Brief teachings of Madhwacharya
The Supreme Brahman is omniscient and is full of qualities.
All the jiivaas are parts
of the Brahman like sparkles of the fire and like the drops of water in the
ocean.
As the oceans nothing but
collection of water, Brahman is assemblage of all conscious entities.
Just as sparkles from the
fire jiivaas are separated tiny parts of Brahman.
They become one with
Brahman just as drops of water join the ocean.
Just as there is difference
and identity (Bheda-Abheda) betweendrops of water and oceanic waters, there is difference and identity
between jiivaas, which are parts of Brahman, and Brahman who is ocean of
consciousness
The nature of all the
objects are under the control of the Lord.
The existence of the
objects between creation and destruction
is not independent.The
natural sustenance of the objects depends on the power of the Lord.
After creating the objects
the Lord does not keep quiet till they are destroyed.
The existence, the growth and
modifications of the objects after creation depends on the Lord alone.
The Lord is protector of
all just as He is the creator and destroyer.
The Lord is un-manifested
by nature.
We cannot perceive Him with
our power and efforts.
But the Lord reveals
Himself by His own power
The fragrance and flower
are one and the same we express that flower has fragrance.
Objects and its attributes
are one and the same.
It has already been
explained that the special intrinsic power of the object which
is called visheshha
shakti is responsible for expressions such as flower has
fragrance (guna-guni
bhaava vyavahaara)
Though the infinite
qualities of the Lord are one with Him, the expression that
the Lord has the qualities
is accounted by this ‘visheshha shakti’ only.
The studies and reflections
are essential for meditation the yama’and ‘niyama’are also essential.
If ritual acts, which are
prescribed at different times, are called ‘niyama’, while the qualities, which we should possess
always, are called ‘yama’.
The ‘japaanushh Tana’ which
should be conducted at ‘sandhya’times and fasting once in fifteen days etc are regarded as ‘niyama-s’.
The combination of
knowledge and love for the Lord
is called ‘Bhakti’. There
are two aspects of devotion:
(1) the knowledge of the
glory of the Lord,
(2)an unshakable and deep
love for the Lord.
To reach the supreme Brahman freeing themselves from all
defects and impurities and
becoming pure conscious and blissful entities.
To reach this goal there
are four important steps.
These are
1) detachment
2) Bhakti devotion towards
the Lord
3) upaasana meditation
4) saakshaatkaara
realization.
There are three states for
jiivaas such as waking, dreaming,and deep sleeping states.
There is no role of the
Lord in dream world.
No object seen in the dream
is real.
Objects are only imagined
in dream state.
If real objects of dream
are created we can attribute them to the power of the Lord.
But there is no possibility
of such creation in such dream.
Without basic substance no
object can be created.
Deep sleep, waking state or
dream are not under our control.
Sometimes even if we desire
for them we are not able to achieve them.
The four different stages of Moksha are asfollows:
1) releasing from all
unfavorable karma-s,
2) exitof the soul from the
body through ‘sushhumnaanaadi,
3)the route towards the
abode of the Lord crossing different worlds which are presided by different
gods
4) enjoy meant of divine
self-bliss.
These four stages are
briefly called karmakshaya, utkraanti, maarga, and bhoga respectively.
In Moksha jiiva experiences
all pleasures along with Brahman”
If it is said along with
the Brahman, is it not
Dwitheeya Adhyaaya
Shreemannyaayasudhaasaara
clear that jiiva and
Brahman are different.
Jiiva does not become
Brahman.
He becomes only somewhat
similar toBrahman.
Jiiva does not become
Brahman after attaining Him.
He will regain his own
original nature or form.
Such several statements
have declared the separate existence of jiiva and Brahman even in Moksha.
The difference of jiiva and
Brahman, which exists even in Moksha where there is no scope for ignorance,
cannot be illusory at all.
It will be proved as
absolutely real.
Jiiva is called Aatmaa
since he is the controller of the Body.
But the Lord is recognized
as Aatmaa since He is the controller
of the entire universe.
