citeh the seer apratisamkramayah changeless, non-moving tad its akara form apattau having accomplished, identified, assumed sva one's own buddhi intelligence samvedanam knows, assumes, identifies Consciousness distinguishes its own awareness and intelligence when it reflects and identifies its source - the changeless seer - and assumes his form. Through the attainment of pure consciousness comes knowledge of the unchangeable seer, who rests on his own intelligence and nowhere else. When consciousness no longer fluctuates, then its pure nature surfaces to comprehend itself. Consciousness has two facets - one pure, divine and immutable, the other changeable, transient and exhibitive. It has no light of its own but acts as a medium or agent between the seer and the objects seen. Due to ignorance, it does not realise that it is impersonating the seer. But the seer has knowledge of the movements of the consciousness. When one facet of consciousness ceases to operate, it ends its contact with the external world and stops collecting impressions. The other facet is drawn to the seer, and the two unite. Intelligence and consciousness fuse in their abode - the atman, and the soul comes face to face with itself. A dirty mirror mists reflection; a clean mirror reflects objects clearly. The illumined consciousness becomes purified and reflects objects exactly as they are. The reflector is called bimba-pratibimba vada, or the elucidation of double reflection. There is no difference between the source object and the reflected image. The soul reflects the soul. It is the fulfilment of yoga; Citta is identified with the seer. This is svabuddhi samvedanam or intuitive understanding of the inner voice. An everyday instance of human consciousness taking on the absolute quality and form of the object one observes is when one gazes into the dancing flames of a fire, or at the waves of the sea, or the wind on the tree-tops. One feels absolutely engrossed in watching, without thought or impatience, as if one was the unending waves or the flickering flames, or the windswept trees. |