Monday, August 19, 2013

(Aug 24,2013) Weekly Svadhyaya - Abhyasa of Vairagya by Swami Chidananda


Abhyasa of Vairagya

Radiant immortal Atman! You are mumukshus and jignAsus. A mumukshu is one who aspires after Moksha. A jignAsu is one who is in search of jnana. What is it that has to be known? You have to know about your body, mind, intellect, ethical principles, moral rectitude, behaviour, spirituality, about Atman and Anatman, about Brahman and Maya, about the permanent and impermanent, about the universe and man.

Body: The spiritual life is lived by the seeker in a body. Therefore, laws governing welfare of the physical body – suitable food, healthy habits, right posture, the correct amount of sleep, the tendency of the body to develop good and bad habits – have to be known.

Mind: Everything one does, one does through thoughts of mind. You think, you plan, and then you put it into action. Therefore, knowledge of mind is also essential. Mind is wayward. Sometimes it goes the wrong way. So, how to keep the mind in the right direction? What governs, chastens and checks the mind?

Buddhi: It is discriminating faculty, the intellect. Know what is sattvic, what is rajasic and what is tamasic. Initiate right enquiry. Discriminating between the positive and the negative, between that which elevates and that which takes you down.

Ethical Values: If you do not have a high sense of moral rectitude and ethical correctness, then, in spite of your brilliant intellect knowledge, you will be a slave, you will be in darkness. Sri Ramakrishna used to say “Such a person is a leaky pot. No matter how much you try to keep it filled, it will be empty.”

Thus integrated knowledge is necessary, if you are to move towards the Goal sufficiently equipped. Then alone spiritual progress becomes progressive, positive and creative. The constant positive application of the body, mind, intellect and ethical consciousness is termed as abhyasa (practice); and the protection of these instruments and preventing them from taking the wrong direction and ceasing the move constantly upwards is called vairagya. These two keynotes of sadhana abhayasa and vairagya – have been placed before us in the Gita by Lord Krishna. These twin factors can work miracles for you; they can achieve for you what is seemingly impossible. That is what you should strive after. Therein lies your guarantee of supreme blessedness. God bless you in this sincere and earnest endeavour in your abhyasa, vairagya and sadhana, and in your striving for Knowledge and Liberation.

Additional Reading
Control of the Mind By Swami Sivananda


Peace of Mind & Self Control By Swami Krishnananda

Life as a Yajna or Sacrifice By Swami Krishnananda


The Process of Sadhana By Swami Krishnananda

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