Jnana Vahini - Post 4

Now, for the last obstacle as written by SAI.

"RASA-AASWAADANA: When Kshaya and Vikshepa are overcome, one attains the Savikalpananda, the Bliss of the Highest Subject-Object Contact. This stage is what is called Rasa-aaswaadanam or the Enjoyment of Bliss. Even this is not the Highest or the Supreme Bliss, which one does not attain or acquire, but simply IS, becomes aware of, so to say. 

The Rasa, or the sweetness of the Subject-Object Samadhi is a temptation one has to avoid, for it is only the second best. It is enough joy to act as a handicap. 

The joy is as great as that of a person who has just deposited a huge load he has been long carrying, or as that of a greedy person who has just killed a serpent guarding a vast treasure he wanted to grab. The killing of the serpent is Savikalpa Samadhi; the acquisition of the treasure, that is the Nirvikalpa Samadhi, the highest stage.

When the sun rises, darkness as well as the troubles arising from it disappear. Similarly, for those who have realised the Atma, there is no longer any bondage, nor the sorrow arising from the bondage. 

Delusion comes only to those who forget their bearings: egoism is the greatest factor in making people forget their very basic Truth. Once egoism enters man, he slips from the ideal and precipitates himself from the top of the stairs in quick falls from step to step, down to the very bottom floor. Egoism breeds schisms, hatreds and attachments. 

Through attachment and affection, and even envy and hatred, one plunges into activity and gets immersed in the world. This leads to embodiment in the physical frame and further egoism. In order to become free from the twin pulls of pleasure and pain, one must rid oneself of body-consciousness and keep clear of self-centered actions. 

This again involves the absence of attachment and hatred; desire is the enemy number one of Liberation, or Moksha. Desire binds one to the wheel of birth and death; it brings about endless worries and tribulations."

(Author's note - This obstacle is encountered after we have made considerable spiritual progress through meditation and yet not reached the goal. We have grown fond of the taste of some intermediate joyful spiritual experience and got stuck there. We do not want to progress further and strive for God-vision. Needless to say, we should overcome this obstacle. Otherwise, we will deprive ourselves of the highest spiritual experience.  Best way is to pray to God, just ignore this feeling of the little joyful spiritual experience and then plunge into spiritual Sadhana) 

"Through inquiry on these lines, knowledge is rendered clearer and brighter, and liberation is achieved. Moksha is only another word for independence, not depending on any outside thing or person.

If nicely controlled and trained, the mind can lead one on to Moksha. It must be saturated in the thought of God; that will help the inquiry into the nature of Reality. The consciousness of the Ego itself will fade away when the mind is free from pulls and when it is rendered pure. Not to be affected in any way by the world; that is the path to self-realization; it cannot be got in Swarga or in Mount Kailasa.

The flame of desire cannot be put out without the conquest of the mind. The mind cannot be overcome without the scotching of the flames of desire. The mind is the seed, desire is the tree. Atmajnana alone can uproot that tree. So, these three are inter-dependent: mind, desire and Atmajnana."

(Author’s note - Swami Rama explains about Mind, thus:-

“You say the mind is roaming, let it roam. Why are you bothered? It will never go anywhere. It will come back to you. Let it go, don’t follow the mind. I once asked my Master, “How to practice?” He replied, “Mind tells you to go there, but you don’t go. 

Firm determination is called sankalpa shakti in Sanskrit. “Today I will not move, I will not fidget, because that will bring strain and stress to my body.” Keeping your body relaxed, with your head, neck, and trunk in a straight line, breathe in a serene way and learn to watch your thinking process. 

Do not identify yourself with the objects of the world, because this way you are forgetting yourself. When any thought comes, you decide, “I am not going to identify with the thought patterns going on in my mind. I will only witness my thoughts. No matter what happens during these moments I will be not disturbed, no matter what happens. Let my preoccupations come forward later. I do not want to be disturbed.” 

This way you will not identify yourself with the thought patterns, forgetting your true nature. You are in the habit of disturbing yourself. 

Gradually expand your sankalpa shakti. If I want to do something, I have a desire to do it, but I cannot do it, and am unable to find the means to do it, there will be no willpower at all. 

In ancient times, the rishis, the great seers, always used to remember, “I am this, and I am this, and I am this. I can do it, I will do it, and I have to do it, no matter what happens.” 

That is called willpower. If you want to do something, just do it. That will create your dynamic will and that dynamic will enable you to create wonders in the world.")

Love.