Hindu Article-Man of realisation religion

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Man of realisation religion

 

The distinguishing mark of a man of Self-realisation (Jivanmukta) is

his equanimity amidst the vagaries of worldly life. This is due to

his strong conviction that all material pursuits are ephemeral in

nature, which is due to being established in the Self (Atman), which

is eternal. Sage Vidyaranya in his work Panchadasi states this

succinctly: " If one realises that one's essential nature is the

Atman then, desiring what, and for what purpose, should one identify

oneself with the body? " Identification with the body-mind-intellect

personality, which is transitory, is the root cause of bondage and

sorrows.

The Self was beyond the limitations of space, time and materiality.

These three coordinates are necessary for defining an object and

communicating any knowledge. The doubt then naturally arises as to

how Self-knowledge can be taught. Instruction of spiritual knowledge

is unique and cannot be learnt by self-study. It is in the presence

of the Guru, who is a man of Self-realisation, that a disciple can

grasp it. The Lord in Dakshinamurti form teaching the spiritual

truth to the sages in silence conveys this aptly. There is no need

for dialogue for in the very presence of the Guru doubts get

resolved.

The spiritual seeker's mind must be sufficiently trained by

scriptural study in three stages: Sravana (listening to the

teachings) Manana (committing them to memory) and Nidhidhyasana

(meditation). Such a mind becomes cleansed (Chitasuddhi) of its

latent tendencies and becomes tranquil, and can then intuit the

Self. The process of understanding Self-knowledge is thus

experiential. The example of Jadabharata illustrates that Self-

realisation cannot be easily attained and that even those who have

spiritually evolved can slip.

This is a state that transcends duality, both good and bad. There

are no gradations in God's creation and it is the human mind that

superimposes duality on whatever it experiences. The Panchadasi

clarifies that it is due to Maya that the Absolute (Brahman) appears

as Iswara (God) and creates Jiva (the individual soul), and that the

rest of the universe is the creation of Iswara and Jiva.

 

 

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