Sadhana Chatushtaya: The Four Spiritual Qualifications - Krishnaphani Kesiraju

Part II

3) Shatsampatti or the six attainments are: Śama, Dama, Uparati, Titiksha, Śraddhä, and Samädhäna.

Śama is tranquillity of mind. Control as to the mind refers to bringing about a state of calm and peace. We do not experience serenity of mind due to a sense of self-importance and conceit. Our life constantly revolves round personal and self-centered desires, a need for recognition and craving for reward. All these inevitably lead to discontent and cause agitation in the mind. Further, we suffer on account of the illusion that the cause for the internal agitation arises from external sources. It is therefore imperative to realize at the very beginning of our sadhana that the root cause for mental disturbance solely lies within us and nowhere else. If our happiness depends upon any thing or person outside us, we can never be happy in life. Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita calls him as of stable mind (Sthita Prajna) whose self is content in the self. Thus, maintaining equanimity and control of our mind in the face of provocation, though very difficult, is an essential prerequisite on the spiritual path. Śama is therefore given as the first of the six attainments to be acquired for our journey into the self.

Dama is control of action. It literally means taming, subduing, restraining or conquering our passions. We act through our organs of sense and action, called as jnanendriyas and karmendriyas, which are classified as five each. We perceive the world around us through the senses of touch, sight, smell, hearing and taste. We respond to the external stimuli perceived by the sense organs through the five organs of action – tongue, hands, feet, organs of excretion and generation. Control over these is the next step or attainment needed in our quest for the Truth. Making the organs sensitive and tuning them to respond to the right kind of vibrations is the way to attain control over them. Adopting a simple lifestyle, both mentally and physically, finding time to withdraw into our inner self, moderation in everything we do are some of the prescriptions to achieve Dama.

Uparati means tolerance. It also connotes abstinence, ceasing, and stopping. Tolerance of others’ views and opinions, making allowance for everything and an understanding approach towards everything and everybody brings in us a significant change and gives us clarity in our perception of life. Sri Krishna reminds Arjuna in the Bhagavad-Gita that He dwells in the lowest of the low, in the gambler and the thief also. This should open our eyes and make us accept things as they are. The traditional meaning ascribed to Uparati is abstaining from prescribed ceremonies. This means we should understand the limitations of rituals and ceremonies and rise above them but at the same time respect those who perform them. Positive action of removing the imperfections in oneself before correcting others is also a way to attain tolerance. When one tries to do this, one is able to view sympathetically the faults in others and be tolerant of them.

© Part I of this article appeared in Splendour, May, 2004 issue.

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