In my last post, we tried to look at the message Shri Krishna, the Jagadguru, may have had for us in the context of Atma Kripa - backing oneself
The more we understand the aspect of Atma Kripa, we appreciate its merit and the important role it plays in Mumukshutwam - the yearning for liberation.
Mumukshutwam is a stage in the journey of a Jiva, which is reached through a process of maturing, achieved by closely examining ones experiences. By proper Viveka or discrimination.
There are four categories that we can classify Astikaas - people for whom the Vedas are the primary sources of knowledge, in the context of Mumukshutwam. They are:
1. Amumukshus - People who don't want Moksha
2. Manda Mumukshus - People in whom the desire for Moksha is very feeble. Moksha is one among their goals in life. Probably the least priority, yet featuring in their goals list.
3. Madhyama Mumukshus - People in whom the desire for Moksha is the top priority. This mindset is a result of intense Pareeksha -examining their experiences and having a fairly good understanding of the permanent and ephemeral.
4. Teevra Mumukshus - People for whom Moksha is not only the topmost priority, but the only goal of life.
Let us try to examine each of these personalities.....
Amumukshus
These people are, to start with, Astikas, in that they have Veda Praamaanya Buddhi. They value the Vedas and its teachings and have the virtue of Shraddhaa. That the subject matter of the Vedas is the four Purushaarthaas - human goals, namely, Dharma - righteous living, Artha - seeking security , Kaama - seeking sense pleasures and Moksha - seeking freedom from Samsara, claiming ones true nature that is Ananda. (topics that we will look into later), is known to them.
This being so, they are interested only in Artha and Kama. Clearly not interested in Moksha - it not being seen anywhere on their goal radar!
The Vedas understand the outlook of such people and encourages them to pursue their goals. One can observe the play of Ishwara Kripa clearly even at this level.
The Vedas are called Apaurusheya - a body of knowledge not derived by the human intellect.
They have been given out by Ishwara for the benefit of mankind. Clearly proving the hand of Ishwara.
Manda Mumukshus
The Vedic vision is that every human being must achieve the purpose of his or her birth, that is, achieving the highest Purushaartha, namely Moksha. For the Vedas teach.....
With this in mind, it recommends that the individual, in addition to pursuing Artha and Kama, by performing Kaamya Karmas - selfish activities, they should also include Nitya, Vihita or Niyata karmas (compulsory, selfless activities) that form the core of Karma Yoga (a topic we will analyse later).
Since the individual is endowed with Astikya buddhi, he is confident that the Vedas, will definitely guide him correctly. With utmost Shraddha and Bhakti, he pursues the Vedic injunctions to the best of his capacity. After a while he finds that among other goals, the goal of Moksha - the search for Permanent Peace and Security - begins to feature on his goals list. It could be the 2,399th goal,
at the end of his list! Hooray! Moksha is on the Radar!
At this point, I am reminded of the formula for Happiness that Swami Chinmayananda used to interestingly present, which is oft quoted by my Guru Swami Paramarthananda.
Madhyama Mumukshu
The seeker of Moksha, has now matured, through a process of intense Viveka - Discrimination between what is ephemeral and what is relatively permanent, in terms of the peace and security he experiences, even at the Karma Yoga stage. He begins to achieve Vairayam - Dispassion towards the impermanent. His mind automatically gravitates more and more towards the permanent. At this stage, his yearning for Moksha is all consuming that it not only is his top priority, but the only priority! Phew! what a journey! He is a Teevra Mumukshu, Thank God! Of Course! It is Ishwara Kripa in action!
Thus, we have established the role that Ishwara Kripa plays in the aspects of Manushyatwam and Mumukshutwam. What remains is how Ishwara Kripa plays a role in the aspect of Mahaa-Purusha-Samshraya, which we will try to explore in the next post.
Aham Vande
The more we understand the aspect of Atma Kripa, we appreciate its merit and the important role it plays in Mumukshutwam - the yearning for liberation.
Mumukshutwam is a stage in the journey of a Jiva, which is reached through a process of maturing, achieved by closely examining ones experiences. By proper Viveka or discrimination.
There are four categories that we can classify Astikaas - people for whom the Vedas are the primary sources of knowledge, in the context of Mumukshutwam. They are:
1. Amumukshus - People who don't want Moksha
2. Manda Mumukshus - People in whom the desire for Moksha is very feeble. Moksha is one among their goals in life. Probably the least priority, yet featuring in their goals list.
3. Madhyama Mumukshus - People in whom the desire for Moksha is the top priority. This mindset is a result of intense Pareeksha -examining their experiences and having a fairly good understanding of the permanent and ephemeral.
4. Teevra Mumukshus - People for whom Moksha is not only the topmost priority, but the only goal of life.
Let us try to examine each of these personalities.....
