[Advaita-l] Jagadguru Speaks: Secure Atma Jnana, Escape from Birth and Death

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Around the beginning of the month, a nugget of Wisdom from the Jagadguru may be posted
on the Chaturamnaya list : http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/chaturamnaya )
 
 
https://www.tattvaloka.com/uploads/jagadguruSpeech/pdf/340566601JSpeaks--%20APRIL%202022.pdf
 
 
Atma Jnana (knowledge of the Self) is the only solution for
man to get disentangled from the cycle of births and deaths.
Devotion to Bhagavan and selfless service dedicated to Him
are the paths lucidly mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita and
other scriptures.
 
Man while performing his ordained duties, should also
contemplate on the higher values of his life. Success in
material advancement alone should not be the goal. He
should also steadily engage himself in the pursuit of higher
ideals as stated in the sastras. After being initiated by a selfrealised
Guru, he should focus on Vedanta vichara and
contemplation.
 
  यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् |
  ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ||
 (GItA 6.26)
 
For some, the mind, with its innate flaws, may not readily
pave the way to achieve success in meditation. Man should
bring back the outgoing mind and orient it towards the Self.
 
Controlling the fickle mind through rational analysis, he
should discern the truth of the distracting causes. Reducing
them to mere appearances, he should develop durable
detachment from them and bring the mind under
restraint. By frequently resorting to such practice, the
mind becomes placid and will come under his control.
 
When the mind is well-composed and well-collected, the
blessings and instructions of his Guru will yield peace
and happiness. The idea that the world itself is a mere
appearance will give rise to conviction in him, enabling
him with the required competence to escape from the
cycle of birth and death.
 
We bless everyone to understand this and engage in
efforts to secure Atma Jnana.