AvadhootaDatta Peetham

Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha

Day 111, March 4

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.

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

Om santissantissantihi

In the Yoga Vasishtha, in the Shama Niroopana section, we are hearing the praise of peace, the value of peace, and how it protects us. Without peace of mind, all comforts and luxuries are unsatisfactory. Shama is the name given to peace in the spiritual science/Adhyatma Sastra. Perfect peace gives us as much comfort as a dip in the Ocean of Nectar/Amrita or the Ocean of Milk would grant us. The Ocean of Milk has the power to purify our body, mind, and soul. It grants the greatest bliss.

The moon called peace must decorate one's heart-sky. When it does, the ocean of bliss will well up in the heart. Many perform many actions and rituals but forget to pursue the objective of attaining peace. That is why after performing any serious ritual, it is important to remain silent in meditation for a while focusing the mind on the purpose of our performance of the ritual, which is to merge in God. If we fail to do so, we are only left with the strain of performing the action by way of doing the ritual. Some people enjoy doing rituals for hours on end. The rituals purify the mind. One must focus the mind on the deity of worship, or the deity of the mantra, or the aim of a yoga practice. When the mind becomes one-pointed, it stops running wildly and attains rest. That is conquest of the mind and with it comes peace.

yatkusheshayam

Paramatman is in a extremely subtle form inside the heart.

Those in whom peace blooms in the heart-lotus will become equal to Lord Vishnu, we are told. That is the significance of the Namaskara Mudra that we hold when we join our palms in front of the chest and offer prayers to God, that peace should bloom in our hearts. We visualize an external Lord in the form of a deity in an image and also we visualize Sadguru who resides in our heart. Our joined palms represent a lotus. We display this lotus as we pray. Even those who have no hands may pray thus by mentally visualizing this Mudra. We pray that the Lord, who is a manifestation of Peace should fill our hearts.

There are those who foolishly argue that we need not offer Namaskara to the Lord as if we are His slaves. Do not listen to such garbage. There is great scientific and spiritual implication in holding these specific mudras with our hands. They cannot be equated to merely saluting someone by raising one hand towards the forehead. One must understand the meaning and significance of each action while it is being performed. Then it gives greater benefit. The Vedas and our ancient seers have taught us these things. When we remember the heart-lotus, and the external lotus shape we show with our palms in the Namaskara Mudra and then pray that our heart-lotus within must become filled with peace, then peace will certainly come to us. The two lotuses must be in full bloom, as shown in the pictures of Goddess Lakshmi holding two lotuses in her hands, or as Lord Surya holding two lotuses. Sage Agastya instructed Sri Rama to chant the Aditya Hridayam and understand the significance of these two lotuses, whereby the worldly life and the spiritual life are brought into balance and perfection. The Sun God makes both of these lotuses bloom.

Those who have realized this truth have two lotuses in them in full bloom. Inside the heart-lotus, the peace-lotus also blooms. We need both lotuses. One represents our spiritual life. Another represents our worldly life. Those who are endowed with this peace-lotus are equal to Sri Hari/Lord Vishnu. Those without this second peace-lotus have not reached this level. There is no higher status than to be free from all agitation and disturbance of mind and feel completely at peace.

Lord Vishnu has a lotus in His heart and another lotus in His navel. The four-faced Brahma, who emerged out of this lotus which is in the navel of Lord Vishnu, represents all living beings and He represents this entire Creation itself. In truth, every one of us is a four-faced Brahma ourselves. Brahma is ever engaged in deep penance trying to know His source. That is what we are shown in movies, serials, and picture books. Similarly, we also have four faces as we are engaged in all our various activities. We are reminded that we should not forget our duty to know our source. Just as Sri Maha Vishnu has the lotus of peace in his heart, those who also have peace blooming in their hearts become equal to Him.

We also join our palms above the top of our head. The Sahasrara Padma/lotus is situated there. We pray to God that our intellect should be filled with peace. In the presence of those who are filled with peace, even the cool moon beams become pale in their effect, because the supreme bliss that such great souls radiate is beyond compare. The sun's rays also appear inferior in their presence because of the power of their radiance from their virtue, which results from the peace filling their hearts. Such holy souls are able to attract people towards them and are able to positively transform them. They spread peace. Every one of us should attempt to find such peace. Peace is worth more than even a king's treasury. All types of unbearable miseries of this world are overcome by one who possesses this total peace of mind. One enjoys the company of such a person because the atmosphere around him will be filled with the happiness that comes from perfect peace. We do not even yearn for a sight of the moon as much as we yearn for the company of persons who are at perfect peace. Even pictures of such holy souls are extremely attractive. Pure bliss of the soul is not possible without perfect peace. Just as one trusts one's mother unquestioningly, the man of peace commands similar trust and attraction from all beings. Therefore, we must all seek to achieve concentration of the mind, control of the mind and peace of mind. Sage Vasishtha tells us this indirectly, as if he is instructing Sri Rama.

