WHEN THE SOUL TAKES FLIGHT
Purification through Action
Placing a person in an environment where sattva (a pure condition) is active and assigning work such as in a Temple or an Ashram affects one through mere association with the qualities inherent in doing work for God, even if it is only something like cleaning the place of worship or the pots and pans or picking flowers. The first phase of transformation away from the dullness of the tamasic mind can begin with these actions. When working for the benefit of a place that promotes higher life, one becomes acutely aware of one’s own disinterest, negligence, laziness, and disregard for the work, and through grace a sense of shame emerges.
By placing someone in a Godly environment and having them do work solely for God, the higher power takes away the ego’s power of avarana. The veil is removed and now the dull, distasteful and shameful qualities of tamas are seen face to face. Also through this divine association, this powerful form of satsanga, the mind and heart are invested with a determined desire to rise out of heedlessness.
An awareness and recognition of the intoxicating addiction to heedlessness is also brought to light together with a resolve to strive for true spiritual growth. Thus the all-knowing God begins by infusing into us the will to change and seek a pure life.
“The quality of soul that makes it possible for man to rise to spirit life is purity…that which one wills to do, he has the power to do. Knowledge of that power is faith; and when faith moves, the soul begins its flight.” [1]
The Path of Ascent
We have begun; we have made a start. In the truest sense we have now set our hands to the plow. In the entire Srimad Bhagavatam Sri Krishna reveals the quintessence of His teaching in one statement:
“Shake free of sloth, and merge your mind within Me.” [2]
Though we might believe that only a simple start has been made, the shaking free of slothful heedlessness is declared by God to be half the battle.
We have recognized that there is a fog that clouds our vision, and obstacles (restlessness and slothfulness), that literally obscure the manifestation of the light of the Self in our consciousness.
Regardless of whatever label we choose to call this effort, whether it be deemed purification, removal of defilement, awakening, being in oneness or even becoming still, it should be known that Bhagavan said it is “effort that instills purity” and stressed that without it the goal of vichara (inquiry) will not be reached.
In direct reference to this Sri Muruganar heard the following profound statement from Bhagavan and recorded it that our doubts might be cleared:
“Know that the wondrous jnana vichara is only for those who have attained purity of mind by softening and melting within. Without this softening and melting away of the mind, brought about by thinking of the feet of the Lord, the attachment to the “I” that adheres to the body will not cease to be.”[3]
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