Chapter 1 - Verse 1 | Atma Bodha
Adi Shankaracharya
Atma Bodha Chapter 1 - Verse 1: The four qualifications (Sadhana Chatushtayam) required for Atma Bodha - Tapas, Viveka, Vairagya, Shama Adhi Shatka Sampatti, and Mumukshutvam. The spiritual journey begins.
5 min read
Verse 1
मुमुक्षूणामपेक्ष्योऽयमात्मबोधो विधीयते ॥ १॥
mumukshunamapekshyo’yamatmabodho vidhiyate || 1 ||
4 Qualifications - Religious life (Tapobihi)
Qualifications required for Atma Bodha to take place.
Viveka
Discrimination
Shina Papanam
Vairagya
Dispassion
Vita Raginam
Shama Adhi Shatka Sampatti
Discipline
Shantanam
Mumukshutvam
Desire for liberation
Mumukshanam
Without qualifications, mind not fit Patram - Vessel to receive and retain Atma Jnanam.
Word Analysis
- Shina Papanam: Viveki, with purified intellect.
- Vita Raginam: Person endowed with dispassion.
- Shantanam: Shama Adi Shatka Sampatti.
- Mumukshutvam: Person with desire for knowledge and liberation. 4 together called Jnana Yogyatha.
Mumukshutvam
Mumukshutvam: Person with desire for knowledge and liberation. 4 together called Jnana Yogyatha.
What is Sādhanam required to get 4 qualifications?
Tapobihi: Religious life style
As Intelligent Karta (Doer)
- I am one of the contributors, God is controller
- Gita 2.47: Right to work only, never to its fruits
- Oh Lord, remove my stress, strain, anxiety
- Gita 2.48: Give me equanimity - Samatvam
As Intelligent Bokta (Receiver)
- Oh Lord, what result I get is fair and just as per my past Karma
- Give me balance, endurance power
- Gita 2.38: Having made pleasure and pain the same, engage in battle
Gita
ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि॥ २.३८॥
Gita
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥ २.४७॥
Perform action O Dhananjaya, abandoning attachment, being steadfast in yoga, and balanced in success and failure. “Evenness of mind is called Yoga.” [Chapter 2 - Verse 48]
Question
What is Advantage of Samatvam?
- I become learner of lifes experiences with Samatvam.
- God teaches in life through every experience.
- Learning leads to acquiring 4 qualifications, Parikshya Lokan.
What are transformations in life?
a) Shift in goals, priorities of life.
Bartuhari:
100 years - life - 50 years in sleep, 25 years in growing up and old age, 25 years is prime time of life of learning and contribution.
Sheena Papanam:
In Vedanta = Delusion - Moha
In religion = Sin
Delusion (Moha)
Baja Govindam = Moha Mudakaraha - Hammer for delusion destruction. (Another Name)
Delusion: Why did I come to this world? We discover God is reliable source of peace, happiness, security (PHS).
- All things in creation are perishable. God alone reliable.
- God is top priority = Moksha in Vedanta.
- God is the only reliable one.
- Reduction of priority w.r.t. other things, Anitya Vastu, is called Vairagyam.
- Priority to Nitya Vastu, God = Mumukshutvam.
Example
Mango Tree
Thick Branch, not strong.
World, Sthulam.
Unreliable.
Tamarind Tree
Thin Branch, Strong.
God, Sukshmam.
Reliable.
Shamadhi Shatka Sampatti
Shamadhi Shatka Sampatti attained by Upasana - Ishvara Dhyanam, Japa, Manasa Puja.
- Sit quiet, with 17 organs, Ashtanga Yoga helps to develop Shama, Dama, Uparama, Titiksha, Sraddha, Samadhanam.
- All actions of all organs start from a thought.
- Have mastery over thoughts and mastery over actions.
Shankara says in the 1st verse that he is writing the book for those who have Jnana Yogyata and are leading a religious life of Sādhanas.
Veda Purva - deals with Tapas - gives Jnana Yogyata and Vedanta gives Jnanam.