Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 112, March 5
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 topic of Shama Niroopanam, we spoke about the benefits of mind control, perfect concentration, peace of mind, how to acquire it, and how powerful are the individuals who possess these qualities. They have the power to attract others and influence them positively. They have waged war against the enemy called ignorance and have won. That is why they remain untouched by any type of sorrow. No grief can ever break their shield of peace.
We remember Lord Hanuman in this context. If all the sorrows of the world were to gang up against one individual, still, this diamond-hard shield cannot be broken. It has the power to endure such an onslaught without getting affected in the least. The individual becomes a diamond-tough mountain. No weapons can harm him. Hanumanta is called Bajarangi. It means that his body is hard as a diamond. A diamond can only be cut by another diamond. Even Rama’s arrows could not harm Hanuman, as explained in the story of the battle that took place between Rama and Hanuman.
Hanuman is immortal. He remains in a subtle form on the Gandhamadana Mountain, ever chanting the name of Rama. He is a Brahmachari. Vajrakaya/with body as hard as a diamond. He is established in the Brahman and he is tough as a diamond. He attained that state by the chanting of the name of Rama and acquiring that level of unshakable peace of mind.
No king ever enjoys the type of peace that is enjoyed by a yogi who is blessed with perfect peace. Even the greatest royal pleasures do not equal the wealth of peace of mind. Before a yogi, who enjoys peace of mind, even an emperor is inferior because he lacks peace of mind and his mind is subject to turbulence and agitation. Yogi Raja, Lord Dattatreya is called, in his aspect as consecrated in the Bengaluru ashrama. Lord Dattatreya is the Emperor of the kingdom of Peace. Peace of mind gives greater happiness than even the company of one who is as dear as life itself. No matter what occupation one may be engaged in, the person endowed with peace of mind earns the greatest admiration and respect. It is the greatest gift in life. Without it, life is futile. Peace is equated with the absence of ego. A person who is peaceful is appreciated all over the world. Mere peace of mind does not grant full liberation but it certainly leads one towards it.
Whatever object is touched or experienced by the person who is endowed with peace of mind, he will be unaffected by the experience the object or situation gives him. He will remain neutral and unperturbed in all situations.
In the topic Shama Niroopanam, we spoke about the greatness and the enjoyment of experiencing peace of mind through conquest of the mind. If there is lack of contentment, if the mind is unsteady and lacks concentration, there will be no peace of mind. Just as a diamond cannot be damaged by any type of weapon such as arrows, a peaceful mind cannot be jolted by any circumstance.
Ramanjaneya Yuddham is a story mentioned in the scriptures to teach us about the power of the name of Rama. Rama’s life was approaching its end. Although physically absent, Rama’s power on earth had to remain eternally, by the power inherent in the name of Rama.
Lord Hanuman when he was engaged in battle against Sri Rama (whether it really happened or not, is debatable), the power of Rama’s name protected Hanuman from harm from even the most powerful arrows of Rama.
Rama Himself had ordered Hanuman that mother’s word had to always be honored. As per his mother’s command, Hanuman gave shelter to a person who was the target of Rama’s arrow. Hanuman kept chanting the name of Rama, and by its power created a powerful shield around his guest whom he was shielding against the wrath of Rama. Hanuman’s master is Rama. He could not possibly make an attack against Rama. Hence, he merely sat in front of his cave and kept chanting, “Rama Rama Rama Rama”. Rama’s astra was the greatest and the most powerful weapon that Rama was finally forced to employ against his enemy who was being protected by Hanuman, when all other ordinary arrows failed to harm him.
Even Rama’s ultimate arrow was absolutely ineffective against the shield constructed thus by Hanuman with the power of the name of Rama. It could not even make a scratch. If Rama’s arrow failed to hit its target, it would destroy the three worlds before returning to Rama’s quiver. Such a powerful arrow was resisted by the power of Hanuman’s chant of the name of Rama.
Rama himself explains the power of the name of Rama. Even Lord Siva chants the name of Rama. Vasishtha himself gave that name to Rama. Rama is Brahman, Atma, it is Supreme Bliss, the ultimate treasure of transcendental joy. If all the cumulative bliss of the world were to be placed on side of the balance, it still would not equal the bliss of Rama’s name.
Rama will reside in the hearts of Yogis, declared Sage Vasishtha. He grants absolute bliss. Rama is Amrita, the nectar of immortality. Rama said that he himself chants the name of Rama. Even the Guru Granth Sahib extols the greatness of Rama’s name. Hanuman acquired peace of mind by the continuous chanting of Rama nama. Such power is there. Nama Sankeertana is incomplete if it does not include the name of Rama. Hanuman became invincible because of the name of Rama. Our performance of pujas, pilgrimages, austerities, darshan of Sadguru, parayanas, charities, japas, and so on help to calm our minds. When the mind becomes calm, the body becomes extremely strong and can withstand the greatest troubles.
