Miscellaneous - Religion   

Lord as preceptor

CHENNAI: The prime concern of Sastras is fostering the growth of dharma and revealing the ultimate goal of life. But since scriptural teachings remain esoteric due to the high philosophic nature, the Lord Himself has time and again unfolded this in simple terms as in the Bhagavad Gita or the Kapilopadesa. The focus is on the true nature of matter and spirit to emphasise one's inherent spiritual aspect that is immortal in contrast to the body that is subject to death and decay.

The Kapilopadesa contains the teachings of Kapila when the Lord was born to Sage Kardama and Devahuti and enlightened His mother in the various steps to God realisation, said Sri Neela Bala Sarma in a lecture. The quintessence of the teaching reveals the path by which one can win over the senses, which are easily attracted to worldly objects, and redirect them towards God.

The mind that is attached to sense objects is the cause of bondage to the spirit. If unattached, the same mind becomes the means of attaining immortality. There is no fault in the objects of the world. But one has to be wary of feeding the desire for those objects since this causes attachment. Then neither the senses nor the objects are capable of causing harm. It is through the senses that one is able to appreciate the beauties of nature and the greatness of God.

The determination to renounce the attachment to the body and the external world is called Vairagya (dispassion). From this step alone can one gain the true knowledge of one's self. When one is steeped in God experience, worldly attractions do not have any pull. This evolved state is a fusion of Karma, Bhakti and Jnana yogas.

Bhakti flowers in one's experience and the desire to serve God begins to take root only when one comprehends the truths of Vedanta. The path to liberation is clear to those devotees who have renounced everything else and are only desirous of service to God. The essence of bliss is felt when God is perceived in every aspect of creation and all creation as present in Him. Then everything becomes acceptable and one is able to view both joy and sorrow with equanimity.

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

Stories in this Section

Cartoonscape
The Hindu Crossword 8839
Solution to Puzzle 8838
Lord as preceptor
dated February 17, 1957: India rejects resolution
dated February 17, 1957: Soviet Foreign Minister
Weather

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu