Verse - 2
बोधोऽन्यसाधनेà¤्यो हि साक्षान्मोक्षैकसाधनम् ।
पाकस्य वह्निवज्ज्ञानं विना मोक्षो न सिध्यति ॥ २॥
BODHO
ANYASAADHANEBHYO HI SAAKSHAAN MOKSHAIKA SAADHANAM
PAAKASYA VAANHIVAJ GYAANAM VINAA MOKSHO NA SIDHYATI
(Just as the fire is the
direct cause for cooking, so without Knowledge no emancipation can be had.
Compared with all other forms of discipline, Knowledge of the Self is the one
direct means for liberation).
In the previous post having
explained so much about the need for practice of austerity and self control
etc. one may misunderstand from it that discipline alone may lead one to the
goal.
To remove any such
misunderstandings, Sankara in this sloka states that knowledge alone is
the one direct means of liberation through a very simple example.
Just as fire alone is the direct cause of cooking, knowledge alone can lead to
liberation from all miseries. In cooking, items such as vegetables, spices,
water pots, pans etc. are all contributory causes and by themselves can never
constitute food.
Fire alone can accomplish the
cooking and hence the food. These articles are necessary, but it is the fire
that actually cooks a meal. i.e. fire is the direct cause.
Similarly, the performance of rituals, control of mind, the study of the
scriptures, the use of discriminating intellect etc. are all, no doubt helpful
factors which aid in the spiritual growth but they do not by themselves
directly lead one to liberation.
The purpose of practice of
austerities, rituals, giving of gifts, charity etc. is only the purification of
the mind. The Sadhana Chatushtaya only creates a favorable mental state that is
conductive to knowledge and thus only prepares the seeker for the
knowledge.
Thus such spiritual disciplines only
train the aspirant to concentration and hence create necessary condition. But
it is the knowledge alone that is ever present that can liberate one from the
illusory duality and hence from all the miseries.
Just as the fire that is the direct
cause of cooking, knowledge is the direct cause of liberation.
All the sadhanas are only to gain
this ever present knowledge and strengthen it.
Hence Sankara in this verse is instructing that it is only by the true
knowledge of one’s existence is realized, that liberation is possible.
Note
The author has explained the truth
of this verse through his own spiritual sadhana experience in an earlier post.
Though Bhakti sadhana or Yoga or
even Karma or the path of action are all very useful in their own capacity,
it has to be noted that the misery of a human being starts only when he is
ignorant of the truth is that he is created by divine as divine and in this
ignorance, he starts believing in his existence with Body, mind and Intellect
as real existence.
Like for each disease, only certain
prescribed treatment is required to cure the disease, the misery in human life
caused due to IGNORANCE or AVIDYA or LACK OF KNOWLEDGE can only be cured by the
JNANA that he is verily divine.
Whether one actually goes
through the path of Jnana and is actually in the path of Devotion only with
utmost sincerity, the culmination of true devotion is Jnana where, the true
Jnana is the transcending of the duality between the devotee and his Lord. Jnana's
culmination is only the removal of one's ego and merger with divine / pure
consciousness.
Love.
