Maha Gita- Even the Bhagavad Gita does not have the majesty found in the Ashtavakra Samhita.
We are embarking on a rare journey. Man has many scriptures, but none comparable to the Gita of Ashtavakra. Before it the Vedas pale, the Upanishads speak with a weak voice. Even the Bhagavad Gita does not have the majesty found in the Ashtavakra Samhita -- it is simply unparalleled.
The most important thing is that neither society nor politics nor any other institution of human life have had any influence on the sayings of Ashtavakra. They are such a pure expression -- transcending emotion, transcending time and death -- there is nothing comparable.
Perhaps this is why Ashtavakra's Gita, the ASHTAVAKRA SAMHITA, has not had much impact. Krishna's Bhagavad Gita has been very influential. The first reason is that Krishna's Gita is a synthesis. He is more concerned with synthesis than with truth. The desire for synthesis is so strong that if necessary, Krishna doesn't mind sacrificing the truth a little.
Krishna's Gita is a hodgepodge containing everything; hence it suits everyone because there is something in it for everyone. It is difficult to find any tradition whose voice is not found in the Gita. It is difficult to find anyone who does not take solace from the Gita. But for such people, Ashtavakra's Gita will prove very difficult.
Ashtavakra is not for synthesis -- he is a man of truth. He speaks the truth just as it is, without any artifice or coloring. He is not concerned about the listener, he does not care whether his listener will understand or not. Such a pure expression of truth has never happened anywhere before, nor has it ever happened again.
Before we enter the sutras, it is necessary to understand a few things about Ashtavakra. Not much is known, as he was neither a social nor political man, so no historical record exists. Only a few incidents are known -- and they are just wondrous, hardly believable. But if you understand them deeply, the significance will be revealed.
The first incident happened before Ashtavakra was born. Nothing is known of what came afterward, but this is an incident while he was still in the womb. His father, who was a great scholar, would recite the Vedas every day while Ashtavakra listened from the womb. One day, a voice came from the womb saying, "Stop it! This is all nonsense. There is no wisdom whatsoever in this. Mere words -- just a collection of words. Is wisdom found in scriptures? Wisdom is within oneself. Is truth found in words? Truth is within oneself."
Naturally, his father was enraged. First of all, he was a father and on top of that a scholar. And his son hidden in the womb was saying such things! Not even born yet! He exploded in anger, became engulfed in fire: The father's ego had been hit. And a scholar's ego... he was a great pundit, a great debater, knowledgeable in scriptures...
In anger, he uttered a curse: When born, the boy would be deformed; his limbs would be bent in eight parts. Hence his name: Ashtavakra means one whose body has eight bends. He was born crippled in eight places; eight places hunchbacked like a camel. In a rage, his father deformed his son's body.
Remember:~
Ashtavakra: ~ “My child, you may speak upon various scriptures or hear the sermons on the scriptures. But you cannot establish in the ‘Self’ unless you forget all. 16-1 – p49
Nothing must be accepted as truth without verification. What is accepted without a proper inquiry will not lead a person to the final goal.
The study of Upanishad was neither indispensable nor a prerequisite for attaining the human goal, the moksha.
All that one was required to do was to get rid of ignorance. There is no need to read books after books. You need to realize only the world in which you exist is created out single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Knowledge of that single stuff is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.
Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana itself is Advaitic Gnana.
No books can do more than help us find it, and even without them, we can get all truth if you search the truth which is hidden by the world in which we exist. You have the love for books without bondage to them; and read the books, but do not believe blindly because it is well written with the ornamental world, but think for yourself. No blind belief can save you, work out on your own to find the truth, which hidden by the form, time, and space. Think the Soul is your inner Guru - that Soul is an eternal help.
There is no need to read books to realize the truth which is beyond the form, time, and space.
Like a servant who carries a lamp in front of you to find your way, and you have found it, so becomes the spiritual books to that person who has realized the Truth. Why should the seeker depend upon any book further?
Actual realization takes you beyond books. At a certain stage, books become a botheration.
All the books written on Advaita by eastern and western authors are based on the dualistic perspective and orthodox point of view. Thus, they do not have the Soulcentric vision of the truth.
Advaita is the nature of the Soul. There are so many books by many authors, but none will help the seeker to reach the ultimate understanding.
The wisdom is not found in scriptures or books. There are only hidden parables here and there. There is no clear-cut wisdom whatsoever in the scriptures or philosophy. Mere words ~ just a collection of words.
The wisdom is hidden within the world in which we exist. The truth is not found in the world because the world is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. The Truth is hidden within the form, time, and space, but it is beyond the form, time, and space.
Sages of truth restrained themselves parting the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana to the mass and only a selected few. It was hidden from the people who were not qualified and receptive to it.
Those of you who have read the Upanishads remember that again and again, “Not by reading books can we realize the Self.”
Second, it finds veneration for some particular person still more difficult to uphold. Those of you who are a student of Vedanta – Vedanta is always meant Upanishads-know that this is the only religion that does not cling to any person.
Not one man or woman has become an object of worship among the Vedantins.
You see how very little room there is in Vedanta for any man to stand ahead of us and for us to and worship him. Vedanta does not give you that. No book, no man to worship nothing.
A still greater difficulty is about God. If you want to be democratic in this country. It is a democratic God that Vedanta teaches. ~ (Is Vedanta in future religion? BY Swami Vivekananda –lecture – San Francisco on April 8, 1900):~Santthosh Kumaar
No comments:
Post a Comment