Upadesa Saram - Post 18

Verse 15

नष्टमानसोत्कृष्टयोगिनः|

कृत्यमस्तिकिंस्वस्थितिंयतः||

naṣṭamānasotkṛṣṭayoginaḥ|

kṛtyamasti kiṁsvasthitiṁyataḥ||

For the exalted yogi, with mind destroyed,

Is there anything to be done, since his Self-abidance?

The Yogi who has destroyed his mind becomes an Utkrishta Yogi. The one who remains unchanged after the Laya state is called a NikrishtaYogi. 

The main focus in this verse is the Utkrishta Yogi, but before we describe more of him, let us see what the Nikrishta Yogi’s life is like. 

The Nikrishta Yogi: 

In the Nikrishta Yogi, Ego is still not conquered. On top of that, power is now heaped onto him, his access to superhuman powers gives him some recognition in society and so a “divine power” is also there. 

Such a Yogi gets caught in the trap of actions. He can use the Laya state to focus his mind on various Chakras in the body and thus acquire Siddhis or super-sensory powers. 

The Utkrishta Yogi: 

This is the exemplary Yogi. For the sage who has annihilated his mind, and realized that he is the Self, what is there for him to be done? The answer implied in the verse is “Nothing!” 

In this world, people do not like to see anybody ‘doing nothing’, even if there is nothing to do! Worse still is the attitude towards someone who has no duty. Such a person is criticized for being irresponsible and not contributing to the progress of society. Let us therefore see what this ‘nothing’ actually means. 

Where does the drive to act come from? – From discontent. The signature of discontent is Desire. In the ordinary person, discontent makes him seek something fulfilling to quench it. It arises from a sense of want, or incompleteness in life. Desire arises. In the hunt to satisfy desire, arises the chain referred to earlier as the “Desire-lineage”. (Avidya-Kama-Karma)

In the Utkrishta Yogi, there is no discontent, hence no desire to act to feel fulfilled or happy, because he is already happy. He has found the fountain of Happiness. There is no urgency to act to get happiness. There is no compulsion to DO anything. 

He may if he chooses, help others to attain the same state. He may even act to bring happiness to others. But these actions are not done to find happiness, for happiness he has already found. 

Such a Yogi is compared to an ocean which is ever full. The Ocean does not depend upon the clouds or rivers for its fullness. It does not overflow when rivers fall into it. It does not get shallow if they do not. 

“As the waters enter the ocean, which on account of being full on all sides, remains undisturbed, likewise he, in whom all objects merge themselves (without disturbing him) attains peace, not the one who has desires for objects (in order to be happy)’

(B.Gita chapter II, 70)

Abidance in the Self brings one the greatest happiness. It is the nature of the Self to be all-Bliss. 

For one who is inherently good, free from Raga and Dvesha, who is naturally upright, who is not sacred but sacredness itself – what is the need for duty and rules? 

The very breathing of such saints purifies this earth.

Love.