Hari OM
'Text-days' are for delving into the
words and theory of Advaita Vedanta
SAADHANA PANCHAKAM.
FIVE VERSES ON SPIRITUAL PRACTICE. Written by Sri Adi
Shankaraachaarya. Please click on the relevant label and ensure to review the
posts till date.
Last week we saw first to keep fine company. Gradually extricating
ourselves from any previous pattern of influence from peer groups which may
drag us away from our spiritual aspiration.
Adjusting viewing, listening and reading choices is a part of this
also. Bit by bit our focus must become
single-pointed thus we can entirely devoted to the Lord and the true purpose of
life. Now let us proceed.
Second Shloka; Paada three.
Cultivate virtues such as shaanti etc.
In the workings-day posts we have been exploring what are the negative
characteristics which spoil life and latterly, the virtues which can but
developed to combat the negative. Here is a clear instruction from one of the
greatest masters of all. Learn the techniques which enable one to control the
mind from flowing out through the senses, chasing after all the flibbertygibbet
shennanigans of the world. It is not
that one should not be interested, or not have hobbies - but none of these
should block your path to the higher nor distract you from the more urgent task
of Self-search. The reference given to the virtues 'shaanti etc.' is to the shamaadhi-shatka-sampatti. In applying these correctly we begin to
develop छित्त एकाग्रत/chitta-ekaagrata (mental
single-pointedness) and चित्त शुद्धि/chitta shuddhi
(mental purity).
In each of us, the senses are doorways; the mind can go out, and the
world can come in. Border control is required!
When a corrected balance of output/input is established, when the
mind is no longer disturbed, then it naturally becomes calm - this is shaanti.
In this state the intellect gathers a greater brilliance, comprehension is
sharper; from here our meditation lengthens and strengthens.
"A peaceful mind is a significant condition of happiness. An
un-agitated mind is itself proof against all sorrows."
Paada four.
Avoid all desire-ridden actions. Be clear about your motivation! Action in and of itself is harmless. What informs the action, the intention behind
it, is what makes the difference to its effect. Actions promoted from
selflessness can help in the purification of our vaasanas. When, however,
actions are performed out of desire for the ego-self, then we are adding to our
spiritual debt and building our vaasanas. This is a challenge - to act entirely
without self-interest is extremely difficult. Even charitable acts are liable
to have a level of gratification behind them.
We wish to give, but we weigh up what can be given without in anyway
creating a loss for ourselves. To give entirely spontaneously, without any
thought for our own well-being, is difficult. Conversely, we give generously
but seek some form of recognition. If there is so much in what is essentially a
good action, how much danger is there in
our everyday, less than positive, activity??!
The end result of thoughtless and self-serving activity to cloud the
potential for divinity within ourselves.
At this point the text is moving from the instruction pertaining to
vaana-prastha and showing the final blocks we must know away before entering
sanyaasa stage of practice. We have to be very clear that the spiritual path is
one to which we can adhere and despite the stumbles and trembles we may still
encounter, it has to become our central focus, even in daily activity. The
duties which were incumbent in brahmachaarya, grhastha and v-p are now put to
the background.
Paada five.
Surrender to a perfect Master (Guru).
Time will come in the spiritual path where we burn with questions, devotion and
the need to delve ever deeper into the spirit. Finding such a perfected teacher
is not without some room for error also! There are many who can deceive and
disappoint. It has always been so but in today's fast paced world, we get
inpatient and go out looking for a 'guru'.
In matters of the soul, however, it is
not you who finds the guru; it is the guru who finds you. If you have
perfected yourself as much as you can to this point, if your heart and mind are
open and your spirit free of expectation, the teacher will appear who is right
for you. You may not even necessarily know that you are ready, but he will appear. Like a bee to a flower.
A perfect master is not only श्रोत्रीय/shrotriiya, a scholar of the Upanishads and other such texts, but will
have himself put into practice the injunctions and travelled the path. Only
thus can he know the pitfalls and thus guide you well. If you go to climb Mt
Everest, will you call on Joe Bloggs from London who read the map, or will you
follow Tensing Joe-not, who has travelled the heights and knows them not just
from paper, but from experience?
The truly experienced and learned one is to be revered. Surrender to
such knowledge this personage can share with you. Attune yourself the
declarations of the master and the scriptures. Surrender.
Paada six.
SAADHANA;
Maintain the saadhana already set, meditation, mananam and
introspection.