Tattva Bodha - Post 31

JIVAN MUKHTI 

(Contd...)

Nanu jeevan muktah kah?

Yathaa dehah aham (asmi),

purushah aham (asmi),

brahmana aham (asmi),

shoodrah aham asmi,

iti dridha-nishchaya;

tathaa,

na aham braahmanah (asmi),

na shoodrah (asmi),

na purushah (asmi),

Then who is a Jivanmukta?

Just as, “I am the body,

I am a man,

I am a Brahmana;

or I am a Shudra”, 

one has a firm belief that he is such;

So also,

“I am not a Brahmana,

I am not a Shudra,

I am not a man”,

kintu asanghah (asmi),

satchidananda svaroopah (asmi),

prakaasha-roopah (asmi),

sarvaantaryaami (asmi),

chid-aakaasha roopah asmi,

iti dridha-nishchaya,

apaaroksha-jnaanavaan,

jeevan-muktah.

And in its place, “I am unattached,

I am Existence-Knowledge-Bliss absolute,

I am of the form of Effulgence,

I am the Indweller of all,

I am the formless Awareness”,

One has a firm belief that he is such,

such a one having this direct experience, is called a JIVANMUKHTA.

            

It is said, “Language maps Reality”. The words we use are an indication of our reality. The words quoted in the verse are typical of what is reality to most of us. “I am body, I am man or woman, I am of this caste, etc.” 

This tells us what we hold dear in our life. As dearly as we hold on to these convictions in our state of ignorance, just so dearly are we asked to hold on to their opposites, “I am NOT these things", to attain enlightenment. 

When these opposite thoughts become firm and effortless, we would have reached the state of the Jivanmukhta or liberated soul. The crux of the matter is to become unattached. By consistently asserting our identity as being unlimited to these narrow barriers, we grow beyond them and enter the realm where we can honestly behold God in all beings. 

There are no barriers any more. Being free from human limitations, we reach great heights in the spiritual realm. 

“Dridha Nishchaya” tells us how firmly we must resolve to overcome all these false limitations which we impose upon ourselves. If we do not feel this urgency we will never rise beyond our limitations. We should feel these false notions as burning charcoal on our body! Then we will make the effort to get rid of them once and for all. 

Swami Sivananda writes on Jivanmukhta thus:-

"A JIVANMUKHTA is a liberated sage. He is released even while living. He lives in the world but He is not of the world. He always revels in the eternal bliss of the Supreme Self. 

He has no identification with the body and senses. Hence He has no idea of enjoyment or enjoyer when He exhausts the residue of His Prarabdha. He has no idea of action or agent. He roams about happily without attachment and egoism, with a balanced mind and equal vision. His state is indescribable. He is Brahman Himself.

The Sage, who has realized that there is no other reality in the universe than Brahman, that He is Brahman Himself and that everything is Brahman, is freed from the round of births and deaths. He has attained freedom, perfection and immortality. He is a Jivanmukhta (One who has attained liberation while living).

A Jivanmukhta or liberated sage is absolutely free from egoism, doubt, fear and grief. 

For a Jivanmukhta, there is no distinction between a rogue and a saint, gold and stones, high and low, man and woman, man and animal, censure and praise, honor and dishonor. 

He beholds the One Self everywhere. He sees divinity in everyone. 

As He is mindless, all differences and barriers have vanished for Him.

A Jivanmukhta is a great spiritual hero. He is an enlightened sage who has knowledge of the Self. He is pre-eminent amongst men. He is the conqueror of mind. He is absolutely free from desires, craving, fear, delusion, pride, egoism, etc. 

He is a powerhouse of spiritual energy. He radiates His spiritual currents to the different corners of the world. Sit before Him. Your doubts will be cleared by themselves. You will feel a peculiar thrill of joy and peace in His presence.

The whole world is His home. All hands are His hands. All eyes are His eyes. All mouths are His mouths. 

His eyes are steady. His actions are perfect. His speeches are sweet, short, inspiring, forcible and impressive. His gait is magnanimous. His look is merciful.

His gestures are illuminating. He explains spiritual subjects in a lucid manner with deep philosophical significance. He has clear insight and intuitive transcendental knowledge.

Love.