[Advaita-l] Swarupa Ashtakam - 5

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Continued from previous post)
 
 
Verse 4
यदज्ञानतोभातिविश्वंसमस्तंविनष्टंचसद्योयदात्मप्रबोधे।
मनोवागतीतंविशुद्धंविमुक्तंपरंब्रह्मनित्यंतदेवाहमस्मि॥
 
The world appears (as real) because of ignorance of Brahman and disappears as soon as Brahman is realized. That which is beyond words and mind, pure and free
of limitations, I am that supreme, eternal Brahman.
 
Continuing to analyze the nature of Brahman, let us revisit the example of a bangle made out of gold. Considering that the bangle borrows its existence from gold,
we can say that bangle seems to exist, but is, in fact, non-existent. We can extend the same concept to the world and Brahman. In the vision of a Jnani, the world
does not actually exist, but only has seeming existence, but for Ajnanis, because of lack of awareness of Brahman, the world seems real. In other words, when Brahman
is known, the world ceases to exist, although it continues to ‘appear’ (note the difference)
 
This Brahman is also beyond words and mind. Words are only meant to describe that which is experienced. But in the case Brahman (being beyond experience) words
are not enough. Unlike Samsara, characterized by limitation, helplessness, anger and frustration, Brahman is pure and beyond limitation.
 
 
(To be Continued)