Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
July 19, 2018
Note: Beginning is missing in the video.
The individual is his mind. The two are the same. I is Mind. Mind takes refuge in Soul which transcends time and space. Only when mind is merged in the soul, life becomes fulfilled. No one is there today to teach the general public this truth. In the name of Dharma, we practice devotion. Devoutly we express our desires. God is there to satisfy our desire. That is not the purpose of Dharma. Dharma serves to give spiritual enlightenment. That is why we should follow our Sanatana Dharma. That alone leads us to enlightenment. Other faiths do not. That is why we need to protect our ancient, eternal Dharma. That is why we cherish our Dharma. That is why we are asked to adhere to Dharma. One must grasp the principle of the Soul. That is why Swamiji is urging children to memorize the Bhagavad Gita. Someday, they will learn the meaning. We must introduce spirituality to children. That will steady their minds and teach them to balance situations and withstand stress. One must investigate into the Soul. The mistake we make, is that we consider what is fleeting as that which endures. In the process we lose sight of what is permanent and eternal. That is the cause of our lives being wasted. Those who identify themselves with their bodies are of no use to this world. Even in worldly affairs, such egotistical people are of no use. Do not bind yourself to the body. Body is not I. Realize it. Do not even speak of such people who are worthless. We must all dispel from our minds that wrong perception. A lotus and other flowers bloom when the sun’s rays shine upon them. In the morning, the flowers are damp with dew. Sun dries away the dampness. Guru opens our minds to the truth. Children go to school to learn. Disciples must learn from Guru. Mere study is not sufficient. Grasp the subject and experience it. Listen, and then ponder over it. Take the topic that appeals to you, and then meditate upon it. Only then the realization comes that you are not the body, but the eternal soul that resides in it. This realization removes all sorrow. With practice, this awakening comes. People have attachment towards a newly built home. But slowly the obsession weakens. The possessiveness reduces. Some people do not even remove the cover on the remote.
Many do not remove the covers off the car seats to make it ever look new. What it does is, collect bacteria. You are not the house. Some people do not leave the house that they have just moved into. Later they get used to being out for long hours. You reside in the house. You are not the house. Similar feeling should be there about the body. We leave the body because we are not the owners. We have to pay rent by way of doing good deeds, just as we pay rent for a rental home. If you pay rent by doing good things, God protects the body and keeps it in good repair.
Body’s coming and going is not in our control. Body is impermanent. Paramatma is permanent. Why keep moving from body to body? It is exhausting to keep shifting from body to body. Reach the home from which they is no return. We will not be evicted from that eternal home. There you become the home yourselves. Sri Maha Vishnu is also called Vaikunthaha. He gives unfragmented bliss to us. We are in this body to make the effort to reach that home, which is our final abode.
One who merges in God is freed from sorrow, is freed from birth and death. Those who are with us will also be free from sorrow. The aura spread to those around us. Even if one person gets enlightened in a family, the whole family benefits. When you associate with Sadguru, you also benefit.
How is a seeker born? What is the benefit of doing Sadhana? If the spiritual pursuit is intense, in this lifetime itself you may get liberated. You always begin where you left off. So keep doing Sadhana. One who does, never perishes.
Who is the magician who created the spell for King Lavana? We already know the story. No need to repeat it here. The magician vanished before receiving any remuneration.
Lavana performed the Rajasuya Yajna. The result was that he had to suffer downfall for 60 years. Why did this happen? Even Lavana did not realize that this was the cause for the effect he suffered. Rama questions the logic behind this occurrence. Vasishtha replies: I was there when this event occurred. I was an eye witness. Therefore, I am the guarantee that it happened.
The king and the courtiers begged me to explain why this spell was cast. It is always good to ask Guru for a proper explanation.
Swamiji also says: Did you ask for my permission? Did you consult me before taking the major wrong decision. I realized through my power of Yoga, what had actually happened. Krishna’s Universal Form was seen by Arjuna only by the power of YOga, not by his naked physical eyes.
Those who perform Rajasuya Yaga will suffer for 12 years initially. We have seen this happen in the Mahabharata. Some flaws my occur during the ritual. If the one who conducts makes even a minor mistake, the fruit of the Yaga will be denied. The owner of the ritual must identify himself with the sacrificial object. In Rajasuya Yaga, there is a lot of violence by way of warfare and suffering. After 12 years, there will be great benefit enjoyed.
If one says: Do puja first. Initially you will suffer, but later your troubles will be removed, who will perform Puja? Why did Veda teach of a karma that causes misery? It would never do that. The purpose of Veda is to benefit all living beings, not just humans. Then why did Lavana suffer? During the Yaga, he had some bad influences which affected him as a result of past tendencies. Prithu also forgot or neglected to perform some parts of the ritual. That is why he suffered misery. If attention lapse occurs, the desired result is not achieved. Therefore, Rama, Indra intended to give pain to Lavana for the evil thought he had entertained during the Yaga. That is why he sent the messenger to go as a magician. This I know for a fact, Vasishtha declared.
Why was this story told? We will discuss tomorrow.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Peace be to all.