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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

Prerequisites of spiritual life

 

CHENNAI, AUG. 29. When an individual is unaware of the Self

(Atman) which is present always, wrong notions arise about

himself as he identities with his body-mind-intellect

personality. The three basic conclusions drawn as a result of

this confusion are: ``I am mortal'', ``I am ignorant'', and ``I

am limited''. These assumptions will not matter if the person is

happy with his lot, but it is obvious that no one is content in

life. Thus there is something fundamentally wrong with this self-

identity. There is the vision of the Vedas regarding the Self -

that it is the witness of the body-mind-intellect personality.

So, the question arises: how do we realise this Vedic vision?

 

It is obvious that the body which is an aggregate of the elements

cannot be the Self which is described in the scriptures as

existence, consciousness, bliss and infinite. When one is rooted

in this consciousness, liberation is possible ``here'' and

``now''; it is not a future event but is a present fact of

experience. As the Vedic teaching appears contradictory to one's

notion of oneself the gap has to be bridged by proper means -

through scriptural study under a competent preceptor. This

involves three stages - listening to the exposition of the texts,

reflecting on the teachings for dispelling doubts that may linger

and contemplation which leads to the experience of the Self.

 

In her discourse on the Ashtavakra Gita, Swamini Shraddhanand

Saraswati said before undertaking scriptural study the mind of

the aspirant must be suitably prepared because even if the

teacher was competent, the disciple must be able to grasp Self-

knowledge. The scriptures themselves describe the preparatory

steps. Of primary importance is developing the discriminative

capacity to differentiate between that which is eternal and the

transient in the world. If one analyses it becomes apparent that

anything which involves action is time-bound, which is true of

everything in the world and only the seeker (I) does not fall in

this category. It becomes obvious that it is knowledge of the

Self (I) which is to be sought.

 

Next is developing detachment towards that which are temporary in

life. This must be consequent to developing the quality of

discrimination; otherwise detachment will result because of

frustration in life and not out of conviction. Qualities that are

essential include control of the senses, mastery over the mind,

non-possessiveness, endurance and objectivity in all life

situations. Above all, the seeker must have total conviction in

the scriptures and the preceptor, and commitment to the goal of

liberation till it is realised.

 

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