Gaudapada Smiles at the Fragmented Pixels of Reality

The burning ember is one. Why do we see a thousand fires?

Gaudapada Smiles at the Fragmented Pixels of Reality — Image by Author.

At the heart of the Mandukya Karika, the ancient work of the Indian philosopher Gaudapada that explores the depths of Advaita Vedanta, we find an enigmatic yet revelatory verse:

“Just as the smouldering of a Fire-brand might appear as even or interrupted, and so on, the Vibration of Consciousness appears as if divided between perception itself and Who perceives.” 

(Mandukya-Karika 4.4)

Gaudapada

This verse belongs to the chapter called Alatashanti Prakarana — “The Quenching of a Firebrand” — where Gaudapada employs a powerful metaphor to unveil the illusory nature of the phenomenal reality that surrounds us.

Imagine a glowing ember, its tongues of fire dancing and flickering in the night darkness. Now, twirl it rapidly, tracing wide circles with its incandescent coals. What do you see? A fiery halo that seems to take on a life of its own, encircling the blackness with hypnotic whorls of light. 

Yet, as you well know, that wheel of fire is not real — it is merely an optical illusion created by the movement of the ember itself.

Maya

This is the metaphor of the “Quenching of the Firebrand” that Gaudapada uses to reveal to us the nature of maya, the cosmic illusion that makes us believe in the phenomenal world of forms, colours, and sounds. 

Just as those circles of fire are but fleeting appearances, so too is the cosmos we perceive is but a mirage born of ignorance of our true essence.

According to Gaudapada, the ultimate and immutable reality is Brahman — the pure, eternal, formless, and non-dual consciousness. It is only due to the illusion of maya that this singularity seems to fragment into a kaleidoscope of separate and transient existences.

However, despite the apparent diversity of the phenomenal world, Gaudapada asserts that there throbs a delicate tremor, a “Spandita” — the primaeval vibration that imbues all existence with dynamic vivacity. 

Ineffable source of motion

What Gaudapada refers to as “Spanda” is this subtle, ever-present stirring — the intrinsic, kinetic energy that pervades consciousness in its essential state. It is the ineffable source of motion, the primal pulse that animates the cosmos, rendering the static world of forms a ceaseless flow of becoming.

A metaphysical principle, Spanda represents the infinite potentialities enclosed within Brahman before Spandita manifests them as distinct forms and phenomena.

It is here that the theories of quantum physics seem to resonate with Gaudapada’s vision. Just as subatomic particles can exist in multiple states of superposition until the moment of observation, so too Spanda contains all possibilities within itself before Spandita expresses them into a defined reality. The very fabric of existence seems to be an interconnected weave of vibrant consciousness.

Unity

In his verse, Gaudapada observes that even the “Vibration of Consciousness” called Spanda, appears divided between perception itself and the one who perceives — an illusion that distorts the underlying unity of the real. 

Yet, realizing that this distinction is but an appearance, just as the circles of fire from the burning brand are, is the key to the “quenching” of ignorance and the delusion of maya.

When we deeply understand that all we see is but a reflection of the unperturbed flame of pure consciousness, the illusion of subject-object duality dissolves. Just as the ember remains intact and unchanged despite the mutable forms it generates, so too the individual Atman, the Self, is eternally one with the cosmic Brahman, unperturbed beyond the flow of phenomenal existence.

Ignorance

This is the crux of Gaudapada’s teaching: when the fire of ignorance is extinguished, the distinction between subject and object vanishes, and what remains is pure awareness beyond all duality. It is the realization of non-duality, the relinquishment of all illusion of separateness.

Gaudapada’s invitation is to embrace this liberating wisdom of Advaita Vedanta. To quench the burning fire of illusory desires and deluded senses, letting go of attachments to transient forms and phenomena. Only then can the soul find supreme peace, merging into the boundless ocean of pure awareness, beyond all appearance of multiplicity.

Just as that burning ember, despite the hypnotic dance of its flames, remains steadfast and unchanged in its inmost core, so too must we human beings rediscover our unperturbed nature as sparks of the divine cosmic consciousness. It is a call to extinguish the glowing embers of false identity and endless craving, to embrace the infinite freedom of the realized spirit.

Quantum Physics

In the context of quantum physics, reality emerges as an intricate interweaving of possibilities, where subatomic particles are not confined to singular, definite states. These particles exist in a sort of quantum limbo, simultaneously embracing a multitude of potential states. This phenomenon persists until the crucial moment of observation when the particle ‘chooses’ a specific state to realize, a process known as the ‘collapse of the wave function’.

This quantum view finds a surprising parallel in the concept of Spanda proposed by Gaudapada, where the universe is seen as a vibrant field of consciousness containing the potential for all possible forms and manifestations. As stated, before the Spandita manifests, there is Spanda — an ocean of infinite possibilities, awaiting expression through the dance of creation.

And…so?

In the end, Gaudapada’s teachings and the resonances with quantum physics invite us to transcend the limited perceptions of our senses and awaken to the underlying unity that pervades all existence. 

By extinguishing the flames of ignorance and attachment to fleeting phenomena, we can rediscover our true nature as sparks of the eternal, non-dual consciousness that is Brahman. 

This profound realization liberates us from the illusion of separateness, allowing us to experience the infinite freedom and peace that arises from recognizing our interconnectedness with the vibrant, ever-unfolding dance of creation. Gaudapada’s wisdom, though rooted in ancient traditions, offers a timeless and revolutionary perspective that can guide us toward a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the cosmic tapestry of reality. 

Smile

As we embrace this profound vision, we too can smile at the fragmented pixels of perceived existence, knowing that beneath the play of appearances lies the unchanging, indivisible essence of pure consciousness.

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