MOkshasaadhanam (Means of Liberation) – 7

by Krishna Sastri

Aum

2) Acceptance of the (reality of) difference ( bhEdha dharshanam ) is forbidden.

Flowing from this forbiddance is that a person realizing his identity with Brahman is forbidden from carrying out religious rites and assumption of the sacred thread.

Why are kaarmic duties enjoined only on the ignorant, even though ignorant people are also one with Brahman?

Karma and karmasaadhanam such as yagnOpaveetha are inconsistent with the knowledge of oneness with Brahman. The ignorant one performs karma only because he accepts ' bhedha dharshanam '.

If vedic rites have to be performed even by those who have attained the knowledge of the oneness with Brahman and not renounced, then sruthi would not have declared the identity of oneness with Brahman. Please do not lose sight of the fact that Brahman is unrelated to karma, yagnOpaveetha, varNa, aashrama etc. which are the conditions of vedic karma and these karmas are performed by those who hold that Brahman is different from them and therefore these karmas do not lead one to Brahman but to the lokas.

Moreover, the Sruthi is clear and explicit in saying: "That is the Self, Thou art That ( sa aathma, Tat Tvam Asi ) (ChaandOgyOpanishad 6.8.7). Also it declares: "It is the eternal glory of the knower of Brahman" ( Esha nithyO mahimaa braahmanasya ); "He is untouched by punya or paapa" ( ananvaagatham punyEmaananvaahatham paapEna ); and "Here a thief is no thief" ( athra sthEnOsthEna: ). (BrihadhaaraNyakOpanidhad 4.3).

Thus, a person aspiring after Liberation should renounce all karmas and their saadhanaas with firm conviction that his own Self is one with Brahman.

(contd.)