Tattva Bodha - Post 7

UPARATI - SELF WITHDRAWAL

Uparati is satiety; it is resolutely turning the mind away from the desire for sensual enjoyment. Rather, it is cessation for worldly longings. 

Some define Uparati as renunciation of all works and taking up Sannyasa.

This state of mind comes naturally when one has practiced Viveka, Vairagya, Sama and Dama.

Sri Sankara defines Uparati in His Viveka Chudamani as follows:  

"The best Uparati, self-withdrawal, consists in the mind function ceasing to act by means of external objects".

Uparati implies an inner satisfaction gained through constant discrimination and unshaken faith in the spiritual fact that the experience of true bliss and plenitude is to be had only in the Atman. 

The mind of the student who is established in Uparati will never be agitated when he sees a beautiful object. There will be no attraction. He will have the same feeling when he sees a woman as when he looks at a tree or a log of wood. 

When he looks at delicious fruits or palatable dishes he will not be tempted. He will have no craving for any particular object or dish and will never say "I want such and such food".

He will be satisfied with anything that is placed before him. This is due to the strength of mind he has developed by the practice of Viveka, Vairagya, Sama and Dama. 

Further, the mind experiences a wonderful calmness and transcendental spiritual bliss by the above practices. 

It does not want these little illusory pleasures. If you have got sugar-candy, your mind will never run after black sugar. 

You can wean the mind from the object to which it is attached by training it to taste a superior kind of bliss.  

Continued.....

Love.

Tattva Bodha - Post 6

Saadhanachatushtayam kim?

Nitya anitya vastu vivekaha

Ihaamutra arthaphala bhoga viraagaha

Shamaadi shatkasampattihi

Mumukshutvam cheti

What is Sadhana Chatushtayam?

Discrimination between the real and the unreal objects.

Dispassion towards the enjoyment of fruits of one’s own action here and hereafter.

Six Discipline starting from Shama etc.

Burning desire for liberation

We are going to learn about the 6 virtuous qualities which a spiritual aspirant in the path of wisdom / Self enquiry must attain, which lead him to develop an intense craving for Self Realization.

It has to be noted and driven deep into our heart / mind that the following sequence cannot be changed / done away with:-

1st - Viveka i.e., Discriminating between real and unreal - Sat and Asat.

2nd - Vairagya - Dispassion for the unreal. This is possible only after we have exercised Viveka. If one is not able to discriminate between real and unreal, then how possibly can one develop a dispassion for the unreal? 

Now, coming to the six virtuous qualities, let us be sure that only after Viveka and Vairagya, can we develop these qualities, not before that.

Sama is serenity or tranquility of mind

Sama is serenity or tranquility of mind that is brought about by eradication of subtle desires. Serenity is the state or quality of being serene. It is calmness or coolness of mind, or peace. It is evenness of temper and undisturbed state of mind.

A serene mind is unclouded or unruffled. In a serene mind alone the Divine Light descends.

Serenity comes when you annihilate all desires and cravings. Desires and cravings produce restlessness. If you are serene, it is the greatest manifestation of power and strength. When one is serene, the mind is kept in the chambers of the heart and is not allowed to join with the senses and to move outside into sensual objects. The mind is fixed in the source.  

Serenity of mind is the most important qualification for an aspirant. This is difficult for attainment, but the aspirant must have this qualification at any cost. It demands incessant and protracted practice.

Dama is control of the Indriyas (sense-organs)

Dama is control of the Indriyas (sense-organs). This is rational control, not blunting or deadening of the sense by foolish austerities. 

This body is the moving temple of God. It should be kept healthy and strong. It is a vessel to take you to the other shore of fearlessness and immortality; it is a horse to take you to the goal.

Ignorant people adopt foolish methods to control the senses.

Remember, it is only the abuse or misuse of the organs that brings misery and untoward results. The senses should be consecrated at the Lotus Feet of the Lord for His services. They should be utilized in serving one's Guru and other Mahatmas. 

If the senses are disciplined properly and if they are kept under control, they become your useful servants.

People ask: "Where is the necessity for the practice of Dama, when one practices Sama?" Dama, control of the senses, is also necessary. Then only will one get supreme control of mind. 

Though the senses cannot independently do any havoc when the mind is under control, yet their control ensures perfect safety and supreme peace of mind.

When one's inclinations and emotions, desires and appetites, senses and mind are under control, it is called self-control. Control yourself first, then you can control others. Self-control clears the mind, strengthens judgement and elevates your character. 

There is no triumph more glorious than that of the victory obtained over your own Self. Till you have done this, you will only be a slave of the senses. He who is subject to his passions is the worst slave on the surface of this earth; he who rules his passions, desires, cravings and senses is the real King of Kings.

Continued....

Love.

Tattva Bodha - Post 5

Viraagaha kaha?

Iha swarga bogashu Ichahaah ahithyam

What is dispassion?

The absence of desire for the enjoyment (of fruits of one's action) in this world and also in any other world.

As a result of one's discriminative capacity (Viveka), when one differentiates between the real and the unreal in the world outside or in the world within, all false values automatically drop off.  

When once a thing is understood to be full of bitterness, pain and imperfection, rare is the man who will continue to court it.

Thus, Vairagya born out of Viveka is what is called as detachment.

The author (in his teens) interacted with a sanyasi while he was in Mathura. The sanyasi was from the West and had opted for sanyas and was staying in Brindavan in an ISKCON ashram. He was young and energetic. 

Author asked him one question - "If you ever happen to like a girl and want to marry her, what would you do"?

The answer was - "I shall leave this sanyas and marry the girl".

The reason for narrating this incident is not to undermine that sanyasi but to drive home one point strongly.

If the sanyas was taken up out of differentiating between real and unreal and out of a strong conviction to discard this world and take up spiritual Sadhana and evolve spiritually to realize SELF, then the possibility of marrying would have never ever been there for that westerner turned sanyasi.

How Vairagya Dawns 

Note how Vairagya arises in the mind. Once, through Viveka, one is able to clearly see and know the transitory and perishable nature of all objects in this world, then, to the extent one is able to know / experience this unreal / anitya nature of all objects in this world, to that extent - dispassion towards the same sets in!! More you are aware that some thing is unreal / ephemeral, more you develop dispassion or Vairagya towards that!!

An irresistible feeling arises in our mind, viz., that the finite can never satisfy the Infinite within us, that the changing and perishable cannot satisfy the changeless and deathless nature of ours. 

Love.

PS - While Vairagya has been described in the traditional way it is understood for centuries (detachment / dispassion developed for that which is known as unreal through Viveka), here, the author would like to give a newer and more positive dimension to "Vairagya".

Vairagya need not be due to dispassion / aversion for unreal things. 

Vairagya could also be (and is most preferred) due to our Love / our craving for that which is eternal and for that, we could prostrate and bid goodbye to all other  things / all other companions / all other objects that have been closer to us until then. In this case, even while discarding all that is ephemeral or temporary, there is no dispassion / negative feeling developed. We just say within, "My gratitude to you for being with me in my life all through, now I am taking off for a higher journey towards SELF, so I may not be able to be with you from now onwards, Prostrations and love to you!!".

Love.