Sadhana Sangama Trust

LADDER TO LIBERATION – THE PATH OF BHOGA AND MOKSHA

Swami Veda Bharathi, a Senior Disciple of Swami Rama of the Himalayan Tradition to which this writer does also belong, begins his poem titled “BOTH” as follows :–

It is said:

“Pursuer of pleasures has no liberation;

Seeker of liberation must renounce pleasure.”

It is a conflict, not in very few seekers; most of us believe it. To gain total clarity of this truth, one should turn to the “Jeevan Darshana – Life Revelation of Hindusim”, a Universal life philosophy, at core of its being.

Hindu school of thought, speaks of Trivarga (three classes) and Apavarga (class apart), classification of four Purusharthas – “objects of human pursuit,” a key concept, referring to the four proper goals of a human life. Dharma – Artha – Kāma – the first three are “Trivarga” and Moksha, the fourth one is Apavarga, Moksha being the state of Vairāgya – path of Renunciation, turned away from the worldly pleasures. The first three are the benefits to be derived from the worldly transactions.

Are these Purushartha-s contradictory in nature?

If so, how is that, we do a Sankalpa of all the four – “Dharmarthakāmamoksha, Chaturvidhphala Siddhyartham,” during all our religious rituals and ceremonies? It is quite an intriguing question.

This Hindu philosophy of “Iha-Para Sadhana” – both worldly and transcendental attainments of life is more often misunderstood by the common lot, than practised well. Hindu school of thought never negates life and its creative Dynamism.

Bhoga is Pravritti Marg – facing the world and Moksha is Nivritti Marg – face turned away from the world. Hence, the common erroneous understanding is that Bhoga and Moksha cannot stay together, as they are juxtaposed.

Sri Vidya – the Inner Tantric Yoga, a highly evolved esoteric practice, holds an exceptional view to the above perspective of life. Sri Vidya Shāstra assures both Bhoga – enjoyment and Moksha – liberation, to the seeker.

How is it possible?

Majority of people understand Bhoga as Sukha prāpti – attainment of pleasures and hence they put endless efforts, in this direction. However, my Sri Vidya Guru, Sri Satyanandanatha fondly addressed as “Rā. Sa,” Dr. R. Satyanarayana of Mysuru, describes it in his text “Srividya-Shodashika,” as follows:

Bhoga is two types : Sukha (pleasure) and Dukha (pain); Bhoga simply means experiencing both pleasure and pain; to be precise not necessarily experiencing pleasures alone. Both pleasure and pain have arrived from the Divinity only; thus with this understanding, while experiencing both, offer them to the divinity itself; this intelligent attitude of a seeker assures and provide peace, stability and courage in life.

How does this attitude lead one to Liberation?

If we observe carefully, we can understand that attainment of desired fruits of actions is also like a business; one has to pay for these transactions done. It may be in the form of present or future karma, suffered or enjoyed, has to be experienced. By this practice, a chain of karma, continuously evolving, gets created. Hence, the right approach would be to base one’s attainment of desired fruits, on Dharma, bound by Artha, while both Dharma and Artha are anchored in kāma. This is how, these three purusharthas could be performed, which is a path of Shreyas i.e., long-lasting and good for all.

Guru Sri Satyanandanatha (RāSa) says; Bhoga in spiritual sense is simply EXPERIENCE. Indulgence, excessive pleasures, addiction are not bhoga. It has both pleasure and pain, sorrow and joy, good and bad. Experiencing these dualities of life, is not only Karma (Action) but is also the fruits of our past actions. The right spiritual way to train the mind is to suffer or enjoy them, understanding it as my part of duty and not getting attached to it as pleasure and pain and not get stuck there itself. It means staying away from the fruits of such actions. This type of indifference and vairagya (Non-attachment) become the steps to salvation, a ladder to liberation. In this state, one can experience Moksha.

Gleaning from Swami Veda’s poem “BOTH”, we are informed that he does not want any conflict of choices – either pleasure or liberation. He wishes if he could have both since Mother Divine also says that Two are one !! He concludes his poem

“My Mother then granted me both: Now my liberation is my only pleasure.”

Dear Sadhakas, ultimately this is what one should get established in – “my liberation is my only pleasure.” Masters are ready to shower the nectar of wisdom to wipe off one’s nescience.

Smt. Jyothi Pattabhiram

Disciple of Guru Sri Satyanandanatha

9 responses to “LADDER TO LIBERATION – THE PATH OF BHOGA AND MOKSHA”

  1. Dilip says:

    Pranaama.. Amma, explained in simple terms,shud try to implement in real life scenarios with awareness..

