Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Where does one whose jnana is weak fit in?

A question was asked regarding the position of one whose jnana is weak in the scheme of things. The doubt was if that manda Jnani had stopped short of kevala nirvikalpa.

Ramana Maharishi: Kevala nirvikalpa happens even in the tanumanasi stage (of attenuated mind).

Devotee: The middling and superior jnanis are said to be jivanmuktas. Kevala nirvikalpa is in tanumanasa. Where does one whose jnana is weak fit in?

Ramana Maharishi: He comes in sattvapatti (realisation) - whereas the middling and the superior ones come in asamsakti and padarthabhavini respectively. This division as dull, middling, and superior is according to the momentum of prarabdha. If it is strong he is weak; if it is middling he is middling too; if prarabdha is weak he is superior; if it is very weak he is in turyaga. There is no difference in the samadhi state or the jnana of the jnanis. The classification is only from the standpoint of the observer.

Devotee: Is tanumanasi the same as mumukshutva?

Ramana Maharishi: No. The six qualities, discrimination, dispassion and mumukshutva, etc., precede subhechcha. The first stage follows mumukshutva, then comes vicharana (search), then the tenuous mind. Direct perception is in sattvapatti (realisation). There is no need to discuss similar points. Jivanmukti and Videhamukti are differently described by different authorities; Videhamukti is sometimes said to occur even when the man is seen with a body. The fact is that mukti is another name for Aham (‘I’). The Seven Jnana bhumikas (stages of knowledge) are: (1) Subhechcha (desire for enlightenment); (2) Vicharana (hearing and reflection); (3) Tanumanasi (tenuous mind); (4) Sattvapatti (Self-Realisation); (5) Asamsakti (non-attachment); (6) Padarthabhavani (absolute non-perception of objects); (7) Turyaga (beyond words). Those who have attained the last four Bhumikas are respectively called Brahmavit, Brahmavidvara, Brahmavidvarya and Brahmavidvarishtha.

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