The Essence
of Volume 1, Chapter 20
Om Sri Gurubhyo namaha!!!
The
greatest realizable fruit of human birth is to know the ultimate Reality or
Truth. If we observe closely, we can understand that the Truth is nothing but
God. The moment realization dawns, usage of words like I and Me will no longer
linger in our minds. The rivers lose
their identity after they merge with the sea. In the same way, once Jivatma merges with Paramatma, it loses its identity. So,as
long as the Jivatma is dwelling in this body, we should aim to realize
Paramatma and that is the real meaning of human life.
To achieve realization
and to understand that philosophy there are certain activities to be compulsorily
followed as prescribed in Ashtangayoga which
consists of eight limbs namely Yama(moral
codes), Niyama(self-purification and
study), Asana( posture), Pranayama(
breath control), Pratyahara (withdrawing
of the mind from the senses), Dharana (concentration),
Dhayna ( deep meditation) and Samadhi (union with the object of meditation). The first of these
Ashtangayogas, Yama has five steps as detailed below. One who doesn’t take the
first step itself will never be able to understand Vedanta or realize
Paramatma.
A sadhaka(
one who strives) longing to see the Reality should take these steps with great
effort to reach his goal. Ahimsa (non-violence),
Satyam (truth), Asteyam (non-stealing), Brahmacharya
(celibacy) and Aparigraham (non-possessiveness)
are the five principle elements of the Yama.
Graham means possessiveness and Aparigraham
means non-possessiveness. Possessing more than what is actually required for getting
on with life is equal to stealing. When one follows the principle of
aparigraham, he gets the opportunity to see Reality and earn the grace of God.
Some religions talk about ethics, character and morality as the last steps of realization but Hindu shastras treat these characteristics as tools
for realizing sat.
(
to be concluded)
Om tat sat!!!
Om!! Santhi ! Santhi ! Santhi hi!!
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