Shloka 9

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.

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. 

Shloka 8

Kaa Te Kaanta Kaste Putrah

          (Who is your son, who is your wife ?)

 Samsaaroyamateeva Vichitrah

                     (This world  is indeed strange)

Kasya Tvam Kah Kuta Aayaatah

                  (Of Whom Are You, Where have you come from ?)

    Tattvam Chintaya Tadiha Bhraatah

               (O, Brother, Ponder over that truth alone)

In this sloka Shri Sankara teaches how to use intelligent inquiry to counter delusion rising out of bondage of family relationships. Husband –wife or parent -child relationship should be only in the spirit of togetherness without any clinging attachment. To live in attachment being  natural to human beings, healthy detachment can be practiced only by analyzing  ‘ who really is your wife or child ‘. Since we Start and End the life journey independently, a healthy way of looking at relationships would be as  independent travelers boarding and departing once their destination is reached.

A child begins the life cycle as a clod of mud, and ends as one. So is the parent. The strange attachment between these ‘clods of mud ‘ is because of Delusion or Maya. It is indeed strange because the cause and effect are same.

Therefore it is important to contemplate upon our source and destination and what should be our duty in between. This would help us in developing the right attitude towards things and beings .

Here is a link to Bhaja Govindam  video – shows the essence .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auEwUFlB4Fc

Shloka 7

Baalastaaavat Kreedaa saktah

     Tarunastaavat Taruneesaktah

Vriddhastaavat Chintaasaktah

    Parame Brahmani Kopi Na Saktah

Brief meaning:

The childhood is lost by attachment to playful activities. Youth is lost by

attraction to women. Old age passes away by brooding/worrying over many

things. At no stage does a man turn his mind to God.

A similar message is given in Kabir’s  poem as follows-

Beet gaye din bhajan bina re

Baal awastha khel gavayi
Jab joban tab maan ghana re

Lahe karan mool gavayo
ajahoon na gayi man ki trishna re

Kahat Kabir suno bhai sadho
paar utar gaye sant jana re

Alas my life is passed away without your meditation O Lord!

I spent my child hood playing, in my youth my pride overtook me.

I have lost most of my life (principal amount) in useless pursuits and the desires of my mind and senses are still not quenched.

Kabir says listen o Sadho (seeker), the saints dwelling on His name have crossed this ceaseless ocean of the world.

The message conveyed here is primarily that while we are engaged in different activities depending on our age we have to keep the true purpose of existence at the back of our mind so that we don’t get carried away by transitory pursuits. If this is not heeded, the mind will get inextricably attached to the worldly pleasures and it would be too late to turn our mind towards the unchanging Truth when the end approaches.  To be attached to the Lord means to withdraw from the usual fields of pain-ridden sorrow – gains and losses which follow when we attach ourselves to the sense/material objects.