The four preliminary requisites

(SaadhanachatushTayam)

In order that hearing, reflection and meditation may be fruitful, the aspirant should have acquired the four preliminary qualifications mentioned below.

B.S.1.1.1.S.B--- tasmaat kimapi vaktavyam yadanantaram brahmajijnaasaa upadis’yate. --------- mumukshutvam cha.  

The four requisites are— (1) discrimination between the eternal and the non-eternal (nitya-anitya-vastu vivekaH), (2) detachment towards all enjoyments in this world as well as in higher worlds like heaven (iha-amutra-arthabhoga-viraagaH), (3) possession of the six virtues commencing with control of the mind (s’amadamaadisaadhanasampat), and (4) yearning for liberation (mumukshutvam). Each of these is explained in VivekachuuDaamaNi as below.

V.C. Verse 20—The firm conviction that Brahman alone is real and that the universe is illusory (mithyaa) is discrimination between the eternal and the non-eternal.

V.C. Verse21—Detachment is revulsion towards all objects of enjoyment in this world as well as in higher worlds, including one’s own body.

The six virtues starting with s’ama are--- s’ama, dama, uparati, titikshaa, s’raddhaa, samaadhaana. These are explained below.

V.C. Verse 22—Withdrawing the mind from all sense- pleasures by realizing their harmful nature, and making it rest on one’s objective (namely, the Self),is s’ama.

V.C. Verse 23--- Restraining the organs of sense and of action (jnaanendriya and karmendriya) is known as dama.

V.C. Verse 24--- When the mind ceases to function through the external organs, that state is uparati.

V.C. Verse 25—Enduring all adversities without lament or anxiety and without seeking to counter them is titikshaa.

V.C. Verse 26--- Firm conviction about the truth of the scriptures and the teachings of the Guru is s’raddhaa.

V.C.  Verse 27--- The mind remaining firmly fixed in the attributeless Brahman is samaadhaana. 

The fourth requisite, mumukshutvam is explained in V.C. verse 28 as the yearning to become free from nescience and its effect, bondage, by the realization of one’s true nature. In the Bhaashya on Gita,4.11 S’rii S’ankara says that it is impossible for a person to be a seeker of liberation and also a seeker of the fruits of action at the same time. From this it is clear that only a person who has attained total and intense detachment can be called a mumukshu. The definition of yogaaruudha in Gita 6.4 as one who is free from attachment to sense-objects and actions and does not even think of them indicates that both these terms have the same meaning.         

             Of these, detachment and the yearning for liberation are the most important. Only if these two are strong, will the others like s’ama, etc, be fruitful—Verse 30.   

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