AvadhootaDatta Peetham

Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha

Day 108, March 1

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

Yesterday in the Yoga Vasishtha, we were told of the importance of acquiring Jnana/spiritual knowledge, and how it is only obtained when one has perfect discretion, and that it grants perfect peace. Shama is both spiritual practice and its fruit. It consists of Pranayama, contemplation of God, performing good deeds, charity, and service to Guru. From the practice of Pranayama, the mind is made one-pointed. Self-restraint of mind and body is practiced. What is the benefit obtained from doing so? It is supreme peace. This is also called Shama. The greatness of this practice and its fruit have been described. The term 'Purushottama' was defined as describing a person who attains enlightenment.

Sometimes, when things are not going well for us, it appears to us as if everyone in this world is bad. It is all right to say that everyone is good. But it is wrong to declare that everyone is bad. How can that be?

All are human. So all are bad, the disgruntled people say.

There are differences in people. There are low natured, mediocre, and noble-minded people in this world. Therefore, it is wrong to generalize and call everyone bad. There are good people. The best among them are the ones who perform spiritual austerities and seek God, says Vasishtha.

Today, more is taught to us about Shama, and its fruit, peace and bliss.

pravrittihi

Generally, everyone is urged to participate in worthy efforts. It means we have to do our share of the good actions and enjoy the fruit of it. Who are the ones who are eligible to claim the fruit of liberation as a consequence of the actions performed by them? Every individual who has the inclination and the urge to pursue the path of liberation is eligible to receive a share of the fruit of that effort. No further qualification is required. A genuine interest and a faithful application of that interest in the effort employed are the only requirements. All those who possess these qualities are qualified to attain liberation.

How does one develop such an interest? Why is it that only a few people have the urge, and the others do not? It is surprising to everyone. Everyone is born the same way, and grows up the same way, by consuming food. Why is it that only a few are inclined towards spiritual pursuit? The reason for it is grace of God and compassion of Guru.

Whoever listens to the words of Guru, digests them, and follows the instructions given, whoever serves and worships God with total devotion and faith, and whoever has read the proper scriptures and has understood them, will develop the urge to follow the spiritual path.

Some great souls are born with a spiritual bent of mind. Some develop it during the course of their growing years. Some are drawn to it once they are mature or advanced in age. There are some who go through their entire life without ever feeling any urge to tread this path. This is very surprising. What is the reason for this?

Those who are born with an interest in spirituality are those who had done great sadhana in their previous lifetime. They have a store of Samskara/inborn tendency for devotion and dispassion. They show signs of it even before completing their schooling. In their previous lifetime they had earned the grace of God, but they did not have the time physically to complete their sadhana fully. Their lifespan was not sufficient. They were forced to leave the body because their time was up.

Some other people had still a long way to go in their sadhana when they took this present birth. Therefore, they spend a lot of time preparing themselves to qualify for a serious pursuit of spirituality.

Hence, it must be kept in mind that the level of Guru's guidance that has been followed, the degree of the grace of God that has been earned, and the amount of scriptural knowledge that was previously absorbed, are all responsible for the different levels of spiritual interest and aptitude shown by different persons in this present lifetime.

The moment the strong urge occurs, to seek God, the person becomes eligible to go towards liberation. That is why it is said that even taking a bath is not a requirement prior for engaging in contemplation. One may contemplate on God even while remaining in bed. But it is better to take a bath and sit down in a suitable posture to meditate, because, there is the danger of falling asleep again if one tries to meditate lying down in bed. Dhyana is something so sacred and pure that physical cleansing is not a prerequisite for it.

anapaayi

The bliss of enlightenment is free from all danger.

How can happiness be coupled with danger? We have not fully understood the nature of enjoyment. Enjoyment is always accompanied by danger. Consuming too much sweet is dangerous. Consumption of excessive sweets will cause sugar disease. To those who love spices, too much hot spice is also harmful. It will cause ulcers. One must be very cautious because even a slight increase in a substance that is harmful to the system, can cause serious injury and trouble. In this manner, there is a chance of incurring harm by the indulgence in such enjoyments.

But, this ultimate happiness that results from enlightenment is not accompanied even by a trace of harm. It is eternal happiness. It is unadulterated bliss.

