July 25, Vasishtha
Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 12, July 25
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
In the Yoga Vasishtha yesterday we learned how Sage Viswamitra made his appearance suddenly like a radiant Sun who could even turn plain water into elixir. Filled with eagerness and awe King Dasaratha himself carried the water container to wash the feet of the sage to welcome him to his kingdom. Mutual greetings and inquiries of welfare were exchanged.
We learned how King Dasaratha, out of fear and devotion prayed to Sage Viswamitra after expressing his ecstasy at his arrival that he should be given a chance to fulfill the wish of the Sage. He was apprehensive as to what the sage would wish for. He was fearful that if he should fail to fulfill the wish of the sage, he might suffer a curse from him. He gave his word that whatever be the wish of Viswamitra, he would fulfill it, not out of any selfish interest but as one strictly bound by Dharma.
In the world often greed and infatuation override Dharma. It should not happen. After hearing the specific words of assurance spoken by Dasaratha that he would without fail abide by Dharma, Sage Viswamitra spoke.
Sage Viswamitra felt very happy to hear the words of the kings and knew that the king had bound himself tight with the rope called Dharma.
This incident is one of three important events in the life of king Dasaratha. Although at all three instances Dasaratha felt tempted to transgress the boundaries of Dharma, he refrained from doing so.
We will find ourselves in situations like that in life. We must never try to wiggle out of the constraints of Dharma but should ever abide by them. Because Dasaratha succeeded in following Dharma even in difficult situations, Rama chose him as his father. That is the greatness of Dasaratha/ten-chariots. He kept his ten organs of perception and action under his control. Dasakantha/ten-headed Ravana became the slave to his ten organs and perished. That is the difference between the two. For that reason Rama chose to be born to Dasaratha and chose to kill Ravana. This proves that one who keeps his senses under control and follows Dharma will ever receive the grace of the Almighty.
There are many who had performed yajnas similar to the ones performed by Dasaratha. Rama was not born as a son to any of them. The reason that Rama was drawn to this lineage was because of its adherence to Dharma. Where there is Dharma, there is victory. Initially Adharma may appear as if it is winning but in the end it is certain to get defeated. Even if it does not happen in our lifetime, it certainly will happen sometime in the future. Truth is ever Truth. It does not change. Dharma is also eternal. Dasaratha ever remained true to his Dharma.
Viswamitra praised Dasaratha that he spoke as befits his position as a great king. He justified his name and his lineage.
Parrots are speaking like humans. That being so, what should our speech be like? We should aim to speak like sages and seers, and not like dogs. Only then we show that we have progressed.
Viswamitra also declared that Dasaratha ever follows the guidance of Vasishtha. Vasishtha is the Guru of Dasaratha upon whose word either regarding affairs personal or regal, Dasaratha places total faith and reverence.
Sometimes people speak contradictory to our expectations, overcome by certain passions. It did not happen here. Dasaratha spoke words that were expected of him.
Viswamitra said: I have begun conducting a yajna.
It is every human being’s primary duty to support the performance of yajnas for the welfare of the universe. Man must do whatever it takes to protect Dharma. God has blessed him with the capacity to do so. It is the privilege and prerogative of humans alone and their responsibility to conduct yajnas. Beasts and birds do not have the capacity to conduct these.
I am conducting a group of yajnas for attaining a siddhi which will benefit the world. I am facing some hurdles in the conduct of this. Some powerful demons are causing obstructions. I am seeking your protection and favor since you are a great soul and never send away anyone empty handed.
It is shameful for great souls to refuse help. Whatever is within their capacity they certainly will render.
Whoever knocks at the door of Hanuman will never leave empty handed, it says in a bhajan composed by Sri Swamiji in praise of Lord Hanuman.
Of course, these days people not only refuse help, they even heap abuses on those who seek assistance from them. At least one should help verbally with words of encouragement. It is always more difficult to seek a favor than to bestow one. Those who find themselves in such positions know the difficulty of having to suppress their ego to plead for help.
God and Sadguru take different forms to test whether a devotee has a charitable nature when they request for help and support. If the devotee wins by giving the charity, that is well and good. If he fails to do so and further abuses the one asking the favor, he will face the appropriate consequences.
The demons are harassing me. I wish you to give me the assistance of Kaakapakshadharam – the one with jet black hair, your eldest son Sri Rama, to destroy the demons.
Viswamitra noticed the change of expression in Dasaratha’s face when he heard this request, and continued.
Even in the Ramayana, it is mentioned that Dasaratha showed hesitation but the real reason for it was not revealed there. It has been disclosed here in the Yoga Vasishtha. There, it was not appropriate because the story had to proceed as per plan.
Does Dasaratha lack faith in Rama’s capabilities? Was Rama deficient in his expertise in archery? Why did Dasaratha hesitate?
Please have no reservations, said Viswamitra. I assure you that Rama will not come to any harm. I will ensure that Rama will only benefit by this experience. Don’t think that the demons have to be destroyed. Assume confidently that they have already been destroyed. The moment I made the resolve that Rama is going to kill them, take it for granted that the task has already been accomplished. Viswamitra as a seer, who can look into the future spoke these words.
Great souls never suffer from doubts or dilemmas. They only attempt missions that are possible for them to achieve. Would one place a ladder in space to climb to heaven? It seems a king in China attempted that once. One who doubts is not a great soul. Rama, without any doubt, will succeed in this task.
Viswamitra proceeds to reveal the true nature of Rama. In the Ramayana the picture we see of Rama is only as a great warrior with a blemish-free personality. In the end it is made evident that he is a complete incarnation of Lord Narayana Himself. But in the Yoga Vasishtha we are presented a slightly different picture. Here a doubt arises in the mind as to how Rama can suffer from any type of ignorance.
