Mandalam Musings Day 7 - The Path of Self Inquiry

Mandalam Musings Day 7

The Path of Self Inquiry

 Once you have subscribed to the idea of self inquiry as opposed to being a mere believer, there is no other magic to spirituality than the daily practice of awareness!  In the path of self-inquiry, self-discipline or control over the mind and senses is a prerequisite, whereas it is not necessary in a typical religious path, as someone else is thinking for you anyway!

Prayers asking the Lord to provide you with anything special are not necessary as everything we need is inherently present within us. Spirituality is a matter of achieving clarity of vision in what we already possess. Here, there are no shortcuts—one must work at it and take the full responsibility to behold that vision. That vision leads to the “Who am I” inquiry, and ultimately, self-realization. In fact, men of wisdom say that the realization of ultimate reality is nothing that we achieve. It is a state where nothing needs to be achieved, and that is our natural and original state of being. 

Praying for achieving certain goals is also not alien to Hindu religious practice and it is valid. It is quite okay to ask the Devata of your choice to beget something, but be prepared to receive whatever is granted to you. Because it is like you, in childhood days, asking your parents for some toys. You can ask for anything you want, but a caring parent would give you only what you need and what you are capable of managing.

Many of us pursue a model of spirituality that is best described as a hybrid—combining religious and spiritual lives in varying proportions depending on our innate nature. This duality has always been there in human development, and scriptures provide interesting poetic episodes where such concepts have been elucidated by sages. These are wonderful plot points in the myriad of stories that turn the course of direction for the master storyteller and the reader-disciple.

The episode of an instant of Sri Hanumanji and Sri Rama in conversation is unique in its purport and intent. You see the disciple to be as mature as the guru in these types of conversations. Sri Rama asks Hanuman, “Who am I to you?” Hanuman replies, “In the physical level, in deha budhi, you are the Lord and I am your servant; in the sense of me as the living and throbbing individual entity, jeeva, I am part of you; and at the level of Atma, the Self, you and I are one and the same. I have concluded this on my own, by doing self-inquiry. That is the clear understanding of “Tat Tvam Asi”

Deha budhya tu dasoham

Jeeva budhya tvad amshaka

Atma budhya tvam evaham

Iti me nischita mati:

Ayyappa culture provides us with the full spectrum of practices and penance (Tapas) required to prepare us for a spiritual journey at the pace of our own choice and inclination.