Introduction to Vedanta: Fourfold Qualifications for Spiritual Pursuit

The fourfold preliminary qualifications, such as vairagya and viveka, are essential for a genuine spiritual seeking according to the introductory text, "Vedanta."

### The Fourfold Qualifications in Advaita Vedanta
* 🌟 The verse from Aparokshanubhuti introduces the **fourfold qualifications** required for spiritual seekers in Advaita Vedanta.
* 📚 The qualifications are **Viveka (discrimination)**, **Vairagya (dispassion)**, **Shat Sampat (six disciplines)**, and **Mumukshutva (intense yearning for liberation)**.
* 📖 Viveka is the ability to discern the **eternal from the transient**, as the text states: "The Atman, the self, is the seer. That which is seen is opposed to it. That is **transient**."
* 🌿 Vairagya is described as a **complete disregard for all worldly enjoyments**, treating them like "**the excreta of a crow**".
* 🔒 The Shat Sampat, or six disciplines, include **Sama (calmness)**, **Dama (self-control)**, **Uparati (withdrawal)**, **Titiksha (endurance)**, **Shraddha (faith)**, and **Samadhana (concentration)**.
* 🔥 Mumukshutva is an intense yearning for liberation, as Shankaracharya states in his commentary on the Brahma Sutras: "When these fourfold qualifications are present, one can **genuinely inquire into Brahman**."
* 🏞 The text emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one's social and familial duties before pursuing spiritual practices, stating that the "**obligations we face in life**...have a role to play in our spiritual life."
* 🕊 Ultimately, the **fourfold qualifications** are seen as necessary for genuine spiritual seeking and enlightenment in Advaita Vedanta.

### The Sixfold Treasures: A Path to Spiritual Enlightenment
* The Katha Upanishad teaches that we must choose the **good over the pleasant**, as the pleasant may not always lead us to our **spiritual or secular goals**.
* 🧘 Viveka, the ability to discern between the **eternal and the transient**, is the foundation for spiritual growth. It involves a preliminary understanding or conviction that there is **something beyond the material world** that can solve our problems.
* 📜 The sixfold treasures, or Shad Sampat, are essential disciplines for spiritual seekers: **Shama (control of the mind)**, **Dama (control of the senses)**, **Uparati (withdrawal from external enjoyment)**, **Titiksha (spiritual endurance)**, **Shraddha (faith in the scriptures and teacher)**, and **Samadhana (focus on the goal)**.
* 🌿 Shama involves quietening the mind by **abandoning various desires**. Dama is the control of the senses and external activities, as exemplified by Swami Turiyananda's discipline in **accepting or rejecting offerings**.
* 🏞 Uparati is the withdrawal from sense objects and engagement with the world, while Titiksha is the **endurance of troubles without being unduly disturbed or seeking immediate relief**.
* 🙏 Shraddha is a working faith in the scriptures and teacher, not blind belief but a belief that there is **truth in the spiritual teachings** that can be **realized through practice and understanding**.
* 🧘 Samadhana is the **intense focus on the spiritual goal**, exemplified by the story of Swami Turiyananda's **unwavering commitment to meditation in Rishikesh**.
* 🔥 Moksha, the **intense desire for liberation from the cycle of birth and death**, is the culmination of the sixfold treasures and is compared to a **thief's eagerness to obtain hidden gold**.

Introduction to Vedanta - Swami Sarvapriyananda - Aparokshanubhuti - Part 2 - July 19, 2016

Vedanta Society of Southern California

Introduction to Vedanta Series and the Text "Aparokshanubhuti"

The "Aparokshanubhuti" is a new introductory text in the Vedanta series, written by Shankar Acharya 1400 years ago.

It emphasizes the acquisition of preliminary qualifications through austerities and the performance of social duties, setting a high bar for entry.

The text highlights the importance of fulfilling obligations and duties in traditional Indian society, suggesting that one's station in life plays a role in spiritual development.

The "Aparokshanubhuti" aims to strengthen these qualifications and explains how they can be attained.

It is important to make internal changes and cultivate spiritual practice before making any sudden external changes.

Finishing current obligations and stages of life before fully committing to a spiritual journey is advised.

The traditional duties and obligations in life are designed to help spirituality and can provide a solid foundation for the spiritual journey, including austerities, devotion to God, and the four-fold qualifications.

Qualifications for Spiritual Seeking in Vedanta Commentary

Shankar Acharya emphasizes the importance of fourfold qualifications for genuine spiritual inquiry and enlightenment in Vedanta.

The first qualification is Vairagya, or dispassion, which involves a complete disregard for worldly enjoyments and the pursuit of permanent satisfaction.

Vedanta discourages the seeking of happiness through temporary pleasures, whether in this world or the next, emphasizing the need to transcend the pursuit of individual happiness, including the concept of heaven.

Belief in heaven and the pursuit of pleasure in the afterlife is questioned, suggesting a skeptical attitude towards the concept.

The idea of accumulating merit to enjoy a temporary stay in heaven, followed by a return to the cycle of life, is explained using a metaphor of purchasing a plane ticket and experiencing a temporary luxurious journey.

The concept of Viveka is introduced as the ability to discern between the eternal and the transient, emphasizing the importance of choosing the eternal path over temporary pleasures in life.

Sri Ramakrishna emphasizes the reality of God and the illusion of the world, highlighting the importance of spiritual awakening.

The six-fold treasure of spiritual disciplines includes control of the mind and senses, withdrawal from external pleasures, spiritual fortitude, deep concentration, and a faithful approach to truth.

Swami Toriananda's life stories illustrate the practice of quieting the mind and controlling external activities as essential aspects of spiritual discipline.

The Spiritual Practices of a Monk in Rishikesh

A monk in Rishikesh dedicates 23 hours a day to spiritual practices, including studying Vedanta, begging for food, and meditating, showing a complete detachment from the external world.

The monk emphasizes the concept of "operating," which involves both engaging with the world and withdrawing from it for spiritual growth, as taught by spiritual masters like Buddha and Sri Ramakrishna.

He also highlights the importance of spiritual endurance, or "titiksha," in staying focused on the spiritual path despite obstacles and distractions, comparing it to the dedication people show in their professional lives.

Cultivating Spiritual Fortitude and Focus

One must use common sense to take care of physical needs in order to meditate effectively.

It is important to endure difficulties in life while focusing on spiritual practice without internal reactions.

Complete focus on the goal of enlightenment is crucial in spiritual life, as demonstrated by the examples of Sri Ramakrishna and the Buddha.

The intense desire for liberation, known as moksha, is the key to spiritual illumination according to Sri Ramakrishna.

Viveka (clarity) and Vairagya (dispassion) are the foundational qualities that lead to this burning desire.

These qualities are causally connected, with one strengthening the other, and can be cultivated through a step-by-step approach, ultimately leading to a fulfilling spiritual journey.