Tuesday 8 December 2020

Vivekachoodamani – Sri Shankaracharya Virachitham – The absence of Vasana/Lokavasana, Dhehavasana, and Shasthravasana is ‘Moksha’

 



Chapter 28 – Vivekachoodamani – 271 -280

 

Preceptor speaks “Whoever yearns to achieve ‘Moksha’/liberation from the Samsarakaragraha/prison-like worldly existence, would strive hard to practice to break the powerful chain of Lokavasana/I consciousness, Dhehavasana /body consciousness, and Shasthravasana/pride in the knowledge of Shastra.  Moksha is the supreme state which is free from the Triguna/attributes, it is impossible to achieve serenity of mind without following strict discipline, austerities, celibacy, Swadhyaya, Athmavichara, etc. The rich fragrant ‘Agaru’ gets foul smell with the association of dirty things, and  cannot get rid of the smell even after the wash, likewise, the Jeeva achieved all those Vasana/Lokavasana, Dhehavasana and Shasthravasana in the several births cannot be get cleaned easily, until and unless the Jeeva strive hard to follow the austerities, Athmavichara, etc. The accumulated Vasana/attributes, earned in the several births keep the Jeeva afar from the Athmavichara, like the sandalwood stick covered in dirt, and when the Sandalwood rubbed on the rock surface produces its natural scent. In this way, the Jeeva get relieved from the impurities like Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Madha, Moha and Mathshcharya, and the attachment to people, wealth, richness, possession, fame, etc… with the austerities, meditation, and contemplation, achieves serenity of the mind. The ‘Athmavasana’/attachment to Athman, Paramathma resides as the soul/ is innate in the Jeeva, the  attachment to the impermanent nature of Anathmavasthu/people, richness, wealth, money, fame, etc. drive the Jeeva far away from the supreme Bhramam. The closeness to the Athman can be achieved with the observance of austerities, Athmanishta, etc. hence the Sadhaka engage in the practice of Swadhyaya, meditation, and contemplation upon the supreme Lord. Once, the Sadhaka gets closer to the Athmanishta/Amthavichara and begins to take pleasure in it, all those attributes/Dhehavasana, Lokavasana, and Shasthravasana such as interest in worldly matters and bondage will vanish. The absence of attributes is ‘Moksha’, the Sadhaka should not fall prey to any of those attributes, and continue to undertake austerities, vows, disciplines, observe celibacy etc.  constantly engages in the various austerities, immerses in the Athmavichara/Athmarathi, and in due the course of time, the Sadhaka get rid of all the attributes accumulated in him/her achieves the supreme state ‘transcendental’ of a Yogi. I shall describe how to get rid of the attributes earned in several births, all the Jeeva has the innate qualities /Vasana such as  Rajasik,/anger, lust, desire, ego, pride, jealousy, etc. Sathvik/selflessness, honesty, purity, serenity, kindness, sincerity etc. and Thamasik/lethargy, laziness, foolishness, dullness, etc.   The Sadhaka get rid of Thamasik nature/lethargy, dullness, foolishness, laziness,/ concentrating on the Rajasik and Sathvik nature in them, further they get rid of Rajasik nature/anger, jealous, pride, ego, etc. with the Sathvik nature in them, this is how the Sadhaka gets rid of the Thamasik and Rajasik nature in them eventually achieves serenity of mind. The undeniable truth is all the Jeeva has to experience its ‘Prarabdha Karma’/fruits of Karma performed earlier; it would preserve the body while engaging in extreme austerities and Tapasya. The ‘Prarabdhakarma’ of the Jeeva keeps it alive until and unless the Karma gets closure. Yogi will not get anxious about the condition of the body while performing extreme austerities and Tapasya, with the knowledge that the body continues to exist until the Prarabdhakarma gets over. The human body, vital air/Prana, mind, or intellect is not Athman. The supreme Bhramam resides as soul/Athman is Akhanda Sacchidhanandha Swaroopa/eternal bliss, free from attributes/Triguna, the Jeeva gains all those Vasanas during the course of life due to the attachment to people, money, wealth, richness, fame, possession, etc. that has impermanent nature. The Sadhaka get rid of the impurities, interest in worldly matters and bondage with the practice of austerities, vow, observance of celibacy, Swadhyaya, Athmavichara, etc. They strive to achieve the knowledge of Paramathma Parambhramam resides as a soul through learning and listening to scriptures, understands the nature of Maya/destructible nature of Prakrithi, and the indestructible Purusha resides as a soul in the Jeeva, and  along with the practice of meditation and contemplation achieves the union with the Bhramam.”

 

Samsarakaragriha  Mokshamicchorayomayam Padha Nibadhdha Shringalam | Vadhanthi Thajja: Patuvasana  Thrayam  Yoasmadhvimuktha: Samupaithi Mukthim ||

 

Jaladhi Samparkkavashath Prabhootha  Dhurgandha Dhoothagaru Dhivyavasana | Sangharshanenaiva  Vibhathi Samyakvidhooyamane Sathi  Bahyagandhe ||

 

Antha:Shrithanandha Dhuranthavasana| Dhoolivilipthavaramathma  Vasaga | Prajjathi Sangharshanatho Vishudhdha| Pratheeyathe  Chandhana Gandhavath Sputam ||

 

Anathma  Vasana Jalaisthiro Bhoothathmavasana | Nithyathmanishtaya Thesham Nashe  Bhathiswayam  Sputa ||

 

Yadhathadha  Prathyagavasthitham Manasthadha  Thadha Munchathi Bahyvasana: | Nisshesha Mokshe  Sathi Vasananamathmanabhoothi: Prathibadhdha Shoonya ||

 

Swathmanyeva  Sadhasthiththva Mano Nashyathi Yogina: | Vasananam Kshayashchatha: Swadhyasapanayam Kuru ||

 

Thamo Dhvabhyam Raja: Sathvasathvam Shudhdhena  Nashyathi | Thasmath Sathvamavashtabhya Swadhyasapanayam Kuru ||

 

Prarabdham Pushyathi Vapurithi Nishchithya  Nishchala: | Dhairyamalambya Yathnena Swadhyasapanayam Kuru ||

 

Na Aham Jeeva: Parambhramathya Thadhvyavriththi Poorvakam | Vasana Vegatha: Praptha Swadhyasapanayam Kuru ||

 

Shruthya Yukthya  Swanubhuthyajjathva  Sarvathmyamathmana: | Kvachithabhasatha: Praptha Swadhyasapanayam Kuru ||