Of Gita and focus.. Seeing a Black Cat in a Black Room
“A mathematician is a blind man in a dark room, looking for a black cat, which isn’t there — Charles Darwin”
An intriguing quote that I came across. About sensing the abstract and unseen.. In the realms of imagination.. Be it a poet, a scientist, an artist or a master chef..
In Hindi, there is a saying ‘Jo ravi nahi dikatha, vo kavi dekta hai’ -That which the Sun does not illumine and reveal, a wise one can see with inner eyes.
Bhagawadgita has a similar line — या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी. Common folks are lost and blinded by worldly matters, and perhaps blind to abstract ideas. And wise people are blind to worldly things, and awakened by the unseen. A day and night difference in perspectives.
Another verse in Gita Ch 13 that I later stumbled upon. It felt similar..
मयि च अनन्य-योगेन भक्तिः अव्यभिचारिणी ।
विविक्त-देश-सेवित्वम् अरतिः जन-संसदि ॥अध्यात्म-ज्ञान-नित्यत्वम् तत्त्व-ज्ञान-अर्थ-दर्शनम् ।
एतत् ज्ञानम् इति प्रोक्तम् अज्ञानम् यत् अतः अन्यथा ॥
In a serene space far off from crowd.. In the black room far away.. विविक्त-देश-सेवित्वम्.. अरतिः जन-संसदि.. Not identifying oneself with family-home-et al..
Blinded from distractions.. Constant contemplation.. Undivided thoughts..
अध्यात्म-ज्ञान-नित्यत्वम्.. अनन्य-योगेन भक्तिः अव्यभिचारिणी
Uncanny vision to see the first principles..Ability to see the Black Cat..
तत्त्व-ज्ञान-अर्थ-दर्शनम्
This is Knowledge my friend!
Lack of arrogance, pretense, violence
Forgiving, straight-forwardness, purity,, steadiness,
Detachment from senses, absence of ego,
Understanding of passing phases of birth-aging-death
This is said to be knowledge gyaanam.. everything else agyaanam. [13.8–13.9]अमानित्वम् अदम्भित्वम् अहिंसा क्षान्तिः आर्जवम् ।
आचार्य-उपासनम् शौचम् स्थैर्यम् आत्म-विनिग्रहः ॥इन्द्रिय-अर्थेषु वैराग्यम् अनहङ्कारः एव च ।
जन्म-मृत्यु-जरा-व्याधि-दुःख-दोष-अनुदर्शनम् ॥Knowing that children-family-and other things does not define a person..
Accepting all outcomes with equipoise..
Retiring in quiet place away from crowd..
Constantly attached in me with unwavering love..
Looking out for tattvas
Constantly self reflecting
This is said to be knowledge gyaanam.. everything else agyaanam. [13.10–12]असक्तिः अनभिष्वङ्गः पुत्र-दार-गृह-आदिषु ।
नित्यम् च सम-चित्तत्वम् इष्ट अनिष्ट-उपपत्तिषु ॥मयि च अनन्य-योगेन भक्तिः अव्यभिचारिणी ।
विविक्त-देश-सेवित्वम् अरतिः जन-संसदि ॥अध्यात्म-ज्ञान-नित्यत्वम् तत्त्व-ज्ञान-अर्थ-दर्शनम् ।
एतत् ज्ञानम् इति प्रोक्तम् अज्ञानम् यत् अतः अन्यथा ॥
