Atma Vidya is simple

So simple this knowledge of Atman ! Bhagavan Sri Ramana sings a song to this effect. It is called 'appalap paattu' or 'pappad song'. While kneading flour for pappad some song will be used as sing-along', a melody to relieve tediousness. But Maharishi composed a song for the regular chores which teaches the Atma-vidya also along with singing. The song runs like this - 

Hey it is easy this art
Atma vidya is very easy.
This muscles packed body
'this is me' to think so indeed
is just many thoughts tied to form
and if you go deep
to see what is 'I seat'
thoughts will go vanish
and that which is ringing
'I' 'I' in the heart's cave
by itself in itself
that is wisdom of atman
that is all silent
that is one space
and that is real bliss
(trn mine) 

And there have been many who sang Vedanta in simple melodies, in the common people's terms. Avudaiyakka is one such sage who has composed simple songs. And there have been sages who have taught people this greatest wisdom, Atma-Vidya in very many ways. Each way is beautiful and effective. But howsoever you express it the singular wisdom is inexhaustible. Is it not?
And the way Tiripura Rahasya teaches the same Atma-Vidya is another beauty in its own way. Sages are really artists of Atma-Vidya, so to say! Parasurama is in search of wisdom of Atman. He happens to meet Samvartha, another sage. Samvartha teaches him. 

'It is better to ask regarding the basic reality of our ego, this Atman not where is it? but better still is to ask where is it not?. Before anything appears to you in meaning in reality, this has gone before into that reality and happens in priority in understanding. The core cognition basic to all cognitions about things is this Atman. It is wrong to take this body as one's self. Because the self is always the knower and remains strictly that. Body is always that which is perceived and remains an object of knowledge. It is basically an outright delusion to mistake that which is known and can always remain as a thing known only as the very knower, which it can never become. And the aspirant should give up imagining and believing himself as this body, which is always something known. And that aspirant should wake up to his reality of being a knower always and remain so by practice. What is the indication that that aspirant has become established in this right wisdom of Atman? It is this: dispassion towards worldliness will be very natural in him. That aspirant will never consider any worldly object as of any value, the worldly ways will be having no interest to that person, that person will be so devoid of any attraction towards Samsara, the worldly contexts. This is the good way. And a person who has come to stand firm in this good way will attain the highest bliss. No doubt in this." 

But the beauty of the narration is yet to come. Parasuram did not understand the teaching fully and in full import - so says the narration. How ably it has impressed on our minds the mysterious nature of this wisdom! It is an open secret. It is an easy tough concept to understand. Great sages may fail to understand. Some simple persons may happen to catch it strong. Also there is another mystery. What you don't understand when told by one person, you may understand the very same thing when told by another one! Perhaps that person is decided to be your master to teach you or bring home to you.
Srirangam Mohanarangan
***