Vairagya of Bhakt vs.Vairagya of Gyani
Question
Atmagyani is detached from the world and a bhakt is also detached from the world. How is vairagya of an atmagyani different from the vairagya of a bhakt?
Answer
A gyani is an aspirant who pursues the path of gyan (knowledge). A gyani does not believe in the personal forms of God (avatar) and worships the impersonal form of God Brahm (ब्रह्म), with a desire to unite and merge into Him. Our scriptures tell us:
Atmagyani is detached from the world and a bhakt is also detached from the world. How is vairagya of an atmagyani different from the vairagya of a bhakt?
Answer
A gyani is an aspirant who pursues the path of gyan (knowledge). A gyani does not believe in the personal forms of God (avatar) and worships the impersonal form of God Brahm (ब्रह्म), with a desire to unite and merge into Him. Our scriptures tell us:
निर्विण्णानां ज्ञानयोगः
nirviṇṇānāṃ jñānayogaḥ
nirviṇṇānāṃ jñānayogaḥ
"The path of knowledge is meant for the entirely renounced souls".
To be able to totally renounce all the attractions of the material world, there are four prerequisite conditions. When one meets these four conditions, the aspirant’s state is referred to as sadhan-chatushtay-sampann (साधन चतुष्टय सम्पन्न). Thereafter, the aspirant has to cross eight more levels of detachment, each level higher in difficulty than the previous one (See Gyan for more details on these concepts).
In spite of such arduous labor there is no guarantee for a gyani to reach their objective - moksha - as the path of knowledge is so difficult and full of hardships that a gyani stumbles many times before he reaches the destination. The Srimad Bhagwat Mahapuran says:
In spite of such arduous labor there is no guarantee for a gyani to reach their objective - moksha - as the path of knowledge is so difficult and full of hardships that a gyani stumbles many times before he reaches the destination. The Srimad Bhagwat Mahapuran says:
येऽन्येरविन्दाक्ष विमुक्तमानिनस्त्वय्यस्तभावादविशुद्ध बुद्धयः ।
आरुह्यकृच्छ्रेण परं पदं ततः पतन्त्यधो नादृतयुष्मदंघ्र्यः॥ भाग. १०.२.३३
Yē̕n'yēravindākṣa Vimuktamāninastvayyastabhāvādaviśud'dha bud'dhayaḥ.
Āruhyakr̥cchrēṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ patantyadhō nādr̥tayuṣmadaṅghryaḥ. Bhāga. 10.2.33
आरुह्यकृच्छ्रेण परं पदं ततः पतन्त्यधो नादृतयुष्मदंघ्र्यः॥ भाग. १०.२.३३
Yē̕n'yēravindākṣa Vimuktamāninastvayyastabhāvādaviśud'dha bud'dhayaḥ.
Āruhyakr̥cchrēṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ patantyadhō nādr̥tayuṣmadaṅghryaḥ. Bhāga. 10.2.33
"Before reaching the top, the aspirant attempting to climb the challenging mountain of knowledge, falls repeatedly, as this path is incredibly difficult".
मनुष्याणां सहस्त्रेषु कश्चिद्यतति सिद्धये । यततामपि सिद्धानां कश्चिन्मां वेत्ति तत्त्वतः गीता ७.३
manuṣyāṇāṃ sahastreṣu kaścidyatati siddhaye । yatatāmapi siddhānāṃ kaścinmāṃ vetti tattvataḥ gītā 7.3
manuṣyāṇāṃ sahastreṣu kaścidyatati siddhaye । yatatāmapi siddhānāṃ kaścinmāṃ vetti tattvataḥ gītā 7.3
"There are only few, who dare treading on this arduous path. Among those who venture on this path only one in thousands is able to attain Me". So only those who want to undergo such immense hardship, for thousands of lives, dare to follow this path.
