Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 82, December 23
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
verse
Veda is Apaurusheyam, not man-made. How to comprehend that? How can something like that come into being on its own? Therefore for now, let us understand that with great knowledge and experience our Rishis have handed down to us the Vedas. Based on the statements made in the Sastras, and Vedas, and those made by enlightened souls, we should follow the path followed by them. We must act according to the circumstance, location, and the condition of our body. When we are ill, we cannot function normally. At such times, if one cannot get out of bed, it is best to take Vibhooti Snana, apply the sacred ash to the body as a substitute for a bath. You should not then insist on getting up and taking a cold water bath or drink cold water. That will aggravate the illness. Likewise, one must act according to what is suited to each place. You cannot go to Manasarovar and take a daily cold water bath. It will make you sick. Similarly you must follow the biological clock. You wake up in the morning and sleep at night. To go against it is unnatural. We must be earnest in following our intuition and our natural instinct and inner urge. When the conviction occurs that by doing a certain action a good result will be obtained, the body will act according to the conviction. The action will thus be performed as per the sincere stimulus that occurs in the heart.
Paurusham does not mean being boastful of one’s successes or one’s forefathers’ achievements. Paurusham means determined effort. Such a systematic approach should be followed in seeking worldly knowledge and knowledge about the Brahman.
First, an inspiration occurs that a specific result must be obtained. It is followed by a specific action plan to obtain that fruit. It may be in the form of wanting to listen to Sadguru’s words of wisdom or to a discourse on Yoga Vasishtha. A certain urge will occur and is followed by the required action. Purusha does not refer to male. It refers all creatures or individuals.
What is required to attain liberation? Continuous perseverance in the effort is required to obtain the desired fruit. It does not occur effortlessly. To begin with, the doubts in our minds will take a clear shape and will be expressed. The next step is to clearly understand the intent of the scriptural statements and to apply them properly to the context. That is called Sacchaastram. Sat+Sastram. The dos and don’ts have both to be understood. Service should be rendered to those who are one hundred per cent pure-hearted and will not hurt even an ant. Such persons are called Sadhujana. They feel as their own, the troubles of all living creatures. Such purity and supremely gentle nature occur through deep penance. One must attempt to develop such a nature. A scholar should be served. A scholar is not one who has many titles, certificates and great renown. A scholar is one who is enlightened and is rich is spiritual wisdom born of a liberated state. The learned ones go in search of the enlightened to seek spiritual wisdom. Service should be rendered to such saints mentally, intellectually, and physically. The intellect should be surrendered to them. Then the fruit called liberation is attained.
verse – daiva ..
We have deeply delved into the concepts of luck and individual effort. We have analyzed the topic whether such a thing called ‘luck’ really exists. We have understood the benefits of determined personal effort. The wordings used here have to be exact so as to avoid any misunderstanding.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna specifically said that one must focus on the tip of one’s own nose. If it were not specified as such, one may focus on the nose-tip of another person. It is natural for a person to see the flaws in another person and be ignorant of his own faults. It is useless to tell others to do sadhana. One should engage in one’s own sadhana. Atma paurusha is specified. You have to go to the toilet yourself. Another cannot do it for you. You have to eat your own meal. Another cannot do it for you. Similarly, you have to do your own spiritual striving and not expect to use a proxy. You yourself have to make sincere attempts.
verse
‘Aryajana’ are those who give us worthy advice. One must have the belief that one will succeed in the attempts if earnest efforts are continued following proper advice.
verse
Guru has only one desire. Prabandha is the binding of all pieces of knowledge together, as you bind pieces of paper together as a bound book. Binding is the term that relates to bondage. We are all bound in the endless cycle of repetitive births. This in itself is the source of our terrible disease. May this disease be cured. We must ever pray, the way Sadguru prays, that everyone should be rid of this disease called birth. We may pray for getting well from small diseases. Guru prays that everyone should be cured of the disease called birth.
Sarve ca sukhinassantu
Sarve bhadraani means – may all be engaged only in the seeking of enlightenment. Rama is bliss. Ramabhadra is the attainment of Supreme Bliss. Ramachandra is the attainment of the fruits of karma. Rama’s name grants both.
This individual soul has to utilize his personal strength and power to obtain the great medicine or remedy for this great disease called repeated births by serving and following great enlightened souls like Sadguru. Sage Vasishtha is expressing the wish in the form of a prayer that all individual souls must thus become free from the above mentioned disease of rebirth.
