AvadhootaDatta Peetham

Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha

Day 35, August 21

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

Please lead me from untruth to Truth, from darkness to light, from death to immortality. May there be peace.

Guru Dhyanam: Gurur Brahmaa, Sri Bhooyuta.. , Ajnana .. Akhanda, Dehe …, Akhandam ..

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

Brahmanandam, … Ramaya, Aapadaamapahartaaram, Om Purnamadah …

Om Santissantissantihi

In the Yoga Vasishtha, yesterday we learned about the description of body-house given by Sri Rama in the 18th sarga.

When a child is cautioned about fire, serpent, or thorns, it will be careful in handling those things.

Similarly, unless we are cautioned about this valuable body that we have acquired after earning great merit, we will not know how best to utilize this body to obtain the ultimate benefit that this body is capable of granting us. Unless we know of the dangers and defects that are associated with the body the way it is, we will not be able to transform it into something that will be useful for us.

We stock up all the supplies required for several months, in the house. If too much is stored, the food grains will spoil and rot. If you purchase too much because the price has dropped, the price may drop even further in the future.

We spoil the body by giving it too much luxury.

Salt deposits on the house give it an unattractive appearance. They will even create cracks in the walls which will make the house collapse suddenly. The life of the house will be diminished. Our body also gets spoiled because of the salt deposits called ignorance. Our lifespan will be reduced because of ill health caused by it.
No matter how heavy this body may be, it is supported by the two small feet and spindly legs.

For the construction of the pedestal for the huge Anjaneya, we had to provide a strong foundation.
We have to exercise daily to be strong physically. We have to do repeated pradakshinas to the temple.
This human body appears like a multistoried building. The most important organ, the head, is kept far away from the feet.

Yesterday we heard the description of the body-house.
If we ponder about God, it will give strength to the body. The rishis of ancient times consumed very little food but led happy, strong, long lives.

Because the mind is asking, we are feeding the body. But if the attention is paid instead to the soul within, we will fare much better.

Mother wakes up early and works hard all day long and goes to bed very late. A well-wisher will advise her that she also needs to take care of herself and not just her family. Then she will hire a servant. She will go to the temple for some relaxation and meditation. We should also not cater too much to the demands of the body. We must allocate some time for meditation.

We have to avoid getting stressed out. We are merely feeding the body and it keeps growing. But we are neglecting to feed the soul. The body parts are growing continuously. Very regularly the hair and nails need to get trimmed. The food that we eat grows inside us.

When you realize this flaw in our behavior and correct it, great peace of mind will descend upon us.

People are afraid of Vedanta. Unless you at least get your toes wet in the water called Vedanta, how will you know the pleasure that you will derive from it? If the water is too deep, approach it cautiously. Like the river Ganga, Vedanta gives you cool shade when the worldly life makes you hot and parched with thirst.

Discretion is supposed to remain inside the house-body. But it jumps out of the window and wanders outside, unless kept in check. The intellect is always roaming outside in worldly objects. It is not giving attention to what is happening inside the home with the soul.

When the housewife is absent, the house becomes messy and dirty. The housewife, called proper judgment, must remain indoors. When the lady of the house is busy outside, the naughty child called worry or disturbed mind, will destroy the house. If we use our intelligence, we can easily find solutions to our problems. Instead we give in to stress and anxiety and spoil our lives.

People give their children cell phones out of love and for pampering. Children, who are ignorant, make friends with strangers and reveal all the secrets of the household. People get deceived easily and incur tremendous loss of wealth, reputation, and peace of mind, as a result of this.

Worry and restlessness spoil the entire life. He, who is calm and worry–free, will give up haste and will calmly achieve his purpose.

Our body must give us peace. It should not lead us to turmoil. We must examine the behavior of our bodies and set it right to live fruitful lives.

The plants that begin to grow in the cracks of the walls of the house must be removed. Otherwise the house will suffer damage. These plants appear to me like the hair on the body, says Sri Rama.

When we meditate, when you focus on the part of the body that is suffering from pain or disease, the strength to heal the wound or cure the ailment will be acquired by us.

The pet dog that is inside the house is barking non-stop. This mind that resides inside the house is like that dog, ever barking and disturbing our peace.

The air goes in and goes out of this body-house non-stop. The windows called eyes are never closed. Sleep means putting away the tools with which work is done all day long. Who gets rest? The carpenter or the tools? By handling the tools continuously, the craftsman gets exhausted. Just like the tools, the sense organs work constantly. But they need to be set aside and made to rest for some time. Otherwise, the intellect, like the carpenter, gets exhausted and will malfunction. If the house-body were to give me some repose, I might like this body-house. These windows called the sense organs must be kept closed for some time so that some amount of rest is enjoyed.

When you breathe through the mouth, it causes ill health. If Pranayama is practiced daily, there will be control on the breath. Through the mouth virus enters the body. Speech hurts us by hurting others. The tongue is never bolted. It is constantly gossiping or eating junk food. It is a dangerous entry doorway to this body-house. This is a terrible body. I hate this body, says Rama.

If we are able to remain silent, if we are able to chant God’s names instead chattering, this body will be able to benefit us, rather than harm us.

This body is like a jungle. The sense organs are like bears striking terror in the hearts. This human body without any knowledge is like a deserted jungle.

