In the Uddhava
Gita in the beginning of the teaching itself lord Krishna summarizes the Vedanta from the 6th Verse
to the 12th verse in the second chapter. The essence of Vedanta is
given here. One has to go through initial spiritual sadana Viz., karma yoga and
Upasana yoga and through this, a person
has to prepare his mind for Self-knowledge,
which is called Gnana yoga. It is a
systematic spiritual education program consisting of Shravanam, Mananam and
Nidhithyasanam and through this Gnana yoga, one has to gain Self-knowledge. Our
idea about our Self is a total
misconception. It is a false Self or a pseudo Self which is Jivatma which is a
misconception. I have to gain the knowledge of my higher real Self, which is Paramatma, through Gnanam.
It is very
similar to waking up from my dream. When I wake up from my dream, I claim myself to
be the waker, from which alone the dream came, which I identified with my dream
body and which is not real. As a dreamer, I support my entire dream universe. When
we are in dream, we never understand dream as a dream. Similarly, Vedanta says you are in a dream world,
which you are refusing to understand. Gnana
yoga is a method of Self-awakening,
as your Self, as a super waker. Then I will understand that from me alone the
dream came, from me alone the universe came and from me alone the universe is
resolved. This alone is the knowledge for attaining liberation. Vedanta says “Uthista Jagradha” which means that you
have to wake up (spiritual awakening) to your higher nature. Uthista means
waking up and Jagradha means being aware of your Self. Vedanta says may you
expose yourself to spiritual education program; may you wake up to your higher
nature. This is the ultimate spiritual sadana. All the three yoga Viz., Karma
yoga, Upasana yoga and Gnana yoga are required for gaining Self Knowledge. All the three types of yoga put together is Bhakti Yoga. Thus, lord Krishna
concluded in the twelfth verse of the 2nd chapter of Uddhava Gita. Similarly,
in the 2nd Chapter of Bhagavad Gita from 12th verse up to
26th verse, Lord Krishna summarized Gnana yoga.
Self-knowledge is not possible if you
have a strong attachment to your body, family and near and dear ones.
Attachment is the biggest obstacle, which you have to overcome in life. As long
as I am attached, I will be interested in Artha (creating wealth) and Kama
(desires). I think about earning and settling my family. Attachment to family
and possession will keep me busy. Waking up to your super higher nature is the
only way, which will make you confident and successful in life. A Gnani after
spiritual awakening will say the world is not outside of me. The world is
inside me and resolved in me.
For handling the mind, I should practice Yogabyasa, which is Chitta, Shutta virthihi. Mind should be able to
obey your commands. Astanga yoga is
useful for mind obedience. Enjoying the benefit of knowledge requires a
disciplined mind.
Receiving
Knowledge
requires a Good Mind
Retaining
Knowledge
requires a Disciplined Mind
Assimilation
of Knowledge
requires a prepared mind.
By practicing yoga, an undisciplined mind can be
disciplined.
Mind should
be there for thoughts to happen. We never attempt to go to a thoughtless state.
We engage our mind also during meditation; a state in which Vedantic thought
continues effortlessly without my will. During
Shravanam, Guru and Shastra generates the thought “that tvam asi” (you are that Brahman). After the student receives
the knowledge, he does not require the assistance of Guru or Shastra. Nidhithyasanam is recollecting the
knowledge, which has been collected during Shravanam. We don’t go to a
thoughtless state. Our thoughts are undistracted by other thoughts during
Nidhithyasanam. A prepared mind receives
the knowledge easily without any effort.
Let us prepare our mind by the process explained
above and attain Self-knowledge in the days to come.
Be blissful.
S.SEKAR
Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com
02042018
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