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by Jayaram V
The Bhagavad-Gita puts significant emphasis on inner purity
and unwavering sincerity in our effort
to realize the self within. The inner self is the witnessing
self, ever awake and sensitive to our actions and mental
formations. It keeps track of what we do and do not in our
egoistic striving for survival and success. Self-realization
is a mirage for those who indulge in flowery speeches,
intellectual debates and outward display of moral
superiority, without adequate inner effort to purify
themselves physically, mentally and spiritually. A
spiritualized ego is much bigger impediment in our
realization of truth than an ordinary and simple ego. If not
careful, religion can feed ones ego and lead people astray.
Everything said and done, spiritual effort need to go hand
in hand with the development of certain inner qualities that
are reflective of the divinity in man.
Self purification is central to our spiritual effort.
Without self purification, there is no self realization. The
impure cannot join the pure. This is an undeniable spiritual
truth. Unless one concentrates and contemplates upon the
Divine qualities with deep aspiration to cultivate them,
through self-surrender, self-discipline and sincere
practice, one cannot bring light and illumination into ones
being and realize the Supreme Self.
Man is a mixture of divergent qualities. He can strengthen
or dissipate these qualities depending upon in what
direction he wants to make progress. If he want to become a
successful business man he needs to cultivate the qualities
that are necessary for success in the business world. If he
wants to move into the spiritual world, he needs to
spiritualize his whole personality and dissipate those that
may act as impediments on his way.
Only a god like mind can ever hope to experience the god's
mind. How can there be self-realization unless the lower
self is prepared and made ready for the descent of the
divine? The basic nature of divine is unconditional love and
pure bliss. But there are other qualities that go with these
two basic divine states. The Bhagavad-Gita gives detailed
account of what constitutes divine qualities in man. A
spiritual aspirant can make necessary effort to develop the
qualities described in the following sections and transcend
himself into the higher planes.
Kshetragna (The Knower of the Field)
"Without pride, without pomposity, absence of cruelty,
tolerance, straight forwardness, service to Acharya (the
spiritual master), cleanliness, stability (of the mind),
self-control, Vairagya (absence of any feeling) towards the
objects of the senses, absence of egoism, constant
reflection of the pain and drawbacks inherent in the birth,
death, old age and disease, disinterestedness, detached
from the son, wife, home and the like, always even
minded in both desirable and undesirable conditions, devoted
to God only, without engaging in other yogas (activities)
and evil pursuits, living in solitary places, disinterested
in seeking the company of people, always absorbed in self
knowledge, engaged in the study of philosophy and
spirituality -all this is declared as knowledge and the rest
is ignorance" (Bhagavadgita chapter 13, Verse 7)
Purusha (The Supreme Self)
The eternal Supreme Brahman is neither sat nor asat, it
is said. He has hands and feet every where. He has
everywhere eyes, heads, faces and ears. He envelops
everything without moving. He is the source of all the
senses and qualities, but devoid of any senses, detached but
bearer of all, without qualities but partaker of the
qualities. He is within and without all beings, moving and
unmoving, very subtle and incomprehensible, far away but
also very nearer. Though Undivided, He is also situated in
the beings as divided. Bearer of beings but is also known as
the devourer and the illuminator. Among the illuminated He
is the very illumination and also said to be beyond the
darkness. He is the knowledge that is known, the knowledge
that is yet to be known and also the end of all knowledge.
He resides in the hearts of all. It is said that Prakriti is
for the purpose of performing actions , but Purusha is to
enjoy the pleasure and pain. Indeed He is said to be The
Overseer, Regulator, Bearer, Enjoyer, the Great Lord, the
Supreme Soul. He is Purusha, the transcendental Soul
(Bhagavadgita Chapter 13, Verses 12-22).
Divine Qualities Of A True Worshipper
Fearlessness, excessive Sattva (purity), interested
in the study of spiritual knowledge, charity,
self-control, rituals and worship, study of scriptures,
penance and simplicity, non-cruelty, truthfulness,
without anger, self-sacrificing nature, peace of mind,
being non-critical, compassionate to all beings, without
greed, gentle, modest, firm-minded intelligence,
forgiving nature, fortitude, cleanliness, without envy,
without egoistic pride- these are the virtues of those
born with divine nature (Bhagavadgita Chapter16
Verses 1-3)
"He who understands Me as the One without birth,
without beginning, as the Lord of all the worlds, he is
undeluded among the mortal men and is freed from all
sins." Intelligence, knowledge, non-delusion, compassion,
truthfulness, control of the senses, control of the mind,
pleasure and pain, fear and fearlessness. "Non-cruelty,
equanimity, contentment, austerity, donation, fame,
disrepute, these feelings of all beings arise from Me
only according to their nature. "He who is aware of My
glories is undoubtedly united with Me through unwavering
Yoga. (Bhagavadgita Chapter 10 verses 3-7)
"The great men O Partha, who have partaken Divine
Nature, worship Me without thinking of anything else,
knowing Me as the Primal Being and the Inexhaustible.
"Always singing about Me, striving with determination,
offering me obeisance, My devotees worship Me
continuously. (Bhagavadgita Chapter 9 verses 13-14)
Suggested Further Reading
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