Guest guest Posted June 25, 2002 Report Share Posted June 25, 2002 ============================================================= This article has been sent to you by Ram Chandran ( rchandran ) ============================================================= Source: thThe Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/06/26/stories/2002062600260800.htm) Miscellaneous - Religion Liberation, goal of human birth CHENNAI JUNE 26 .. The objective of various spiritual exercises, which are described at length in the scriptural texts like the Upanishads, is realisation of the end of liberation from bondage. The Upanishads generally begin with an invocation for peace (Santi mantra), which the preceptor and the disciple must chant together. This prayer is meant to attune the mind to the goal and progress towards it gradually. Thus the crucial test of scriptural study is how much the student is benefited from it in life. The spiritual aspirant must be able to apply in practice what he has learnt. Just as a student is not satisfied when he learns that he has passed an examination from his father but wants to see the published result for himself, a spiritual aspirant when he undertakes scriptural study will be satisfied only when he is able to experience what is explained in the texts. In his discourse, Sri Goda Venketeswara Sastri said the goal of liberation from rebirths was meant for everyone who was privileged with a human birth. Ardent desire to realise this goal must be sustained till it is attained. Awareness about the purpose of human birth and developing spiritual inclination become the turning point in the life of an individual. Once the goal is clear, the spiritual seeker must follow the guidelines given in scriptural texts like the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. The Gita succinctly enumerates the virtues that must be cultivated: absence of pride and vanity, non-injury, patience, perseverance, service of the teacher, self-control, abhorrence of sensuality, reflection on the ephemeral nature of worldly life, detachment towards possessions and family, equanimity of mind, intense devotion to God, preference for solitude, steady pursuit of spiritual enquiry and strong aspiration for truth. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad dwells on such values in the section, Khila Kanda. Sankara in his commentary on this Upanishad elucidates the importance of the Santi mantra. The peace invocation is generally repeated thrice to indicate that the obstacles to peace of mind come in three forms due to physical discomforts like disease, due to natural forces and that which are accidental arising out of supernatural causes. Recitation of the Mantra thrice wards off all the three impediments to spiritual life. Ultimately peace can be realised as a result of such prayer with divine grace. Copyright: 1995 - 2002 The Hindu Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the consent of The Hindu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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