Four fold qualifications of a Vedantic student

The ultimate goal for a vedic mystic is moksha or liberation. This is harder than becoming the CEO of the largest corporation, becoming the President of the richest country, or becoming the most famous celebrity in the world. If we look back at human history you will probably find less than ten universally accepted liberated souls. The odds clearly indicate liberation is the hardest goal any person can achieve. A seeker needs the four fold qualifications to be successful.

Why is the quest for moksha so hard? The Upanishads mandate a four fold qualifications for students interested in the pursuit of liberation. When expanded, these four fold qualifications become nine qualifications. This is the bar to even start the journey towards the ultimate goal!

Viveka

• Viveka – discrimination or discernment – the student with this qualification can split objects and thoughts into two categories, permanent and impermanent. On a practical note, this is also the ability to know right from wrong. We eat our favorite ice cream and feel happy. A vedantic student would deliberate upon this activity and conclude that, while ice cream gave happiness, the happiness was temporary and hence impermanent.

Vyragya

• Vyragya – dispassion – the student with this qualification cultivates dispassion towards the impermanent. Using the ice cream example, the student would then cultivate indifference towards the act of eating an ice cream. The goal for dispassion is to maintain equanimity. You should not feel elated when something good happens and, at the same time, not feel dejected when something bad happens.

The next qualification is about discipline. This can expand into 6 qualifications.

Shama-Dama

3. Shama – control of mind – the next two, Shama and Dama, control of mind and sense organs, are a result of viveka and vyragya. If the student understands that the joy from eating an ice cream is impermanent (viveka) and develops dispassion towards the act (vyragya), then he/she develops control of mind (shama) and control of sense organs (dama).
4. Dama – control of sense organs – Shama and Dama can be developed by meditation.
5. Uparati – turning away from enjoyment – with the above qualifications the student could still continue eating the ice cream, maintaining equanimity. Uparati asks the students to actively turn away from the impermanent acts of enjoyment or sorrow. The practical aspect of this would be practicing silence.
6. Tithiksha – endurance of sorrow and pain – the path to liberation is not strewn with rose petals. The journey is tough and asks a lot from the student. This qualification states the importance of endurance.
7. Shradha – faith – the student cannot endure sorrow and pain if he/she does not firmly believe that the path will lead to their goal. The student should have faith in the words of the Veda.
8. Samadhana – focus – no goal can be achieved without focus. Here, the focus is on the only realty, Brahman.

Finally,

Mumukshutvam

9. Mumukshutvam – yearning for moksha. You cannot undergo this journey if you do not have a strong yearning/desire to be liberated.

At first glance, the ask seems impossible. However, we have all experienced moments when we have had the four fold qualification, except the yearning has been for something material. For example, the musician discerns the right note from the wrong and he/she has dispassion towards and turns away from other things while playing the instrument. To deliver a great performance, the musician maintains control over his/her mind and sense organs and focuses on the task on hand. He/she endurance pain while performing the act and has faith in his/her teacher. Finally, the musician yearns to play to the best of his/her ability.