Miscellaneous - Religion   

The spiritual quest

CHENNAI : The seers of the Upanishads describe spiritual knowledge as the highest wisdom, gaining which everything else becomes known. This statement must not be understood literally but its import grasped to appreciate the importance given to this knowledge. All other branches of knowledge deal with matters pertaining to the world and attaining mastery of them will enable a person to live in the world and gain name, fame and wealth by applying them. Spiritual knowledge, on the other hand, deals with the nature of the Supreme Reality (Brahman), which is beyond the grasp of the senses and the mind through which man gains all objective knowledge.

In his discourse, Sri Goda Venketeswara Sastri said the quest for supreme knowledge being the rationale of human birth a spiritual aspirant who attained it derived contentment. After Self-realisation there is no restlessness of mind nor return to bondage for a man of wisdom is liberated from rebirths.

Lord Krishna reiterated this important teaching to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, "I shall discuss once more the supreme wisdom, the best of all wisdoms, acquiring which all sages have attained highest perfection, being liberated from this mundane existence." The Lord's repetition of His teaching conveys the fact that it is not easy to grasp and hence has to be explained again and again to the seeker till he realises the Self.

The Lord has also resolved the common doubts that arise about spiritual life in the Gita. As a spiritual seeker proceeds on his quest on the basis of the scriptural teachings, there is always curiosity about what happens to one who has attained liberation. Krishna has assured in the Gita, "Those who, by practising this wisdom, have entered into My being are not born again at the cosmic dawn nor feel disturbed even during the cosmic night." Cosmic dawn refers to creation of the universe and cosmic night to the period of dissolution of the cosmos. A liberated soul thus remains unaffected by these cosmological changes. Creation of the universe proceeds with the union of spirit (Purusha) and matter (Prakriti) due to the Lord's power of Maya.

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