Dear All,
In yesterday's post, the author had explained in
detail as to how each stage in life from Brahmacharya to Sanyasa can actually
be leading to the single most goal of a human life - TO REACH GOD.
Swami concludes on the same with His following
lines in Dharma Vahini.
"How to get that clear vision? The answer
is through the practice of dharma,
the dharma that is
conditioned by caste and stage of life! Dharma enables
the Atma to be realized,
without any mist or fog hiding it from view.
The practice of dharma fills
you with experience; through that experience, truth is established; the truth
reveals clearly, and the vision grants liberation.
Those who have attachment and hatred,
even if they dwell in the forest, cannot escape harm.
Those who have conquered the senses, even
if they are householders, can be ascetics (tapasvis). If engaged in acts
that are not harmful or condemned, they are entitled to be called spiritually
wise people (jnanis).
The home is the hermitage (thapovana) for attaining non-attachment. Liberation cannot be won by progeny, charity, riches, sacrificial rites (yajna), or yoga; what is wanted for liberation is the cleansing of the self.
Kingly sages like King Janaka, Aswapathi,
and Dilipa reached the goal while continuing in the householder stage; while in
that stage, they struggled and succeeded in removing all obstacles that
hindered the winning of the grace of the Lord; they had as the goal the Godhead
they wanted to reach. Therefore, do not doubt it; the stage of householder is
no hindrance.
Harmony in the household
Moved by the desire to cross this
ocean of worldly existence (samsara), the husband and wife must both
have harmony of mind.
The resolution to reach the goal must be equally strong and steady in both.
Otherwise, renunciation is the refuge! See, even the midday sun is associated with His consort, shadow (chaya); the sixteen-fractioned moon is closely associated with the cool rays of light, acting like nectar.
The mistress of the home must be
bright, patient, calm, and good and must have all the virtues; then, the home
will shine and be a home of victory in the spiritual field also.
There is no rule that people should
become renunciates and flee when they meet with difficulties in the spiritual
field at home. It can never be fruitful for the husband to become a renunciate
without full approval of his wife.
The best that he can do is to leave
home with his wife and be a forest dweller (vanaprastha), adhering
to the dharma of that new stage. If there are children
who need attention and care, even forest-dwelling at that stage is not favored
by the scriptures.
Love.
