Maya Sends Siddhis and Sense-Winds against the Flame of Soham
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 113
Doha 119 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
The awareness Soham asmi rises as the lamp's immense flame. In its light, the bliss of direct Self-experience fills the chamber, the root error of separation breaks, and the dark household of ignorance begins to vanish. Illuminated intelligence sits before the ancient knot and reaches to undo it.
Maya sees the fingers nearing freedom. She sends powers and attainments glittering with promise. They crowd near the lamp, displaying marvels to awaken greed and bending close to extinguish the flame. A truly discerning intellect refuses even to look. Then subtler forces take their stations at the body's many windows, waiting behind every sense.
The wind of objects approaches. The doors fly open. Sound, touch, form, taste, and scent rush into the heart's chamber like a gale, and the lamp of vijnana goes dark before the knot is released. Bhushundi's vision is severe because the ascent was real. A flame capable of consuming pride may still be lost when the senses love their objects more than they love illumination.
At freedom's threshold, one unguarded window can admit the wind that leaves the ancient knot in darkness.
Read the passage from the Manas
सोहमस्मि इति बृत्ति अखंडा। दीप सिखा सोइ परम प्रचंडा।। आतम अनुभव सुख सुप्रकासा। तब भव मूल भेद भ्रम नासा।। प्रबल अबिद्या कर परिवारा। मोह आदि तम मिटइ अपारा।। तब सोइ बुद्धि पाइ उँजिआरा। उर गृहँ बैठि ग्रंथि निरुआरा।। छोरन ग्रंथि पाव जौं सोई। तब यह जीव कृतारथ होई।। छोरत ग्रंथि जानि खगराया। बिघ्न अनेक करइ तब माया।। रिद्धि सिद्धि प्रेरइ बहु भाई। बुद्धहि लोभ दिखावहिं आई।। कल बल छल करि जाहिं समीपा। अंचल बात बुझावहिं दीपा।। होइ बुद्धि जौं परम सयानी। तिन्ह तन चितव न अनहित जानी।। जौं तेहि बिघ्न बुद्धि नहिं बाधी। तौ बहोरि सुर करहिं उपाधी।। इंद्रीं द्वार झरोखा नाना। तहँ तहँ सुर बैठे करि थाना।। आवत देखहिं बिषय बयारी। ते हठि देही कपाट उघारी।। जब सो प्रभंजन उर गृहँ जाई। तबहिं दीप बिग्यान बुझाई।। ग्रंथि न छूटि मिटा सो प्रकासा। बुद्धि बिकल भइ बिषय बतासा।। इंद्रिन्ह सुरन्ह न ग्यान सोहाई। बिषय भोग पर प्रीति सदाई।। बिषय समीर बुद्धि कृत भोरी। तेहि बिधि दीप को बार बहोरी।।
The unwavering awareness 'Soham asmi' (I am That) is the blazing flame of that lamp, supremely radiant and powerful. When the bliss of Self-realization shines forth clearly, then the delusion at the root of worldly existence is destroyed. The mighty family of avidya (ignorance), delusion and all forms of darkness, are completely dispelled. Then that intellect, gaining illumination, sits in the chamber of the heart and begins to untie the knot. If it succeeds in loosening that knot, then the individual soul becomes fulfilled. But, O king of birds, when Maya perceives the knot is loosening, she creates countless obstacles. She sends many supernatural powers and siddhis, showing tempting gains to the intellect. With cunning, force, and deceit, they approach and try to blow out the lamp with their breath. If the intellect becomes supremely wise, it does not look upon them, knowing them to be harmful. If these obstacles do not hinder the intellect, the gods then create further disturbances. The senses are like doorways and windows where the gods sit stationed. When they see the wind of sense-objects approaching, they fling open the body's gates. When that gale enters the heart's chamber, it immediately extinguishes the lamp of vijnana. The knot remains untied; that illumination is lost. The intellect becomes bewildered by the storm of sense-pleasures. The senses and the gods do not love spiritual knowledge; their eternal love is for sense-enjoyment. When the wind of sense-objects makes the intellect helpless, who can rekindle that lamp?