Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 65, October 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 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
We learned yesterday in the first sarga in the Mumukshu Vyavahaara Prakarana about the story of Suka Avadhoota as narrated to Sri Rama by Sage Vyasa.
Guru’s Upadesa is most essential and most important. At least one assurance must be given by Guru that what you understand is the truth. That seal of approval by Guru is absolutely needed.
Without the seal of approval by the government, even the best product cannot be sold in the market. If anyone bypasses that rule, they will be sued and put in jail. The government grants such an authority to the person in the position of control.
Sri Rama required such an Upadesa from Guru. Viswamitra realized that and hence, he spoke first. He told Sri Rama that he had thorough knowledge about the soul but only required some dusting off of some lingering doubts. He cited the example of Sage Suka who had gone through a similar state of confusion and dilemma and with Guru’s initiation had overcome them. He eventually transcended all joys and sorrows of this world and also the cycle of birth and death and reached the highest state of liberation.
Sri Rama expressed the doubt as to how a supreme Yogi like Suka could have suffered from doubts.
Vyasa and Suka lived in the Dwapara Yuga and continued into the following Treta Yuga also. These Yugas go through repetitive cycles. The entire creation will keep repeating.
Accounts Department Thathagaru expressed a doubt regarding this. I was happy to hear it. Please express your doubts. I will clear them if I can. You must fully listen. You must thoroughly investigate in the mind. He asked whether this ashram will be created again and whether our Sadguru will keep incarnating again and again. The answer lies in the question itself. The ashrama will exist again. Sadguru will appear again. But whether we will be with Him again will depend on our qualification to be in the presence of Sadguru. It does not matter in what form we are reborn, as long we have the eligibility to have Sadguru in our lives. Sekhar Avadhani expressed another doubt. Will I again be a Veda teacher and will Thathagaru be again doing accounts? What our profession will be when we are reborn would depend on our thoughts at the time we give up our bodies. If your last thoughts are that you are a Veda teacher, and if his last thoughts are that he is an accountant, then, according to Vedanta, you will be reborn to do those same functions in life. So what should be our last thoughts when we leave the body? Think that you are a devotee of Sadguru.
Vedanta says that you should leave the body with the conviction that you are none other than the Paramatma. Those who do so will merge with the Supreme Soul when they leave the body. Will the ashram still be there then? As far as you are concerned, if you have thus merged with the Supreme Soul, for you there is no more creation in existence. For the others who get reborn, the creation will exist. But whether or not it will remain as it is now, or whether it is going to be different, is immaterial if you are not going to be a part of it. This world is illusory after all. So what does it matter in what shape it exists? Vedanta states that. Everything else except the Supreme Soul is illusory. We make our individual sankalpas/ideas or intentions about how we and our world should be, and that is what determines the shape of our individual lives and our particular world.
At the end of the Guru Gita it is said, as the pinnacle of Guru Gita that ‘by whose grace, initiation, and compassion, I have realized that I am none other than the Parabrahman, to that Guru I offer my prostrations’.
That is the greatest gift that Guru gives and that is what we should seek from Him. “I am Brahman. I am Vishnu. I am the Parabrahman.” That is the greatest, the ultimate gain. The final Purushartha/the highest gain of an individual is Liberation. Whoever gains that ultimate reward from Guru will not experience this creation thereafter. Those who do not make an effort to receive this supreme gift from Guru will keep getting reborn and keep experiencing this created illusory world.
Creation is of different manners. When you begin applying colors to what is clear, what difference does it make what colors you apply? It is strange that we all think that we see the world the same way. That is the greatest illusion. Each one’s world is different and is created as per his wish and intention. A few features in this world may appear common to everyone. But each person’s life, his kith and kin, his associations, his occupation, his livelihood are all specific and unique only to him. They are not shared with any other individual. They are not the common experience of all the people. Each individual’s experience is separate, distinct, and different.
Will Suka Avadhoota take birth again? To one, who has become enlightened, Creation does not exist anymore. To the one who has not attained that highest state, this Creation will continue to exist. That is the answer.
Vedanta is a great science. If we take the time to deeply ponder about them, by Guru’s grace, we will begin to understand many things clearly.
