Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
July 25, 2017
Till yesterday we discussed the episode called Leelopaakhyaanam in Yoga Vasishtha. Many details were discussed and explained. It raised many questions. All those questions were also answered. In the end, it was mentioned that there are two ways of looking at the world, the worldly view, and the spiritual view. One must understand them both. Spiritual view alone is truth. But we act in the world in different ways, we interact with others as if there are differences between people and entities.
There is no use in asserting that only the spiritual view holds good. According to that view, there is no such thing as bondage. If that is so, where is the need to make any effort to gain Liberation? If Paramatma alone exists, everyone is Paramatma, and everyone is already liberated. Then why have a Guru, and why struggle with spiritual pursuits? Sri Rama asked this question.
This question is a good question, but it sounds more like the argument of an atheist, and not a spiritual question. It sounds like a statement of convenience. It is premature. You invite one to a meal after the meal is cooked; not when you are just gathering all the ingredients to prepare the meal. You are not ready yet to serve the food.
When the matter is personally experienced, then this question should be raised and answered, not now, when the subject’s understanding is still far from complete. Yes, from the spiritual point of view, all that exists is the Supreme Soul. Naayam hanti na kanti kam? (Bhagavad Gita) Who is the killed, and who is the killer? Asked Sri Krishna. That means, we have no need for jails, courts or judges and lawyers. The entire system collapses. Until the understanding reaches an adequate level, such questions should not be raised, because they will undermine the whole structure built thus far to take one up to spiritual heights. The Science of Vedanta declares that all is one. Until that becomes personal experience, while one is still interacting with the world as if it is separate from oneself, this question must not be addressed.
The body of the Creator Brahma, and the body of a tiny insect are different, from the worldly view. We see the difference. You cannot argue that in an assembly, everyone should be seated uniformly, without any hierarchy. When it is said that all are equal, what is implied is that one should recognize the supreme consciousness that is present in all that exists. If all are seated at the same level, will society function? Is it feasible? Such lopsided arguments may excite some persons and appeal to them. How can an Kindergarten student and a Ph. D. student be addressed as equal in understanding? When we hear such arguments, we must be careful not to get swayed in our beliefs and convictions. Our faith in Guru must be strong enough that any such foolish arguments will just fly away like wisps of cotton in a strong breeze. One who lacks faith in Guru and in Shastras, will be attracted to such false logic. You don’t need any scriptures to preach atheism. We need scriptures to prove and convince that God exists. Atheism is evil. One will be destroyed if that path is followed.
Until spiritual understanding becomes mature, one must be careful. Young Sri Rama represents our immature minds here, when he posed this question. Why do sadhana? Why not just eat, sleep, and enjoy life? Such questions and attitudes should not be entertained. They are detrimental to one’s progress. We have different stages in life, such as bachelor/student, householder/earning member, retiree/renouncer, ascetic/spiritual adept. Everyone must join the school and learn step by step and graduate. Before we leave this body, we must make some significant progress. We must aim to merge in God.
There is a story called Soochika Upakhyana, which helps us to understand this subject more clearly. It shows how the same individual may even assume two separate bodies which are unconnected, such as a mountain and a needle.
Some people go through surgery to drastically alter their physical appearance. This is not natural reduction in weight and size, but an artificial, unnatural means to reduce. One time they are huge and bulky, and a few months later you see them skinny as a needle. It is the same person, who is unrecognizable.
The two bodies are assumed by this demon in this story, all by her own mental delusion. Once we understand how this can happen, we will transcend our illusion that this body is real, and will be able to experience our identification with the soul, and the ensuing bliss.
Soochika Upakhyanam or Karkati Upakhyanam are two titles for this story. Karkati means demonic and cruel in nature, with a total lack of compassion and kindness. The story of this demon is narrated here. The difference is shown, and then the delusion that a difference occurs, is exposed, and removed. We experience differentiation in this world. Some strange differences are seen. Sometimes we wonder if really there is a difference. To convince us that there is really no difference, this amazing story is told.
We think what does not exist, exists. Therefore, we are made to understand that it really does not exist at all. We begin this story today.
We have finally crossed the ocean called Leelopaakhyaanam, with great difficulty, which took us several months. Many people were looking forward to that story, which is one of the highlights of Yoga Vasishtha. Some strange and difficult to understand concepts were explained there. By Guru’s grace, we were able to complete that very long story.
Verse: Atraivodaa
Vasishtha says, Sri Rama, so far, I have answered many of your questions using stories to make them interesting. Sugar coating a bitter pill makes it easy to swallow. The story is the medium to make a difficult topic easy to understand. Sadgurudeva is now teaching the Bhagavatam which deals with tough topics in story form. Do not miss listening to those.
If you listen to this example, in which a demon asks 72 profound questions, and the answers she receives, you will clearly understand the true nature of this Universe. Listen carefully to this story.
Since this is just a story, we will not be reading the original Sanskrit verses, but read the summarized story in Telugu in prose.
In the north, in the Himalayan region, there is a ferocious demon called Karkati.
In each of us there are demons and ghosts. Someone asked if I am afraid of ghosts. I said no, because ghosts will be afraid of the ghost within me and will run away. There are no bigger demons than us. So, no need for fear. When you have Datta Guru and Hanuman to protect us, we have no need to fear any demons. In any case, demons will befriend demons, they won’t be afraid.
Vishoochikaa and Anyaayabaadhikaa are two other names for this demon. Vishoochika is Cholera disease. Dengue fever and other terrible fevers are caused by mosquitoes these days. The Plague also took the lives of countless persons.
Diseases are caused by eating foods that should not be consumed, by entertaining bad thoughts, bad behavior, and so on. We must remain clean and disciplined. Many societal problems are addressed in this story. Anyaayabaadhikaa means one who torments unfairly.
What is tormenting fairly? Is there such a thing? Suppose there is a crocodile. It is hungry. It sees a fish nearby. It gulped it like a little snack. It is its natural food. To eat when it is hungry is natural and is permitted by God. But we should not harm other creatures unfairly and consume them. This entire year, Swamiji is stressing this point. Don’t cause harm to creatures (don’t kill to eat animals, birds, fish, and eggs).
This demon unfairly torments creatures to fill its stomach. In the Bhagavatam, the demon Putana is described in detail. This demon also receives detailed description. This demon is black like collyrium.
An important point here to understand clearly is that black and white are not to be associated with bad and good. Because of such a fallacy, we allowed foreigners to rule our country for so long, and have suffered immeasurable loss. We know that out of a false conception that white man is a good man, we allowed him to grab all that we possessed. We were under a delusion. Then what did he do?
Color has nothing to do with one’s nature.
Here black is referring to darkness of ignorance.
We must remove from young minds the false notion that color represents good or bad. One must never judge a person by skin color. If the dark-skinned are labeled as bad, then more than half of India’s population should be considered bad. We are not fair-skinned. It is very wrong to associate skin color with one’s nature. A white person with bad nature is evil. A black person with good nature is noble.
This demon is huge as a mountain. Its actions are terrible. It is skinny and yet, is extremely strong. Its eyes are emitting sparks of cruelty. It spreads itself widely covering earth and sky. Its black garb makes it look like a walking dark night.
Rama is a manifestation of Dharma, an embodiment of virtue. This demon was just the opposite. Her upper cloth is like dark clouds. Her hair is standing on end, black and spiked. Our tradition tells us that we must groom our hair and keep it clean and healthy. This demon is far from clean. Her eyes are glowing fiercely. Her thighs are like tree trunks. Her nails are wide and sharp like dustpans. Her laughter emits ash. She wears human bones as garlands. Her up-stretched arms look menacing as if she is ready to snatch and consume everyone.
She could not find food apt for her taste. She had already wiped everyone clean. Her hunger pangs became unbearable. She was miserable.
