GREAT TO READ - SESSION 11

A.Butter In Milk

Butter or ghee exists in milk. But where is it? It cannot be perceived. But it is present

everywhere in milk, in each and every drop of milk. There is no particle of milk where butter or

ghee is not present. In the same manner Brahman is present everywhere; and there is no speck of

space where Brahman is not. But Brahman cannot be perceived and It seems to be nowhere. It is the

very essence of cream of existence, but It is nowhere to the eyes of a worldly-minded man. This

illustrates the omnipresence of Brahman.

B.The Chameleon

The chameleon is an animal which changes its colour at any time according to the colour of

the surface it moves on. A person who has seen the chameleon when it is assuming the colour red

says that the chameleon is red. But the other one who has seen it only when it is assuming the colour

green says that the chameleon is green. But a person who has watched the chameleon all along,

carefully, under the tree, knows all its colours, and does not have any more doubts. This is to

illustrate that people who have only a partial understanding of the Nature of God quarrel among

themselves that this is right and this is wrong, God is like this, God is like that, etc. But a

Brahma-Jnani who has calmly watched the nature of the whole existence knows its true nature and

does not have any more doubts regarding the nature of the Absolute.

C.Salt And Water

A particle of salt dropped in a large vessel of water dissolves itself in the water and is no

more perceivable to the eye. But any part of that water, if tasted, is felt to be saltish. In the same

manner the Jiva, on attaining Wisdom, dissolves itself in the ocean of Existence-Knowledge-Bliss

and becomes one with the All. All is felt to be the Supreme Bliss. It is everywhere the same.

D.Sword And Philosopher’s Stone

At the very touch of a philosopher’s stone the sharp iron sword is turned into gold and

afterwards it does not cut, even if it has the appearance of a sword. Even so, the ego of the

Siddha-Jnani or the Jivanmukta, though it has the appearance of individuality and presents a

physical body, cannot bind the Siddha again to rebirth, for it is transformed into Suddha-Sattva by

the touch of the Supreme Wisdom of the Absolute.

E.Chandelier And Electricity

In a chandelier various bulbs of different colour are seen and there is a grand diversity in

their forms. But the basis of the entire light is the one power of electricity charged from the dynamo,

which is the common force of all bulbs, and which has no colours of varieties. Even so, there are

various worlds and creatures of multifarious names and forms, but all are having their basis or

support in the one Power, the Supreme Brahman which is Indivisible and Attributeless, Nameless

and Formless.

F.Happiness Is In The Atman Only

The feeling of pleasure is an internal feeling. There is no pleasure in physical objects,

though they excite pleasure in man. Sensual pleasure is only a reflection of the Bliss of the Atman.

When a desire is gratified the mind moves towards the Atman and rests in the Atman for a very short

time, and the man experiences pleasure. Atman or Brahman only is the embodiment of Bliss

(Ananda Svarupa). Atman is full of Bliss (Anandamaya). Atman is a Mass of Bliss

(Ananda-Ghana).

Reference & Courtesy: Vedanta for beginners - Shri Swami Sivananda