Some people fall apart for even small difficulties, while some others have the strength of mind to endure the greatest difficulties without getting perturbed in the least. Without peace of mind, even an emperor will be vulnerable. One must have the capacity to enjoy happiness. Even if no external happiness occurs, the one who is at peace will by happy. There are those who are unfortunately unable to enjoy the joys that come their way. They lack the capacity to be happy. Ego destroys peace of mind. It is best to accept destiny. The power of God and Guru must be acknowledged. Accept everything that occurs as a gift from Guru. Keep that firm faith. God will never do us harm. Neither would Sadguru. Those who take credit for their achievements out of arrogance and ego are deprived of peace of mind.
verse
Equanimity and even mindedness are obtained through peace of mind. Peace gives more bliss than any royal luxury.
prana
When a most beloved person gets lost during a pilgrimage, one feels desperate at having lost a loved one. When such a missing person unexpectedly returns, immense happiness is felt. More happiness than that is experienced at the sight of one who experiences perfect peace of mind. That is why we crave and yearn for the company of Sadguru.
same
Whoever has acquired the ability to treat success and failure as equal, is always at peace. Farmers are able to run barefoot in their fields doing their work even after harvest when the ground is uneven and thorny and could hurt the feet. We cannot even walk there. The farmer does not feel any pain. He is accustomed to it. Anything can be achieved with practice and with mental control. If the body is taught discipline, the mind also can be taught disciplines.
Pain and pleasure are the same for everyone. But the way an individual reacts to them is different. Fire is always hot. It will always burn. Water will always be cool on the body. But the one who is even minded, will not react to either heat or cold. He treats joy and sorrow as equal.
The purpose of our birth is for us to study our minds and to practice equanimity. If we do not acquire this tranquility of mind, life is wasted. If we ourselves do not study our own minds, then who will?
anuddhata
Out of arrogance one boasts of one’s great achievements. One jumps to the skies with ego. Peace removes such ego and makes the mind calm. It gives compassion to the heart. A sadhu will not cause pain or harm to others because he cannot bear to see the troubles of others. He realizes that whatever causes him pain will cause pain to others.
Remaining in Kasi, or wearing saffron robes, does not make one a sadhu, if he shows irritation and a hot temper. The special attire is to remind a person to remain in the spiritual path with strictness. It is a signal for us also to not engage sadhus in inappropriate conversations or interactions, such as speaking to them about family affairs or the World Cup, to degrade them to the level of ordinary worldly persons.
Sadhus will only do things which will benefit the entire world. They do not engage in worthless activities. Swamiji had two lakh devotees chant the Hanuman Chalisa in unison at the Tenali event. The news reverberated all over the world. They perform extensive Annadana and other charities to benefit the world.
There is worldly peace and there is spiritual peace. The first kind is to surrender to Guru and accept the worldly occurrences with a neutral approach.
The spiritually peaceful person is different.
shrutvaa
While hearing something, touching something, while eating, bathing, or doing anything else, whether something good or bad happens because of it, the yogi with equanimity treats all experiences equally. He is neither overjoyed, nor dejected. Not just physically but even mentally such persons are not affected. Sitting on a throne or a pile of dung or thorns, is the same for them.
One may pretend, and repress the display of emotions. Many people show through facial expressions their reactions to situations. But the Yogis feel no reaction even within themselves. They make no effort to suppress an expression of their feelings. They simply do not feel any differences such as pain or pleasure in their minds. Their minds are perfectly in their control. They are the Sthitaprajnas, Yogis, or the Jeevanmuktas. These are the attributes of the person who is fully at peace.
yassamah
They treat all living beings as equal. Bhoota means anything that comes into existence. Any being that is born is ‘bhoota’. Bhootas are not just ghosts and spirits as commonly understood. The Yogi accepts whatever is served to him. Unexpectedly, one day he may be served a delicacy such as a bobbattu/sweet dessert. He will accept it.
Whatever is given to you without your desiring it, must be accepted, say the Sastras. Rejecting it out of arrogance is wrong. There is nothing wrong in accepting and enjoying a good thing that comes to you without your wishing for it. One must nor reject either comforts or discomforts. Sri Bhagavatpada mentions in the Sadhana Panchakam that whatever comes one’s way without one’s desire or deliberate effort may be accepted and enjoyed.
Yatnena – it is said.
