[Advaita-l] The four qualifications of competence.

[Ganesh B]

Sadhana Chatushtaya Sampatti has more or less become a *cliché*. I felt not
much attention or importance is placed upon them. It amazes me at every
point of our spiritual journey - this is our check point as to where we
actually stand. The SCS is the Mirror and it show us ourselves just as we
are. The foundation of a spiritual journey. Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati, in
the following talk, gives the importance of the SCS.

A gentleman who had made a fairly careful study of Sri Shankara
Bhagavatpada's Bhashyas came to His Holiness.

*G:* At the beginning of the commentary on the Brahma Sutras, our Acharya
in interpreting the word "atha" (Then) has mentioned that a person becomes
competent to enter upon the study of Vedanta only after he has secured the
four qualifications known as *Viveka (Discrimination), Vairagya
(Detachment), Samadishatka (Six courses of training), and Mumukshutva
(Yearning for liberation)*. Is it even so?

*H.H*: You say that it is so mentioned by our Acharya and yet you ask me,
"Is it even so?" What do you mean by it?

*G*: Does our Acharya mean that such like myself who are in worldly life
are not qualified for study of Vedanta?

*H.H*: Is that not the meaning of the Bhashya?

*G*: Is it then wrong for us to study it?

*H.H*: How came you to doubt it? G: We have taken so much pains to study
it. Is it all waste?

*H.H*: Nothing is ever wasted. Every voluntary effort will have its own
effect. G: If there is such an effect, how can we be called incompetent?

*H.H*: Why? Who told you that an action done by an incompetent person had
not any effect?

*G*: What will be that effect?

*H.H*: Did not Sambuka engage himself in a penance for which he was not
competent and did he not get its fruit at the hands of Sri Rama?

*G*: Why? He only punished him for it.

*H.H*: Punishment was the fruit.

*G*: Does it mean then that if one engages himself in an action beyond his
competency he will be punished? This is really no fruit.

*H.H*: Why not? It is as much an effect.

*G*: If so, does it not amount to saying that if a person without the four
prescribed qualifications takes up the study of the Vedanta it is quite
wrong?

*H.H*: What doubt is there? That is why the Sastras say *"संन्यस्य श्रवणं
कुर्यात्"* "Study the Vedanta after taking Sannyasa".

*G*: Does it not tantamount to expressly prohibiting householders from a
study of Vedanta?

*H.H*: Not necessarily so. The four qualifications are imperatively
necessary for those who want to know Brahman. You do not want to know
Brahman; you want only to know what the book says. It is only curiosity
that impels you to look into it and not any other motive. Your reading will
not lead to knowledge of Brahman. It may help you to understand a few of
the thoughts; it may familiarise you with such terms as Maya, Atma and so
on which are met with frequently in such books. And the impressions so got
may be somewhat useful when really you acquire the competency. That is all.
For this, one may read it.

~ Saint of Sringeri