verse

We spoke first about Sri Hari. Now Goddess Lakshmi is mentioned. There is a stain on the moon. Or it appears as a stain to us. If the moon is visualized as a face, then the stain is like a a blot on it. But to one who is filled with peace, such a stain is non-existent. It is perfection in totality. The moon-face is without blemish. Lord Dattatreya's or Sadguru's history is without blemish, as Swamiji sang in the bhajan, Akalanka Charita. Out of ignorance people may speak differently. But in Sadguru, and in God, it is not possible to have any flaws. When peace fills the heart, the face will become radiant without any blemish whatsoever. One wonders where such beauty comes from. Such persons purify not only their near and dear ones, but all others who approach them. Such great souls deserve our prostrations. By offering our obeisance to the great souls, we obtain their grace. Their appearance and their hearts are both pure. There are some persons who appear physically attractive but possess ugly personalities. Some terrorists pose as gentlemen. What is the use of external attraction in such cases?

Lord Dattatreya's image is beautifully decorated. We feel attracted to the image and feel like continually looking at it, drinking in the beauty. When Swamiji comes out to give darshan, he comes appearing clean and neat and attracts not only our eyes but also our hearts. It is important for Sadguru to appear attractive not only to our eyes but to also our hearts. Otherwise, if on some occasion when we see him, such as very early in the morning, before he is ready for a public appearance, we may wonder at his attire and the way he presents himself. Once he attracts our hearts, the physical appearance no longer remains important. We must reach that state of seeing beyond external appearances.

Great souls have hearts filled with the greatest peace. We must always remember this.

trailokya

In the three worlds, go wherever you wish. No matter if you even accumulate all the treasures of all the three worlds in one place, still, that wealth will not be equal to the wealth called peace of mind. Regardless of the monetary value of the treasures, if they do not give comfort and solace, such treasures are worthless. One who always hankers after money, once he loses his health, will pray only for good health. He will even give up eating his favorite foods. Because money cannot give the comfort of being healthy. What gives us peace of mind is what gives us the greatest happiness.

yani

Without peace of mind it is difficult to live. There are unimaginable miseries in this world. When in grief, one must observe those who are worse off than them. Then the silly complaints will subside. Instead of complaining that the food is not tasty, think of all those who are starving with no food at all. When in happiness think of those who are less happy and share your happiness with them.

Swamiji tells us to Share our Food. Skip a meal and give that food to a hungry person. Even if you do not fast, at least feed a few hungry stomachs. We should give more than what we consume. Dana Guna/willingness to give has to be cultivated. There are much greater difficulties in the world than what we face. Our troubles are small compared to the troubles of many others.

Every one desires the basic needs to be fulfilled. Each one wants a family, a home, good health, and a comfortable life. But to have excessive desires/thrishnaa is very harmful. The selfish desire to be the only one enjoying all the comforts is bad. One should never wish that all others should be deprived of comforts. To become greedy and possessive becomes an unbearable trait, not only to those around, but also to oneself. Avarice causes depression. There are no medicines to cure depression. Medicines can only induce sleep and reduce physical pain. It is difficult to bear excessive and obsessive desire and greed. Mental diseases result. Doctors are consulted for ailments that are non-specific. Even after treatment, patients who suffer from depression do not feel better. The best medicine is to chant mantras or prayers continuously. Mental diseases cannot be cured with physical pampering with vacations and luxuries. That is not the way to repair mental issues. Only spiritual pursuits will cure mental disturbances. Those who develop concentration and mental restraint, will automatically attain peace, just as sunrise dispels darkness.

manohi

More than any other living being, who do we thirst to see the most? We wish to be in the presence of Sadguru more than any other person. We like to remain undisturbed while in the presence of God in a temple. We do not wish to discuss personal matters with others there. Why? There is so much of attraction there. Even the sight of the moon does not give us as much pleasure as darshan of Sadguru. At least one person in the family should be engaged in spiritual pursuit so that the rest of the family members may benefit by his or her influence upon them.

Do not complain about other persons not doing spiritual sadhana. If those around you do not permit you to engage in spiritual activities, do not complain. Do your sadhana internally. No one can prevent you from that. If you carry on your internal sadhana, in course of time, the others will change in your favor. But if you stop your internal sadhana and keep complaining that outwardly you are prevented from doing puja, yoga, or visiting temples, you are only harming yourself and others because your inner focus on Sadguru and God is lacking.

