शिवज्ञानबोध (मेय्कण्डार - शैव सिद्धान्त का आधारभूत दार्शनिक सूत्र ग्रन्थ)

80 SIVAGNANA BOTHAM.
first step in spiritual progress is to distinguish itself and then
slowly to separate itself from Asat. But it should not be supposed
from the fact of the soul rising to its own plane from Asat that
it is a compound or an effect or Asat itself. The soul did exist
in Asat even previously though in a latent or unperceived condi-
tion and it rises out of Asat as the smell of the flower rises out
of the tree or plant in which it was not perceived before. Rising
to itself, the soul should not stop there, but must again learn to
distinguish itself from Sat and then try its best to lift itself into
the plane of Sat, with which also it was connected as the flower
and the plant. “ சீவனுக்குள்ளே சிவமணம் பூத்தது ” (In the
tree of Life (soul) the sweet blossom of Sivam blossoms out).
In the banda condition, the soul appeared only as Asat, and when
the banda is removed, freedom is obtained and it then appears not
itself but as Sivam. So in neither condition, its own nature is
subordinated to the one to which it is connected for the time being,
and apart from either, it cannot find a resting place and it lives
therefore in both.
Though at all times all the three existed together, yet at
one time, Soul and Sat were non-apparent and Asat alone appa-
rent like the tree before blossoming; and at another time, Asat
disappears. and the soul is enveloped in Sivam and tne bright
ness and sweetness of the flower alone shines out.
cf. ‘Thirumanthiram.’
“ அனாதி சிவரூபமாகிய ஆன்மா
தனதிமலத்தாற் றடைப்பட்டு நின்றது
தனதிமலமும் தடையற்றபோதே
யனாதிசிவ ரூபமாகிய வாறே.”
(The soul which in its real condition is of the form of
Sivam is confined and conditioned by its connection with Malam;
when this bantham therefore ceases, it assumes the form of Sivam).