Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 20, August 3
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Ganesaya Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Sadgurubhyo Namaha
In the Yoga Vasishtha Sri Rama is giving us upadesa/spiritual teaching about renouncing wealth. Those who do not properly utilize their wealth will suffer negative consequences.
13th sarga describes Lakshmi niraakarana … I reject wealth Rama says, and explains why he has come to that conclusion. We feel that earning is important and we need to have money. Rama has observed that money yields only unhappiness. Because of wealth ego and illusion increase. Hence, Rama is advising us. He is cautioning us to be careful about how money is used, and how money has a bad influence on us.
Vedanta generally does not deal with such subjects. But these are important lessons for us to learn. Brahma Sutras keep using the word, Atha.
Vedanta first lays a strong foundation of the theory of practical analysis. Here we have no such foundation in the process of analysis. Unless we see the negative aspects, we will not leave a certain harmful object. Children are taught important lessons through fear. When they get a cold, cough or fever, they are told that because of eating ice cream they got this condition. If the teaching is not given at the right time, when they are going through the unpleasant consequence of their action, the lesson will not register in their minds. It will not be effective.
Rama is giving us a warning. Enemies could attack from any side. We have to be on the alert always.
Rama says detachment is essential for everyone. The comfort and convenience offered by dispassion are described. Dispassion stands alone. It does not co-exist with anything else. Everyone who has a soul has dispassion. Even the most favorite things are given up by us when the doctor advises us to do so. That clearly shows that we all have built-in dispassion. Those who go against their doctor’s orders are foolish. Those who do not give up cigarette smoking even after being warned that it will harm their health are foolish.
Atha .. is the first word. What does it mean? It means, after we learn the teachings.
Those who have not learned the lessons need to be taught. That is why Sage Valmiki is using this great work and is teaching us through the words of Rama. The poverty-stricken people who fail in their attempts to gain wealth blame Lakshmi. That is not surprising. But Rama who is wealthy is speaking of the negative aspects of wealth.
Just as a tender creeper dies at the touch of frost, we are harmed by our association with wealth. Money kills the goodness that is inherent in us. Wealth is the frost that kills a tree and prevents it from sprouting anew.
An owl sees at night. But it is blind during the day. We are just the reverse. The way the owl rejoices when darkness comes, the man of ego is delighted when money comes. We see what we should not see and we fail to see what needs to be seen. Rama is sounding a warning. If you are confident that you can wisely handle the situation that is fine. But at the very first signs of danger, you must exercise caution. Vedanta and worldly life are different. But the important principles applied here must be applied there also. An owl sees only in the dark, and not during daylight. That is a flaw. We must guard ourselves against such flaws.
Rahu and Ketu eclipse the Sun and the Moon. For discretion which is like the Moon, Rahu is the dragon who swallows it. Scientists explain to us that eclipses are caused by shadow. The shadow appears like the moving tongue of a serpent. The rishis/sages know this truth. They gave easy explanations for the layman to understand the phenomenon.
Saujanya/a helpful and sympathetic nature is absent in a wealthy person. One, who has no knowledge of starvation, does not recognize the value of food. He does not empathize with the poor who starve for lack of food. Because of excess wealth, people waste their food and wealth.
What is considered good generally is not necessarily good for everyone without any exception. For noble nature which is like a lotus, money is like the moon which will close it up. Butter gives nutrition, but not so for everyone at all times. It is harmful to one who is sick. It is the same with milk. Some are allergic to it.
Indrayudha .. The rainbow comes and disappears very quickly. It is very attractive and colorful. Yet, its presence is fleeting. To take a photo it is difficult, just like it is to take a photo of lightning. Wealth also comes and goes like lightning. Wealth favors the ignorant.
Rama, who is the wealthiest amongst princes, and who lives now in the lap of luxury is speaking these words. But he has experienced hardships at Gurukula. He knows what difficulties are. Hence, having seen both sides, Rama is giving his clear analysis.
A wild mongoose in a forest also is hard to sight. It keeps running away. It is next to impossible to take its photograph. It appears and instantly disappears. Wealth is like that. It never remains still in one place. When you keep a lamp in an open place, unless protected with a glass guard, it goes out in an instant. Wealth is also unreliable like the flame of a lamp kept in the breeze. Lakshmi continuously flickers.
