Hinduism is a way of life based on the
precepts of Vedas, the sacred text that was revealed to ancient Rishis by
Bhagavan. Vedas are broadly divided into two portions; Veda purva, the former
portion and Veda anta, the latter, final portion. Each one of them prescribes a
different way of life. The Veda purva
portion is called karma -kandam and Veda anta portion is called Jnana-kandam.
The way of life prescribed by the karma-kandam is karma-yoga way of life and
the way of life prescribed by Jnana-kandam is Jnana-yoga way of life. Therefore, Hinduism, which is the Vedic way
of life consists of both karma-yoga and jnana-yoga ways of life put-together.
Lord Krishna tells Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita (3-3):
Loke’smin dwividhaa nishthaa puraa proktaa mayaanagha;
Jnaanayogena saankhyaanaam karmayogena yoginaam.
In this world there is a twofold path, as I said before, O sinless one, the path of knowledge of the Sankhyas and the path of action of the Yogis!
So, there are two different ways of life, known as karma-yoga way and jnana-yoga way and both put together is the Hindu Way of Life. In this Hindu way of life, karma yoga way of life is the stepping stone to enter the jnana yoga way of life and jnana yoga way of life is the path that leads to Moksha, the final goal. Moksha is also called Purnatvam, total fulfillment. This is the Vedic way of life, which is also called Sanatana Dharma.
Veda has designed these two ways of life, based on certain fundamental principles given by the Veda itself. We shall see them now to understand the significance of Vedic way of life. The Vedas say that all human beings in and through their different activities are seeking three fundamental things in life. They are permanent happiness, peace, and security, which put together is called Purnatvam or Moksha. All human beings seek and desire Purnathvam. The insecurity of old age in which everyone faces degeneration, disease and death adds to the feeling of apurnathvam. Veda says that the entire universe that one knows, cannot provide this Purnathvam as it is bound by time and space. Everything in this world is subject to change and so, nothing is permanent because of this reason. Because everything is unstable one cannot hold on to anything permanently. As one cannot rely upon anything the feeling of insecurity increases as family expands. This feeling of insecurity gives rise to the feeling of concern, anxiety, and fear in the mind and such a mind cannot have peace. And if peace and security are not in the mind, there is no question of happiness as well. Escapist entertainments can make one happy temporarily only, forgetting momentarily the insecurity and agitation in mind.
Veda says only that which is permanent and not fleeting i.e. not bound by time and space can alone give permanent happiness, security, and peace. That means the fleeting world cannot give one permanent happiness, security, and peace. Chandogya Upanishad (7-23-1) says “Yo vai Bhuma tat sukham, na alpe sukham asti (That which is infinite, is alone happiness. There is no (lasting) happiness in anything finite.)”. So, the fleeting world cannot give real happiness. Then the question arises whether there is anything that can give one permanent happiness, security, and peace. For, science with all advancement, has not discovered anything that is permanent. Whatever has been discovered within the micro world or the macro-world, be it star, planet or galaxy or anything else i.e. everything discovered and being discovered is impermanent only. But Veda says that there is a permanent vasthu and says Brahman or Athma is that Nithya vasthu. It also says It is inherent in the world, supporting it. Because of the obsession with the worldly activities, the Changeless Reality i,e, Nithya vasthu inherent in the changing world, and therefore in all beings as well, is not noticed or realised. So, anyone interested in attaining Purnathvam is to seek this Nithya vasthu, discover It and abide in It. But one is missing It, just as missing the screen while absorbed in watching the movie. So, one should pursue, discover, and abide in the Nithya vasthu to attain fulfillment instead of pursuing temporary happiness through worldly pleasures.
This pursuit
is called jnana-yoga and Veda rules out the scientific method of discovering
the Reality i.e. Nithya vasthu, as science is designed to explore the changing
world of matter and energy only. In
Kathopanishad (1-2-9) Yama tells Nachiketas: “Naisha tarkena mathirapaneya (This
(spiritual) knowledge is not attainable by argumentation (scientific method)”.
Jnana yoga pursuit involves sravanam (receiving the knowledge from a competent
guru), mananam (reflecting over the teaching) and nididhyasanam (assimilation of
the knowledge through meditation). The way
of life pursuing the Nithya vasthu through jnana-yoga is called jnana-yoga way
of life. This is a dedicated pursuit and requires several preparatory
exercises, as Nithya vasthu has no form, like space. These preparatory
exercises put together is called karma-yoga way of life.
In karma yoga
way of life, the scriptures incorporate several ritualistic exercises; many involving
three karanams i.e. body, speech, and mind; some involving two karanams i.e.
speech and mind; and some involving speech alone. Ritualistic exercises
involving three karanams are like Rudrabhishekam, where body is involved in
doing abhisheka, pradakshina, namaskara etc.; speech is involved in chanting
Rudram; and mind is involved in thinking of Lord Siva. In ritualistic exercises involving two
karanams only recitation of mantras with a focussed mind is done and in one
involving one karanam, everything is done mentally only. Besides ritualistic
exercises, service activities like pancha maha yajna also form part of
preparatory exercises. Pancha maha yajna
involves service to the family; service to the living environment, consisting
of animals and plants; service to the non-living environment, pancha bhuthas;
and service to the Vedic culture. Nobody needs to do all these exercises. One can have one’s own package prepared in
consultation with informed elders. In fact, as
the time and society changes, the emphasis of preparatory exercises, also will
change. In Kṛita Yuga it was dhyana pradhana; in Treta Yuga it was yajna pradhana;
in Dvapara Yuga it was archana pradhana; and in Kali Yuga, it is nama sankirtana
pradhana. And all these exercises are in the form of Iswara aradhana. There is
no karma yoga without Iswara and Iswara is a personified form of Nithya vasthu;
like Siva, Vishnu, Devi etc.
These preparatory exercises practiced as karma-yoga way of life and the preparation for jnana-yoga take one to jnana-yoga way of life. The preparation for jnana-yoga consists of three things. One is the desire for jnana-yoga. Second is the opportunity for jnana-yoga with a conducive lifestyle, a conducive infrastructure, a cooperative family; and availability of a spiritual guide. Third is the fitness; physical, emotional, sensory, and intellectual health required for consistently and systematically pursuing with understanding, sravaṇam, mananam, and nididhyasanam and finally to understand the subtle definition of the Nithya vasthu as pure Existence principle plus pure Consciousness principle.
Thus karma-yoga
way of life is a religious way of life pursued with the attitude of Iswara
aradhana and prepares one for jnana-yoga way of life and jnana-yoga way of life is a spiritual way of life that leads one to the discovery of Nithya vasthu and attain permanent happiness, security,
and peace in life. So, Vedic way of life, which is the Hindu way of life is a
combine of religious way of life and spiritual way of life, the former leading
to later.
(adapted from the talk of Swami Paramarthananda)
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