[Advaita-l] what is the technical definition of Drik in Advaita?

[H S Chandramouli]

Pranams Sadananda Ji,

I am aware of your many posts earlier on also to the same effect. I had not
participated in those threads as my understanding was very different and I
was not keen on entering into long drawnout debates. But since you are now
responding to my post, I feel obliged to state my position on the same.

Firstly, and primarily, I think the *pure Consciouness* you are referring
to addressing Sakshi chaitanyam should really be termed **
अज्ञातचैतन्य (aj~nAtachaitanya)
(Uncognized Chaitanya) **. In my understanding it is not Shuddha Chaitanya
(pure Consciouness ). It is **veiled** or आवरण सहित चैतन्य (AvaraNa sahita
chaitanya ).

Reg  // Similarly, Sakshi-Chaitanyam is that part of the all-pervading
consciousness that is 'as though' getting reflected by the thought and in
the case of 'thoughtless mind, the mind itself as Chidaabhaasa' //,

Not exactly. Sakshi-Chaitanyam also illumines or reveals during, and as
part of, the thought process  the triad of reflected
consciousness/vritti/*captured* object.

Reg para 5 of your post, Realization involves destruction of the *veil* of
the sAkshi which is अज्ञातचैतन्य (aj~nAtachaitanya) (Uncognized Chaitanya)
in my understanding.

This in brief is perhaps where our respective understandings seem to be
different. I have not gone into all the aspects you have covered in your
post for the sake of brevity. I hope it has not turned out to be a rambling
note. The problem I faced was how to restrict the scope of the response to
a limited topic/s. If there is any incoherence, please do point out and I
will clarify to the best of my ability.

Pranams and Regards

On Sun, Jun 2, 2024 at 7:06 PM Kuntimaddi Sadananda <
kuntimaddisada at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Chandramouliji - PraNAms
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> About Sakshi and pure consciousness and the reflected consciousness I use
> the moon example to illustrate the process as I understand it.
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> On the full moon night, we can see the bright moon. However, moon is
> inherently a non-luminous entity. What illumines is the sunlight falling on
> the moon.
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> Here are some facts.
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> 1. What I am seeing is not really the moon but the sunlight reflected by
> the moon. In the same way when I say I am conscious of the thought that is
> formed in the mind, what I am seeing actually is the all-pervading
> consciousness that 'as though' falling on the thought and getting reflected
> or illumined for me to be conscious of the thought.
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> 2. Looking at the moon and seeing the moonlight I say I am seeing the moon
> with its internal contrasts. Similarly, when the mind receives the
> reflected consciousness from the thought, I say I am aware of the thought
> and its contents.
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> 3. Without the moon present, I cannot recognize the presence of sunlight
> where the moon is. Similarly without the thought or even the mind present
> to reflect the all-pervading consciousness cannot be recognized.
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> 4. Sakshi sunlight is that part of the sunlight that is falling on the
> moon that is getting reflected. Similarly, Sakshi-Chaitanyam is that part
> of the all-pervading consciousness that is 'as though' getting reflected by
> the thought and in the case of 'thoughtless mind, the mind itself as
> Chidaabhaasa'.
>
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> 5. Realization then while still looking at the moon, and cognitively
> leaving the moon and recognizing the sunlight. Similarly, realization is
> while looking at the thought, leaving the contents of the thought, and
> shifting the mind's attention to that light of consciousness because of
> which I am conscious of the thought. Hence Kenopanishat says 'pratibodha
> viditam matam' - it is revealed in every thought.
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> 5. Hence Sakshi sunlight is that part of sunlight that is falling on the
> moon before reflection and after reflection seen as moonlight. Similarly,
> Sakshi Chaitanyam is that part of all-pervading consciousness that is 'as
> though' falling on the thought and getting reflected. What we can only see
> the moonlight and say we are seeing the moon. Similarly when we say we are
> conscious of the thought or know the thought, what we are seeing is the
> reflected consciousness by the thought. Based on the analysis, the Sakshi
> chaitanyam is that part of all-pervading consciousness 'as though' falling
> on the thought and getting reflected for me to be conscious of the thought.
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> The above discussion is based on 'perceptuality conditions' discussed in
> the Vedanta Paribhasha. By the by I have discussed these aspects in my book
> 'How Do I Know', available online, for those interested.
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> My 2C.
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> Hari Om!
>
> Sadananda
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