YOGIC DISCIPLINEA POINTER TO SELF REALISATION

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SRI KAMALAMBIKA DIVYACHARITAMU gives a concise account of some of the important events in Mata Kamalambika’s life, her personality and the spiritual experiences of Her devotees. Most of these experiences are miracles that show Her omnipresence and omniscience. But the description given by Her sishya-devotee, Sri.Remani Kasi Viswanatha Sastry is very striking and thought provoking.

He says that he saw a MAHA YOGINI of Motherly Compassion in Mata Kamalambika. He also adds that persons trained by Her through sadhana, shall always be responsible and highly efficient even under stress. This aspect is very important and inspiring for a sadhaka who aims at all round progress and accomplishment.

        A Yogini is one who has realised the state of YOGA. Here Yoga means UNION, FUSION or IDENTIFICATION of the self with the SELF i.e. JIVATMA with PARAMATMA. This process of integration or Yogic Discipline involves two steps.

           STEP I   : Separating oneself from Attachments that enslaves and grieves us.

          STEP II   :  Integrating with the true Self that gives everlasting Bliss by fixing a higher goal in life.

Since this Sadhana is on a mental plane, let us study the mechanism of the mind to understand the need for this Yogic Discipline.

               The mind constantly runs into the external world with a huge expectation for sense and ego gratification. In this process it develops likes and dislikes which are nourished and nurtured by one’s self, spouse, parents, friends, children etc. Now the mind is firmly seated in ignorance and makes the body perform actions which are ego centred and desire driven. Thus the person is entrapped by the mind which runs after success and happiness and hates failure and sorrow without realising its temporary nature. Mind is torn apart by attachments, worries and anxieties. This makes people suffer from perpetual sorrow. This multifarious activity of the mind is called CITTA VRITTTI.

               A person who has identified the entanglement of the mind and the consequential suffering has an intense desire to become free from this bondage. This MUMUKSHA leads one to YOGA MARGA. The first step of Yoga is to eliminate Citta Vritti. This happens by

• Withdrawing the organs of ACTION and SENSE – Karmendriyas and Jnanendriyas from running after desire laden objects.
• Developing NON ATTACHMENT towards SENSE and EGO GRATIFICATION. This is called VAIRAGYA.

VAIRAGYA or NON ATTACHMENT can’t be forced on anyone. 

           “UNLESS WE LOSE CERTAIN THINGS CONSCIOUSLY AND         VOLUNTARILY WE CAN’T GAIN THE ULTIMATE,” says Swami Ramatirtha. One develops Vairagya when he realises that attachment to the objects of the external world is the source of sorrow and grief.

              Mata Kamalambika practised and illustrated Vairagya by being unattached to material, name, fame and recognition. The Divya Charitra tells how she parted her gold bangles to her friend in need and her gold chain to a thief who tried to cheat her. There was neither regret nor a sense of pride and achievement. She counselled and guided people to overcome their problems without claiming recognition or doership. Non attachment came naturally to her. “Sunayasa Maranam is a proof for this Vairagya Bhava,” say the scriptures.

               The second step in Yoga is to fix the mind on the true Self with the help of the Intellect. This is called BUDDHI YOGA. This integration will happen only when ignorance is completely removed i.e. when one can differentiate real (SAT) from the unreal (ASAT). This evolution of the mind is called VIVEKA and occurs only when we can identify the cause of ignorance. Mata Kamalambika has pointed out the cause for this ignorance or AJNANA. When one of Her devotee-sishya lost her husband, She consoled her through Her Enlightening words and pointed out that sorrow and grief arise from ajnana.

• Ignorance is identifying the self with the body, mind and intellect which are limited, destructible and unreal (ASAT).
• Ignorance is the failure to understand that the true SELF is BOUNDLESS, ETERNAL and INDESTRUCTIBLE (SAT).

When the ignorance is removed what remain are JNANA and PURE ANANDA. Therefore a mind trained by Yogic discipline comes to rest in the SELF and finds eternal fulfilment and happiness under all conditions. A person who revels in the peace and bliss of the SELF will permanently remain in that state. They shall neither lose nor regress from this TRUE NATURE OF THE SELF i.e. Satchitananda Swaroopam of the Atman. Such a person is called YOGINI. A person steeped in this Yoga is extremely disciplined and skilful. He is capable of overcoming difficulties of any kind; converts obstacles to advantages and challenges to opportunities. He maintains mental equanimity, confidence and cheerfulness even under demanding and stressful situations. This because his actions are not driven by motives; they are treated as his ATMANUBHAVAM. Jagadacharya Sri Krishna says that

• Equanimity of mind is Yoga by saying that SIDDHYASIDDHYOH SAMO BHUTVA SAMATVAM YOGA UCYATE
• Skill in Action is Yoga by saying that TASMADYOGAYA YUJYASVA YOGAH KARMASU KAUSALAM

                                       (Chapter 2; Verses 48 and 50)

The Lord also declares that a spiritual aspirant who follows the path of yoga with Sraddha for UNION with the SELF is superior to the ascetics in penance, the learned wise men and the perfectionists of karma.

Tapavibhyo’dhiko Yogi Jnanibhyo’ pi Mato’dhikah

Karmibhyascadhiko Yogi Tasmad Yogi Bhavarjuna

Yoginamapi Sarvesam Madgatenantaraatmana

Sraddhavan Bhajate yo mam SA me Yuktamo matah

  

                                       (Chapter 6; Verses 46 and 47)

 Thus a Yogi practices:

            KARMA YOGA using his Physical Body

            BHAKTHI YOGA using his Mind

            JNANA YOGA using his Intellect

Such a Maha Yogini capable of leading others along this path and producing similar spiritual heirs in the tradition is called YOGADA as observed by Remani Kasi Viswanatha sastry in the case of Mata Kamalambika. The essence of this YOGIC ATTAINMENT and the consequent BLISS may hence be called YOGYA and YOGANANDA! Let our mind rejoice and practice the Vairagya Marga by recollecting the events of the Divyacharitra and by praising SRIMATA as

YOGINI, YOGADA, YOGYA, YOGANANDA, YUGANDHARA!

JAI SREE MATA…..