Vivekachudamani 341

दृश्यस्याग्रहणं कथं नु घटते देहात्मना तिष्ठतो 

बाह्यार्थानुभवप्रसक्तमनसस्तत्तत्क्रियां कुर्वतः । 

संन्यस्ताखिलधर्मकर्मविषयैर्नित्यात्मनिष्ठापरैः 

तत्त्वज्ञैः करणीयमात्मनि सदानन्देच्छुभिर्यत्नतः ॥ ३४१ ॥ 

dṛśyasyāgrahaṇaṃ kathaṃ nu ghaṭate dehātmanā tiṣṭhato 

bāhyārthānubhavaprasaktamanasastattatkriyāṃ kurvataḥ | saṃnyastākhiladharmakarmaviṣayairnityātmaniṣṭhāparaiḥ 

tattvajñaiḥ karaṇīyamātmani sadānandecchubhiryatnataḥ || 

(Sankaracarya's Vivekachudamani 341)

How is the non-apprehension of the perceptible world possible for one who remains identified with the physical body, whose mind is attached to the enjoyment of external-objects and who performs various acts for that end? This should be carefully practiced by the seers of truth, desirous of eternal bliss, who have renounced all kinds of duties, actions, and sense objects, and who are ever established in the eternal Self.

In order to attain total liberation, perception of the world of plurality has to cease. How can this be brought about? How the non-perception of the world of objects is possible under certain conditions, and how the same, under a different set of unfavorable conditions is rendered impossible, are discussed in this verse.

First Sankara discusses how man why it is not possible for many to gain this "STATE" of perfect "vision of oneness",

The state of not perceiving the delusory world of objects' emotions thoughts (drisya sya agrahanam) is not possible for an individual who has the idea 'I am the body'. Looking through the body, objects must be perceived. Where can they go? To a dreamer the dream is inescapable all along with his dream state: to the ego, the world of objects is inescapable as long as he has the idea: "The body is me"

The body, mind and intellect equipment cannot realize the Supreme Lord. To a person of body sense (deha atma bhava) how can there be the experience of "the paramatma in all" (Paramatma bhava). How can he gain the concept of the quality of the soul infinite reality? The nonapprehension (agrahanam) of all misapprehensions" cannot be, to an individual who is identified with and looking through the equipment. The state of objectless awareness cannot be experienced by an individual who is turned outward.

Not only is he identifies with his physical body, but his mind of constantly contemplating upon the sensuous objects of the world outside. It is always engaged in the unholy experience of the plurality of worldly objects. Therefore, his actions get ordered by his own sensuous thoughts.

An individual, who is thus constantly associated with his body and so fully engaged and preoccupied with his sensuous thoughts that his hands and legs constantly sweat to fulfill his endless desires and accomplish his impossible thoughts-how can he ever have the non-apprehension?