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

[Kuntimaddi Sadananda]

Chandramouliji - PraNAms
and thanks for your response.
Hari Om!Sadananda

 

    On Monday, June 3, 2024 at 06:18:58 AM EDT, H S Chandramouli <hschandramouli at gmail.com> wrote:  
 
 
Pranams Sadananda Ji,

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

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

Reg  // Similarly,Sakshi-Chaitanyam is that part of the all-pervading consciousness that is 'asthough' 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 aspart of, the thought process  the triadof reflected consciousness/vritti/*captured* object. 

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

This in brief is perhaps where our respective understandingsseem to be different. I have not gone into all the aspects you have covered inyour post for the sake of brevity. I hope it has not turned out to be arambling note. The problem I faced was how to restrict the scope of theresponse to a limited topic/s. If there is any incoherence, please do point outand 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

 

About Sakshi and pure consciousnessand the reflected consciousness I use the moon example to illustrate theprocess as I understand it. 

 

On the full moon night, we can see thebright moon. However, moon is inherently a non-luminous entity. What illuminesis the sunlight falling on the moon. 

Here are some facts.

 

1. What I am seeing is not really themoon but the sunlight reflected by the moon. In the same way when I say I amconscious of the thought that is formed in the mind, what I am seeing actually isthe all-pervading consciousness that 'as though' falling on the thought andgetting reflected or illumined for me to be conscious of the thought.

 

2. Looking at the moon and seeing the moonlightI say I am seeing the moon with its internal contrasts. Similarly, when themind receives the reflected consciousness from the thought, I say I am aware ofthe thought and its contents. 

 

3. Without the moon present, I cannotrecognize the presence of sunlight where the moon is. Similarly without thethought or even the mind present to reflect the all-pervading consciousnesscannot be recognized.

 

4. Sakshi sunlight is that part of thesunlight that is falling on the moon that is getting reflected. Similarly,Sakshi-Chaitanyam is that part of the all-pervading consciousness that is 'asthough' getting reflected by the thought and in the case of 'thoughtless mind,the mind itself as Chidaabhaasa'.

 

5. Realization then while stilllooking at the moon, and cognitively leaving the moon and recognizing thesunlight. Similarly, realization is while looking at the thought, leaving thecontents of the thought, and shifting the mind's attention to that light ofconsciousness because of which I am conscious of the thought. HenceKenopanishat says 'pratibodha viditam matam' - it is revealed in everythought. 

 

5. Hence Sakshi sunlight is that partof sunlight that is falling on the moon before reflection and after reflectionseen as moonlight. Similarly, Sakshi Chaitanyam is that part of all-pervadingconsciousness 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. Similarlywhen we say we are conscious of the thought or know the thought, what we areseeing 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 thethought. 

 

The above discussion is based on'perceptuality conditions' discussed in the Vedanta Paribhasha. By the by Ihave discussed these aspects in my book 'How Do I Know', available online, forthose interested.  

 

My 2C.

 

Hari Om!

Sadananda


 

   
 
  


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