Atma Bodha - Post 77

Verse 67

हृदाकाशोदितो ह्यात्मा बोधभानुस्तमोऽपहृत् ।

सर्वव्यापी सर्वधारी भाति भासयतेऽखिलम् ॥ ६७॥

HRIDAAKAASHODITO HYAATMAA

BODHABHAANUSTAMO.APAHRIT

SARVAVYAAPII SARVADHAARI

BHAATI BHAASAYATE.AKHILAM

[The Atman, the Sun of Knowledge that rises in the sky of the heart, destroys the darkness of the ignorance, pervades and sustains all and shines and makes everything to shine.]

In this sloka, Acharya is next explaining about the rise of knowledge that removes all ignorance.

Space, or sky, is huge and limitless. There is another space which is considered equally limitless. This is our mind space (Hrith–akasa) which is equated more with the Buddhi (Intellect) rather than with the manas (emotional mind). The Buddhi can be equally expansive and limitless.

When Sun is not there, the limitless sky is enveloped in total darkness. This darkness of the sky is illumined by the rise of the SUN. 

Likewise, the hrith-akasa (mind space) is enveloped in the total darkness of ignorance or Maya. This darkness of ignorance in the Hrith-akasa (mind space or sky) can only be illumined by the rise of the SUN of Atma Bodha or self knowledge.

 

It is because of this Sun that one can see various objects and the world is known, such a sun is here compared to Atman which is verily Consciousness.

As we have learnt in the previous verses also, it is only due to Consciousness that all the other senses seem to perceive and function. It is Consciousness alone that illumines everything and hence sustains everything.

When such Consciousness is realized as the very nature of Self, when such sun rises in the sky of heart, all the ignorance, affections, aversions vanish just like the darkness that vanishes with the rise of sun.

As at the approach of dawn the darkness dissolves off and the light brings everything clearly to our cognition; so too at the dawn of wisdom, all the ignorance is destroyed and the Self is realized as the all pervading, sole illuminator and sustainer.

When, Atma Jnanam is complete in the intellect, when we actually identify totally with the Atma, we see our self in everything and everything within our self. 

In this way, we are all pervading and we are the underlying support for all actions and transactions occurring in the world. We, as Atma or Self, illumine the whole world.

What do we exactly mean by "Self illumining the world"? How does a sadhaka, not fully into the Knowledge of SELF, relate to this illumining the world?

It is simple.

We are not this body, mind and intellect, we are not these 17 instruments that drive us. That is not How God created us.

God created us as His own image, which means we are the same God, in His absolute splendor, beyond any name or form, Who / That created this universe and illumines the world.

Illumining here means providing the Chaitanya or Consciousness energy for the world to function.

When we attain / discover that we, as SELF or ATMAN, are the same as GOD or BRAHMAN, then what change is brought to our existence?

Like God's consciousness is providing strength to this world or, as we said, illumines this world, We, existing as Atman or pure consciousness, can no more see, identify, recognize and react to this world through our eyes / ears / senses, mind and intellect but,

We exist as Pure Consciousness or say, God.

So, like God has graced this universe by creating the same with and as Him the Pure Consciousness,

We also are now able to see / witness this world with all its diversities only with / as Pure Consciousness or in simple words to at least understand and relate to, as GOD.

This is what is meant in vedanta as "We the SELF, illumining this akhilam or Jagath or Universe".

Love.