T Ram Sewak

JIGYASA

Lakshman requests Shri Ram, with complete reverence and humility, elucidation on five questions in Shri Ramcharitmanas (3.14) :

kahahu . maya, kahahu . daya.

isvara . samujhai, jate .......... jai.

Please explain to me Gyan (spiritual wisdom), Vairagya (dispassion), Maya (Illusion), and that Bhakti, which leads to Your grace. Also, what is the difference between Ishwar (the Supreme) and the jeev (individual being)? Please make me understand all so that I am devoted to Your feet and my sorrow, infatuation and delusion disappear.

The manner of Lakshman's five queries underlines five essential aspects of a jigyasa (desire for knowledge). From whom, when, what, how, and most importantly, why are such questions to be asked?

Lakshman invokes Shri Ram as the Supreme; however, the request for explication is as if from the Guru. Only a Guru can unravel the science about the self, the path to self- realisation, and satisfy such jigyasa. In Gita(2.7), Arjun, realising his confusion and delusion, pleads to Shri Krishna to be his Guru.

Further, jigyasa must be displayed when the Guru is relaxed and not preoccupied. The appropriate ambience is essential as such conversations are more like transmission of thoughts from the Guru and reception by the shishya.

The questions must be profound and thought-provoking, perplexing the jigyasu and hindering his path to self-realisation.

Further, the yearning for clarity (jigyasa) must be expressed with full faith and devotion. It should be a solicitation for the Guru's grace.

Lakshman finally reveals the most critical element of his jigyasa: the why? He gives us two robust reasonsfirst, he seeks the fruit of Gyan to rid himself of sorrow, delusion and misconception. Second, the Amrit of bhakti to enhance his bhakti.

Thus, the path he shows us is - devout service to the Master/Guru, thus progressing towards egolessness, leading to faith/bhakti and, hence, knowledge. Bhakti and knowledge are ever in mutualism. Therefore, every jigyasa on a spiritual journey must satisfy these essential aspects to be fructiferous. / DAILY WORLD /

Namami Ramam Musings-34

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