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Deluded by Maya

CHENNAI: An individual’s life is driven by one’s latent impressions and tendencies (Vasanas) and because of this it is not easy to gain an insight into the true nature of the Atma (Self). Moreover, though the Self is superior to the body, this knowledge is not explicit and one readily identifies with the body.

Scriptures speak of two kinds of knowledge, the higher and the lower. All information pertaining to worldly knowledge including the matter contained in the scriptures — astronomy, astrology, sciences, code of rituals, grammar, etymology, etc., — are subsumed in the lower category. Pursuit of this kind of objective knowledge of the outside world, the arts, culture, etc., though vast and necessary for all worldly purposes, is in no way helpful in gaining the knowledge of the Self. Only the higher knowledge pertaining to the Absolute Reality is the cause of the dawning of enlightenment and Adi Sankara reinforces this in his hymn Bhaja Govindam, said Sri P. M. Vijayaraghava Sastrigal in a lecture.

It is this knowledge that can show the way to liberation and relieve one from the cycle of birth. Adi Sankara urges human beings to make use of their lifetime to attain salvation and not waste time in worldly pursuits. The truth of the infinite Brahman is realised when the delusion that considers the world as the reality is shed. This is the idea conveyed by the statement that knowledge of grammar, that is, mere worldly knowledge, will not save one from Samsara.

The truth that all Jivatmas are in reality a part of infinite Brahman has to be clear in one’s perception. But this truth is hidden due to the deluding effects of Maya. The Jivatma continues to think that its essence is the body mind complex. This is the bondage that has to be transcended if one is to attain liberation.

In spiritual parlance, scholarship or academic achievements do not qualify one to be above delusion, if one does not realise the true nature of the Self. The mind becomes the cause of delusion by creating the distinctions such as I and Mine. One has to strive hard to overcome the effect of the Vasanas by directing it towards the eternal truth. Even the idea of joy or sorrow is felt because the mind attaches importance to worldly objects.

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