by Sri Bmal Mohanty
VOL No. 21
July. 2002

PREPARATIONS FOR SADHANA -Part 2

"Based on the lectures by Sri Bimal Mohanty"

The third element of preparation is Swadhyayana or self gathering of knowledge, or self effort to acquire knowledge.

It is amusing that whenever the question of spiritual knowledge comes to mind we look for a Guru, a Swami or a Pravachak and until such an opportunity comes, we are quite happy to wait. Many even find this as a convenient excuse. This is the outcome of a weak sankalpa.

While the immense beneficial effect of such teachers can not be undermined, we often fail to see that in the Lord's scheme of things, his great book of Adhyatma or spiritual knowledge remains ever open to us and all around us. His entire creation is a book of knowledge. His guidance is ever present and it is expected from all of us to use our intellect to imbibe this knowledge.

That is the first step. To remain fully aware of the principles of Adhyatma being played on the canvas of this creation is the beginning of our own consciousness. Behold this wonder, remain ever ecstatic of the many facets of this wonder and let it reveal itself like the opening of the lotus bud as the sun rises in the horizon.

The next step is to seek direct guidance from Divine souls, enlightened ones, teachers, wise men and the scriptures. In very clear terms Lord Krishna advises Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, on practical approaches to tapasya or austerity. Essential to them are reverence with a view to learn from Deva i.e Divinity, Dwija i.e persons initiated to knowledge, Guru i.e spiritual teachers, Prajnya i.e. those who have acquired enlightenment and then also swadhyaabhyasanam i.e self effort to acquire knowledge, these are part of sadhana.

In the days past there were many rishis or seers who possessed the knowledge of the Vedas and Upanishads and the students use to sit at their feet and learn from them. We had this wonderful system of Kulagurus or family preceptors. Each family adopted the tutelage of a spiritual teacher much like the family physician system. Each kingdom had a Rajaguru or a royal spiritual guide to advise on matters of righteousness and value systems. All this ofcourse we have discarded in our stupidity.

However as a small compensation we have these scriptures of ours widely available in print, through electronic media like TV internet etc. The availability is rather wider today than it was in olden days.

Study of scriptures and listening to a guru, although by all means the best form of acquiring knowledge, swdhyayana is not limited to only this form. Pathana (reading) Shravana (listening), Chintana (contemplating), Smarana (recounting attributes), Bhajana (singing the Lord's characteristics), Kirtana (mass singing) etc are all means of swadhyayana.

What is lacking is our own application to expose ourselves to these sources of ambrosia. How many of us can honestly say that they spend sometime every day in spiritual education? And even of them how many can say they contemplate on their meaning instead of doing mere ritualistic reading?. When we recite a mantra, do a japa or sing a bhajan don't we do often in a mechanical way? On the other hand what is effective is to make your mind and intellect dwell upon the meaning embedded in each mantra, each nama and each bhajan. Very little is achieved otherwise. It is said that chanting a mantra only once with feeling and understanding is more effective than hundred times repeating like a parrot. So it is with the daily study of scriptures or attending satsangs.

There is a world of difference between real swadhyayan i.e. imbibing knowledge with understanding and mere gyanarjana or knowledge gathering, In life we tend to gather a lot of superficial knowledge without kaking efforts to inquire deep into its mulatattva or true concept. This is unfortunate and even dangerous. When this happens, there is a serious setback to sadhana and all our efforts appear to be in vain.

In that beautiful upanishad Ishavasya, there is a very candid sloka which says:

Andham tamah pravishanti ye avidyaam upaasate,

Tato bhuya iva te tamo ya u vidyaayam rataah

Those who revel in avidyaa or ignorance enter into total darkness. Also those who merely remain engrossed in acquiring vidya or knowledge, enter into darkness which is even deeper.