Lord Krishna says in the Gita:
Lord Krishna says in the Gita:
बहूनां जन्मनामन्ते ज्ञानवान मां प्रपद्यते। वासुदेवः सर्वमिति स महात्मा सुदुर्लभः॥ गीता ७.१९॥
bahūnāṃ janmanāmante jñānavāna māṃ prapadyate। vāsudevaḥ sarvamiti sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ॥ gītā 7.19॥
bahūnāṃ janmanāmante jñānavāna māṃ prapadyate। vāsudevaḥ sarvamiti sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ॥ gītā 7.19॥
"After such practice of many lifetimes those who surrender to Me are very fortunate".
As compared to path of gyan, path of bhakti is extremely easy. The Bhakti Rasamrit Sindhu, says:
As compared to path of gyan, path of bhakti is extremely easy. The Bhakti Rasamrit Sindhu, says:
नातिसक्तो न वैराग्यभागस्यामधिकार्यसौ॥ भ. र.सिं.
Nātisaktō na vairāgyabhāgasyāmadhikāryasau. Bha. Ra.Siṁ.
Nātisaktō na vairāgyabhāgasyāmadhikāryasau. Bha. Ra.Siṁ.
"Everyone is eligible to follow the path of devotion. There are no conditions on whether one must be completely detached or attached to the world".
शास्त्रतः श्रूयते भक्तौ नृमात्रस्याधिकारिता ॥ भ. र.सिं.
Śāstrataḥ Śrūyatē bhaktau nr̥mātrasyādhikāritā Bha. Ra.Siṁ.
Śāstrataḥ Śrūyatē bhaktau nr̥mātrasyādhikāritā Bha. Ra.Siṁ.
Gyan Marg can only be followed by the intellectuals, while the path of bhakti could be followed even by child devotees like Dhruv and Prahlad etc.
|
The gyani has to renounce all worldly attractions based on his own mental strength and perform the bhakti of impersonal form of God. That is why the gyani repeatedly falls off the path.
Those who worship the personal form (साकार रूप) of God, are called devotees or bhakt. A devotee depends only on the grace of God. He seeks refuge in the lotus feet of God alone and treads on the path. Therefore, God supports and protects him at every step. Shrimad Bhagwatam says - तथा न ते माधव तावकाः क्वचिद् भ्रश्यंति मार्गात् त्वयि बद्धसौहृदाः।
Tathā na tē mādhava tāvakāḥ kvacid bhraśyanti mārgāt tvayi bad'dhasauHr̥dāḥ. "God Himself protects the devotees. That’s why they tread on the path fearlessly".
A gyani’s situation could be compared to that of a baby monkey which keeps holding on to its mother. Since the baby is weak, it tends to fall and get hurt when the mother monkey (वानरी) jumps from branch to branch. Whereas a bhakt’s situation can be compared to that of a kitten. |
Gyani treads on the path on his own
Bhakt is supported and protected by God
|
The mother cat (मारजारी) herself holds on to the kitten in her mouth, thereby protecting the child from falling and getting hurt. The cat is also a material being so sometimes the kitten falls and gets hurt. But all-capable God is not fallible like a cat, so He really support His devotees and His devotee cannot fall.
Merely gaining knowledge and becoming a renunciate are not sufficient to cleanse the mind. The gyani is able to cross the rajas and tamas gunas of Maya but the sattava guna still prevails. Sattava guna gives rise to the atma-gyan or knowledge of the self (soul). This state is called atma-gyani (1).
In order to attain the ultimate goal - attaining brahm-gyan, moksha and go across the ocean of Maya - the gyani has to go beyond atma-gyan (self-realization) (2), by practicing devotion to Shri Krishna.
Merely gaining knowledge and becoming a renunciate are not sufficient to cleanse the mind. The gyani is able to cross the rajas and tamas gunas of Maya but the sattava guna still prevails. Sattava guna gives rise to the atma-gyan or knowledge of the self (soul). This state is called atma-gyani (1).
In order to attain the ultimate goal - attaining brahm-gyan, moksha and go across the ocean of Maya - the gyani has to go beyond atma-gyan (self-realization) (2), by practicing devotion to Shri Krishna.