Verse: ayiruddha
She decided that she would gobble up all the creatures on this continent called Jambu Dvipa and then may be her appetite will subside. Some people simply stuff food into their mouths and swallow. It should not be done. Even food cooked by yourself, you must eat slowly and gently. Do not eat like a demon. You will spoil your health.
Mirage disappears when the sky gets cloudy. Only during sunshine, you see a mirage. Like that, she wants to make her hunger disappear by swallowing everything all at once.
Is that a good practice to eat everyone all at once, she wondered.
Instead of cooking a little bit each day, what if you cook the entire bag of rice all at once? Then, it will spoil and you throw it in the gutter, when people are starving all around you. Even if it were your own hard-earned money, or rice grown by the sweat of the farmer and the grace of God, you must utilize it carefully, little by little. We sometimes unthinkingly waste a lot of food. Now, even the demon is having second thoughts.
By some means, one has to protect one’s life. When life itself is in danger, certain rules may be broken to save oneself.
Swamiji tells us a story about a Sage, may be Viswamitra, the name is not important. Once, he was starved, and was going to die without food. He finally found some people who had some food. He begged them to give him some. All that they had was meat, unfit for the sage to eat. But the sage accepted that food for that meal, because without it, he was going to die. But when it was time for the next meal, although the people were ready to share their food with him, he declined. Now his life was stable and so he should not break his rules of diet. He would go look for some suitable food to eat.
There are some medicines in allopathy system of medicine, which save lives. Some of them are of animal source. They use guts from animals to make stitches after surgery. Oils are extracted from animals and fish. Ayurveda does not use such products. That is why it is preferable. Doctors have told me personally, that they themselves do not use certain medicines like Cod liver oil. We must be well-informed and choose properly what we should consume. In certain situations, we are not in control. If the doctors administer medicines to us when our life is in danger, we have to accept, or else, we die.
Children should be properly nourished and their medicines should be properly selected so that their bodies remain healthy. Sometimes, at a later age, it is difficult to change medications because our metabolism may reject alternative substances. Since childhood, one should be careful.
The demon decided that it was permitted for her to gobble up everyone because her life was in danger. This demon was intelligent. But is it possible for me to consume them all? She had doubts.
Verse: mantraushadha
This idea may not work for me. Because many people here on this continent are pious, virtuous, they chant mantras, they are under sacred medications, and may not be a fit meal for me. Such people are always protected by God. How can I possibly eat them?
What this means is that if you are like such people, diseases are not likely to come near you. There may be occasions where a very virtuous and disciplined person also becomes very sick. You may question why that happened. You must remember that sins of past lifetimes also affect our destiny here in this lifetime.
Penance, service, good mind, piety, and discipline are suggested as ways to avoid ill-health.
Because these people are protected by God, I may need additional strength to be able to consume them. Therefore, I am going to perform a furious penance. That way I will gain the strength to consume them. Only penance gives the power to achieve anything, even what may seem impossible.
Keep chanting the Hanuman Chaleesa. Keep chanting the mantra given by Guru. Mind gets purified. Stilling the mind is penance. Pranayama is Penance. Selfless service is penance. With a pure mind do penance and you can achieve anything. The demon is declaring that a furious, strong penance will grant any power.
The demon, which looked like a walking dark cloud, climbed the Himalaya. It began its penance standing on one foot. Its eyes glowed like embers. She continued for years. Her body became emaciated and seemed to melt into the mountain. She had upstretched arms, as if to grab the sky and swallow it. Her concentration was immense.
We must choose a proper place, a seat, and sit still for meditation. Sit comfortably.
That is why the demon went to the Himalaya, for comfort. Her skin was sagging as if it were a garment, since all her flesh disappeared during her penance. Her curls were waving in the breeze. Brahma was pleased with her penance, and appeared before her to offer her a boon.
This concludes this sarga. The next sarga will tell us what she asked, and what Brahma gave. We will learn that tomorrow. From every discourse, learn whatever lessons you can learn, by Sadguru’s grace.
Om Shantisshantisshantihi.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta