|
|
The Gunas
He should use the holy waters. He should select quiet solitary places, but not highways and gambling houses. Brahmamuhurta or the time before sunrise is preferable for meditation, not that period of time which will cause distraction. The obligatory and unselfish works alone should be performed but not selfish deeds. Initiation into pure form of religion is necessary. Initiation causes a second birth. Meditation should be on the Lord or Nirguna Brahman. Mantras such as OM, Sri Ram, OM Namasivaya, OM Namo Narayanaya, OM Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya are to be preferred, not those which bring worldly prosperity. The mind must be purified.
By these Sattvic pursuits, Sattva increases. When Sattva prevails in man, the whole nature becomes Sattvic. One experiences perfect serenity which is the essence of Sattva. This is Dharma. Adharma is the opposite of this. It leads to distraction and restlessness. Dharma is followed by wisdom. When the mind is serene, truth is reflected in it, truth is fully realised. When the Gunas themselves are destroyed, when there is direct intuitive realisation of Brahman, the knower, the knowable and knowledge become one and the same. The Triputi or the triad vanishes.
Just as the fire that is produced by the friction of the bamboos in a forest burns up the forest and is then extinguished by itself, so also the body which is produced by the disturbance or intermixture of the Gunas is destroyed like the fire. The body destroys the Gunas through knowledge manifested in it.”
|
|
