala/time, and Desha/zone, also means of Upaya/tool for it, the well- deserved Jeeva achieve the fortune of Athmavichara. The initial stage to achieve the practice of Athmavichara, the Jeeva should follow these steps meticulously 1)  Jijjasu/curiosity and desire to learn 2) Paripakvatha/shrewdness, maturity, 3) approach the preceptor who is a Bhramajjyani, Mahathma, benevolent, and sincerely follow his teachings. In due course of time, the Sadhaka would achieve knowledge in supreme Bhramam with the practice of austerities, contemplation, and meditation, etc.  The Jeeva who  is 1) Ihapoha Vichakshana/ wise, far-sighted, experienced, learned, proficient, skillful, 2) Jeeva who have a clear understanding of the Athmavasthu/Athman/Purusha and Anathmavasthu/destructible Prakrithi attains Athmajjana. The Jeeva who has thorough knowledge about the material things, wealth, money, richness, fame, possession, fame, family, children, wife, relatives, companion, etc. have impermanent nature, constantly undergoes transformation and ruin.  The Paramathma/Purusha resides as the soul is all-pervasive, has neither birth nor death, eternal, changeless, pure, unblemished, and free from afflictions. The Jeeva who has 1)  the knowledge of Athma/Purusha, and Anathmavasthu/Prakrithi 2) Vairagya Sampanna/renounced and contented soul,  3) undertake austerities and practices Sathyam, Dhamam, Shamam, Shaucham and Dhaya 4) Jeeva who sincerely yearn for Moksha achieves fruitfulness in life. Hence, the Jeeva who lacks the above virtues develop those qualities with the practice of various austerities and rites eventually attains the Athmavichara. The learned affirms that the essential qualities are Dhama, Shama, Sathyam, Dhaya, and Shaucham are the wealth to pursuit the Athmavichara. In the absence of the above, the search of Athmavichara will not be fruitful. The Sadhana Chathushtaya is 1) Nithya Anithya Vasthu Vivechana/knowledge of permanent/Athman and  impermanent things/materials things, people, wealth, richness fame, etc. 2) the sense of renunciation/ free from attachment to worldly matters and bondage 3)practice of Sathyam, Shama, Dhama, Shaucham and Dhaya 4) Mumukshthvam/association with saintly men, ascetic, preceptors, sages, etc. The Nithya Anithyavasthu Viveka is “ Bhrama Sathyam Jagath Mithya’/ Bhramam is the Truth and the Universe/Prakrithi is Mithya/illusion.


 

Chiththasya  Shudhdhaye Karma Na Thu Vasthoo Upalabdhaye | Vasthu Sidhdhir Vicharena Na Kinchith Karmakodibhi: ||

 

Samyak Vicharatha: Sidhdha  Rajju Thathvavadharana | Bhranthyodhitha Mahasarppa Bhayadhukha Vinashini ||

 

Arththasya Nishchayo Dhrishto Vicharena Hithokthitha: | Na Snanena Na Dhanena Pranayama Shathena Va ||

 

Adhikarinamashasthe  Phalasidhdhir Visheshatha: | Upaya Dheshakaladhya : Santhyasmin Sahakarina: ||

 

Atho Vichara: Karththavyo Jijjasorathma Vasthuna: | Samasadhya  Dhayasindhum Gurum Bhramavidhuththamam ||

 

Medhavi Purusho Vidhvan Uhapoha Vichakshana: | Adhikaryathmavidhyaya Mukthalakshana Lakshitha: ||

 

Vivekino Virakthasya  Shamadhi Gunashalina: | Mumukshoreva  Hi Bhrama Jijjasa  Yogyatha Matha ||

 

Sadhananyathra Chathvari Kathithani Maneeshibhi: | Yeshu Sathsveva Sannishta  Yadhabhave Na Sidhdhyathi ||

 

Adhau Nithya Anithyavasthu Viveka: Pariganyathe | Ihamuthra Phalabhoga Viragasthadhanantharam| Shamadhi Shatka Sampaththir  Mumukshvathvam Ithi Sputam ||

 

Bhramasathyam Jaganmithya Ithyevam Roopovinishchaya: | So Yam Nithya Anithyavasthu Viveka:  Samudhahritha: ||