The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Liberation, ultimate aim

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 06, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Liberation, ultimate aim

CHENNAI, AUG. 6 . The only pre-requisite to succeed in life is a sense of purpose. When a person has the urge to evolve further and get closer to God he is said to have forged a relationship with God. The mind stays focused on Him and seeks out an environment conducive to God consciousness. Why do we pray to God, but to be liberated? A person may wonder why such a talk of freedom. ``I am not a slave; I am enjoying freedom, I can do as I please.'' In reality, life is a goal. But the man fails to perceive the bonds that bind him to a concentric circle of births.

The veil of illusion (maya) holds us all in its thrall. This could be cast off only when there is an increased level of devotion to God, said Sri Rama Dikshitar in his discourse.

Like a stage actor donning female roles convincingly, illusion will make the unreal appear real. The beacon of light needed to emerge from such opaqueness is devotion. Hinduism helps a devotee with a structured path in such a quest, through the four-fold aspects of dharma (virtue), artha, kama and liberation. Only if one is virtuous could one enjoy the fruits of one's labour; if one does not follow virtuous conduct then he is likely to suffer the fate of a rich man denied the pleasures of his palate, a state of affairs worse than that of being poverty stricken. The ultimate aim is freedom which is attained through devotion.

Unalloyed devotion is like a succulent fruit that ripens naturally on a tree, unlike those made to ripen and the Bhagavatham is a work which inspires similar feelings in aspirants. The text is hailed as being ``sufficient to fortify faith and devotion to God in the minds of men who hear and study it with attention.'' The subtle distinction between a man immersed in God and another who lovingly serves Him is underscored by the episode of sage Suka. A man of wisdom who attained gnana even at a foetal stage, like all great ascetics wanting to escape emotional attachments like one would want to escape from a burning house, Suka too wanted to leave behind the bonds of life. When his father, Vyasa, called out to him, fearing that earthly ties would get forged he refrained from answering and escaped. However, the same Suka returned to his father to study Bhagavatham under his tutelage. How did such a thing happen? Once Suka came across a woman singing Lord Krishna's glory; totally oblivious to her surroundings. This helped him to envision God and he turned back to Vyasa's hermitage.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Miscellaneous

News Update

Stories in this Section

The Hindu Crossword 8055

Solution to puzzle 8054

Liberation, ultimate aim

dated August 6, 1954: Diu Governor's threat

dated August 6, 1954: Kamaraj wins

dated August 6, 1954: Role of art

dated August 6, 1954: New Iraq Government

Weather