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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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