Tattva Bodha - Lesson # 5

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TATTVA BODHA ( LESSON # 5 )

 

of Bhagwan Sri Adi Sankaracharya

 

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In the last lesson we went into the first aspect of Sadhana Chatushtaya

Sampatti, namely Viveka. In this lesson we will go into the second

pre-requisite Vairagya. The definition of vairagya was earlier given by the

teacher in a very brief way, were he had said that vairagya is 'Dispassion

to the enjoyments of the fruits of one's actions, here or hereafter.' The

student now requests the student to shed more light on this word.

 

Q. What is dispassion ?

 

A. It is absence of desire for the enjoyment of pleasures of this

perceptible world or even of some future state of experience hereafter.

 

Dispassion is a very important and also a very beautiful quality. Strangely

enough it is only with dispassion that you can perceive the beauty & also

the truth of something. A person who doesn’t have passion for some pleasures

does not mean that the fellow doesn’t have a passion for anything. He is

passionately in love with the truth of life. Anyone who doesn’t hanker after

the pleasures got out of some extraneous conditions has some understanding

because of which this outlook has been brought about. The perceptions of

that individual include :

 

1.. The awareness that all extraneous pleasures are momentary.

2.. The input-output ratio of energy & the end result is extremely high

and therefore the proposition is not worthwhile.

3.. All self-centered activities result in making the mind more gross &

inert.

4.. With detachment there is possibility of love in relationships rather

than dependence.

5.. There is greater appreciation of beauty and truth of something

because of detachment.

6.. Detachment brings in freedom & fearlessness.

7.. Detachment brings anand.

8.. Dependence on extraneous pleasures amounts to affirming our sense of

limitation.

9.. Discrimination of Permanent & Impermanent automatically results in

changed perceptions regarding that which is impermanent.

10.. That which is permanent should be something which is already

available and therefore something to be known and not to be got through by

any action.

Whoever sees the above facts will be blessed with vairagyam. An important

requisite for the student & aspirant for the knowledge of Truth.

 

To be contd ….

 

Love & om,

 

Swami Atmananda