For those eager to earn Jnana, there are four instruments or media for acquiring that wisdom. They are:Pada,Bija, Samkhya and Rekha;Pada meansVedas, and the Smritis that attempt to explain them. Bija connotes the entire gamut of mantras learnt direct from theGuru. Samkhya is of two kinds, Vaidika and Laukika. Vaidika-samkhya means the calculations and quantitative analysis of the various mantras. Laukika-samkhya refers to the number and their inter-relations so far as they are related to the external world and the interrelations of human activities.
Rekha too has two such categories, the Vaidika Rekha being a part of the Upasana activity mentioned in the Vedas and Laukika-Rekha being a part of the mathematics of the universe. (UV, pp. 32-33)
As the stars fade into invisibility when the sun rises, so too when the sun of knowledge of Jnana rises, grief, agitation and ignorance vanish. Man has three chief instruments: the mind, the intellect, and the senses. It is when these three work in unison and co-operate with one another that either ‘immersal in the flux’ or ‘liberation in the knowledge of theAtma’, is realised. Krishna said, ‘when the mind co-operates with the senses, you enter into the flux called samsara; when it subordinates itself to the intellect you attain the knowledge of the Atma. One path less to Samasara-prapti; the other, to Atma-prapti. The intellect must resolve; the mind must carry out the resolution so made. That is the correct procedure’. (GV, p. 43)
Be an instrument in the hands of God; let Him use you for any purpose He prefers. How can any one question His will? (SSS Vol.5, p. 208)
Remember you are but an instrument in the hand of the Lord. But, you are not Jada or inert. You have the intelligence, discrimination and the power to detach yourself from the world. These three are calledViveka, Vichakshana andVairagya. The more you develop these the better instruments you will be. Intelligence must be able to subdue the senses; discrimination must show the path to attain the eternal and the absolute; Vairagyam must attach you only to the higher goats. (FG, p. 148)
Any instrument should be maintained in a fit condition if it is to give satisfactory performance. For instance, you can write comfortably with a fountain pen only if it is filled with the required ink and when the nib also is in good condition. Likewise the body which is an instrument to perform righteous actions should be kept in a suitable condition for that purpose. To keep this instrument of the body in good trim, you have to regulate your food and other habits. (ICS , p. 12/21)
You have to busy yourselves with activity in order to use time and skill to the best advantage. That is your duty, and duty is God. The dull and the inert will hesitate to be active, for fear of exhaustion or failure or loss. The emotional, passionate individuals will plunge headlong and crave for quick results and will be disappointed if they do not come in. The balanced persons will be active, because it is their duty; they will not be agitated by anything – failure or success. The godly will take up activity as a means of worshiping God and they leave the results to God. They know that they are but instruments in the hands of God. (SSS Vol.11, p. 155)
The kind of work which wise men do may appear to be as that done by an ordinary person. Although in appearance they may be same, yet the result will be different in the two cases. The work done by an unwise man is always accompanied by a feeling on his part that he is doing work for his benefit and he is wanting to get himself the benefit of that work. The kind of work is mixed up with ego and a feeling of selfish benefit will lead to trouble and sorrow, The kind of work which a wise man does always carries a feeling which makes him identical with the divine aspect and that the work that he is doing is being done in the name and on behalf of God. He thinks that God is really doing the work, and he is only an instrument. This will always give a good result and satisfaction to all. (SSB 1977, p. 93)
Vision of the Lord and His Instruments
‘The Rakshasas (demonic persons) had already attained liberation for they had the vision of God when they drew their last breaths.
The Vanaras came down to be My instruments and so they have no death, neither are they born, except at My Command,’ said Rama.
Man too must become His instrument in order to escape death and birth. He has come, imprisoned in the ego, and he has to liberate himself. This can be done only by making him aware of the Universal (Adhara) basis. Like a man sunk in poverty, dwelling in a hut that is raised over a vast underground treasure, man is suffering, with a spring of joy inside him, of which he is unaware, I have come to give you the hey of that treasure, to tell you how to tap that spring, for you have forgotten the way to blessedness. If you waste this chance of saving yourselves, it is just your fate. (SSS Vol.42, p. 44)