Miscellaneous - Religion   

Preceptor for all times

CHENNAI: An individual’s greatest challenge is to evolve spiritually and this implies understanding spiritual truths. Listening, reasoning and meditating are all part of the effort of understanding and the role of the preceptor is highly revered in the spiritual tradition because it is by his grace and instruction that Jnana (that leads to liberation) is imparted. Since the problem of evil is eternal and cannot be eradicated like a deep rooted tree that keeps growing even when its branches are repeatedly cut, the Lord incarnates from time to time to establish Dharma and destroy the propagators of Adharma.

While in His other incarnations, the Lord destroyes specific demons, who represented evil, it is believed that He incarnated as Sage Vyasa to dispel the darkness of ignorance with the light of knowledge, said Sri K. V. Seshadrinatha Sastrigal in a lecture. Only intelligence regarding what is the true purpose of life can help to overcome evil. Vyasa’s unique and manifold contribution by way of spiritual texts rich in esoteric value makes him a celebrated and foremost preceptor. Vyasa is believed to have classified the Vedas into four sections, Rg, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana, besides authoring the 18 Puranas and the Mahabharata. The Brahmasutras are attributed to him as well. The themes dealt in the Vedas are basically classified as Karma, Upasana and Jnana — the paths through which the spiritual ideal can be attained. All the three paths are present everywhere and at all times just as ghee is present in milk.

Vyasa’s Brahmasutra lends itself to many interpretations but the goal is attaining Brahma Jnana. The all inclusive nature of the Vedas is seen in the discussions on agnosticism present in certain sections of it. The monumental task of taking the Vedic essence to the masses goes to this preceptor.

The Mahabharata is a weighty text and exemplifies the eternal conflict between good and evil. It has elaborate discussions on Dharma and the Bhagavad Gita is a part of it. The symbolic message of this text is that even if the foes have been annihilated in the Mahabharata war, it is necessary for every individual to conquer the dangerous foe within — desire, passion, greed, anger, etc.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Cartoonscape
The Hindu Crossword 9576
Solution to puzzzle 9575
Preceptor for all times
dated July 4, 1959: An outstanding journalist
dated July 4, 1959: Indus Basin plan
dated July 4, 1959: Fire in the Pentagon
Weather

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu