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Comprehending the Self

CHENNAI: Scriptures say that it is through an "awakening" and not through reasoning that Brahma Jnana is attained. The Kenopanishad categorically states that the nature of the Supreme Being cannot be comprehended due to the limitations of human experience.

Though it is the power of the Supreme Being that is the prime cause of all mind and matter including human understanding and the functioning of the sense organs, the ironic truth is that this knowledge lies beyond the grasp of the sense organs and the power of human understanding. That is why when one thinks he knows the Brahman he is actually revealing his ignorance, while one who frankly accepts that it is not possible to know Him has best understood Him.

In Lord Krishna's description of the qualities of an enlightened soul, it is clearly revealed that the unique experiential state such a person attains confers on him the necessary bent of mind to deal with worldly actions, said Sri N. Veezhinathan in a lecture. It is an intuitive perception/revelation of the all-pervading, all-knowing and all-powerful Brahman as being manifest in each and every aspect of the universe that confers enlightenment about the Self and the Supreme Being. Content to be a part of this universe, he does not perceive anything as belonging to him. There is a total absence of desire that makes him give up everything. So he does not depend on anyone or anything.

While he continues to live in this world, with full control over his mind and body, he dedicates all his actions to Him. When he works to keep his life in his body, his actions do not become binding on him.

His very enlightenment is able to absolve him of the consequences of his actions, for he has already relinquished any attachment to the fruit of his deeds.

He is not affected by the opposites of good and evil, pleasure and pain, joy and sorrow, etc., for empirically he is already in the bliss of God realisation.

Living in this state of mind, he is a Jivanmukta — one who has attained freedom even while living by virtue of having extricated himself from the delusions that affect human beings. He continues to live with a sense of total detachment, and works to maintain the bare sustenance of life.

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