Yearning
for freedom from bondage which was listed as the last of the fourfold
qualification that makes one qualified for the teachings of Vedanta is now sought
to be elaborated by the student.
मुमुक्षुत्वं किम् ?
मोक्षो मे भूयाद् इति इच्छा ।
What is mumukshutvam? ‘Let me attain liberation.’ This
intense desire is mumukshutvam.
If one were to reflect upon all of one’s pursuits one
would see that what one is truly seeking is freedom. Even while seeking wealth
or artha purushartha (अर्थ पुरुषार्थ) what one is really
seeking is freedom from the sense of insecurity. Even while relishing delicious
food or seeking kama purushartha (काम पुरुषार्थ) what one is truly seeking is freedom
from the state of unhappiness. Even while pursuing dharma purushartha (धर्म पुरुषार्थ)
what one is truly seeking is freedom from a feeling of spiritual deficiency. Looked upon in this manner, at a
fundamental level, what everyone is pursuing is moksha (मोक्ष) even while remaining
oblivious to it. A mumukshu (मुमुक्षु) is one who understands this and
consciously chooses the pursuit of moksha
(मोक्ष) alone as the goal of life.
Only a subtle mind that is capable of reflecting dispassionately
can see the helplessness in living a life seeking happiness from the external
world of objects, people and situations and it is from this understanding that the
desire for moksha (मोक्ष) is kindled. Like with all pursuits in life it is the
intensity of the desire that determines the extent to which one would go or the
amount of sacrifices one would make in the pursuit of moksha (मोक्ष). Only when
the desire is intense as of a drowning man’s desire for air that the pursuit gets
wings and gathers flight.
The raw desire will find concrete purpose when a mumukshu (मुमुक्षु) understands intimately that the
entire misery of mankind is due to the conflict between being atman (of the
nature of limitless existence, consciousness, happiness) and identifying
oneself with anatma (which is limited and mortal). A mumukshu (मुमुक्षु) becomes a jignasu (जिज्ञासु)
when he understands that
knowledge of the Self or atmajnanam (आत्मज्ञानं) alone will result in moksha (मोक्ष).
एतत् साधनचतुष्टयम् ।
ततस्तत्त्वविवेकस्याधिकारिणो भवन्ति ।
This is the fourfold qualification. Thereafter, they
become qualified for the enquiry into the Truth.
The enquiry into the nature of atman
(आत्मन्) requires a mind that is prepared through the conscious attainment of
the fourfold qualification prescribed by Adi Shankara for without it the pursuit
will merely remain one of an academic nature.
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