(39) Importance of Vichaara

​ EXTRACT FROM MUMUKSHU VYAVAHAARA PRAKARANAM

शास्त्रावबोधामलया धिया परमपूतया कर्तव्यः कारणज्ञेन विचारोsनिशमात्मन: ।

विचारात्तीक्ष्णतामेत्य धीः पश्यति परंपदं दीर्घसंसाररोगस्य विचारो हि महौषधं ।

With an intellect purified to utmost sanctity by understanding the instructions of the Scriptures, deliberation on the Self should be practiced continuously by one who knows the ‘Cause of all’ (as some unknown Reality). The intellect that is sharpened by Vichaara visualizes the Supreme State.

Vichaara is the greatest medicine prescribed for the chronic disease called the Samsaara.

आपद्धनमनन्तेहापरिपल्लविताकृति विचारक्रकचच्छिन्नं नैव भूयः प्ररोहति ।

The tree of Samsaara which is thick with difficulties, which is covered by endless leaves of wants is cut off by the axe of Vichaara; and never sprouts again.

मोहेन बन्धुनाशेषु  संकटेषु भ्रमेषु च सर्वं व्याप्तं महाप्राज्ञ विचारो हि सतां गतिः ।

Rama, you are of excellent understanding power.

When relatives die, when tragedies occur, when confusions rise up, the mind is always clouded by delusion. At such time Vichaara alone is the course to be adopted by a god man of virtues.

न विचारं विना कश्चिदुपायोऽस्ति विपश्चितां विचारादशुभं त्यक्त्वा शुभमायाति धीः सताम् ।

There is no other method to be adopted except Vichaara for the wise men.

One should discard the wrong actions through Vichaara and chose the right actions.

बलं बुद्धिश्च तेजश्च प्रतिपत्तिः क्रियाफलं फलन्त्येतानि सर्वाणि विचारेणैव धीमताम् ।

Strength (of dealing with things), intelligence, timely decision, result of the action, all these fructify properly in the wise men, through the practice of Vichaara only.

युक्तायुक्तमहादीपमभिवाञ्छितसाधकं स्फारं विचारमाश्रित्य संसारजलधिं तरेत् ।

Vichaara is the light which shows what is right and what is not right. It covers a vast expanse. It is a necessary tool to achieve the goal. One should hold this Vichaara-lamp and cross over the Samsaara Ocean.

आलूनहृदयाम्भोजान्महामोहमतङ्गजान्विदारयति शुद्धात्मा विचारो नाम केसरी ।

The lotuses of virtues in the heart get crushed by the elephants of great delusion. The lion of extreme purity of character namely Vichaara kills those elephants.

मूढाः कालवशेनेह यद्गताः परमं पदं तद्विचारप्रदीपस्य विजृम्भितमनुत्तमम् ।

If even fools have attained the Supreme state in course of time, it is the feat of the Vichaara-lamp which shines with excellent light.

राज्यानि संपदः स्फारा भोगो मोक्षश्च शाश्वतः विचारकल्पवृक्षस्य फलान्येतानि राघव ।

Raaghava! Kingdoms, Riches, all the enjoyments, and even the permanent state of liberation are the fruits of the KalpaVrkhsa called Vichaara, which bestows anything that is needed.

या विवेकविकासिन्यो मतयो महतामिह न ता विपदि मज्जन्ति तुम्बकानीव वारिणि ।

The minds of the noble which have bloomed by Viveka do not sink when met with difficulties, like the hollow dry gourds inside the water.

विचारोदयकारिण्या धिया व्यवहरन्ति ये फलानामत्युदाराणां भाजनं हि भवन्ति ते ।   

Those who act always with intellects endowed with Vichaara become the receptacles of the excellent fruits.

मूर्खहृत्काननस्थानामाशाप्रथमरोधिनामविचारकरञ्जानां मञ्जर्यो दुःखरीतयः ।

कज्जलक्षोदमलिना मदिरामदधर्मिणी अविचारमयी निद्रा यातु ते राघव क्षयम् ।

 The minds of the fools are the forests where the Karanja trees of no-discrimination (ignorance), which grow blossoming with abundant bitter fruits of pains, and block the first ever growth for the ‘Moksha desire’, by blocking all the directions.

