Pranam to Parampoojya Parameshwar Sadguru Swami Anilji Maharaj
Atmadhnyan Shighra Sadhana… 29
(English Translation of the series in Hindi by Brahmatmaikdhnyani Sant Swami Anilji Maharaj)
We studied the three main features of Dhnyan Sadhana (practice for Knowledge, Atmadhnyan sadhana ). Shravan, Manan and Nididhyasan. Listen to the Dhnyan advice (directly or subtly conveyed) by Guru, read his literature and read Vedant scriptures is shravan.
While doing Shravan, many questions arise in mind. To keep searching the answers for satisfying those questions is Manan. Beyond that is Nididhyasan.
Meaning of Nididhyasan is explained in different, different ways by the scholars. Many places this is called continuous meditation. However here we will see what philosophical meaning Acharya has told.
Bhagawan Shankaracharya tells the meaning,
“Tato Nididhyasitavyo nishchayen dhyatvya:”
(subsequent to shravan, Manan Atma) Nididhyasitavyo means, appropriate to medidate up on with a resolve.
Here Acharya has conveyed two things. One, is to decide with determination and other, is to medidate up on the detetermined decision. In fact Parmatma’s Dhnyan is understood this way only. The meaning of Meditate here, as, “to keep in mind”, is also correct.
Assume that there is two years old son of a brahmin. He can not know his cast. When his thread ceremony ritual gets done, he becomes aware that he is brahmin. This becomes his firm decision.
When he grows up it does not happen that he has to put any efforts like continuous meditation or any other practice to remember that he is brahmin!
However Brahmanatva becomes quite evident through his behavior and mannerisms. (now a days the things may be different). If anyone asks, without remembering he can say, “I am Brahmin”.
It is simply like that! Whoever is Self Realised person does not tell anyone himself. However other Atmadhnyani people recognize from his behavior. (Ignorant don’t understand).
For attaining this state, Dhnyani must develop firm belief, on whatever Shravan, Manan he has done. Smooth Uninterrupted feel of the identity as Atma like flow of oil stream is Nididhyasan, like brahmin has continuously the Dhnyan (awareness all the time without efforts) of being brahmin while doing daily routines of life.
What we need to primarily fix in our mind?
The way the son of brahmin after the ritual of thread ceremony fixed in his mind that he is not a kshatriya, not a vaishya, not a shoodra, not a female, etc., in the same way whatever we have read in the Scriptures of Vedant Shastra and told by Guru or a Guru like Sage, Dhnyani Mahatma; ‘all that is truth’ is to get fixed, imbibed in our mind.
We need only that much Knowledge, which removes our ignorance, shower happiness and joy and destroys our fears. We do not have to study the Shastras very deeply. Neither we have to debate with anybody nor make a show off of our knowledge!
What are those things on which we should keep on thinking, should Trust and fix in our mind. (In other words how to do contemplation on Atma, Self ).
- My body is an illusion which will disappear any moment. I am different from the body. I am immortal Atma. Similar to an earthen pot, which is an illusion breaking at any moment. The truth is only clay.
My ego, attachment, and desires gives me false knowledge of my existence as body.
There are no near and dear ones, no strangers; factually I am there and only I am!
My body is the part of the Nature formed by five Mahabhootas. Like trees, bushes, animals;
birth-death, nourishment-growth,
copulation- procreation,
decay-disease-old age; etc, all actions and transitions belong to the nature and not mine.
I am untouched, detached.
- Likewise this visible world and interactions therein also is nature which is an illusion created through my imaginary senses on my Atma by ego, attachment and desire.
It is similar to the snake illusion in place of piece of rope. Snake getting imagined on the piece of rope is false. the knowledge of rope destroys the false snake,similarly with the knowledge of Atma falsehood of the Nature is realised.
In Nididhyasan by reading scriptures, serving Guru, we have to Keep in mind only the above two things continuously without interruption and determinedly make a decision imbibing them.
People are so much afraid of Atmadhnyan, they think attaining Atmadhnyan would be very troublesome and painful process and they would not be able to enjoy their life. Some people think that they will have to renounce everything or become sadhu / sadhwi. So many misunderstandings have been nurtured by us!
However there is nothing like that. After begetting Atmadhnyan from Guru Vashishtha, Prabhu Ramchandra, fought and eliminated the demons disturbing the Yadhnya in Sage Vishwamitra’s Ashram. After attaining Atmadhnyan from Lord Shrikrishna, Arjun fought the great war. After begetting Atmadhnyan from Sage Ashtavakra King Janak comfortably managed the Kingdom.
So then will we not be able to carry out our occupation, business? Will we not be able to nourish and raise our children?