TIRUVUNTHIAR

A DIGEST*

[* A paper read before the Vivekananda Society, Colombo by MR. R. S. SUBRAMANIAM]

 

Introduction.

    THE treatise called Thiruvunthiar is the earliest, though not the most important, of the celebrated 14 Saiva Siddhanta Shastras, which contains in a nutshell the teachings of the Gnana-kanda (knowledge portion) of the Saiva agamas. The Vedas and the Agamas are the revelations of the Holy Lord Siva, the first being a general treatise and the second, a special one. The teachings of the Vedas had been given to us in the Hymns of Devaram and Tiruvachakam by the masters of the Religion who flourished, at least, before the 7th century A. C. - nearly 500 years before the first work on the Siddhanta was heard.

Author and date.

    His Holiness Uyyavantha Devar, the author of this treatise, travelled south on a pilgrimage as far as Rameswaram and on his return journey stayed at Thiruvisaloor on the banks of the Kaveri. At this time he was visited by a person, who quickened by his holy presence, prayed for initiation into the mysteries of spiritual experience, as he had been whirling till then in the ocean of sorrow - births and deaths. His prayer was granted; he was shown the deceptive nature of the body and its organs; of the world outside and the inner longings that kept him bound; and the true nature of Atma and Sivam; he was further initiated how to be in constant communion with Sivam in order to destroy the tendencies developed from the past; and finally this treatise was uttered to him as a guide in case he fell off from his experience. The one, who thus had the benefit of this teaching was His Holiness Aludaiya Devar of Tiruvisaloor; and it is said to have been delivered in the year 1070 of the Saivahana Era, equivalent to 1147 A.C - Accordingly, the book is 757 years old.

Nature of the book.

    Unlike the other books of this class, Tiruvunthiar is exclusively a science of experience, a way to spiritual communion, intended as it was, for the ripened souls who thirst after the Holy Presence. The circumstances connected with its delivery shows beyond doubt that it was meant to be a staff to lean on, when the feet slip from spiritual experience owing to the powerful impressions of worldly experience which might still, lurk within. To expect then a disquisition of the doctrines of the Suddha Advaita Siddhanta Philosophy in this work is a miscalculation, though the copious commentary of Sivaprakasanar affords much information in that respect. The text is in form and expression very emphatic and impressive, and sticks in the mind almost unconsciously. A digest of such a work cannot but be brief, briefer than the brief text. What are put forward in 45 verses have been classified under 17 headings, but explanations, chiefly from the commentary, have been added to recapitulate what was taught in the class-lectures on the subject by Mr. H. Tiruvilangam. This digest is attempted not on the presumption of scholarly attainments or spiritual qualifications, but in a brotherly spirit, to present an opportunity for all concerned, to repeat what was heard, so that, if correctly grasped, it may be thought over, known and utilised for higher ends.

Meaning of உந்தி.

    The meaning of உந்தியார்
(Unthiar) is a real puzzle. Dr. Pope in his introduction to the chapter of உந்தியார் in Tiruvachakam says, "Tamil Scholars give different interpretations of the word Unthiyar. It seems to mean the players at a game resembling battledoor and shuttlecock. The word Unthi is, I imagine, used for the shuttlecock or ball which the players cause to fly aloft." Unthiayr means the players at the game called உந்தி Unthi as well as a treatise or book connected with the play but what this play is we are not told in any of the Unthiyar or its commentaries except that it is a play among women. A game of the following description is said to have been indulged in by girls in ancient times. Three holes are made on the earth side by side, (the two at the ends obliquely) and connected to one another at the bottom by a tunnel; the hole in the middle is made, on purpose, considerably smaller than the other two, which are filled with sand when the play commences. Two girls now take their seats at the ends opposite each other: the hole in the middle is covered by a small piece of cloth; one girl deals a blow with the fist on the sand in the hole at her end and the other tries to catch the cloth which shoots in the air, pushed up by the air in the tunnel. If she fails to catch she loses the game, and will have to start the play from her end, until the other loses. It would appear that when the play is going on, they sing songs with the refrain உந்தீபற
(Unthipara). It will be an interesting discovery if ballads or pastorals with such refrain can be traced at the present day among the popular songs. Very probably the first two lines were repeated by the girl who gives the play and the last, by the other. Anyhow உந்தீபற
would then mean 'spring' and fly from உந்தி - to spring or shoot up. If this is the game referred to, Dr. Pope would be right in his inference that the game might resemble battledoor and shuttlecock. though there is the shuttlecock in some form and no battledoor. The only other meaning known is உம்+தீ+பற, 'fly thy evils'. This subject may be left here for further investigation.

1. Pathi. (=The Lord, God)

    Now to proceed with the digest -

        1. * [* The numbers indicate the stanzas when particular reference is made as above.]

            That one ^5, the absolute ¹, the all conscious ³⁹, the Blissful space ²⁰,             different from the nameable ²¹ and nameless, the consort of Grace ²¹ and             Wisdom ¹⁹, the golden ³⁸ share, the thief ²³, the master ⁵ who enslaves us, the         Witness ³⁰, pervades all unsullied ¹¹, shines in ²⁴ eight forms.

    The Lord as one is the energising spirit in the Universe, not bound by any limitations or imperfections, but as pure Intelligence leaving nothing to be known, as He is knowledge itself, Pure Bliss far beyond the bodily experience, extending and untainted like space; He is not a 'thing' within the limited sphere of the senses, to be named or described, much less is He a non-entity as the sky-flower or hare's horn. In Him is the Power (Sakti) of Grace and wisdom inseparably bound as consort, Grace to lift up the bound souls, and wisdom to illumine the darkness (Anava). He is the golden share in man's hands which misuses for sowing thistles - a price-less boon, indispensable for his elevation, but which he turns for his destruction; He, the thief, lurks in the soul from the past, undetected, who will rob it of all possessions - Karmas (deeds), Vasanas (impressions) and agnana (ignorance), and as master, have under subjection the thus emptied soul, showering on it godly possessions instead; the Witness, in whose presence evolution and involution takes place, the Unaffected and the Unchanging; He pervades like space, everything material and immaterial; the Life of life, the Life, and like space is unaffected by the thunder, and lightning of evolution &c. Eight are His forms: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether, the Sun, the Moon and Atma (soul), these, His body, and He, the life.

2. Pathi incomprehensible.

    That knowledge ⁴ is not to be known, unsearchable ⁷ is It, Unimaginable ¹⁵ , a rarity ¹⁹ for thought; looked for, disappears ¹¹.

    That Intelligence or wisdom (the Lord) is of a nature different from objective knowledge obtained by the knower (Gnathru) from the knowable (Gneya)- by the subject from the object, what thus comes under the perception of the subject cannot but be "Jada", insentient and consequently, limited and perishable. The instruments of knowledge which the "knower uses for the examination of the "knowable" are but "Jada", whether perceived by the five senses or projected in the imagination from the acquired ideas, all are but 'Jada'; from the rude sense objects to the most abstract thoughts or imagination extends the little fold of "Jada" - all evanescent and changing. The labours of the painter, the poet and the intellectual philosophers are but in vain. How shocking to learn that; but the seers of Truth who transcend this little sphere of 'Jada' know the vanity of this all. Hence is it said, that the Lord, the Chaitanya-Intelligence cannot be known by the senses or thought. He is in the subject as the subject; to search for him outside in order to know Him as object, separate from the knower, is a wild goose chase. The foolish shepherd having the lamb on the shoulders, searches for it in caves and caverns, grieves, sighs and sobs.

3. Pathi realisable.

    Where search ceases¹³ is the abode of Sivam. It is where Natham and ³⁶ Prana blend - Not a place nameable ²⁹ but attainable under direction.

    He is therefore above search, name and form; though unsearchable and unknowable, he is attainable only to be 'discerned' and realised under the guidance of the seers.

    Where the Atma sees as subjective-knowledge, the never-changing, motionless perfect Wisdom (the Lord), losing the idea of its Union with such Wisdom, there is Sivam established. There too, where natham (essence of sound) which is seated in the Muladhara and Prana (Vital air) seated in the Navel-centre, coursing up together blend in the Sahasara (the thousand petalled lotus) - the crown of the spinal column, Such is the conception of the Inconceivable Nirguna Sivam.

4. Pasu (=the bound soul).

    (This Pasu), the heir to Freedom ⁴¹ , knows by attention ³⁹, ever ⁴⁰ is.

    The Atma, the bound soul, is spirit because it knows; it knows things with the aid of the Karanas (organs), one by one; it tends towards one thing and then returns from it to take up another; this method of knowing is peculiar to Pasu and is called சுட்டறிவு, knowledge by attention as opposed to the Pure Intelligence-Sutta Chaitanya of the Pathi. Pasu is the Intelligence that 'knows' அறியுமறிவு
and Pathi is the Intelligence that 'makes knows' அறிவிக்குமறிவு
the source of wisdom. Pasu is the power of sight and Pathi, the sun. Pasu never exists by itself, its nature is to cling to something and become that (சார்ந்ததன்வண்ணமாதல்); in bondage it identifies itself with the bonds, in Freedom, with the Lord; it is the iron between two magnets the nearer the one, the farther from the other. It is like a crystal reflecting any colour brought before it; in darkness it is dark, in light it is light. Nor does it cease to exist; it exists in bondage as well in Freedom; it is ever is: it is doubtless bound to be free.

Karana Avasta (=causal states)

    Pasu literally, what is bound, is from the past under bond - the veil of darkness, Anava. In that state of unconsciousness, it is devoid of the Vidyatatvas (powers of knowledge) kalai, Viddhari &c., which evolve from Asuddha Maya, and are associated with it to work out its path, hence this state of unconsciousness, unassociated with Kalai &c. is called Kevala Avasta, state of aloneness, (unconscious-aloneness as opposed to conscious aloneness) - state of dissociation. This veil of utter darkness is lifted a bit at the time of projection (srishti) by the Grace of the Lord with the instruments of Kalai and Viddhai; that state of meagre-intelligence, the state in which we are now in, is Sakala Avasta, the state with Kalai &c. the state of association. The third state is when the soul attains Divine grace by gradual preparation - when it is free from all bondage - this is called Sutta Avasta, state of Purity. To explain the above states of the soul by comparison; the eye with the power of sight is in utter darkness in the night, unable to see, that is Kevala; when a candle is lighted, the eye is able to see certain things close by, though not all - that is sakala, the eye which was able to see only one thing at a time in the candle light, sees at day break all, the darkness vanishes and the candle is thrown away - this is suttam. These three states are called Karana avastas - casual states.

 

5. Pasam (=bond).

    The root of worldliness is I-making Desire ^15-38. Doubt and ¹⁸ Delusion habituated to the 'dual throng' and the ramifications ⁴³ of Maya, (cosmic matter) this has ever been in bondage ².

Anava.

    The idea of Pasu, the bound soul, presupposes a bond or bonds - Pasam. Anava, that which tends to I-making, the darkness that covers the soul from the past, the cause of Agnana or Avidya has been mentioned before. It is the Mulamala - original evil or casual evil, or sahajamala, innate taint, which prompts the idea of separateness and self-conceit and causes Desire (mogha). It is Anava that blinds one from realising himself and the Lord, it is subtle and permeates one's needs, words, thoughts, motives and what not.

Karma.

    Blinded by anava and induced by Mogha, the souls in their scramble for pleasure commit deeds, good and evil. If good is to cause happiness, and evil, misery to souls, and if there is the deep rooted Mogha in the heart of each soul longing for 'happiness' it would follow that good and evil are bound by self sacrifice and self assertion respectively, which again are centred in Anava - the one being a subjection and the other an assertion of Anava. Here then is the secret of the Law of actions and reactions - the Law of Karma, good deeds causing good and evil deeds, evil, to the doer. Until the complete subjugation of Anava - (which state is called Malapari pagam - maturity of evil) - pleasure and pain force upon the soul as results or reactions of its good and evil deeds. This Law of causes and effects which connects us to the hoary-past, shapes our present and future and is the regulator of births and deaths - a just and noble Law, the pride of the Sanatana Dharma and the bed-rock of Buddhism, revealed in the wild woods of India, Karma then is another bond of the soul.

Maya.

    The third bond is maya - cosmic matter, that primordial substance out of which the insentient universe, - the Jadaprapancham, is evolved. This maya is considered in its two states - the asuttamaya and the Prakriti maya - the one subtler than the other: the evolution of these and of the 'tatvas' in their proper order is, though very interesting in itself, too large a subject for treatment here, suffice it to say that maya supplies to all souls, body, organs, worlds and enjoyments (தனுகரணபுவனபோகம்) and causes doubt and delusion to those under it clutches. The last two, karma and maya are said to be Aganthukamala - incidental taints.

