Slokam11

Extending the form of the Paramathma from worldly objects to the stars and planets is an important step. 

The ancient rishis became aware of the various planets and stars simply by expanding the reach of their consciousness.  

Consciousness pervades everything and has no limitation of distance and time.  The tool to delve into consciousness is meditation, which is the process of quietening the mind.  Much like the glare of city lights makes the stars invisible,  the hyper activity of the mind, makes us lose sight of the wonders and immensity of consciousness. 

Consciouseness is the source of energy

Consciousnes is the center of imagination

Consciousness is the enabler focus and concentration of the mind.

Consciousness represents eternal memory.  It never forgets anything. That is why when we obtain moksham, we cannot possess memories of undesirable events that we might be a part of.  These events will induce, conflict, denial and the strong instinct to disown a certain part of ourself.  That is not a qualification for moksham. 

Consciousness is also the cause of all physical manifestation and action. The one caveat here is that the mind takes over, or thinks it takes over, when in reality it begins to superimpose its own requirements in channeling the flow of energy from consciousness. This interference should be curtailed and eliminated.  This curtailment of interference is the objective of spiritual attainment. 

The mind is a mechanical instrument that is composed of “switches”.  The function of these switches is to channel conscious energy to objects of desire. In other words, when there is no control, the mind channels the conscious energy only into those avenues that produce a bio-feedback of sensory pleasure.

It is like energizing the body by taking sugar and then releasing the energy by intake of caffeine.  The mind is then artificially energized and becomes highly active. 

Knowledge,  of which memory is a part is the control mechanism over the mind.  Knowledge,  of the truth, when it is deeply etched in the self,  ascends from the mind to consciousness.

Consciousness on the other hand is not mechanical.  It is not driven by the switches or the imbalances of desire and motivation (to seek desire).  It does not need a motivational impulse to function.

So when a quality,  such as dharma ascends from the mind to the level of consciousness,  it is an affirmation that the individual has evolved and will not revert to the lower level.  On the other hand, if an individual is on the correct spiritual path, but is still evolving, it is quite likely that the pressures of life would cause a dilution in adherence to dharmic ways.  Until we are resolute in our path, we will be born repeatedly and subjected to extensive tests.

Any attribute that resides in the mind will be subject to opposites.  The attributes are born out of experience of the opposites.  When we firmly descide that selflessness  will be the primay approach to life,  opposites will recede and conflict will disappear. 

We will then ascend to reside in our consciousness.  Life will then be pleasant and progressive.

Intelligence is the recognition of the existence of these component parts within us and balances, prioritizes and coordinates their interaction.

In this slokam, the Paramathma is described as reclining on the ocean of milk. The Paramathma is meditated upon during dawn, noon and dusk as Shimshumara.  The manifestation of shimshumara is in the form of shaligrama. 

Salagrama or Shaligram refers to a fossilized shell used in South Asia as an iconic symbol and reminder of the god Vishnu as the Universal Principle by Hindus of Vaishnavite and Smarthist sects. Shaligrams are usually collected from river-beds or banks such as the Gandaki River in Nepal. They are considered easy to carry and popular in certain traditions of Vaishnavism, as an aniconic representation of the divine. They are typically in the form of spherical, black-coloured Ammonoid fossils of the Devonian-Cretaceous period which existed from 400 to 66 million years ago.

The limbs of shimshumara are said, by the great sages to be formed by the planetary systems and various stars like Dhruva.  In the scriptures, the planets are stars are always associated with great sages,  and people of elevated spiritual attainment.

May we, with the Paramatma’s guidance  ascend to residing at the level of consciousness, from which may we never descend