Avadhuta Vs A mad person

[dattaswami]

Avadhuta Vs A mad person

200. Vijayyavadhuto naatarkasangonmatto Brahmaatmaastu.

 

Translation: The Avadhuta is a successful controller of dissociation with worldly affairs and he is different from a mad person associated with affairs without logic. Let him remain as God and there is no other way.

 

Explanation: The pure awareness is possible only in the state of first moment after deep sleep or in the successful state of meditation. If the meditation is successful, it means the soul could totally throw away all the affairs (Vishayas) of waking state. Such a successful state is called as Avadhuta, in which the peace is enjoyed under the impression of bliss. This is the climax state of Advaita, in which there is no reference to God other than self. Since, such peace is attained from the soul, the soul is mistaken as God and the peace is mistaken as bliss. For an atheist, nothing more is possible than this, since he never believes God other than self. When a boy does not believe in the existence of college or University other than the school, the only possible way is to see the boy in getting the highest degree of the school. The boy after passing out from the school feels that he has obtained highest educational degree that is possible on the earth. The responsibility of the teacher under such unfortunate circumstances is only to see the boy in successfully getting the highest degree of the school. Shankara did such work in the case of atheists, who were the foolish rigid boys of the school believing that there is no higher institution other than their school. Hence, the highest possible degree in Advaita is the state of Avadhuta only. The Avadhuta differs from the mad person. The mad person is in association of affairs of waking state without logic. A normal person is in association of waking state with logic. The Avadhuta is in total dissociation of all affairs of waking state. Such dissociation of affairs of the world is a good pre-requisite for the strong association with God. Hence, the state of Avadhuta is intermediate step in the spiritual journey. But, if one stops in the intermediate state only, he is most unfortunate because neither he is in his native place nor he is in the place of goal. Enjoying the worldly affairs is better than such state of Avadhuta. If we advice a student to study well by withdrawing himself from all other activities, our goal is his studies. If he withdraws from all activities and does not study at all, such withdrawal is useless and it is better for him to keep himself engaged in some activity!