Satsang with Swami Bodhatmanandaji
The satsang with Swami Bodhatmananda (on June 11 th at the Chinmaya Centre of World Understanding, Delhi) described in the social media posts as ‘rare opportunity’ was indeed a special evening. He had his audience on high alert the moment he declared the subject, ‘Liberation’.
Good speakers first tell their listeners what they will tell them, then tell them and round up with the core take away. Swamiji divided his talk into five sections:
1. Artha – the meaning of liberation
2. Sadhan – the means of liberation
3. Prakara – different types of liberation
4. Swarupa – the nature of liberation
5. Shastra sangati – scriptural validation of liberation
What is this liberation that we seek? Very succinctly Swamiji said, that we want liberation from sorrow and complete liberation is possible only if we eliminate the notion of duality. Immortality can be gained only by right Knowledge. To get this wisdom we require sadhana, which leads to purity of mind. This brings to us the Guru, which in turn leads us to the study of Vedanta. Through viveka we are liberated when we live the Mahavakya – aham brahmasmi – and know that we are what we seek. Swamiji quoted liberally from the Upanishads and the Bhagavad-gita to authenticate the subject matter.
Left with much to think about, the listeners were in awe of the logical thought development and the ease with which Swamiji expounded the highest Truth and covered so much in such a short time. It was a privilege to listen to this exposition on ‘Mukti’ from the very acharya who taught the students of the 16 th Residential Two-Year Vedanta Course and who will be teaching the students of the forthcoming 17 th Vedanta Course at Sandeepany Sadhanalya, Mumbai. This evening was a delightful preview of what awaits them.