Ātma Jñāna Part -1

“Ātma Jñāna”

Part - 1

A young twenty-four year old seeker after spiritual knowledge had an intense longing and desire to obtain Ātma Jñāna or Knowledge of the Self. His inquiries and search led him to a reclusive being quietly living in an isolated location. So he decided to visit and see if the mahā-purusha or great being would help him with his quest for self-knowledge.

Reaching the mahā-purusha he prostrated as the Vedic Culture prescribes:

“Learn the Truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the Truth.” — The Bhagavad Gītā, 4.34.

When asked the reason for the visit he told the saintly being about his intense longing and spiritual quest. The sādhu, whose compassion knew no bounds, sat the seeker down and spoke thus: “You already know the Truth. You already possess self-knowledge. Reflect and meditate; you will certainly remember your Self.”

The seeker humbly asked for a refresher, so the sādhu spoke of the Mahāvākyas:

1. prajñānam brahma – “Prajñā is Brahman” or “Brahman is Prajñā”
   (Rig Veda, Aitareya Upanishad, 3.3.)
2. ayam ātmā brahma – “This Self (Atman) is Brahman”
   (Atharva Veda, MāMandukya Upanishad, 1.2.)
3. tat tvam asi – “Thou art That”
   (Sāma Veda, Chāndogya Upanishad, 6.8.7.)
4. aham brahmāsmi – “I am Brahman”, or “I am Divine”
   (Yajur Veda, Brihadāranyaka Upanishad, 1.4.10.)

The seeker went his way.

The next day he was back and thanked the sādhu. “That lesson was so simple and painless,” he said. “I did not have to go on a fast or perform any kind of rigorous penance or make any sacrifice. I was wandering if there was something more than what you taught me yesterday?”

“There are two more Mahāvākyas,” the sādhu said:

• So ’ham – “He am I” (also, ’Hum Sau – “I am He”)
  (Isha Upanishad.)
• Sarvam khalvidam brahma – “All of this is brahman”
  (Shvetashvatara Upanishad, 3.14.1.)

“There is nothing more to add beyond that,” the sādhu said. The humble sādhu continued, “If there is, then you should ask someone that knows.”

 

© 2016 by Swāmī Krishnānanda Giri All Rights Reserved.

Ātma Jñāna Part - 2

“Ātma Jñāna”

Part - 2

Man is by nature discontented and our young seeker was no exception. He seemed to think that there must be more than what the sādhu he met earlier had said. The process of obtaining self-knowledge could not be that simple, he thought.

Again he asked around and was told that there was another sādhu who might be able to help. So he visited the sādhu.

He found the sādhu had a large following of all kinds of people. Many of his disciples were wealthy and famous. He found the āshram to be situated in an idyllic setting that was attractive, peaceful and picturesque. It was huge and built on vast acreage with rolling hills, grassy knolls, green meadows and a forest full of trees big and small just beyond. He saw flower gardens and large plots of land dedicated to vegetables, spices and condiments. There were more than a hundred cows and calves; most of them roamed freely on the range while others rested and ruminated in a covered cow shed.

The kitchen and pantry was flush with staples and vegetables and condiments. A wonderful aroma filled the kitchen. The many cooks and their numerous helpers were constantly busy preparing the most fragrant and tasty dishes for the visitors and guests that flowed ceaselessly to the āshram campus for an audience with the sādhu.

Impressed, our twenty-four years young seeker stood in line to discuss his spiritual quest.

 

© 2016 by Swāmī Krishnānanda Giri              All Rights Reserved.

Ātma Jñāna Part - 3

“Ātma Jñāna”

Part - 3

When his turn came, he stood in front of the sādhu. “What brings you here?” asked the sādhu and the young aspirant spoke of his quest for self-knowledge. “We can certainly help you achieve your sought after goal,” said the sadhu. “However, every one that wants to learn of the Truth, a novitiate, must go through a probationary period, a trial period. During this training or studentship you will serve an apprenticeship to the master and follow his bidding unquestioningly before your initiation. At the end of the indentureship, a period of being a servant bound to service for a specified time, you will certainly be Self Realized. The scriptures prescribe that the indentureship period shall be twelve years long and it shall be the same in your case too. If you accept these terms, we can start this apprenticeship period as early as today.”

Our young aspirant agreed and a senior disciple of the sādhu made all the arrangements for his room and board. Having rested the night, he approached the sādhu for instructions. “Your task is very simple,” said the sādhu. “We have many cows here. Just go around and gather the cow dung and make cow patties. Set these cakes to dry and when dry stack them nicely in a shed. One of the disciples will show you where. After you complete this period of apprenticeship you shall be self-realized. You have my word on that.”

The aspirant did as he was tasked and twelve years went by at the end of which he did not think that he was self-realized! So he approached the master and said, “Sir, I have worked sincerely and diligently to complete my apprenticeship. Twelve years have now passed and I do not feel that I am any closer to the Truth and self-realization that you said I should have achieved.

“Something must have gone wrong,” said the master. “It has never happened before. I tell you what: for the next twelve years you tend to our bovines. Clean them, give them a good brushing, make sure they are free of ticks and that blood-sucking flies do not harm them. Feed the cattle cut grasses and other leafy greens and their fodder and hay regularly. Put fresh water in the troughs they drink from and make sure there are saltlicks placed throughout their pastureland. After you complete this period of apprenticeship you shall be self-realized. You have my word on that.”

