Sandeha Nivarini - Post 35

Devotee: Even if one has no spiritual wisdom (jnana), can one attain liberation (mukthi) by mere renunciation (vairagya)?

Swami: What a foolish question! How can the fruit be sweet without ripening? Renunciation cannot arise except from spiritual wisdom. There is no liberation (moksha) without renunciation. Be sure of that!

Devotee: Then where does devotion (bhakthi) come in?

Swami: We have come to the very beginning again! Before 

spiritual wisdom (jnana) comes devotion. Before devotion, affection. But all these are one. Affection is the flower, devotion the fruit, which ripens into wisdom; renunciation (vairagya) is the sweet juicy final stage. Without one, you cannot have the next. In order to tend the fruit until the juice and taste are developed, you must practise daily prayer, etc., as mentioned above. But, from the first, have in view the Oneness of all. Understand that there is no “other”.

Devotee: At least, to keep up appearances in the world one has sometime to say “this is mine.” What is one to do then?

Swami: Of course, you may have to say so. But simply

because you say so, what need is there for you to feel separateness between I and You? When you travel in a carriage, do you take the carriage as “I”? Look at the Sun. He gets reflected in a small pot lled with water, in a broad river, in a mirror, or on a polished pot. For this reason, does the Sun feel that all these things are “He”? Does He get sad when the pot breaks or the river gets dry? This is exactly like that. If you take “I” to be the body, then it is all bother! If you don’t take it so, you will shine like the Sun, independent of anything else. Besides, You will be immanent everywhere.

Devotee: That is as much as to say that each one must first discover for oneself who one is.

Swami: Exactly. Inquire into that first. Of course, for those who are not competent, this will be too hard. So, those experienced in this line say that such people should not be told these things. If you say, “You are Yourself Brahman, You have attained liberation (moksha), You are in that stage,” to those not competent, they won’t do any spiritual exercises. They will act without any rule or order, and they will pay no regard to right and wrong. This must be revealed only by a Guru or by the Lord’s command! Of course, those who have the thirst and determination to undergo the discipline can ask about it! But it must be practised; there is no use simply hearing it and repeating, “All is One.” That is meaningless.

Devotee: Swami, Sankara has already said,

If you really penetrate into its inner meaning, the world is like a city seen through a mirror.

viswam-darpana drsyamaananagaree thulyam hi anthargatham.

This vision —that the world (jagath) is unreal, that it is all illusion (maya)— is this for common people or for the

spiritually wise (jnanis) also?

Swami: The eye of the spiritually wise sees all things as Brahman! The ignorant person (a-jnani), the person without wisdom, cannot understand whatever is said! So, all spiritual texts (sastras) are intended to benefit the middlings.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba