"moksha patha"

 Chapter IX of the Bhagavd-Gita speaks of Liberation, mukti, moksha, as revealed by Sakshat Bhagavan Sri Krishna. Here it is very clear that the humans born here on the martya loka (death-knell?) have no chance of liberation, mukti or moksha. The reason is very simple. All the mortals are giverned by karma- prarabhda (past), sanchita (present), and the agami (future). Not only we suffer due past sins, or enjoy here in this life due to our past good deeds (purva punya), but go on incuring more an more of these! There seems to be no wnd to our greed. In ur desire or greed to achieve, attain, or get something we spend all our time engaging in some sort of a work (karma) or the other. This is a never-ending process with no solution in sight.

  However, Bhagavan Sri Krishna advises us (calls us fools/mudhah) through Arjuna, a confused mind (vikshipta manah), of unstable mind ( chanchala chitta), to take recourse to the principle of surrender (Sharanagati tattva) to the Higher Self, the Almighty. He clearly states, "Come to Me, I shall take care of you". maam upetya tu kounteya sarva paapebhyo mokshayishyami ma shucha, punarjanma na vidyate".

What more do we want? But, do we have unflinching faith, unswerving single-minded, firm devotion (dhrudha bhakti)? Does our ego allow us to bend our head to the 'All-powerful  Unknown'? Thus, no wonder, we are condemned to this mrutyu martya loka. Only His Grace will release us from this eternal bondage arising out of accrued fruits of past ctions, prarabhda karma. We are so folish, that we do not know where we are heading toward and never realize that we are going in a too narrow a ptha that is leading us to a dead end and, has no space even to turn back!

'Supreme Knowledge'

 The 'Supreme Knowledge', the highest knowledge one can gain, is that of spiritual nature rather than the worldly transactional one. Here it is important to note that Indian Sages, saints and great Rishis have perfected this through practical means such as yoga and scriptural studies (nidhidhyasana) under an able teacher. The spiritual knowledge gained from study of scriptures like the Veda, Upanishads should be supplemented by practical exercises as enunciated by great Sages like Sri Moudgalya Rishi, Vashishtha Muni, Vishvamitra, Sandipani, Patanjali, Jaimini, Kapila,  Achyutapreksha, Guru Sri Raghavendra Swami, Patanjali Shastri, and many others. Besides, there are a number of Ashrams and Gurukula where Samskruta Bhasha is taught and Vedic studies are conducted. Temples played a very important role in this regard. The teachers insisted that the Vedic Texts are learnt by heart and loudly chanted with phonetic perfection. A little variation in sound while uttering the syllables and words or , if misplaced in order of presentation would create havoc! For instance, the word 'amruta' (elixir) becomes 'mruta' (dead) if prefix 'a' is missing! In fact, the teachers were aware of the alternate meanings of words that numbered almost twenty and taught grammar and composition carefully. Such an ancient system of study of Vedic Texts are still practiced in many parts of India and original scriptures (samskruta grantha) are preserved in Oriental Institute, Mysore, Sringeri (Karnataka), and Kashi (Varanasi), and many other places in Kerala. Many Western scholars have shown keen interest and efforts are made to preserve these scriptures these in recent years. 

  What is this 'Supreme Knowledge'? There are almost twenty four divisions of vidya, ('Knowledge') in the Vedic tradition such as Veda, Vedanga, Veda Shakhya, and Veda Pratishakhya. etc. Jnyan Vijnyan yoga of Chapter 7 and 'akshara brahma' (The Immutable Brahman) of Ch. 8. clearly state that the attainment to the highest 'brahmn' is very easy easy (sulabha) to an adept who constantly remembers the Lord and adores Him at all times. It is satata dhyan, chintana (thinking with focused attention), manthana (churning), nidhidhyasana are advocated here in order to attain to the highest, param padam. Here it is important to note that the Benevolent Blessed Lord reiterates that not only 'Knowledge' (Jnyan), but a  Knowledge with Experience, vishesha or vishishtha jnyan. Thus, no knowledge is complete with practical experience!

"Param Padam"

  The highest seat, 'param padam' is 'brahmn'. This is also the beginning of the universe! The 'universe' (brahmanda) begins and ends with brahmn. However, it is very difficult to define the concept of universe since it is an everlasting expanding one without a trace of its beginning or end in sight! It is also called 'eternity'. the word 'sanatana' is used to explain this concept. But, it is very clear that everything that one thinks of, or perceives comes within this concept of eternal 'sanatana dharma'. Geometrically speaking, it is the point at the center (focus), as well as, the periphery. It is like the fulcrum and the outer rim of a wheel! No wheel is complete without these two- the center and the periphery of Time and space connected by the spokes of qualities (guna).  

  When we say, 'everything comes within the ambit of this running wheel of Time and Space, it is needless to say that all living beings are also governed by the same set of rules governing the space and time. The beginning of the universe may be traced to the 'Will' of the supreme Lord. 'He Willed' is the Vedic doctrine. The supreme Lord said, "I Am Alone, I Shall Become Many". Lo! there appeared the multitude of diverse universe of all organic and non-organic elements and their compounds. The first to come is the lightest of the gaseous element Hydrogen and then all others like Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, and other non-metallic and metallic elements ensued! Now, what we see as the biotic formulations of C+H+O creating numerous carbohydrates and hydro carbons form the basis of Energy and Life. L I F E is the Energy aspect, the pranic energy that sustains all living beings. This is nothing but creative Knowledge, Technology, Ability to sustain the creation and Transform objects. In a way, this Light, Intellect, Force and Energy is all that govern the universe!

 Now, once we know the basic structure of this universe  (of Elements and Compounds) it is very important to know about the purpose, the goal of creation.  In a sense, the very purpose of life is 'to know'. The question of attainment is thus answered in clear terms. One who is born human, equipped with power of thinking, ability to know, understand, should realize the true nature of the Self. The Self (Atman) is the core of the substance. It is the essence of all that exist. Hence, the goal of life is to gain 'Atma jnyan'. A person of attainment is thus the person with the knowledge of the Self. In the initial stages, it is essential to have  a realized person as the teacher who may guide in this spiritual path. Later on, one should go on a well defined path of our ancient Rishis taking recourse to study of scriptures, nidhidhyasana, yogabhyasa, and get into higher state of transcendental meditative State and realize brahmn.   

"The Problem"

  If you ask "What is the 'problem'? some say, "No problem, absolutely no problem". Not that they do not have any, but they do not want to discuss in public. Some people go on narrating their problems whether others hear them or not! They want to pour down their problems on others and lighten theirs. They feel happy only when they talk all sorts of their family problems, health and other problems with others! But, little they do realize that not all are their well-wishers and friends and may even make fun of them. 

  There are situations in life when some sudden problems appear and solutions are hard to find. If it is too unbearable, they people ask, 'Why Me?' Really problems occur due to changing conditions in personal life as well as in Nature. It is inherent nature of this world that problems occur every minute from morning to night and day after day. But, people do not realize that all mortals born here, on this earth, called the 'mrutyu loka', have to face some problems or the other in their daily life.  In fact, some problems are self-created! Their greed make them run after sensuous world and they fail to realize the true nature of this fleeting transitional world governed by time and space. The limitations imposed by time and space are not realized by the ordinary people. Only a realized 'Guru' can guide them. 

  There are different types of 'problems' created by different factors or agents. The problems created by changing weather conditions, food scarcity, failure of rains and drought, and natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, etc. may, at first, seem insurmountable. However, these are also effectively managed by disaster management techniques like weather forecasting, quick transport, rehabilitation, etc. But, the most important problems that man creates for himself is by his foolishness. In his eagerness to create more physical wealth, some people prosper by cornering resources, store essential commodities and create scarcity in market, loot and cheat in an organized manner. Even the governments of State and Centre directly or indirectly create problems for the people by several means. Lack of control over inflation, exploitation of common man by unscrupulous elements in market that lead to artificial scarcity, fluctuations in prices, as also, high taxation are some of the problems. However, wherever there are problems there are solutions.

   But, one thing is certain. There are no solutions to problems that people suffer due to their ignorance, folly, and past sins or prarabhda karma. Only God will help, that too, if one ardently prays to Him.