“ஐம்புலன் அகத்தினுள் செறுத்து, நான்குடன் அடக்கி முக்குணத் திரண்டவை யகற்றி, ஒன்றினில் ஒன்றி நின்று,ஆங் கிருபிறப் பறுப்போர் அறியும் தன்மையை”
The above is an extract from Thiruvezhukootrirukai of Nammalwar.
ஐம்புலன் அகத்தினுள் செறுத்து – Withdraw your senses to the origin where it started
நான்குடன் அடக்கி – Manas, Buddhi, Chittam, Ahamkar are the four types of functioning of mind. Just stopping the mind or withdrawing the mind from where it begins
முக்குணத் திரண்டவை யகற்றி – Remove Rajasa Guna & Sattva Guna from Three Gunas thus retaining Satva Guna
ஒன்றினில் ஒன்றி நின்று – Immerse in “Oneself” or “Aathman”
ஆங் கிருபிறப் பறுப்போர் அறியும் தன்மையை – That is the swabhava of the saints who have transcended the birth death cycle.
To realize oneself or to cross the birth death cycle, Nammalwar gives a simple process
Step A: Be in Satvic Guna throughout
Step B: All the Senses will withdraw to its origin i.e Aathman or Oneself
Step C: Mind (in all its versions) with withrdraw to its origin i.e Aathman or Oneself
The question is how to be in Satvic Guna throughout.
Whenever we are in Rajasa Guna or Thamasa Guna,
a. Observe how the senses are
b. Observe the breathing pattern
c. Observe the mind pattern
Thus when we start observing them, over a period of time, we will get a grasp of the gunas. Once we get a grasp of the gunas, automatically we become conscious. Once we become conscious, the impact of Rajasa Guna & Thamasa Guna ceases to exist and later even when Rajasa Guna and Thamasa Guna begins, you will know. Thus only Sattva Guna remains leading to “Enlightenment”
Alternatively when we are in Bhaktic state or Yogic state throughout, this happens automatically.
Whatever path we follow, these are the steps to enlightenment.