How much each and every individual strives, to gain happiness, is common knowledge. Does a person go to work every day with smile full of enthusiasm? The earning is good. But the work is hard. But in spiritual pursuit, both the journey and the destination are blissful.

When one travels in the Himalayas, the scenery is extraordinarily beautiful, undoubtedly. But, there is fear in the heart. When you look to a side, you see a steep valley. You are afraid that your bus may end up at the bottom of the deep abyss. On the other side there is a dizzyingly tall cliff. You never know when a sudden landslide may occur. There is enjoyment in the journey. But the travel is ridden with dangers.

In the experience of spiritual bliss, there is total freedom from danger. Both the travel and the destination are free from stress and fear. All doubts and suspicions get dispelled in this journey.

niraasankam

The mind is calm and peaceful, without any sudden surprises or anxieties.

'Kevalam' means it stands alone. Nothing else exists but it. In the three worlds, even if you search in every nook and corner, you cannot find another type of bliss to equal this.

In the Guru Gita, it is said that those who have been blessed with the complete grace of Guru and have experienced that transcendental bliss, will not even care about the status of Indra or the heavenly pleasures he enjoys. Would they then even care to consider any royal powers and luxuries?

The Subhashitam relates a story about a very faithful dog. A discarded piece of bone is chewed by it contentedly as if the juice it draws from it is like nectar given by Brahma. Even if Indra comes and offers it heavenly nectar, it does not get tempted.

This is a strange wise counsel meant to be presented in a negative way - that, satisfied with crude pleasures, like the dog, we neglect to pursue what is supremely more valuable and enduring.

But when we consider the example of the dog from a different angle, we admire the simple faith and contentment it displays. Lord Dattatreya transformed the Vedas into dogs and kept them at his feet. The faith the dog places in its master is the type of faith that man must place in the Vedas. That is what Lord Datta is trying to tell us. He uses the dog as the highest standard, for firm, unwavering faith.

Build your city called 'Life' based on this foundation, the Vedas are exhorting us. When we do so, we reap the benefit.

The bliss of Self-Realization is beyond compare in all the three worlds. This is obtained when the mind is merged in God.

tatprapta

Once, the urge to seek enlightenment takes root in us, that is enough. Ichcha Shakti/urge to obtain, is important. What is sought? The ultimate, the Paramatman. This process is very desirable and it is without strain or stress.

nadhanaani

What is required to find God? Can it be purchased with money? These days it seems as if anything can be purchased with money. Money fills one's mind with such arrogance and ego that the wealthy think that nothing is beyond their reach. Votes, university seats, and all such are available for payment.

But this ultimate bliss cannot be purchased with money.

Sage Yajnyavalkya left all his assets when he went away to seek liberation. Gargi and Maitreyi accepted his gifts. But Maitreyi asked him to tell her what gave him the courage and the impetus to give up all his hard earned wealth in an instant.

The Sage then explained the principle of the Soul. Money cannot buy enlightenment. Money can be used for charitable purposes, and that will earn spiritual merit. But if spent on enjoyments, such merit gets exhausted. But if it is conserved, it will earn God's grace, which in turn will lead to liberation. In this manner money may be utilized. But it is not possible to purchase a ticket using your wealth to gain entry into the realm of Liberation. Only individual sadhana is the means to attain enlightenment and liberation.

Good friends may help you in your sadhana. But no other person can just give you liberation. Sadguru is a good friend. Undoubtedly He helps, by having you perform sadhana. He changes your way of thinking and holding your hand, makes you act in the appropriate manner so that you travel the spiritual path. The way parents help a child, Sadguru helps a disciple. Relatives and close associates, regardless of their power and merit cannot help you.

na hasta pada chalanam

We perform many actions, moving our limbs. During rituals there are so many movements performed. They all lead to mental purification and cleansing of thoughts. This is a means to earn God's grace. There is no greater proof of having achieved God's grace, than to experience peace of mind. Without God's grace, peace of mind is not experienced. If peace of mind is lacking, then everything else becomes worthless.

A person makes many trips, visiting many places. It may be a pleasant visit that you enjoy temporarily as diversion. But upon return, you return to your life of unrest. Mere getting away to different places does not give lasting peace of mind.

