Page 35 - November Cover 2017.pmd

So karma is not the means to become infinite and immortal,
liberation. Then why should we then all the sädhanäs and çästras
perform karma at all? What is are futile. And if I am already
the relevance of any sädhanä? infinite and immortal, what is
There are two main catego- the use of sädhanäs and çästras?
ries of sädhanä – karma and The problem is that even though
jïäna. The former leads to puri- I am already infinite, I think I
fication of the mind – citta- am finite; I am immortal, but
çuddhi. The sign of a pure mind feel I am mortal. This sense of
is its availability for çravaëam – finitude, of mortality, is because
listening to the scriptures in of my ignorance of my true Self.
detail, understanding it prop- Knowledge can give me
erly and clearly, without colour- liberation. Infinity is my true
ing it with one’s own ideas. nature; all I need is to know it.
This process of purification I don’t have to do anything, go
leads the seeker to a teacher. No anywhere or become something
amount of self-study can give else. Liberation is my own
this knowledge. The Guru intro- svarüpa, to be gained through
duces us to çästra and jïänam. knowledge alone. The çästras
Through çravaëam (listening to explain it through an example:
the çästras), we gain jïänam A lady is wearing a very thin
(knowledge). The nature of this and delicate gold necklace, so
jnänam is: I am already infinite. thin that the pressure is not felt
The finite cannot become on the neck. Suddenly, she feels
infinite. So, there are only two she has lost the necklace.
options: a) It is impossible for Actually, she has not lost it; she
me to become infinite. b) I am merely feels she has lost it. How
already infinite. does she gain it back? Only
If it is not possible for me to through the knowledge (jïänam)

N. RAMACHANDRA MENON Enough of being a samsari.
& FAMILY Kill the mind. This is the
golden key.
Sreyas, Pallavur,
Palakkad-District Swami Chinmayananda

Tapovan Prasad 35 November 2017