Just as a lion falls on a huge elephant and kills it, wealth kills our discretion. The lion slits the head of the elephant and kills it. The gems that poets say exists inside the head of an elephant, refers to its intelligence and shrewd judgment. Ganapati has a huge head, like an elephant. One should pray to Ganapati first thing in the morning. His large head denotes a vast intellect. Mother Saraswati is with Ganapati always. He got his head replaced perhaps for this reason that he wanted us to see Him in this form.
When Lakshmi gets to a person’s head, his ego swells and leads to his ruin. Keep Lakshmi in the heart. Do not give her control over your life. Or, keep Lakshmi at the feet, with you in control of it. Lakshmi who should be envisioned in the Sahasrara is not the goddess of wealth, jingling with the sound of gold coins. The deity’s form in each chakra is different. It is wrong to pray to Lakshmi seated in the Sahasrara as the giver of wealth. There she has two arms only and is worshiped by elephants.
Wealth robs judgment and intelligence. Except sorrow, I have not seen any happiness emerging from wealth, says Rama. All are listening with a sense of shock, at the royal assembly.
Rama is warning about how money influences our minds. He is not speaking objectively about currency or gold. He is concerned about the evil influence that they exercise upon us.
It feels cool to the touch, but a sword is sharp and harmful. Wealth is likewise deceptively attractive. Rama is expressing his conclusions about wealth. It steals our judgment and causes mental turmoil. I see only grief resulting from prosperity. Wealth is shameless. A poor man is married to the Lakshmi of poverty. She keeps leaving him and returning to live with him. Lakshmi comes to one because of sin. It makes people commit the most horrendous crimes. Many atrocious acts in the world are instigated by greed for wealth. Wealth is like a poisonous creeper that grows out of a well filled with venomous snakes.
There are 3 types of disciples, beginners, those at an intermediate stage, and disciples at an advanced stage. All of them need instruction. That is Rama’s intention. The wealthy are comfortable in their lives. They are advised not to hoard, to give in charity, and to spend wisely. Those at the middle stage are told to earn in a just manner and spend wisely. The final stage disciples are instructed to earn only as much as required for survival. Charity may be given not just in the form of money, but also as effort and advice.
In the 14th sarga, Jeevita garhanam is the topic. How to utilize life is explained. Rama is blaming life. Why? This approach does not appeal to us. We think that we are born and are engaged in spiritual pursuit. But the wise question the cause of existence itself. Because of having committed sin we are born. We argue to suit the circumstance. We lack a firm understanding of the theory and background of life.
Life is like a bubble it is said. I do not agree. If it is in fact like a bubble, I would be very happy. A bubble is born in the ocean. When it pops, it merges in the ocean. If life pops and we merge in God, then there is nothing to regret. But it does not happen that way.
Pallava konagra … Lifespan is described by Rama.
It rained. It rained on a tree and the water fell to the ground. Sometimes when the sun’s rays fall on a blade of grass, the tiny drops of water display numerous colors and they sparkle beautifully. Some photographers are able to capture the beauty of a raindrop on a blade of grass before it slides off.
On a tender leaf when it rains, one drop stays at the tip of the leaf like an ornament, and it keeps gently quivering. Suddenly with breeze, it drops. If it is a mature leaf, the drop is held for a longer duration. One never knows exactly when the drop of water will fall. Life is also like that. Exactly when it will end, no one knows. If we take a photograph, we will have the picture with us even after the drop of water falls. Our wisdom that we acquire is like the photograph that we keep with us for our future use.
Even doctors acknowledge this fact that life is unpredictable. Rama is stating these blunt facts as if he is scolding. We think more about our enemies than our friends sometimes. God’s enemies also get liberation. Examples are: Kamsa and Hiranyakashipu. They were in constant fear of punishment from God. We keep thinking about our enemies also.
By contemplating on the negative aspects of a subject, you gain knowledge about it. About poison, about harmful acid in the kitchen, one is very cautious. Vedanta exhorts us to consider the flaws and weaknesses to gain a better understanding.
Where has life come from? Your lifespan is earned by previous merit. An astrologer or doctor should not be challenged that his words of hope have turned false. God has granted a certain lifespan and no one can know it or change it.
We will conclude early today and will continue tomorrow.
This morning we have a program with Sri Swamiji in the Annapurna Mandiram. A marble murti of Sri Jayalakshmi Mata will be installed. Girija Kalyanam will take place today. Devotees from Vijayawada will sing bhajans.
Sri Guru Datta