Svadyaya, Sadhana And Sakshathkara

By Staff

Friday, August 7, 2009, 17:57

Svadhyaya Nma Pramadah (Tait. Up. Ch. 1 Section II Man. 1) says “Never disregard scriputural study"

Svadhyaya is a good and beneficial Sadhana which paves the way for Sakshathkara. The mind is like a fly. which sometimes sits upon the sweets and sometimes upon the feces and filth. By Svadhyaya the mind is kept in check and is not allowed to entertain any evil thoughts. The habit of Svadhyaya slowly occupies the mental field and gives taste to study more and more and awaken the divinity within oneself.

Svadhyaya is a kind of Satsang with great men of Wisdom. When scriptures are studied actually we sit before the author of those scriptures. What we read are the knowledge and the experiences of those authors. By that we the readers are benefited in the path of realizing the Truth. The words in the scriptures have got powers to transform the sinners into saints. When Svadhyaya is done/ deeply, fixed in the ideas of the author, the evil vasanas (impressions) in our mind get replaced by the good Vrtttis to act in the world beneficial to others with clear and perfect knowledge, without ego and attachments. Svadyaya gives us courage to face any event such as pain and pleasure, success and failure. etc. . etc.. that come in our life, enlighten us in the higher thoughts, inspire us in spiritual ideas and elevate us to supreme realms.

Svadhyaya is a golden key to open the doors of Athma Sakshatkara. They give us the secret of spiritual living (Sadachara). The spiritual scriptures reveal the great truths actually experienced by our sages and saints. They are the texts whose declarations hold good for all times. They give us the wonderful knowledge to live a divine life. By studying such sacred scriptures, the doors of spiritual knowledge and eternal wisdom get opened in oneself.

Svadhyaya - specially Vedantic spiritual scriptures should be read studied and discussed under the guidance of a realized soul or men of wisdom. Only experienced and realized masters can advice and guide us; How the studied and listened topics are to be discussed? And with whom? What kind of Sadhana to be practiced, to have the full benefit of the toil we have undertaken? Mere theoretical knowledge of our scriptures not only keep us in delusion and confusion in the path of our Sadhana and Sakshatkara but also give our mind a change to get involved with the pride - prejudice -aversion - jealousy and egoism.

Vidyamadha being one of the ashta madhas, one should be very careful with theoretical knowledge.

We read spirttual texts and listen to lectures. On analysing the effect of our studies and listening, we find only our mind and intellect being rewarded than our inner spirit. We have gathered more information only to speak and write. The theoretical knowledge covers the Reality by ignorance and ego, just as an embryo in the womb. Any amount of theory will be just like the recipes to a hungry man. A little joy experienced by practice is worth more than tons of theoretical knowledge. Mere theoretical knowledge binds one to the sense objects.

The do's and dont's studied in our scriptures and advised by the men of wisdom should be practiced honestly to experience the results to make ourselves firm in our conviction. Vedic texts are not story books to read and forget. They have to be studied with clear impartial mind and argued by oneself in himself. Then the agreed way of life should be practiced and lived. The experienced results should go hand in hand with the experiences of the greatmen (Guru). Thus realized inner peace and bliss should be kept up throughout life in thought, word and deed.

To be continued