Being An Advaitin

TO KNOW ONESELF ONE HAS TO CONFINE HIMSELF TO ONESELF ONLY AND NOT TO THINGS WHICH ARE SEPARATE FROM HIM Viz. objects whether known or unknown ".This is very true and as Advaitins we don't have to dissect each word to understand advaitam since it is beyond words. Study is required only to that extent necessary for being an advaitin.


After the study of Gita and Upanishads one comes to know basically one thing, that Brahman is incomprehensible and that the self in you is the same as Brahman. The subtle truth is that Brahman only lends the light to shine on the self and remains only as a witness while it is the reflected self that deals with the world. As Swami Dayanada Saraswati says in one of his lectures that advaitam is the vision in the presence of dvaithic world since the world cannot be dismissed from experiencing. It is the attitude with which one looks at the worldly life and his seeking of freedom from saMnsAra//cycle of birth and death that matters, that is the knowledge gained from the study of scriptures.


After having attended Swami Paramarthananda's classes on Gita and major Upanishads and now having the opportunity to listen to all of them again by Swami Dayananda, Swamy Omkarananda and others as nidhityAsanam, I have realized the purpose for which these are done and there is a profound change in my outlook at the world. All my reactions which used to burst out earlier are under check and control. I am able to smile at the meaningless way one lives with the full knowledge of the mithyAtvam involved in life's transactions. Probably this is a blessing from Swamiji whom I met last year in Saylorsburg and just asked him for his blessings. I don't want to use the words like I am a realized soul or enlightened etc, even I don't know it. but I am different for the good. There is a certain sereneness, calmness, and peace in me which is unexplainable. I am not even worried about whether I am liberated or not. It is a different world I am living and I am happy with that.


With Lord Krishna's Blessings