To the query posed by Sri Rama, Sage Viswamitra said that this is the same Suka Avadhoota, the son of Sage Vyasa, whom you see seated here in front of you. Those who listen to his story will be relieved of the joys and sorrows of this world and will be free from the cycle of rebirth. It grants Liberation to listen to his story, just as listening to the Ramayana grants salvation to all the listeners. When his twin sons Lava and Kusa were singing the story of Ramayana, Sri Rama himself had urged people to come and listen to the magnificent story because, the experience of listening to it had granted peace and liberation even to himself (Rama). That is the power of the Ramayana.
The benefit of listening to the story was stated first by Viswamitra before he proceeded to tell the story.
Because of the immense greatness of Suka, his own father Vyasa wrote about him in the Bhagavatam. Suka was Vyasa’s own son and disciple.
It is most important to learn about Sage Suka. That is why Sri Swamiji has built the Shuka Vana here for us and has also installed a Murthy/Divine Statue of the Sage for our benefit.
Knowledge about oneself, knowledge about the Soul, which is our true identity, grants liberation. What we think we know about ourselves is not true. It is not the correct knowledge. The name, features, place of birth, occupation and so forth do not define us. That is not the actual information about us. This information need not be learned. This information will come to us without any effort on our part. These are not the real facts about us. It is very strange.
When you sit down calmly and go inward gradually, leaving behind you the awareness of all the sense organs, and even the mind, then who is there who remains in complete repose and peace? One, who is aware of that total peace, is the real you. You have left behind your body, as you traveled inside, the way you open the gate, leave it behind you, you go past the front garden area, leave it behind you, then you enter the front verandah/porch and leave it behind you, and then you go inside the house. You then leave the entry hall, the living room, and proceed to your private bedroom. You sit there calmly, leaving all the different outer layers of the house which surround you. You sat there peacefully and closed your eyes. The one you see there deep within after you have left all the outer layers of your body, sense organs, and the mind, is the soul. That is the real you. That consciousness is you. Experiencing that as the real you is liberation. We refer to the body as ‘I’ only for the purpose of our interaction with the world.
Learning about the greatness of Suka Yogi, who is a highly evolved soul, and knowing about how he attained liberation, that will itself grant us liberation, says Sage Viswamitra.
Pravichara ..
Sri Rama, just as you have experienced today, similarly, Suka Yogi also experienced through his discretion, the light of knowledge arising in his mind. He pondered about the existence of this world, its origin, and the cause for its being. Why does the world appear like this? Viewing the world with an intellectual and a philosophical view is very important. He examined the world constantly and deeply. That is what Sri Rama and Suka Yogi, both have done. Out of their own sharp analysis they arrived at conclusions based on discriminative thinking. We fail to do that.
Tena …
Many times our elders give us their advice and ultimately leave the decision to our own discretion, when we do not readily accept their advice. God has also left the job of discovering ourselves completely to us. He has given us complete freedom whether to pursue this investigative thought or not. Guru also gives us the freedom. He teaches everything to the best of his ability and then leaves us free either to utilize the teachings and make progress or to let it all be wasted.
A deep interest and a determined dedication are required to delve deeply into the nature of the soul. Suka Yogi had such commitment and therefore he discovered that which is true and eternal.
In the worldly parlance also we say ‘do not speak untruth. Speak the truth always’. Nijam or naijam are words that refer to truth. Satyam is truth. Unless we develop the traits of adhering to truth, justice, and non-violence, it is difficult to have the one-pointed focus to zoom inwards to experience the soul. For those who are employed or are engaged in business affairs, it is difficult to be totally honest and truthful. Their bosses sometimes force them to deceive and speak falsehood. At such times, the person has to confess to God that in his heart he is truthful and yet under pressure, for the sake of earning a livelihood, he is forced to utter falsehood. He has to sincerely beg for forgiveness. It is important to stick to truth. In Vedanta, the soul alone is true.
Aviswase..
There is a difference here between the two statements: This is the truth. This is the only truth. Although it appears as a slight difference, it is a very significant difference. The conviction that other than this, nothing else is true had not come to Suka Yogi. Because of that, he lacked peace of mind. Because we feel confident that we would be safe in sleeping, we are able to fall asleep. We do not worry that some harm may come to us while we are asleep. We feel sure that no snake will bite us, and the fan will not fall on top of us. Because of such confidence, we are able to sleep. If we have anxieties about earthquakes or fires, we cannot sleep.
Suka Yogi closed his eyes. But he could not sleep. He lacked composure. Complete conviction that other than the soul, nothing else exists in this world, had not come to him. He was not convinced that everything else that is in existence is only illusory, without exception. To gain such a conviction, one has to sit and deeply probe into the matter. Unless one constantly thinks about Guru and Guru alone, one will not gain the conviction that Guru alone is the Truth.
If our thinking is wayward and inconsistent, we will not have the strong conviction. To have knowledge, to know what is true, and to actually experience that truth, are totally different. If you memorize the Guru Gita, the Bhagavad Gita, and even the Yoga Vasishtha, it still will not give you the experience of what they teach.
Learning them is very essential no doubt. That discipline is required. But along with it, the experience has to be gained. That was the state of Suka Yogi.
Kevalam ..
Suka Yogi was not at total peace. But he was free from any desire for fleeting worldly enjoyments. Just as the Chataka bird survives only on fresh rainwater and eagerly waits for it to rain, ignoring all flowing rivers filled with water, Suka Yogi ignored all other enjoyments and had thirst only for the bliss of the soul. He had reached that stage. He lacked satisfaction. He approached his father. Till then, the father had not revealed anything to him. The son had not questioned about anything.
The Bhagavatam describes how Suka, when he was born, at once became a youth of 16 years and walked away unmindful of everything, like an Avadhoota. He had to be forcibly brought back to have his Upanayana ritual performed, and be initiated into the Gayatri Mantra. Vyasa impressed upon Suka that he had to listen to the entire Bhagavatam from him because he would have to spread its message to the world later on. That is why Suka declares that it was his father who taught him the Bhagavatam.
Now, for the first time he is addressing his father with his query. He is reverentially addressing Sage Vyasa, as “Oh Seer, I am asking you how this glamorous creation has come into being and when, how, and why it is going to vanish again. What is the scope and dimension of this world? What is the purpose of this Universe? Is it here to serve this body, mind, or something else? Is this world related to the body or to the soul? How is this creation maintained?”
We also asked our parents this when we were young. But as we grow up we got so involved in life in this world that the question got forgotten. We are no longer concerned about the why and wherefore of the existence of all the worlds, as long as our life, and our job are secure and comfortable. That is the trick played on us by the world.
Our vision is very limited. How much of this creation can we actually perceive? Is there more than this solar system? Are there several galaxies? What are their limits? Questions about the world apply to us all. Suka also asked questions relevant only to him.
Vyasa gave him all the information that he knew. Suka listened patiently. In the end he felt that there was nothing new in what his father had told him.
We are told by the Science of Mimamsa that we should perform good deeds because by doing so, some fresh good fortune will occur to us. What will befall us is something that we have not experienced before.
Here, Suka felt that nothing new or nothing that he had not known before was revealed to him.
When you approach Sadguru and He tells you to chant Om Draam Dattaaya Namaha, you cannot say I already know this Datta mantra. Teach me something else. He will say that that is all He knows. He knows that this alone is the Datta mantra and He knows that it is effective.
Suka made this mistake. He expected his father to give him some new information. There is nothing new that can be said. What we think we know, we have not actually experienced as a fact. We live in the delusion that we know, when we actually do not know.
Vyasa then told Suka that King Janaka has superior knowledge and that he should approach him.
When we send our children to school, we should praise the qualifications of the teachers and then send them, to give them confidence in their instructors. If we fail to do so, the children will not show interest in learning from the teachers.
From the Sumeru Mountain, Suka descended and arrived at the kingdom of Videha. He announced his arrival to the security guards at the royal palace. They passed on the message to the king. The king simply said, O he has come. That is all. No other word.
Until the king orders them to bring the visitor in, the guards cannot take any further liberties. Suka Avadhoota simply remained there at the gate for a week. Then the guards came back and said, please follow us. But the king will not give you an audience for another week. Suka Yogi simply accepted their statement without a word. He did not make any protest. He was not like Sage Durvasa or Sage Viswamitra who perhaps would have cursed the king at once for his disrespect.
The guards showed Suka Yogi a luxurious mansion and said he had to stay there by the king’s command. Suka was showered with all kinds of delicacies and treats. Suka ate only what he required. His mind was not distracted in the least bit by all the temptations he was exposed to. His focus was only on discussing the topic of the Soul with King Janaka.
Te bhoga..
After 14 days, King Janaka approached Suka Yogi and praised him that he had remained very firm in his dispassion. He remained absolutely unmoved by all that was occurring around him. His austerity was absolutely stern.
We take up austerities. We resolve that during the time of the ritual, we will not get distracted by other thoughts or emotions, and will remain firm in concentration upon our chosen deity. We will not lose our temper or entertain any other thoughts. Such firm resolutions we have to follow. That is the meaning of Vrata. A vow has to be followed strictly.
Suka Yogi was under the austerity of only seeking Self-realization. One who is seeking Self-realization has to follow the prescribed rules. One who wishes to climb Mount Everest must wear suitable clothing and other required gear or else he will perish.
Those who wish to be enlightened have to follow these rules: Remain focused and composed, remain undisturbed and unresponsive to any changes in treatment. Suka Yogi did not react to indifference and neglect. He did not react to honors and luxuries.
We will be waiting in line at the temple to have darshan of God or Guru. A family with a small infant might jump the line and move ahead for some reasons of convenience that the child has to be fed quickly or is crying. We get angry and snap at them. We are afraid that we may be denied darshan because of this slight delay caused by this family. What is the point of approaching Guru with such impatience and intolerance? If you were to show consideration, Guru himself might come out and see you. But we lose our temper out of ego. In small instances like this, we must practice tolerance, patience, and self-restraint. Slowly this practice will make us strong in our self-control and discretion.
Suka Yogi remained steadfast in his resolve and was equally unmoved in the face of disregard and felicitation.
Svasthaha .. means being even-minded. It reduces blood pressure and maintains good health if one is able to treat a flower garland and a shoe garland as one and the same. Suka Yogi was in such a state. If one gets too uptight with the ways of the world, health gets spoiled. The world is such. We should not allow it to affect our health. One should develop such an approach in life.
Suka Yogi’s concentration was established in his soul. He was silent not only verbally but mentally also.
Swamiji was telling us about the Mouna seminar. It is not sufficient to merely hold the tongue while mentally flinging abuses at people. The mind should stay quiet. Whatever the mind thinks gets converted to words that are spoken. While doing puja, one should not talk. It is okay to make a hand gesture. But many times people get frustrated that others do not understand their intention and they get angry. Anger should be controlled.
There is a saying that when one is doing rituals, if they get angry, they should speak in Sanskrit. The reason is that there are no swear words in Sanskrit. You cannot use bad words because such words do not exist in Sanskrit.
Suka Yogi remained silent and had a pleasant attitude. If we follow these rules in our sadhana, we will make good progress spiritually. We should be focused on our goal of Self-realization, be unmindful of enjoyments and luxuries, be even-minded, be healthy, quiet, and calm. Suka Yogi was like the full moon, radiant, cool, peaceful, and giving comfort to all.
King Janaka offered his prostration to Suka Yogi. He told him that he had no more karma left. We have to live until we complete our karma. If someone dies suddenly also, it means that their bond of karma in this lifetime has snapped and ended and hence, they have departed. Normally they say that one should live a full life of one hundred years. But many leave this world much earlier. That is because they have completed their prescribed karma in this lifetime. Until karma gets exhausted, we have to live and function in life.
King Janaka praised Suka Yogi that he is one who has exhausted all his karma.
We will continue this important episode tomorrow.
Today is Friday. We will go and perform abhishekam to Lord Datta Venkateswara now.
This evening at 8 PM Swamiji’s Healing Music Concert will be shown in the Healing Music Room with all the comfortable sofas provided for us by Sri Swamiji. Let us all assemble there and enjoy the concert. For the maintenance of the facility, you may give your contribution.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Om Santissantissantihi