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The nine blessings


 The nine blessings?
 `` Vivekachudamani’’ is the most popular ``Prakarana Grandha’’, blessed by Sri Jagadguru Sri Adi Sankaracharya.  In the second verse of this sacred composition Acharya delineates a list of nine blessings, blessed by the Almighty. They are as follows.
1. ` Narajanma’--------- (Human birth).
Human birth is the best birth by Divine providence. Among 84 lakhs of living beings Human birth is the best and the rarest one. Based on the previous good actions (punya karmas), human birth is blessed by the Almighty.  
2. ` Pumsatvam’ --------- (Manhood).
After getting human birth to have` Pumsatvam’ is even rarer.  The word Manhood is not representing the masculine nature here.  It is represented as the mental ability and wisdom. The combination of various qualities like wisdom, strong determination, sacrifice (VAIRAGYA) nature and steadfastness in Atma is called Pumsatvam. The human being whether male or female whomever possessed the above said qualities is identified as the human being   of Pumsatvam.
3. ` Viprata’ --------------- (Satvik attitude of life).
Having Satvik nature is identified as Viprata.  Quititude of mind, simplicity, patience, straightforwardness, self control, strong faith on the Almighty are some of the qualities of Viprata. This quality raises the seeker from` manhood’ to `mature manhood.
4. ` Vaidika- Dharma- Marga- Parata -------- (Steadfastness on the path of righteousness proclaimed by   Vedas).
Purity of mind (Chitta- suddhi, and Chitta- ekagrata, concentrating power of mind) are two pre- requisite qualities for a spiritual seeker.
The activities prescribed by Vedas like, Practice of self study (swadhyaya), performing actions without expecting fruits of results (nishkama karma),submitting results of karmas to the Almighty ( karma phala sanyasa), practicing Japa and Dhyana is called  Vaidika- Dharma- Marga- Parata. Those who have moved to the next step of steadily living a life based on scriptural injections are rarer than those who are just merely good and mature humans.
5. ` Vidvattvam’----------- (Correct knowledge of the profound thoughts of Vedas).
Right understanding of profound thoughts of spiritual text is called vidvattvam. Vedanta is deep and subtle and cannot be understood by gross intellect. The seeker who has chitta-suddhi and chitta-ekagrata can only grasp the subtler truths of Vedas.  Those who come to the level of Vidvattvam’ are regarded as even more blessed than those who stopped at Vaidika- Dharma- Marga- Parata.
6.  Atma-anatma-vivechanam------- (discrimination power between the Self and non-Self).
Human being is the combination of PURE CONSCIOUSNESS and inert matter. Atman is the PURE CONSCIOUSNESS and the body, mind and intellect are inert matter. Not only the human body, the entire Universe is a combination of PURE CONSCIOUSNESS and inert matter.
  Vidvattvam gives one the ability of differentiate the PURE CONSCIOUSNESS and inert matter.  The seeker who possessed this quality of Atma-anatma-vivechanam is placed in advanced state of spirituality.  
7. Swanubhava ---------- (Direct experience).
The seeker obtains (jnana), the spiritual knowledge through Atma-anatma-vivecanam. It is a mere intellectual conviction.  The steady process of meditation makes the seeker transcends the conditioning of the body, mind and intellect and merges with the PURE CONSCIOUSNESS within. This is Swanubhava.
8. Brahmatmana samasthiti (To be attained the awareness of the identity of Brahman and Atman). 
The Swanubhava should not be momentary. The seeker must continuously aware of all pervading self, the ATMAN, the BRAHMAN. At this stage he identifies the oneness of self, the ATMAN and-the BRAHMAN. Now he is considered as jeevanmuktha. He is the perfect person, a man of God-Realization.
9. Mukthi (Liberation).
 A strong urge to get rid from the ocean of samsara is called Mukthi. A seeker who has transformed to the state of jeevanmuktha is liberated from the cycle of births and deaths. After exhaustion of his prarabdha his body drops and he no more takes a new birth. This final liberation from the cycle of births and deaths is called videha-mukthi.







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