July 9, Vasishtha
Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 167, July 9
Sri Sadgurubhyo namaha
Om Santissantissantihi
How to realize Paramatma? Only Sadhu Sangama and Sacchaastra are the two means. Company of holy souls, and serious study of scriptures. Tapo dana vrata - penance, charity, rituals, and austerities are not effective for attaining Jnana.
The above will only cleanse the mind and prepare it for attaining Jnana. Why should one do abhishekam? Why do puja? Just do it, it will benefit you is what we tell children. Eventually the good acts will benefit to cleanse the mind.
Constant contemplation of statements of wisdom is essential.
Sri Rama asked, "What is the quickest way for enlightenment?"
Vasishtha said, "No karma will grant enlightenment. Only Jnana will grant liberation."
Jnana comes from the company of Sadguru and saintly souls. Deliberate effort is needed to seek such company.
Paramatma resides within you. You may live a normal life and still realize ***. All sins must get removed first before liberation can occur.
Where is Paramatma? How is He? How to know Him? Sri Rama asked.
Vasishtha said, chinmatra/consciousness is everything, including Vishnu, the Sun and other gods.
Samparijnanam is a term introduced to us. Complete Jnana.
Jnana - mere intellectual activity is not Karma. Jnana, Karma and Upasana are three types of activities. Yoga comes under Karma. Upasana only leads to Jnana. It is not Jnana.
Intense penance - does it give Jnana? Sri Rama asked.
verse
Gurudeva, I have understood that after the complete attainment of Jnana, Self-Realization, thereafter no more flaws or sins remain in such a Jeevanmukta. He will not be troubled by death even. A Jeevanmukta may leave the body but he does not experience death. One's identification with body is what causes death. An enlightened has no bondage with the cycle of birth and death. It is he, who identifies himself with the body, who dies and is reborn.
Mahatmas attain Brahmaikyam. They merge in Pure Consciousness. They do not die. Death is a wrong term to associate with holy souls. They reach a state where there is no birth and death.
Knowledge of Truth releases one from death and birth.
devadevo ..
I am happy Gurudeva, with you teaching. This state has to be personally experienced. Please teach me how to attain Paramatma quickly, Sri Rama asked. His intense yearning is expressed. We must also share that urgent need.
Sri Rama is a Kshatriya. He has the Rajo Guna in him. He has the tenacity to follow instructions to the core, at any cost. We do not need 1000 names. Focus on one name of *** is enough. Jnana is easy. Austerities required in Karma, such as tapas and japa are very difficult.
Vasishtha had earlier stated that tapas/penance will not grant liberation. But Sri Rama still asks.
verse
Sri Rama, Jnana and discretion have to be earned by deliberate effort. Even animals can attain liberation as mentioned in scriptural stories. Even a deer remained steady and austere as told to us in the story of Jada Bharata. Gender differences do not matter. Jnana makes the intellect blossom.
With Jnana alone, Paramatma is experienced.
All that we do, must be done with the knowledge of its meaning and its purpose.
Neeti Mala has a story. Repeated dips in the holy river Ganga still failed to convince most devotees of having attained purity. Ganga snana/bath once is sufficient. One Guru is enough. One sip of Ganga water is enough. Faith is required to feel the complete cleansing experience.
Self-Realization does not come with just the performance of karma.
Prescribed actions must be performed. The earnest desire to attain liberation must occur from within. Satkarma, the performance of good deeds, stipulated by the scriptures, will stimulate this desire for attainment of liberation. Following the instructions of Guru will cleanse the mind and will spur the motivation to pursue the path of liberation.
Listening to spiritual discourses is very essential.
Bhagavatam gives the story of Dhruva. Child denotes ignorance. We may equate it with innocence and divinity. But that context is different. In spiritual parlance, child implies ignorance.
Dhruva's intense penance is unequalled in Bhagavatam. Sage Vyasa had this small boy perform such an intense penance. It is a true story. 'Om namo bhagavate vaasudevaya' mantra was given to him by Guru Narada as the boy was proceeding to the forest to do penance.
Dhruva began with a very meager intake of food, then he consumed only leaves, then only sipped water, then only air he consumed. In Vrkshaasana, the Tree pose he did penance thereafter. He then advanced to balancing on only the big toe as he did penance. Sri Hari appeared to Dhruva, pleased with His intense and determined penance. We are told that He appeared to him in his heart.
Dhruva offered prayers and praises. He felt very happy. He felt as if he had the love of his own father being showered upon him, which is what he had craved for. Sri Hari offered him great boons. He made him the Pole Star eventually.
Dhruva returned to the kingdom and became king. Later in his life, he engaged in a terrible war against the Gandharvas. He killed lots of them and suffered wounds from them. Kubera gave him some wise counsel. Dhruva felt remorse and reproached himself for his actions.
"After all that penance, why have I degraded myself thus?" Dhruva asked himself. I did penance without Jnana. I had no wisdom. Therefore I did not ask Sri Hari for liberation, when He offered me boons. My mind was preoccupied with the grief caused by the insult caused by my step mother. I was still angry.
We have to get rid of our temporary grievances. They should not obsess the mind to distract penance.
Ravana and Kumbhakarna, along with Vibheeshana and Surpanakha all did penance for thousands of years (they were all siblings). Only Vibheeshana did penance with Jnana. The others did not. That is why the results they obtained are very different. It is like offering to *** payasam (sweet rice pudding) without adding any sugar.
It is wrong to perform austerities with selfish desires and mental preoccupations and obsessions. Always offer the fruits of penance only to *** for His pleasure.
Vasishtha gives good advice.
raagadvesha ..
Penance should be devoid of raga, dwesha, personal desire, anger, ***, jealousy and so on. Penance should remove the above. Dhruva was not free from anger at the end of the penance. Ravana and others retained all their evil tendencies despite having performed penance for ten thousand years.
