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Path of meditation religion

CHENNAI: An individual who desires liberation has to orient all his actions to this goal. The prerequisites for pursuing the spiritual path are well elaborated in the scriptural texts. Among them dispassion (Vairagya) is very essential to remain unperturbed by the worldly attractions that impinge on the mind all the time. Often it can be seen that a person develops detachment temporarily while suffering tragedies or setbacks in life. This may in some cases lead to pursuit of the spiritual path with fervour.

In his discourse, Sri K.Srinivasan said total detachment must be consciously cultivated if there should not be a fall from one’s spiritual nature. The Gita explains how human behaviour varies according to the sway of the three Gunas (qualities)—Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. By self-control a spiritual aspirant must make Sattva prevail over the other two in order to evolve spiritually. It is essential to overcome fear of death for a spiritual seeker with the conviction that the Self (Atman) is eternal. Though even a beginner is well aware of this it is difficult to come to terms with it. This is the reason that the Yakshaprasna in the Mahabharata (dialogue between Yama and Yudhishthira) mentions unacceptance of one’s end as the greatest wonder because even though a person confronts death in day-to-day life he is deluded into thinking that he will not be affected by it.

King Pareekshit was fortunate to know beforehand when he was going to die. So he approached the sages to save himself (though the Bhagavata Purana does not state explicitly in what manner) and he was directed to Sage Suka. He listened to the glory of the Supreme Being from such a man of wisdom that at the end of the seven days he developed unalloyed devotion to God and overcame his fear of his imminent death. The second canto of the Purana states how the delineation of the Lord’s glory (both the Absolute’s and in His descents) in the succeeding cantos is to facilitate the mind to engage in meditation (Dhyana), which will result in spiritual experience. The objective of the Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali is to develop mental concentration by training the body to become a fit instrument for spiritual pursuit.

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