Talk On Vivek Chudamani

Author(s): Chinmayanand Swami
Publisher: Chinmay Publications Trust

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Here again we find the ordinarily known cheap methods of easy religion condemned thoroughly, since the seeker is a Vedantin and Sankara's efforts are to show him the right and direct path. In thus indicating to a student the correct path, every master has to be very severe about the cheaper by-lanes in religion. No doubt, they too can help in the progress of the individual, but they are all primary lessons.
Techniques followed in the kindergarten are not available in the college. A teacher has thus to plu individual seeker from his low marshy ruts and re-establish him on the firm grounds of the metalled-road to Truth. Here we find that the cheap and ordinary methods of self-purification, such as taking baths at the sacred confluences of rivers, in various temples and other sacred places; the desireprompted or even unselfish charities; or other muscular exercises, such as breath control or āsanas (postures) are, as a whole, condemned totally.
The modern hasty converts in Vedanta, all of a sudden, find it very convenient to give up every religious practice and call himself an accomplished Vedantin. This attitude has no sanction in the great master's advices. Here Sankara, even while condemning all the cheaper methods, is very strict and severe in prescribing what should be the more subtle and intense path of practice. For a Vedantin, he prescribes correct thinking and continuous self-analysis Merely giving up the usual methods of religious discipline is not Vedanta as practised by the great Acharya. If at all they are given up, it is only for a greater and more subtle 'Abhyās' called Vichār This Atma-'Vichār is not done in any manner as the individual likes. There is an exact method of intense and correct thinking and this method is advised in the Scriptures. Therefore, we are advised that 'Vichar should be undertaken as taught by the Great Rishis (Hitoktitah), which alone can take us ultimately to our redemption.
अधिकारिणमाशास्ते फलसिद्विर्विशेषतः। उपाय देशकालाद्याः सन्त्यस्मिन्सहकारिणः ॥१४॥