Viveka (wisdom) gives inner strength and mental peace. A
viveki (wise one) gets no troubles. He is always on the alert. He never gets
entangled in anything. He has farsightedness. He knows the true value of the
objects of this universe. He is fully aware of the worthlessness of these
shallow toys. Nothing, nothing can tempt him. Maya (illusion) cannot approach
him now.
Associations with mahatmas (holy ones) and study of vedantic
literature will infuse viveka in man. Viveka should be developed to the maximum
degree; one should be well established in it; viveka should not be an ephemeral
or occasional mood in an aspirant. It should not fail him when he is in
trouble, when any difficulty stares him in the face. It must indeed become part
and parcel of his nature. He should exercise it at all times without any
effort. If one is careless in the beginning, viveka may come and go. So the
aspirant should live in the company of sages for a long time till viveka burns
in him like a big steady flame.
Maya is very powerful. She tries her extreme level best to
lead the aspirant astray. She throws many temptations and obstacles on the path
of young inexperienced aspirants. Therefore the company of sages and mahatmas
is like an impenetrable fortress for the neophyte. Now no temptations can
assail him. He will undoubtedly develop true and lasting viveka. He will then
have permanent and spontaneous viveka.
Then only he is truly and perfectly safe. The dangerous zone
is past. Only a true viveki can claim to be the richest, happiest and most
powerful man in the world. He is a rare spiritual gem. He is a beaconlight and
torchbearer. If viveka is developed, all other qualifications will come by
themselves. From viveka is born vairagya (dispassion).
- - -
Discrimination is the faculty which distinguishes between
the real and the unreal. The whole world outside and the universe that is
inside, are unreal. Earth, water, wind, fire, the sky, the ocean, our bodies
and the vital force animating them, our minds, our consciousness of ourselves
all are but airy nothingness. The only real thing is the Atman (Self) or
Brahman, the Absolute.