There are more people in this world who are averse to making the required effort than those who are willing to put forth the required effort. Vasishtha is praying that everyone should develop the inclination to do what is required to gain the purpose of human birth.
He ends this sarga with words of prayer for peace.
The next sarga is called Paurusha Praadhaanyam. We humans are under the delusion that we are very small minded. If our thinking is along such lines, who can help us? No one can help us. If you yourself put yourself down, then who will help you? You must enter the battlefield and you must face the challenges it poses. There is no escape from it. If not in this janma, it will happen in future janmas. Guru constantly attempts to persuade those who shy away from going to the battlefield to actually enter the battlefield and fight their battles till they succeed. ‘Guru’ means great or magnificent. The effort on the part of Guru is immense in this aspect. This is the effort now being made by Sage Vasishtha.
verse
This is a very important shloka. Please note this. This fully explains the importance of Purusha Prayatna, individual effort. God has given us a body that is ridden with disease. Small illnesses are there even in childhood. With proper care and treatment given by parents and caretakers, we overcome those, but in later stages of life, we spoil our own health through negligence. The immunity that we had in childhood we lose as we grow up. A child plays in dirt and is not affected by it. But as a grown up if we inhale some dust from far away, we begin to sneeze. This is the result of losing our immunity. It is therefore important to properly engage in Ahara, Vihara, and Vichara (food, recreation, and contemplation) to maintain our overall health. We must prevent diseases from affecting us. We must avoid harmful foods and take remedies when required. What is offered only as a remedy for a disease should not be consumed at normal times, such as garlic, and so on, out of a liking for their taste and flavor. In some instances, even meat (animal products) is suggested by Ayurveda only to restore health to this machine called the human body, when it becomes a victim to diseases. We must use the prescribed Manual for properly taking care of and utilizing this human machine.
A child is born with minor illnesses. They must be cured and thereafter the body must be maintained in a strong, well-balanced, healthy condition. One must remain contented with what is given. One must withdraw the mind and give it rest from exposure to the world. That is Manassamadhi. One who cultivates such a state of mind will achieve a state of not being born again. Such sadhana is important. For achieving this, contentment must be developed.
verse
Luck should be defeated by determined personal effort. Excuses, self-blame, and lack of confidence should be given up. Those things are highly unworthy and should be shunned. Those who persevere in their efforts will certainly succeed here and in the hereafter.
Those with a great mindset and strength of mind will not only uplift themselves, but will also uplift those around them.
ye samudyoga ..
We refer to a job as Udyoga. But here the effort is for Self-realization. Those who avoid making such effort deceive themselves. They deprive themselves of dharma, artha, and kama. They have no chance at all of obtaining moksha. These are all interdependent. For achieving them all, great effort is required.
verse spandaha …
In the Lalita Sahasranama there is a name of Mother Goddess, ichchaasakti jnanasakti kriyaasakti svaroopini – all three aspects are required for success: initiative, knowledge, and action. Samvit means jnana – knowledge. It should give Parasukha – Supreme bliss resulting from enlightenment. One should feel the stimulus to make the effort to gain liberation. Merely having an inert body will not grant liberation. Some friction, some vibration, some inner movement has to occur to stimulate a desire for liberation, for an individual to put in the required effort. Then the mind must be propelled towards action. Only when all three are active, a proper result is obtained.
Merely attending an exam for Chartered Accountancy and writing the Venkateswara Suprabhatam due to fear is not going to earn the desired fruit. He will not get the required marks and the desired certification.
Mere useless attempts are futile. To achieve complete success, one must have the proper desire, the proper knowledge of methodology, and the proper execution of action to achieve the desired result. Merely moving the body is not effective. Sincerely and concentration are required.
In Saligrama archana, it is said that mantra, materials, and austerity are not required to obtain the desired result. But the crux of the matter is that devotion is crucial for success in worship. Some say that they can eat anything, if they have their favorite hot pickle to go with the food. Devotion is like that hot pickle which will make everything else effective and palatable. One must ensure that all three aspects of the above are present.
With children, where the mind is not yet fully mature, mere physical activity is sufficient and should be encouraged. They are not yet ready for full understanding of the subjects. You must send them to school for achieving discipline whether they are interested in their studies or not. Similarly, get them in the habit of mechanically offering worship to the Sun every morning after bath. Gradually this habit will lead to an understanding of the significance and importance of such a daily ritual. Even if a child does not show interest in the subject, he must be made to study his books. Slowly he will develop an interest in the study topics.
