Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 86, December 28
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
In the Mumukshu Vyavahara Prakarana, we are discussing about the emphasis to be placed on individual effort. Vasishtha poses questions from different angles and gives clear explanations. Today he proceeds further to stress on the need for effort.
We have functioning hands and yet, we give excuses for not doing the needed work. We try to escape by blaming that it is not the right time or that we lack the right mood. Only when the situation becomes desperate, we will perhaps begin to act. If health does not cooperate, no one will place any blame. Any other excuse is only a feeble excuse.
Those who are able bodied do not exert themselves. But someone like Beethoven, who was deaf, composed the most beautiful music. Those who are disabled, accomplish great things.
Once, after a piece by Beethoven was played for 40 minutes, there was a thundering applause for his music but he never looked back to acknowledge it. The applause continued for over 10 minutes but he did not hear the sound of it and was busy picking up the musical instruments. Then, finally, someone gestured to him to turn around and look back, and that is when he noticed that the entire audience was giving him a standing ovation.
Sangam tyaktvaa dhananjaya …
One should perform good deeds, regardless of the fruits to be received. Beethoven, a deaf man, received the fruits he deserved. A man who lacked hands, played the guitar with his feet.
We must find ways to perform sadhana, regardless of hurdles. We blame our lineage, poverty, and lack of cooperation from others to escape doing our duty. What Vasishtha tells us today is:
verse
Daivajnas are those who are experts at astrology. Vasishtha is now addressing the issue of people depending on the predictions made by the astrologers. It is accepted that the seasons and the planets do exert their influence upon the earth and its beings. We are witnesses to it. Each individual is affected by the influence of the planets. An ocean is deep and we can get drowned in it, no doubt. Yet, we have built boats and ships and are able to cross the oceans and rivers. We are able to travel in the sky and are even able to reach the different planets. It is made possible by sadhana. Sastra tells us to slow down our pace and to engage in sadhana. But if one becomes paranoid about astrology and refuses to take even one step forward, without consulting an astrologer, it becomes unreasonable.
Those who know about the effects of time, the astrologers, will tell us that we will live long. It means that as per the horoscope, we will live as long as the planets have determined for us. It does not mean that anyone is going to live forever. But those who misrepresent the predictions and believe that in spite of getting the head chopped off, people will live forever, then I will believe in luck, says Vasishtha. It does not happen like that. If such a thing ever occurs, if even one such example is shown to me, I will accept the existence of luck, says Vasishtha.
verse.
This knowledge is most important for today’s youth. You show the horoscope of a youth to an astrologer. You ask about the success in education for the youth. The prediction is that the boy will become a great scientist. But will he become a scientist or a scholar, if the boy is simply kept at home by the parents? No. Unless you send him for tutoring, to college, and so forth, the boy will not become learned. Vasishtha challenges that unless the required action takes place, predictions do not come true. Without any effort, does anyone become very scholarly?
Only Mahatmas, who may appear like illiterates, will have great spiritual wisdom earned through penance. There are those who become greatly knowledgeable, without going through academic education in this lifetime by the effect of Yoga. It occurs due to past life’s grace and recollection of memories from past lives. It is a rare instance but it is also due to the learning obtained in a previous lifetime. That is not luck but a result of past efforts or merit earned in past lifetimes. Child prodigies are seen, who exhibit great talent at a young age. We wrongly attribute such talents to luck. There is no such thing as luck.
verse
Vasishtha is giving instruction to Sri Rama in the presence of great sages, the brothers of Rama, King Dasaratha, and Sage Viswamitra, and several others. Sage Viswamitra is now shown as a great example of one, who has become a Brahmarshi , starting out as a Kshatriya. He attained Satva Guna by intense practice and effort. We needlessly fight over caste differences.
All those who have achieved Satva Guna are brahmins. One does not become a brahmin by birth, if they have not attained or preserved Satva Guna. One with a predominantly Rajo Guna cannot be called a brahmin. People compare the different castes and wrongly ascribe importance to one or another. In the Purusha Sooktam, all the four different castes are described as emerging from the same Supreme Soul.
The four pillars are all important. Brahmin, warrior, trader, and laborer are all different and all are needed for the preservation of Creation. Each section of society is arrogant about the supremacy of their own caste without proper reason or discretion. All the four portfolios are essential for Creation to be preserved. It is our ignorance and flaw that we do not recognize the importance of the caste distinctions. Viswamitra is a standing example and proof that anything can be attained by determined effort. It is important to teach our youngsters the story of Viswamitra. His perseverance, and determination are outstanding.
It is important to remember Sage Viswamitra every morning upon waking up. He is the Rishi who has revealed to us the Gayatri Mantra. His remembrance must inspire us to do relentless effort to achieve success in our resolve. Never placing faith in luck, Viswamitra attained the highest state. Lord Brahma Himself declared him to be a Brahmarshi. Vasishtha also has endorsed that Viswamitra was equal to him in his spiritual statures. Viswamitra was shown as a direct example.
Vasishtha is now urging Sri Rama to follow the example of Sage Viswamitra to pursue his relentless sadhana.
Why do we take our children to Sadguru? By seeing Sadguru, the children get inspired and encouraged. They get a resolve to do sadhana. By the mere darshan of Sadguru, the youth get inspired to rise to great heights by their own efforts.
