Miscellaneous - Religion   

Meaningful life

CHENNAI : The Bhagavad Gita is hailed as the quintessence of the Upanishads. It was out of compassion for mankind that the Lord in His incarnation as Krishna taught the eternal truth using Arjuna as a pretext because the Upanishads cannot be easily understood by one and all. After teaching him Krishna told Arjuna that by grasping the essence of this most esoteric teaching taught by Him an individual became wise, and life as a human being became accomplished thereby reiterating that the spiritual goal is what makes life in the world meaningful.

In his discourse, Sri Goda Venketeswara Sastri said after teaching the nature of the Self (Atman) Lord Krishna had enumerated the qualities that a spiritual seeker must develop and also those that he must eschew in order to progress spiritually. When one studies the scriptural texts under a competent teacher — a man of Self-realisation— the result should follow instantly. In this case after instruction from the Lord Himself Arjuna should have experienced the Self immediately. But he needed further guidance. Vamadeva attained Self-realisation even while in the womb of his mother. This is because of the spiritual merit of his previous birth, though due to some obstruction he had not realised the goal in that life.

The reason for the delay in Self-realisation is metaphorically described in the Gita as a battle between the divine gifts in man and the demoniac qualities in him. While the divine qualities are conducive for liberation, the demoniac qualities are responsible for bondage. The virtues are: absolute fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and devotion, benevolence, control of the senses, worship, study of scriptures, austerity, uprightness, non-violence, truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, tranquillity, aversion to slander, compassion to living beings, freedom from sensuality, gentleness, modesty, abstaining from frivolous pursuits, vigour, forbearance, fortitude, purity, harmlessness and freedom from vanity. The marks of one who has a diabolic disposition are: hypocrisy, arrogance and pride, and anger, sternness and ignorance.

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

Stories in this Section

Cartoonscape
The Hindu Crossword 8897
Solution to Puzzle 8896
Meaningful life
dated April 26, 1957: Steel plant for Bokaro
dated April 26, 1957: Status of Ceylon
dated April 26, 1957: Time-speaking clock
Weather

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