When we read Swamiji’s Life History also, we wonder how such a great person could have gone through such miserable situations in his life. We should feel like that. The troubles that a great Guru suffered in his lifetime should give us the assurance that in our lives, our small troubles are certain to be overcome by us.
That is why such situations are presented to us in the biography. Here also, they make it appear that Rama himself had suffered from delusion and ignorance. That is why this has not even been mentioned in the Ramayana.
I will train Rama so that he will earn the praise of all the three worlds. Maareecha and Subaahu are both causing havoc at the yajna. They belong to the clan of demons led by Khara and Dooshana. Rama is like a lion among warriors.
When Sadguru asks for something, there should be absolutely no hesitation in obeying his command. If we hesitate, Sadguru will not harm us. He never intends harm for anyone. But we would have to suffer the consequences of our own weaknesses.
Do not have excessive attachment towards Rama because he was born to you after many years of your having remained childless. It does not befit you. There is nothing that cannot be given away by great souls. If something is given to the undeserving, it may cause harm. But including a son, everything may be given away by a noble one to a worthy recipient.
The greatest attachment one has in life is the attachment towards children.
Aham vedmi
Viswamitra declares that he knows who Rama truly is. He knows that Rama is none other than the Paramatma. “I know who Rama is. I know that he is a great soul.” We hear five important terms in spirituality – Atma, Mahatma, Jeevatma, Paramatma, and Antaratma. Of these five, the Antaratma is what we have to discover.
Those who limit themselves to the boundaries placed by the body are not Mahatmas. One who transcends these limits alone is a Mahatma. Sri Rama is such a Mahatma. Vasishtha and other seers of spiritual vision also are aware of the greatness of Rama. You think of Rama only as your son. You are ignorant of his true stature and potential. If you have the desire to earn fame, you send Rama with me for just ten days. He will kill the demons. You will benefit by this gesture. Do not waste my time. Make up your mind at once.
The time when help is needed is when help should be rendered. You have given word that you will do anything that is required by me. Now do not allow your words to be empty sounds.
One should give food to another when he is hungry. What is the use of coming forward to feed when everyone has already been fed? Such is an empty promise. Now I require this specific help. Anything less than this is useless for me.
Dasaratha may be thinking: Why did this great sage have to come walking all this distance to seek this small favor from me? After all, his power of penance is so great that by his mere intention he can kill all the demons effortlessly.
Kaushika (whether it is this same Kaushika/Viswamitra or another person by the same name, we do not know) once was engaged in penance. A crow’s droppings fell on him. What should an ascetic do in such a circumstance? He should wipe it away and continue with his penance. Instead, Kaushika glared at the bird in fury. It burned to ashes. After a while Kaushika went begging for alms and stood at the door of a householder. The lady of the house was preoccupied serving her husband and parents-in-law and was delayed in responding to his call. Seeing his angry countenance she exclaimed: Am I crow to be burned to ashes by your fury? Hearing those words, Kaushika realized his mistake and became a changed man. He gave up his short temper and received initiation from this housewife.
Hence, Dasaratha might have thought, with your look you can destroy the demons, or just by lifting your powerful staff you can kill the evil doers. Why do you seek help from others?
Viswamitra told Dasaratha that since he is now engaged in performing a yajna, he is under the vow of peace and tranquility. He cannot yield to quick temper or violence.
Dasaratha might have thought: If one as great as Viswamitra cannot handle the demons, how can my young and inexperienced son tackle them?
Under the austerity of peace, Viswamitra cannot now fight.
For some reason, for many it is only when they sit down to doing puja, that they are most prone to irritability. They hear noises and get disturbed, whereas the purpose of performing puja is to steady the mind and keep out outside noises and disturbances from entering the mind.
Viswamitra asked that Rama remain with him for just ten days. But as it turned out, he kept Rama with him for months. As a Sadguru he has the liberty to do so. Once Sadguru decides, no one has the right to question his resolve.
Viswamitra suggested to Dasaratha that he should consult with his Guru Vasishtha about acceding to his request. He said, he might send for Rama so that he may take him with him.
Viswamitra anticipated that Dasaratha might play some delaying tactics and counter his request with the response that he will send Rama with him after twenty years, after Rama is married and has had children of his own. Then while Dasaratha entertains himself with the grandchildren, Viswamitra could take Rama with him. But then, when such a time comes, Dasaratha will claim that Rama needs the time now to raise his children and get them married and hence, he cannot leave. Perhaps Viswamitra would even be requested to postpone conducting his yajna.
Viswamitra’s need is now. Not later.
Many people say when asked for help: Oh, you have come just a few minutes too late. Had you come earlier, I would have been in a position to help you. I just now parted with my resources. These are all words of consolation uttered by those who wish to avoid giving help. Some of course may be genuine in their reasons for their inability to help.
Helping when the need no longer exists is useless. These are the words uttered by a great man of wisdom. We must write down and register these words of advice in our minds to follow them throughout our lives.
Great souls are not satisfied simply by achieving their mission. They test the disciples to see how tactfully by word and deed they handle a situation created by them.
Dasaratha now paused to think of ways of extricating himself from the sticky situation that he has created for himself by giving his promise. Unless some convincing answer is given, Viswamitra is not going to accept his refusal of the help that has been asked for. I have to convince him with some persuasive words, Dasaratha thought. He began confessing to the sage his mental confusion.
It is in the 8th sarga called Dasaratha Vakya. We will discuss it tomorrow.
Today is the last Friday in the month of Ashadha. Please have darshan of the abhishekam to Sri Datta Venkateshwara. Please witness the Chandi Homa and receive the blessings of Mother Goddess. Special archana will be performed to Mother Visalakshi.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Om Santissantissantihi