Sage Kapila is associated with the Samkhya Philosophy. Kapila Rishi teachings are found in the Srimad Bhagavad Purana. These quotes and thoughts are mostly from books and Srimad Bhagavad Purana.
It is the mind, which is the cause of bondage as well as freedom.
Consider the mind. When it gets involved in the three Gunas – when there is an upset in the balance of the three Gunas, then one of the Gunas becomes predominant and the Atman gets involved in the play of the emotions.
The mind turns away from the inner self and begins to be interested in the objects of the senses – it seeks gratification of them and it wanders farther and farther away from the Atman.
This same mind, if it is turned inwards, if it attaches itself to the Lord, then this same mind will be the cause of freedom of man from the coils of the senses. This path is called by the name Chittasanyamana and it is the first step towards Moksha.
Those who lead a life of domesticity are certainly auspicious and acquire excellence of every kind. They are unable, however, to enjoy the bliss that attaches to renunciation.
Acts only cleanse the body. Knowledge, however, is the highest end (for which one must strive). When all faults of the heart are cured (by acts), and when the mind gets established in knowledge, then benevolence, forgiveness, tranquility, compassion, truthfulness, and candor, abstention from injury, absence of pride, modesty, renunciation, and abstention from work are attained. These constitute the path that leads to the spiritual realization.
When one is completely cleansed of the impurities of lust and greed produced from the false identification of the body as ‘I’ and bodily possessions as ‘mine’, one’s mind becomes purified. In that pure state he transcends the stage of so-called material happiness and distress. (Source: Srimad Bhagavatam (Page 71 -72) 10th edition – Kamala Subramanian – Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan)
When the love, the lover and the beloved have become one, when we see God and love him as the innermost Self in all beings; and when there is a continuous current of love flowing in the heart, then is it that we realize divine love.
The Atman in you is the Purusha. He has no beginning and no end. He is self-luminent, and there is nothing which is not the Purusha. He pervades everything. He is eternal.
For one to free from Maya one path is enough – Bhakti Yoga – Think on the Lord all the time.
Bhakti will of its own accord grant you Jnana and Vairagya. You do not have to seek them.
Love for Narayana will make you indifferent to other loves and so non-attachment is achieved. Bhakti will show you the way to the feet of Narayana. When a Bhakta realizes that the only aim in his life is to reach Narayana and strives for it that means that he has learnt the truth and his Avidya has vanished. He knows that Narayana is the Truth and nothing else.
The Atman in you is the Purusha. He has no beginning and no end. He is self-luminent, and there is nothing which is not the Purusha. He pervades everything. He is eternal.
For one to free from Maya one path is enough – Bhakti Yoga – Think on the Lord all the time.
Bhakti will of its own accord grant you Jnana and Vairagya. You do not have to seek them.
Love for Narayana will make you indifferent to other loves and so non-attachment is achieved. Bhakti will show you the way to the feet of Narayana. When a Bhakta realizes that the only aim in his life is to reach Narayana and strives for it that means that he has learnt the truth and his Avidya has vanished. He knows that Narayana is the Truth and nothing else.
Sage Kapila Thoughts from the Samkhya Philosophy
- Liberation must be possible; else the means would not have been enjoined.
- Scripture would be nugatory, if pain were inevitable.
- The fruit of works belongs not to the soul.
- The world exists in our mind.
- Passion is the determinate cause of activity.
The Easiest Path to Moksha is Bhakti
Devahuti, the mother of Sage Kapila wanted to know how ignorant woman like her, who has not studied the Vedas or read any scripture attain Moksha or reach Narayana.
The immediate answer of Sage Kapila was ‘Bhakti.’
Whether it be the senses which are involved in the world of objects: whether it be mind which is involved in the daily duties and actions dictated by the Vedas: the only path which will free both of these from the particular fields in which they are engaged is a sincere and spontaneous desire for the attainment of Moksha. This desire will be granted by an effortless devotion of Narayana.
This devotion will burn away the bondage of ‘Karma’ and the bondage created by the senses like the fire in the body burns up the food which is eaten. Bhakti will not only grant you oneness with Narayana, but it will also free you from the world of objects. Mukti, release, will follow as a matter of course when you become a pilgrim in the path of Bhakti.