Discourse on Sivananda Lahari
Day 4, July 31
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 amritam gamaya
Om Santissantissantihi
Please lead me from untruth to Truth, from darkness to light, from death to immortality. May there be peace.
Bhajan: Palaya Gananatha ..
Om Namassivaya
Verse 6:
Ghato vā mrithpindo pyaṇurapi ca dhoomognir achalah
Pato vaa tantur vā pariharati kim ghorasamanam
Vrithā kantakshobham vahasi tarasā tarka vachasa
Padāmbhojam shambhōr bhaja parama soukhyam vrajasudhīh
Yesterday we learned about how to pray to God. Bhagavatpada says, I am like an animal that is tied up with a rope. Please protect me.
We say sometimes when we have an unbearable headache, or when we are drowned in debt, when we are in agony, I do not wish this even upon my enemy. Many people do wish such pain on others. That is very wrong.
O Lord, I need your protection always. I am very ignorant, Adi Sankara says.
Why is he talking about not knowing anything about Sastras and others? Those who know less, usually argue more as if they themselves know everything. So many people waste their scholarship in a way that it is of no benefit either to them or to others. They do not just waste time, they waste their entire lives. Time remains unaffected. Their knowledge is incomplete. They argue obstinately without having a mastery over the subject.
Tarka Sastra and Sankhya Sastra ask how an object came into existence. What is its source? The discussions do not rise above the mundane subject. When a pot is seen, the scholars do not see it as a pot and utilize it for a good purpose. At once, they get into a useless and prolonged discussion. Is this a pot or is it just a lump of clay? They will say that what you are looking at is not a pot but merely a lump of clay. They get stuck in the useless discussion. This is not the Sankhya Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita. Sankhya also means spiritual knowledge. Here it refers to the science of numbers when they mention Sankhya.
Such discussions no doubt increase our grip on science.
Nyaya Sastra teaches Yukti, an intelligent interpretation, and a shrewd resolution of problems.
Is this a lump of clay? Is it one atom sticking to another atom and eventually becoming a lump? Tarka is logic. It enhances our knowledge. Nyaya Sastra is the Science of justice as practiced in the courts of law. Here also by reasoning and questioning the learned ones arrive at conclusions.
One climbs a mountain. He sees smoke. He says there is fire here. How does he know that there is fire? Because of seeing smoke, he says, I have seen it in the kitchen. This is a great subject field in science to arrive at conclusions based on previous observations, comparisons, and assumptions.
Those who get obsessed with this argumentative nature do not engage in prayer or contemplation. 24/7 they are fixed only in this type of mental acrobatics.
If you fall you will break your leg. Therefore, you should walk carefully. That is the conclusion.
Smoke, air, and fire are mentioned here.
There is a fabric. Where did this come from? How did it come into existence? What is the associated substance? Did it arise from threads? Those who begin this type of exploration will see the same concepts even in their dreams. What is the use of memorizing all these theories and concepts? Does it really save you from the terrible experience of death? What is the benefit of wasting your breath and exercising your vocal chords on this heated talk on these topics? These have no benefit.
The two parties will have endless arguments and will still not arrive at any resolution.
I am very fond of Tarka Sastra. It opens up the mind. During our daily speech, we use the terminology from this science. For example, we compare situations and objects. Sage Kanada and Sage Gautama have written this science containing thousands of pages. The Science is not blamed, only those who abuse it by using it to excess to prove themselves right, are blamed.
One requires a very sharp intellect to study this science. It generates heat in the head and an eventual headache. Great memory is required. The study of law is also like this. You will notice huge volumes in a lawyer’s library. Not all words in Tarka Sastra have been printed. They are too numerous.
Bhagavadpada also would have experienced headache after studying this science. One sentence will run for six pages. It is very tough to master it. But to forget God in the process of mastering this subject is pathetic.
Vedanta is a higher science than Tarka Sastra and Sankhya Sastra. This argument is presented here only to silence such people who become obsessive and do not pursue higher goals.
