They say that one gets human birth after going through the cycle of 84 lakhs of species. And again after human birth there are chances of returning to the same cycle if special efforts are not taken. Human birth is a great opportunity to break that cycle and march towards final goal and that is, attaining moksha – getting rid of moha. If one does not achieve this goal then it is considered a great loss.
While going through all births other than human, one does not have any choice but to follow natural instincts such as eating (ahaar), sleeping (needra), mating (maithun) and finally die. There is no way to break the cycle. In humans as well, these instincts exist. And of course these instincts are natural and have their own purposes in the ecology. But, in human birth one also gets an opportunity to not only fulfill those instincts, carried over from previous births, but to transform them into instinct to liberate from the cycle.
Having said that human birth is a great opportunity to break the cycle, saints also warn that one should not remain under assumption that somehow one will manage to get human birth again. It may well come again after a cycle of 84 lakhs.
Also, it is usual tendency to turn to astrology for finding about past and future. There is nothing wrong in taking support of astrology when in trouble, but saints warn that one should not rely entirely on astrology. This reliance can make one complacent in spiritual efforts and hence one may lose the precious opportunity.
How is it possible to live with unavoidable natural instincts carried over from previous births and at the same time trying for liberation from this cycle of birth and death through 84 lakh species? Saints recommend a very simple solution for that. They say that in an effort of achieving moksha one need not suppress natural instincts. One can go on doing what they are doing as per dharma, and just accompany that action with chanting the Name of God, from thousands of his holy names.
For many of rituals there are restrictions, but for chanting the name of God there is no restriction. One can chant the name of God anywhere anytime. By doing this one naturally achieves the most required state for liberation and that is - purity of mind and heart – chitta shuddhi.
What are the signs or symptoms of chitta shuddhi? When one achieves chitta shuddhi, he/she becomes dear to God and Saints. Saints are eager to be in company of such pure persons. The nice example of this, in the history, is that of Saint Eknath himself. Lord Shrihari was moved by the devotion of pure hearted Sant Eknath and was eager to be in company of Eknath, and so He, Lord Shrihari, took the form of a servant with a name Shrikhandya and served in Sant Eknath’s house. He performed all chores such as cleaning the house, preparing for daily puja performed by Eknath etc. just to be in the company of Sant Eknath.
Saints can plead, they can suggest, they can remind about final goal, but effort is obviously is in one’s own hand.