    Thus we see that I-making and desire born of anava, pleasure and pain born of karma and doubt and delusion born of maya drown the soul in the ocean of sorrow, in the whirl of samasara - births and deaths. Intoxicated with maya, they msitake phantoms for Reality, Asat for sat. Though maya is the material cause of the Unvierse it is Asat, in relation to the soul, sat, which knows and acts; in its turn the soul is Asat in relation to God, without whom it cannot know. In fact, Pasu partakes of the nature of both Pathi and Pasam and is hence called satasat.

6. Path to Freedom.

    To cease from the pursuit², to turn all organs direct to Intelligence²⁵, to forger not¹⁸ His Grace but to be in constant²⁹ communion, this is the path to Freedom, Hasten²⁰, Hasten.

    It was told how the soul pursues the phantoms of the world, through its intoxication of Maya; the mind and the senses trained to 'run out' after them from the immemorial past have tightened the chains of Karma and Maya. Useless, is this pursuit. Now the only way open is to halt, retrace and to run in, turning the mind towards Chaitanya; to give up the roots of evil and to look for the seed of Freedom; with careful restraint not to turn back of to the sides, to run straight towards the resonance of the Holy feet, to fix all thoughts on Him; to rouse the sleeping dame His Grace and to lean on her without remission, this is the path to Freedom. The Great seers, Yogis have thus worked up, unattached to anything.

7. Way of Love.

    The Path to Freedom is two-fold. To hear the holy name "Panchakshara" of the Lord who assumed form for our sake, to see the truth underlying such name as shown by Him and to unite with Him in the manner He unifies by instructing about His eternal Presence, melts the soul like heated wax and in its great Love is ecstatic and one with Him, this is the path of Love. The importance of cultivating the heart over the intellect, of feeling over thought is evident here. The knowledge of shastras or the grasp of the abstract truths is of little avail if the heart cannot pine for Him who is in the heart and lose itself in pining. The ecsasy of spiritual Love breaks all shackles and ends in the complete union of the Lover and the Beloved.

8. Way of concentration.

    Through the Pedestal⁸ Regions, divert the Prana²² and raise to the pedestalless higher abode and blend with the natham; the True⁴³ wisdom you partake and attain the Fourth²⁶ stage.

Atharas.

    The second is the path of concentration, there are said to be six nerve-centres or plexuses in the spinal column, called Athara by our masters; they are store-houses of energy, the seats, supports or pedestals of certain gods or functionaries of the Lord. About the lower end of the spinal column is the sacral plexus triangular in form, mulathara - the basic-pedestal, which is the seat of Pranava, god Vigneswara. Between this region and the navel is Swashishtana, square in form the seat of Brahma. The third is the navel region, manipuragam, crescent form seat of Vishnu. The fourth is the region of the heart, Anakatham, triangular in form, seat of Rudra; the fifth is the region of the throat, Visutti, hexagon in form, seat of Maheswara; the sixth is the region betwixt the brows, Anjhna, circular in form, seat of Sathasivam. Along the sides of the spinal column run the Ida and Pingala nerve-currents through which Prana acts; in the centre is a hollow canal called Sushumna which is closed at the bottom.

    Now as a preliminary step, the mind is trained to concentrate on the forms of the deities mentioned before, established on the six pedestals; when this proves successful, the Prana is checked and concentrated on the basic pedestal; the coiled up energy Kundalini - natham, is roused which forces up its way through the sushumna canal touching the different centres. When it reaches the Brahmarandra - Sandramandala or the thousand petalled lotus, - which is the brain centre, Prana and Natha blend and the soul is lost in the chitakasa. This is the honey of wisdom in the body - to merge one's mind in the Great mind, one's soul in the great soul, perfect Bliss of the Fourth states sayujya, is here.

Athara-yoga.

    It should be noted that the concentration on the deities in the Atharas is Athara yoga where as seeing the Atma in its aloneness is Nirathara Yoga.

