Understand And Pursue Atmasuddhi

Translated, atmasuddhi simply means, ‘clarity of the self’. This inner self or the spirit within is the atman which is more subtle than just the mind (chitta). Therefore, chittasuddhi is the stage before attaining that ultimate, the atmasuddhi. This state of atmasuddhi involves not just cleansing of the mind or psyche of ‘mental toxins’ (chittavrithi), but attainment of freedom for the entire self or personality. 

This is a release from the binding effects of all past karma — not just the aspirant’s karma but that of others too, which have had the effect of affecting or influencing him. This, therefore, is that supreme freedom, attaining which, the liberated soul (muktah) is freed of all suffering — that state of dukah samyoga viyogah, which the Bhagawad Gita declares, is yoga by itself (6, 23).

Atmasuddhi, thus commences with the stage of true comprehension of and thus discriminating between the true and the false, whereby all aspects of one’s thinking, living and speaking become right and holistic. Not permitting any exceptions or allowing any weed of a dead past to ever even rear its head, this verily also becomes the process of neutralising or annihilating, through the new found right living, all past bad karma.

In the stage which would follow naturally, the vagaries of living or the bad karma done upon the sadhaka by others too, would cease to even affect him. This also is that state of oneness with nature, where, as conceived of by Wordsworth, no “dreary intercourse of daily life” would “ever prevail against us, or disturb our cheerful faith, that all which we behold is full of blessing” (Tintern Abbey Lines).

Simply put, the pursuit of atmasuddhi involves freedom from all aspects of one’s past and present, which have the effect of sullying his soul, reflected in unnatural developments or situations, obstacles, shallow relationships, fruitless transactions and such irritants, which most persons are heir to.

An analogy in the above regard is that of a white writing board or a spotless mirror, rendered even unidentifiable through accumulation of innumerable writing marks, dust and dirt. Effective cleansing would bring the board or mirror back to its original and normal state (swaroopa).

Applied to the individual self, all spiritually refining processes would involve rediscovering and obtaining the swaroopa within. Comprehension of this is that vital step towards real pursuit of the ultimate — atmasuddhi!

 K Vijayaraghavan