PHILOSOPHY Lesson 5

Seven stages of knowledge

The seven stages of knowledge are described in Yoga Vashistha, an ancient dialogue between Maharishi Vashishta and his disciple Lord Rama. It gives the identification of different stages of knowledge in the spiritual path of a sadhaka. Every Yogi goes through these stages of development before achieving complete liberation.

1. SUBECHA : LONGING FOR TRUTH

There are further four stages of Subecha:

a. Viveka: discrimination between permanent and impermanent, real and unreal.

b. Vairagya: Dispassion for materialistic pleasures.

c. Shatsampat: mastery over six senses.

d. Mumukshutava: deep desire to attain moksha. The person who has mastered this stage is called sadhaka.

2. VICHARANA: RIGHT INQUIRY

The sadhaka has deeply thought about his past experiences in life and came to understanding of truth.

3. TANUMANASA: BRINGING THE FOCUS TO ONE

The sadhaka has abandoned the unimportant thoughts and is now focused only on the real truth.

4. SATTVAPATI: ATTAINMENT OF PURITY

The sadhaka at this stage acquires siddhis (astral powers), if he stays unaffected by these powers then he enters the fifth stage.

5. ASAMSAKTI: UNAFFECTED BY ANYTHING

The sadhaka becomes unaffected byu anything. He is called Brahmavidvara. His sanchita and agami karma is destroyed and only prarabhda karma is left.

6. PADARTHBHAVANA: SEES ONLY BRAHMAN EVERYWHERE

The sadhaka sees only Brahman everywhere and everything seems to him as one matter.

7. TURIYA

This is the stage of perpetual Samadhi. The body drops off approximately three days after attaining this stage.

Questions:

Q1. What are first two stages of knowledge?

Q2. Why siddhis can become obstacles to fifth stage

Q3. Why mumukshatva is important for a sadhaka?

Q4. What are last 3 stages of knowledge?