“It (i.e. Brahman) is really known when It is known with (i.e. as the Self of ) each state of consciousness because thereby one gets immortality. (Since) through one’s own Self is acquired strength, (therefore) through knowledge is attained immortality.” (Kena Up. II.4)
Pratibodha-viditam,known with reference to each state of intelligence. By the wordbodha are meant the cognitions acquired through the intellect. The Self, that encompasses all ideas as Its objects, is known in relation to all these ideas. Being the witness of all cognitions, and by nature nothing but the power of consciousness, the Self is indicated by the cognitions themselves, in the midst of cognitions, as non-different from them. There is no other door to Its awareness. (Sankaracarya’s commentary trans. by Swami Gambhirananda pub. by Advaita Ashrama)
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I’ve been here before raking out the ashes and attempting to reveal the living heart of the fire of religion. How is freedom possible? We can’t prove it but we can live it as a reality. If soul is a way of living the world this pratibodha videtam is a way to alter that world. The gnostic personal shrine is a dangerous fanum littered with yogi brashtas (broken yogis) and therefore the psychopomp is required and the everyday enactments of symbol that is ritual. It is touching to see a mahatma like Nisargadatta putting jasmine garlands around the pictures of saints like any householder.
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