Sant Dnyaneshwar (1274-1296 A.D), also known as Jnanadeva, is the author of the Jnaneshwari, a Marathi commentary on the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. This is a collection of quotes and teachings of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj.
Wisdom is that, by which all troublesome activities melt away.
He, who does not jump in the floods, need not be afraid of being drowned. He, who observes rules of health, will remain healthy. Similarly he, who on all occasions of activity and non-activity will not entertain the sense of "I" (Ahankar), need have no fear in this world. Thus when the sense of unity has dawned and when everybody else appears as part of self, how can the feeling of fear arise?
When salt is put in the water, it becomes water. So with unity, there remains no animosity.
The true mark, therefore, of purity of intelligence is, that the mind is directed towards the true form (of Self) and the intelligence has no other purpose except this.
Like the tree which gives the leaves, the flowers, the shade, the fruits and the roots without distinction; give to the needy with a cheerful heart. This is true charity.
The distinction between liberated, aspirant and bound
subsists only so long as this Elixir of Experience is unknown to one. The
enjoyer and the enjoyed, the seer and the seen, are merged in the non-dual,
which is indivisible. The devotee has become God, the Goal has become God, the
Goal has become the path; this indeed is solitude in the universe.
Thou art the doer and Thou art the experiencer.
Senses according to their nature, may run towards objects
which satisfy them, but almost simultaneously there is the realization that the
experience is not different from what he (the Self-realized person) himself is
– just as when the sight meets the mirror, almost simultaneously there is the
realization that the image therein is not different from the face.
The words that could describe the noumenal state have not
been created, nor is the sight born which could perceive that state… That state
is not such that it could be within the grasp of thought and words.
Those who try to cross Maya or illusion on the strength of their intellect get lost,
Those who try to cross using knowledge are swallowed by pride,
Those who take the help of the books are consumed by ego and arrogance,
Those who perform ritualistic actions get caught in issues of right or wrong,
Those who use youthful strength get consumed by lust,
Those who perform external yajnas are caught in the web of desire and ambition.
The ideal path to cross over Maya or illusion is of spiritual devotion. Alertness is required to avoid the pitfalls of ego and desire.
Sant Dnyaneshwar Thoughts on Ultimate Reality
If there is a pot, a pot is perceived,
And if the pot is broken, its brokenness is perceived;
If there is no pot at all,
Is not its absence perceived as well?
It can be seen, therefore,
That he who perceives that there is nothing
Does not himself become nothing.
The Self has this same unique kind of existence,
Beyond both existence and non-existence.
The ultimate Reality
Is neither an object to Itself
Nor is It an object to anyone else.
Should it then be regarded as non-existent?
In a tank the water may be so clear
That it appears non-existent;
Though one who looks into the tank may not see it,
Still it is there.
Similarly,
The ultimate Reality exists in Itself,
And is beyond the conceptions
Of existence or non-existence.
When a jar is placed on the ground,
We have the ground with a jar;
When the jar is taken away,
We have the ground without a jar;
But when neither of these conditions exists,
The ground exists in its unqualified state.
It is in this same way
That the ultimate Reality exists.
And if the pot is broken, its brokenness is perceived;
If there is no pot at all,
Is not its absence perceived as well?
It can be seen, therefore,
That he who perceives that there is nothing
Does not himself become nothing.
The Self has this same unique kind of existence,
Beyond both existence and non-existence.
The ultimate Reality
Is neither an object to Itself
Nor is It an object to anyone else.
Should it then be regarded as non-existent?
In a tank the water may be so clear
That it appears non-existent;
Though one who looks into the tank may not see it,
Still it is there.
Similarly,
The ultimate Reality exists in Itself,
And is beyond the conceptions
Of existence or non-existence.
When a jar is placed on the ground,
We have the ground with a jar;
When the jar is taken away,
We have the ground without a jar;
But when neither of these conditions exists,
The ground exists in its unqualified state.
It is in this same way
That the ultimate Reality exists.
(Source: Jnaneshvar: The Life and Works of the Celebrated
Thirteenth Century Indian Mystic-Poet by Swami Abhayananda.)
Sant Dnyaneshwar Thoughts on the ways of an Ignorant Person
Understand that what is not Knowledge automatically becomes ignorance. I shall tell you some of its main signs. An ignorant person lives for status. He eagerly awaits honor and is pleased by felicitations.
He who is stiff with pride and does not bend should be considered as the abode of ignorance.
He brags about his religious actions and makes a big noise about his learning.
He makes public announcements of his good deeds and all his actions are for getting prominence and greatness.
He deceives his followers by external appearances by applying ash, sandal-paste etc. to the body. Understand that such a person is a mine of ignorance.
Sant Dnyaneshwar on the Vision of the Self
When the tree of unreality has been cut down, one is able to see one’s Self, one’s own form. This is, however, not to be compared to the seeing of the reflection in a mirror; for the reflection in a mirror is simply the other of the seeing man.
The vision of the individual Self is as a Spring which may exist in its own fullness even when it does not come up into a well. When water dries up, the image in it goes back to its prototype; when the pitcher is broken, space mixes with space; when fuel is burnt, fire returns into itself; in a similar way, is the vision of the Self by the Self.
This is the Ultimate Being which exists in itself, after reaching which, there is no return.