Sādhana-Chatustaya - The Four Pillars of Knowledge
Viveka: right understanding, discrimination, discrimination knowledge, discrimination between the real and unreal (sat and asat), permanent and the temporary (nitya and anitya), self and not-self (atman and anatman)
Vairāgya: mental state of dispassion, non-attachment to objects of
senses, aversion to all sensual enjoyments, detachment, disgust
Mumukshutva: strong yearning for liberation, burning desire for liberation
Shatsampat: the six perfections
- Shama: peace of mind, control of mind, calmness,
- Dama: control of the senses, self-control
- Uparati: renouncing anything that doesn't fit your dharma
- Titiksha: give up physical comforts, toleration
- Shraddha: trusting and having faith in the path of Yoga
- Samadhana: total concentration and focus of the mind
Definition of Vairagya
Vairagya means dispassion, non-attachment, simple acceptance, which is free from attachment. Your senses recognize objects, but you are not attached to them, nor does the mind cut itself from them. Vairagya is a state where one is calm and tranquil in the middle of turbulent events of life. Vairagya is actually a mental state, mental detachment. Vairagya is the source of bliss. Vairagya is absence of sensual craving and desires, detachment, supreme dispassion. At Para Vairagya it becomes spontaneous, and the mind is in perfect equanimity. All modification are dissolved and become abstract thoughts.
Few would exhibit such intense Vairagya at such an early age. Swami Satyananda is full of Nachiketa Vairagya. - Swami Sivananda
Superior and the Inferior types of Vairagya
The former is a dislike for the good things in life, here or hereafter. You understand that good things cannot be acquired or preserved without trouble. Since they are impermanent, their loss will cause pain. Furthermore, the process of acquisition is always influenced by egoistic feelings. However, the latter is based on a clear perception of the difference between intelligence and the objects that appear in its light.
Vairagya as a method for control of Indriyas
Indriyas are in constant grasp with their objects. Much of the energy is lost during this process. In order to overcome this, you should control Indriyas through introspection and restraint of the senses. Therefore, please inspect which Indriya is grasping at which object and give one after another up. Fix your mind on Ishta Devata, observer Brahmacharya, and destroy the thirst for sense objects and enjoyments. Spiritual practice requires control over Indiryas, and no meditation or Samdhi is possible without its control. Vairagya is the mental state of dispassion, since you understand that no lasting happiness can be obtained by sense pleasures.
Perishable nature of objects
We try to secure happiness through ignorance (avidya) by purchasing perishable objects. It is clear from looking around that everyone is restless, discontented, and dissatisfied. We feel a constant need for something, a constant desire for it. And, if we get the things we wanted so strongly, they just provide temporary happiness and fade away like a delusion. It is undoubtedly that nobody finds lasting happiness in the enjoyment of sense objects. Even those who are the smartest and most educated are refined materialists. We don't realize how our Indriyas are deceiving us at every moment. Pleasure is mixed with pain, sorrow, fear, sin, deceases. The cycle of eating, sleeping and chatting is what you waste your precious life on.
Role of Vairagya in Kundalini Awakening
The outcome of Kundalini Awakening is Vairagya, as well as the prerequisite. Some Yogis already have strong Vairagya in the early years of their life, while others develop it later in life. The natural process of consciousness evolution takes place over the course of millions of years. It is often difficult to understand what experiences occur if a Yogi accelerates this process. As I've said before, the supreme Vairagya, which has to be developed by looking at life, is important for successful Kundalini rising and Samadhi. To understand this, you must reflect, inspect, and understand the truth that desire can never be satisfied through the consumption of sensual objects. Upon leaving behind all sensual pleasure behind you, the taste will remain, and the mind will dwell on them constantly. Their fruition will come from the remaining seeds. Supreme Vairagya will come after a while. You need to be careful about your yoga practice if you want to get the best results. Sincere, earnest, intent in constant meditation, longing for liberation, and supreme Vairagya will bring you forward. If you put all of your energy into Yoga Practice, it will go quickly. For the awakening of Kundalini and the entering into Samadhi, intense and constant meditation is necessary. Especially during the rise from Mooladhara to Swadhisthana, fluctuations can be adverse and make the awakening more difficult. Many people get stuck here and never make it any further. Because Vairagya is a prerequisite and outcome of Kundalini Awakening, it balances the turbulence and makes the transition smoother. The awakening becomes peaceful as a result.
Importance of Viveva, Vairagya in Vedanta
Vedanta stresses the importance of Viveka and Vairagya. A change in perception and mind has to take place through these qualities. Which results in transcendence of the limitations of human nature. Vedanta teaches us to overcome the limitations of our lives and to see the universal qualities.
Sadhana
Yogic practice to develop Vairagya
Four points for memory in Sadhana
- Remember The Pains Of Samsara
- Remember Death
- Remember The Saints
- Remember God
Steps 1 and 2 will produce Vairagya. Step 3 will bring inspiration and 4 will cause attainment of God-Consciousness.
The simple Sadhana
Recite: "I am not the body. I am not the mind"
Mantra: Chidananda Roopah Shivoham.
Fourfold Sadhana
In Jnana Yoga, the fourfold Sadhana is made up of Viveka, Vairagya, Shatsampat, or sixfold virtues, and Mumukshutva, or a strong desire to be free. First develop Vairagya, then Viveka, only then will you have success in your practice of Sama and the experience of calmness and transcendental spiritual bliss will come on its own self.
Sadhana of the Antarmukha Vritty
Remember the triplet: Search, Understand and Realize. This Sadhana develops Vairagya and removes Moha for objects. The mind will refrain from running behind sense objects, and the attraction for objects will disappear.
Sadhana for developing Variagya
Think about the temporary, deceptive, illusory and imaginary nature of pleasure. You should examine the way sensual pleasure is mixed in with pain and suffering. See how enjoyment can't bring satisfaction of desire and lasting happiness. It brings a sense of restlessness after the enjoyment of the senses. It is clear that sensual pleasure is the cause of birth and death. You should place the fruits of self-realization before your mind and make it your goal. Look inside the defects of the sensual life (Dosha-Drishti) and into the unreal nature of the wordly life (Mithya-Drishti).