9. Nirathara Yoga.

    Discriminate the five¹⁰, from Intelligence, unattached¹⁶ to their ramifications, Unslumbering¹⁰, discerning be, - established in discernment³⁸ and Wisdom, Even in wakefulness the highest³² bliss of Turiya you experience, the sense-enjoyments³³ becoming those other, such are the true recluses³².

Kilalavasta.

    The soul is said to be functioning in the Atharas in different states or Avastas. Without entering into details, it may be mentioned here that when the soul is Anjgna, the region betwixt the brows, it has under its power 35 tatvas, and is in the waking state-Jagrat. When the soul descends to the throat region it functions with 2 tatvas, Gnanendriyas and Karmendriyas having been left in the Anjgna - this is dreaming state-swapna. When in the heart, it has only 3 tatvas, - chitta, prana and Ullam; it is then in sound sleep - sushupti. Perhaps under ordinary circumstances, one has no experience when the soul is functioning with Prana and Uilam alone in the navel-regins, this is experienced, when for instance, one receives a sudden shock-the breath stops and he is thrown into unconsciousness; when he recovers he passes from Turiya to Sushupti, Swapna and Jagrat. The fifth, Turiyathitha, is experienced when the soul is in the mulathara, leaving Prana in the navel - this precedes death. These states are called (கீழாலவத்தை) Kilalavaththai beings effects of Kevalavasta.

Ninmalavasta.

    The next set of Avastas that requires mention here is Ninmalavastai (நின்மலாவத்தை) the effects of Suttavasthai already referred to : It covers the states of wisdom, from the spiritual down to the moonday glory known as the Thasakariyam தசகாரியம் - the 'ten results.' To know that the soul is functioning in the outer and the inner senses is Ninmala Jagrat; to know oneself by the exercises of the anthakkaranas, inner senses, is Ninmala swapna; to leave off the exercises of the anthakkaranas and to unite with unmoved mind, desire less of enjoyments is Ninmala sushupti; to break off from this unmoved mind too and be shining in spiritual aloneness is Ninmala-Turiya; to be lost in Sivanantham, Godly Bliss, is Ninmala Turiyathitham.

    The above avastas, though imperfectly explained here would mark the progress of the soul in its spiritual growth. To discriminate the five bhutas (rudiments) and the other Tatvas from the soul, to break off all attachments to the forms of maya and to isolate oneself from all the Karmas, without falling into the sleep of Kevala but discerning, resplendent in the glowing consciousness, is Nirathara yoga and to be firmly established in the chaitanya losing separateness such as subject and object, is the Highest yoga, the gnana yoga; expressions such as நோக்காமல் நோக்க, அறிந்தறியாவண்ணம், உணராமல் உணர
but mean this subjective union, the spiritual Establishment.

    To such as have passed beyond I-making, kevalakariya Jagrat is Sutta Kariya Ninmala Turiya, Even the ordinary waking state is one of spiritual Discernment - the Wisdom and Bliss experienced in the 'alone become' state, breaks through the walls of the inner and the outer senses and flows around, so that what is touched, smelt, tasted, seen or heard is that spirit. Even the previous impressions of sense enjoyments become spiritual. Such are the real yogis, the renounced, who whirl not in worldliness but stand mute as the tongue less belt.

10. Differentiation - cause of bondage.

    Should differentiation²⁴ cease and the whole universe⁴² be absorbed in you and you in Him, the unattached²⁷ Intelligence, then loosens²⁷ all this Evil; whatever path you³⁰ tread, no matter, know the witness, the Inner-life.

    The nature of the mind is to differentiate one thing from the other to be able to know it, this is its சுட்டறிவு
or knowledge by attention; ideas of relativity such as up and down, heat and cold, in and out are the contributors to objective knowledge (which has no place in the realm of the spirit) and are the cause of bondage. Therefore to hold the mind stable in the state of undifferentiation, to identify oneself with the Universe, discerning the Eternal Presence of the Lord there and to give oneself up to Him is to cause the cessation of bondage. The Lord, the witness of the universe being discerned, it matters little in what station of life, one conducts himself.

11. Karthritvam.

    Agency given up and individuality⁶ destroyed. The Lord shines and He acts, no sooner I-making¹⁹ ceases³⁷ than flows That: in that Experience where²⁹ O, is 'I'.

