THE GOAL OF VEDANTA

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SIVANANDA DAILY READING FOR 10 OCTOBER

THE GOAL OF VEDANTA

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The goal or aim of life is self­realisation which confers

immortality, highest bliss, knowledge and supreme peace. Fixing the

mind on the source or inner self and getting it absorbed there is the

highest yajna (worship), the highest charity, the highest karma

(action), the highest bhakti (devotion), the highest yoga or

knowledge. Now the little self­arrogating 'I' vanishes. Just

as the river joins the ocean, the little self becomes one with the

ocean of bliss. With the disappearance of the little illusory 'I'

comes the disappearance of 'you', 'he', 'this', 'that', time, space

and causation, 'mine' and thine', the pairs of opposites, the ideas

of jiva (soul), Isvara (God), prakrti (nature), etc. The whole world

presents itself as atman. This grand vision this magnanimous samadhi

(superconsciousness) is atma­darsan (vision of the ultimate

reality), which is beyond description. Many have attained this

vision ­why not you also? Apply diligently right now in its

achievement.

 

There is something dearer than wealth; there is something dearer than

wife or son; there is something dearer than your life itself. That

dearer something is thy own self (atman), inner ruler (antaryamin),

immortal (amrtam). He who dwells in this eye, who is within this eye,

whose body this eye is, whom the eye does not know, who rules the eye

from within, is thy self, inner ruler, immortal.

 

The vedantic method of meditation on the formula 'anomayoham' (I am

all­health) or the enquiry, "Who am I?" is the most efficient,

patient and best method for eradication of all disease and ensuring

perfect health and a high standard of vigour and vitality. This is

the king of all physical cultures. For those aspirants who practise

the, "Who am I?" enquiry and who are not able to keep up good health

by this method alone I prescribe the practice of asana (posture) and

pranayama (yoga breathing).

 

The aspirant who has got citta suddhi (pure mind) will only be able

to hear the still, small voice of the soul or self. If there is no

purity he will certainly mistake the voice of the self. He will be

misguided ­ he will blink and grope in darkness. The help of a

realised guru is indispensably requisite in the beginning for the

aspirant who treads the path of jnana yoga.