Advaita Vision

www.advaita.org.uk

Advaita for the 21st Century

dRRigdRRishya viveka

flower picture

Definition - Durga

There is a prakriyA, a teaching methodology, taught in Vedanta called dRRigdRRishya viveka (seer/seen discrimination).

The dRRik is the Self. The dRRishya-s are everything else. Everything is a dRRishya (object) except myself.

One can begin this practice by seeing quite clearly that everything external to my body is an object, an object of observation, known by me as an object, an object which changes.

Then what about the body? Is it an object? Am I aware of it? Can I watch it change? Yes.

What about the sense organs? Are they objects? Am I aware of them? Am I aware whether they are working or not? Yes. Do all of these objects change? Yes. Can I observe them change? Again, yes.

Move in. What about thoughts? What about moods? What about emotions? Are they objects, objects of observation? Do they change? Can I watch them change? Again, yes.

But is there something in all of this, something about 'me,' which does not change? Is there something which is always constant to every thought, mood, emotion, sensation, and object of cognition?

What is it about 'me' which does not change? What is that? That which does not change, and is 'me,' is the Self, is Atma, is Brahman. Can the mind make this differentiation, this distinction, this discrimination between that which does not change and that which does? Yes, it can.

If properly taught, dRRigdRRishya viveka, may indeed be one of the most powerful tools which the teachings of Vedanta have to offer for the direct and unmistakable recognition of the Self.

Return to the Contents page for the Terms and Definition.

om
Page last updated: 10-Jul-2012