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Spiritual awareness

CHENNAI: In the Bhagavad Gita are described the qualities of a person with steadfast mind (Sthitaprajna). Such a person is an embodiment of self-control. This state of mind can be attained only with determination when the mind is willing to give up any desire for material existence. This is most essential in one’s spiritual quest but to gain this control is not easy. Jnana is attained when the mind willingly reaches the stage of no desire and Lord Krishna’s teachings about the truth of the Supreme Being, the universe, the soul and the body are a valuable guide to mankind in this quest, said Swami Omkarananda in a lecture on the Bhagavad Gita. One has to understand that the soul is immortal and see it as different from the body that is perishable. This is the basis for spiritual progress.

A person who undertakes to perform Karma yoga gets involved in daily activities but tries to do it as an offering to God without any selfish expectation of reward. He is always alert and aware of God when performing actions. This knowledge that his actions are for God purifies his mind. He derives the benefit of Chitta Sudhi or purity of mind. Since he gradually controls his senses and learns to remain unaffected by desires, greed, anger, etc., and cultivates Satwa Guna, he refrains from talking ill of others.

He has trained his mind to think of God and not of worldly matters. Thoughts of God make the philosophy of the Upanishads a day-to-day reality. The analogy of light is used to describe the Atma. The light illumines objects but is different from them. Similarly the Atma reveals the body but is distinct from it. When one recognises that this Atma is the self that pervades all existence and remains self effulgent even when the body is no more, one has gained the Jnana of the eternal truth. A person with this awareness continues to act in life but his actions are untainted.

Though it might appear that the yoga of action is different from the yoga of knowledge, the wise truly see knowledge and action as one for no matter which path one treads, the end is the same. The followers of action meet the seekers of knowledge when the ultimate truth that liberates is realised.

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