Objects are Neutral: Perspective Decides Spiritual or Worldly Route

दूरमेते विपरीते विषूची

    अविद्या या च विद्येति ज्ञाता ।

विद्याभीप्सिनं नचिकेतसं मन्ये

    न त्वा कामा बहवोऽलोलुपन्त ॥

The fourth mantra of the dwitiya valli of the first chapter of Kathopanishad.

Shreya is the path of long-term spiritual good, while Preya is the path of short-term worldly pleasure.

But objects are neutral because they have no inherent quality of being good (Shreya) or pleasurable (Preya). Their meaning and value come from how a person views or understands them. For example, the same object might lead one person to spiritual growth, while another person may see it as a source of temporary pleasure. Thus, it is the individual's knowledge or ignorance that assigns value, not the object itself.

In Panchamakara Sadhana in Tantra, five items - wine (Madya), meat (Mamsa), fish (Matsya), parched grain (Mudra), and sexual union (Maithuna) - are used as part of spiritual practice. These items, in ordinary circumstances, might be seen as sources of worldly pleasure (Preya). However, in Tantra, they are used symbolically and ritually for spiritual growth (Shreya) when approached with the right knowledge and discipline. This shows that the objects themselves are neutral; it is the practitioner's intention, understanding, and approach that determine whether they lead to spiritual elevation (Shreya) or indulgence in desires (Preya).

Wisdom (Vidya) and ignorance (Avidya) coexist because they are two sides of the same reality, like light and darkness. Even though they are opposites, one helps us understand the value of the other. Wisdom reveals truth and leads to spiritual growth, while ignorance causes attachment to temporary pleasures. Without ignorance, wisdom would have no context, as it is through overcoming ignorance that one attains enlightenment. Just as darkness helps us recognize the importance of light, ignorance helps us understand and appreciate the power of wisdom.

Imagine a lamp in a dark room, where the darkness represents ignorance and the lamp's light represents wisdom. In the darkness, the lamp's light is crucial for seeing clearly, just as wisdom dispels ignorance. However, a lamp out in the open on a bright sunny day holds no relevance, since there is already abundant light. This shows that wisdom becomes meaningful only in the presence of ignorance, much like the lamp is useful only in darkness. It’s the contrast between wisdom and ignorance that gives each its significance - without ignorance, wisdom may seem unnecessary, just as a lamp isn’t needed in sunlight.

The seekers of wisdom do not get distracted by Preya (worldly pleasures) because they understand the temporary nature of such pleasures. Their focus is on Shreya, the path of long-term spiritual fulfillment, which offers lasting peace and happiness. With wisdom, they see that Preya only provides short-lived satisfaction and leads to attachment and suffering. Knowing this, the seekers remains committed to spiritual growth and do not get tempted by fleeting desires, much like how someone focused on a higher goal does not get sidetracked by minor distractions.

Lessons -

1. Our interpretation, not the object itself, shapes our emotional and behavioral responses.
2. intention can transform an experience. A Preya can be turned into Shreya.
3. Understanding and integrating the opposing forces of wisdom and ignorance leads to greater self-awareness and spiritual growth, much like how balancing light and darkness reveals deeper truths.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi