Minimum qualification

Aug 1, 2010, 12.00am IST

Shri Shri Anandamurti.

As the sphere of knowledge increases, many secrets of the world do not remain secret. Yoga is one such. By dint of practising yoga one comes in contact with the causal factors of many secrets.
The great Yogi Sadaìshiva systematised different branches of yoga. His spouse, Paìrvati, was also a yogini; and for the welfare of humankind Shiva and Paìrvati created a practice. The questions placed before Shiva by Paìrvati and the answers given by Shiva collectively form the shaìstras.


Many important questions were placed before Shiva. These questions were known as nigama, and the answers were known as aìgama. The collective name of aìgama and nigama is Tantra. Once Paìrvati asked Shiva, "O Lord, for many duties, many posts, there are prescribed minimu m qualifications; what is the minimum qualification for attaining salvation?" Shiva said that the minimum qualification for salvation is nothing but a human body and a human mind. That is enough. Shiva said: "For attainment of salvation one should know oneself, and by knowing oneself one attains salvation."
What is Self-realisation? The human mind has three types of movements. The first is extro-internal projection, that is, an external object moving towards the inner side of existence. The second type is intro-external. The sentiment comes from the inner side and is expressed in the physical world. And the third one is movement of mind towards Spirit. "To know" means subjectivisation of external objectivity. When the external object becomes one with the objective portion of the mind, it is called knowledge.


What is Self-knowledge or Self-realisation? In this case the mind knows the spirit, that is, movement of mind is towards spirit. Now, how can the mind know the spirit when the Supreme Spirit, P arama Purusìa is the Omniscient Entity, the only Omniscient Entity?


The Supreme Entity, Parama Purusìa, is Omniscient. He not only sees what you do, He also sees what you think, what you are contemplating, what the thought-waves of your mind are. He i s Omniscient, and you are His object. He sees what you do. He is the subject, and you are the object. Then how can the mind know Him? That is, how can the mind be the subject and He the object? He sees your mind; how can your mind see Him? How can your mind accept Him as the object and your mind remain the subject?
What is the secret? It is that whatever you are doing, whatever you are thinking, you should always remember that that action of yours, your thoughts, is being witnessed by Him. If you remember this, He remains the subject and you remain the object. But wh at happens? Because you are always thinking of Parama Purusìa, indirectly He also becomes the object; although actually He is the subject and you are the object, because He is the all-witnessing faculty.


Shiva said that the minimum qualification is a human mind and a human body, and with the help of this human mind and human body one may attain salvation. One may come in His contact; because it is only the human mind that can think that Parama Purusìa is witnessing all activities and one's thoughts. Wh en one is established in this stance, it is said that one has attained salvation.