P
pviyer
Guest
Here is an easy reference to the great song of Shankara
http://www.svbf.org/journal/vol2no4/nirvana.pdf
I would like to venture into analyzing the meaning of these verses. Since this is a tough subject, I leave here with open ended questions for further discussion.
Verse 1.
"Mind-intellect-thought-ego I am not". Look at the sequence of these words. All these words are distinguished and separate. The real question is how do we analyze the source of each of these entities? For example is intellect the cause of thought or is it the thought which creates the intellect. Again is ego manifested because of thoughts or does ego cause thoughts. A simple question is , is it possible to have ego, if one does not have any thought.
The next lines describe that the self is not the mundane sense organs nor are we the five categories of matter. I guess these are self explanatory.
The final statement - I am chidandaroopam, I am siva, I am siva
Look at the words chidandaroopam. Chit-ananda-roopam. What is the implication of this. What does this mean what is the description. Are these attributes. Does it not contradict that the Brahman has no attributes? Where is the connection?
Finally I am siva. What does it mean to be Siva- Just auspiciousness or something more?
Verse 2-
"I am not the Prana". Look at the implication. The Upanishads declare that jiva leaves along with Prana after death. Then what is really the link between prana and jiva. How do they associate with each other. We probably know why but how?
"I do not have anything to do with physiological functions"- The word described here means panchavayu. What does that mean. If I do not have anything to with functions then how does mind control the body. Does it mean that the mind controls the body without involvement of self. Whether you directly or indirectly involve in an action, you are a culprit. But here it says I have nothing to do with physiological functions. What is the implication.
"Nor am I the seven fold material that goes into building the body"
"Nor am I attached to five sheaths of my personality". Look at the impilication here. That personality is different from the self. If so what is personality, how did it come up and who gave birth to it?
Verse 3-
"I have neither likes nor dislikes. " If so who is that which likes somebody or dislikes somebody. If this is so why do we give preference to something and reject something. Is that out of bounds of the self? How is that possible.
"Nor do I have covetousness or greed, nor do I have vanity or competition " Does that mean I am self satisfied. Is that not an attribute of the self?
"I do not have the need for dharma artha kama and Moksha"
This is a serious statement. Does that mean that a person going after truth need not follow any of the margas. Then what happened to Karma Marga for reaching the final destination , when you have to follow these dictates. To know myself dont I have to follow this path? If I have no need for it, why does society have it in the first place. What is then the purpose of daily life?
Verse 4-
"Sin or merit can never touch me". Then who acquires sin and merit? Then if that be so how can there be rebirth and how can there be moksha?
"Joy and sorrow cannot contaminate me". Refer here to the word Joy- Sukham. This is qualified to be different from anandam. Why is sukham different anandam. What is the implication, Why am I chidanandam?
"I have no need for mantra or teertha"
"No need for veda or yajna"
"I am neither the experiencer nor experienced?"- If so who is experiencing and who has been experienced. How is it then possible to know myself without experiencing myself?
Verse 5
"Neither death nor caste"
"Nor any parents" - Look at this implication. It means that God cannot even be described as one's own parents. Is it a heresy?
"Nor any friends nor any teachers and students" Does that mean I have no interaction with anyone. Can I not be my own friend or teacher or student?
Verse 6
"I am nirvikalpa" What is meant by nirvikalpa - does it simply mean thought freeness or is there more meaning to that word?
"I am the vitality behind sense organs of everyone". The word is vibhutva. How should this be translated in english?
"Neither have I attachment nor am I free from everything". Here is a key phrase how can you not have attachment to something yet be free from something? Is that a contradiction. What is the implication. Does that state really exist?
"I am all inclusive". Does this not contradict the previous statements of being not concerned with so many things?
http://www.svbf.org/journal/vol2no4/nirvana.pdf
I would like to venture into analyzing the meaning of these verses. Since this is a tough subject, I leave here with open ended questions for further discussion.
Verse 1.
"Mind-intellect-thought-ego I am not". Look at the sequence of these words. All these words are distinguished and separate. The real question is how do we analyze the source of each of these entities? For example is intellect the cause of thought or is it the thought which creates the intellect. Again is ego manifested because of thoughts or does ego cause thoughts. A simple question is , is it possible to have ego, if one does not have any thought.
The next lines describe that the self is not the mundane sense organs nor are we the five categories of matter. I guess these are self explanatory.
The final statement - I am chidandaroopam, I am siva, I am siva
Look at the words chidandaroopam. Chit-ananda-roopam. What is the implication of this. What does this mean what is the description. Are these attributes. Does it not contradict that the Brahman has no attributes? Where is the connection?
Finally I am siva. What does it mean to be Siva- Just auspiciousness or something more?
Verse 2-
"I am not the Prana". Look at the implication. The Upanishads declare that jiva leaves along with Prana after death. Then what is really the link between prana and jiva. How do they associate with each other. We probably know why but how?
"I do not have anything to do with physiological functions"- The word described here means panchavayu. What does that mean. If I do not have anything to with functions then how does mind control the body. Does it mean that the mind controls the body without involvement of self. Whether you directly or indirectly involve in an action, you are a culprit. But here it says I have nothing to do with physiological functions. What is the implication.
"Nor am I the seven fold material that goes into building the body"
"Nor am I attached to five sheaths of my personality". Look at the impilication here. That personality is different from the self. If so what is personality, how did it come up and who gave birth to it?
Verse 3-
"I have neither likes nor dislikes. " If so who is that which likes somebody or dislikes somebody. If this is so why do we give preference to something and reject something. Is that out of bounds of the self? How is that possible.
"Nor do I have covetousness or greed, nor do I have vanity or competition " Does that mean I am self satisfied. Is that not an attribute of the self?
"I do not have the need for dharma artha kama and Moksha"
This is a serious statement. Does that mean that a person going after truth need not follow any of the margas. Then what happened to Karma Marga for reaching the final destination , when you have to follow these dictates. To know myself dont I have to follow this path? If I have no need for it, why does society have it in the first place. What is then the purpose of daily life?
Verse 4-
"Sin or merit can never touch me". Then who acquires sin and merit? Then if that be so how can there be rebirth and how can there be moksha?
"Joy and sorrow cannot contaminate me". Refer here to the word Joy- Sukham. This is qualified to be different from anandam. Why is sukham different anandam. What is the implication, Why am I chidanandam?
"I have no need for mantra or teertha"
"No need for veda or yajna"
"I am neither the experiencer nor experienced?"- If so who is experiencing and who has been experienced. How is it then possible to know myself without experiencing myself?
Verse 5
"Neither death nor caste"
"Nor any parents" - Look at this implication. It means that God cannot even be described as one's own parents. Is it a heresy?
"Nor any friends nor any teachers and students" Does that mean I have no interaction with anyone. Can I not be my own friend or teacher or student?
Verse 6
"I am nirvikalpa" What is meant by nirvikalpa - does it simply mean thought freeness or is there more meaning to that word?
"I am the vitality behind sense organs of everyone". The word is vibhutva. How should this be translated in english?
"Neither have I attachment nor am I free from everything". Here is a key phrase how can you not have attachment to something yet be free from something? Is that a contradiction. What is the implication. Does that state really exist?
"I am all inclusive". Does this not contradict the previous statements of being not concerned with so many things?