Immortality through the Awareness of Brahman

As Brahman is beyond the domain of mind there are severe limitations in grasping it through mind and its accessories. The subject being known gets tainted by the limitations of the tools employed for knowing. To know Brahman in its full glory one has to go beyond his intellect. And when this happens the unconditioned awareness enables him to identify with the principle of immortality.

Yadi manyase suvedeti daharamevapi
Noonam tvam vettha brahmano roopam
Yadasya tvam yadasya deveshvattha nu
Meemamsyameva te manye viditam

If you think that you understand this well deep within you there is no doubt that what you deem to know is indeed a form of Brahman. But this form is limited by the frontiers of your personality. Because the idea that one knows Brahman is a product of a debate that takes place in the domain of mind.

Naham manye suvedeti
No na vedeti veda cha
Yo nastadveda tadveda
No na vedeti veda cha

The statements ‘I know Brahman’ and ‘I do not know Brahman’ are also meaningless. As a matter of fact everyone has some understanding of a form of Brahman. This form, however, is limited by one’s own personality. One who has grasped this limitation has understood the essential nature of Brahman.

Yasyaamatam tasya matam
Matam yasya na veda sah
Avijnatam vijanataam
Vijnanamavijanatam

It serves as a dependable doctrine for those who are not fanatic about any doctrine. However, it is beyond the grasp of those who wish to project it as a doctrine. Those who realize that it is beyond the grasp of human faculties understand the essential nature of Brahman. Those who grapple with it using the resources in the domain of mind do not understand its nature at all.

Pratibodhaviditam
Matamamrutatvam hi vindate
Atmana vindate veeryam
Vidyaya vindate/mrutam

Knowledge as a personal resource is conditioned by one’s intellect. Even the idea of immortality is only an opinion formed subject to the limitations of intellect. There is no doubt that a person develops his potent nature by catering to his differentiated self. But by following this route one cannot realize true immortality. True immortality can be realized only through unconditioned knowledge.

Iha chevedeedatha satyamasti
Na chedihaavedinmahati vinashtih
Bhooteshu bhooteshu vichitya dheerah
Pretyasmallokadamrute bhavanti

True unconditional knowledge can be had only when one transcend the intellect. In this life all human faculties are to be used to prepare oneself for this transcendence. It will be a great loss if one does not do this and dissipate one’s resources in other pursuits. Intelligent persons realize that the worldly things that keep attracting their attention are formed by the five essential elements, which keep playing to the tune of the transcendental principle of Brahman. By attaining this realization they transcend this world and become immortal.