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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, 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" (13-7)
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 (13.12-22).
Divine Qualities
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 (16.1-3)
Suggested Further Reading
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