Carve-out Your Path to Immortality!
By H H Maa Purnananda
“Na Karmana Na Prajaya Dhanen Tyagenaike Amritattvamaanashuh. Paren Naakam
Nihitam Guhayam Vibhraajate Yadyatayo Vishanti.” – (Kaivalya Upanishad – 1/3)
More often than not, we the students of Vedant misunderstand the actual import of the
Sacred Texts that expound on the secretive Knowledge of Absolute Truth. The core of every
being is the same Self that pervades the microcosm, the macrocosm and beyond. Spiritual
pursuit, as per Vedant philosophy, is the process of rediscovering and eventually attaining
the all-pervading Reality which is none other than the Self Itself.
To carve out the path to return to this Reality of our very existence, we need to think
differently about our present way of existence. Existence of a living being is anyway
different from the existence of an object; though both exist due to the existence of the
same Self that exists eternally, exhaustively and extensively.
The Self is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent (Sarvavyaapak, Sarvagnya and
Sarvashaktimaan). Therefore, to attain the Self, the conditioning of individualistic petty self-
centred identity that makes one a mortal being, ought to be sacrificed.
The given Mantra says “Not by work (Karm), nor by progeny (Praja), nor by wealth (Dhan),
but by renunciation alone, Immortality is attained.” This literal meaning seems to be
endorsing that the law of Karm, the human social structure and the pursuit of sustenance
are unnecessary; hence are to be rejected. But when given a deeper thought to it, the
implied meaning makes it clear that the doer-ship and enjoyer-ship of work, the attachment
to and possessiveness of progeny, and, the pride and aggrandising of wealth definitely need
to be rejected and renounced by the egocentric self-centred individual. But, by doing so, will
I lose my family? Will I have to sacrifice my happiness? Will I have no satisfaction of my
achievements? Will I completely lose my status and identity, my individuality? What all am I
going to lose and what anyway will I gain by renunciation (Tyag)?
Further, the Mantra says “Higher than heaven, seated in the cave of the intellect (Heart), It
shines, which the seekers enter (attain).” This part makes it further clear that why such
renunciation is advised and eliminates all the above-mentioned baseless doubts. We, the
mortal beings, work hard, satiate the urge of procreation and multiply wealth; and think
that these are the parameters of life’s progress! The happiness derived from such success is
absolutely trivial in comparison to the happiness of ‘heaven’ and the ‘success’ so derived is
indeed only a preamble to failure and dissatisfaction; whereas renunciation leads to the
very ‘seat’ of the ‘Self’, the ‘seat’ which is beyond the heaven of happiness, and the ‘Self’
which is brilliantly self-effulgent. This indicates that the Self is unconditional and complete
(Purna) in Itself, Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent; and therefore Immortal
(Amritam). The Self alone is ultimate blissful happiness, the peaceful satisfaction and the all-
encompassing Knowledge.
We learn from the profound philosophy of Vedant, the technique of carving out our “path to
Immortality” in life; even while fulfilling our bounden responsibilities and ordained duties,
diligently and uncompromisingly. The true progress of a human life would be to progress
towards the Eternal Existence in true sense and this has to be the ‘Spiritual culture’ of any
generation at any given time.
The way of life based upon little or rather no understanding of the Higher possibilities as a
human being crumbles down as worthlessly as a house of cards, leading repeatedly to
mortality. Whereas the way of life disciplined, directed and designed to repeatedly carve
out the path to Immortality, ultimately stands worthy of worship as Sree Ishwar in the
Temple of Eternal Existence. Let us be cultured enough to lead a life of sacrifice and service
and educate ourselves to the Spiritual culture as propounded by Sree Guru Parampara.