In the previous episode, we’ve witnessed some important characteristics of a “Stitha-Pragnya”, also referred to as “Gnyaana Yogi”. A “Stitha-Pragnya” is a person who has complete control over all his five senses and is able to focus their attention completely on the “Atman”. Moreover, the “Stitha-Pragnya” is someone who has least interest in the fulfilment of desires pertaining to the “Deham”. Here, we should be able to understand one thing very clearly – When we say that we should give less importance to the “Deham” and more to the “Atman”, it doesn’t mean that we do not take care and nourish our “Deham” at all. We should definitely do this and ensure that we are healthy and physically fit. Only if our “Deham” is physically fit, will we be able to carry out and execute our “Karma” (Actions), isn’t it? We should understand here that the “Deham” is a vehicle / instrument given to us by Bhagawan, through which we can perform our actions. Hence, adequate care and nourishment to the “Deham” is required. However, we should understand the thin line of balance here – If we start giving more than required importance to the “Deham”, it will start asking for more and more, which would lead to desires and fulfilment of the same! We should be very careful not to fall into this trap, but at the same time, nourish our “Deham” and maintain its fitness.
Extending this discussion a bit more, when we start nourishing our “Deham”, we just mentioned that we get carried away with it. What happens here is that, in today’s scenario, we have enormous exposure to a variety of aspects that pertain to the “Deham”. For instance, almost all of us run behind money. Of course, money is essential for our survival, but can money take top priority in our life? Money is just an instrument and it should be used to attain the “Purushaartham” called “peace of mind” and a satisfied living. For instance, there is a sweet dish and we like it very much. We go to a bakery shop to buy it. Of course, for this, money is required. However, instead of the sweet, can we end up eating the currency notes? Thus, in this context, the sweet dish along with its relishing taste is the “Purushaartham” and the instrument through which we can attain this “Purushaartham” is money. Hence, we can understand here that money is not everything in life. However, we still run behind money in a big way.
In similar lines, taking care of the “Deham” is of utmost importance and nourishing it is something that all of us have to perform on a regular basis. However, in the name of “nourishment” and taking care of the “Deham”, what do we end up doing? We start “decorating” the “Deham” with a lot of things to satisfy a desire called “good appearance”, isn’t it? For this, we end up buying a lot of things and end up spending enormous time in decorating our “Deham”. Here again we’ve to understand one thing clearly – Appearance is important and it is the “Purushaartham” here. A decent appearance is extremely necessary and we should make sure that we carry ourselves properly when we go out in public space. However, this appearance should not get transformed into a craze wherein we start spending our entire time and money on this. Our focus should always be on the “Atman” and our senses should be driven towards that, rather than something else.
Thus, we should understand here that the “Deham” is a “Saadhanam” (Instrument) to achieve spiritual progress, however, what we understand about the “Deham” today is that it is a “Saadhyam”. Here, “Saadhyam” means “achieving something and experiencing pleasures out of it”. Of course, achieving something is important, but what do we achieve? Our goal is “Atma-Gnyaanam” and not anything else. Hence, the “Saadhyam” for us should be towards achieving spiritual progress and our “Deham” should be employed as a “Saadhanam” for it. Hence, Bhagawan Krishna advises Arjuna to understand this difference very clearly. In this context, Bhagawan explains that while fighting the war, the “Gaandeepa” is the “Saadhanam” and through the “Gaandeepa”, Arjuna has to attain the “Saadhyam” called “Karma Yoga”. Thus, the point is very clear here – In order to achieve the “Saadhyam”, the “Saadhanam” is required, isn’t it?
So for today, let us understand this important point that our “Deham” is the “Saadhanam” and not the “Saadhyam”. The “Saadhyam” is something else – Which is nothing but attaining the highest “Moksha”, and for this, the “Saadhanam” is the “Deham”. So let us reflect upon this point and we shall continue our discussion further in the next episode! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 