Amumukshus
These people are, to start with, Astikas, in that they have Veda Praamaanya Buddhi. They value the Vedas and its teachings and have the virtue of Shraddhaa. That the subject matter of the Vedas is the four Purushaarthaas - human goals, namely, Dharma - righteous living, Artha - seeking security , Kaama - seeking sense pleasures and Moksha - seeking freedom from Samsara, claiming ones true nature that is Ananda. (topics that we will look into later), is known to them.
This being so, they are interested only in Artha and Kama. Clearly not interested in Moksha - it not being seen anywhere on their goal radar!
 |
| Empty Goal Radar! |
The Vedas understand the outlook of such people and encourages them to pursue their goals. One can observe the play of Ishwara Kripa clearly even at this level.
The Vedas are called Apaurusheya - a body of knowledge not derived by the human intellect.
They have been given out by Ishwara for the benefit of mankind. Clearly proving the hand of Ishwara.
Manda Mumukshus
The Vedic vision is that every human being must achieve the purpose of his or her birth, that is, achieving the highest Purushaartha, namely Moksha. For the Vedas teach.....
इह चॆदवॆदीदथ सत्यमस्ति न चॆदिहावॆदीन्महती विनष्टि: |
भूतॆषु भूतॆषु विचित्य धीराः प्रॆत्यास्माल्लॊकादमृता भवन्ति ||
भूतॆषु भूतॆषु विचित्य धीराः प्रॆत्यास्माल्लॊकादमृता भवन्ति ||
An important Mantra that occurs in the Kena Upanishad (Saama Veda)- Chapter 2, mantra 5. The first line clearly says that if a person (human being) gets Atma Jnyanam - Self-Knowledge here, he / she is indeed fortunate. He who does not make it, loses the Infinite.
With this in mind, it recommends that the individual, in addition to pursuing Artha and Kama, by performing Kaamya Karmas - selfish activities, they should also include Nitya, Vihita or Niyata karmas (compulsory, selfless activities) that form the core of Karma Yoga (a topic we will analyse later).
Since the individual is endowed with Astikya buddhi, he is confident that the Vedas, will definitely guide him correctly. With utmost Shraddha and Bhakti, he pursues the Vedic injunctions to the best of his capacity. After a while he finds that among other goals, the goal of Moksha - the search for Permanent Peace and Security - begins to feature on his goals list. It could be the 2,399th goal,
 |
| Hooray! Moksha on Radar! |
At this point, I am reminded of the formula for Happiness that Swami Chinmayananda used to interestingly present, which is oft quoted by my Guru Swami Paramarthananda.
HAPPINESS = number of desires fulfilled / number of desires!
It will be interesting to dwell on this equation a little. Let us assume that the denominator (number of desires) is 10. Let us also assume that in the numerator there is one desire that is fulfilled. Therefore, the degree of Happiness is 1/10. Progressing in this manner, when more desires are fulfilled, the happiness factor becomes 2/10, 3/10 etc, and finally 10/10, which is 1! ONE WHOLE HAPPINESS! Unfortunately, things are not as simple as they appear!
As even desires get fulfilled in the numerator, there are more desires that get added to
the denominator! This means that the factor of happiness has gone from 1/10 to 1/20! which is a
far smaller number! Thus to the utter dismay of the person concerned, he has become
more unhappy than happy! If the person is intelligent enough at this stage, he is likely to stop himself and think about it. If not, God, definitely takes him through a few more such experiences and teaches him that the level of happiness from experiences in life is infinitesimal. On account of his practice of Karma Yoga, he begins to, although feebly, think about the situation that he is in. He begins the process of examining his experiences. This is truly because of the Punyam - merits gained due to the practice of selfless actions. The desire for Moksha, begins to gain ground! It moves up the ladder! It gradually consumes (overtakes) the other desires one-by-one. It becomes a Bakaasura! - a demon known for his ravenous hunger.
On account of the diligent practice of Karma Yoga, he begins to accrue a lot of Punyam. He is able to feel the Grace of God, working in his life. His pace of life calms down, a certain serenity sets in, resulting in a closer and closer examination of his own life. A serene mind is always a learning mind. His quest for Moksha becomes more and more intense until Moksha has consumed all his other desires and has reached the top of his desire list! Even so, he is still a Madhyama Mumukshu!
Teevra Mumukshu
The seeker of Moksha, has now matured, through a process of intense Viveka - Discrimination between what is ephemeral and what is relatively permanent, in terms of the peace and security he experiences, even at the Karma Yoga stage. He begins to achieve Vairayam - Dispassion towards the impermanent. His mind automatically gravitates more and more towards the permanent. At this stage, his yearning for Moksha is all consuming that it not only is his top priority, but the only priority! Phew! what a journey! He is a Teevra Mumukshu, Thank God! Of Course! It is Ishwara Kripa in action!
Thus, we have established the role that Ishwara Kripa plays in the aspects of Manushyatwam and Mumukshutwam. What remains is how Ishwara Kripa plays a role in the aspect of Mahaa-Purusha-Samshraya, which we will try to explore in the next post.
Aham Vande
