Query : What is the proper meaning of ‘ Nayam Atma balahinen labhya’?
Gurumaharaj : As you have learnt the sloka by heart, you must have gone through the Bengali meaning of it as well. Then why did you fail to make out the meaning? The meaning of the sloka is that a weak person can never realize the Atma. Now if you keep on asking me questions like — What is the meaning of the Atma? What is meant by a weak person? Why can’t a weak person realize the Atma? — then it would be a silly approach. But if you really intend to know the meaning of this sloka, listen to me attentively. If you ask me any other silly question, then I will stop answering your question right away.
The meaning of Adhyatma Vidya is mastering the knowledge of the Self. In the narrative of Yam and Nachiketa, Yamraj was much too pleased with Nachiketa’s iron determination and utmost sincerity. So, he was ready to offer Nachiketa all the material and spiritual knowledge. But he refused to give him the Atma tattwa. Here the word ‘Atma’ points to this wisdom of the self. Acquiring this wisdom one can realize God. A drop of this wisdom merges one’s Self into the ocean of bliss. It’s like analysing a drop of water to know all about water. This is why in one of the Upanishads we find this sloka. To acquire the wisdom of the Self a seeker must possess qualities like dedication, self discipline, Sadhana and sincerity. Only a powerful seeker can tread the path of self knowledge. A seeker cannot perform Sadhana with a weak body. Thakur Sri Ramakrishna said,” When the spiritual awakening begins the human body suffers the same fate of a tiny cottage when a big elephant breaks into it.” The body appears to be crushed. Only by having a pure mind in a pure body one can tame such forces of spiritual power. Many fail to do so. They simply die. Many become paralysed. Only a Sadguru can set things right for such sadhaks.
There are three kinds of strength. They are the strengths of the Self, the mind and body. The strength of the Self is the result of one’s karma in the past lives and the blessings of his Guru. In the battlefield of Sadhana a sadhak must have it in himself to think, ” Come what may, I’ll attain the highest knowledge.” This is what Sri Ramakrishna called ‘ resoluteness ‘. That apart, a sadhak should have physical strength. Can anyone ever perform Sadhana without having a healthy and vigorous body? A sadhak should perform Sadhana in his youth and do prayers at the old age. In one of the Baul songs it is said, ” Sadhana is not possible once your time is up….” The song tries to suggest that one can’t progress in his Sadhana once he grows old. At this age one can only say his prayers or repeat mantras.
( Translated by Amitava Saha)
Gurumaharaj : As you have learnt the sloka by heart, you must have gone through the Bengali meaning of it as well. Then why did you fail to make out the meaning? The meaning of the sloka is that a weak person can never realize the Atma. Now if you keep on asking me questions like — What is the meaning of the Atma? What is meant by a weak person? Why can’t a weak person realize the Atma? — then it would be a silly approach. But if you really intend to know the meaning of this sloka, listen to me attentively. If you ask me any other silly question, then I will stop answering your question right away.
The meaning of Adhyatma Vidya is mastering the knowledge of the Self. In the narrative of Yam and Nachiketa, Yamraj was much too pleased with Nachiketa’s iron determination and utmost sincerity. So, he was ready to offer Nachiketa all the material and spiritual knowledge. But he refused to give him the Atma tattwa. Here the word ‘Atma’ points to this wisdom of the self. Acquiring this wisdom one can realize God. A drop of this wisdom merges one’s Self into the ocean of bliss. It’s like analysing a drop of water to know all about water. This is why in one of the Upanishads we find this sloka. To acquire the wisdom of the Self a seeker must possess qualities like dedication, self discipline, Sadhana and sincerity. Only a powerful seeker can tread the path of self knowledge. A seeker cannot perform Sadhana with a weak body. Thakur Sri Ramakrishna said,” When the spiritual awakening begins the human body suffers the same fate of a tiny cottage when a big elephant breaks into it.” The body appears to be crushed. Only by having a pure mind in a pure body one can tame such forces of spiritual power. Many fail to do so. They simply die. Many become paralysed. Only a Sadguru can set things right for such sadhaks.
There are three kinds of strength. They are the strengths of the Self, the mind and body. The strength of the Self is the result of one’s karma in the past lives and the blessings of his Guru. In the battlefield of Sadhana a sadhak must have it in himself to think, ” Come what may, I’ll attain the highest knowledge.” This is what Sri Ramakrishna called ‘ resoluteness ‘. That apart, a sadhak should have physical strength. Can anyone ever perform Sadhana without having a healthy and vigorous body? A sadhak should perform Sadhana in his youth and do prayers at the old age. In one of the Baul songs it is said, ” Sadhana is not possible once your time is up….” The song tries to suggest that one can’t progress in his Sadhana once he grows old. At this age one can only say his prayers or repeat mantras.
( Translated by Amitava Saha)