This is symbolic of the ब्रह्म ग्रन्थि (Brahma granthi), which is encountered in the suShumNA. Recall that in another post on Brahmopadesham it was explained that the यज्ञोपवीत yajnopavIta (aka pooNal or janeyu) is representative of the three nADIs: iDA, pinGala and suShumNA, and the knot or granthi of brahma holds the jIva in embodiment until jnAna is attained by breaking it.
This knot is extremely small and tight, and is like the eye of the needle. It is also called the bindu. In meditation, this is the last frontier that has to be passed through to abide as the Self. It is extremely small, tiny and tight and causes great internal pain until it is entered. The pain is on account of the size of the ego, that must be diminished before it can see the Self.
The eye of the needle is a concept that appears in the Bible.
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:24) also Mark 10:25, Luke 18:25
[according to the website biblicalhebrew.com]
"... there is a gate in Jerusalem called the eye of the needle through which a camel could not pass unless it stooped and first had all its baggage first removed. After dark, when the main gates were shut, travellers or merchants would have to use this smaller gate, through which the camel could only enter unencumbered and crawling on its knees!"
This is such a beautiful metaphor for the ego having to shed everything before knowing the Self. The point of after dark is also extremely significant. At night, the ego subsides and the jIva rests in Brahman but is unaware of it. That is the meaning of the smaller gate.
The word camel is used but one might equally say, the whole universe. Because the ego is nothing but the entire universe. So making it pass through the eye of the needle is undoubtedly hard.
Sometimes, after emerging from samAdhi it feels like one is talking to one self through all conversations and writings.
The easiest way to pass through the eye of the needle or to cut the ब्रह्म ग्रन्थि (Brahma granthi) is by curbing the rise of rajas, which is the beginning of thought.
The constriction of this knot is directly experienced in meditation.
Just as some drain cleaners that are made of plastic or metal have serrated edges to entangle the debris in a drain, so too the guNas entangle Purusha through world experience. Only by withdrawing those serrations by curbing rajas can the jIva skilfully pass in and out of bodily existence.
Abide as the Self or do all actions as an offering to God. There is no other way.
Initially the mind is concerned with literally finding a gate in Jerusalem that is too small for a camel to pass through!
A subtle mind is needed to understand the import of scripture in any religion! Minds that seek literal interpretations must toil through many births. SrI Adi ShankarAcArya says the ideal aspirant should be a मेधावि (highly learned, intelligent). This does not mean book-learned, but possessed of native intelligence.
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