Satsangatve Nissangatvam
Nissangatve Nirmohatvam
Nirmohatve Nisclatattvam
Nischalatattve Jeevam Muktihi
Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam
As reiterated in earlier verses, we need to learn to detach ourselves from the wordly pleasures. Vedanta says using Pratipaksha Bhavana to learn to detach ourselves. But this is easier said than done. Philosophy say dont be carried away by lust, but seek Govind. But this is a difficulty experienced by all Philosophy seekers. Adi Shankaracharya says, philosophers should come up with methods by which the seeker is able to “walk this path”. Otherwise it becomes an impractical utopia. How does one who is enjoying all wordly pleasures all of sudden go to living a recommended life? For this Shankaracharya gives a simple ‘ladder of progress” by which the climber can comfortably reach the highest reaches of perfection.
Nissangatve Nirmohatvam
Nirmohatve Nisclatattvam
Nischalatattve Jeevam Muktihi
Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam
As reiterated in earlier verses, we need to learn to detach ourselves from the wordly pleasures. Vedanta says using Pratipaksha Bhavana to learn to detach ourselves. But this is easier said than done. Philosophy say dont be carried away by lust, but seek Govind. But this is a difficulty experienced by all Philosophy seekers. Adi Shankaracharya says, philosophers should come up with methods by which the seeker is able to “walk this path”. Otherwise it becomes an impractical utopia. How does one who is enjoying all wordly pleasures all of sudden go to living a recommended life? For this Shankaracharya gives a simple ‘ladder of progress” by which the climber can comfortably reach the highest reaches of perfection.
First Step in the ladder - Satsang - In the company of the good. Our very existence is full of temptations. Lets compare our lust and passion to a fort. We can build a good one in our intellect. But how good is the fort, can it protect you against all the wordly pleasures which are like the enemy waiting outside the fort to attack you. Shankaracharya says the object fascination and enchantment is so powerful that an individual seeker cannot by himself fight it. In order to give him more strength and courage he recommends Satsang. Company of the good with good thoughts. Those who are devotees of the Lord and are themselves seekers of the highest. This is to protect him from the rising waves of passion. Now with such a congregation of good people he can build a fortress that can protect him from the magic world outside.
Second Step in the ladder - Nissangatvam - Detachment. With the influence of good people, the mind develops a secret of detachment. Everyone talking about seeking the highest. We all know its the mind that puts value to the objects. Once the mind realizes that one needs to develop detachment to the objects, the person is at the second step in the ladder.
Third Step - Nirmohatvam - Once you are detached, Because of detachment you attain a state of Nirmohatvam which is delusion of the mind. When the mind realizes that these inert objects are all part of moha(delusion), then these objects dont exist anymore in the mind.
Fourth step: Nischalatattvam - Immutable reality. When you extinguish your vasanas, then your mind starts seeing the Immutable reality.
Last Step: Jivan Mukti - When the experience of immutable reality is more established in one, then he is said to have attained Jivan Mukti or liberated in life.
On the contrary, versus 62 and 63 of Chapter 2 in Bhagavad Gita refers to the ladder of downfall. While concentrating on objects of the senses a person develops attachment to the sense objects. From attachment desires are born, from desire anger arises. From Anger delusion occurs, from delusion bewilderment of memory, after forgetfulness of memory the loss of spiritual intelligence and losing spiritual intelligence one perishes.
