The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Devotion fundamental to liberation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 14, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Devotion fundamental to liberation

CHENNAI, DEC. 14. Aspirants may wonder which of the recommended paths would suit them best in their individual endeavour to attain liberation. Should one opt for karma yoga or walk the devotional path or take the route of wisdom? Why do things happen as they do? It is said that a meritorious deed or sinful act gets accredited to an individual the moment he allows the thought, "I did it," to permeate his being. Since the tally thus notched up is an impediment to salvation, it is recommended that a person carry out his duties without such feeling of `I'; instead, guided by the knowledge that one is only an instrument, without personal aggrandisement.

The seekers should know that there is an inherent eternal dichotomy of object-image, or owner-instrument, as present in every one of us and hence any false thought of independence is detrimental to one's ultimate goal, said Sri Vidyadheesa Theertha, Acharya of Udipi Palimar Math, in his discourse. In the process of spiritual evolution, a devotee perceives every karmic activity as bhakti taking place according to the will of the Lord and for our ultimate benefit.

This will help counter-balance the hauntingly negative thoughts that often besiege a person in regard to rebirth and struggle. Such feelings may specially occur to a person when reading devotional poetry, which pay tribute to the cycle of birth and death. A person may debate if such songs should merely identify the problem and present it to the seeker or is there a responsibility on the part of the poet to demonstrate the spiritual linkages (between the past and current birth)? Should the divine verses not offer something more than mere reflections in tranquillity, where the mind dwells on the pseudo pleasures of this world? Many devotional scholars have attempted to assuage such doubts of aspirants in their works. The Dasas, for example, have dwelt on the core spiritual philosophy of saint Madhvacharya in their compositions.

Devotional outpourings are a rare gift to seekers since by association they play a role in purifying the mind without which a person cannot hope to aspire far in his quest. As Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad Gita, "... the faith of each is shaped by his own mental constitution. It constitutes the very being of man; therefore, whatever the nature of his faith, that verily he is."

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