SELF - EFFORT
In this world whatever is gained is gained
only by self-effort. Where failure is encountered it is seen that there has
been slackness in the effort. This is obvious. But what is called fate is
ficticious and is not seen.
Self-effort is that mental, verbal and physical action which is in accordance with the instructions of a holy person well versed in the scriptures. Self-effort is of two categories: that of past births and that of this birth. The latter effectively counteracts the former. Fate is none other than self-effort of a past incarnation. There is constant conflict between these two in this incarnation; and that which is more powerful triumphs.
Self-effort which is not in accord with the scriptures is motivated by delution. There is no power greater than right action in the present. One should overcome evil by good and fate by present effort. The lazy man is worse than a donkey. Life is ebbing away every moment. one should not revel in the filth of sense-pleasures. One who says "fate is directing me to do this" is brainless. Goddess of fortune abandons him. It is because laziness is found on earth that people live the life of animals, miserable and poverty-stricken.
What is called fate or divine will is nothing other than the action or self-effort of the past. The present is infinitely more potent than the past. They indeed are fools who are satisfied with the fruits of their past efforts and do not engage themselves in self-effort now. The wise man should know what is capable of attainment by self-effort and what is not.
Self-effort is based on these 3 factors : Knowledge of scriptures, instructions of the Guru and one's own effort. Fate does not enter here. The fruit of your endeavours will be proportional to the intensity of your self-effort. In this world, except a corpse, everything is active and such activity yields its appropriate result. The Sage Vishvaamitra became a Brahma Rishi by self-effort. hence, renounce fatalism and apply yourself to self-effort.
In the mind of man are numerous latent tendencies(Vaasanas) which give rise to various actions - physical, verbal and mental. Surely, one's actions are in strict accordance with these tendencies. The tendencies brought forward from past incarnations are of two kinds - pure and impure. The pure ones lead you towards liberation and the impure ones invite trouble. You are free to strengthen the pure tendencies. The impure ones have to be abandoned gradually. By encouraging the good tendencies to act repeatedly, strengthen them. The impure ones will weaken by disuse.Thus, when you have overcome the force of the evil tendencies, you will have to abandon even the good ones. You will then experience the Supreme Truth with the intelligence that rises from the good tendencies. As long as the highest wisdom does not dawn in the heart, the person revolves in this wheel of birth and death.
This wisdom destroys the forest of ignorance. One should therefore approach an enlightened teacher. He should then avoid unwise company. There are 4 gate-keepers at the entrance to the Realm of Freedom (Moksha). They are Self-control, Spirit of enquiry, Contentment and Good Company. The wise seeker should diligently cultivate the friendship of these. When the truth has been seen in the heart, then this very world becomes an abode of bliss.
The realised person has nothing to acquire, nor anything to shun. He is untainted by the defects of life, untouched by its sorrow. He is not affected by the past tendencies which have lost their momentum. His mind has given up its restlessnes and he rests in the bliss that is his essential nature. Such bliss is possible only by self-knowledge. Hence, one should apply oneself constantly to self-knowledge - this alone is one's duty.
The eternal is not attained by rites and rituals, by pilgrimages nor by wealth; it is to be attained only by the conquest of one's mind, by the cultivation of wisdom. All that is good and auspicious flow from self-control.
The wise man regards strength, intellect, efficiency and timely action as the fruits of enquiry. The spirit of enquiry protects one from the calamities that befall the unthinking fool. It is the absence of enquiry that gives rise to actions that are harmful to oneself and to others. One should avoid the company of such unthinking people. The eye of spiritual enquiry does not lose its sight even in the midst of all activities. What is this enquiry ? It is aking oneself "Who am I " repeatedly. Knowledge of Truth arises from such enquiry; from such knowledge there follows tranquility, peace and bliss in oneself. Enquiry is not reasoning nor analysis; it is directly looking into oneself.
Contentment is another gate-keeper to liberation. A contented person does not crave for sense-pleasures. To renounce all craving for what is not obtained unsought and to be satisfied with what comes unsought. With the rise of contentment the purity of one's heart blooms. The contented man who possesses nothing owns the world.
Yet another gate-keeper to liberation is Satsanga - the company of the wise, holy and enlightened persons. Satsanga enlarges one's intelligence, destroys one's ignorance and psychological distress. Satsanga should never be neglected. Satsanga is indeed superior to all other forms of religious practice like charity, austerity, pilgrimage, rituals, rites etc. Adore and serve the holy men. To summarise:
Contentment is the supreme gain.
Satsanga is the best companion to the destination.
Self-enquiry is the greatest wisdom.
Self-control is supreme happiness.
Try to follow them one by one. For more details please read the book: Yoga Vasishta by Swami Venkatesananda. This scripture consists of 32,000 couplets, spread over 6 Chapters :
One who studies this scripture and comprehends its teaching is no longer deluded by world-appearance.
