EE7.5 - Abhidhyána and Árádhaná

Abhidhyána and Árádhaná

Published in:
Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 31

Notes:

Only one page of the original typed notes was recovered, and that was not the first page. A few lines in continuation from the first page, too fragmentary to be published, have been omitted here. The complete topic may have been "Sádhaná, Abhidhyána and Árádhaná". -Eds.

References to this article should cite the “Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 31 appendix” to indicate less certain authenticity.

Online additional information

Parama Puruśa is my goal. I try to reach Parama Puruśa, that is, I do sádhaná. You know that Parama Puruśa’s other name is Liilámaya [the Sportive One]. You will find Parama Puruśa if you love Him heartily. But He plays a play with you. If He does not play with you, you will not get ánanda [bliss]. A person must run here and there after Him, and think, “What is going on, what is going on?” This is suspense. And this suspense is the sweetness.⁽¹⁾

In Ranchi I told [you] about dhyána and dhárańá. Parama Puruśa is your goal. You are going to Parama Puruśa. If Parama Puruśa is caught easily in your heart, then that is the will of Parama Puruśa. If Parama Puruśa runs away from you, then what should you do? If you think, “Parama Puruśa does not want me,” and you go back, then you are defeated by Parama Puruśa. But if Parama Puruśa runs away and you chase Him, if you say, “I won’t let Him go, I will not desist till I catch hold of Him,” this is abhidhyána.

Tasyábhidhyánát yojanát tattvabhávát;
Bhúyashcánte Vishvamáyánivrittih.

[Through abhidhyána, through association with the Supreme, and through tattvabháva (half-meditation on the Supreme while in the midst of action), one can overcome the powerful spell of Vishvamáyá – the universal Máyá.]

You must do abhidhyána. “Even if Parama Puruśa says that I am a sinner or a confirmed scoundrel, I will not leave Him. Whatever I may be, a sinner, a fool, a scoundrel, I will chase him. I will run and run after Him. After all, how much can He run? I will surely catch Him.” This is abhidhyána.

Next comes árádhaná. What is árádhaná? We know that it is the microcosm that does sádhaná in all respects. Now this sádhaná is done to attain Parama Puruśa, to reach the Supreme Desideratum. And when in the process of sádhaná the devotee attains a certain stage, then the devotee forgets himself or herself completely. Sometimes it happens that a person running after Him in abhidhyána ultimately forgets himself or herself. This is known as árádhaná.

This happens in other spheres of life also. In games and sports there may be some boys and girls who in their over-enthusiasm get their legs bruised – but they have no concern about that. In music also, there are some people who get completely absorbed in the music, forgetting everything else, even their meals and bath. If, by doing abhidhyána on Parama Puruśa, one forgets oneself in a similar way, that is known as árádhaná.

(1) A few sentences that were unclear in the original typed notes omitted here. –Eds.