thangam thoughts

thangam thoughts, the first of the collection, was made for auction at the eli whitney museum in a leonardo davinci exhibit. it features acrylics mixed with an iridescent medium atop glass in a thrifted wooden frame.

the piece incorporates the leonardo davinci signature portrait style and his mirror writing. the excerpt written on the bottom, on the back of the frame, is taken from Sri Sai Satcharitra in honor of da vinci’s love for learning and constant quest for development. it reads

The necessity of a Guru: The knowledge of the self is so subtle and mystical that no one could, by his own individual effort, ever hope to attain it. So the help of another person− the Teacher− who has himself attained self-realization, is absolutely necessary. What others cannot give with great labor and pains, can be easily gained with the help of such a Teacher; For he has walked on the path himself and can easily take the disciple, step by step, on the ladder of spiritual progress.

The entirety of the chapters (17-18)reads:

“Qualifications for Attaining Brahma-Jnana(Self-Realization)

All persons do not see or realize the Brahman in their lifetime. Certain qualifications are absolutely necessary:

Mumuksha, an intense desire to be set free: He, who thinks that he is bound, that he should be free from bondage and thus works earnestly and resolutely to that end; He who does not care for any other thing, is thus qualified for a spiritual life.

Virakti, or a feeling of disgust with the things of this world and the next: Unless a man feels disgusted with the objects, emoluments and honors, which his actions would bring in this world and the next, he has no right to enter into the spiritual realm.

Antarmukhata (introspection): Our senses have been created by God with a tendency to move outward and so man always looks outside himself and not inside. He who wants self-realization and an immortal life, must turn his gaze inwards and look to his inner Self.

Catharsis of sins: Unless a man has turned away from wickedness, stopped doing wrong actions and has entirely composed himself; Unless his mind is at rest, he cannot gain self-realization, even by means of knowledge.

Right Conduct: Unless a man leads a life of truth, penance, insight and a life of celibacy, he cannot attain union with God.

Preferring Shreyas (the Good) to Preyas (the Pleasant): There are two kinds of things: the Good and the Pleasant. Both of these approach man for acceptance; He has to think and choose between them. The wise man prefers the Good to the Pleasant, but the unwise, through greed and attachment, chooses the Pleasant.

Control of the mind and the senses: The body is the chariot and the Self is its master; The intellect is the charioteer and the mind the reins; the senses are the horses and sense-objects their paths. He who has no understanding and whose mind is unrestrained, his senses unmanageable like the vicious horses of a charioteer, does not reach his destination (get self-realization). Instead, he goes through rounds of births and deaths. But he who has understanding, whose mind is restrained, his senses under control like the good horse of a charioteer, reaches that place, (the state of self-realization); from this place he is not born again. The man who has understanding as his charioteer (guide) and is able to rein in his mind, reaches the end of the journey. This destination is the supreme abode of the all-pervading Vishnu (lord).

Purification of the mind: Unless a man discharges satisfactorily and disinterestedly the duties of his station in life, his mind will not be purified. And unless his mind is purified, he cannot get self-realization. It is only in the purified mind that Viveka (discrimination between the Unreal and the Real) and Vairagya (Non-attachment to the unreal) emerge and lead to self-realization. Unless egoism is dropped, avarice is destroyed and the mind made desire-less (pure), self-realization is not possible. The idea that “I am the body” is a great delusion and attachment to this idea is the cause of bondage. Forget the idea of attachment if you want to get to Self-realization.

The necessity of a Guru: The knowledge of the self is so subtle and mystical that no one could, by his own individual effort, ever hope to attain it. So the help of another person− the Teacher− who has himself attained self-realization, is absolutely necessary. What others cannot give with great labor and pains, can be easily gained with the help of such a Teacher; For he has walked on the path himself and can easily take the disciple, step by step, on the ladder of spiritual progress.

And lastly, the Lord’s Grace is the most essential thing. When the Lord is pleased with anybody, He gives him Viveka and Vairagya and takes him safely beyond the ocean of mundane existence. “The Self cannot be gained by the study of Vedas, nor by the intellect or by lots of learning. He, whom the Self chooses, by him It is gained. To him, the Self reveals Its nature”, says the Katha Upanishad.