THE SPIRITUAL PATH

Sadhus are good people who are pure in heart.  If these exemplars too are not to be had to instruct us in the determination of our conduct on a particular occasion, then we have to abide by the intimation of a pure conscience:  aatmanastushtire- vacha.  Pray to God for guidance with a pure and devout heart and act in accordance with the light that you then obtain. That is how Dushyanta in Kaalidaasa's Saakuntala, approved of his own decision to make love to Kanva's daughter.   He said:

"Sataam hi sandehapadeshu vastushu

pramaanamantahkaranapravrttayah.

'In cases of doubt, when there is no other approved means to solve it, the good people rely on the voice of conscience.'

From the above, it will be clear that the appeal to conscience or the inner voice must be made only when all the other forms of guidance that have been enumerated, namely, Sruti, Smriti, the way of life of those well-versed in Smriti and the example of good men are not available. 

Then, and only then, can we act as our conscience bids us act. Now-a-days, however, the fashion is to make it all topsy-turvy, to give the first place to what is called one's conscience relegating all the other prescribed guidances to a secondary place, or, as is often done, to condemn them as meaningless and irrational.

The ancient view, however, about the pramaanas, or criteria of dharma has stood the test of time. It has the support of mahaakavis who, as their name connotes, can see farther than others.  (Kavih kraantadarsee).

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