AvadhootaDatta Peetham

Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha

Day 11, July 24

Jaya Guru Datta

Sri Ganesaya Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha

Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Sadgurubhyo Namaha

asato ma sadgamaya
tamaso ma jyotirgamaya
mrityor ma amrtam gamaya
Om Santissantissantihi

Yoga Vasishtha Dhyana Slokas:
yatassarvāṇi bhūtāni pratibhānti sthitāni ca
yatraivōpaśamaṁ yānti tasmai satyātmanē namaḥ || 1
jñātā jñānaṁ tathā jñēyaṁ draṣṭādarśana dr̥śyabhūḥ
kartā hētuḥ kriyā yasmāt tasmai jñaptyātmanē namaḥ || 2
sphuranti sīkarā yasmāt ānanandasyāṁbarē vanau
sarvēṣām jīvanam tasmai brahmānandātmanē namaḥ || 3

Yesterday we learned about Sri Rama’s depression, his disinterest in even performing his regular daily activities. Lakshmana and Bharata tried to get him out of his shell, but he did not respond to their efforts either. The brothers then reported the matter to their father Dasaratha.

Dasaratha went to Sri Rama to inquire about the matter. Sri Rama who had developed deep dispassion towards the world told his father that nothing was wrong with him. He said he was fine. That is because Sri Rama thought that his father did not have the competence to remove his dejection. He believed that only a Sadguru could satisfy him with the correct answers to the questions that troubled him. Dasaratha repeatedly pestered Sri Rama to explain to him what his concerns were. Sri Rama sat on his father’s lap and comfortingly assured him that there was absolutely nothing to worry. Dasaratha left and went directly to his Guru. Vasishtha assured Dasaratha that Rama’s condition was nothing to be concerned about because when great souls show signs of deep sorrow, great joy, or sudden rage, it is a sign that something great is going to happen to this world. Great souls are not afflicted by severe mood changes for no reason. There must be some specific and justifiable reason.

Dasaratha felt happy to hear this. But the queens of Dasaratha did not feel any relief. They were very sensitive by nature. They were upset about Rama’s behavior. They had pinned their hopes on him and his future. It is natural for a mother to be upset at the thought of dispassion enveloping her son. Not only the three queens, but several others in the royal household were worried about Rama’s condition.

Sometimes we wish to see the sunrise and we wait for a long time for the exact moment of sunrise. For a minute we may get distracted and look away and in those few moments the sun would have risen and we would have missed the glorious sight. We would feel great regret at our loss of that wonderful experience.

Like the radiant sun who suddenly appears on the horizon, Sage Viswamitra, the son of Gadhi made his entrance in Ayodhya. He announced his arrival to the guards at the gate and insisted that at that very same instant he had to have an audience with King Dasaratha. That was the great personality of Sage Viswamitra. We have studied his biography during our study of the Ramayana. We are familiar with his imposing and powerful disposition. He commands the highest respect and fear from all kings and emperors by his magnificent stature as a manifestation of Dharma.

Run and inform the king that Kausika, the son of Gadhi had arrived, he ordered. The guards informed the security guard at the royal court. The security guard conveyed the news to King Dasaratha. The king was taken by surprise at this sudden arrival like a flash of lightning, of the great sage with no forewarning.

It is only Sadguru who arrives when his presence is needed. All others come when they need us. At this juncture, Dasaratha is direly in need of Sadguru.

He arose from the throne and ran to receive the great Sage. He was followed by his entire entourage including the queens, and Sages Vasishtha and Vamadeva. Dasaratha rushed forward on foot. As he ran to meet the Sage, his crown and his ornaments were falling off. Generally a king would not walk such a long distance. He would ride a palanquin. But here, out of great respect and reverence, Dasaratha ran towards Viswamitra.

When Sadguru is giving darsan, devotees run eagerly and excitedly to be in his presence, the moment they hear that he is present for a public appearance. Such eagerness should be there for Sadguru darsan, because Sadguru is a Brahma Jnani. His mere presence can destroy sins and fill one with bliss.

Viswamitra from a distance appeared to Dasaratha as if to accomplish a most important and urgent mission, the Sun had actually descended to earth.

Why does the sun rise? Even from dirty water the sun can extract pure water and return it to the earth. Sadguru, as the Sun, when he descends, he not only removes our sins, but he showers nectar upon the devotees and opens up the lotuses of the Yogic Chakras. Changes occur within the devotees without their knowledge.

He appeared calm and composed exuding great peace. Dasaratha’s eyes felt highly refreshed at the sight of the Sage. He felt elated.

When you place slices of cucumber on the closed eyelids your tired eyes feel relaxed and fresh. When oil is applied to the head, the eyes feel cool. When a very tiny quantity of camphor is taken near the eyes also, the eyes feel refreshed.

Sometimes, the story is more important here than the philosophical aspect. Sometimes the story is merely an excuse for the teaching of Vedanta. Here, to learn the description of the Sage is very important.

Viswamitra was holding a water ***. From the day he began his spiritual struggle through all the stages of his ascent to his present highly exalted stature, this water *** has kept him company throughout his life as a trusted friend.

What does this mean? It shows how important it is for us to always have access to water and for us to keep drinking water frequently. This increases our yogic power. It increases our power for listening to grasp the subject matter. Water is very important in our daily rituals. The wife pours the water into the palm of the husband as he does the Achamanam. Then she also takes the sips of water. Pranayama should be done only after performing Achamanam/sipping of water three times. Even those of you in the audience either present here, or viewing on yogasangeeta, it is good for you to sip water three times prior to commencing listening to the discourses. You may take the water in your palm to sip, or you may drink from a glass or a water bottle. It does not matter. It is always good to listen to a discourse after consuming some water. This protects our health. We must keep drinking plenty of water. Some water in the stomach helps us to absorb what we listen in Guru’s instruction. Water keeps our minds clean. Yoga practitioners consume more water than food because it is water that gives them the radiance.

His water *** was in perfect shape. It was perfectly maintained and kept absolutely clean. One is supposed to bathe in the river holding the water ***. One is supposed to keep it properly cleaned.

You may wonder that since it is so old, it is perhaps damaged or has holes in it. We are told that it is absolutely perfectly maintained.

Our plastic water bottles will spoil very quickly. In fact, we are told that plastic containers are harmful as water receptacles. Especially water kept in the car where it gets hot inside a plastic bottle is said to cause serious health problems. One must avoid storing drinking water inside automobiles. One must never drink such water that has become warm inside a car in a plastic container.

A good stainless or copper container is good to use.
Viswamitra’s *** was made of wood.

Viswamitra’s mind was blissfully pure. His attire made him resemble Lord Siva, with his matted locks, rudraksha beads adorning his chest, saffron robes, wooden sandals, water *** in hand, eyes filled with the brilliant luster acquired from great penance, an imposing and awe-inspiring regal physique since he was once a king, yet with a smile that at once puts one at total ease and removes all fear.

Our hearts must ever be filled with compassion. The moment we become aware that the level of our kindness is diminishing, we must become alert and reverse the trend. Anger may be pretended as needed, but it is important to ever maintain a high level of compassion. Swamiji says in a Bhajan, Natita rosha, pretending anger, describing Lord Siva. When one speaks, the kindness saturates the words.

Swamiji sometimes expresses rage and immediately flashes a beautiful smile before he leaves. Seeing that smile we immediately forget his fury. We are just so happy to see his delightful smile.

Viswamitra appeared as if he gathered up all the compassion in the world and has filled his heart with it. We should also try to develop such compassionate hearts. He is an extraordinary sage. When he speaks, although his words are meagre in quantity, they remove all our troubles. His glances drench us like a shower of nectar. He stood there drowning everyone in the divine nectar of his very presence. He slowly looked at everyone and fulfilled all their desires with his mere glance.

The moment Dasaratha laid his eyes upon the sage, he prostrated most reverentially. The Sage acknowledged the obeisance. He offered his salutation and inquired after the welfare of all.

We must make some effort in the service of God. We must at least make the effort to pick a flower to offer to Him. After all, we are not capable of creating anything. It is not the flower that wins us His grace. It is our effort to serve that earns the grace. We always interpret it the opposite way. It is not what we offer that is important. It is the effort that we put in that counts. Whether we have done our best or not is what counts. Some little bit one has to sacrifice. This is yours, not mine.

Dasaratha himself brought the water to wash the feet of the sage. He did not delegate the job to someone else.
Swamiji always protests when parents try to force their children to prostrate before him. He says: If you do it, they will follow. Do not just tell them to do it. We must show the children how to behave in the presence of Sadguru.

If we quarrel at home and use bad words, the children will follow our example and will use bad language. If they us ill-treating our elders, tomorrow they will ill-treat their parents. You will suffer the same fate. You must remember that children will imitate us.

Dasaratha wished all his subjects to follow his example. Everyone at the royal reflected the radiance of the sage and wondered at their effulgence.

Dasaratha welcomed the Sage in the proper manner. He said: As lotuses bloom by the rising of the Sun, by your arrival our hearts have blossomed. He visualized a lake filled with lotuses as if the lake itself had blossomed. Every single person there looked radiant with bliss.

In Sri Swamiji’s Life History there is an episode where some disbelievers came to the ashram and began ridiculing Sadguru. By his compassion, Sri Swamiji changed their mindset before they left and even they left the premises with their hearts filled with happiness.

What is more important than this story are the words uttered by Dasaratha.

We speak so many words. We say we are making efforts for the welfare of our children or for better profit in the business. But the real reason is that our efforts are aimed at gaining happiness. But Vedanta questions why one should not aim at attaining the highest bliss that never changes.

The astronauts who visit other planets are only given some capsules as food. We cannot live like that. They feel satiated with that capsule. We eat to feel contented. By birth we learn that eating satisfies hunger. That satisfaction is bliss. That is why Paramatma is called Sachchidananda. Jnana is itself Bliss. That is what we are attempting to gain. When Truth dawns within, all attachments will automatically fall away.

