This chapter is the English translation of Gujarati Book
Title - Sadhak and Sathi
Author - Shri Atmanandji (Dr. Soneji)
THE IMPURE EMOTIONAL STATES
The qualities inherent in the original and basic constitution of
soul (Atma) are natural and pure (Svabhava-Bhava). When the
soul (Atma) misses these natural qualities and experiences some
other ones, then impure and emotional states arise. Examples of
the natural and basic qualities of soul are forgiveness,
humbleness, and contentment. The reverse of these, including
anger, pride, and jealousy are impure emotional states of soul.
The aim of an aspirant should be to wash out these impure
emotional states from the soul and to reveal its pure qualities.
It would therefore be beneficial to narrate and analyze in brief
the different impure states or feelings that the soul is likely
TYPES OF IMPURE EMOTIONAL STATES:
The belief of self in the non-self is the first and major impure
state responsible for infinite perpetuation of the mundane
existence of births and rebirths. Other impure states cannot be
eliminated from one's life, unless the Atma gives up the
delusive belief of ownership of the body and other human
features as one's true self.
This delusive belief is known by different names, such as
ignorance, illusion, falsehood, sense of extroversion and so on.
Other impure feelings are those of anger, different forms of
pride, illusory behavior, greed, various types of passions,
jealousy, sorrow, fear, disgust, false allegations, violence,
theft, hunting, gambling, and so on.
ORDER OF THE ANNIHILATION OF IMPURE EMOTIONAL STATES:
The science and methodology of getting rid off these feelings is
subtle indeed. This whole activity is known as advancement on
the path of liberation. The implementation of this path can be
presented in three grades as follows:
1. In the initial stage, the enlightened preceptor preaches the
aspirant somewhat like this, "Well brother, get over your
varied defects so long as you are hale and hearty. As you
proceed to self-improvement, the biggest defect to encounter
is wantonness. Let it be annihilated by association with the
wise, which will induce virtues in you."
Thus, by a combination of humility, obedience and similar
other virtues you will be worthy of properly perceiving the
spiritual sermons of the preceptor or the mystic teachings
learnt through the study of authentic scriptures.
For awakening your soul and getting a proper grasp of the
absolute Reality, you have to acquire true knowledge of the
basic elements (Tattvas) of the universe such as Soul and
Matter (Jiva and Ajiva), and practice deep contemplation on
It is said,
"Controlled activities of senses and simplicity, recognition
of the instructions of saints and good thoughts, compassion
and gentleness - these qualities form the prime basis for the
realization of the Soul (Atman)."
"Let one ponder over the knowledge acquired. Let us serve
the enlightened preceptors - this is the resolve of the
2. Thus it can easily be understood that by a continuous
studying of the true nature of the Self, the spiritual
aspirant firmly believes that only his true self is his own,
and none others. He does not accept body, anger, lust, and
so on as constituting the original nature of Soul. These
impure emotional states arise due to a lack of awareness of
the Soul in a state of Karmic bondage.
Such an aspirant has realized that these feelings of anger
and so on are the defiled states of the soul and hence are
impure and sorrowful. As they are the cause of further
bondage, he has resolved to remove them all.
3. Such a wise aspirant knows one thing for certain, that these
impure states of anger and so on arise or get inflated only
if he entangles his mind in worldly affairs losing sight of
Now, if the aspirant develops indifference and conceives
these impure states as worthy of renunciation, he will
naturally minimize all those different activities which give
rise to or excite these adverse feelings so that, in due
course, the force of these impurities will lessen.
In addition to reducing these activities, he enriches his
will-power by practicing and participating in activities such
as the company of the wise, scriptural studies, devotion to
God, observance of silence (Mauna), seclusion, pondering over
reality, and others.
Just as the aspirant progresses in his spiritual life
(Sadhana) of reflection and meditation by enhancing his vows,
he will progress towards spiritual enlightens. One fine
fortunate day, during meditation, he attains to that divine
and enlightening experience called self-realization, which
pervades all aspects of his life, and produces a total change
in his personality.
Now, at this stage, he is transformed from an aspirant into a
saint, and is firmly established in the path of attaining to
supreme Godhood - a state of pure knowledge and infinite
bliss, through attainment of the state of Sthita-Prajna and
Nirvikalpa Samadhi. He thus conquers all invisible peaks of
spiritual development and becomes a perfect soul.
We have thus, analyzed from the spiritual point of view the
progress and order in which impure states of the individual
soul can be purified. In modern days, we can concede that the
development of the spiritual path is more difficult. This is
because the remembrance of the previous births is limited,
association with enlightened souls is difficult to obtain and a
common person is surrounded by antagonistic and evil events in
life. Also an aspirant fails to loosen his attachment to the
flimsy and worldly pleasures of mundane life.
In other words, the strength of determination has to be further
reinforced constantly to overcome the varied sensual temptations
and their effects on day-to-day life. For this, again, great
tolerance, patience, courage and sincere following of the right
path are necessary.
In the modern atomic age, the battle of the Sadhaka against
adverse feelings and experiences is long drawn, tough, full of
calamities and spread over both the imminent and transcendental
forms of Sadhana. Still, however, with firm determination and
by frequent or constant association with the wise, victory is
easy, simple and natural; because the attainment is aimed at
one's own pure state, which is the rightful, inborn and eventual
destination of every wise person
LIVING EXAMPLES OF VICTORY OVER ADVERSE FEELINGS:
This is an incident of the time of Bhagavan Mahavira.
There was once a discussion among monks (Shramans).
The topic of discussion was as follows: "Who drowns deepest in
the ocean of life: a person of lust, anger, greed, delusion, or
The monks discussed their different views, but there was no
agreement. All jointly approached Bhagavan Mahavira and sought
There was a counter question from Bhagavan Mahavira, "If we
throw in the water a fine, dry boat, will it sink?"
Monks replied, "No Sir! It will not."
Bhagavan: "Now, if there is a hole in the boat?"
Monks: "Surely Sir, it will sink then."
Bhagavan: "At what place should the hole be, so that the boat
Monks: "Holy Sir, it will sink with a hole anywhere in it."
Bhagavan: "Similar is the reality of Atman, O Shramanas!
Anywhere in the Atma - be it lust, anger, greed, delusion or
pride, these lead to bondage of Karma and the Atma bound by
Karma is sure to be drowned in the ocean of life. Therefore,
let the Sadhaka ever try to be free from these adverse feelings,
that are blemishes. Let him thus propitiate God by true faith,
true knowledge, and true conduct and progress on the path of
There was a sudden shout in the peaceful atmosphere of the
Gurukula (religion college). Someone shouted, "A scorpion has
bitten Guruji (religion teacher)!"
All students ran to find out as to what had happened and how.
Some students were rubbing gently to Guruji, one student
captured the scorpion under a stick. Guruji told all pupils, "I
am fine. Go back and get back to your work again."
However, one student tied the scorpion with a string and hung it
on the wall. The scorpion was released after three hours
following a pressing appeal from Guruji. Still, the anger of
that student towards the scorpion had not disappeared.
After a few months, on the festival day known as Guru-Poornima,
there were preparations for a festival. At that time, Guruji
declared, "This year, I shall seek an individual gift from every
student." All students were delighted at this declaration. They
were willing to give anything that will please Guruji.
At the end of the festival, it was the time for Guruji to demand
some gift from the students (Guru-Dakhsina). However, Guruji
demanded a type of the gift which was totally unexpected.
Gauruji asked every student to remove the major faults from his
life, for example greed, anger, a critical outlook and so on.
Ultimately, there came the turn of a student who had punished
the scorpion. Guruji told him, "You have to take a vow not to
get angry. This will be the gift (Guru-Dakhshina) from you to
This noble Guruji was Shree Nrusinh Acharya, a scholar and yogi
who specializes in the field of meditation. He lived near
Baroda, Gujurat in the middle of the present century.
Queen Catharine of Italy was known for her angry and capricious
Once it so happened that she was passing through a military
camp. she heard some commotion among the soldiers. She got
down from her carriage and proceeded towards the soldiers with
few body-guards. In a trench, soldiers were talking about the
difficulties that they faced and particularly they were blaming
The body-guards and the Queen heard all this. The Queen got
angry at first, but in no time, she got over her anger and told
the body-guards, "What the soldiers state is correct. I have
gone on committing violence and hatred for a long time. I shall
try to get over all my blemishes that my soldiers and people are
critical of. I declare that I shall do my best to provide all
happiness and benefits for my soldiers and people."
Thus she declared the change in her temperament and summoned the
soldiers. The soldiers approached trembling with fright. The
Queen consoled and reassured them. She passed on instructions
to the commanders to do everything for their comfort and
A feeling of joy and admiration spread over all her subjects.
Back to Chapter List.
Back to the Home Page.