Guest guest Posted July 8, 2001 Report Share Posted July 8, 2001 Namaste: Poojya Swami Atmanandaji, the founder of Vedanta Mission studied under the guidance of Swami Chinmayanandaji and he is a great Vedantin.Let me take this opportunity to thank Swamiji for granting permission to post this excellent article on Sreyas & Preyas. Swamiji explains basic concepts and terms of Advaita Philosophy in very clear terms. (Source: http://www.vmission.org/vedanta/articles/index.htm) warmest regards, Ram Chandran Sreyas & Preyas by Pujya Swami Atmanandaji ……… Kathopanishad says that every person will always get the option of treading the path of that which is right & good – the Sreyas, or succumb to the path of immediate pleasure – the Preyas. Those who choose the path of Sreyas will make the best of their lives, while those to succumb to the latter will have to pay the price destined for the deluded ones. ……… To say that everything is predestined is to over simplify the matters of life, and that also wrongly. We have to realize the nature of our freedom, and the options which are available to us in every situation. Whatever situation is got in the present moment is certainly the result of all past actions put together, and to that extent we can certainly say that this present moment was destined to come, but that does not mean that everything has already been written by someone else sitting somewhere. Our real freedom is in the nature of response we give. We have the freedom to respond, not to respond, respond in the old way or try something new. It is this basic freedom about which awareness should be brought about, and about which appropriate preparations should be made. ……… While responding to a situation there are various parameters in operation. What is the ‘real' goal for which we are working, and, what is the state of mind with which we are disposed – are two very important aspects which play a very very profound role to chalk out the nature of things to come. The term ‘real' goal implies existence of an understanding that even though we appear to be planning & working for different things we do have some ultimate goal for which we are working. Lot of thought needs to be put for this, because our whole life & efforts are guided by our goals. Understanding of the real goal requires a great deal of understanding, and that is when the necessity of philosophy is realised. To that extent every one has to become a philosopher. Philosophy is not luxury of few, it is a necessity for one & all. It stands for deep understanding of life in a very holistic & thorough way. This understanding encompasses fundamental questions about : Who am I ? What is this world ? How has it come about ? What is the real problem of man – bondage ? What is the way to be free from it – the liberation ? How is this world run ? How do situations come ? What is really in the hands of a man ? What is the uniqueness or potential of man ? Each of these questions directly effect our lives very profoundly, and therefore should be gone into with due seriousness. Conscious or unconscious all our perceptions and understanding effect us very profoundly. Those who are conscious of them have to freedom to change them – because they are basically their own understanding, and those who are not conscious of these self-created power-points theykeep on dancing to their tunes and suffer - helplessly. Our understanding of life in fact draws a circle in which we keep living for all times to come, till ofcourse we change the diameter of that circle or even remove these self-imposed boundaries all together. We have the freedom to do all this, and that is what the compendium of the knowledge of life - the Vedanta,is all about. ……… The moment we fix an extraneous goal for our self, then that very moment we accept various fundamental facts of life. When we think that our fulfillment lies in some object or achievement yonder then we in effect say that ‘I am basically a lacking being' and ‘I have to do something to be fulfilled'. All these presumptions are completely baseless and do not stand any enquiry. The fact is that – ‘that' which constantly manifests as ‘I' in our bosoms is an infinite, transcendental, self-effulgent & blissful existence, and the ‘means of knowledge' of this is deep enquiry & contemplation of the basis of Vedanta. Sravana, Manana & Niddhidhyasana of Vedantic scriptures is the Pramana of the knowledge of Truth of life. Vedanta not only reveals truth about us but also about the whole perceptible world. Everything thing which is perceptible is in the realm of time, and is therefore changing & ephemeral. This is an extremely evident fact and really speaking requires no logical validation. Thus when we keep an extraneous goal then we simultaneously affirm our presumptions that I am a limited & lacking person and the world outside is permanent and capable of giving me that which I lack. When our life will be based on these untruths then how can we ever expect to awake to a state of cherished fulfillment & contentment. ……… The ideal way to live has to be one which is based on the facts of life. The fact is that I am fulfilled and the world has nothing to offer to me. Action is only meant to help us serve & give. This alone should be our fundamental motivation – lovingly serve everyone, selflessly, no expectations even of gratitude. Our service should be as natural & effortless as is the fragrance of a flower. There should be no doership involved. This is what the path of Sreyas is all about. Let any situation come, never let a sense of lack, craving or dependence enter your mind. Even if you do not know these facts directly then also it is worth believing. Holding your head high, with a loving heart, and an enthusiastic disposition work on selflessly, for the good of all around. Love is a strange thing : it increases only on giving. The path of Preyas, on the other hand is one of delusion & untruths. We can certainly get an object of our enjoyment and seem to get fulfilled, but soon enough the life itself will start revealing that there has been a fundamental error somewhere. Lord Krishna says in Bhagwad Gita that ‘Know that to be rajasic joy where there is pleasure in the beginning and lots of pains thereafter'. It is like a diabetic eating sweets. It will be pleasurable no doubt, but the negative consequences will soon follow. To tread the path of Sreyas is to remain awake all the time, then alone one will never stumble & get hurt. So let us exercise our freedom and tread a path which may appear slightly painful in the beginning but ultimately which alone is the way to real fulfillment. . .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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