[Advaita-l] Swarupa Ashtakam - 1

[S Jayanarayanan]

http://svbf.org/newsletters/year-2014/swarupa-ashtakam/
 
(Geetha Ganapathy)
 
Introduction
 
For any spiritual seeker, life is a (spiritual) journey. But it needs to be conducted as a guided tour with the help of a Guru who uses the
Global Positioning System (GPS) called Shastras. If not, it will only end up being a directionless wandering or worse, groping in darkness.
 
Scriptures give four definitions for a spiritual journey, each more evolved than the previous.
 
It is thus described as a journey from
 
(i)  Samsara to Moksha
 
In other words, it is freedom from the repeated cycle of births and deaths.
 
(ii) Mrtyu (mortality) to Amrtam (immortality)
 
Since samsara is nothing but repeated cycle of births and deaths, it signifies mortality. Spirituality guides us along the path to discovering our own Immortality.
 
(iii) Asat (myth) to Sat (Truth)
 
Logically, immortality can never have a definite time period. Hence it cannot be a time-bound destination for anyone. If immortality cannot
be arrived at, it only implies that it is already our inherent nature. If we are immortal, we should not be restricted by false notions of growing
old and dying. This realization is symbolized as the journey from illusion to Truth.
 
(iv) Tamas (ignorance) to Jyoti (Knowledge)
 
Any false notion denotes ignorance. And like darkness, ignorance cannot be forced away. The only way of dispelling the darkness called ignorance
is to light the lamp of knowledge.
 


(To be Continued)