In Search of the Purusa

The moment you understand yourself as the true Self, you find such peace and bliss that the impressions of the petty enjoyments you experienced before become as ordinary specks of light in front of the brilliant sun.
Sri Swami Satchidananda in his brilliant translation of the Yoga Sutras

Isn't that beautiful?

This quote reflects the main focus of this blog and the main focus of my life right now: the pursuit of peace and bliss.  I want to wake up to the Purusa, or true Self within so nothing else matters; so that the world around me becomes a playground to enjoy, rather than a piece of  fly paper I find myself stuck to in my reckless pursuits.  I want to detach myself from all that doesn't matter (vairagya) and discover what does.

I want this for my little self and I want this for the world.

(You will have to excuse the lack of appropriate accents in some of the terms I will be using...my computer does not do Sanskrit translation.  :) )

What is the Purusa?

Purusa, according to the definition found in Sri Swami Satchidananda's translation of The Yoga Sutras (2011), is "the divine Self which abides in all beings."  It is often referred to as the true Self, who we really are beneath these bodies and worldly identifications.  The true Self is pure and real...from God.

The Purusa is that which sees all and knows all.  Pure consciousness. Complete awareness.  Source energy. It is the quiet Observer that rests beneath the ego watching without judgment, as we in bodily form and with mental modifications that cloud the peace that is our birthright, stomp around in the  the physical world. It is our most inner Self...it is our most real Self.

The Upanishads of Vedic truth  refer to this true divine Self that was there before we were born into physical form and that which will continue after we die as Brahman. (http://yogananda.com.au/upa/Upanishads01.html

Say what, crazy lady?

We in the western hemisphere may refer to it as the spirit or soul...or the inner self.  Just know the Purusa is who you really are. 

What you are not?

You are not the body that you see when you look in the mirror...the body you work out or adorn so it looks good...the body that you curse for having a few wrinkles or a few "extra" rolls around the waist line....the body you push to exhaustion and illness in your attempt to "get er all done." ...quicker and more efficiently than the others around you.  You are not the body that  is black or yellow, tan or white...tall or short...the body that is ill or hungry...physically fit or too well fed.

You are not the five senses that you seek to overindulge and gratify...they are merely tools to help you interpret the world around you...they do not define you.

You are not your mind and all those thoughts that whirl around it.  You are not the anxieties and worries you have about tomorrow or the resentment and shame you experience over yesterday. 

You are not the circumstances of your life...be they cursed or blessed.

You are not your culture, your language , your gender or your religion.

You are not what you do.  You are not  the professional role you identify yourself with or the little letters you write behind your name.  (and I don't care...how many letters that may be:) or how hard you worked to get them...they are just letters). 

You are not your educational and social achievement or the lack of.

You are not the things you own...the numbers in your bank account, the house you live in  or the car you drive. (If you are so blessed to have these things when so many don't.)

You are not your caste, your class or your social status.

You are not your personality and the reaction you get from others because of it.  You are not what others may believe you to be.

You are not your ego and all it tries to convince you  are.

You are so much more than all that.  You are  the One that observes as the little you experiences these things.


What?

What we tend to worship here in this material world is not who we are.  We are that which quietly exists beneath all this and  allows these things to be experienced.

That which speech does not illumine, but which illumines speech: know that alone to be the Brahman (the Supreme Being), not this which people worship here.

That which cannot be thought by mind, but by which, they say, mind is able to think: know that alone to be the Brahman, not this which people worship here.

That which is not seen by the eye, but by which the eye is able to see: know that alone to be the Brahman, not this which people worship here.

That which none breathes with the breath, but by which breath is in–breathed: know that alone to be the Brahman, not this which people worship here.

(http://www.yoga-age.com/upanishads/kena.html) Yoga Age

So that means we are looking for the Purusa within that makes ...

• what we have to say important
• what we have to do worthwhile for all
• the mind able to think
• the eyes able to see;  ears able to hear;  bodies able to feel
• makes us able to breathe...in fact is the breath we breathe in

And what happens if we should find it?

The world will make sense.  We will know who we are . 

We will be free from the sticky paper that holds us down.  We will see and know what is important and what isn't.; what is real and what isn't; what is temporary and what is permanent.   If it isn't important, real or permanent ( eternal)  we will remove  emotional attachment to it.  We can enjoy these things, play with these things but we do not have to be consumed with a need to attain, collect, cling or fear losing these things. 

We will be at peace no matter what is going on around us.  We will enjoy our lives regardless of what shows up in them. 

We will at the same time give our lives away.  We will joyfully provide loving service and compassion to a world that will wake up as a whole some day. 


Finding the Purusa is the answer to all life's so called problems.


How cool is that?

All is well in my world.

Note:  It gets confusing.

Reading the scriptures...the sutras and the vedas (the Kena Upanishads) can be confusing for someone coming from a totally different background like myself. The interpretation of the Sanskrit words: Atman, Purusa, and even Brahman differ from source to source, changing the whole context and meaning of the wisdom offered.  I lack the know how, cultural understanding, the actual versions in front of me and guidance to take the words in any way other than the way they are offered literally to me after translation.  I think I get the major gist of it and somehow it makes  sense to me "internally" but...I am no expert here.  For the purpose of my writing here, I use a few on line references and am not sure of their value. So please read for yourself or seek the guidance of an expert on these scriptures if you want anything more from them than what my gut is telling me to share with you.  I know nothing.  Okay?

References

Kena-Upanishads. (n.d.) Yoga-age.com.  Retrieved from http://www.yoga-age.com/upanishads/kena.html

Swami Paramananada (n.d.) Kena-Upaishads. Hinduwebsite.com. Retrieved from http://www.hinduwebsite.com/sacredscripts/hinduism/parama/kena.asp

Sri Swami Satchidananda (2011) The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Yogaville: Integral Yoga Publications

Mahinda Singh (Dec, 2016) What is the Difference Between Purusha and Brahman? Vedas Explained. Retrieved from http://www.vedasexplained.com/hinduism/what-is-the-difference-between-purusha-and-brahman/

The Best Upanishad Quotes. (n.d.) Paramahansa Yogananda. Retrieved from http://yogananda.com.au/upa/Upanishads01.html