Kasi is a Vidya Peetham. Kashmir is above Kasi.
Bhagavatpada had a holy bath in Ganga and came up. ‘Dukrnkarane’, a grammar rule was being repeated day in and day out by a scholar teaching his disciples. He never prayed. He kept a pot of water beside him so he does not even need to get up to get a drink of water. One day, the pot fell on the street and rolled down, making the sound, ‘Dukrnkarane’ ‘Dukrnkarane’ ‘Dukrnkarane’. For even the pot to learn the phrase, how persistently you must have been teaching this phrase, commented Adi Sankara. He composed the Bhaja Govindam referring to this episode. You are in Kasi, you do not visit the temple. You merely are drowned in grammar, he lamented.
Place your attention on the sacred feet of Siva, Sri Adi Sankara is urging.
Please give me instruction so that I use my time well, he is praying to Lord Siva.
We may be studying some great sciences, computers, law and so forth. But we must allot some time for going to the temple, for prayer and for spiritual search. This is a great prayer.
Bhajan: Jyotirlingakara ..( Rameswara)
Verse 7:
Manaste pādābje nivasatu vachah sthotra phanitou
Karou cābhyarchāyām sruthir api kathā karnana-vidhou
Tava dhyāne budhir nayana yugaḷam moorthi vibhave
Para granthān kim vā paramashiva jane paramatah
Upanishad’s essence is squeezed out by Krishna and presented as Bhagavad Gita. Who is it for? Arjuna is the calf. Cow yields milk for its calf. The moment the calf begins to suck, milk begins to flow from the udder. That moment they pull aside the calf and draw the milk. In reality one should allow the calf to drink its fill and take only what remains. Perhaps not even a glassful will be left. The recipients of the Gita milk/nectar are the pious devotees.
Who is a pious and worthy devotee? He, who uses all his senses and mind for praying to God and for worship.
May my mind and sense organs be absorbed in your prayer.
A bee hums and flies very fast. You cannot catch it. Its wings are translucent/transparent. It has six feet that are like our six senses/including the mind. The poetic meter used here is also Shatpadi/sixfooted.
My mind should descend upon your sacred feet.
Before bedtime one should meditate upon the feet of Guru. After massaging the feet of parents, one may do this. Imagine that you are pressing the feet of Guru. With our inhalation and exhalation swing the cradle of Guru or God putting Him to sleep gently with a lullaby. The mind required rest. This practice will give rest to the mind. Imagine Guru’s feet that got tired with endless roaming to remove the difficulties of devotees.
Flowers are offered to give soft comfort. Feet and the heart region are most important. The Germans know this. We must protect the feet of Guru. We must mentally wash the feet with rose water. Dry the feet and apply sandal paste. This is great sadhana. As you wake up imagine the feet of Guru placed on the Sahasrara Chakra. It costs nothing and in moments the puja is completed. It gives joy all through the day.
The mind keeps running away. Reverse the syllables Mana and it becomes Nama/offering obeisance. Namaz came from this. What do they do during Namaz? They pray.
Mind is always restless. It rests on a lotus and yet flies away, unlike a bee. It must stay fixed on the feet of the Lord. These poems are all like that, and they give immense joy. All topics dealing with Bhakti/devotion are described here. Practicing devotion is easier than gaining knowledge. It is effortless. Devotion is supreme.
May my words be ever praising you. During a vow of silence one certainly may sing bhajans aloud or repeat chants. The saliva that may spray during that activity is sacred and there is no contamination if it falls on the bhajan book. While chanting God’s name or mantra, the saliva becomes nectar and when we swallow it, it is as if we are drinking Amrita.
Once a bee lands on a lotus it gets absorbed in the drinking of honey and forgets to get out before the flower closes up.
When the two feet of Guru or God are seen, focus on the shape of the pair of feet that appear like a half closed lotus, When you wake up, envision this scene and imagine that the feet pervade the whole world.
At least once a year practice the vow of silence. It does not mean scolding others through frantic actions and gestures. People pull their hair out trying to make others understand their intentions. That is not the way. You have to avoid getting upset like that.