  2. Savitha says:

    Thank you Amma for giving insight and proper understanding of Shreyas .and its implications as a means to liberation.

    The definition of Bhoga which i always used to think otherway round, gives strength to accept the Karmic baggage and to go beyond it. Your article helped me to understand the new thought.

    Thank you Amma for making us to understand very important aspects like Shreyas in life, Purushartha of life and the ladder to liberation in the context of Dharma which can be only understood with your blessings only. Mind can understand the words but still difficult to understand Amma.

  3. Praveen Nirmalan says:

    Pranams and Thank you for the insights. When the purusharthas – the trivargas and the apavarga are part of the divine- why should they be negated in any way. Along with the offering of the fruits of actions to the Divine, one should also get the habit of offering the action itself to the Divine. If the action is of the Divine, naturally the fruits are also of the Divine. When each action is understood as an offering to the Divine, then there remains the experience of the action and the fruit but neither an attachment nor a detachment (one has to be there for the opposite).

    When each action of mine is an offering to the Divine by the Divine, there is no seeking of moksha or liberation either. There is nothing to accept or deny, seek or reject. The “I” that I do not realize in me is already liberated..has been in the past, now, and in the future as well. We are always liberated and free, only, unaware of it because of the layers of avidya and maya.

    What never changes is “me” as it’s inner core..the liberated, free, blissful, satchitananda or Brahman. What changes and what we get caught up with is avidya and Maya..that makes us believe that we are changing and have to seek moksha. How can we seek what we already were, are, will be always? Where do we seek when we already are?

    Just sharing a few thoughts that were passing through the mind as I am reflecting on the Nirvana Shatakam now. ( And the practice is still ongoing as the reflection is still ongoing).

  4. Prem Aman says:

    Wonderful explanation of ‘Bhoga’, as the experience of both pain and pleasure. It is indeed our actions in the past, and in the present that decide what life experiences we must go through. But, huge relief to know that we can change our bhoga, by changing our actions, in this lifetime itself! Brilliant exposition!!!

  5. ASHOK BHATT says:

    Amma pranaams .What an explanation of BHOGA .very nicely explained and the best is you have given the solution to the biggest question we all have .How to overcome these attachments? Amma you have explained it in such a simple language for us to have clarity about this .
    In Srividya ,Bhagwati is Bhoga Moksha rupen as you have pointed out .It is our desires, which lead to Raga and Dwesha depending upon the result.
    Amma as you pointed out any attachment is an obstacle to the spiritual progress but at the same time one can get attached to the liberation also
    Amma thanks for giving clarity about how well the external and internal worlds are connected
    Gurudev says enjoy everything in the external world .They are meant to enjoy but that should lead to our upliftment internally and You have given the road map
    regards

  6. Meena Pandey says:

    Thank you Gurumaa for such an insightful article on liberation quoting two great Gurus. In a very simple way you have given us the key to liberation(moksha).

    Firstly, for attaining moksha, one has to stay away from pleasures, ultimately one has to make liberation (moksha) to be one’s pleasure as per Swami Veda Bharati.

    Second is the definition by Guru Sri Satyanandanatha that bhoga is EXPERIENCE only. It is not only of pleasures, but it includes pain also. Means the pain is not s roga, but it is bhoga.

    When we change our attitude to that aspect, then we can attain moksha in this lifetime only. As Swami Rama also says that liberation/freedom is here and now only.

    Thank you Gurumaa for making it so simple for the sadhakas like me.

    JAI GURUDEV🙏

  7. Vikram CK says:

    All these days Bhoga meant only the pleasure for me. Experiencing pain and pleasure without getting attached to them is a revelation for me. Enlightened!

  8. sudendra kulkarni says:

    There are two common and rather broad explanations of enlightenment. One of them states moksha or enlightenment is liberation from worldly life and can be achieved only after death. Another states that moksha can be attained within one’s lifetime, through practical and principled actions. Increasingly, the latter belief is gaining popularity.Permanence is an illusion, a part of our ignorance. Everything in this material world is relative. This awareness is the first step in setting us on our path to moksha. It is this freedom from ignorance, rather than relief from mortal life, that liberates us.”

  9. N Narayanan says:

    Attaining liberation here and now seems a definite possibility after going through your article, Amma. It is very compassionate of you to have shared the direct path of Bhoga for attaining Moksha.

    This is the first time that I came across a fresh and unique perspective that Bhoga is simply an ‘experience’, both pleasure and pain included. What an insight !! All along, for me, the understanding of Bhoga was simply ‘pleasure’.

    The approach to get freedom from karma through the route of bhoga seems practical and doable. The commitment of the Sages to guide a sadhaka in the journey for liberation is reassuring.

    Jai Gurudev.

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