Vivekachudamani 3 Turning Away from Unreal towards the Real - By Swami Tattwamayananda

Title: Turning away from unreal towards the RealVerses:  16, 17, 18, 19In earlier classes, we discussed the importance of human birth and the three rare gifts from God. (1) Being born as a human being (2) Desire for liberation (3) Coming in contact with a great holy person.We also discussed the 16th verse which describes who is fit for spiritual enquiry. It says: “He should have proper intelligence. He should be able to listen and understand what he listens to. He should be able to retain in his mind what he studies. He should be an expert in the following two qualities: (1) Uha, the ability to accept what is to be accepted (2) Apoha, the ability to reject what is to be rejected.The 17th verse discusses the qualifications for inquiry into higher spiritual ideas. These are: (1) Virakta – discontent and the ability to say no to empirical pleasures. (2) Viveki – endowed with a sense of discerning wisdom (3) Samadi-guna-salinah – this refers top the six qualities of self-control discussed in the 19th verse (4) Mumukshi – endowed with a desire for spiritual enlightenment.Our ability to understand spiritual content is in direct proportion to the intensity of these qualities and our spiritual fitness.The 18th verse introduces the concept of chatustaya (quadrangle or four steps), which is found in several scriptures. For example, spiritual books are written with a four-step approach: (1) Fitness to read (2) Subject matter of the book (3) Connection between what we want to study and the book (4) The result – what we learn from the book.The 18th verse says: “Those who want to learn about Advaita, they need to have four important qualities. When we attain these qualities, we can understand the spiritual concepts; otherwise, we do not.”The 19th verse describes the four qualities – Sadhana Chatushtaya Sampatti.The four qualities in Sadhana Chatushtaya Sampatti are: nitya anitya vastu viveka, Ihāmutra phala bhoga virāga, Śamādi ṣatka Sampatti, and Mumukṣutvam.First, we must use our discerning wisdom to determine what is real and what is unreal. Only the Atman is Absolutely Real. The world is not absolutely unreal, but it is not absolutely real either. It is only relatively real.Second, we must hold on to what is real and disregard what is unreal. We should develop a sense of aversion towards enjoyments in this life or in heaven. Heaven in Vedanta is a temporary place with plenty of empirical enjoyments. True Vedantic inquiry begins when we develop a divine discontent, as Buddha did.Third is Śamādi ṣatka Sampatti. It lists six traits:  Sama, Dama, Uparati, Titiksa, Shraddha, Samadhana. Fourth is Mumukṣutvam, a strong desire for spiritual liberation.Three additional disciplines are implied: sravanam, mananam, nididhyasanam. It means reading and listening to higher, spiritual ideas, contemplating on them and then internalizing them.