Ethical and Spiritual Values in Vivekachoodamani: Viveka Chudamani: The Fit Student

Viveka  Chudamani: The  Fit  Student(Verses 14—17) Ø  Success demands...  ripeness; questions of time and place are subsidiary. Let the seeker after self-knowledge find the Teacher (the Higher Self), full of kindness and knowledge of the Eternal.Ultimate success in  spiritual endeavours depends entirely  on  the  degree of  qualifications in the  seeker. (14) Therefore, a  true seeker of the  Self should learn to enquire  and mediate after duly  approaching  a Guru, who is himself established   in  the  experience  of the Self and who is an  ocean of kindness(15) He who  has  keen  memory with  enough  knowledge of the world outside and  understanding  of the  world within, who can  argue for the scriptures and  refute arguments against them,  is fit for receiving the Atma-vidya.(16) He is ripe to seek the Self who is full of knowledge and wisdom, reason and discernment, and who bears the well-known marks. Ø He  alone is considered qualified to enquire after the  supreme Reality, who has  discrimination,detachment, qualities of calmness, etc. and  a burning desire for liberation(moksha).(17)He is ready to seek the Eternal who has Discernment and Dispassion; who has Restfulness and the other graces. The   Qualifications for Perfection(18-30) Ø  The  great sages have spoken of four  qualifications  for attainment which,when present,succede in the  realisation of Brahaman and  in the absence of  which the  Goal is not gained. When the Four perfections  numbered by the wise  are present there is success, but in their absence is failure. (18)  First we count the ability  to discriminate between  the  Real and the unreal ; next comes  a spirit of detachment from the enjoyment  of the  fruits of actions here; and  after that is  the group of six essentials such  as sama;  and last  is  undoubtedly a burning desire for liberation (moksha)(19)  First is counted the Discernment between things  lasting and unlasting. Next Dispassion, the indifference to self-indulgence here . Then the Six Graces, beginning with Restfulness. Then the longing for liberation.(Moksha) or a passion to redeem oneself(mumuksutvam). Ø A  certainty  like this—the Eternal is real, the fleeting world is unreal;—this is that Discernment between things lasting and unlasting. (20) A firm conviction of the intellect that Brahman alone is Real  and the phenomenal world is unreal is  known as  discrimination between the Real and the unreal. Ø Dispassion  is a perpetual willingness to give up all sensual self- indulgence—every thing lower than the Eternal, through a constant sense of their insufficiency.(21)That desire to give up all transitory enjoyments gained through  senses and also experiences  gained through   equipments ranging from  a mortal body to the  form  of Brahma is called"detachment".  Ø  The Six Graces:  are : Restfulness(sama)- a steady intentness of the mind on its goal(22);   Self-control(dama) the steadying of the powers that act and perceive, each in its own sphere, turning them back from sensuality(23);. Then the raising of the mind above external things;—this is the true Self-Withdrawal(uparati) (23). The enduring of all ills without petulance and without self-pity;—this is the right Endurance(Titiksha).(24) An honest confidence in the teaching and the Teacher;—this is that Faith(sraddha) by which the treasure is gained (25).  The intentness of the soul on the pure Eternal;—this is samadhana ( tranquility,right Meditation), but not the indulgence of fancy.(26); And The wish to untie, by discernment of their true nature, all the bonds woven by unwisdom, the bonds of selfishness and sensuality;—this is the longing for liberation ( Mumuksutva,Moksha) (27). Though at first imperfect, these qualities gradually growing through Dispassion, Restfulness, and the other graces and the Teacher's help will gain their due. When Dispassion and longing for Freedom are strong, then Restfulness and the other graces will bear fruit. But when these two—Dispassion and longing for Freedom—are lacking, then Restfulness and the other graces are a mere appearance, like water in the desert. Ø Chief among the, causes of liberation(moksha) is devotion, the intentness of the soul on its own nature. Or devotion may be called intentness on the reality of the Self.(29) Calmness and  other practices may  bear fruit indeed,but only  in  him who has  intense spirit  of  renunciation and  yearning   for liberation. Ø Sama,etc.become as ineffectual  as  the  miragein  the  desert for him whohas  weak detachment and yearning for /liberation(moksha) (30) Let the Seeker who possesses these qualifications and who would learn the reality of the Self, approach the wise Teacher (the Higher Self), from whom comes the loosing of bonds; who is full of knowledge and perfect; who is not beaten by desire, who really knows the Eternal; who has found rest in the Eternal, at peace like a fuelless fire; who is full of selfless kindness, the friend of all that lives.

Ved  Prakash