Sometimes when the limbs and sense organs do not cooperate also, by mere mental determination some people achieve great things. An example is Mr. Stephen Hawkins. Despite being disabled, he wrote great works. Sage Ashtavakra was like that.
yathaa samvedanam ..
Why is this person not studying, or mixing with anyone, or doing anything productive? When you find a youngster like that what do you do? You show him to a doctor, a psychiatrist. Why? His mind is not engaged in anything. Our mind has come to us from many lifetimes. The counseling is the important medicine. The sleep inducers are not the real medicine. The child’s confidence towards the psychiatrist is first gained and so he will listen to him, although he will not listen to the parents.
Our words express our thoughts. Whatever you thought of before, is now expressed. As per the thoughts, and actions, the results occur.
verse
In every action we perform, there is a main action and subordinate actions. The main aspect is there and several minor aspects are also there. Preserving the life force is the main activity in life. The soul is even more important but we are not able to comprehend it.
There is no such thing as mere luck or fortune. Nothing occurs randomly. Everything happens only as a result of our own past actions, either good or bad. All situations occur only as per our own karma. Individual action alone counts in this world. This is the karma theory.
Our losses and gains are all due to our own karma. There is no other reason. Our karma is like our bank balance. Which of the karmas gets released in which lifetime, like a piece of thread that will get wrapped around us, is not known to us. One should remain as a mere witness to the consequences of one’s karma and its expenditure and exhaustion. Sometimes even major illnesses may be the cause of an eye opener that leads to enlightenment. Instead of sighing and moaning, Swamiji says, it is better to repeat the names of God during painful moments.
Because of the discomfort of illness, one may develop dispassion towards this world and develop a desire to get freed from this web of rebirths that one gets caught in. It should happen not because of the intolerable pain but because of the discretion that develops in the mind. Even an insect feels such an urge sometimes to get released from a spider’s web.
You will not succeed if you keep digging for a water well in the desert. You must first ascertain whether your effort is properly planned. At unsuitable places a more intense effort may be required, to succeed. There is no such thing as ill luck.
Guru is a great example. Brihaspati is the son of Angiro Rishi. He was a stillborn child. Angiro revived the child who was huge in size. That is why he was called Brihaspati and Jeeva. Brihaspati went to Prabhasa Teertha (near Somanath) where the Hiranmayi river meets the ocean. There he performed penance. Siva appeared before him and offered a boon granting him the post as the Guru of the gods. He also gave him the lordship of the planet Guru or Brihaspati (Jupiter). The presiding energy of the planet is Brihaspati. Because of their power of penance Brihaspati and Sukracharya earned positions as great preceptors of deities and demons respectively. This proves the efficacy of effort.
verse
Despite suffering from despair, poverty, and sorrow, noble souls have overcome their difficulties and have risen as high as Devendra.
verse
Paurusha also means ego and arrogance. Those who use that kind of Paurusha drop down to hell. A good example of that is Nahusha who had earned the position of Indra by his penance. Once, as he was being carried in a palanquin, he ordered that his palanquin should be carried by the seven rishis (Saptarshis). Such was his ego. The rishis agreed and began carrying the palanquin because after all, he was in the position of Indra. The rishis were old and weak and were moving too slow according to Nahusha. So he kicked one of them, Sage Agastya. Agastya was short in stature. He was losing balance off and on while carrying the palanquin. Agastya’s sacred thread received the kick from the foot of Nahusha. Agastya was angered that the sacred Gayatri Mata was kicked and cursed Nahusha to fall in hell. As a result, in an instant Nahusha fell to hell, while it took him ages to rise to the position of Indra. Ego without wisdom is a dangerous thing.
bhaavaa …
Bhava is pleasure. Abhava is sorrow. The two come and go. One must maintain equanimity while facing either of them. One must not become egotistical with success. One must not get depressed with failure. This is Vasishtha’s instruction to us.
PAIN means Positive Attitude In Negative situations. This statement has impressed me. In painful situations if you can maintain a positive attitude, the pain will not affect you. You must question: Why has this pain come? Because I have a body. Why has this body come? It has come because of my karma. Why did I do (bad) karma? I did it due to ignorance. Why was I ignorant? That needs to be explored.
One must transform a bad situation into a good situation. There are many who have easily crossed over from a bad situation to a good situation. We must also follow their example.
verse
For every siddhi, there are three aspects: what the Sastras say, what the Guru says, and individual effort. These are called Trisiddhis. Those who follow this will experience success.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Om Santissantissantihi