Sadhana Panchakam - Post 28

SANNYASA ASHRAMA

After having completed Brahmacharya, Grihastha and Vanaprastha Ashramas, we come to Sannyasa Ashrama. 

Even while we start with this ashrama in Sadhana Panchakam, it is appropriate to refresh our thoughts on what Swami said on Liberation, which we went through while understanding the (Only) Purushartha involved in Sanyasa Ashrama, in Karma session.

In one of the discourses on Ugadi day, Swami said,

"People aspire for liberation (Mukti). They have no idea what constitutes liberation. Man seeks liberation from the ills of the body, the senses, the mind, the intellect and the Anthakarana (internal motivator). All these are no doubt necessary. But liberation in the ultimate sense consists in liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

This means that one should redeem one's present life so that one is free from rebirth. Men should pray to God for freedom from rebirth so that they will not have bodies which are bound to be afflicted with diseases. People have no clear idea of what Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha (the four goals) mean.

They think that Moksha (liberation) is something, which you attain after death. But, in fact, liberation can be attained here and now. 

Moksha means "Moha-Kshayam" the elimination of "Moha" (or attachment). People are not ready to give up attachment to wife, children, property etc., you have a duty to protect your family. 

But you must not be immersed in concerns about them. Realize that love is the most important quality in human life. It is not love for kith and kin that is precious. It is love for God that is more valuable".

The knowledge we shall discuss here onwards is valuable for all seekers, even to those who are not yet ready for the actual Sadhana. 

 i) If we know what lies ahead of us on this most challenging of ventures, it will inspire us to press on with more determination.

ii) We will know what is within our capacity and what is beyond it. We will not foolishly try to do Sadhanas for which we are not ready, and become needlessly dejected.

iii) We will develop patience to become strong in our present stage of Sadhana.

iv)  We will develop a self-evaluation skill. We will not fool ourselves, nor be fooled by others regarding the milestones of genuine spiritual progress.

The Essential Qualification for Sannyasa Sadhana

Firstly, let us see who the person we are talking of is. What has he done to qualify or arrive at this stage?

i) Taking purely the stages of life into account, we can say that what he has done is he has arrived at the right age for it, over 70. His main qualification is his age. It is not a cheap entry point. Satisfactory experience of the three previous stages entitles him to this phase of Sadhana.

ii) Exception is in case of few rare souls who is/are born with very good spiritual Samskaras. These surface at an early age. 

Due to a natural Sattvic temperament, he leads a good, clean, disciplined life, and decides to bypass Grihastha Ashrama. Chitta Shuddhi and Chitta Ekagrata are already there. 

iii) Or, more commonly, whatever his early life was like, due to favorable upbringing, an interest comes early for spiritual matters. 

Taking the formal route, he joins an Ashram where he spends at least 12 years or so as a Brahmachari (in yellow or white cloth), and seriously practices the first 12 Steps of Sadhana Panchakam under guidance.

iv) Or, in addition to the above route he decides, in consultation with his Guru, to take the formal Sannyasa vows (the ochre cloth) and becomes a full-time Karma Sannyasi.

These are the four access points for the Sadhana from Step 13 to 24. In all four cases, the Sadhaka clearly understands that true renunciation is the basic requirement and that it entails giving up of one’s Ego and one’s pleasure-serving Desire. Individuality has to make way for universality, and the intellect comes to the fore to check Desire. 

The Importance of Renunciation

Sannyasa means renunciation. When the thing we wish to tackle is difficult, we need to give up many other things in order to do that. Giving up something low for a higher goal, is the purest way of defining Renunciation. We give up everything that holds us back from moving Godward. Renunciation is proof of how intensely we really long for God.

When the seeker is ready, God takes the responsibility to see that everything is arranged for him to make the transition into Sannyasa Ashrama smooth.

Renunciation is not something that is demanded by any external agency such as social convention or custom. When the seeker is at this stage, he is impelled from within to make the needed adjustments in the outer details of life. This adjustment mainly involves renunciation.

Renunciation is the prime criterion to enter the Jnana Kanda stage of Sadhana. In the Gita, the minimum renunciation to start with is the renunciation of the fruits of one’s actions. Thereafter, the renunciation intensifies as we progress further.

Swami answers to a question on this ashrama and sets a serious, purposeful journey for us in the steps coming up on this ashrama, thus:-

What does Sanyasa mean? 

“Sanyasa is above and beyond all promptings of sensual or objective pleasure. 

The Sanyasi deals with the contemplation of the Lord as the very breath of his life, an essential necessity always and at all places for sheer existence itself; he derives joy only from this contemplation. 

He knows that wealth and kinship, affection and attachment are all momentary and liable to decline and end. 

He discards the external reminders of even caste-status and samskaras [mental impressions] like Upanayanam [sacred thread ceremony where a person is exposed to the Gayatri mantra]; he wears the ochre robe of the mendicant; he does not live in populous places; he lives on whatever little food he gets; he does not decry the place where he does not get food; he does not eat twice in the same place or sleep two days in succession in the same place; he even conquers the temptation to sleep and eat; he cares little for the rigors of the seasons; he is ever joyful and happy in the company of the Lord whom he invokes by his Dhyana [meditation].”

With this deeper understanding, we will take up STEPS related to Sanyasa Ashrama in the upcoming posts.

 

Love.

 

 

 

 

Sadhana Panchakam - Post 27

In Brahmacharya Ashrama we said, “Renounce all desires in the mind.” In the Grihastha Ashrama we said, “Escape from the prison of Home”. 

Now in Vanaprastha Ashrama we hear, “Renounce all desire-ridden actions.” We are talking of renouncing the last traces of worldly desire so that our whole mind can be offered to the Lord.

What we notice is the great emphasis on renunciation from the very early years of life. Renunciation is indeed the pillar of a righteous, God-oriented life. This is the view of religion in India. 

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad declares that the object to which mind gets attached to, towards that object the subtle self goes together with the deed. 

But the mind which does not desire or who is without desire or who is freed from desires, or whose desire is satisfied or whose desire is the self itself, such one does not suffer.  He is like the falcon who having flown around in the sky becomes weary, folds its wings and comes to his real abiding place, even so is the person who returns to his real abiding place, where he has no desires or where his desire is his self. 

Maitri Upanishad says that mind is said to be of two forms, pure and impure, impure from the influence of desires and pure renouncing the desires. By freeing Mind form the sloth and distraction and making it tranquil, one becomes delivered from the (empirical) mind.  

Bhagwad Gita suggests that when the Mind dwells on the objects of sense, attachment to them is produced; from that attachment springs desire. Therefore it should be restrained slowly even it becomes diverted. 

Uncompromising surrender of desires means performing only such actions as are in conformity with the divine Will, since desires which are not against Dharma, become the conduit for fulfillment of the Divine Will. 

When actions are disciplined (Body), Bhakti in heart, Mind is tranquil and steady (Mind) and desire for Self-knowledge (Intellect), then Karma has done its part and now the person is ready for Sanyasa or dedicated pursuit of Self-Knowledge.

When the person is ready for pursuit of Self-knowledge, even duties can be an obstacle. Duty is an obstacle for contemplating mind.

Householder plays lot of roles. These roles can be demanding. These roles are used intelligently for Self-growth. When these roles and duties have done its job, then take renunciation.  

When Nachiketas was offered 3 boons by Yamadharma Raja, Nachiketas used the first 2 boons to benefit his father and community. 

Using the 3rd boon, he asked Yama to teach Self Knowledge. Even though Yama tempted Nachiketas with worldly things, Nachiketas was unwavering in seeking Self-Knowledge. Such a person is ready for renunciation.

 

Love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swami Sivananda

 

Realization cannot come to you as a miracle done by your Guru. Lord Buddha, Lord Jesus, Rama Tirtha have all done Sadhana. Lord Krishna asks Arjuna to develop Vairagya (dispassion) and Abhyasa (practice). He did not say to him, “I will give you Mukti (liberation) now”. Therefore, abandon the wrong notion that your Guru will give you Samadhi and Mukti. Strive, purify, meditate and realize.

 

Guru-kripa-grace of a Guru is very necessary. That does not mean that the disciple should sit idle. He must do rigid Purushartha, spiritual practices. The whole work must be done by the student. Nowadays, people want a drop of water from the Kamandalu (water pot) from a Sannyasin and desire to enter into Samadhi immediately. They are not prepared to undergo any Sadhana for purification and Self-Realization. They want a magic pill to push them into Samadhi. If you have got such delusion, give it up immediately.

 

The Guru and the Shastras can show you the path and remove your doubts. Anubhava (direct experience) of the Aparoksha kind or direct intuitive knowledge is left for your own experience. A hungry man will have to eat for himself. He who has a severe itching has to scratch for himself.

 

No doubt, the Guru’s blessing can do everything. But how can one have his blessings? By pleasing the Guru. A Guru can be pleased with his disciple only if the latter carries out his spiritual instructions implicitly. Carefully follow, therefore the instructions of the Guru. Act up to his instructions. Then only will you deserve his blessings and then alone his blessings can do everything.

Swami Sivananda