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Source: thThe Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/07/27/stories/2002072700980800.htm)

 

Miscellaneous

-

Religion

  

 

Path that leads to immortality

 

 

 

 

CHENNIA

JULY 27.

 

Fulfilment is possible in life for the individual who chooses the path of good

by using his discrimination. The Upanishads address man as "the child of

immortality" and Adi Sankara notes that these scriptural texts are more

compassionate than a thousand mothers as they show him the path that will make

him immortal. Every person at some time or the other in his life arrives at a

crossroads when it becomes inevitable for him to make a choice. He can continue

to wallow in the pleasures and pains of worldly life, which does not require any

effort on his part or choose the spiritual path, which requires constant

diligence and effort to progress.

 

The Katha Upanishad explains this choice before man through the life of

Nachiketas who went to the abode of the god of Death when he was just a child to

redeem his father's word. As he was made to wait at Yama's door for three nights

he was granted three boons. He was insistent that he wanted to know only the

ultimate truth from the god and turned down his offer of riches and pleasures of

the world and heaven. Pleased with his sincerity the god taught him the truth.

In his teaching life is symbolically represented as a journey for which human

beings are equipped with the body-mind-intellect, which must be utilised

properly.

 

The analogy of a chariot is used to explain the significance of the human

personality in its progress towards the spiritual goal in life. The Upanishad

says, "Know the Self (Atman) as the lord of the chariot and the body as verily

the chariot; know the intellect as the charioteer and the mind as the reins. The

senses are the horses and the sense objects the tracts before them. The Self as

associated with the body, the senses and the mind, is the enjoyer, so say the

wise. Whoever becomes devoid of knowledge because of mind ever unyoked, for him

the senses are uncontrollable, as wild horses are for a charioteer. But whoever

becomes endowed with knowledge because of mind ever yoked, for him the senses

are controllable, as trained horses are for a charioteer."

 

In his discourse, Swami Bodhamayananda said fulfilment was possible in human

life only when the spiritual goal was realised. According to the scriptures any

human pursuit (in the arts and the sciences) must ultimately proceed towards the

spiritual goal. The achievements at the temporal level must not be allowed to

dissipate and instead focussed to progress further. Only an awakened intellect

can transcend its limits to grasp the eternal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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