Miscellaneous - Religion   

Attributes of the self religion

CHENNAI: The restlessness and uncertainty of worldly life takes its toll on individuals. The way to come out of this pressure is to seek that which is eternal, true and full of joy. This is the state of liberation that scriptures speak highly of and this is attained when one is able to distinguish clearly between the self and the non-self. Various epithets are found in the Bhagavad Gita, Stithaprajna, Samadharshi or Gunatita, to describe those who are able to rise above worldly nature and move towards spiritual maturity.

Lord Krishna details the characteristics and attributes of such people in simple terms to enable every Jivatma to aspire, emulate and follow, said Swamini Satyavratananda in a lecture. All these traits are interrelated and co existing and when one attempts to aspire for any of these, the others automatically are also gained. A Stitaprajna is one who is steadfast in the awareness of the inner self, while a Samadarshi is able to see God in all aspects of creation and view all experiences of the world with equanimity. A Gunatita is one who is able to rise above the three modes or Gunas. It is pointed out that inward effort leads to mental strength and inner purity by which one is able to blot out any trace of the Gunas that are binding. Then one is neither averse to the effects of the different Gunas nor is there any disappointment in the absence of these effects. The discrimination that separates the essential from the non-essential should become a perpetual experience. It should pervade the entire awareness and all the organs of perception and action should function with such a consciousness.

The ability to remain unaffected by the pairs of opposites, joy and sorrow, love and hate, fame and ignominy, honour and dishonour, etc, is cultivated when one renounces all selfish actions. Jnana is the experience that contains a detached attitude to worldly objects and firm faith in God. Even the prayer to the Lord is not for success or any expectation, but only for mental strength to face failures that come in one’s way. The individual seeks nothing else in life and continues to do all the ordained actions in a detached manner. With God’s grace alone can this Jnana be gained.

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