Date: 01-05-1998 :: Pg: 24 :: Col: c
"Only in men with a background of great meritorious deeds will the
tree of spiritual life take real root. Control of mind is the sprouting
leaf-bud of that tree; control of senses, its tender foliage; contentment,
its blossoms; forbearance, its nectar; and faith, its fruit. Your teachings,
which inculcate all these excellences of spiritual life, become available
only to men who have great merits to their credit."
"Fortunate indeed are those who could dip in the waves of mercy
surging on the river of your gracious looks. It is what gives liberation to
men in bondage, as also the fulfilment of their aspirations even to the
celestials. Only those, whose boat of life gets wafted on the waves of the
unique ocean of your teachings, deserve the name of scholars or outstanding
men. Your teachings are like a necklace of splendorous pearls, strung on the
golden thread of sound reasoning which scatter the darkness of ignorance by
their brilliance. Wise men derive delight in wearing this rare jewel. The
damsel of `Vidya' prefers to be the handmaid of such men than of the
celestials. May true scholars get delight by the study of your works and
attain reputation thereby."
These encomiums showered on Adi Sankara are found in his biography.
Sankara's philosophy is being followed by innumerable devotees who admire
his prodigious achievements. But for this preceptor par excellence, the world
of Asthikas would not have been able to taste the nectar of Adwaita, said Sri
Bharathi Theertha Swami of Sringeri in his message on the occasion of
Sankara Jayanti.
In his `Upadesa Panchakam' Sri Sankara instructs men to study the Vedas
every day; perform well the acts enjoined therein; worship God through the
observance of duties; give up the thought of engaging in desire-prompted
rites; eradicate the hosts of sins; contemplate on the faults in worldly
enjoyments; establish the desire for the Self; accept a knower of the Truth
as one's Guru; and sincerely serve at the Lord's feet. Adi Sankara has
commented on the Brahma Sutras, Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, explaining
that liberation can be attained only through the knowledge of the Self and
not by a combination of Karma and Jnana.
Sankara, held that the individual soul and the universal Supreme are not
different. In his prayer, Sankara pleads: "Let me possess humility; let my
mind instead of wandering all over, be firmly fixed on you; let me not wallow
in the mire of desires." He thus indirectly describes the attributes of an
ideal human being. If one were to recite at least a verse of the Acharya's
hymns daily, one would earn much merit.
Copyright: The Hindu, Chennai, INDIA