Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

(253) ADVAITA DRISHTI

Prev Next 10th July, l949
Recently an Andhra gentleman came here, discussed the
story of the deliverance of Gajendra in the Bhagavatam and
read out some padyas (verses) from the Bhagavatam written in
Telugu by Pothana. He then asked for Bhagavan’s opinion about
the ‘Sakshatkaram’ (divine vision) that Gajendra had. Bhagavan
said with a smile, “You see, Gajendra prayed that he might be
saved from death. In the padyas that you have read out, there is
description of God, saying that He is without any of the
attributes, such as birth, sin, form, action, destruction and other
qualities. It is also stated that He is omnipresent. That means
that he prayed to the Paramatma in all His fullness. When he
came to a state where he did not see anyone else except
Paramatma, it means that he sees only the Paramatma
everywhere. If that is so, who is it that causes pain and who is it
that is being pained? When the subject matter is thus so full,
what is the meaning of saying that God came out of a fort in a
garden in Vaikunta? What else is it except a bhavana (idea)?
You may call it Sakshatkaram or whatever you like.”
“If that is so, are all Sakshatkaras mere ideas?” asked the
devotee. “From the viewpoint of Dvaita, that is Sakshatkaram,
but from the view-point of Advaita, those are only bhavanas,”
said Bhagavan.

Sometime back, some Andhras who were going on a
pilgrimage came here and stayed for some days. Amongst
them a lady sang in the hall now and then the songs of
Bhadradri Ramadas. One day she sang the song beginning
with ‘Ikshvaka kulatilaka’. In that song it is stated that Ramadas
made this jewel and that jewel and it cost this much and that
much. After that, she sang the song wherein it is stated that
Ramadas made some ornaments which Sri Ramachandra
wore and went about proudly with them. When Bhagavan
heard this, he looked at us and said, “Did Sri Ramachandra
ask for those ornaments? It is all the devotee’s own desire.

Why then abuse Ramachandra?”
“If you want to abuse, you should abuse God only, it is
said,” remarked a devotee.

“That is all right. Appar also prayed to God abusing
him in the same manner. He however abused in a subtle
way. Apart from that, it is stated that ‘I have made this
ornament and that ornament’. Who is he to make that
ornament? It means that he is somebody different from God,”
said Bhagavan.

“So long as there is a God and a devotee, that feeling is
natural,” said the devotee.

“Yes, that is so as long as we have a Dvaita Drishti — a
feeling of duality; but in Advaita Drishti — a feeling of oneness
— you will not have all this. You are myself and I am yourself.

When such a feeling comes, who is the doer? What is it that
is being done?” said Bhagavan.

“That is called Parabhakti, is it not?” asked that devotee.

“Yes, yes,” said Bhagavan nodding his head and kept quiet.

Prev Next TOC 252. Sastras 253. Advaita Drishti 254. Jnana Yagnam 255. Pranayamam (Breath Control) 256. Sivam–Sundaram (Bliss and Beauty) 257. The Mudaliar Granny 258. Pilgrimage to Tiruchuli 259. Boyhood Days 260. Help for Good Works 261. Deceptive Appearances 262. Is All the Work for Which You Have Come Over? 263. Floor Decoration with Lime Powder