By a deliberate effort one must conquer the sensual temptations. Horses naturally run wild. So do the sense organs. We must restrain the senses the way we restrain the horses by placing blinkers on them so that they can only look straight and not get distracted by looking this way and that. The mind must be similarly trained to focus only on God.
Swamiji is now explaining the meaning of the Bhagavatam. The Bhagavatam says that the tongue is not a tongue if it does not praise God. The hands are not hands if they do not serve God. The feet that do not lead to the temple do not deserve to be called feet. The ears that do not listen to God’s glories do not deserve to be called ears. A father is not a true father unless he leads the children towards God. Our deliberate and determined effort is most essential. Only by that, peace of mind is achieved.
sprishtva
Sometimes, when we do not wish to hear certain things, we are forced to hear them. When we do not desire to do so, we are sometimes forced to associate with undesirable persons and to listen to unfavorable words and unnecessary gossip. The peaceful person remains neutral in such situations. Sometimes the boss may force an employee to do wrong actions. Such an employee acts as an instrument in the hands of God. His hands are tied because he has to earn a living and support his family and he has no other means of livelihood. Our good nature will perhaps slowly influence the people around us. If you remain unaffected, and do not change your good attitude, others may be positively influenced by you in course of time.
Whatever we do, we must do with the aim of attaining liberation. We must not be engaged in actions only to serve ourselves. Food should not be consumed as something to merely fill our stomach, although it is the natural inclination. Of the one kilogram worth of food we eat, only some trace amount is absorbed by the body. What essence from the food goes to the brain is most important in the effect it has on our mental activity. How the food is prepared, by whom it is prepared, and under what circumstances it is prepared, affects the quality of food. If a mantra or a prayer is chanted while cooking, by the wife or mother who prepares the food, or the chef, the food will have the power to keep one healthy. One must remain clean while cooking, and should not touch others while cooking. Our ancient traditions have taught us that. It is for proper hygiene. Now science also tells us that.
Purity of food is most important. One should first offer the food to the God within, the Parabrahman, and accept it as Brahman. One should put some food directly into the throat region to swallow it, without its touching the teeth or the tongue, to offer to God who resides within us. This should be done by everyone, not just a few. Of course, the ritual external offering of food to God may also be done with the five vital airs invoked.
Sometimes when some parents come here complaining that their children are not eating properly, we give some Datta Bhiksha rice and instruct them to prepare the rice while chanting “Datta Datta”. Such food certainly helps the children remain healthy and strong.
When we do social service also, we are really serving ourselves. God has given us birth. He takes care of His Creation. There is nothing that we can achieve without God’s help. If we share our food, or education, or any other possession, or our time in service, we are actually helping ourselves. The charitable actions should be done selflessly and with humility. Then such actions will benefit the person doing them, more than the society that receives the services. But there is a great danger that such social service activity builds a great amount of ego in those who feel that they have done this and that for society and have constructed this facility and that. People sometimes boast that they have given so much for this and that charity or have done so much for uplifting the downtrodden. The resultant arrogance and ego will destroy such persons in the end. One must realize that it is by God’s grace that one is able to render the services. God is using the individuals as instruments to do His work. As in the game of Snakes and Ladders, one may approach Home but if there is ego, the years of service will sting like a serpent in the end and bring one back to square one. One has to be extremely cautious in this regard.
sthitopi
It is easy to explain the meaning of this verse, but it is difficult to understand this concept. Although the great Yogi appears to be acting and doing things, he is really not the one doing things. Whatever he may be doing, he is not affected by happiness or sorrow. He is like one who is absorbed in deep sleep and is at complete peace even when he is provoked to anger or pleasure. Such a one is a great yogi.
verse
This is a very great state to be in. We must all aspire to reach that stage. What is it that we can learn from studying the lives of great souls? We have been told of what has been achieved by others. It should inspire us to follow their example to aspire to reach the heights that they have reached. We have been told of what is peace, and how to acquire it. Now a description is given of persons who have attained such perfect peace.
Today is Holi. It is full moon. Happy Holi to everyone. It is celebrated on a grand scale in North India. It is a very auspicious day. Hanuman is fond of full moon.
During Sri Chakra Puja, Hanuman Chalisa will be chanted. Please join in. Please have group chanting conducted in your respective regions and send in the count, to participate in the Maha Yajna being conducted by our Sadgurudeva. It is highly beneficial. Involve new people in the chanting. That will earn Sadguru’s grace to all the participants. It is not an easy task to reach the targeted number of 130 crore repetitions of Hanuman Chalisa.
We will continue tomorrow.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Om Santissantissantihi