te jhàyino sàtatikàniccaü dalhaparakkamà
phusanti dhãrà nibbàõaü yogakkhemaü anuttaraü.
(2:3)
Meaning:
They who meditate constantly, have firm resolution, who are wise attain to Nirvana that cares their yoga and well-being.
The Pillars of Attainment: Constant Meditation, Firm Resolve, and True Wisdom
There are many points mentioned here: one who meditates constantly, one who has firm resolution about it, one who is wise. These qualities lead a person to attaining nirvana or complete cession from sorrow and happiness, having no rebirth.
1st Pillar: Meditation
Let us talk about them one by one. At first, we should pay attention to constant meditation. In this world everything, either visible or not, is subject to change. The universe we are part of, is expanding. The sun has a life-span, the earth has its own life-span. Scientists have given them an age after which they will not exist. In such a situation where nothing is constant, how can you constantly mediate.
2nd Pillar: The Constant
There is one thing which is constant but that is beyond our comprehension. Our mind has limitation, our thoughts have limitations. But there a constant being within us which is matter of experience, not of debate. That can be known, understood. And once known one can focus on it. As it is constant, one can constantly focus on it, meditate constantly on it.
Once a person knows it, he can have firm resolution about it. Mind in itself is always unstable. It always moves from one thing to another. It doesn’t have anything like stability. When it meets with the stable, infinite, it gets its quality of stability and becomes stable. And then a person can have firm resolution.
3rd Pillar: Being Wise
Now comes being wise. As long as we chase this world, we are not wise. Wisdom comes from knowing that infinite. When this mind connects with the world, it gets impure, its ignorance grows. But connecting with infinite within makes a person wise. He then possesses wisdom.
Also Read: How to find inner peace and happiness within yourself in this chaotic life.
Now, when these qualities come together, one definitely gets Nirvana. He is purged of all the impurities the world throws on. His desire, hatred, infatuation for the world goes away. His sight gets even – he is beyond sorrow and happiness. To him every living being is respectable. His vision is equal for all. He doesn’t see differentiation, he see similarity.
It is such a state which cannot be described. This can be experienced only. This is available to anyone who longs for it as that infinite is always within each one of us. There must be an intense desire within to know it. That infinite is within and when one has intense desire to know it, one definitely gets an opportunity to know it.
This is what this life is for. Buddha left everything aside and strived to search for that. He could have become king but instead he chose to become a monk whose destination is to attain nirvana or salvation. We should also strive for that. This is befitting aim for us human beings. This is the best aim one can think of. With the knowing of infinite, this verse can be known and understood fully, else not.
