Art of knowing

Learning throughout life is a human endowment. The education system helps us acquire knowledge and skills during our school and college days. Based on this knowledge and skills, one starts making a living. As we progress in life, many of us feel that contentment and peace of mind elude us for various reasons.The contentment that comes from a satisfied need turns to be transient. The major reason is that we look outside for contentment whereas the contentment is in the self.  Krishna says, “The man who rejoices in the self (atma-rathi), is satisfied with self (atma-tript) and is content with self alone, for him no duty exists” (3.17). Whatever he does or feels is in harmony with the existence.

Krishna guides us to establish ourselves in oneness, whatever may be the mode of living, to attain infinite bliss (6.28 & 6.31). When we realise this oneness, nothing more here remains to be known (7.2).Whatever may be our profession, whichever belief system we follow, whatever may be the economic condition, infinite bliss is assured once we are established in oneness. We reach the end of our learning once we attain the oneness. There are three major issues faced by us to attain oneness. It is called by different names in various cultures, and to compound the complexity, the paths prescribed by these cultures appear to contradict one another. Secondly, our senses and mind are trained to divide which prevents us from attaining oneness. Thirdly, we tend to reject what we don’t know and ‘oneness’ is completely new terrain for all of us.

Krishna clarifies that after attaining oneness, we shall not again get deluded and by which we will see all beings in the self, and in HIM (4.35). Krishna further says, “‘That (oneness)’ which is to be known is the Sustainer, Destroyer and Creator of beings; indivisible and yet existing as if divided in living beings (13.17). The Light of lights; beyond the darkness. Knowledge as well as the object and the goal of knowledge in the hearts of all” (13.18).

Senses and learning

All our learning happens through our mind and senses which are programmed to divide and judge the sense objects and situations as safe and unsafe. This quality is certainly useful to some extent for our basic survival, but it prevents us from attaining the infinite bliss of oneness. Krishna says that when the mind is perfectly tranquil and passion is calmed, supreme bliss is attained (6.27).

Krishna says that mind is powerful than senses. Intellect is more powerful than mind and self (soul) is even more powerful than intellect. If mind is controlled by the senses, then it would be a ‘reactive’ life and if intellect controls the mind, then it would be a ‘reflective’ life. He advises to use this hierarchy to go beyond the senses. The wisdom to attain the tranquil mind is in the self itself (4.38).

Krishna advises regular practice (abhyaas) of restraining the senses with determination (6.23). Even if the unsteady and restless mind wanders away, we need to bring it under control (6.26). He assures infinite bliss through this regular practice (6.28).Though HE assures yoga and well-being to His devotees (9.22); He doesn’t allow us to lose sight of regular practice with determination.

Krishna mentions swa-adhyay (study of self) as one of the divine qualities (16.1) and advised us to perform swa-adhyay like a yajna (4.28) - yajna being selfless action. In our daily lives, we are victims of shared myths like religion, caste, nationality, gender etc. They were implanted in our minds during a vulnerable stage, and they continue to influence us throughout our lives and keep creating divisions in us. We are affected differently by each side of these shared myths. Swa-adhyay is examining these myths as yajna and shedding them.

Essential qualitiesfor knowing

A natural question arises as to how to practice with determination. Krishna advises to develop three qualities to uncover the wisdom in the self and says, “Know ‘that’ by prostration, questioning and service, the wise who have realised the truth will teach you the knowledge” (4.34). He uses ‘that’ to refer to the oneness of existence.

Prostration is humility, humbleness, willingness to inculcate apparent contradictions and open-mindedness to others’ points of view -which are indications of overcoming our ahankaar. Krisha keeps humility, service of the preceptor and absence of ahankaar as jnana (wisdom) (13.8 and 13.9).

Questioning is a kind of feedback loop of electronic circuits where we question everything we say and do till questions drop. It is questioning every belief we hold. It is questioning about the way we think and act. This process will help us uncover the wisdom laying in each of us.

Service is compassion.  In the process of leaning, as we keep learning more than others, there is a chance of ahankaar getting boosted. That’s why Krishna immediately keeps service as one of the qualities for learning so that a balance is maintained. This balance is nothing but wisdom

Who is guru

The next question is who is realized guru and how to find them. In Srimad Bhagavatam, Krishna refers to a wise man who says that he has 24 gurus and learnt pardoning from the Earth; innocence from a child; detachment from air; avoiding hoarding from honeybees; Equanimity from the Sun; traps of senses from fish; and the list goes on. This implies that the guru is just around if the three qualities for learning are present within us.

Personality determines path.

Krishna says, “Some behold the Supreme Soul within themselves through meditation (dhyan); some through the cultivation of knowledge (sankhya yoga); others through the path of action (karma yoga) (13.25). There are still others who are unaware of these spiritual paths, but they listen to others (saints) and begin worshipping the Supreme Lord. They also attain immortality” (13.26).

There is no single perfect path on the spiritual journey. Depending on one’s personality, it differs from person to person. For the heart oriented, it is through devotion (bhakti) or surrender. For the intellect (buddhi) oriented it is the path of awareness (sankhya). For the mind oriented it is the path of karma (action). Though the approach, experiences and language of these paths are quite different, all of them lead to Paramatma. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna explains all these paths and our personality determines the path.