Have you all seen this picture before… :))) A Diamond it is.
MananaM, the process of mental repetitions of the upadesha, is for the purpose of the mind to stay put instead of giving any scope for digression or distraction. It is this mananaM that is called ‘AvRtti’ in Brahma-sUtra. “The Vedas have repeatedly prescribed repeated memorisation”: – ‘asakRd upadeshAt’ (IV – 1.1.) How long should one do this memorisation? The Acharya [Sankara] replies with a sense of humour: If you are told to husk paddy, you should not be asking ‘how long should I husk it?’. You have to husk until you see the rice coming out. So also until the Atman comes out of the cloud of avidyA, you have to be in that same thought, same repetition, same dhyAnaM.
Let us all earnestly strive to pray like this. Shankara.
