[Advaita-l] Swarupa Ashtakam - 2

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Continued from previous post)
 
 
The very same essence is captured in the well-known Shloka below where the spiritual seeker seeks guidance in this spiritual journey.
 
असतो मा सद्गमय। “Lead us from illusion to Truth”
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय। “Lead us from ignorance to light of Knowledge”
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय । “Lead us from mortality to immortality”
 
In summary, a spiritual journey is nothing but pursuit of knowledge. This journey has three stages –
•    Jnana Yogyata Prapti: qualification for the study of Atma Vidya
•    Jnana Prapti: acquisition of Atma Vidya through systematic study
•    Jnana Nishtha: completion assimilation of Atma Vidya
 
Each of the above stages has relevant spiritual exercises to help in improving oneself and becoming qualified for the next stage. During the first stage,
practice of Karma Yoga and Upasana Yoga help a seeker to attain Chitta-shuddhi and reach Jnana Yoga stage. Shravanam (listening) and Mananam (removal of doubts
through discussions) are exercises used in the Jnana Prapti stage. And finally, knowledge acquired thus, needs to be imbibed via the exercise of Nidhidhyasanam
(assimilation) to reach Moksha ultimately. By assimilating this Knowledge, we ensure that the Vidya so obtained is not merely academic, but completely ingrained
and every cell of our being throbs with it. That is when one attains Moksha.
 
Swarupa Ashtakam (also known as Swarupanusandhanashtakam) is a short work by Sri Adi Shankaracharya that focuses exclusively on this exercise of Nidhidhyasanam.
Anusandhanammeans Dhyanam or meditation, or in other words, continuously dwelling on a particular thought. Here we do not meditate on some specific deity,
instead we meditate on the true nature of self (Swarupa) via the eight verses (Ashtakam).
 
Out of the verses in Swarupa Ashtakam, verses 1-2 are brief references to the Jnana Yogyata Prapti and Jnana Prapti stages respectively. Verse 9 is the
Phala Shruti. And through the remaining verses 3-8, Adi Shankaracharya expounds the qualities of Brahman and repeatedly drives home the point that I,
the spiritual seeker, is not anyone else but indeed the very same Brahman.
 
 
(To be Continued)