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

 

Attributes a spiritual aspirant must develop

 

CHENNAI, SEPT. 3. The ``power of positive thinking'' is an oft-

quoted cliche in modern parlance but it is one of the basic

attributes that a spiritual seeker must develop according to the

scriptural texts. A verse in the opening chapter of the

Ashtavakra Gita says that he who considers himself free becomes

free and he who thinks he is bound remains bound. This goes to

establish the proverbial saying, ``As one thinks, so one

becomes.'' The mind is the instrument for receiving Self-

knowledge. Due to ignorance it identifies with the body which is

transient. One who wants to abide in the Self (Atman) has to get

over this mistaken identification by rooting out everything that

falls in the category of the non-Self. By constantly identifying

with the Self the seeker manifests his spiritual nature.

 

The virtues that a person who aspires for liberation must

cultivate are: rejecting the objects of the senses as the joy

they are capable of giving is temporary, seeking forgiveness,

straightforwardness, kindness, cheerfulness, contentment and

fidelity to truth. The Bhagavad Gita adds to these qualities like

freedom from self-importance, unpretentiousness, non-violence,

patience, service to the teacher, cleanliness, steadfastness,

self-control, abhorrence of sensuality, self- effacement,

realisation of misery in birth, death, old age and sickness,

detachment from one's kith and kin and also from one's

belongings, evenness of mind in favourable and unfavourable

situations.

 

In her discourse on the Ashtavakra Gita, Swamini Shraddhanand

Saraswati said developing discrimination between the real and the

ephemeral was fundamental to spiritual evolution. It may be

difficult in the beginning to understand that what we perceive in

the world are not ultimately real but it is essential to develop

this insight. This can be understood with the analogy of sunrise

and sunset. Though we see the Sun rising and setting everyday,

scientifically it is a proven fact that it is only a phenomenon

caused by the rotation of the Earth on its axis. Likewise, it is

important to accept the scriptural declaration that the Self

alone is eternal and the world of phenomenon transitory in

nature.The Ashtavakra Gita is in the form of a dialogue between

King Janaka and Sage Ashtavakra whose name appears in the

Mahabharata as the son of Sage Kahor. Ashtavakra had the good

fortune of mastering the scriptures even before he was born and

Janaka was also not an ordinary disciple. His wisdom and sense of

detachment are legendary. The king exclaimed in wonder how he had

failed to see the truth of existence till then.

 

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