Punishing the body does not grant peace of mind. Because it is Ekadasi, people fast on that day. The purpose of doing it, is to develop concentration of mind, not to torment the body. This should be remembered. The ten organs (five organs of action, and five organs of perception) must be restrained as if they were horses. The reins must harness the horses to the pillar called the divine feet of the Lord. If the reins are left loose, the horses will run away. If the reins are tied to the chariot, they will run away. If we hold the reins in our hands, we get tired after a while and will lose control and the horses will then have the advantage over us. Therefore, they have to be harnessed to the pillar, so that the horses remain in place. The organs are the horses. The reins are the mind. The pillar is devotion. That is the significance of Ekadasi.

Mere physical fasting is beneficial to the body according to Ayurveda. That way it helps to maintain good health. It gives rest to the digestive system which sometimes get overworked due to excessive or inappropriate consumption of food. Too much activity will make a person tired on a day of fasting. That is why too much of ritual activity such as performing intensive abhishekams should be avoided on Ekadasi day. It is best to sit down and quietly do Japa. It will cleanse and calm the mind. Forced fasting and troubling the body excessively, is demonic devotion. Ravanasura for years on end performed fasting and kept night time vigils. In addition, he even chopped off each of his ten heads and offering them to Lord Siva, earned His grace and many boons.

Recently Swamiji has mentioned in His discourse how Parvati had questioned Siva, How he could even think of incarnating as Lord Hanuman to help Rama to kill Ravana, who was His dear devotee. Siva appreciated her clever questioning. He said: Outwardly, my action might appear unrighteous. I have eleven forms. Ravana, by offering me his ten heads, appeased only ten of those eleven forms. He neglected to acknowledge the presence and power of the eleventh aspect of mine, and thus Ravana has insulted me. Therefore, using the eleventh aspect of mine, I will incarnate as Hanuman to help Rama destroy his arrogance. Furthermore, Ravana, despite his devotion to me, harbors many evil traits and has performed many evil deeds. Hence, my taking the form of Hanuman to help Rama is in no way wrong or inappropriate.

It is a great answer given by Lord Siva. Ekadasi means eleven. Further and beyond the ten organs mentioned above, there is the eleventh entity, which is the mind. It is referred to in Sanskrit and in some Indian languages such as Kannada and Telugu, as the eleventh, meaning, ten plus one. Eka+Dasa, Hannondu, or Padakondu.

An elephant comes under control if it is starved for a day. A horse is tamed when deprived of food for a day. But merely starving the body of food, will not successfully tame the mind of man. The elephant is also tied up with chains to restrain it.

Forgetting to bring the mind under control is a great omission. Along with fasting, on Ekadasi day, if the mind is brought under control, then it becomes a means for attaining inner peace. Mere starvation is not spiritually beneficial. There are certain rules to be followed in performing the Ekadasi fasting. The story of Ambareesha explains it. If the mind keeps dwelling on the feast to be enjoyed the following day, which includes sweet rice pudding and so forth, then, such fasting serves no purpose. If one is eagerly waiting for the day to pass, so that one can indulge the next day and overeat, it defeats the purpose of fasting on Ekadasi.

In my opinion, it is better to eat a light meal and keep the mind quiet, rather than fully starve the body on Ekadasi day and keep the mind obsessed with thoughts of food. Total starvation may even harm some people physically.

Constant shifting from one sacred place to place with a restless attitude is not beneficial. It deprives one from enjoying the benefit of visiting holy places.

Peace of mind can only be achieved by the practice of Shama, which includes continuous listening to good counsel, to Guru's words, continuous pondering over the concepts one is introduced to, and developing an understanding of non-duality, the non-difference between oneself, all that exists, and the Supreme Soul. Only when the mind is conquered, peace is attained.

We will discuss tomorrow the further means of how the mind may be brought under control. Shama Niroopanam is the name of this topic. It means the acknowledgement and proof of the benefits of Shama.

Today is Ekadasi. While controlling your food intake, perform Japa and continue with the chanting of Hanuman Chalisa. Please submit your daily count. One should avoid physical strain on Ekadasi day. Do not raise your voice also. Remain calm and subdued. Chant softly. You may eat parched rice. It is said that boiled/cooked items are to be avoided, if possible. Those who need to consume food for health reasons, and those who are under medication should take proper precautions. Sufficient food as needed to maintain the body should be received.

The Ekadasi Vrata/austerity is highly beneficial. I pray that all of you should benefit from it.

Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta

Om Santissantissantihi