Contemplation can be understood in two distinct forms: one through intellectual analysis and the other through deeper, contemplative understanding.
A muni, who embodies purity and knowledge, delves into the intellectual realm using intuition on the ātmā (soul) platform. The muni strives to comprehend Lord (the Supreme Being) at the ātmā level, where Lord Himself illuminates the seeker with divine understanding. Through meditation, the muni seeks to grasp the infinitude of Lord, and Lord reveals His infinite nature directly to the seeker.
In faiths like Christianity and Islam, revelation holds significant importance. Followers of these traditions emphasize the use of intelligence, intuition, and realization to comprehend the divine.
However, a profound distinction exists between understanding Bhagavān through the intellect and through the ātmā. The contemplative approach at the ātmā level provides a deeper, more unified understanding, while intellectual understanding often leads to contradictions and fragmentation.
Kṛṣṇa clarifies this difference in the Bhagavad Gītā, stating:
“sāṅkhya-yoga-upr̥thag-bālāḥ pravadanti na paṇḍitāḥ”
(“Those who claim that sāṅkhya (philosophical knowledge) and yoga (spiritual practice) are distinct are fools, not wise.”)
Both the muni and the yogī ultimately connect with Lord at the ātmā platform. While the muni realizes Lord through contemplative understanding, the yogī seeks to unite with Him through spiritual discipline. Neither operates solely at the level of intellect; instead, they transcend to the level of intuition and realization.
Bhakti and the Ātmā Platform
In the path of bhakti (devotion), knowledge operates beyond the intellectual plane. Bhakti is centered on contemplative understanding, bypassing the mind, intelligence, and false ego. Unlike jñānīs (philosophers) who engage in intellectual reasoning, devotees seek to experience Lord through the ātmā platform, immersing themselves in His rasa (divine essence) and pastimes.
Differentiating Ātmā-Level Understanding from Intellectual Understanding
How can one discern whether their understanding arises from the ātmā or the mind? At the intellectual level, reasoning and logic dominate, resulting in limited anubhav (realization). In contrast, at the ātmā level, one transcends logic, immerses in divine rasa, and enters the pastimes of Lord. Intellectual understanding enables comprehension of philosophy but cannot bridge the seeker to rasa or the intimate pastimes of Lord.
Conclusion
True understanding of Lord is not confined to intellectual pursuits but blossoms at the ātmā platform through contemplative realization. While the intellect provides tools for analysis and philosophy, it cannot access the depths of divine rasa and the infinite nature of Bhagavān. Only through intuition, devotion, and the grace of Lord can one transcend the mind and intellect to experience the divine fully. This contemplative understanding is the essence of spiritual realization, guiding the seeker to merge into the eternal truth and infinite bliss of Lord’s pastimes.