One Term at a Time · 04
Viveka
विवेक
Discrimination — telling the real from what only looks real.
It is what decides how much you can safely let go of.
Swamiji on Viveka
Our summary of the lecture passage in the film below. These are our words, not Swamiji's.
Viveka is discrimination: the power of the intellect to tell what is real from what only looks real, and what is eternal from what passes away. In this Bhagavad Gita passage Swamiji makes it practical before he makes it philosophical. He compares viveka to a flashlight that should guide the whole of life, on every plane. When something happens suddenly and you must deal with it, act, but act with viveka: keep your patience, do not become agitated, and let reason lead. His example is someone drowning while you stand by and do not swim well enough. Jumping in and drowning yourself is not working with viveka. Only then does he name it as an advanced quality of the intellect, a discerning intellect that separates the real from the unreal and the eternal from the passing. That is why viveka comes before letting go: you can safely release only what you have seen through.
Your entire life must be guided by Viveka. Viveka is like a flashlight.
See also: Vairāgya, Jnana, Brahman, The Four Paths, Lesson 16: The Four Qualifications: Viveka, Vairagya, Shat-Sampat, Mumukshuttwa
One Term at a Time
One Sanskrit term at a time: a short definition, then Swamiji using the word in a lecture.
Start at the beginning: Vāsanā
- 01Vāsanāthe trace a desire leaves behind
- 02Vairāgyathe loosening of a grip
- 03Satsaṅgathe company you keep
- 04Vivekatelling the real from what only looks real
- 05Brahmanthe one reality behind every object
- 06Māyāwhy the world seems so real
- 07Jnanathe wisdom that sees through it
- 08Sadhanathe practice that carries you there
- 09Vicharaasking who you really are
- 10Ragathe pull toward what pleases you
- 11Dveshathe push away from what displeases you
- 12Samskarathe impression each like and dislike leaves on the mind
- 13Karmaaction and the result produced by action
- 14Gunathe three fundamental modes or qualities of nature
- 15Pranalife force; vital energy
- 16Samadhideep absorption in truth
- 17Jivaindividual self
- 18Chittamental process
- 19Japarepetition of mantra
- 20Dhyanameditation
- 21Muktiliberation
- 22Dharanaconcentration
- 23Atmasoul
- 24Bhavanafeeling
- 25Jnanithe wise one
- 26Sthita-prajnaone established in wisdom
- 27Aham brahmasmiI am Brahman
- 28Pranayamabreathing exercises
- 29Bhaktidevotion
- 30Sattwaa harmonious, focused state
- 31Rajasa restless, distracted state
- 32Tamasinertia
- 33Shravanalistening
- 34Mananareflection
- 35NididhyasanaVedantic meditation
- 36Tapasausterity
- 37Pratyaharawithdrawal of the senses
- 38Swadhyayastudy of scriptures
- 39Ishvara Pranidhanasurrender to God
- 40Shauchapurity
- 41Santoshacontentment
- 42Ahimsanon-violence
- 43Satyatruthfulness
- 44Asteyanon-stealing
- 45Brahmacharyacelibacy
What is The Four Paths?
Swami Jyotirmayananda's teaching on the four paths of yoga, in his own words, one short lesson at a time.
What it does for you
Swamiji teaches that the personality has four sides: action, emotion, will and reason. Each path cultivates one of them, and the course covers all four, so none is left out.
- Karma Yogaaction
unfolds one’s hidden potentialities
- Bhakti Yogaemotion
cultures the feelings and brings about emotional integration in the personality
- Raja Yogawill
allows one to develop a strong will and a controlled mind
- Jnana Yogareason
trains and renders the reason sharp and subtle
In order to succeed, all these four must be cultivated in a balanced and integrated manner.
Swami Jyotirmayananda, The Four Paths, Lesson 3
It is free and comes by email: a lesson every other day, 19 core lessons on action, devotion, meditation and wisdom, then 10 lessons called Going Deeper.
Every lesson is Swamiji's own text, so you learn the four paths from him, not from a summary.
Swamiji teaches viveka in Lesson 16 of The Four Paths.
Prefer to look first? Read Lesson 1 of The Four Paths.