Raaghava! Let the sleep of ‘no-Vichaara’ cease for you; it is as tainting as the powdered lampblack; its fumes bring faintness like the liquor.

महापदतिदीर्घेषु सद्विचारपरो नरः न निमज्जति मोहेषु तेजोराशिस्तम:स्विव ।  

Like the heap of light namely Sun never knows darkness, the man with the enquiring nature never drowns in the delusions which result in prolonged sufferings.

मानसे सरसि स्वच्छे विचारकमलोत्करः नूनं विकसितो यस्य हिमवानिव भाति सः ।

In the Maanasa Sarovara of the mind-lake which is very pure, the buds of Vichaara-lotuses blossom forth.

Such a person indeed shines like the Hima Mountain.

विचारविकला यस्य मतिर्मान्द्यमुपेयुषः तस्योदेत्यशनिश्चन्द्रान्मुधा यक्ष: शिशोरिव ।   

A person whose mind does not bother to do Vichaara, is so dull by such inactivity in the brain, that he will get hit by a shower of stones from the moon even, like a ghost imagined by a stupid child.

दुःखखण्डकमस्थूलं विपन्नवलतामधुः राम दूरे परित्याज्यो निर्विवेको नराधमः ।

ये केचन दुरारंभा दुराचारा दुराधयः अविचारेण ते भान्ति वेतालास्तमसा यथा ।

अविचारिणमेकान्तवनद्रुमसधर्मकं अक्षमं साधुकार्येषु दूरे कुरु रघूद्वह​ ।

A man without the quality of Viveka is the worst of all. He is a hollow hole of pains only. He is not stable. He is the spring for the growth of thorny creepers named harms. He must be kept away at any cost.

All the unsuccessful enterprises, all incorrect actions, all afflictions result from non-enquiry, like the ghosts appearing in darkness.

Raghoodvaha! A man who has no inclination to do Vichaara is like a wasted lone tree growing in the forest. He is of no use to any one. He is not sought by the noble. Keep such fellows far away at a distance.

विविक्तं हि मनो जन्तोराशावैवश्यवर्जितं परां निर्वृतिमभ्येति पूर्णचन्द्रेवात्मनि ।

विवेकितोदिता देहे सर्वं शीतलयत्यलमलंकरोति चात्यन्तं ज्योत्स्नेव भुवनं यथा ।

The mind of a man which is habituated to the analysis of everything with reason is never under the control of wants and attains the supreme restful state like the rise of the full moon within.

In a man where this enquiring nature is found, everything around becomes cool; and adorns the earth with beauty like the earth by the moonlight.

परमार्थपताकाया धियो धवलचामरं विचारो राजते जन्तो रजन्यामिव चन्द्रमाः ।

For the flag of intellect that shines as the royal insignia for the King of Supreme truth, the white chowrie is the Vichaara for the seeker. Vichaara shines like the moon at night.

विचारचारवो जीवा भासयन्तो दिशो दश भान्ति भास्कर​वन्नूनं  भूयो भवभयापहाः ।

The Jeevas who are given to the habit of Vichaara light up all the ten directions like the sun and destroy the fear of darkness of Bhava, for all the beings.

बालस्य स्वमनोमोहकल्पितः प्राणहारकः रात्रो नभसि वेतालो विचारेण विलीयते ।

For a child, the ‘ghost’ which is imagined by the deluded mind and which will take away the life by mere fear in the dark sky of the night, vanishes through proper Vichaara.

सर्वैव जगद्भावा अविचारेण चारवः अविद्यमानसद्भावा विचारविशरारवः ।

All the objects in the world are pleasing as if real because of Avichaara (no-Vichaara). They do not exist, yet are seen as real.  They break down through Vichaara.

पुंसो निजमनोमोहकल्पितोऽनल्पदुःखदः संसारचिरवेतालो विचारेण विलीयते ।

The Vetaala (vampire) of Samsaara is imagined by the deluded mind of a person. It gives much pain. It has been there from along time. It vanishes through Vichaara.

