The bird that sings while it is still dark - Chapter 12

The group of six virtues beginning with shama (शम) which is the third of the fourfold qualification is referred to as sampathi (संपत्ति) or wealth by Adi Shankara. Like a bird that sings even while it is still dark assured of the impeding dawn the attainment of this wealth announces the imminent attainment of atmajnanam (आत्मज्ञानं) or knowledge of the Self. The six virtues as one would see are interconnected and a seeker needs to work towards attaining all of them in good measure for one’s spiritual progress. Unlike wealth of a materialistic nature the wealth of virtues increases as one expends and a seeker who consciously works on attaining these virtues would find them to eventually manifest spontaneously. The inquisitive student now asks of the teacher that these virtues be elaborated upon.

शमादिसाधनसम्पत्तिः का ?

शमो दम उपरमस्तितिक्षा श्रद्धा समाधानं च इति ।

What is the inner wealth starting with shama (शम)? They are control on the mind, control of the organs, withdrawal of the mind, forbearance, faith and absorption of the mind.

शमः कः ?

मनोनिग्रहः ।

What is shama (शम)?

It is control or mastery over the mind.

Shama (शम) says the learned teacher is manonigraha (मनोनिग्रह). Although the word nigraha (निग्रह) translates as control, what is implied is not a fight with the mind treating it as an one’s enemy that needs to be tamed. The mind is a beautiful instrument and along with the faculty of emotions makes us human. The mind has both voluntary thoughts (which we decided to think) and involuntary thoughts (that occur in the mind without our volition). The involuntary thoughts can either be harmless or they could be harmful and disempowering. Such harmful involuntary thoughts create emotional disturbances and inhibit the mind from being available for voluntary thoughts that are required for one’s serious pursuits in life. These involuntary thoughts are created when sense organs gravitate towards sense objects and drag the mind along with them or due to desires or memories that arise within the mind. One needs to consciously develop the ability to observe one’s thoughts, acknowledge certain thoughts as disempowering and harmful and replace them with helpful voluntary thoughts. When we refuse to react, participate or entertain these distracting thoughts they lose their hold over us and we retain control of our mind.

Shama (शम) therefore is making the mind a fit instrument that is available when required and as required for one’s spiritual pursuit. Indication of attainment of shama (शम) is when the mind is free from obsessive occupation of thoughts about any object/person/situation and when it is free from any emotional disturbances such as anxiety, anger or sadness. It is not achieved though by ignoring or suppressing one’s desires or emotions. Reflecting over one’s thoughts and identifying the primary causes of one’s emotional instabilities and dealing with them appropriately is the means of attaining shama (शम). The purport of Vedantic teachings is to help one see the principal source of one’s emotional instabilities and the teachings by themselves would result in one attain shama (शम). A seeker though needs to have shama (शम) in adequate measure for him to begin the learning of Shastras (शास्त्र).