Many newly married persons come to Swamiji expressing this problem that the new family they are entering does not follow Swamiji and will not allow keeping Swamiji's photo in the home. If you hold Swamiji's picture firmly in your heart, no one can prevent that. That is what one should do.

shama

Shama and Shanti are the greatest. If Shama is the effort, Shanti is the fruit, the result. From concentration comes peace. The mind becomes one's own friend. Friendship occurs when two people are like-minded. A friend is a well wisher. Once peace gives maturity to the mind, it fills it with good thoughts. It will earn Guru's grace and will eventually lead to enlightenment.

Simply remaining at peace keeps minds unperturbed. Such persons, if they do not get liberated in this lifetime, will be born as free souls in their next birth and will attain liberation. They will not require many lifetimes to attain the final goal.

yantarima

Regardless of how wicked or hardhearted he may be, still, such a person trusts his mother. Ravana also loved and trusted his mother. A good person also trusts his mother. Gods also trust mother. Many demons followed the advice of Sage Narada. The celestials also trusted him. It is because his heart was pure and peaceful. Both the Kauravas and the Pandavas trusted Lord Krishna for the same reason that his heart was pure.

If the heart lacks compassion and kindness, it is a huge flaw. It prevents spiritual progress. It actually prevents entry into the spiritual field itself. One's heart should melt at the sight of the troubles of others. There are many who shed tears to see the pain of others. It is a sign that the mind is going through a good process and has fallen into the right track. Great souls can be tougher than a diamond and softer than a flower, both to our benefit. But our hearts should never become tough like a diamond. We must develop a soft nature.

verse

Rasayana pana is drinking nectar. Even the status of Indra is inferior to the status of being perfectly at peace. Maha Vishnu is the only one who has the right to embrace Goddess Lakshmi. Yet, the one with perfect peace becomes equal to him. Peace gives more bliss than residence in heaven/Swarga or Vaikuntha/abode of Vishnu.

saradhivyadhi

The mind is full of turmoil due to all kinds of mental and physical troubles. Greed and desire drags the mind downward like a rope made of skin. There is no capacity to enjoy any good things that accrue to one who suffers due to mental disturbances that agitate the mind. What should one do then? At such times, shama is the nectar that should be sprinkled on the persons who have swooned from their troubles. It will revive them. When the mind is comforted with some mental restraint when it is sprinkled upon the mind, it gives solace and peace of mind.

verse

O Sri Rama, once your mind is rich with peace, whatever action you perform, whatever mission you undertake, it will appear as the greatest and the most daring accomplishment. It is a result of the peace that fills your heart. Even an ordinary task will yield results a thousand fold. Therefore, attain peace of mind and with that, engage in action.

verse

This is a very important aspect. Some complain that peace comes to them but does not endure. What is wrong in that? Even if for a while there are no fresh sprouts, still, the tree-like mind that has been given the life energy called peace, is bound to sprout again after a while. it is far from being dead. It has life force flowing within.
In the end, we are told about Nirvana Sukham, unequalled bliss. That will be end result of acquiring peace of mind.

verse

One who has attained peace will be free from harm from demons, devils, snakes, and even tigers.

Gandhiji fought with peace and non-violence. It became difficult for the opponents to fight against such an enemy. He wore a *** cloth, one,who once was a very wealthy man, and was the son of a person who was equal in stature to the Chief Minister. He played a pivotal role in the fight for independence.

There was a person who was a drunkard, who lived nearby. He would come frequently to the ashram and shout abuses about Swamiji. Swamiji learned about it. He went in front of him. I was with Swamiji then. The moment he was Swamiji, he became quiet. Swamiji greeted him, addressing him by his name. The man spoke like a devotee and went away after offering prostrations.

verse

A wall built of diamond cannot be broken with arrows. The great soul who wears a shield of peace is ready for battle. His chariot, and his weapons are all within him. He has the power to face the enemy. Such a one will not be affected by any troubles. It does not mean that troubles will not afflict him. He does not treat them like troubles.

All the sins committed in the past get destroyed by the grace of Guru. It does not mean that the person gets absolved of the sins. The person's mind gets transformed and as a result, the troubles no longer appear to him as troubles. He still has to face his karma and experience the consequences. Sadguru gives the anesthesia so that the patient can endure the pain of surgery. Sadguru also prevents the devotee from committing sins in the future. One does not do business with Sadguru. It is not a contractual agreement. One cannot break someone's head and come and break a coconut before God to atone the sin. It is only when out of remorse and repentance the sinner offers prayers, the sins get atoned for.

A devotee under the care of Sadguru will still face troubles but will have the strength to deal with them.
We will continue tomorrow.

During the Sri Chakra Puja, please join in the chanting of Hanuman Chalisa. Mantra chanting will purify the mind and a pure heart will enjoy peace of mind. Therefore, please chant the mantra given by Guru.

Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta

Om Santissantissantihi