The Meditation Of Shuka

Vedanta

-Staff

By Staff

Monday, October 20, 2008, 15:33

Vedanta declares mental equilibrium or maintaining equipoise that flaunts naturally over oneself in all circumstances is a sign of enlightenment. Swami Chinmayananda says that the conquest of the mind is the greatest victory. For a person firmly established in the self there is no mind, meaning that he is no more in control of the mind according to Ramana Maharshi. The remainder is just pure awareness that dissolves into infinity or nothingness according to Nisargadatta Maharaj. This could verily be the definition of 'Detachment', as attachment pertains to the premises of the mind. For the one who has transcended the mind, its power games lose the potential in drawing one into the web of the mind weaved by thoughts.

Swami Vivekananda beautifully declares this truth through a story from the treasury of Indian mythology. The great sage Vyasa known as the author of the Vedic aphorisms had a son called Shuka, whom he taught the knowledge of the absolute truth himself. Sage Vyasa then sought to send Shuka to be guided under the tutorship of King Janaka, a realized soul. Hence the king was informed of Shuka's arrival.

King Janaka was addressed as Janaka Vidheka. The term 'Vidheka' would literally mean 'without a body'. He was addressed thus due to his enlightened nature of non identification with the body though leading a kingly life.

Shuka on reaching the palace of Janaka was neither asked in nor acknowledged except for a seat offered to him at the gates where he waited for three days. Such was the reception offered to the son of the great Vyasa whom the whole country adored. All of a sudden ministers and nobles of the palace received him with due respects and exposed him to kingly luxury for eight days. Shuka had maintained his composure during the extreme treatments offered to him after which he was shown to the King.
King Janaka who was on the throne amidst a lot of amusements in his court, asked Shuka to hold a cupful of milk filled to its brim and walk around the hall where the entertainments took place without spilling even a drop of milk.

The king faced Shuka having completed his order successfully amidst the distractions of the music, dance and the beautiful damsels. He said whatever he would teach him (Shuka) would only be a repetition of what Vyasa taught him and what he had learned himself. He said that he had known the truth and there was nothing more to be taught.

The story is thus an illustration of the Vedantic ideal of being unruffled at any circumstance. To be free from the clutches of the conflicting or complimenting mind is what the great masters termed as meditation.