Question:
Here
is a question from a seeker who has been earnestly and enthusiastically
listening to Master’s recorded Talks: “While interpreting any scriptural texts
such as Yoga Vaasishtam and poetry like those of Subramania Bharati and Tiruvalluvar,you have been giving
some inner meaning for the first time. Do you consciously bring your mind to a
state of peace beforehand? Is there any methodology for you to verify that what
you have given out is exactly what the original author had actually intended? If
my question is impertinent, kindly ignore it and excuse me.”?
Sage TGN:
At the outset let me say that no
question, not even one from a child is ever impertinent. Actually, an earnest
student is recognised by his questions and so no
query should be swept under the carpet. Now to the answer to
your query.
Even in political language, peace
does not connote absence of war. In spiritual parlance, peace likewise is not a
derivative of negative imperatives. The peace we are talking about is the
result of total identification of the Source and Origin of the Universe which
is called by several names such as Brahman, God, the Almighty, Jehovah and Meiporul.
As you know, I have stated that when
such a peaceful mind
is placed on an object, that object will readily reveal all its
secrets. So, when a jnaani takes up
interpretation of any scripture or super-conscious poetry, the inner meaning of
the text will be plain like a pikestaff to him. He would have no doubt with
regard to what he has seen and hence the certitude with which he gives it out. This
is what is called Revelation (அகக்காட்சி). The original author of the text might not have himself been
aware of the inner meaning of his inspiration and hence the humility shown by
him while composing the matter. God Himself is traditionally stated to be the
author of the Vedas. Actually, they were composed by man only when he was in a
super-conscious or Turiya state and so the
acknowledgement born out of sincere feeling that he was only an instrument or
conduit and cannot claim to be the creator by any stretch of imagination.
Now, let me explain the certitude part of what I have said. At
the time of going to sleep you are fully aware that you are Sheela.
During sleep, the physical body is both jadam (insentient)
and moodam (ignorant). But when you wake up
the next morning do you feel that you have been transformed into Sharmila? Do you have to look into a mirror to confirm for
yourself that you are still the Sheela or does
someone else have to come and remind you of your identity? From where did this
certitude come? Ramana Maharishi set out this truth
in simple terms when he said by way of example that Johnson does not feel that
he is Benson when he awakens.
It is this degree of certitude that a jnaani
experiences whenever he interprets the spiritual text.
There was a Professor of English literature who
used to read out excerpts from poetry of Wordsworth, Tennyson, Keats and
Shelley to Bhagavan Ramana and ask the Sage whether
these poems were composed in Turiya state. Bhagavan would tell the Professor to read out the
quotations once again and after listening to them intently, he would say “Yes, they
emanated from the Turiyam state”. Also while
describing Siddhartha’s renunciation, Bhagavan would say feelingly, “Only those who have
renounced the world fully and totally would understand the greatness of a renunciate”.
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