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Locus of ignorance

CHENNAI: The Yoga Vasishta is an important philosophical treatise which is in the form of spiritual instruction given by Sage Vasishta to Rama. While explaining Avidya (ignorance) as the root of all human sorrows the sage declared that it had developed like a devastating disease and hence had to be cured. And then like a physician who not only diagnoses the illness but also prescribes the appropriate medicine, Vasishta told Him that Self-knowledge (Atma Jnana) was the medicine for Avidya.

In his discourse, Sri Mani Dravid Sastrigal said it was the human mind that was affected by Avidya.

One can experience the evidence for this in the state of deep sleep in which the Antahkarana (an aspect of the mind) ceases to function. Only on waking up is the person able to articulate that he slept peacefully.

Avidya remains as witness (Sakshi) even in deep sleep because the mind on waking up starts functioning as before. The Self is tranquil and it is Avidya that makes the mind engage in the world. Just as a flame flickers slightly even when kept in a windless place because that is its nature, so also thoughts arise naturally in the mind.

It is due to Avidya that a person totally identifies with his body-mind personality. Just like the rivers run towards the ocean, so also, experiences of sorrow, desire and delusion gravitate to the Antahkarana. This is the reason why human beings become entrapped in the world lured by its attractions and then experience sorrows.

Human birth results according to the Karma amassed in previous lives. It is impossible to gauge how many births a bonded soul would have undergone just as it is unfeasible to count how many drops of water spray on the sides of a gushing waterfall. While Karma determines the type and circumstances of birth, it is the tendencies (Vasana) of the Antahkarana that impel the individual to act with the motivation to fulfil his desires and this in turn causes bondage leading to rebirth. There is no assurance that the next birth will be human. Death for one who is born is certain and hence one must aspire to put an end to transmigration in this life when one has been given the opportunity of human birth.

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