26 Qualities of a Spiritual Seeker(Sadhak) from Bhagvad Gita : Introduction

26 Qualities of a Spiritual Seeker(Sadhak) from Bhagvad Gita

INTRODUCTION

The Vedas announce, Atato-brahma-jijnasa; human life is a gift from God to enable us to search and find the truth. But this is not necessarily easy due the internal battle betweethen good and the evil. As human beings ,there is always the possibility of abandoning the good and respect for others ,to benefit  oneself, despite likely   suffering of others. The Vedas do not permit prejudices or sectarian views; they have been revealed to mankind to guide us towards the perfection of life full of divine values. There is no loss in renouncing the evil path. However, what is the perfection of human life, after all? This is the moot question for spiritual advancement through one’s evolution of consciousness, by discriminating between the Divine versus Evil.

Divine Versus Devil

The Bhagavad Gita is hailed as the quintessence of the Upanishads. Lord Krishna taught the eternal truths using Arjuna as a medium   and that by grasping the essence of the most esoteric teaching, an individual becomes wise, and his/her life ,as a human being, becomes accomplished, reiterating thereby that the spiritual goal is what makes life in the world meaningful and worthwhile. After teaching the nature of the Self (Atman) Lord Krishna enumerated the qualities that a spiritual seeker (sadhak) must develop, and also those that he must eschew in order to progress spiritually. The reason for the delay in Self-realisation is metaphorically described in the Gita as a battle between the divine gifts in man and the demoniac qualities in him. While the divine qualities are conducive for liberation, the demoniac qualities are responsible for bondage.

The Bhagvad Gita (Chapter 16-Verses 1-3) contains 26 Spiritual Values of Divine Nature, which make a Sadhak (Spiritual Seeker) God-like. This chapter is a supplement to chapter XV where the Yoga of union with the Eternal Absolute (Purushottama Yoga) has been explained. Before the final union with the Absolute takes place, the light of certain divine qualities (26 in number) begin to shine forth in the aspirant, who has to avoid the demoniacal qualities of the rank materialists who go after a life based on limitless gratification of the senses and satisfaction of their base desires. A  Mahabharata like war always wages in a man between the two sets of qualities which determine the way of living. These are the tendencies we have to guard/battle against before we emerge in the full light of the Divine. The divine qualities listed below and which develop with Sadhana can be considered as a measuring rod to assess one's own progress or spiritual development. The Blessed Lord Krisna said:

abhayam sattva-samsuddhir 
jnana-yoga-vyavasthitih 
danam damas ca yajnas ca 
svadhyayas tapa arjavam

ahimsa satyam akrodhas 
tyagah santir apaisunam 
daya bhutesv aloluptvam 
mardavam hrir acapalam

tejah ksama dhrtih saucam 
adroho nati-manita 
bhavanti sampadam daivim 
abhijatasya bharata (BG:16:1-3)

 “Fearlessness, purification of one's existence, cultivation of spiritual knowledge, charity, self-control, performance of sacrifice, study of the Vedas, austerity and simplicity; nonviolence, truthfulness, freedom from anger; renunciation, tranquility, aversion to faultfinding, compassion and freedom from covetousness; gentleness, modesty and steady determination; vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, freedom from envy and the passion for honor--these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature.

1: Fearlessness (abhayam), 2: Purification of one’s existence (sattva samshuddhi), 3: Steadfastness (jnanayogavyavasthithi), 4: Almsgiving (dana), 5: Self-restraint (dama), 6: Religious rites, Performance of sacrifice (yajnas ), 7: Right study of the scriptures (swadhyaya), 8: Self discipline (tapas), 9: Straightforwardness (arjavam), 10: Non-injury (ahimsa), 11: Truth (satya), 12: Absense of wrath (akrodha), 13: Renunciation (tyaga), 14: Peace (shanthi) , 15: Absence of fault-finding and calumny (apaishunam), 16: Compassion toward all beings (daya), 17: Non-covetousness, absence of greed (aloluptvam), 18: Gentleness (mardavam), 19: Modesty (hri), 20: Absence of restlessness (achapalam), 21: Radiance of character (tejas), 22: Forgiveness (kshama), 23: Patience or fortitude (dhriti), 24: Cleanness of body and purity of mind (shaucha), 25: Non-hatred (adroha) 26: Lack of conceit (na atimanita).

These are the sattvic or good qualities that lead Spiritual seekers (sadhaks)devotees to Self-realization.

According to Vedic rites, activities in the mode of goodness are considered auspicious for progress on the spiritual path of liberation, called as daivi prakrti, transcendental by nature. The Lord Krishna explains both the transcendental nature and its attendant qualities, as also the demoniac nature and its disadvantages. These transcendental qualities are meant for making a sadhak progress in spiritual consciousness.

                                                                                                                                  (contnd.)
Ved Prakash

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