ये द्वन्द मोह विनीर्मुक्ता भजम्ते मां दृढ़व्रताः ॥
ye dvanda moha vinīrmuktā bhajamte māṃ dṛढ़vratāḥ ॥
ye dvanda moha vinīrmuktā bhajamte māṃ dṛढ़vratāḥ ॥
शुद्धयति हि नान्तरात्मा कृष्णपदाम्भोजभक्तिमृते ॥ शंकराचार्य
Śud'dhayati hi nāntarātmā Kr̥ṣṇapadāmbhōjabhaktimr̥tē. Śaṅkarācārya
Śud'dhayati hi nāntarātmā Kr̥ṣṇapadāmbhōjabhaktimr̥tē. Śaṅkarācārya
"Without worshipping Shri Krishna, one's mind cannot be totally purified". Thus, it is obvious that moksha cannot be attained without performing devotion to Shri Krishna.
मोक्ष साधन सामग्र्यां भक्तिरेव गरीयसी ।
mokṣa sādhana sāmagryāṃ bhaktireva garīyasī ।
mokṣa sādhana sāmagryāṃ bhaktireva garīyasī ।
"Amongst all the methods that lead to liberation, bhakti is supreme and indispensable (3)."
Since the bhakt performs devotion to the personal form of God, God graces and supports the aspirant as they progress on the path of bhakti. So, a bhakt does not need to perform arduous tasks before commencing the practice of bhakti. A bhakt sincerely practices devotion sadhana bhakti under the guidance of a rasik saint.
Although the gyani and the bhakt, both strive to achieve total detachment, there is a huge difference in the practices they undertake to detach their mind from material attractions by:
The gyani takes up the path of renouncing and the devotee takes the path of accepting everything from God.
A devotee does not practice renunciation (निवृत्ति) by relinquishing the needs of the body and mind. Instead they divert the direction of their desires. For instance, for many it is difficult to control the desire for good food. Hence, the rasik saint of bhakti marg would instruct, "Don’t waste your time in trying to give up this desire as it is not possible to give up your desires before God realization. You cook even more delicious food to offer to your deity". Thus, when the devotee cooks to offer bhog to God, the devotee spends time and money for God. After offering it to God, the devotee eats the same as His prasad (left over divine food). So, although it may appear that the devotee is enjoying delicious food, yet their mind is attached to God with loving devotional sentiments of eating the prasad of their Ishtadev.
In this way, the devotee still cooks delicious food, wears ornate jewelry and beautiful clothes (प्रवृत्ति) but instead of pleasing themselves, they do this with the sole objective of pleasing Shri Krishna.
Since the bhakt performs devotion to the personal form of God, God graces and supports the aspirant as they progress on the path of bhakti. So, a bhakt does not need to perform arduous tasks before commencing the practice of bhakti. A bhakt sincerely practices devotion sadhana bhakti under the guidance of a rasik saint.
Although the gyani and the bhakt, both strive to achieve total detachment, there is a huge difference in the practices they undertake to detach their mind from material attractions by:
- Nivritti Marg (निवृत्ति मार्ग): detachment by renouncing everything
- Pravritti Marg (प्रवृत्ति मार्ग): detachment through accepting everything which belongs to God.
The gyani takes up the path of renouncing and the devotee takes the path of accepting everything from God.
A devotee does not practice renunciation (निवृत्ति) by relinquishing the needs of the body and mind. Instead they divert the direction of their desires. For instance, for many it is difficult to control the desire for good food. Hence, the rasik saint of bhakti marg would instruct, "Don’t waste your time in trying to give up this desire as it is not possible to give up your desires before God realization. You cook even more delicious food to offer to your deity". Thus, when the devotee cooks to offer bhog to God, the devotee spends time and money for God. After offering it to God, the devotee eats the same as His prasad (left over divine food). So, although it may appear that the devotee is enjoying delicious food, yet their mind is attached to God with loving devotional sentiments of eating the prasad of their Ishtadev.
