Bodha Sara (The Essence of Knowledge)

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Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda is an outstanding teacher of Vedanta, with a profound depth beneath his simplicity and humility. He has a simple conviction – to fortify, strengthen and actualize the vision of Guru, Pujya Swami Chinmayananda.

Swamiji has written commentaries on many texts of Vedanta and authored many original compositions on Vedanta and Bhakti (Devotion).

He is the current head of the Chinmaya Mission – a global spiritual organization with more than 300 centres wordwide.

Samsaro yam ativa vicitrah – This world is indeed strange. It is full of contradictions and confusions. It is at times very difficult to make sense of this world. There seems to be disorder even in order and true to the third law of motion, the chaos in the world seems to be increasing.

Yet this grand creation cannot be senseless. What is its essence? What is its indispensable factor, that intrinsic nature without which it would not exist? What is that which gives the world its special flavour and its divine fragrance? What is it that makes life meaningful?

It is the infinite Truth which is the Self of all, often referred to as God. Many scriptures in different religions have spoken about it. The Vedas reveal it and the Smrtis, Itihasas and Puranas elaborate on it. The saints and sages have composed books and songs on it and countless have discoursed on it.

The modern man has neither the time, patience or interest to go through the plethora of literature available, some of it highly scholastic and pedantic. So from time to time attempts are made to cull out the essence of the teaching in books like Upadesa Sara, Jnana Sara and Vedanta Sara. Bodha Sara is one such attempt to bring out the essence of Vedantika Knowledge in three shot verses.

Sage Yajnavalkya tells his wife that the infinite Self should be seen – realized in such a way that there is no doubt left, like a fruit in hand which is directly seen and felt. But how does one do so? The sage continues, ‘By listening, reflection and meditation.

Many of us can claim to have heard many great scriptures but when a well qualified student listens, he realizes his infinite nature immediately. For those of us who are still stuck in finitude and are plagued with doubts and caught up in a web of confusions, the scriptures advise us to reflect on what we have heard again and again without getting into the shackles of wrong thinking.

There are many ways we can reflect. By oneself, through discussions in groups with fellow seekers, listening to reflective discourses or studying reflective books like Advaita Makaranda. Each of us chooses a way that is conducive to us.

I love to compose verses. That is my way of reflection. The words come unexpectedly in some inspired mood and it gives me a chance to mull over the scriptures and the Vedantika Knowledge it propounds. The thought expressed or the words used are not unique or original. They have just been put together as they appeared to me. May the Lord be pleased with this offering and may others too benefit by these thoughts and words.