Aum

MOkshasaadhanam (Means of Liberation) – 13

by Krishna Sastri

Let’s continue the Guru Sishya Samvaadham.

Sishya: GurO! Conscious of the body and the senses I feel pleasure and pain in the waking state as well as in the dream state. Is this my nature? If it is my nature then there can be no liberation as the nature cannot be got rid of.

Guru said: My dear Devadatta! It is not your nature but was caused.

Sishya: But if they were caused, then what is the cause ( kim nimittham )? What will bring an end to this cause so I can be restored to my original Self just as a sick man is restored to original health?

Guru: The cause is ‘ avidya ’ (ignorance). Knowledge brings an end to avidya . When the ignorance is removed you will be liberated and you will have an end to transmigratory existence. Then you will never have pain again.

Sishya: Bhagavan! Please tell me: What is this ‘ avidya ’?

Guru: You are indeed the non-transmigratory Supreme Self yet you wrongly think that you keep reincarnating. Similarly, you are a non-doer ( akarmi ) yet you think you work, you are an ‘ abhOktha ’ yet you think you are an experiencer and finally all the knowledge reside in you yet you think you are ignorant. This is ‘ avidya ’.

(contd.)