    When notions of 'I do' 'I manage' &c. die away and even the 'I' is given up; it is the Lord who takes the place; He acts in the Sanctified soul and He is there, for He is ever ready to fill the Soul with His Being the moment I-hood is subjugated. The Karmas done in such yoga produce no effect. Karmas bind the doer-the Karta, but here the Soul has given up its agency-Karthrityam-and the Kartha is really the Lord, who cannot be bound. The soul has really disappeared where O, is that which has been crying 'I' and 'Mine' from the beginning less time.

12. Malaparipagam.

    That stage in the spiritual growth where the 'I' is surrendered to the Lord is called Malaparipagam - Maturity of the Anavamala.

    To you who have offered yourself, He offers Himself⁶ , absorbs you¹⁴ in Him, Makes you Himself¹, you become one with the Highest of Bliss Brahmasakti³⁴, the sleeping dame; Endless riches⁴²! Immeasurable Ambrosia²⁶! Unspeakable⁴ That.

Satgurudarsana / Saktinipadam

That Brahmasakti, His Grace, that lifted the soul from the depths of Kevala and is eternally present in it as the source of Energy, will and knowledge, though unknown and unrecognised by conceited soul, shines forth when the I-making is dying gradually and the Lord as Guru appears to instruct the pilgrim soul in the Truth. That is, the soul is said to have Satgurudarsana (சற்குருதரிசனம்) following Malaparipagam (மலபரிபாகம்), and the Guru by his Diksha-initiation-rouses the apparently sleeping dame the sakti which over laps the soul; this is called saktinipadam (சத்திநிபாதம்). Henceforth the soul is in incessant union with Grace. Thus, to one who gave himself up to the lord. He gives Himself in return; in other words, when the 'I' is lost He reigns instead and experience of being one with that Gracious Lord is incomparable, unspeakable, it is like itself.

13.

    They who thus realise are the rich⁷ in the Highest wisdom, they stand alone¹⁶ unattached, and are lost in ecstacy⁸² (of Wisdom).

    The Great ones who have thus realised the Bliss of Oneness are in possession of a wealth, incomparable; the Highest wealth not of perishable and transient a nature but of Imperishable and Lasting wisdom. All the wealth of the world can have no charm for them; they, no more, but That Ocean of Wisdom.

14. The Lord as Guru.

    He, who led you from the corner¹² to the courtyard is Great, the Lord of the righteous. That absolute, unknowable¹ by any, came in 'Form'. He became your⁵ master.

    The soul which was used to dwell in the corners of the senses and take delight in sense-enjoyments, is brought to the front yard, the space of Bliss, to stand isolated from its previous companions. The one who accomplishes this feat of mercy is the Great Lord, who comes to the soul in the human form, in the fullness of time. He is the Lord of those who walk in the path of Righteousness.

 

Iruvinaioppu.

    This doctrine that the Lord Himself comes down in mercy to instruct a qualified soul is indeed life-giving; He comes when the soul has attained the poise-of-twofold actions (இருவினையொப்பு) and the maturity of-evil (மலபரிபாகம்) - the first, a stage in the progress of the soul where pressed between good and evil, it sees both with an equal eye and relinquishes them as causes of bondage-a preparatory step to the second, மலபரிபாகம்; He comes in the twinkle of an eye assuming human form. Is this not an imperfection in this perfect Being? Rather it is the manifestation of His Grace, He, the Gracious Lord, who vivifies the invisible and the visible, pervades through and through and yet remains unsullied, takes form when needed for soul's salvation; no limitation can be imposed by the Form on the Eternally-Free, suttachaitanya. Further, are not forms assumed by Yogis and Sittas, without losing their individual consciousness? How much more then, can the Yogi of Yogis, the Sitta of Sittas exercise this power; a clear understanding of the 'Forms' of God in the Nishkala, sakalanishkala and sakal will wipe off all doubts, on this point. If the Lord came not in sakala bow could we have been blessed with the Vedas and the Agamas.

Three kinds of souls.

    The Lord instructs the souls according to their development. The Vignanakalar, those souls who are bound only by Anava are instructed by 'intuition': the Pralayakalar who have Anava and Karma are shown the form of the Murthi; and we, the sakalar, bound by Anava, Karma and Maya are instructed by Himself appearing as Guru in human form.

15. Three classes of Karmas.

    To those who have thus exhausted all Karma by the Grace of the visible³ master, no longing after ³sense²⁶-³³pleasure, no birth³ and death, no bondage⁶², sorrow²⁷ or delusion³³.

    Karmamala (the bond of action) which leads to births and deaths is threefold. First the store of past Karmas which have to mature in the future, called sanchita Karmas, literally, accumulated actions; secondly, those actions which bear fruit in the present birth called Prarabdha Karmas - what has commenced:- and lastly agamika Karma - those actions done in this birth that are to mature in the future - impending actions, a critical study of this law of Karma is worthwhile attempting - how an act affects the Karmas, what changes take place in the dispositions and tendencies, how the results redound on the doer and such other points require extensive treatment which cannot be undertaken here. A mind that has attained இருவினையொப்பு, and views with dispassion good and evil deeds, cannot, of course, be affected by their results, pleasure and pain; add to this, the relinquishment of Karthritvam-Agency, born of மலபரிபாகம்,
the soul has soared to a height far beyond the atmosphere of Karma, dropping the burden of Karthritvam which alone pressed it down all the while. Thus ends Agamika Karma. At the meeting with the Guru, the surrender of Agency is even confirmed by His graceful look and the sanchita Karma is set on fire. But while the body lasts Prarabdha Karma goes on; even here the sanctified soul is free from its influences as the Lord is there and He acts as already stated. It is needless to state such great-ones of Realisation are free from impressions of sense enjoyments, have no longing to the trivialities they have trampled underfoot, and have attained the abode of Bliss from which there is no return; Birth and death, sorrow and delusion are things of the past, dead even in their recollection.

16. Soul and God.

    Who see her (Pasu) as the possessed³⁵ and Him (Pathi) as the ghost are seers true, others see not. He becomes this one through His mercy, this can't⁴⁰ become That: assume⁴² not egotism.

    The relation of the soul to God has been a subject of controversy from a very long time, different schools of philosophy have sprung up, but the truth seers find the harmony among them. Three relations are thinkable; they are two, they are one, they are not, - the last, namely that which denies the existence of both soul and God may be dispensed with. Leave that blind child for the present, whispering in his ear that the invisible is the reality and not the visible. If they are two no freedom or bliss of realisation is possible. If one, the soul should not have meagre intelligence as opposed to Infinite intelligence and can have no sorrow. If there is no sorrow but that the sol fancies it, whence is this delusive fancy? If that is born of maya, it would follow that the soul which is really God is subject to maya. If the soul, sorrow and the universe in which this sorrow is experienced is all delusion, who is thus deluded? It cannot be God who is sutta chaitanya; else it would be like hiding the sun in darkness.

Suttadwaita.

    What then is this relation? the same relation as exists between a ghost-ridden person and the Ghost, not one, not two but non-dual, adwaita. In that state of possession, the person acts in one respect, in another respect he does not act. The ghost is all in that person in one respect; yet it is not all in another respect.

    This is the real relation that exists between the soul and God; the same is the relation between Pasam and Pasu. They are treated as Tripatharta for the purpose of differentation, to enable the mind to form a conception, they exist in this adwaita relation eternally. This relation should also be borne in mind when one speaks of Pathi, Pasu, Pasam as Sat, Satasat and Asat. There is as much truth in the statement. 'I am Brahman' as there is in the statement 'the ghost-ridden is the ghost.' To assume further is Anava, and create the difficulties above mentioned.

    [In mukti, the soul does not become God but God becomes the soul, taking his place and filling and covering him, and possessing him as a ghost possesses a man. Where the I-ness stood before in Bhandam, there is a void now in mukti and this void is filled by God. The soul does not get converted into God, but where the soul stood before, Sivam stands there in all His Glory, the soul's individuality having been destroyed.]

 

 

17.

    Embracing other chaff-like³¹ religions lose not only thy life. Those words hear not, The followers of this, discern⁴⁵ the Truth.

    The warning is given that a clear understanding of the Truth alone will lead the soul to the abode of Bliss, while ignorance and dull understanding will keep it still fettered. Waste not time and life in hearing other doctrines, this doctrine of the sutta adwaita is The Truth and its followers alone discern the Truth.    

Here ends this science of Wisdom, the guide to spiritual Experience and thus have I understood.