Hindu Article-Means to liberation

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Means to liberation

CHENNAI: There are two objectives in human life and the first is

engagement in the world to enjoy material pleasures and the other is

pursuit of liberation from bondage. Those who pursue worldly ends

must also strive for the spiritual goal by adopting practices, which

can be followed in day-to-day life till they reach a stage when they

can engage in it fully. Lord Krishna elaborates on the paths of

action (Karma), devotion (Bhakti) and knowledge (Jnana) in the

Bhagavad Gita and they are taken up for discussion till the very end.

Thus the Gita is meant for both the laity and the man of wisdom.

In his discourse, Sri Krishnamurthy Sastrigal said the path of

devotion was also subsumed under Karma yoga. Since the seeker who

adopts the path of knowledge has to strive till liberation is

attained, even knowledge becomes an activity till Self-realisation.

It becomes apparent then that these three are interrelated because

the human personality is a conglomerate of the body, mind and the

intellect. A common doubt that arises is what happens if a spiritual

aspirant is unable to realise God in this life. Rebirth results for

sure but what happens to all the efforts he had made? Are they in

vain? Certainly not. It is here that the law of cause and effect

(Karma) comes into play. Karma that a person acquires by his action

does not get destroyed without enjoying it except in a very few rare

cases. Hence, this holds good for spiritual merit (Punya) also.

When Arjuna raised this doubt to Lord Krishna, He assured him, "He

automatically regains in that birth the spiritual insight of his

previous birth; and through that he strives harder than ever for

perfection in the form of God-realisation."

Arjuna also asked why he could not adopt the path of knowledge

directly for it suited him not to engage in war. Krishna explained to

him that without discharging his duty a person could not aspire for

liberation. When action is performed without expectation of result —

by surrendering the fruit of action to God — it becomes Yoga and thus

it will not bind the person. The mind is thus the instrument for both

bondage and liberation, and it can be utilized either way. When the

result is the motive for action it causes bondage; while when the

same action is performed for the sake of God it liberates.

 

Cpoy right: The Hindu-daily