Miscellaneous - Religion   

Process of realisation

CHENNAI: Many people do not understand the truth of their selves and of the Supreme Being. Scriptures are the only source of knowledge in this regard, but are difficult to comprehend. In the process of trying to understand the scriptures, three entities are involved — the knower, the source of knowledge (Sastras) along with the instrument/process through which the knowledge is to be got and the object of knowledge (God). Lord Krishna clarifies to Arjuna the truths pertaining to these three entities, and explains the purpose and value of this knowledge and the means by which the Supreme Being can be realised. He reveals the virtues, the glories and the transcendental characteristics of God and of the nature of the individual self.

The Lord makes it clear that if the truth remains hidden, it is not because there is any problem with it or with the means by which one seeks it, but because the onus of understanding is on the knower who has to have the necessary bent of mind to receive this knowledge, said Swamini Satyavratananda in a lecture. The failure on the part of an individual to recognise a flower or a tree does not imply a fault in the object or in the procedure by which it can be identified, but a deficiency in the person.

Since people are enamoured of the three Gunas and the impact of the physical world, they are not able to see the truth. The truth of God cannot be perceived by the physical eye or senses but is to be gained through the wisdom culled from the Sastras.

Only the guidance of preceptors who are realised souls can be helpful in this quest. Such preceptors can see beyond the existing world and the universe and recognise that the doer in the body is the self that is identical with the Supreme Self. But those who are of impure mind and are uninformed may even disregard the scriptures and fail to see the truth, being driven by their ego.

It is made clear that though proficiency in scriptures is necessary for gaining enlightenment, it does not guarantee it. Not all exponents of Sastras become realised souls. This is because the process of enlightenment is a matter of the quality of mind that has to be pure and free from ego.

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