Jagadguru Speaks: A Purified Mind Gets Closer to Liberation

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Around the beginning of the month, a nugget of Wisdom from the Jagadguru may be posted
on the Chaturamnaya list : http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/chaturamnaya )
 
 
Man by nature desires happiness. To achieve this end, he undertakes all 
necessary means and engages in action (karma). His karma will fructify 
only at the appropriate place, period and time. However, he needs to 
understand that Atma-jnana (Knowledge of the Self) is alone permanent, 
and the results of all karma are only transient. 
 
As a result of actions over several lifetimes, he experiences recurring 
cycles of joy and sorrow. The bestower of the results of his actions is not an 
external entity. Rather, the results stem from his own past actions. 
 
सुखदुःखदोः न चान्योऽस्ति यतः स्वकृतभुक्पुमान्‌ ।
 
Excess desires and attachment to objects are the causes for all harmful 
consequences. Hence, a wise person will simply experience his prarabdha 
(results from past karma that follow in the present lifetime) and remain in 
the present, unattached to objects but perform the ordained karmas in a 
spirit of surrender to Isvara and strive to earn chitta suddhi (purification of 
the mind) which is essential for the pursuit of Self-knowledge. 
 
If however, he is overcome by Rajasic and Tamasic distortions that affect 
his thinking, he would soon recover to perceive the doshas (defects) in 
objects and without much ado, once again control his mind, steering clear 
of any attachment to objects. 
 
रजस्तमोभ्यां यदपि विद्रान्विक्षिप्तधीः पुनः ।
अतन्द्रितो मनो युञ्जन्दोषदृष्टिर्न सज्जते ॥
 
Such a jijnasu (seeker), through devotion to the Lord and the upadesa of 
an enlightened Guru, will strive again for chitta suddhi and progress along 
in the right path towards Moksha or liberation. 
 
Our blessings for all to understand this well and benefit in the fullness 
of time.