Tara is inconsolable at the death of Vali and wishes to die too. Rama consoles her. He asks Tara if Vali is just the body or the Jiva. There is no birth or death for Jiva. It is the immaculate single reality that has no attributes and vacillations. So, there is no reason to be sorrowful about death when we understand this.
Tara then questioned Rama that if Jiva has no attributes, what is getting affected by pleasure and pain?
Rama explained to her that ahamkara (the feeling of I) and identification with the body and senses forces the atman into Samsara, the cycle of birth and death. Sense of pleasure and pain, attraction and aversion and various types of Karmas arise as a result. Eventually because of good deeds, the Jiva gets associated with Rama’s devotee and then the path to liberation begins (please recall the nine steps that Rama explains to Sabari).
Thus, Rama gifts Tara the knowledge (Jnana) about Advaita; and reveals the path to this realization starting with Satsang.
Tara leaves her ego and continues her life as a Jivanmukta, a liberated soul while living here. Just because of the Satsang with Rama, her devotion grew, and she reached the ultimate, the Brahman.
Thus, through the Vali Sugriva episode, Adhyatma Ramayana teaches us the Dharma of King; the consequences of bad Karma; the principle of Atman; and the paths to liberation through surrender, knowledge and Satsang.
Picture Credit: Dr. K. U. Krishnakumar and Guruvayoor Devaswom
Tara is inconsolable at the death of Vali and wishes to die too. Rama consoles her. He asks Tara if Vali is just the body or the Jiva. There is no birth or death for Jiva. It is the immaculate single reality that has no attributes and vacillations. So, there is no reason to be sorrowful about death when we understand this.
Tara then questioned Rama that if Jiva has no attributes, what is getting affected by pleasure and pain?
Rama explained to her that ahamkara (the feeling of I) and identification with the body and senses forces the atman into Samsara, the cycle of birth and death. Sense of pleasure and pain, attraction and aversion and various types of Karmas arise as a result. Eventually because of good deeds, the Jiva gets associated with Rama’s devotee and then the path to liberation begins (please recall the nine steps that Rama explains to Sabari).
Thus, Rama gifts Tara the knowledge (Jnana) about Advaita; and reveals the path to this realization starting with Satsang.
Tara leaves her ego and continues her life as a Jivanmukta, a liberated soul while living here. Just because of the Satsang with Rama, her devotion grew, and she reached the ultimate, the Brahman.
Thus, through the Vali Sugriva episode, Adhyatma Ramayana teaches us the Dharma of King; the consequences of bad Karma; the principle of Atman; and the paths to liberation through surrender, knowledge and Satsang.
Picture Credit: Dr. K. U. Krishnakumar and Guruvayoor Devaswom
