The question of the unnamed student - Chapter 9

The teachings of most major Upanishads are presented in the form of a dialogue between the student and the teacher and the format while making the narrative easy to read and understand also implies the importance that Vedanta places on using one’s reasoning to disagree, seek clarity, understand and assimilate the teachings. The teachings of Vedanta are not diktats that one is expected to mindlessly and unquestioningly follow. Given the complexity and subtlety of the subject matter there is encouragement and even emphasis on relentless questioning until one understands beyond reasonable doubt what is communicated and it is this spirit that the format of dialogue between the Guru (गुरु) and Shishya (शिष्य) signifies. Being a preparatory text for the study of Vedanta, Tattavabodha too adopts this format where the entire text is presented as a conversation between an unnamed teacher and student.

Staying true to this spirit, the student alluding to the fourfold qualification mentioned in the pervious verse seeks a clarification as to what this fourfold qualification is in the next verse and the teacher provides an overview of the same.

साधनचतुष्टयं किम् ?

नित्यानित्यवस्तुविवेकः ।

इहामुत्रार्थफलभोगविरागः ।

शमादिषट्कसम्पत्तिः ।

मुमुक्षुत्वं चेति ।

What is the fourfold qualification? The capacity to discriminate between the permanent and the impermanent, dispassion towards the enjoyment of the fruits of one’s actions here and hereafter, the group of six accomplishments (inner wealth) beginning with shama (शम) and the yearning for freedom from bondage.

Having thus listed the fourfold qualification a conversation now begins between the learned teacher and the curious student where each of these qualifications are picked up and elaborated upon. Vedanta places a lot of emphasis on inner transformation for the teachings to serve the intended purpose and traditionally a student of Vedanta spends many years of his life serving a Guru and undertaking many upasanas (उपासना) or preparatory practices until such time that the Guru considers him ready before the actual teachings are commenced. Consider it as preparation of the land before the seeds are sown. Even if the seeds are of good quality if the land is not prepared for cultivation the produce would suffer. We will look at each of these qualifications in detail from the next post.