समं सुखं निराबाधमनन्तमपाश्रयं विद्धीमं केवलीभावं विचारोच्चतरोः फलम् ।

This KevaleeBhaava (the pure awareness that is left back after realization) is equal at all times, is blissful, is freed of all afflictions, and is independent of outside agency.

Know it to be the fruit atop the tree of Vichaara.

अचलस्थितितोदारा प्रकटाभोगचेतसा तेन निष्कामतोदेति शीततेवेन्दुनोदिता ।

By the mind exposed to the awareness of that Kaivalya, which is unshaken and is filled with bliss par excellence, the desireless state appears by itself, like the coolness by the rise of the moon.

स्वविचारमहौषध्या साधुश्चित्तनिषण्णया तयोत्तमत्वपदया नाभिवाञ्छति नोञ्झति ।

Vichaara cultivated in the mind is an excellent medicine. It is consumed by the minds of those who seek knowledge; and they attain the excellent state mentioned before. After that attainment, they do not desire anything; nor do they discard anything.

तत्फलालम्बनं चेतः स्फारमाभासमागतं नास्तमेति न चोदेति खमिवातिगतान्तरम् ।

The mind, which is holding on to that fruit becomes an appearance only like a crushed seed and loses its limitation of dense Vaasanaa state. It does not rise or set but is like the undivided space.

 न ददाति न चादत्ते न चोन्नमति शाम्यति केवलं साक्षिवत्पश्यञ्जगदाभोगि तिष्टति ।

It does not give (any value to the perceived through desires); does not accept (any joy as associated with objects); remains subdued and stays only as a witness to all the events of the world.

न च शाम्यति नाप्यन्तर्नापि बाह्येऽवतिष्टति न च नैष्कम्यमादत्ते न च कर्मणि मज्जति ।

It does not fully dissolve off (as in sleep). It does not stay inside (as if dreaming) or outside (as the ignorant live). It does not stay without any action also; it does not drown in actions also.

उपेक्ष​ते गतं वस्तु  संप्राप्तमनुवर्तते न च क्षुब्धो न च वाऽक्षुब्धो  भाति पूर्णेवार्णवः ।

It shines like a fully filled ocean. If anything is gone it ignores it; if anything enters it keeps it.

It is active with its waves; yet does not cross the border set for it and remains calm.

एवं पूर्णेन मनसा  महात्मानो महाशयाः जीवन्मुक्ताः जगत्यस्मिन्विहरन्तीह योगिनः ।

In this manner, the noble men who have attained oneness with the Supreme, and have achieved the fulfillment of their lives, wander in this world as JeevanMuktas.

उषित्वा सुचिरं कालं धीरास्ते यावदीप्सितं ते तमन्ते परित्यज्य यान्ति केवलतां तताम् ।

These courageous men, who have conquered the delusion, live here for a long time as long as they like, then discard the appearance of the body, and go off to the expansive state of just pure awareness.

कोsहं कस्य च संसार इत्यापद्यपि धीमता चिन्तनीयं प्रयत्नेन सप्रतीकारमात्मना ।

Even when facing difficulties, a wise man should ponder with effort such questions as ‘who am I’, ‘whose is this world’ along with remedial measures.

कार्यसंकटसंदेहं राजा जानाति राघव  निष्फलं सफलं वापि विचारेणैव नान्यथा ।

A king understands the problems, doubts that belong to any action, and also the failure and success of the enterprise, only through Vichaara and not otherwise.

वेदवेदान्तसिद्धान्तसिद्धयः स्थितिकारणं  निर्णीयन्ते विचारेण दीपेन च भुवो निशि ।

All the conclusions reached by Vedas and Vedaangas which decide on the factors that belong to the world welfare through Vichaara only, like a lamp lit at night.

अनष्टमन्धकारेषु बहुतेजःस्वजिह्मितं पश्यत्यपि व्यवहितं विचारः चारुलोचनम् ।

Vichaara is the eye which functions perfectly. In darkness it doesn’t get lost;

 It is not blurred by blazing light; it remains aloof even when physical eyes are seeing.

