The Trio of Foursomes - II

09/12/11

" Let your individual ego, the little chip of ice formed by the chill of ignorance, be melted away by the warmth of Knowledge and Wisdom,  and  dissolve back into the Pool of Divinity, the Omnipresent, Omniscient  Universal Consciousness "    'Spring Leaves'  by   KMG

          Hello to you all !                        Somvaar  Suprabhaath !   

       We will continue with the topic of the last week, the second and final part : 

              T H E     T R I O     O F      F O U R S O M E S          Part  2.  

       The  Second FOURSOME :  This is a desirable, implementable, rather an indispensable, foursome  for progress on the right path towards Wisdom.  This  foursome has been termed as  "Saadhana Chatushtaya"  in Vedantic texts, and amply explained therein.  The four requisites are: 1. Viveka (Discrimination)   2. Vairaagya (Non-attachment)   3.  'Shadguna  Sampatti'  (the Treasure of the six virtuous qualities), and   4. Mumumkshatwa  (Intense thirst for Liberation). Following is a brief explanation of these : 

      1.  VIVEKA :  Discriminating what is permanent from what is transient.  Reflection on That which is eternal, changeless, Omnipresent  Inner Core, the  Substratum of all that exists i.e., the Supreme Consciousness, as distinct from the Un-Atmic world of names, forms and attributes, the ever-changing flux. 

      2.  VAIRAAGYA :  Not only detachment, but a positive aversion towards the unquenchable material fleeting pleasures of this world, or even the  rewards of the next. 

      3.  SHADGUNA  SAMPATTI :  The six beneficial virtuous qualities classified as :  1. Sama  2. Dama  3. Uparathi   4. Titeeksha   5. Sraddha,   and  6. Samaadhaana.  Now a brief elaboration of these :

      (i)   Sama :  Control over the mind. Keeping it checked from its flirting around. 

      (ii)  Dama :  Control over the sense-organs, those of perception  as well as those of action  (Gnyaanendriya  as also  Karmendriya)   

      (iii) Uparathi  :  Performing acts without a sense of doership, and without overdue anxiety for the results of actions (Nishkaama Karma). 

      (iv) Titeeksha :  Patience and fortitude. An equanimous and composed attitude towards the 'pairs of opposites' like joy and sorrow, heat and cold etc. 

      (v)  Sraddha :  Single-pointed concentration and devotion towards Scriptural Texts, as also the Preceptor, and, unswerving Faith in the Divine. 

      (vi) Samaadhaana :  Composure and steadfastness arising out of a controlled mind and the sense-organs. Being rooted in such a state of mind. 

      4.  MUMUMKSHATWA :  Intense thirst for Liberation from limitations and bondages that are the root-cause of pain and sorrow. So intense that it is  akin to the single thought of a drowning person, as to how to come out of water !

      This second Foursome  indeed opens up the gateway of the path towards  Deliverance and Bliss.   

      The third  FOURSOME :  This can be termed as the  'Drishtaantha Chathushtaya'. The Foursome of illustrative examples, frequently used in explaining abstract Vedantic concepts for easier comprehension, thru examples of day-to-day experiences. 

      Before elaborating on these, here are the three cardinal precepts of Advaita :

      1. All that eternally exists  is only the  One without a second, the All-pervading Universal Existence,  Consciousness/Awareness. 

      2. That alone 'appears' as the 'many', as Its 'vibhooti', as the trio of the 'individual' (Jeeva), 'world' (Jagat), and the 'Godhead' (Iswara), and all that  includes names and forms (ideas and things), and their interactions.  In short, all that is 'observed'. 

      3. That All-pervading One  is not  Someone somewhere beyond, but, you yourself. Because, That Supreme Principle is inclusive of every being and everything, in short  all that exists.

     The above concepts are illustrated by the following four illustrative examples :  

      1.  Rope - serpent  illusion :  In dusk (semi-darkness), a piece of rope on the ground, is mistaken for a serpent that terrifies us. However, put a torch, and the illusion just vanishes !  So also, with the aid of the torch of Wisdom (Gnyaana), the  'Maaya' (Illusion) of Prakrithi (Nature) is dispelled , revealing the utter Truth, the Reality  which alone exists.

      2.  Ocean and Waves :  The waves, whirlpools, bubbles and  froth etc., all appear as many distinct forms, but are essentially nothing but water. So also, are all names, forms and activities, mere ephemeral manifestations of the One Divine Principle. 

      3.  Gold and Ornaments :  Innumerable are the ornaments which are nothing but gold, molded into the various forms. They have no independent  existence devoid of gold.  The One appearing as many. So also does the Supreme Soul merely appears as the myriad existences. 

      4.  Dream  State :  All experiences in the dream, look and sound as very real indeed, until one wakes up.  Advaita enunciates that the awakened state as well, is also a very prolonged dream, till the awakening to Truth and Wisdom, to the occurence of the Spark of Enlightenment. What is eternal is the  Suth-Chit-Ananda  alone.   

      In conclusion, let it be stated that the  'Trio of foursomes'  is only putting the torch on the path towards  Wisdom.  What indeed really  matters is, our actually treading that path.

 ' Sarvey  Janaa   Sukhinoe   Bhavanthu'.      Om  Santi  Santi  Santihi. 

      Well,  that's  it.   Wishing you all a splendid week ahead,   Krishna  M.  Gutala