Yoga's
Fruition
Arjuna then
raises another fundamental question. He asks, “One who is striving with devotion
to attain the state of Yoga, but is unable to control (the mind) and is
therefore unable to attain perfection, what state does he attain? By losing both
(worldly life and spiritual perfection) is he, the deluded underperformer in the
way of realizing the Supreme Being, gets cast down (of merits and worldly
successes) like a tattered cloud? Please address this doubt of mine, because
nobody save you can relieve me of this lingering doubt.”
The answer to this question brings to us a profound assurance from
the Lord. “Partha, such a person is
incapable of getting lost (from spiritual path) here and hereafter. One who has
merits never falls into trouble (from spiritual standpoint).”
Such a person, who has once started struggling along
spiritual path, will only go upwards, even though there may be ups and downs in
that path. A person who has called upon God sincerely will never fall from grace
and lose all merits, because he is protected from such a calamity by God
Himself. Even if there are minor falls, he will bounce back and steadfastly and
devoutly follow his ideal (ishta
devata).
After he has exhausted his merits by dwelling in high heavens which
are attained by only noble souls for a very great period of time, he takes birth
amidst religious families who are prosperous and ever joyful with abundance of
spiritual wealth.
If we follow the lives of many of the great men following
spiritual paths, we’ll find that inevitably they were born unto parents who were
spiritual themselves, or in pious homes, even though they may have been poor in
a worldly sense. The spiritual fervor is then transmitted to their offspring who
is able to grow and gain knowledge under their tutelage and thus gradually
attain the state of perfection over time.
Sometimes they are born among Yogis, which is a rare feat, because
such a birth gives them immense opportunity to pursue their unfinished agenda of
attaining perfection in the present life. Therefore they begin pursuing the goal
of perfection with all their heart, starting from where they had finished
earlier. This propensity to seek the perfection or Siddhi comes naturally to them and they
strive to attain the highest realization.
He is thus drawn towards the path of Yoga by the habit cultivated through the
practice of previous lives, almost as if unwittingly, until he begins serious
striving. Even by being merely an enquirer (about existence of God), his
previous practices can catapult him to pass the stage which is attained through
knowledge of the Vedas.
Narendranath Dutta or Swami Vivekananda was a great example.
He was initially an enquirer, when he had asked everybody, including
Debendranath Tagore, whether they had seen God. But he was already far advanced
in Yoga, as was evident when he could receive with ease the great powers which
were bestowed upon him and could realize the supreme state at his will. He was a
master Yogi who was already perfect and had descended for the benefit of the
mankind as the great teacher of the age.
However those Yogis who
strive with great devotion and dedication and thereby attain purity, over a
period of many life times of endeavor, finally reach that great and eternal
abode from where there is no return (to the world of mortals).
Lord Krishna concluded thus, “A Yogi is thus greater than ascetics,
according to Me he is even greater than the men of divine wisdom, he is greater
than the persons engaged in great activities and sacrifices. Therefore Arjuna, be a Yogi.”
“However,” He continued, “Among Yogis I consider those to be the
greatest who are sincerely and steadfastly devoted to Me by their heart and
soul. The devotee Yogi who worships
Me is the best among all.”
Lord therefore provides all His devotees a great assurance.
Good work is never lost. One is bound to reap fruits of it in one life or the
other. If one strives sincerely for attaining the supreme knowledge or devotion
one is bound to get it, may be in some other life. One who has begun his journey
on the path of Self discovery or for seeking the supreme truth is never lost.
Such a Yogi attains perfection in the
end.
No comments:
Post a Comment