Thus Spake the Divine - The Whole Supreme Being (Akhand) and Fragmented Particles (Khand)

Thus Spake the Divine

The Whole Supreme Being (Akhand) and Fragmented
Particles (Khand)

In this Chapter, Poojyasri Maha Periyava elucidates the association between the Brahmam and Jeevan emphasising on the philosophy of Tat-Tvam.

There is only one sun for this earth. Sprinkle a handful of water on a smooth surface when the sun shines. You will see the image of sun reflecting in each of the drops of water. Though they all are separately reflecting the sun, it does not mean that there are as many suns. Sun is only one. The same way, the light of knowledge glittering onto all living beings existing in this Cosmos is nothing but the

reflection of only one Brahmam. This is what Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavadpada has revealed in Brahma Sutra Bhashyam.

The only supreme power or the only supreme wisdom, which forms the source or origin of everything, that same supreme power and boundless wisdom alone has disseminated into fragments within a range and appears as multiple particles. That one substance is “Tat” which means “that”, which is supposed to be the culmination of the Veda. “Tat” refers to ‘that substance’ which “exists there quite far away” above all. In our current state though, it might appear to be at a faraway distance, in reality, it is the one substance that is the whole entirety and which exists both in proximity and at a faraway distance. Veda says, “That” substance (Tat) is only “You” (Tvam) - Tat-Tvam Asi - You are that.

When I say all this, for a moment, it would appear as though we have comprehended the concept well. It would be great if we continue to stay back the same way forever, as we remain at this one moment. But the next moment, we lose sight of this absolute truth. We fall prey to various sorrows because of different kinds of myths. To continue to be blissful forever, we should hold on to someone tight, who remains the absolute truth, the God forever. We exist in different tiny particles. All these tiny particles, when merging with the Supreme Being, transform themselves as the Supreme Being and become eternally blissful.

The one who is the Supreme Being is the only existence. There being various particles are just sheer thoughts. The state of thoughts or dreams is not something that is perpetually true. If we, who are the fragmented particles of the Supreme Being (Whole), endowed with physical forms and attributes (Guna), start meditating on the Supreme Being, and finally reach a stage of meditation with the self, possessed with no-attributes (Nirguna), life will become devoid of any frictions and problems. Prevail will only a state of splendid tranquillity. This is the fruit that Sri Shankara Bhagavadpada has plucked from the tree of Upanishad and given to us.

Before reaching this ripened stage, one has to mature gradually. We have to go through the stages of being a bud, flower, stage prior to full growth, and then the full-grown vegetable or fruit. One has to patiently wait till reaching the ripened stage. If one is hasty to become a fruit while it is still unripe, it will fall off the tree prematurely, losing its value. There is no use of it. Ramalinga Adigal, one of the famous Tamil Saints nervously asks, “Will it fall premature?” We should also have the same anxiety. Till one reaches the stage of maturity as that of a fully ripened fruit, one should continue to perform Pooja, japam (chanting), thapam (penance) etc. Till we reach the culminating stage of Veda, which is the “Tat-Tvam”, we should continue to follow the above- mentioned practices. Only then the fruit will fully ripen. Finally, where does the origin point for that Tat-Tvam exist? It exists only within the self; it exists within the wisdom that penetrates into the Tat-Tvam. This can be realised through one’s own experience

This article is a snippet from the Book Thus Spake the Divine, is available online at www.giri.in & across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture & Tradition.