Article sent from The Hindu on indiaserver.com

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Hari Om:

 

This is an excellent article describing the qualification requirement for a

seeker. This article is posted by Hindu to celebrate the Jayanthi of Sri

Abhinava Vidyatheertha

Mahaswamigal, 35th head of Sringeri Sarada Peetam. Eminent Scholars from India

and abroad paid tribute to Mahaswamigal, a great advaitin. On behalf of the

list, I want to thank The Hindu for its fine tribute to Swamigal.

 

Ram Chandran

 

 

 

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This article is emailed to you by Ram Chandran ( rchandran )

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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Spiritual aspirant's major requisites

 

CHENNAI, NOV. 1. To know the real nature of God, a spiritual

enquiry has to be undertaken by the students of philosophy.

Scriptural texts refer to four essential requisites for every

aspirant, even if he had earlier memorised the Vedic directives.

If he lacks these four-fold spiritual means, he may not get the

direct experience of the Truth - who God is and what are His

chief characteristics. Without the knowledge of the four steps

and in spite of the possession of scholarliness in the Vedas, he

may remain trapped in the cycle of transmigratory assistance. But

one who digests the details of the four paths (Sadhana

Chatustayam) can realise the Supreme Being easily.

 

The first requirement is discrimination (Vivekam). An aspirant

should be able to differentiate between the eternal and the

transient, when he can withdraw his mind from this world. People

are found to seek fleeting pleasures though they are aware that

these enjoyments are not ever lasting.

 

The second is the development of dispassion (Vairagya) and this

naturally arises from discrimination. A person may display his

disinterest in worldly affairs but it may fade away after a

while. It is only steady dispassion born out of discrimination

that will conduce to the realisation of the Supreme Being. Hence

this quality should be cultivated till he finds all worldly and

heavenly objects of enjoyment, inclusive of his body to be as

unappealing as the droppings of a crow. The third constituent is

a hexad of traits viz. mind control, turning away of senses from

the respective objects, self-withdrawal (from bondage fostering

activities), forbearance, faith in the scriptures and his master

(Guru) and lastly, the steady establishment of the intellect on

God.

 

The fourth major requisite is the yearning for liberation. When

the hearing of scriptural texts leads to discrimination and then

to dispassion, a person will give up preoccupation with worldly

matters and approach an enlightened guide for earnest enquiry.

His mind will become focussed and flooded by the teacher's grace,

he will long for nothing but liberation. Being pre-eminently

qualified, he will quickly attain direct experience of the Truth

and become liberated, even while alive. These aspects of man's

spiritual needs were recalled on the occasion of the Jayanthi of

Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal, 35th head of Sringeri

Sarada Peetam, by eminent scholars, who also referred to the

Acharya's advice that desire, anger and greed (as told by

Krishna) are the triple gates of hell. It is not necessary to ask

the Acharya for everything. If his glance falls on those who seek

his guidance, it is sufficient and good results will follow.

 

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