||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 88 – The practice of meditation/Bhakti Yoga - 1

The human intellect is inquisitive about material as well as spiritual matters.   It constantly undergoes conflict on various matters such as the feeling of emptiness and regret that could take away entire happiness and causes exhaustion, which can be get rid of pushing them back and moving forward with acceptance and courage. The feeling of drawn towards excessive material comforts and luxuries often creates distress and grief can get rid only with the practice of control over sense.   All the religion speaks about the ultimate destination/object and path to approach it.   Most often we do not have a clear purpose in life or how to lead it.   The scriptures talk about the various methods of worship, Shravanm, Keerthanam, Smaranam, etc.. The body is perishable, it undergoes constant transformation and dies, mind and intellect are derived from the soul are eternal.  The aimless Athman/soul takes several births;   therefore, the mind and intellect should unite with the supreme soul to get rid of the cycles of birth and death.   The practice of the union of intellect with the supreme soul is Moksha.  In order to achieve a state of liberation, it is essential to have perfect control over senses and association with the virtuous people.   Moksha is the thorough knowledge of the source of birth that obtained with the grace of the Supreme Lord, and the ultimate purpose of the soul to unite with the Supreme Lord.    Moksha is not something gained after death,  it is the knowledge of the Supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings and unites with it with the various methods of devotion.  Moksha is not achieved from the supreme Lord; it should be earned with the constant individual effort, with the continuous practice and the grace Lord one could achieve elevation of the soul and the knowledge of ‘Oneness in all’.  The Moksha is described as  ‘ Moha Kshaya Ithi Moksha’/ it is the destruction of wrong perceptions and desires.  The wrong perceptions are the willingness of mind in seeking sensual pleasures, comforts in the material world and bondage.   The Srimad Bhagavath teaches us the supreme knowledge to face any adverse situations with the serenity of mind,  it brings the knowledge to keep calm in extreme sorrow and happiness as well.  The serenity of mind can be achieved with the regular practices of meditation,  Yoga, Pranayama/breathing techniques, recitation of scriptures, contemplating upon supreme Lord with the various methods of worship etc..  It teaches us to have control over expectations and increases the capabilities to face any challenging situation with steadfastness.  The Moksha is an individual effort to achieve the state of the serenity of mind, it is the union of the soul to the supreme soul /Jeevanmukthi( acceptance of sorrow and happiness with the same state of mind), gradually the Jeevan Muktha attains Bhrama Nirvana.  Any righteous deeds such as austerities, penance, charities, fire sacrifices, vows, recitation and worship of idols, etc. performed without the knowledge of the Supreme Lord who resides as soul, will not provide Mukthi/Sadhyo Mukthi and Krama Mukthi.

Maharishi Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan/Bhoopathe, Lord Bhrama regained the knowledge of creation and began the function of creation.   We have taken birth on the Earth, performed various tasks and due to ignorance shackled with the Karma and its fruits, we are completely soaked in illusion and fastened by the worldly bondage, hence the mind and intellect are not free from trepidations, therefore it has become difficult to achieve serenity of mind.  The intellectuals even though they live in the material world, give importance to the ultimate object, not that happening in their surroundings.   The wise consider mattress as the least important thing in the presence of ground, they consider arms are enough to keep under the head instead of a pillow, they effortlessly accommodate themselves in any situation eventually attain serenity of mind.  They look upon the  paths to walk on, leaf to wear, fiber roots and fruits for consumption and caves to take shelter,  therefore an intellect finds opportunities in any adverse situation, an ignorant one miserably fail in any challenging situation.   The ignorant one, take shelter in material affairs, comforts, and bondage.   Oh! Rajan, in order to achieve serenity of mind, you have to   contemplate upon the marvelous form of supreme Lord who resides as a soul in you, he is eternal, he illuminates the living beings with his radiance.  Oh! Rajan,  practice withdrawing your mind from anything disrupting your peace, and invest your intellect and mind on that supreme Lord who is Purusha, he has a pleasing face, beautiful long eyes resemble the lotus flower petals, he has four arms holding Shankha, Chakra, Gadha, Padma, attired in majestic yellow silk garment and armlets, adorned in magnificent crown and ear ornaments,  he is decorated in various precious ornaments, Vanamala, Kausthubham,  Srivathsam, waist ornaments, and anklets.   In this way  you could calm yourself and bring the serenity of mind.  Oh! Rajan, contemplate upon the magnificent for of Lord from toe to head and repeat the same.”