tman_and_moksa

SR No.: 020053
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: G N Joshi
Publisher: Gujarat University
Publication Year: 1965
Total Pages: 901
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 521

Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
Vedanta (Samkara)
shines in its natural brilliance with its unflickering flame. It is like the sun which itself becomes visible by its own brilliance and reveals other objects with which it comes into contact. Therefore, the experience of the Self is described as one of 'illumination'. It does not need any other light to become visible. It itself means light or illumination. It shines with its lustre in all the three states of the individual, i.e., in the waking state, dream, and deep dreamless sleep. The liberated soul experiences this kind of permanent illumination. It is itself the abode of its illumination and is itself the source of its illumination like a lamp.1 Its essence consists in revealing others; it is self-illuminating as it cannot be the object of any other consciousness. Its self-shining nature directly reveals to the perceiver in the moments of his intuition; it need not be revealed by other means of knowledge; for, all other means which seek to prove it are themselves revealed by it, as it is the very fundamental principle of subjectivity. It is known only by its direct experience. As Madhusudan Saraswati says our experience of it is selfrevealing, because it is its experience; if it is not existent, it (soul) does not exist... 3 Thus the knowledge of Brahman is obtained not by other means of knowledge or indirectly; it is obtained by entering into direct communion with it and by becoming one with it. It is not an artificial process of
For Private And Personal
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1 Saraswati Madhusudana: Advaita Siddhi, Vol. II, p. 810. 2 Ibid. Vol. II, p. 790.
Ibid. See (Commentary), p. 793.