MIND : Its Mysteries & Its Control - Chapter-37. Swami Sivananda.

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Tuesday, August 02, 2022. 06:30. 

CHAPTER -37 : ESSENCE OF JNANA YOGA - 

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37.1 - WHAT IS JNANA?

Tattva-jnana is the release from the trammels of one’s own mind. Such a release alone leads

to the attainment of Moksha. The mind becomes of the nature of Jnana by dint of the efforts towards

spiritual direction; but becomes of the nature of the universe through Ajnana. If the mind is bathed

in the water of Jnana and cleansed of all its impurities, then the shining Moksha will disclose itself

in its native effulgence to those who strive after it. The real bliss is that which arises when the mind,

divested of all desires through the eternal Jnana, destroys its subtle form.

37-2. - THE GLORY OF JNANA YOGA

A Hatha Yogi starts his Sadhana with the body and Prana. A Raja Yogi starts his spiritual

practice with the mind. A Jnana Yogi starts his spiritual Sadhana with the Buddhi and Will. To be

more accurate a Jnana Yogi starts directly with Brahman. He repeats constantly: “Aham

Brahmasmi.” He who is attempting to fix the mind on Brahman is really doing the highest Karma

Yoga, highest Yajna, highest duty and highest charity. He need not visit Tirthas. He need not

distribute charity.

37.3 - QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE STUDENT OF JNANA YOGA

A complete detachment from the outward things, the manifold objects of sense, together

with a capacity for metaphysical abstraction and concentration on inward things are demanded

from a spiritual aspirant or an earnest seeker after Truth. The voice of the pure spirit cannot be heard

till all superficial organs cease to exist.

For the aspirant in the Jnana-Yogic path, you have the Four Means of Salvation,

Sadhana-Chatushtaya, in Vedantic preliminary practice. One of the four means is Shatsampat

(six-fold virtues). Of these six virtues, Sama, Dama and Samadhana are really Yogic practices to

control the mind. Sama represents the Chitta-Vritti-Nirodha of Raja Yogis by Vasana-Tyaga, Dama

corresponds to Pratyahara. Samadhana is Ekagrata of Yogis. Yoga and Jnana are the two wings of

the Hamsa bird (Moksha).

Sama (calmness of mind through Vasana-Tyaga) and Dama (restraint of the Indriyas) are

two important items of Shatsampat. Sama and Dama are really Yogic Kriyas. When this Sadhana is

over, you will have to take recourse to Sravana and Manana. When you take to deep Nididhyasana,

seclusion is necessary for three years.

The purification of the mind will not, by itself, bring about Brahma-Jnana. The purified

mind is rendered fit to receive the transcendental light and Ananda. You will have to take refuge in

Sravana, Manana and Nididhyasana after purifying the mind.

Sravana, Manana and Nididhyasana (hearing of Srutis, reflection and then meditation on

Brahman) are the three Vedantic processes for the attainment of Jnana (Jnanadvaita-Nishtha). This

is the ladder with three rungs through which the Vedanti ascends to Brahman. If you do Sravana or

hearing of the Srutis once, you must do Manana ten times (reflection of what you have heard) and a

hundred times or a thousand times Nididhyasana (profound and constant meditation). Then only

real fruit is attained.

A man with Antarmukha Vritti, changed angle of vision, Vairagya and Mumukshutva is

alone fit for the study of Vedanta and the practice of OM and Jnana Yogic contemplation. Such a

man only will be really benefited. When a man gets a firm conviction that names and forms are

unreal and the Adhishthana at their back is real, then it is said that his angle of vision is changed.

It is only through your dauntless energy and own indefatigable efforts that you can get

Brahma-Jnana. Guru and Sastras can show you the path and remove your doubts. Anubhava of

Aparoksha kind (direct, intuitive knowledge) is left for your own experience. A hungry man will

have to eat for himself. He who has a severe itching will have to scratch for himself.

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Next - MIND AND BRAHMAN

To be continued ....

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