Aug 2, Vasishtha
Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 19, August 2
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Ganesaya Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Sadgurubhyo Namaha
Yesterday we learned about the causes of Rama’s grief and his five questions.
Rama has countered the argument that one who is wealthy can overcome grief.
Prathama paritapaha ..
Rama has returned from traveling the world.
“If you read while you walk, you will reach a surprising destination”. At the seashore pick up a book and keep reading as you walk. Be sure to wear shoes and protect yourself. It is difficult to do it on a river bank because of uneven ground and hazards. You have to watch your step there. But on the seashore it gives a nice feeling. You could even walk with your eyes closed. You will have the experience of the blind. You will feel sympathy for them. You will find a great scene when you open your eyes. It is good to visit the seashore. The breeze is good for you. In your life’s journey, keep reading. You will earn knowledge by reading and listening. Rama did his travel earning knowledge. In every place there is something new to learn, even in things you do every day, like chanting the Datta Stavam.
A grandfather and grandson were reading the Bhagavad Gita. The boy did not understand. The grandpa probably did. We often assume that we will not understand. We blindfold ourselves and complain that the world is invisible. Is there anything closer to us than ourselves? Vedanta is a reflection of us. We are afraid that we will not understand ourselves. Our own cough we fail to understand. We run to the doctor. A cough drop may easily cure it.
The boy is reading and grandpa is happy. The boy said I will stop from tomorrow because I do not understand it. Grandpa told the boy to spill the coals from the basket. The boy did. He said go to the river and fetch water in the basket. The boy came back running. By the time he returned, the water had all spilled. He tried this several times. What is the use of using the basket? It is not going to retain the water, the boy said. Grandfather pointed out that at first the basket was black. Now after these repeated trips, the basket is clean and white. Bhagavad Gita, likewise will clean your mind. You must make repeated efforts. You should not run away discouraged.
Why is Rama speaking these words? Why is Sage Valmiki having him mention all this? It is for our benefit.
Yesterday Rama explained how the world should be viewed.
I have the same feeling of agony as a man of dire poverty. I feel like an elephant that walks in freedom and majesty in a vast jungle and suddenly falls into a deep ravine.
Khalaha kale kale …
Hundreds of thieves have attacked me. What are their names? They are the objects of the world and they come at night when it is dark. They are strange. They are evil and they are attacking my body every single moment. They are shrouded in mist and thick fog.
Our vehicles have to stop because there will be zero visibility during fog. The waves of mist completely block the vision. Even the neighbor is not seen. Our own hand will be invisible. Eyes are functioning but nothing is visible.
Illusion is the fog that has spread everywhere in the night. The eyes are blinded. Who are these thieves? They are the objects of the world that are innumerable. They are very smart, shrewd, and intelligent. Mice, ants and mosquitoes also enter into our homes like that very cleverly. The thieves are determined to rob this house/this body of all its discretion which is a priceless jewel. They are attacking from every direction. They come through the front door, the back door, from below and above. Other than Sadguru who else is there that can deter them? None else can vanquish them. They come in the dark when the eyes are unable to see. They are attacking from all sides. Unless the Guru leads the battle, they cannot be defeated. Only Gurus like you, Sage Viswamitra and Sage Vasishtha can save us from such bandits. Ordinary people cannot handle them.
This is Rama’s first lament.
In the Lakshmi Nrsimha Karavalamba Stotram Adi Sankara prays. In a small stotram he has told an entire story. The thieves called powerful sense organs have totally robbed me of my judgment and discretion. They have thrown me in the pit after tying me up and blindfolding me. I have no way of getting out of this deep pit. Please throw me a rope and rescue me, O Lord.
We are lacking the eye of wisdom. They have taken away the wealth of spiritual knowledge and wisdom.
Please protect me, O Guru.
12th sarga is concluded.
Rama is the prince who will be the future king.
It is a general conception in the world that the wealthy have no problems. How the wealth is utilized is important. To be content with what one has is important. One is under the illusion that one in a high position is protected from grief. We know that it is not true. We see every day that people in high positions also suffer. We need money to survive, no doubt. In the earlier days there was the bartering method. Now we have created money.