Nama Sankeertana, singing or chanting aloud is also like a vow of silence when the mind is absorbed in God. Slowly it will become silent.
May my hands always be offering you worship. Not with one hand and doing other chores with the other hands. The right hand represents Satva Guna. Both eyes do not see the same scene. One eye is stronger than the other. Even among the two hands, one hand is stronger and is to be used for worshiping God. May I use both my hands for your worship. We have five fingers like the monkeys do. They represent the five elements. The thumb is for the space element. The index finger/Tarjani is for pointing. When you point at another as if to blame, the other three fingers are pointing to you as the culprit, said Gandhi.
Jeevatma and Paramatma are united in Chinmudra. Sri Dakshinamurthy holds a thorn between the two finger tips indicating that he removes the thorn of ignorance from us with a thorn.
We should support dharma with our arms. Our ears are very important to listen to words of nectarine wisdom. We know only of drinking with the mouth. But we must drink-in wisdom with our ears. I pray that I use my ears to listen to your stories. May my mind and intellect be ever engaged in contemplating upon you. The intellect gives a decision, when the mind wavers between two things and does not know which one to choose. May the eyes drink-in your divine beauty as the Siva Lingam. For our pleasure we apply different decorations to the Siva Lingam. But by itself it presents innumerable visions. May both my eyes be engaged in viewing you rather than reading useless books and magazines.
He has told us how to use hands, eyes, ears, and mind. He included hands to include the sense of touch. May none of my organs ever engage in any worthless activity. Where is our buddhi/intellect? It is spread throughout the body.
When something hits our foot, the mind at once reacts. The nerves spread the intellect and mind throughout the body. May my intellect be merged in you. You are asked what you are thinking about. We think deeply about our experiences or things that we see or hear. A blank mind is not easy to achieve. Has anyone experienced the feeling of void in Creation? Such a conception is wrong. Pujyam means fullness. Sunya is void. Pujyam is the correct description. You decide for yourselves. Do you want full or empty? Is emptiness possible? It is the result of half –knowledge. Blank means flash is lacking in you. You will have no answer when you present wrong arguments and you are challenged. We never go to a void state. We only enter a state of fullness. Why some people induce such illusion in others, I do not know. You must think for yourselves. Is it better to have light or not have light? You determine your preference. Dhyana/contemplation must make you merge in God. In a dark cave, how far can you see? May be a foot or two. What is the use of going in further? Even if you sense some water that touched your feet, you are filled with fear. It may not be water. There may be a snake of crocodile in the water.
Big Bang theory is presented by science.
Enter a cave that is filled with light. We gain nothing by entering into darkness. The intellect must enter into your innermost core. The intellect may get absorbed in Omkara or Paramatma. It does not become blank. Do not ever try to empty your mind. Fill your mind with good thoughts in a systematic manner. How can nothingness be attained? If you wish for a flower to drop from the sky, it will not happen. There are no flowers in the sky.
Step by step visualize the form of God, concentrate on the mantra. The Siva Lingam shows that it encompasses all forms. How did so many forms get into this Lingam? Siva is all forms. I wish to see you at all times, even when my eyes are closed. The moment we see the beautiful form of the image of God, we close our eyes. We take a mental photograph to preserve that form in our memory.
This is the ultimate goal of devotion. Life is fulfilled when the entire body is engaged in worship. What I will derive in the future is nothing but liberation and bliss.
May all the mistakes committed by all my organs be washed away. May they all become cleansed fully. May all the sins committed by the mind and intellect be completely washed away.
Potana in his Bhagavatam has given a wonderful poem that we teach our children.
Please enroll in Datta Deepam. Get your children enrolled in it. So many messages, news, MMS, poems, bhajans, and teaching are available at the website. With great effort, the American devotees have created this. It was inaugurated during this year’s Birthday celebrations of Sri Swamiji in America.
Bhajan: Pavo sharana …
Sri Guru Datta