Rama rama - japa/penance must remove our preoccupation with kama kama/sensual desires, Saint Tyagaraja said.
The small accomplishments of worldly desires should not be the result of the performance of great penance. It is like obtaining and being satisfied with small change instead of the great treasure that it deserves as its reward.
Once ***'s grace is earned, all desires themselves must be destroyed.
Useless penance for satisfying petty desires, only wastes time. Do penance only with Jnana. Then liberation will be the fruit granted.
Contemplation is penance. Dhyana is constant contemplation. The visible world disappears from view in such dhyana. The seer, meaning, the individual who sees the world, also vanishes in the process.
verse
With money you cannot gain anything. Money was earned in the first place, involving lots desires. Giving such money in charity does nothing good. There are many, whose only aim in life is only to earn money. They cheat others and earn. Then they give that money in charity. Cheating is a sin. Getting cheated is ignorance. It is not a sin. The merit of such charity goes to the person who got cheated out of his money in the process of the donor's earning that wealth.
Venkateswara Mahatmyam explains this concept. During the wedding of Lord Venkateswara, Venkateshwara gave this upadesa to his consort Lakshmi, that She should bless those who earn earnestly and sincerely. Even for a small offering from such devout and honest persons, Venkateswara Swami gives great blessings. *** protects Vedas and Sastras. Palaya Govinda bhajan by Swamiji explains this.
By cheating others and earning, one does not gain any merit.
verse
Those who perform vratas/austerities with attachment and hatred, are dambhas. Such actions are dambhachara. Hypocritical actions. Actions are dambhachara when one is doing things to impress others. You only deceive yourself when you do this. Not even a trace of merit is earned by such behavior.
verse
The true medicine should be recognized. The worldly life is a disease. The medicine is Satsanga, which is Sadhu Sangama or association with enlightened souls, and serious Scriptural study.
atraikam
Sadhu Sangama should be done with a deliberate effort, setting aside other pressing obligations and preoccupations. Other engagements must be set aside. Some mothers may want to come to the ashrama, but the husband or elders may not permit. Obligatory duties may prevent the mother. In such cases, Guru will himself go to their homes to give darshan as in the case of Sakkubai.
Sravana must be done non-stop. Whatever has been heard, must get absorbed and pondered over again and again.
verse
What type of effort is needed? I will tell you. I will tell you how to get rid of like and dislike.
verse
We all say, Swamiji you live in the ashrama as an ascetic. It is therefore, easy for you. But what about us, who are engaged in worldly activities?
As per your circumstance, you keep doing your profession, or duties, and maintain your livelihood. While immersed in the beneficial activity, without excitement or excessive or aggressive emotion, you should avoid doing anything that is harmful to yourself or society.
Do some work to earn your livelihood. Go without breaking laws or ethics. Be happy from contentment. By Guru's grace contentment comes. Give up your desire for comfort and luxury. Learn to be contented with whatever comes to you without your effort.
You came to the ashrama. One day you are served a feast. Another day you get only simple food. Be satisfied with whatever you receive. Give up yearning for sensory enjoyments.
Learn to remain smiling whatever may come your way.
We have a devotee right now here, who is demonstrating this attitude.
Madhu (Talwar) for 35 days has not had any food intake. Still, she smiles and asks that her guests should be served coffee. We must develop and practice such an attitude.
verse
Without anxiety or dejection, do your duty to your best capacity. Listen to good words and get immersed in them. Always be in the company of good persons. Always search for only what is beneficial for you spiritually. Nirantara - constantly practice this.
Whatever comes your way, be satisfied. If you expect 20 rupees, you may get 200 rupees or you may get only 15 rupees. Be satisfied. Avoid going against the advice of Guru and elders.
Follow the family traditions which are beneficial. Do not rebel.
Stay close to Guru. Listen and follow the instructions given by Guru.
Such persons will quickly attain Jnana. It does not mean that they will die quickly. They get enlightened quickly. Liberation is not death, as many ignorant persons mistakenly think.
verse
Their minds get filled with Self-Realization. They have attained the highest state.
Buddhimaan neetimaan vaagmi - are descriptions of Rama.
All the gods are pleased with those who are knowledgeable, moral, and scholarly, these qualities help them get enlightened.
Some people are under the wrong impression that gods cause impediments to those who are on the spiritual path. They only test them to strengthen their spiritual pursuit. Gods bless spiritual seekers. It is wrong to attribute false weakness such as jealousy to gods.
verse
Who is a Sadhu? In Sadhu sangama, who should be sought? Before Guru is found, who should you seek? Those who are noble minded, are good hearted and are helpful people, such people's company should be sought. Our ordinary teachers also give us good advice. Those who are truly our well wishers should be sought. Their company should be enjoyed. Those who are free from selfish interests and are dispassionate, such persons' association should be sought.
verse
What is a good scripture? Only spiritual teachings should be sought. Spiritual lessons should be learned. Adhyaatma Vidya. is the correct term. Aadhyaatma vidya is a wrong usage grammatically.
Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita. Brahma Sutras, and so on should be studied, listened to, and pondered over repeatedly.
Whatever helps us to attain Self-Realization is a good scripture.
verse
By listening to good discourses and by associating with holy persons, our ignorance gets cleared and removed, the way alum clears muddy waters.
The way by Yoga we are able to conquer our inner and outer negative tendencies, Sadhu sangama and sachhaastra will to purify us. They are both very important. They should be constantly pursued and practiced. Even in a dust bin, you may find a valuable piece of spiritual information.
Always be alert to find useful spiritual knowledge.
Now witness the Sri Chakra Puja while chanting the Hanuman Chaleesa.
We will continue tomorrow.
Jaya guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Om Santissantissantihi