According to scriptures, there are 3 paths leading to God: KARM, GYAN, BHAKTI. First we shall look at Karm. What is Karm? It is Varnashram Dharm. Vedas and Smritis specify certain duties that are to be performed according to one's Varn (caste), i.e. Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra, and one's Ashram, or stage of life (celibate, householder, forest-dweller, renunciate). The path of Karm is both praised and condemned by Vedas and Shastras. Even Divine Personalities like Seeta, Lakshman, Bharat, Prahlad and the Gopis rejected the path of Karm-Dharm.
Uddhav asks Shri Krishna why so many paths came into being in the first place. Shri Krishna explains that He had specified one path for all in the Vedas. However, different interpretations of the Vedas came about in accordance with the individual interpreting them. Some paths came into being simply due to tradition. Some say Karm-Dharm is the true path; some say that to earn name and fame is the true path; for some fulfillment of desires is the true path; for others, it is in telling the truth that salvation lies. According to some, sense-control is the way to God; for some, fasting. Are any of these genuine? Shri Krishna says no, since none of these leads to God. Which is the true path? We shall continue searching.
Four Principles of Karm
There are 4 principles in the path of Karm: Karm, Vikarm, Karmyog and Karm Sanyas.
Karm is of four types: Nittya Karm (daily duties), Naimittik Karm (occasional duties), Kaamya Karm (duties performed for desire-fulfillment), and Prayashchitta Karm (duties performed for repentance). There are six most difficult conditions to be fulfilled if this path is to be followed. The fulfillment of these six conditions leads one to the celestial abode, but not to God. Karmi does not practice devotion to God, but does follow the dictates of Dharm, and hence goes to Svarg after death.
Vikarmi is one who neither practices devotion nor follows rules and regulations of Dharm. He is sent to suffer the torments of hell after death.
Karm Yog & Karm Sanyas
Karmyogi is one who practices devotion and follows rules of Karm-Dharm. He attains God because of devotion to God. Karm Sanyasi is one who follows principles of devotion but renounces Karm, and he also attains God.
Path of Karm is praised when it includes devotion; it is condemned when it excludes devotion. The Divine Ones who rejected Karm, are not at fault, for they renounced Karm in favor of devotion to God.
Gyan is Knowledge. Knowledge is of two types: theoretical and practical. Mere theoretical knowledge, without any practical experience leads one to become proud. Hence, mere theoretical knowledge is condemned by scriptures. Knowledge equipped with practical experience is praised by scriptures.
Practical knowledge is also of two types: Atma-gyan (knowledge of the self) and Brahm-gyan (knowledge of God). Atma-gyan is only partial knowledge of God, since the Atma (soul) is a part of God.
The gyani says, 'I am God.' Devotee says, 'I am a servant of God.' Through Gyan Sadhana the gyani transcends the five elements and the ego; he attains Nirvikalp Samadhi (in which there are no thoughts), but he cannot attain liberation without practicing devotion to Shri Krishna. The reason is that Rajogun (mode of passion) and Tamogun (mode of ignorance) can be transcended through Gyan Sadhana, but Sattvagun (mode of goodness) remains intact, and it can be transcended only through devotion.
To qualify for the path of Gyan, one must be completely detached from the world of desires. On the other hand, the path of Devotion is open to all, for one must be neither too attached to, nor too detached from the world to follow this path.
Gyan Vs Devotion
Even as one follows the path of Gyan, he constantly falls down, for he does not ask for the grace of God. He meditates on the nameless and formless Brahm. The devotee worships God with form (Shri Krishna), and is therefore given protection at all times. Shri Krishna declares in the Geeta, 'My devotee will never perish.' Gyani is like the baby monkey who holds on himself to its mother; while the devotee is like the kitten that is held protectively within the mouth of its mother.
And if both the gyani and the devotee follow their respective paths and attain God, is there any difference in their respective attainment? Yes. The gyani attains atma-gyan. He then worships Shri Krishna and attains Brahm-gyan, eventually merging into Brahm. He now tastes the bliss of the Impersonal Absolute. The devotee worships Shri Krishna right from the beginning, and attains Premanand (bliss of divine love). Though both are unlimited, Premanand is infinitely sweeter.
They who had tasted BRAHMANAND: the fours sons of Brahma, King Janak, Shukdev Paramhans, and Shankaracharya, renounced it after tasting PREMANAND.
We find three significant differences between Gyan and Devotion.
- It is most difficult to qualify for Gyan, but very easy to qualify for Devotion.
- Path of Gyan is extremely difficult to follow, whereas Devotion is very easy to follow.
- Brahmanand (bliss of the Impersonal Brahm, meditated upon by the gyani) pales before Premanand (bliss of God with form, worshipped by the devotee)
No comments:
Post a Comment