10/06/2021
For our times, the first quality of 'aastikyam' seems to be the most difficult one to attain. Once it's there, the other two will follow eventually.
There has a three important qualities for a spiritual aspirant:
1) :- Firm faith in the Vedic tenets. One devoid of Astikyam would attach more importance to materialistic possessions, would believe not in the existence of other worlds, would remain unaware of साम्परायः – the means to spiritual welfare and end up remaining in the cycle of Samsara.
न साम्परायः प्रतिभाति बालं प्रमाद्यन्तं वित्तमोहेन मूढम् |
अयं लोको नास्ति पर इति मानी पुनः पुनर्वशमापद्यते मे ||
2) :- The second quality that is essential for anyone in the spiritual path is Vairagya or dispassion. Someone once asked “I seek Moksha for myself and my family.” this very statement indicates the absence of Vairagya that is essential for those in the path of liberation. Vairagya and the other three constituents of Sadhana Chatushtaya (Viveka or ability to discriminate between what is real and what is unreal, Shamaadi Shatka {the sextet of sense-control, mind-control, etc.} and Mumukshutvam – the intense longing for liberation).
3) :- The third quality is that we must persevere in our efforts amidst our duties, without losing focus on the objective of Atma-Jnana (Self-knowledge).
It is hence imperative to put our human birth to good use. There is a verse from the Kathopanishad -
उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत |
क्षुरस्य धारा निशिता दुरत्यया दुर्गं पथस्तत्कवयो वदन्ति |
Here उत्तिष्ठत means that one must engage in practice and make oneself ready for the knowledge of the Self. जाग्रत means that one must strive to awaken from the deep sleep of ignorance. and प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत refers to surrender to a competent Guru and with His Grace, knowing the Self.
Walking along the spiritual path is akin to walking along a sharp knife-edge and has to be done after having attained purity of the mind and under the umbrella of the Guru’s Grace. Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada, while commenting on this verse from the Kathopanishad, states that that the Upanishad here instructs us in matters of knowledge, just as a mother would instruct her child for its wholesome good.
--- Jagadguru SriSri Vidhusekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji.
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