JOIN USOn the path of moral, spiritual attainments
Among the prerequisites for progressing on the path of moral and spiritual attainments is purity of mind. All religions and systems of philosophy emphasise on a mind that is free from, or at least a mind that strives for shedding its accretions of vanity, egoism, greed and prejudices.
In Indian philosophy, the Vedantic literature is a rich mine of profound and sublime thinking on the way and goal of human endeavour. One among these is the Vivekachudamani, a treatise by Adi Shankaracharya, which though purportedly a guide for aspirants aiming for worldly renunciation, is a treasure house of practical wisdom for lesser mortals engaged in worldly pursuits.
Shankara stresses on the need for controlling our wants and reducing our dependence on material possessions. Developing a gradual sense of detachment is an aid in this process. Excessive desires and wants arise due to ignorance about the real nature of things and an inability to differentiate between that which is transient and that which yields everlasting peace and happiness. This nescience is inborn and can be rooted out only by gaining the right knowledge through a preceptor. The stress here is on the right knowledge.
An oft quoted example here is that of a man seeing a piece of rope lying on the ground in twilight. He mistakes it for a serpent and is transfixed with fear. Only when the place is properly illuminated does he see the rope as it is. Similarly, people assume worldly sense objects as providers of happiness. It is only when they are properly guided by a learned and wise teacher that they realize their folly.
This cycle of desire, fulfillment and more desire is like an ocean in which everyone is trapped. One has to strive hard to escape from this trap.
All the delusions like material possessions, lust and greed are like the aquatic monsters in the ocean, ever waiting to swallow us.
It is said that the mind alone is the cause for both bondage and liberation of men. Attachment to sense objects is bondage whereas withdrawal from them leads to higher planes of realization.
Such awareness and realization requires a cleansing of the mind. This is effected by a process of listening to enriching and ennobling matters, reflecting on the same and firm,concentrated churning of these thoughts in the mind. Only such a pure mind can control the other sense organs. Listening to the expositions of the learned and wise clears the way for a continuous stream of accordant ideas.
Next in the means to acquire purity of mind is the performance of the prescribed rituals and practices. These are not, as is commonly perceived mere physical acts.
But, they serve as aids to attain mental purity.
Thus, Shankara speaks of acquiring the right knowledge through a Guru and developing a sense of detachment as the precursors for achieving steadiness of mind, which in turn leads to mental purity.