It is not possible for me to get out of this body in which I am trapped, says Sri Rama.

Soon Rama will become the crown prince. He will have access to all luxuries. Just like Rama, Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita asks: What is the use of all the luxuries of the world?

Harati nimeshaat – in an instant Time will annihilate everything. That being so, why do we not seek salvation instead?

O Viswamitra and Vasishtha, please think about it and tell me. What is the attraction in this body? Please enlighten me. You are both rich in wisdom. Is it better to seek pleasures of the body or is it better to seek knowledge about the soul?

It is said that there are 3 types of people. Some help without expecting any return. They even forget that they have given help. Some help expecting something in return. This is natural. There are some who will not help unless they have a benefit coming to them.

We give so much service to this body. It has absolutely no gratitude. It does not even go with us. It leaves us mercilessly. It has no loyalty. It does not follow us.

Rama’s aim is to show us, all the disadvantages associated with the body.

The elephant always moves its ears. Only when it is angry it stops the movement of the ears. This body is like that. It becomes still when is deserts us.

The raindrop hanging at the tip of the leaf will suddenly drop. We cannot predict when. Such is the nature of this body which will leave suddenly without any warning.

Before the body leaves me, I wish to leave this body, says Rama. It means that he will leave his ignorance concerning the body, his identification with the body.

The way salt water is not fit for drinking, this body is there but it is not of any use. This body comes and goes just like the waves in an ocean. Like a tender leaf it is ever unsteady. The body drops off the moment its time is up. It has no value to it.

We feed it water, juices, and different tasty foods. It is still very pale and strange. It does not even give a warning that it is going to leave us. In old age, without seeking our permission, it simply falls apart.

Another defect in this body is: It is never satisfied with the pleasures it receives. It yearns for more and more and demands them without any shame. People do not realize the shameless nature of the mind that controls this body.

For a long time, the body has enjoyed power and luxury and yet, it is not contented. There is no strength of mind. There is always fear, anxiety, and worry. Regardless of how great a person may be, old age and death are certain with this body.

In the worldly sense, the body shows no distinction between a king, a pauper, a scholar, or an idiot. It behaves the same way with everyone. How to trust a body like this? It does not show any favor towards a king. Be it a yogi or a bhogi, the same pains and pleasures it deals out.

This body is like a turtle. In the samsara called the world, it goes into a shell called avarice/greed caused by ignorance. It moves on land and water. It is in a deep slumber called ignorance. It does not make any progress throughout its life.

It seems some turtles remain in such a state of slumber till death.
It does not speak a single word. The essence of this concept is:
This turthle called body has forgotten that its purpose of existence is to seek knowledge of the soul. It has no inkling of it at all. It has no such inclination. It has absolutely no clue.
It has no desire to even learn of its life’s purpose from a Guru.
Hence, I have no liking for this body.

When you do parayana, do only the Guru Gita. Even if the meaning is not understood, the source language has the power of the sound syllables when you chant it in the original language, Sanskrit.

Those who live on the seashore, collect fuel. This body is useful only as fuel to burn. It will simply go back to the five elements.

Many who are living in the human body are living like demons, or cruel animals. Not everyone deserves to be even called humans. Only those who live like human beings will reach divinity.

There are so many bodies for creatures, as insects, animals, birds, and humans. Humans wish to rule the world. They wish to be in control. They go where they have no business. No other creature has such a tendency.
Nara is the word that describes a human being. He wants to control everyone else but is unable to control himself.

Those who make an effort to gain some wisdom are also distracted from their effort by this body.

What is the fate of a ripe fruit? It is to fall to the ground. It is the same for the body. A fruit may also be picked and eaten by someone.

This body should be used as an instrument to gain some worthy benefit. People use it to earn wealth for others, such as family, to gain fame, or power. But to earn spiritual knowledge is the real purpose.
This body is like a frog in a pond.

Time flies and the body ages extremely fast. In joy, time passes fast. In pain, time stands still or moves extremely slowly.

The body is not even aware that it is stuck in this world. Before it realizes, old age and death occur.
Due to bad eating habits and bad lifestyle, these days the aging process is expedited. One wonders how so much time has passed in this lifespan so quickly.

In the Bhagavad Gita also Sri Krishna explains this elaborately. After great effort one attains the fruit of a certain action. But once attained, the reward loses its charm. It appears worthless. The person begins to chase after another goal. This goes on repeatedly. There is no interest in even enjoying the reward that has been earned.

Only when there is dust, you feel the existence of air. When it touches the skin, you feel the presence of air.

This body runs in the path of Rajo Guna. It is pulling us back from following the path of Satva Guna. O Sadgurudeva, the movement of air, mind, and lamp we can detect, but we can never know the movement of the body, as to when it comes and when it goes. Sometimes suddenly death occurs with no warning whatsoever. A baby that is expected to be born, suddenly dies in the *** itself, most unexpectedly.

In the Gna-Na-Bha Yoga Conference, yesterday the topic of Nada was covered. Today Bhakti will be dealt with. Tomorrow Yoga will be the topic.

Tonight there will be no discourse on Sivananda Lahari. We will resume those discourses tomorrow because this evening there is a music program by children in the Nada Mantapa.

Om Santissantissantihi.

Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta