In my last article we saw the importance of the Guru and the greatness of Self- knowledge.

In this article we will see

1. The need for self-experience.
2. Basic requisite – Dispassion
3. Difference between the Atma and anatma
4. The gross body

1. The need to self-experience.

Experiencing Brahman is liberation.  That is our true nature.  This apparent Universe must fade away from one’s consciousness and must experience the pure-consciousness (Brahman). Then we understand how vast our consciousness is and we are limiting the consciousness by body and mind.  The nature of the Atman is hidden by Maya.  This Maya has to be removed either by bhakti, jnana, Karma or yoga. One must exert effort to experience the Truth.  Chanting of mantras, singing Kirtanas or doing poojas may help to purify the mind; but only deep meditation helps one to realise the Truth.

Brahman is the pure consciousness and maya is the creative power which manifests in it.  Maya manifests as the three guns and five elements.  A continuous evolution of the three gunas and the five elements create the whole Universe. The body-mind complex is also an evolute of the above. The seeker though his real nature is same as that of Brahman, he has wrongly identified with the body-mind complex.  The Truth is concealed by the effects of maya. This curtain of maya has to be removed to experience the Truth.  Mere theoretical knowledge is not enough.  The seeker must take all the effort to realize the Truth.

2. Basic requisite – Dispassion

One must have dispassion towards the external world.  One must understand the real nature of the world, its short life and then have an indifferent attitude towards the world.  Dispassion should not be forced on the seeker by any means.   It is not true dispassion. If a person is forced to ignore the world, then when the right situation arise, desires may pop up. Therefore, the seeker must listen and understand the scriptures (sravanam), reflect on it logically (mananam) and then meditate on the nature of the Atma.  To have dispassion and to meditate on the nature of the Atma, the knowledge to differentiate between the Atma and the anatma is important.

3. Difference between Atma and anatma

The physical body otherwise said as the Sthula Sarira or the gross body is made up of flesh, bones, marrows, nerves, blood and its external covering – the skin.  The five elements combine together to form the gross body.  But, the Atma is different. It is pure Consciousness.  The cognition of these five elements becomes the five senses like sound, sight, fast, touch and smell. These senses help the jiva (soul) to experience the outer world.   Through strong dispassion and right understanding between the Atma and anatman, one must overcome the attraction of the senses to the sense objects.

4. The gross body

Body or sthula Sarira is only a servant of the Atma; one must not engage their whole life for caring and nourishing the body alone.  A healthy body is needed in this realm of existence to attain knowledge and liberation. That is all with the body.  Without understanding this if a person always nourishes the body without attempting for liberation is ignorance.  So, one must give up the infatuation of the body and everything connected with the body like wealth, family, social status etc.

It is through this gross body, the individual jiva reaps all the fruits of the Karma in the waking State.  The jiva through the five senses connect with the gross body or identify with the gross body and experience the Karma.  So, the gross body has more importance in the waking state.  Without the gross body one cannot stay on Earth, perform or experience any karma. Properties such as birth, death, varna, asrama, respect, insult, expectation all belong to the gross body alone.  The ear, skin, eye, nose and speech, tongue are the sense organs which bring the external world to the mind.  Hands, feet, speech, the rectum and the genitals help the jiva to perform karma.

In my next article I will explain about the subtle body.

Cont….