Atma Bodha - Post 61

VERSE 51:

BAAHYA-ANITYA-SUKHAA-SAKTIM

HITVA-AATMA-SUKHA-NIRVRITAH

GHATA-STHA-DEEPA-VAT SHASHVAT

ANTAH EVA PRAKAASHATE

(Attachment for the fleeting joys of the outer world – after having renounced these, and contented with the bliss derived from the Self, as a lamp placed inside a jar, forever  shines inwardly alone within himself.)

All joy is experienced within, not in the objects. However, because the joys are triggered by various tempting objects in the world, they are referred to as “fleeting joys of the world”.

In truth, even that which we experience as sensual pleasure comes only from the Self but it is reflected via the body’s mental equipment.

Giving up the external objects, the Yogi finds his joy directly in the Self, the spring of all joy.

“Ghatastha Deepavat” Lamp in a Jar Simile  

The most important part of this simile is that the light is placed inside an opaque pot and hence cannot be seen from outside. This is supposed to teach us that the state of  joy of the liberated sage is not something that others can know. It is deep in his heart and will always remain there.

Externally, the sage may appear to be a very busy person, if his Prarabdha Karma is to be such, but inwardly he is always centred in his Self. 

That gives him the poise and equanimity, which are described in the Geeta as the essential qualities of a Sthitaprajna, the sage of steady wisdom. 

Only the sage knows how much he is enjoying the state of inner bliss. It cannot be fathomed from outside. This is the special message given by this simile.

Does another Jivanmukta know that state? There is a Tamil saying, “The route taken by a snake is known only to another snake!” This suggests that, yes, another Jivanmukta will appreciate the state of a Jivanmukta. 

If both of them are actually conscious of everything else as their own Self, then surely this is not difficult to accept. There are, nevertheless, many clues by which a Jivanmukta’s inner state may be deduced. 

Earlier, we studied how a light placed in a pot illuminates things around, but this verse  goes deeper. It is not about illuminating outside but it’s about illumination. In our self-development it is just “being”. For one who is enlightened, there is only light.

The lamp referred in this verse, the Bliss of SELF or Pure existence or Atman, is lit within ever. It is the light which shines without the need of a vessel ( our body), oil ( our karma) and wick ( our mind).

It is only that when our ego manifest, it brings attachment/hatred, Raaga/Dvesha in our mind, and this attachment/hatred then cloud our SELF, make us ignore/forget that we are verily the light that shines within.

Once a sadhaka, through untiring sadhana, transcends these Raaga/Dvesha, he experiences the illumined SELF within his heart!!

His detachment, his reactions, his calmness, and his absence of any sense cravings, etc, all speak without words of his majestic inner state as Emperor of his inner kingdom. 

Love