T Ram Sewak

MUDITA VAIRAGYA

In Shri Ramcharitmanas 7.117, Kakabhushundiji continues his metaphorical discourse, elucidating the process of preparing the mind for gyan(knowledge). He states,

mudita mathani dama subani

taba navanita bimal supunita

"The curd thus made should be churned in the earthen vase of cheerfulness (mudita) with the churning stick of reflection (vichar) after fastening the stick to the host of self-restraint (dama) with the cord of truthful (satya) and pleasant words (subani); and by this process of churning, one ought to extract the pure, magnificent, and holy butter of dispassion (vairagya)."

After the curd has been set, the next step in preparing ghee is to churn it to obtain butter. Stabilised through forgiveness, contentment, fortitude, and equanimity, the mind should now be churned with self-inquiry in a state of joy and mudita. Kakabhushundiji highlights that a blissful mind is a sine qua non on both the bhakti and the gyan marg.

Mudita is that balanced, harmonious, blissful disposition with a complete renunciation of envy that experiences the joy of the destruction of ignorance (Avidya) within oneself. Shri Krishna underscores this mental and intellectual conduct, which is the means to perfection, while enunciating Bhakti Yoga in Gita 12.13-14. Thus, our sadhana must be in a mudit state; only then will our thoughts and reflections be delightful.

Kakabhushundiji adds that these reflections must be anchored in dama (control of the senses). Furthermore, while our contemplations and musings are internal speech and must be sattvik (pure), they must be complemented by external speech that is both truthful and pleasant. This reminds us of Shri Ram's discourse in Shri Ramcharitmanas 6.79, which states that satya and sheel must be in unison in one's character.

The message is that with a mind filled with joy and contentment, one should turn the senses away from external objects and discern the reality of everything. This discernment and self-churning of a stable mind anchored in self-control in an internal and external sattvik state lead to pure, enduring, and sterling vairagya! / DAILY WORLD /

The author is a former electrical Engineer and resides in the Himalayas. He can be occasionally reached at ramam.namami@gmail.com