How does a self-realised man live? What does he do for a living? What is his state of mind? Yet another disciple of Sri Adi Shankaracharyaji, Sri Nithyananda, sings along in Moha Mudgara, also called Bhaja Govindam.
The man, who has realised the fountain of joy within, has a mind that revels in that expanded state of consciousness called the Brahman.
His memory is not one that is constantly pricked by the sorrows, worries, stress and tension in the world.
His remembrance is uniformly joyous. His chittham—or that portion of the brain which recalls images, ideas and thoughts—has only memories of joy. Since it can remember only joy, it is ever dancing in a happy mood.
Such a person, whose mind is firmly established in joy, can be the one who has given his life to the practise of Ashtanga Yoga.
In such a practice, his daily interactions with the world outside will be guided by the rules of Yama—non-violence in thought, word and deed; truthfulness in communication; non-stealing of others’ property, goods, time, credit or thoughts and ideas; function through every sense organ of perception and action in memory of the one divine presence; not possessing or desirous of coveting more than what one really needs.
In his personal conduct, he will follow the niyamas of cleanliness of surroundings, and in thoughts and words (free of selfish desires and ignorance is inner cleanliness); his mind will be content with the material objects at his disposal; he will follow an intensely austere life; he will constantly enquire on the true nature of the self; and he will pray to a supreme deity.
He will do daily practices to regulate the flow of energies; he will practice the right posture; he will constantly make an attempt to withdraw his mind from the constantly changing situations in the world outside; he will concentrate on that which leads him to the truth of existence; he will meditate upon that truth; and his mind will be constantly established in that state of divinity.
For one who is a Yoga Rata, as mentioned in this verse, his life is a long poetry of integration of the different faculties.
The other extreme personality description is a Bhoga Rata. Bhoga is the opposite of Yoga.
While Yoga refers to the art of integrating the sense organs of expression and confining oneself to what one gets in life, Bhoga is to indulge in and experience whatever life throws before them—seeing objects that are pleasing to the eyes, hearing sounds and music that one likes, tasting foods, smelling fragrances or experiencing a refined sense of touch for the skin.
The man of realisation might be in company. He might be alone. However, irrespective of any kind of situation, his mind is constantly revelling in that state of supreme bliss.
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