February 23, 2011
From the fond father department....
It was 2006 and my father-in-law had just passed away. My 8-year old son J and I were return home after dropping my wife at the aiport. To serive some solace, I had loaded up the car CD player with Pujya Gurudev's talks on Bhagavad Geeta chapter 13. The 18th shloka:
ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्तमसः परमुच्यते |
jyotishhaamapi tajjyotistamasaH paramuchyate .
"That (BRAHMAN) , the Light-of-all lights, is said to be beyond darkness;"
Gurudev goes on to explain that the known sources of light in the world include, the sun, the moon, the stars, fire and lightning. While any of these can illumine external objects, any or all of them are incapable of illuminating the consciousness within us. In fact, it is through the consciousness that shines through my eyes that I know of the different sources of light. Hence, Śri Kṛṣhṇa refers to the consciousness (or more correctly the क्षेत्रज्ञ - kShetraGYa - the knower of the field of experience as defined in Chapter 13), as 'the Light-of-all lights'. In fact, both our knowledge and ingorance of something is illumined by consciousness. Hence this kShetraGYa is also said to be 'beyond darkness'.
"Ah ha!", I exclaimed, "I didn't know this before!"
Not to be outdone, J piped up, "What did you not know? Can you explain to me what Gurudev said?"
Proud father, and even prouder Geeta student that I am, I jumped in and explained how there are only 5 sources of light in this world, the sun, the moon, the stars, fire and lightning. All of these are great to see what is around us but not to "see" consciousness. Yet, it is only when I am alive and aware that I can see any of these sources of light. Therefore awareness (which EVERYone knows is an easier word than consciousness, even my 8-year old could get that) is the Light-of-all lights.
"I didn't get it", said J, pricking a neat hole in the giant ego of awareness that had ballooned around me.
"Oh, it's OK. You'll understand when you're a few years older."
"No, try me again. I'll get it", I could detect that he really had great faith in his appa.
I started again, cautiously, but not wanting to fail again. "You know that when we're asleep, sometimes we don't know whether the sun has risen or whether there was a thunderstorm?"
"So, we need to be awake and aware to see that the sun has risen, or that the stars are twinkling. We also need to be awake to know that it is dark. So, if we think of awareness as my light - this light is needed to see any source of light and to know it is dark. However, whether it is day or night, it doesn't necessarily mean we're awake. Hence the light of awareness is superior to the sun, the moon, the stars, fire and lightning."
"Oh! I get it."
"Great", I said, relieved. He appeared to be quiet for a moment.
"See, I just needed to be a few minutes older!", said J, eyes twinkling.
I laughed out loud. This was one funny dude, I had. After all, MY son, I thought.
Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post
From the fond father department....
It was 2006 and my father-in-law had just passed away. My 8-year old son J and I were return home after dropping my wife at the aiport. To serive some solace, I had loaded up the car CD player with Pujya Gurudev's talks on Bhagavad Geeta chapter 13. The 18th shloka:
ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्तमसः परमुच्यते |
jyotishhaamapi tajjyotistamasaH paramuchyate .
"That (BRAHMAN) , the Light-of-all lights, is said to be beyond darkness;"
Gurudev goes on to explain that the known sources of light in the world include, the sun, the moon, the stars, fire and lightning. While any of these can illumine external objects, any or all of them are incapable of illuminating the consciousness within us. In fact, it is through the consciousness that shines through my eyes that I know of the different sources of light. Hence, Śri Kṛṣhṇa refers to the consciousness (or more correctly the क्षेत्रज्ञ - kShetraGYa - the knower of the field of experience as defined in Chapter 13), as 'the Light-of-all lights'. In fact, both our knowledge and ingorance of something is illumined by consciousness. Hence this kShetraGYa is also said to be 'beyond darkness'.
"Ah ha!", I exclaimed, "I didn't know this before!"
Not to be outdone, J piped up, "What did you not know? Can you explain to me what Gurudev said?"
Proud father, and even prouder Geeta student that I am, I jumped in and explained how there are only 5 sources of light in this world, the sun, the moon, the stars, fire and lightning. All of these are great to see what is around us but not to "see" consciousness. Yet, it is only when I am alive and aware that I can see any of these sources of light. Therefore awareness (which EVERYone knows is an easier word than consciousness, even my 8-year old could get that) is the Light-of-all lights.
"I didn't get it", said J, pricking a neat hole in the giant ego of awareness that had ballooned around me.
"Oh, it's OK. You'll understand when you're a few years older."
"No, try me again. I'll get it", I could detect that he really had great faith in his appa.
I started again, cautiously, but not wanting to fail again. "You know that when we're asleep, sometimes we don't know whether the sun has risen or whether there was a thunderstorm?"
"So, we need to be awake and aware to see that the sun has risen, or that the stars are twinkling. We also need to be awake to know that it is dark. So, if we think of awareness as my light - this light is needed to see any source of light and to know it is dark. However, whether it is day or night, it doesn't necessarily mean we're awake. Hence the light of awareness is superior to the sun, the moon, the stars, fire and lightning."
"Oh! I get it."
"Great", I said, relieved. He appeared to be quiet for a moment.
"See, I just needed to be a few minutes older!", said J, eyes twinkling.
I laughed out loud. This was one funny dude, I had. After all, MY son, I thought.
Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post
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