Introduction to Vedas and Vedanta - Part 12

Dear All,

In the previous post, we dealt with the first 3 aspects- Jiva, Jagath and Iswara. 

Let us know about the next 3 basic concepts/ truths around which the entire vedantic scriptures revolve.

Bandha or Bondage

Even if the Jiva is pure consciousness, still it is bound by this physical body. 

It is because the impression in the mind associates with a physical body for working out the past which we learnt as Prarabdha. 

But while exhausting the past, the mind gets entangled through attachment to the sense objects and involves in newer actions, which are present Agami Karma which goes to make the prarabdha of  one's future life..

To exhaust newer actions, it requires another body. And this migration from body to body continues eternally. This physical body is the cause of suffering due to decay, disease, old age and death etc. 

This Binding itself to the need for newer body to exhaust its Karma, is what is known as BONDAGE or BANDHA!

It imposes many limitations on the limitless pure consciousness. Out of ignorance Jiva thinks himself as limited body, takes birth, dies, and suffers. 

But truly Jiva is a spirit without any body – a bodiless pure consciousness. So ignorance of our true divine nature is the cause of bondage.

We dealt with this Ignorance elaborately in the theme "Purpose of Human Birth", "Karma" and "Surrender".

We learnt convincingly that if in his first birth, a human being was to be ever clear, ever tuned to, ever existing as the Divine SELF as he came into the world, then there would be no Karma, No bondage, No ignorance and in fact, there would be no vedanta, no upanishad for him and for all beings if they were ever existing as divine SELF.

Moksha or Liberation

Vedanta says since the ignorance of our true nature is the cause of bondage, so liberation is possible only by removing this ignorance.There is no other way. 

We are Brahman, the pure consciousness. We have no birth, no death. We are immortal because consciousness does not take birth or die. It is the body which takes birth and dies. 

But we forgot our own true nature and think ourselves as limited body. This process of removal of ignorance is the only way for self-knowledge.

And this is called liberation – the freedom from all the three – ignorance, suffering and limitations. Basically there is nothing to achieve, rather it is something to remove – the false notion about our nature.

Sadhana or Paths

This knowledge about our true identity can be achieved by four prescribed methods – (a) Jnana Yoga (b) Bhakti Yoga (c) Karma Yoga (d) Raja Yoga. 

(a) Jnana Yoga – It mentions three sequential methods to remove this ignorance – Sravana (hearing the truth about own nature of pure consciousness), Manana (contemplation on this fact to remove doubts in mind), Nididhyasana (meditation on own pure consciousness state to remove past habits. This makes knowledge error-less). 

In this process the mind gets purified through constant hearing, contemplation and meditation. This process is also called Neti-Neti – Not this, not this – rejection of unreal or temporal things through discrimination and abiding on consciousness self. 

Finally, this doubtless and errorless knowledge brings liberation from ignorance.

(b) Bhakti Yoga – It works through the complete surrendering to supreme Lord. 

The individual ego is subjugated through surrender and in its place the divine nature of pure consciousness gets manifested. 

The Jiva merges into all-pervading God consciousness. This itself annihilates individual ignorance and brings liberation.

(c) Karma Yoga – It prescribes self-less action without any desire for result. Action done with desire [Sakama Karma] binds us through mental impressions. 

But action done without desire [Niskama Karma] cannot bind us. So Niskama Karma brings knowledge through purification of mind and the annihilation of individuality. 

Pure mind is same as pure intelligence. And pure intelligence is again same as pure consciousness. Everything in pure form merges into pure consciousness.

(d) Raja Yoga – This method consists of eight steps – Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi. 

There are two types of Samadhi – Savikalpa Samadhi on Saguna Brahman and Nirvikalpa Samadhi abides in Nirguna Brahman. The reality manifests automatically when individual ego is annihilated – Svayambhu.

Summary

When Shankaracharya was requested to describe absolute truth in one line, he said –

“Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya, Jivo Brahmaiva Naparah"

"Brahman or pure consciousness is the only truth, the world is unreal, Jiva is nothing else but Brahman in disguise.”

Jiva forgot his true divine nature and appears to be bound within a physical body. When this ignorance is removed through self-knowledge, it manifests its true divine nature. 

So Rishis of Upanishads invoke aloud – Listen, O the children of immortality – Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.

Hari Aum Tatsat.

“Embodiments of Love, Students!

Whatever you have learnt here, share it with others. It is not enough if you share it with others, you too should put your knowledge into practice and derive benefit therefrom. We prepare many delicious items at home and serve them to the guests. Is it not necessary that we should also partake of them?

Likewise, we should digest the Vedic knowledge we have acquired and also share it with others. All types of knowledge have originated from the Vēdas. That is why the Vēda is extolled as sarva vijñāna sampatti (the treasure chest of knowledge). But unfortunately, we are not making proper use of such a treasure. Share your knowledge to the extent you have acquired. Never forget what you have learnt. With sincere effort, you will certainly be able to attain sākṣhātkāra. Those of you who wish to have the vision of God should digest the Vedic wisdom you have acquired and share it with others.”

Bhagavān Sri Sathya Sai Baba – Discourse on 19 October 2004

Adi Shankara