Brahma gave Viswamitra the badge that he is a Brahmarshi. The celestials had already informed Brahma about the severe penance of Viswamitra, which was raising him to the level of a Brahmarshi. Sadhana will certainly yield its positive result.
verse
After citing the example of Viswamitra first, Vasishtha proceeds to speak about his own example and in doing so, he includes all other sages who are present there. This is something that we must learn. We all have a tendency to speak of ourselves first and foremost. We tend to praise ourselves and boast of our accomplishments. Even when there are elders present, we become oblivious to their presence and become arrogant and egotistical. Vasishtha is teaching us that such should not be the case. That is why he is first praising Viswamitra and then only is speaking of himself and the others.
Those who maintain the vow of silence are called Munis. It is easier to speak a lakh of words than to remain silent for one minute. That is why Swamiji is conducting the Mouna Conference in different places, like Germany and Switzerland.
Remaining silent means keeping the mind silent. It is stilling of the thoughts. Even a tape recorder may stop but some chatterboxes will never keep quiet. You get concerned that they will never stop their chatter. How is it possible to talk incessantly like that? Silence is not just controlling speech, but stilling thoughts as well. Such silence will give immense peace. If one begins by concentrating on Mantra Japa, then gradually, the focus on the mantra will help to remain at peace. One can then sit like the Buddha at peace. Practice to sit still for at least one minute a day, concentrating only on your breath. You will then be able to communicate with Sadguru heart to heart. It will grant you good health. 108 times of mantra repetition should be done first. Then remain quiet. Only focus on breath. Slowly, you will find that one minute of silence is not sufficient. slowly you yourself will want to increase the duration to two minutes, five minutes, and ten minutes. It is only through sadhana that we all have become munis, O Rama.
Vasishtha is known as Gagana Sanchari. Physically he is able to travel anywhere. No need for airplanes, tickets, boarding passes, visas, and passports. What the secret is behind such a capability is, we do not know in this age. Citing himself as an example, Vasishtha is stressing the importance of sadhana.
verse
Indra is the Lord of Heaven. He had the strength to control the demons. He acquired that power through sadhana. When troubles came, Vishnu gave them advice. The celestials first approached their Guru Brihaspati, who then directed them to seek the counsel of Vishnu. That is the role of Sadguru. This process you see in all scriptures, the Puranas. Sadguru is our advisor. In Kannada, ‘salahuvudu’ means cajoling or persuading a child. That is what Sadguru does for us. That gives us a better life.
O Rama, understand the greatness of sadhana. Vasishtha cites the example of the deities.
verse
In the Vedas there are many mentions of battles that had taken place between the deities and the demons. Many times the deities became arrogant and lost in the battles against the demons. We are on the side of the deities and hence, we must not emphasize that fact, but whisper it only. Deities regained their kingdom due to their effort.
What does this mean? Even the deities place their faith in their own individual effort. As those who have faith in deities, we also should believe in our own effort.
Remember the episode of Lord Narasimha. How enthusiastically He came to save Prahlada, emerging out of a pillar. We must recollect the glories of God, the power of God and such recollections will help to transform us. Many people do not go to temples. They merely declare that God is everywhere without the actual conviction or experience. If complete faith and conviction are there, then the result will be felt. Physically we must put in the effort.
We will get transformed once we begin with physical discipline and practice, which will gradually lead to mental discipline and practice.
verse
There is a pot that can contain water. It is easy to hold water in a container. Observe the stone age persons. They lived close to nature. They also needed to bring water from the river. They used to bring water in a basket woven of bamboo. They would use the beeswax from a beehive to seal the holes in the basket. The beeswax would act as cement. Only natural products were used by him. If we use our intellect, we will certainly find solutions to problems.
verse
By our effort we support our families by earning a living. We control anger, we enjoy comforts through personal effort. Trust your effort and not luck.
With effort, direct results are obtained. It is not like trusting in magic or witchcraft.
verse
This subject was mentioned before. Luck is useless. One should have a proper resolve. When something good is desired, the entire world will give its cooperation. Rama, you will thus gain full benefit.
This concludes this sarga.
Now, we have heard this advice. Rama also has heard this same advice with complete concentration. It has created some questions in His mind. He is now expressing it to Vasishtha. O Sadguru, I have a question. You said that past life dictates what happens now. You said that what effort is put in now is all that matters. Please clarify further. Explain clearly to me what actually is luck and what actually is effort.
Hanuman is a Chiranjeevi. He lives eternally. He is the future Brahma. But when an astrologer calls a person a chiranjeevi, it does not mean that the person will live forever. He will have a long life. That is all. Some persons appear to be born very talented. It is only a result of the person’s accomplishment in a past life.
Viswamitra became a Brahmarshi after great penance and great effort. It is always important to first recognize the greatness of elders who are present, prior to enumerating our own merits. This is an important lesson to learn from the example of Sage Vasishtha. Vasishtha gained his ability to travel in the sky entirely through his own effort. He gave the example of deities and stone age people who live and accomplish their resolves through persistent effort. Even a bamboo basket can be made to successfully hold water as shown by the example of the achievement of the uncivilized tribes.
O Rama, have a sincere resolve. Put in the proper effort. You will certainly be successful.
The next sarga is Karma Vichaara. Karma is like a huge jungle. Both Dharma and Karma are very subtle. We must search every nook and corner and find clarity.
We will discuss further tomorrow.
Today it is Sunday. We will have Tailabhishekam. Evening Bhajans will be there. We are blessed with Sadguru’s darshan.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Om Santissantissantihi