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.
Sloka Three. Paada Six.
Renounce Pride. This requires
little explanation… but much mananam! As we continue to identify with BMI we
have a sense of possession; this is MY body, this is how "I" do
it. We can so very easily become
self-important, selfish and consider ourselves before, and better than, all
others. It doesn't have to be blatantly
egotistical, it is just the hard-wiring which grabs hold of our personality and
we, the observer Self, forget who we really are. The arrogance that the BMI 'me' is the
reality is what is being talked of here.
Drop that false attitude. Drop
the pride of appearances, what is the status held among all the other
bodies. It is your tool, your instrument
through which much good and positive work can be achieved. Those works also must not be prideful. Remember the instructions of shloka one. Keep
examining and note; where there is any sense of individual identity - me
against the world - where there is a feeling of injury or anger or any other
such emotion, it is the ego-self which has forgotten who it is. Let it go.
Paada Seven.
Give up the idea 'I am the body'. This is how the gurus teach. We are being reminded again, but with direct
reference now to the greatest mistake the jiiva (ego-self) makes. The Rsis
understood that the BMI had developed to such refinement that the Self could
begin to bring the roaming soul back home! They had an understanding of
evolution. Yes there was creation, but
from that creation, all else has evolved and most evolved of all is Mankind. Or
so it would think itself to be! It is due to being stuck with the body image
that the arrogance arises.
Now we have reached a stage where 'survival' must take a turn into
the metaphysical. Despite all around us continuing to evolve in the physical
sense, Mankind really has stood still.
The very fact that the Rsis of countless centuries past have given us
such personal insight to our condition… that it applies as freshly today as it
did millennia ago… makes this abundantly clear; there is only metaphysical
evolution left to us. Left, as we are,
in our physical state, we must learn to use the body for humanitarian
purpose. We must develop our mental
capacity to a transcendence of the mundane and petty nature of Maya. We must prioritise what is important and what
is frivolous, what binds us and what frees us.
More and more must begin to question their own motives rather than
looking outwards to others. In doing so,
the society moves in that direction.
After all, the personality of a society is only the sum of the component
natures which operate within it. The
predominant personality traits are what sum up any community group. We know
this. We see it in action when groups of
like-mind and need put their 'hand up' to be counted. How wonderful would it be if the largest
group was the one which agreed, 'we are not the physical, we are one in Brahman
and together we make the difference'?
It is lying there, beneath the surface. The wick has yet to be fully lit.
Paada Eight.
Give up arguments with the wise. This appears the same as paada three of this
shloka. However, here we are reminded
that the Rsis, the Gurus, the Swamis and achaaryas are who they are because
they have specialised in the subject. To question is one thing. To approach with the intention of going into
verbal battle is not only disrespectful, but rather futile.
All teachers have the aim of imparting their acquired knowledge and
experience with a view to engendering the spirit of enquiry and analytical
processes within their students. It is a
true vocation. It is only our gain to be in the presence of one who is wiser
than ourselves on a given matter.
Be respectful of the learning before you. Yes of course you must ask
your questions and voice your doubts - this is an important component of
learning - but do so with open hearts and minds and seek not to tear down or
block the responses received simply because they do not fit into the frame you
have built for yourself until this moment. Spiritually speaking, the scaffold
of your experiences is best when you allow it to be flexible, to be
restructured and made stronger. The teachings of the wise help bring you into
joy and happiness… if you permit.
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