Follow – up on last two pieces – Katopanishad and SOP on Nirvana-
In my earlier piece on kathopanishd I had mentioned about some ideas floating on my mind about the apparent contradictions in the two quoted verses, namely that while one had emphasis on absolute free-will, the other talked about “leaving everything to Him” kind of total saranaagathy. I had also said that I will revert.
The intervening piece on the evolutionary process to one’s final beatitude, to my mind, was helpful in further mulling over this free-will/saranaagathy debate, and to see whether there is really any contradiction at all.
The first piece compares our human body ( a gift from Him) to a chariot, and the imperative need to control our mind and senses, thru the impelling of the intellect to constantly cogitate on His naama and roopa, so as to reach the ultimate goal of everlasting happiness, and warns about giving the mind a free rein which can lead one astray. In other words, one has unshackled and absolute free-will to choose his destiny.
The second piece advocates saranaagathi. The word methinks is not adequately understood. Saranaagathy involves, surrendering to the Lord in a 24X7X60X60 second kind of affair, all the time thinking/cogitating/, unable to imagine one nano second without Him/being without a care even when He chooses to test you with privations, and finally with an unequivocal and unshakeable trust and confidence that He will deliver you. .
And as when one writes a “will” leaving behind one’s legacy, its customary to say right at the preamble that this is written in full control of your physical and mental senses, “Saranaagathy” is submission in full consciousness, in healthy physical/mental state, and an exercise undertaken with one’s “free will”. It’s, not as a consequence to, one being clueless, helpless, and in state of fear, or for that matter done in anticipation of material succor. These, misgivings, quoted partly as a preamble in the vykhyana of the verse, are prior to getting this human body; which in the Upanishad is likened to a Chariot etc……...
Thus “saranaagathy” is a surrender foregoing all traces of Ego, pride, arrogance, in the quest for that final beatification/everlasting peace and happiness/ or moksham, and is not just a “no choice” kind of SOS.
Seen in this light, I see no contradiction in the two verses under debate.
Are you folks with me so far? If yes, let me press my luck further and make an attempt at finding a co- relation between my piece on nirvana-SOP, and Man’s four purushaarthas- (4 purposes for his janma), namely Dharma, Artha, Kaama, and final beatitude-Moksha).
(Before I do that, permit me a small digression; Till the advent of kali yuga, I am unable to find one instance of “taking sanyasa” by any one of the seers, the evolved, the mumukshus etc., though the vedic texts do proclaim this stage of “yatis”. Another thing that is strikingly “missing” is reference to temples being built by any of the mythological kings. Sivalingam, salagramam, and other saguna form of worship, are found but no temples. There is an overwhelming prevalence of these in this age. I wonder why…. Let me however leave this here for future).
In my SOP piece, there is this step where, one after regarding the physical body, as a gift from Lord, makes efforts to please this, by even enduring hardships to it. This is referred to as “tapas”, which is part of the second in the quartet, after the first part namely “dharma” which is to rid ourselves of ego, pride, doing paropakharam, performing our daily anushtanams etc,.
This artha part methinks is purely confined to making our physical existence happy, healthy, gaining name fame et al. The asuras of yore, were indulging themselves almost thoroughly, in these efforts, undertook tapas, etc, and asked specifically for boons to perpetuate this happy existence. There were though exceptions like Bali, Vibhishana, etc who are immortal ( chiranjeevis).
Today’s men predominantly fit this description (no aspersions meant). We want to be happy, healthy, rich, famous, long living etc, and would continue to do “tapas” like observing “vratam”, doing yoga, also think of Him when the need arises, go to places of worship, etc …….Being a prescribed purushaartha, there can be no bar, or looking down upon these, as evidently the Lord is pleased going by the success rate, in many cases.
I am yet to come across a single instance of any “asura” having been born poor, weak, or denied every pleasure of this temporal world. Similarly today’s man especially the ones born into comfortable households, are seldom denied these comforts, including matters spiritual . Anecdotes of hair raising providential interventions, “bulava” from mataji, or ayyapan, etc, from many of this clan are not uncommon. And it’s preposterous to suggest that they are not His people. They are the ones who keep this magnum opus alive, sustaining, interesting and also entertaining. This is the very purpose of His creation. No wonder, TV soaps copy this prototype very successfully.
“Blessed are the poor” (not the exact quote) says Lord Jesus. Why? Just simply because He has noted your latent potential, and in order that you slowly develop a distaste, for this kind of routine, and transcend to the next higher “kama” and “moksha”, etc starts you off with doses of privations. It’s ones free will ( aided by His grace) that you understand / meet this squarely and ask Him what next, with absolute humility and saranaagathy bhaavam, or go to the tapas stage and ask for boons so that you can continue to amass “artham” to satiate all desires.
Kamam is another word I strongly feel is misunderstood; the word represents in its raw form “passion”. As part of the 4 purushaartham it represents ( to my mind) an overwhelming passion for the final beatitude. Remember the “varenyam” of the gayathri mantra? It’s the ultimate passion of the desirous “mumukshu”. This Kamam is that, is what I believe. Once you have this you take the final leg of the path to reach/ merge with Him.
It’s for God to judge/decide and take the call as to whether He prepares you for the next stage by giving you exact doses of privations, impelling your intellect to undertake purgatories or just impels you to do “tapas” in the form of various “boon giving” rituals, and keeps you in the “artha” stage, for some more time.
It is not unusual to find that Acharyal tells one to do a prayaschitham, while for the other, he simply says that all will be well by Saradaambaas Grace. The word commonly used is “Kshemam”. The normal day to day usage meanings of this word are “well being, secure, safe, happy etc, but a more profound meaning is “final beatitude or everlasting happiness".
One can perhaps discern a proper message from this simple word given by Acharyal. It’s our choice (free will?) and abundant Grace to know the difference. Transcending to the next stage is not an easy choice, but if He chooses, to shower His Grace, “paripakkuam’ is inevitable.
Finally there is a line from Gita “ Ashaantasya Kutah sukahm” meaning where is happiness for a mind not in peace. The privations etc will be no handicaps, if you have peace in your mind, happiness can be just deceptive.
Hence, I feel, the emphasis on the invocation of "shanthi" at the end of every vedic mantram.
OM Shanthi, shanthi, shantihi…….
Love
Vichu
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