How to overcome the Impediments?

    There are many impediments that impede progress of the jiva towards fulfillment. These are very subtle forces and it is very difficult to overcome them. The very first impediment is 'desire' and the next more powerful one is 'fear'. Both these are strong forts that imprison us in worldly pursuits and keep them in bondage forever. This is the reason that prompted Sri Madhwacharya to declare- "there is no chance of the soul, 'jivatman',  ever becoming free and merging in super-soul, 'paramatman'. Both the embodied and blemished soul and the pure consciousness ever remain separate. However, Shankaracharya differed on this view-point. The principle of 'advait' advocated by Sri Shankaracharya presumes the power of yoga in releasing the jiva from this bondage. The desire and fear that governs the jiva and its eternal bondage due to 'maya' can be overcome by yoga sadhana. svadhyaya, satsang, and nidhidhyasana will bring wisdom (viveka) and renunciation (vairagya) This helps the jiva to overcome desire that acts as the seed for rebirths. 'Nirasakti yoga' described by Bhagavan Shree Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita will help the jiva to overcome the worldly attractions. The senses are withdrawn from worldly objects and the mind is silenced in transcendental meditation. This takes the jiva to higher and higher levels of pure consciousness. Thus, there is a chance of the earthlings reaching to higher and higher levels and may finally reach the ultimate brahman!

    Besides desire and fear, there are many other impediments to yoga sadhana. There are the rajas, tamas, and the sattva gunas that need be overcome, followed by the ari-shadvarga (krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matsarya, irshya,etc. All these are blemishes that have to be cleansed by constant chants of Sri Hari's name, There are also injunctions, the 'dos' and 'don'ts', that are to be strictly followed. The scriptures lay down several rules such as living celibate in isolation, strict diet, and study of scriptures so as to turn inward towards 'self-realization'. All these are very difficult propositions and ordinary people are not interested in these!

   Thus, the question of attainment to 'brahman' or 'self-realization' remains an eternal problem.