In this way, the devotee still cooks delicious food, wears ornate jewelry and beautiful clothes (प्रवृत्ति) but instead of pleasing themselves, they do this with the sole objective of pleasing Shri Krishna.
|
Uddhava, a childhood friend of Shri Krishna, was the foremost gyani of Dwapar Yuga. After meeting gopis he renounced gyan marg to become an ardent bhakt. Then he challenged Shri Krishna and said,
त्वयोपभुक्त्तसृग्गंघवासोलड्कारचर्चिताः । उच्छिष्टभोजिनोदासास्तव मायां जयेमहि ॥
भाग १.६.४६
tvayopabhukttasṛggaṃghavāsolaḍkāracarcitāḥ । ucchiṣṭabhojinodāsāstava māyāṃ jayemahi ॥
bhāga 1.6.46
"I will wear fragrant garlands, beautiful silken clothes and shiny ornaments worn by you and eat your leftover sumptuous food. I throw a challenge to You that while doing so, I’ll win over your all-powerful Maya".
In other words, he would use the best of what Maya has created after offering it to Shri Krishna. Thus, his mind would constantly be engaged in God and his body would be engaged in worldly activities. According to the divine law, unless the mind derives pleasure (or misery) from the action there is no fruit of that action. |
Uddhav fell at the feet of Shri Krishna
|
|
Gopis are the highest class of bhakt. Shrimad Bhagavat Mahapuran explains the mindset and behavior of these Gopis as:
या दोहने वहनने मथनोपलेप प्रेंखेंखनार्भ रुदितो क्षणमार्जनादौ ।
गायन्ति चैनमनुरक्तधियोश्रुकंठ्यो, धन्या ब्रजस्त्रिय उरुक्रम चित्तायानाः । भा १०.४४.१५
yā dohane vahanane mathanopalepa preṃkheṃkhanārbha rudito kṣaṇamārjanādau ।
gāyanti cainamanuraktadhiyośrukaṃṭhyo, dhnyā brajstriya urukrama cittāyānāḥ । bhā 10.44.15
|
Gopis thinking of Shri Krishna while doing household chores
|
"The gopis constantly think about Shri Krishna while performing all household chores; milking the cows, churning yogurt to make butter, cleaning their house, loving their children, etc. While performing their duties around the house, tears of love flowed from their eyes and all the time they kept chanting His glories".
In other words, their mind was constantly engrossed in Shri Krishna as they performed their household chores.
In order to please Shri Krishna, these gopis would dress up in fine clothes and beautiful accessories. As Lord Krishna says:
In other words, their mind was constantly engrossed in Shri Krishna as they performed their household chores.
In order to please Shri Krishna, these gopis would dress up in fine clothes and beautiful accessories. As Lord Krishna says:
निजाङ्गमपि या गोप्यो ममेति समुपासते । ताभ्यः परं न मे पार्थ निगूढ़प्रेमभाजनम् ।
आदि पु.
nijāṅgamapi yā gopyo mameti samupāsate । tābhyaḥ paraṃ na me pārtha nigūढ़premabhājanam ।
ādi pu.
"O Parth! None in the universe, other than the gopis, are more deserving of My esoteric love. They even adorn themselves only to please Me".
All these examples illustrate that the devotees do not relinquish the worldly attachments by force. Their mind is so absorbed in the love of God that the worldly desires don't germinate in their minds. So, in bhakti instead of trying to renounce the world, the devotee loves God and proceeds towards Him, thereby naturally moving away from the material world.
In other words, the detachment of devotees is natural (सहज) and gradual. While the detachment of a gyani is forced. Moreover, the gyani has to have no attraction to the material world before the commencement of practice of gyan-marg. While the detachment of the devotees gradually increases with the progress of devotion.
Someone might question why is God partial towards the devotees? Lord Krishna answers in the Gita:
In other words, the detachment of devotees is natural (सहज) and gradual. While the detachment of a gyani is forced. Moreover, the gyani has to have no attraction to the material world before the commencement of practice of gyan-marg. While the detachment of the devotees gradually increases with the progress of devotion.
Someone might question why is God partial towards the devotees? Lord Krishna answers in the Gita:
ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम्
ye yathā māṃ prapadyante tāṃstathaiva bhajāmyaham।
ye yathā māṃ prapadyante tāṃstathaiva bhajāmyaham।