Yadanaadi

O Great Sage, Muni/one who restrains the tongue and the mind and keeps them quiet, O sage with such great powers, and one, who always engages in the thoughts of the Paramatman and chants his mantras, I am extremely happy. Its source is indescribable. We say that happiness does not lie in things but in ourselves. But Brahman itself is bliss. Hence, it transcends cause and effect. Its nature is bliss. Its form is bliss. That kind of bliss that exists without any reason is what I am experiencing. This transcendental bliss has no origin, growth or decay. It does not suffer any change. It never goes away. Seeing you has given such supreme bliss.

Suppose we get an apple. The happiness about the apple remains only as long as the apple is there. When you eat it if you are dissatisfied by the taste, the happiness is gone. If you throw the apple away, the insects eat the apple and derive happiness. Hence, analyze as to where actually happiness lies. Does it lie in the apple or within you? If you turn into that insect, then you will find happiness in the apple.

We are not separate from bliss. This truth needs to be realized with Jnana.

Generally people say that they are happy because they have found a lost item, or their wish has been fulfilled, or they have succeeded at something.

Keeping a vow of silence allows one to chant mantras because mantras are not considered speech. They transcend normal human communication and are endowed with divine sound vibrations that are powerful. One is encouraged to chant a mantra silently while observing a vow of silence, keeping the focus on God.

The arrival of Viswamitra has set the foundation for Dasaratha to rise higher spiritually.

Once, during the time of Satyavrata, it is said that nectar/Amrita actually rained on earth. What happens when it rains? The seed in the ground gets moistened and sprouts. Gradually it grows into a tree. However, when it rains Amrita, the tree instantaneously grows and bears the fruit of Supreme Bliss. There are great souls who have the capacity to rain Amrita. They may superficially state the purpose of their visit as a Healing Music Concert, a Kumbhabhishekam, or a special Puja. But their inner resolve is to bless the region of their visit.

Verse

A tiny speck of the transcendental bliss is sometimes given to us as a taste. But it goes away. It stimulates in us the urge to pursue it to obtain it in a manner that it lasts forever.

Dasaratha had done nothing to earn or deserve this experience of bliss. He had not sent an invitation to Viswamitra to come. The sage came on his own initiative. The moment he arrived, and the moment Dasaratha set his eyes on him, this indescribable bliss simply enveloped him. The cause for this happiness is the presence of the sage, because Viswamitra is drowned in that ocean of bliss.

If the mere darshan of a Brahma Jnani should grant us so much happiness, if we were to be like him, then how much more will be the happiness that we would experience! That is what Dasaratha is implying. That is why this verse is so important in this sarga.

The sage was seated. He and the other sages exchanged mutual greetings. When Viswamitra and Vasishtha were face to face, for a moment they both became absorbed in deep contemplation. That was a great reunion between them. Perhaps they were remembering some previous incidents in their lives.

Dasaratha was inquired of his welfare and the welfare of his kingdom.

Dasaratha exclaimed that his happiness knew no bounds at this unexpected arrival of the great sage. He said that he felt like a blind person suddenly receiving the gift of sight; like a destitute suddenly drowning in wealth; like one childless suddenly being blessed with children through his favorite spouse; like one whose lost beloved friend had just returned; like one, whose dream suddenly came true; and like one who had given up a loved one for dead, finds that the person has suddenly come back to life. Since the sage had come in his presence, Dasaratha felt that there was no more need for him to seek Brahma Loka, since it had descended to his presence.

In Brahma Loka everyone is happy. Here too, the entire assembly is drowned in bliss.
Welcome, welcome, most hearty welcome to you, O great Rishi.
Please let me know how I may serve you? Kindly reveal to me the purpose of your visit.

Verse

This verse is exactly like the description given in the Ramayana. That proves that both works were composed by Sage Valmiki.

Dasaratha is lost for words to describe his joy. In the summertime, the waters of Ganga are cool. In the winter, the waters are warm. An afternoon bath in the summer is very refreshing. In the winter, an early bath is comfortable. Such relish Dasaratha feels in the presence of the sage.

The sage is free from desire, fear, and anger. First we get a wish, then anxiety that it may not be fulfilled, then anger that the wish has been thwarted. He has no desire for amusements. He is free from any ailments, physical or mental. By his darshan, the entire assembly also became free from disease. He is the greatest among all Brahma Jnanis. Dasaratha feels that his soul has been cleansed. He feels that he is as happy as if he had visited the moon as a fruit of severe penance.

Speaking so many words, yet, Dasaratha says he is lost for words to describe his happiness.
Fallen into the obsession seeking entertainment, we forget to seek spiritual knowledge.

Verse

Your presence assures me of future growth. I am lost for words to describe your greatness. At the time of moonrise, the way the ocean swells, my heart is swelling with joy.

Verse

Whatever be the purpose of your visit, kindly disclose it to me. Without any reservation, abiding by my dharma, I will fulfill your desire. He took a vow. He gave his word.

This concludes the 6th sarga.

Viswamitra Vakku is the next episode. We will study it tomorrow.

Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta

Om Santissantissantihi