Categoria: Filosofie Orientali

Sri Sankaracharya, the greatest exponent of the Advaita Philosophy, has in five short verses given the essence of spiritual practice for the benefit of those seekers who are treading the path. This fifth verse is more or less a description of a Liberated Sage, a Jivanmukta who passes on to the state of Videhamukti finally.

ORIGINAL Verse ——-

Ekante sukham-asyatam,

Paratare chetah samadhiyatam,

Purnatma susamikshyatam,

Jagadidam tad-badhitam drsyatam I

Prakkarma pravilapyatam,

Chitibalannapyuttaraih slishyatam,

Prarabdham tviha bhujyatam,

Atha parabrahmatmana sthiyatam

a) Ekante sukham-asyatam – Let him rest comfortably in seclusion.

The monk aiming at the one, non-dual Atman-Brahman is to avoid all company and remain alone. That stage in which he was asked to resort to the company of the wise, is now transcended and in the present stage, the Sannyasin who is now a sage is counselled to keep aloof and remain in complete seclusion, so that he can keep his mind fixed on the import of the Mahavakyas. Seclusion usually means absence of another person nearby. Life in caves and forest Asrams is generally considered as secluded life. There is however a higher meaning which is applicable to the sage in meditation. To him seclusion is to keep his consciousness free of all duality. In other words, when his consciousness is fixed in the one, non-dual Atman, he is said to be in seclusion. This has to be practised by the seeker, and physical seclusion will, to some extent, be helpful to attain this higher seclusion.

 

Leggi tutto “The Sadhana Panchaka-”Five Verses on Spiritual Practice” of Sri Sankaracharya – Part V”

Sri Sankaracharya, the greatest exponent of the Advaita Philosophy, has in five short verses given the essence of spiritual practice for the benefit of those seekers who are treading the path. The instructions in this 4^th verse are directed towards the Sadhaka who is now in an advanced stage, as to how he should lead the rest of his life in the present body.

ORIGINAL Verse ——-

“Kshud-vyadhischa chikitsyatam,

Pratidinam bhikshaushadam bhujyatam,

Svadvannam na tu yachyatam,

Vidhivasat praptena santushyatam I

Sitoshnadi vishahyatam,

Na tu vritha vakyam samuccharyatam,

Audasinyam-abhipsyatam,

Jana-kripa-naishthuryam utsrijyatam”

a) Kshud-vyadhischa chikitsyatam-Let the disease of hunger be treated.

As the Sadhaka ascends to the higher rungs of the ladder of spiritual practice, the chances of his downfall are greater and greater, and hence, this important warning is given by the Acharya. Though during the early stages of his Sadhana, he had practised control of all the senses and the mind, there may arise in him the tendency to slowly relax especially in the case of the palate, the sense of taste. The Sannyasin is therefore admonished to consider hunger as a disease. As all diseases of the body and mind are treated with proper medicines, the Sadhaka should treat this disease of hunger also with the medicine of food and drink. It should never be left untreated, because without a healthy body, the Sadhana cannot be completed and the final goal reached. The medicine for the disease of hunger is a nourishing diet. Both overeating and starving are discouraged and the via media, the golden mean, is prescribed. Yoga is harmony. Extremes are to be avoided cautiously.

 

Leggi tutto “The Sadhana Panchaka-“Five Verses on Spiritual Practice” of Sri Sankaracharya – Part IV”

Sri Sankaracharya, the greatest exponent of the Advaita Philosophy, has in five short verses given the essence of spiritual practice for the benefit of those seekers who are treading the path. This 3^rd verse is an exposition on Manana and Nididhyasana to be practised by the Sadhaka till he gets over the idea of “I am the body” and gets fixed in Brahmakara Vritti, the firm conviction “I am Brahman”.

ORIGINAL Verse ———-

“Vakyarthascha vicharyatam,

Sruti-sirah-pakshah samasriyatam,

Dustarkat-suviramyatam,

Srutimatastarko ‘nusandhiyatam I

Brahmaivasmi vibhavyatam aharahah,

Garvah parityajyatam,

Dehe-ahammatir-ujjhyatarn,

Budha-janair-vadah parityajyatam”

 

a) “Vakyarthascha vicharyatam-Let the implied meaning of the great sentences be reflected upon.”

After Sravana the next stage is Manana i.e., pondering on the import of the Mahavakyas. The Sadhaka should reflect over the meaning of the dictum he has heard from the Guru. During this process of ratiocination, several doubts may arise in his mind, because he has only intellectually grasped the meaning. The knowledge obtained is only indirect and not direct. Till direct knowledge of the Atman-Brahman-identity which is the import of the Maha Vakyas, dawns on him, he will be haunted by various doubts. The scriptures and the Guru’s further personal instructions should be strictly adhered to in the process of ratiocination. Arguments in favour of the implied meaning of the dicta alone should be resorted to. The disciple should not enter into vain arguments or into those which are not traditionally accepted by the wise and the scriptures.

 

Leggi tutto “The Sadhana Panchaka-“Five Verses on Spiritual Practice” of Sri Sankaracharya – Part III”