The shark known as sense-object August 21, 2008

ROPE MISTAKEN FOR A SNAKE April 13, 2008

In our lives we can experience fear and worries a lot of times for various reasons. What is the reason for this?

Here is a beautiful explanation in Shankara’s  “Vivekachudamani”

“110. Maya can be destroyed by the realization of the pure Brahman, the one without a second, just as the mistaken idea of a snake is removed by the discrimination of the rope. She has her Gunas as Rajas, Tamas and Sattva, named after their respective functions.

138. One who is overpowered by ignorance mistakes a thing for what it is not; It is the absence of discrimination that causes one to mistake a snake for a rope, and great dangers overtake him when he seizes it through that wrong notion. Hence, listen, my friend, it is the mistaking of transitory things as real that constitutes bondage.”

As you can see the Maya( Illusion, Fear ) is coming to us because of lack of discrimination and  clarity.

Here is a gorgeous extract from Sri Guru Granth Sahib:

“In the darkness of Maya, I mistook the rope for the snake, but that is over, and now I dwell in the Eternal Home of the Lord (sggs 332). Like the story of the rope mistaken for a snake, the mystery has now been explained to me. Like the many bracelets, which I mistakenly thought were gold; now, I do not say what I said then (sggs 658).”

It is very easy to remove the darkness of Maya within us. We need to bring the Light in ourselves by awakening of Kundalini.

“Antari giyan na aayio mirtak hai sansaar: Those within whom the Knowledge is not awakened are like dead bodies in the world (sggs 88).”

Aatam cheenai su tatt beechaarae: One who understands his own Soul, contemplates the essence of Reality (sggs 224).

Chet suchet chit hoyi rahu tayu lai pargaas ujaaraa: When you are conscious in your Consciousness, you will be enlightened and illuminated (sggs 339).

Iyu kahe Nanak man tu jot saroop hai apnaa mool pashaan: Thus says Nanak: O my mind, you are That — the true image of the Divine Light — know your Reality (sggs 441).