विवेकान्धो हि जात्यन्धः शोच्यः सर्वस्य दुर्मतिः दिव्यचक्षुर्विवेकात्मा जयत्यखिलवस्तुषु ।

A man without the eye of Viveka is born blind (though having physical eye). He is to be pitied. He brings suffering to all. A person who has the divine eyes of Viveka is successful in all enterprises.

परमात्ममयी मान्या महानन्दैकसाधिनी क्षणमेकं परित्याज्या न विचारचमत्कृतिः ।

This magical entity of Vichaara is made of the Supreme essence of the Self.

It is highly respected. It leads to the highest bliss ever. It should not be discarded even for a second.

विचारचारुपुरुषो महतामपि रोचते परिपक्वचमत्कारं सहकारफलं यथा ।

A person who can do Vichaara in the right way is liked by even highly learned men, like the mango fruit when fully ripe and delicious.

विचारकान्तमतयो नानेकेषु पुनःपुनः लुठन्ति दुःखश्वभ्रेषु ज्ञाताध्वगतयो नराः ।

The men who have the magical charm of Vichaara in them, do not fall into holes of suffering and keep wallowing there like the ignorant; they are like men who know perfectly well, the route they have to travel.

न च रौति तथा रोगी नानर्थशतजर्जरः अविचारविनष्टात्मा यथाsज्ञः परिरोदिति ।

Even a man suffering from hundreds of wounds in the body (hit by weapons) does not scream like the ignorant who has lost his reasoning capacity.

वरं कर्दममेकत्वं मलकीटकता वरं वरमन्धगुहाहित्वं न नरस्याविचारिता ।

Better drown in the mire; better be a worm crawling in the dirt; better be a snake residing in a dark hole;

but never the life of a man without reasoning capacity.

सर्वानर्थनिजावासं सर्वसाधुतिरस्कृतं सर्व दौस्थित्य​सीमान्तम​विचारं परित्यजेत् ।

One should discard the Avichaara, which is the abode of all harms, which is avoided by all good men, which is the peak point of all wretched states.

नित्यं विचारयुक्तेन भवितव्यं महात्मना तथान्ध​कूपे पततां विचारो ह्यवलम्बनम् ।

A man who wants noble achievements should always be engaged in Vichaara.

For the one who has fallen into the deep dark well and is stuck in utter blindness, Vichaara alone is the only help.

स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानमवष्टभ्य विचारतः संसारमोहजलधेस्तारयेत्स्वमनोमृगम् ।

One should support oneself and through Vichaara practice, make the mind-deer cross over the ocean of Samsaara-delusion.

कोsहं कथमयं दोषः संसाराख्य उपागतः न्यायेनेति परामर्शो विचार इति कथ्यते ।

‘Who am I; how this fault called ‘Samsaara’ has appeared; such logical reflection is termed Vichaara. अन्धान्धमोहसुघनं चिरं दुःखाय केवलं कृतं शिलाया हृदयं दुर्मतेश्चाविचारिणः ।

The heart of a rock and the foolish mind of a person who is not given to Vichaara practice are made to suffer because of being dense with the most blinding darkness of delusion.

भावाभावग्रहोत्सर्गदृशामिह हि राघव न विचारादृते तत्त्वं ज्ञायते साधु किंचन ।

Raaghava! In this world which is a continuous play of presence and absence of objects and acceptance and rejection of things, the truth cannot be understood well without the practice of Vichaara.

विचाराज्ज्ञायते तत्त्वं तत्त्वाद्विश्रान्तिरात्मन्य​तो मनसि शान्तत्वं सर्व दुःखपरिक्षयः ।  

Through Vichaara the truth becomes understood. By understanding the truth one rests in the Self.

Mind then rests in peace. That results in the destruction of all sufferings.

सफलतां फलति भुवि कर्मणां प्रकटतां किल गच्छत्युत्तमां

स्फुटविचारितदृशैव विचारिता शमवते भवते च विरोचताम् ॥

The fruit of success is there in all the actions of the world.
Reach the excellent end through the clear process of Vichaara. It is a quality that will be conducive for your achievement of the goal of liberation when you are endowed with Shama.