The aspirant did as he was tasked and another twelve years went by at the end of which he did not feel that he was self-realized! So he approached the master and said, “Sir, I have worked sincerely and diligently to complete my apprenticeship. Twelve years have since passed and I do not feel that I am any closer to the Truth and self-realization that you said I should have achieved.

“That is so strange,” said the master. “Something must have gone wrong. It has never happened before. I tell you what: for the next twelve years you collect firewood from our vast estate, even from the forest. Cut them to size for our wood ovens and stack them neatly in the shed for kindling. After you complete this period of apprenticeship you shall be self-realized. You have my word on that.”

And so another twelve years went by. You can surmise what the outcome was.

The next task for the following twelve years was to manage the kitchen and dining halls. As a manager, he was to insure these were kept clean by his staff and make sure that all the visitors and guests had a wonderful dining experience. And thus another twelve years went by. You can surmise what the outcome was.

Our aspirant, now forty–eight years older, a sexagenarian, approached the master. The master heard his tale and said he realized what had not happened — the aspirant had not been initiated as a disciple! So he initiated our aspirant and said that he would immediately impart Self Knowledge.

And so he did. He said the same things as the sādhu the aspirant had first met as a young lad of twenty-four. (See: Part – 1.)

Our aspirant realized what the first sādhu had said: there was nothing beyond what the then young man had been told.

He slapped his forehead and said to himself, “I have been a simple fool indeed. I had the knowledge of the Self, the Truth, all along as that saintly person had said. I should have listened to him and meditated on the Truth just as the Upanishads state. My nature being a discontented and doubting person, I let my ego dictate things to me. I have wasted forty-eight years of my life!”

© 2016 by Swāmī Krishnānanda Giri              All Rights Reserved.

Swāmī Krishnānanda's Discipleship Criteria

Swāmī Krishnānanda Giri’s Eligibility Criteria for Discipleship

Three things are considered by Swāmī-ji for KY discipleship:

1. Eligibility
2. Qualification and Credentials
3. Competence

This write-up only covers the first item — Eligibility.

The second item comes into play after eligibility is established. Competence is the consideration of physical ability alone in conjunction with a probationary period, a trial period.

Criteria for Eligibility

These are five in number. The aspirant would be eligible if he or she finds that they can meet them in a short timeframe.

1. Age Limit. The aspirant must be out of their teens and less than forty-eight years of age. This criteria is inviolable because, as the saying goes, one cannot teach an old dog new tricks. Swāmī-ji might make an exception and relax the upper age limit by a few years if he has known the aspirant a very long time.
2. Marital Status. Single and married persons would be considered with the following caveat: as a married couple, both must satisfy all the other criteria. If otherwise eligible, both must undertake not to receive initiation from any other gurus. In other words, one spouse cannot become a disciple of and receive initiation from some other guru as this creates spousal disharmony and conflict. A household with discord is no place for practicing KY. Aspirants who are single should keep in mind that they could get married at a later date; hence would have to undertake the same pledge whether or not they are contemplating a future marriage.
3. Personal Lifestyle and Diet. Consumption of alcohol and other intoxicating substances, use of tobacco products including pān and smoking are taboo. Should one have these habits, they would have to immediately cease and desist from the use of the products. Persons dependent on such substances cannot succeed in KY. One must be an established Vaishnava vegetarian — no onions or garlic as these are considered ‘tāmasic” in nature. Swāmī-ji would permit the limited consumption of tea and coffee — maybe three to four cups, each no more than 200 ml, per day. Apart from that there are no exceptions.
4. Spousal Differences. Swāmī-ji has found that one spouse among a married couple may balk at the lifestyle and diet requirement and not wish to change. This severely restricts the sincere aspirant spouse. In order to accommodate that individual, Swāmī-ji would be willing to waive the lifestyle and diet requirement for the balking spouse so long as the balking spouse agrees to be initiated into KY along with the other spouse when the time is appropriate for the initiation. That spouse would receive initiation but would not be taught the KY techniques.
5. Apprenticeship. There is an apprenticeship period. Traditionally, it is twelve years long — in case you’re wondering, twelve years has a very significant meaning in the Vedic culture. Out of compassion and a paucity of time at hand, the master usually shortens it to half that or even a quarter of that if the aspirant presents strong qualifications and credentials and rapid progress towards the milestones. The aspirant should be prepared to perform menial tasks. This is a probationary period, a trial period. During this training or studentship, the eligible aspirant for self-realization through KY would serve an apprenticeship to the master and follow his bidding unquestioningly and meet the milestones before being eligible for initiation into KY. The aspirant would be asked to play the role of a personal assistant to the master, in effect a gofer — an assistant whose duties include menial tasks such as running errands. Milestones to measure progress would be set and would need to be met in a timely fashion.

If you think you meet these eligibility criteria, or can do so in a very short period of time, then feel free to contact Swāmī-ji to discuss your aspirations.

Swāmī-ji can be reached by e-mail: k.swami.ji@gmail.com.