Miscellaneous - Religion   

Ideal of detachment

CHENNAI: Time and again the Lord incarnates to propagate the truth of the scriptures and to enlighten mankind towards the purpose of their existence on earth. When He chose to be born to Sage Kardama and Devahuti as Kapila, this incarnation assumed tremendous significance because the Lord taught His mother Devahuti the quintessence of philosophy and religion after the realised Kardama departed to the forests, pointed out Sri B. Sundarkumar in a discourse.

The continuous chain of misdeeds entangles an individual to the material world. Being unaware of one’s inner immortal Self, every embodied being survives death and is born again. Our existence is brief and death is certain. But eternal life is the transcendence of life and death. Gaining the Jnana that confers immortality is the goal of meditation. When this is attained there is equanimity in the individual.

The mind is shown to be the most powerful gift of God to the individual. But ironically it is the mind which is the cause of both bondage and liberation. Just as a key can both bolt the padlock or unlock it when operated in opposite directions, the mind has to be utilised with delicate care so that one does not get caught in further bondage but strives to get release from Samsara.

But how is one to avoid the bondage that is inherent with birth. Does not a child get attached to its mother and as it grows shows possessiveness and liking towards objects and people? These latent impressions (Vasanas) are additional causes of bondage. This bondage can be cut only with Bhakti.

How does one develop Bhakti? Is it gained through scholarship, lineage, wealth, etc.? It can be got only through association with the pious. Such Sat Sangh is the gateway that opens the route to liberation because it offers greater opportunity to think of God.

Only God can uproot the desire for material existence and show the way to salvation. He alone is capable of cutting the knots of ignorance and doubt. Attachment leads to entanglement while detachment is an invaluable ideal to be aimed for. The most tangible purpose of His incarnations is to kindle the devotional fervour.

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