"The very first step in understanding what this is all about is giving up the concept of an active, volitional 'I' as a separate entity and accepting the passive role of perceiving and functioning as a process." - Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Verses From Kaivalyam

Sri Annamalai Swami

I once asked Bhagavan, "What are the most important verses in Kaivalya Navaneetam?" I gave my copy of the book to B who immediately picked out verses twelve and thirteen from chapter one:

Look here my son! He who has forgotten his true nature is alternately born and dies, turning round and round in the unceasing wheel of time, like a feather caught up in a whirlwind, until he realizes the true nature of the Self. If he comes to see the individual self and its substratum, the Self, then he becomes the substratum, which is Brahman and escapes rebirths. Should you know yourself, no harm will befall you. As you have asked I have told you this.

After reading them out B remarked, "All the other verses in Kaivalyam are just an elaboration and a commentary on these two verses."

On another occasion, when I asked B to select some reading material for me, he gave me a short-list of six books: Kaivalya Navaneetam, Ribhu Gita, Ashtavakra Gita, Ellam Ondre, Swaroopa Saram, Yoga Vasishtha.

He laid particular stress on Ellam Ondre, telling me, 'If you want moksha, write, read and practise the instructions in Ellam Ondre.'

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सर्वभूताधिवासं यद्भूतेषु च वसत्यपि।
सर्वानुग्राहकत्वेन तद्स्म्यहं वासुदेवः॥

That in whom reside all beings and who resides in all beings,
who is the giver of grace to all, the Supreme Soul of the universe, the limitless being:
I AM THAT. -- Amritabindu Upanishad