Ātmavidyā : NUGGETS OF ADVAITA: Part II

by Srikanth S

Ātmavidyā: Nuggets of AdvaitaThis book teaches you the basics and the crux of Advaita Vedanta, as taught by a realized and traditional master, in a simple and lucid style, meant to clarify all your doubts.Here are the sample nuggets from the first volume.Atmã, the Noumenal Self (Adhishthanam) in all is only one and indivisible, and He is never limited, conditioned or affected by Mãya or anything phenomenal, just as Ākāśa is not affected by, or by anything done to, or any event taking place in it.Phenomenal conditionings belongs to the Chidābhāsa or reflected Self, just as the water-reflected Ãkāśa is alone conditioned by the nature, the limitations and the fluctuations of the water.Every Jeeva has two aspects, one as the Real Self Himself, like the true all-pervading Ākāśa, and the other as Chidābhāsa, mere unsubstantial appearance by reflection, like the reflected Ākāśa. This latter alone is the victim of Avidyā, the duped Samsārī and ignorant sufferer of the universe.The variety of differences between the universal Soul (Iśvara) and the Individual Souls (Jeevas) and also that among the latter them selves are due, not to the Self at all, but only to the multiplicity and variety of the mediums which bear the reflections. The varying characteristics of the reflections in the tank and in the vessels are due only to the varied nature and conditions of the waters in them.The apparent existence of the unreal selves, who are and must be many and various, does not in the least prejudice the Real Self or His Oneness. The Ākāśic reflections in water do not touch or affect the real Ākāśa that pervades everything including that water.As there can be in the real, all-pervading Ãkāśa the appearance of an unreal Ākāśa also, so in the real, absolute, unconditioned Self there can be the appearance of limited, qualified, shadow-like selves, Chidābhāsas, also.Chidābhāsas are called selves simply because they are the shadows of the Self Himself. In fact, they are no selves at all.

118 pages, Paperback

Published July 28, 2022