Only in quality meditation, one advances spiritually. Divine revelations are made only when our mundane consciousness is not active, which is the state of nirvikalpa samādhi. Renunciation and nirvikalpa samādhi take us forward in our spiritual journey. Even though one is realized, his existence in the material world always troubles him with mundane distractions. But for a realized person, such distractions will not disturb his perpetual union with Brahman, which always remains steadfast. It is said that injunctions or prohibitions do not apply to the one who remains with the Brahman always. In other words, precepts of śāstra-s do not apply to him; this is because, they do not apply to Brahman.
Kṛṣṇa calls such realized persons, who always remain with Brahman as Veda Puruṣa. He is the one who is above all sins. In other words, nothing is right and nothing is wrong for him, as he always stands united with Brahman. Such Veda Puruṣa-s do not run after physical and material satisfactions and as a result of which, he always remains in mental peace. Such a person is not knower of Brahman, but Brahman Himself. Kṛṣṇa further says, “The great being has his mind ever centred in me, and in consequence I manifest myself always in him.” Such a person’s mental activities cease to function due to unrelenting practice of non-attachment. He can think hardly as he always stays united with Brahman, who is Saccidānanda. It implies that those who want to advance in their spiritual goals, should always stay centred in Brahman and should not indulge in Dvaita (dual worship or worshiping a form) involving rituals, which is known as avidyā or spiritual ignorance. But this does not mean that one should shun all rituals at the commencement of his or her spiritual journey. He has to familiarise himself with all ritualistic practices and by doing so, he will be able to enter into non-ritualistic spiritual path with faith and dedication. Ritualistic path lays strong foundation for pursuing higher spiritual path. There is nothing wrong in pursuing ritualistic worship, as this sows the seed for liberation in subsequent births and not this birth.
Renunciation includes the desire for liberation, not to speak of material attachments. It is said, “He should give up all that tends to happiness in this world and ending even devotion. He can have two rags, a cloth, wooden shoes, a bamboo stick and nothing else. These are meant to sustain his life and body together.” It is said that one acquires good karmas, by serving such sannyasin-s by offering them food and shelter. Such an evolved person does not feel cold or heat. He is completely pervaded by absence of feelings. These are the qualities that should be shunned by every spiritual seeker – pride, hatred, self-praise, self-assertion, desire, revenge, pain and pleasure, anger, avarice (greed for material wealth), physical pleasure (sex), jealousy, egoism, etc. However, it all depends upon the stage in which a seeker is placed. For example, a seeker by remaining with his family cannot shun his responsibilities in maintaining his family. It is said in almost every text, that one should not become a renouncer until he completes all his duties, which he acquired on his own during this life (such as wife and children).
A true ascetic looks upon his body as if it is dead. He sees his body only as the source of Consciousness. This is in sharp contrast to a religious person who will not touch a corpse due to his religious and dualistic affinities. Such an ascetic will not find any difference between his body and Brahman. He is always free from doubts, falsified knowledge (avidyā) and illusion (an erroneous mental belief that God will appear in a particular form and grant him boons). He does not have any doubts and it is impossible for him to have any doubts in future, as he has realized that he is Brahman. That is why, he is called as an enlightened person, a jīvanmukta. What is his state? He remains in the harmony of the Self, in peace and free from all kinds of distractions and in eternally Blissful state (Brahman is Saccidānanda), revealed by all Upaniṣad-s. He does not meditate, worship forms, no devotion (devotion is related to duality) and in fact, he is nothing, but Brahman and Brahman alone. Such a man never does anything to please the world and he perpetually remains with Brahman. He does not have a rosary, nor a mantra to repeat. He does not need any accessories to be with Brahman, as he has already purged his mind to remain with Brahman eternally. He speaks less and does not indulge in any of the materialistic acts. Following things should not pursued by him – grammar, astrology, bargains; he should be away from his family and should not touch any metals, etc. If he violates, he accrues tons of sins. But such a person will never develop interest in any materialistic pleasures, as he has already tasted the Essence of Bliss. He has no responsibilities towards his family, as he has already safeguarded their future, through his hard work. He enjoys his present status of being Brahman.
Su
November 12, 2016 08:35 PM
I am most grateful for this response .......... .
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Jayanth
November 12, 2016 10:42 PM
Why is it that a realised person should not pursue astrology, grammar, metals etc
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Manblunder
November 13, 2016 12:09 PM
There is no need for him, as he always remains in perpetual state of Bliss. He is enjoying his presnece in Brahman. What is the need for him to look into mundane things? He is Brahman Himself.
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