The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Quest for the Self

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Friday, Apr 01, 2005

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Quest for the Self

CHENNAI APRIL 1. It is tempting to search for happiness in the outside world. The idea of happiness varies from individual to individual. Material possessions, or even achieving near perfection in one's work may give some joy. But the irony is that, none of these that may be attained after crossing many hurdles and difficulties, is capable of giving lasting happiness. Happiness is transitory. What appeared attractive earlier might lose its charm in due course. True happiness resides within the Self, and the purpose of life is to realise the Self. This was emphasised by Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in a teaching session with his disciple Bankim, said Swami Gautamananda in a lecture.

It is with the mind that one has to search for and identify the Atman or the Self. But the mind is overwhelmed with distractions that deter the search. Desires cause restlessness, and millions of desires of varying degrees and kinds vie for attention within the mind. Overpowering these pulls and pressures, one has to access the Atman that resides in the innermost recesses of one's being. The only ally in this inward pursuit is a persistent desire that keeps alive the search. This is a tall order for the ordinary individual. Even as a diver's successful search for precious gems in the depths of the ocean depends on his ability to reach the bottom of the seas, and he cannot succeed if he is kept afloat by being tied to a log, worldly desires cling on to the individual, hampering the search for the gem of Self-realisation. Only the yearning for the search for the Atman can counter the opposite pull of worldly attachments.

How is one to cultivate this yearning and keep it alive when the mind refuses to concentrate? The mind needs to be gently coaxed into meditation. It is akin to the practice in some homes when playful children are herded together for the evening prayer. The children have to be coaxed, persuaded and reminded that they have to meet at the particular time. God is attainable to that mind which really craves to reach Him. This is possible only by chanting God's name, listening to the stories of devotion and God's incarnation, learning about the Vedas, the Puranas and other religious texts, and seeking the company of the pious. The degree of effort needed to condition the straying mind is proportional to the extent to which worldly desires have been entrenched in it. The mind of an individual is a very powerful force. The best power one can aspire for therefore is control over one's mind.

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