Self-effort is that mental, verbal and physical action which is in accordance with the instructions of a holy person well versed in the scriptures. Self-effort is of two categories: that of past births and that of this birth. The latter effectively counteracts the former. Fate is none other than self-effort of a past incarnation. There is constant conflict between these two in this incarnation; and that which is more powerful triumphs.
Self-effort which is not in accord with the scriptures is motivated by delution. There is no power greater than right action in the present. One should overcome evil by good and fate by present effort. The lazy man is worse than a donkey. Life is ebbing away every moment. one should not revel in the filth of sense-pleasures. One who says "fate is directing me to do this" is brainless. Goddess of fortune abandons him. It is because laziness is found on earth that people live the life of animals, miserable and poverty-stricken.
What is called fate or divine will is nothing other than the action or self-effort of the past. The present is infinitely more potent than the past. They indeed are fools who are satisfied with the fruits of their past efforts and do not engage themselves in self-effort now. The wise man should know what is capable of attainment by self-effort and what is not.
Self-effort is based on these 3 factors : Knowledge of scriptures, instructions of the Guru and one's own effort. Fate does not enter here. The fruit of your endeavours will be proportional to the intensity of your self-effort. In this world, except a corpse, everything is active and such activity yields its appropriate result. The Sage Vishvaamitra became a Brahma Rishi by self-effort. hence, renounce fatalism and apply yourself to self-effort.
In the mind of man are numerous latent tendencies(Vaasanas) which give rise to various actions - physical, verbal and mental. Surely, one's actions are in strict accordance with these tendencies. The tendencies brought forward from past incarnations are of two kinds - pure and impure. The pure ones lead you towards liberation and the impure ones invite trouble. You are free to strengthen the pure tendencies. The impure ones have to be abandoned gradually. By encouraging the good tendencies to act repeatedly, strengthen them. The impure ones will weaken by disuse.Thus, when you have overcome the force of the evil tendencies, you will have to abandon even the good ones. You will then experience the Supreme Truth with the intelligence that rises from the good tendencies. As long as the highest wisdom does not dawn in the heart, the person revolves in this wheel of birth and death.
This wisdom destroys the forest of ignorance. One should therefore approach an enlightened teacher. He should then avoid unwise company. There are 4 gate-keepers at the entrance to the Realm of Freedom (Moksha). They are Self-control, Spirit of enquiry, Contentment and Good Company. The wise seeker should diligently cultivate the friendship of these. When the truth has been seen in the heart, then this very world becomes an abode of bliss.
The realised person has nothing to acquire, nor anything to shun. He is untainted by the defects of life, untouched by its sorrow. He is not affected by the past tendencies which have lost their momentum. His mind has given up its restlessnes and he rests in the bliss that is his essential nature. Such bliss is possible only by self-knowledge. Hence, one should apply oneself constantly to self-knowledge - this alone is one's duty.
The eternal is not attained by rites and rituals, by pilgrimages nor by wealth; it is to be attained only by the conquest of one's mind, by the cultivation of wisdom. All that is good and auspicious flow from self-control.
The wise man regards strength, intellect, efficiency and timely action as the fruits of enquiry. The spirit of enquiry protects one from the calamities that befall the unthinking fool. It is the absence of enquiry that gives rise to actions that are harmful to oneself and to others. One should avoid the company of such unthinking people. The eye of spiritual enquiry does not lose its sight even in the midst of all activities. What is this enquiry ? It is aking oneself "Who am I " repeatedly. Knowledge of Truth arises from such enquiry; from such knowledge there follows tranquility, peace and bliss in oneself. Enquiry is not reasoning nor analysis; it is directly looking into oneself.
Contentment is another gate-keeper to liberation. A contented person does not crave for sense-pleasures. To renounce all craving for what is not obtained unsought and to be satisfied with what comes unsought. With the rise of contentment the purity of one's heart blooms. The contented man who possesses nothing owns the world.
Yet another gate-keeper to liberation is Satsanga - the company of the wise, holy and enlightened persons. Satsanga enlarges one's intelligence, destroys one's ignorance and psychological distress. Satsanga should never be neglected. Satsanga is indeed superior to all other forms of religious practice like charity, austerity, pilgrimage, rituals, rites etc. Adore and serve the holy men. To summarise:
Contentment is the supreme gain.
Satsanga is the best companion to the destination.
Self-enquiry is the greatest wisdom.
Self-control is supreme happiness.
Try to follow them one by one. For more details please read the book: Yoga Vasishta by Swami Venkatesananda. This scripture consists of 32,000 couplets, spread over 6 Chapters :
| Sl. No, |
Name of Praakaranam |
Couplets |
| 01 |
Vairaagya (Dispassion) |
1,500 |
| 02 |
Mumukshu Vyavahaara
(Behaviour) |
1,000 |
| 03 |
Utpathi (Creation) |
7,000 |
| 04 |
Sthiti (Existence) |
3,000 |
| 05 |
Upashaanti (Cessation) |
5,000 |
| 06 |
Nirvaana (Liberation) |
14,500 |
One who studies this scripture and comprehends its teaching is no longer deluded by world-appearance.