This entire prakarana consists of Rama’s words.
In this 13th sarga Rama says:
Iyam .. What is here, what is seen, this wealth is glorious. None can possess it. Lakshmi helps Maya to proliferate in all directions. Lakshmi gets the largest proportion in Kali. Wealth drowns everyone in delusion. It causes immense sorrow. Wars are caused because of prosperity.
The waves rise and fall in the ocean. Similarly wealth drowns us under its waves. Wealth, like waves is ever unsteady. It approaches and at once recedes. It is most unreliable.
The ocean itself takes the form of waves. Wealth is here personified as Lakshmi. Its actions and nature are described.
The word ‘chanchala’ appears first in Yoga Vasishtha. It is fickle. It is its bad quality.
Until a balm is applied, a man whose foot is burned will be jumping up and down without pausing. Like that, Lakshmi makes us do the most injudicious actions that throw us into a state of restlessness and fit.
A strange feature of Lakshmi is that whoever she woos becomes king. A king favors those who surround him. Regardless of the person’s qualification, or the way he uses it, wealth grants greatness to an individual.
A wonderful example: one has to expend physical and mental strength to earn wealth, such as: fight wars, gamble, or engage in trade and then wealth comes. What is earned through such deeds gets expended through good deeds such as yagas. Wealth increases through warfare, trading and gambling. Whereas with good deeds it gets decreased. Only venomous snakes thrive on milk. Other snakes cannot digest milk. We thrive on milk. Rama is a warrior, a Kshatriya. Money melts when you use it for charity. But when you fight, it increases. Perhaps Rama is blessing us that as we do more charity our wealth should increase.
Another bad quality of wealth is that it ruins character. Men are good. Wealth ruins man. It gives ego, wickedness, and evil thoughts.
Those who are wicked get ruined. But also intellectuals and valiant ones get ruined by wealth. Gentle souls become harsh. The strange characteristics of wealth are indescribable.
In some factories, you will see that diamonds are not touched by hand but picked up with tongs. Diamonds are contaminated by our touch and fingerprints.
Wealth increases sorrow. I have seen it in the world. If you try to hoard, it vanishes. There are 3 ways to use it. Enjoy it by spending, give it away in charity, or else wastefully squander it and destroy it. By hoarding it, people do not benefit from it.
There is a good tree. A poisonous creeper grows on it. A mother told her son to eat a Tulasi leaf. The boy mistakenly ate the poisonous leaf and lost his life. The mother lamented her negligence in not removing it in time.
It is not necessary to be so harsh against wealth, felt the kings who were present there. Rama addresses their discomfiture. There are always exceptions to every rule. Dasaratha and Janaka are good souls despite being kings. Who is the wealthy man who is not criticized by the citizens? I have not seen such a king who is valiant and great king and is also impartial. A king who is impartial and even minded I have not seen. Such kings and leaders will establish peace in the world.
Daily read and write down one Subhashita. It is very important.
The illusion of wealth is like the elephant that falls into a chasm.
A good deed is like a lotus. At sunset it folds up. When wealth comes, the performance of good deeds stops. Wealth acts like the moon on a lotus. It makes it close up. Grief, which is like a night lily, opens up with the moon’s rays.
A river in flood or spate is frightening to see. It inundates all and many things float in its dreaded flow.
Like a strong breeze wealth closes the vision of truth.
I am blaming wealth base on my own personal observation, says Rama. Some unknown tension and stress descend like enveloping dense clouds. It becomes a playground, a stadium where bad thoughts begin to play. It causes sorrow. I see such negative consequences resulting from wealth.
All the bad things that occur from wealth are listed here so that we are forewarned. We will then properly utilize our resources. We will engage in meritorious deeds. We will avoid bad thoughts and bad activities. We should try to earn by just and judicious means.
Rama possesses all types of wealth and comforts. We must properly grasp the intent of this work by Sadguru’s grace.
Om Santissantissantihi.
Sri Guru Datta