Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 5, July 18
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
Maha Ramayana is the same as Yoga Vasishtha. In this is recorded the Upadesa/spiritual instruction received by Rama in his childhood. In Srimad Ramayana this Upadesa is not included because such an inclusion would have made the book too voluminous. Also it would have disturbed the flow of the story.
Ramayana was composed also as a literary work and the story had to proceed without any major interruptions. Had this huge philosophical treatise been introduced into it, it would have spoiled the grip in the story. People would then lose interest in following the story. If even in the initial stages of the story this spiritual theme were introduced, this would have overshadowed all other emotions and feelings which are also a part of the story.
That is why it was not even mentioned in the Ramayana that Rama became dispassionate and received spiritual guidance from his gurus. Hence, the poet simply stuck to the story and finished it quickly. Thereafter he received the command to write the Ramayana in its entirety. Then Sage Valmiki composed this. When the Yoga Vasishtha and the Ramayana are joined together, it becomes Akhandita Ramayana, the unbroken Ramayana. In the Ramayana story, in the Bala Kanda, where Sage Viswamitra comes to King Dasaratha to take his son Rama with him to protect his yajna, this Yoga Vasishtha should be introduced. That would then make it Akhandita Ramayana. In such a work, Yoga Vasishtha would occupy the bulk of the book.
Sage Valmiki said to Arishtanemi: This great work I will teach you. By listening to this and learning the meaning, you will become a Jeevanmukta/enlightened while still living.
Who is a Jeevanmukta? Does such a state exist? People hear of someone getting liberated after leaving the body. Is it possible to attain liberation while still occupying the body and living in the world? Are there such people? This question is answered later in Vedanta.
This book is described as a conversation between Vasishtha and Sri Rama. It gives instruction on how to attain liberation. It is presented in the form of a story. If merely the subject matter is presented, it would be too heavy to handle. Hence, it is presented as a story within a story within a story, to make it interesting and appealing. There are numerous stories here.
Try and understand this. This will release you from bondage.
Arishtanemi asked: Who is Rama?
This dialog that took place between Vasishtha and Rama was going to be taught to Arishtanemi by Valmiki.
Vasishtha is a title given to the gurus in the Ikshvaku lineage. It may not be the name of just one individual. But Rama is one and only Rama, the son of King Dasaratha. Why did Rama require spiritual instruction from Vasishtha? Or, is this person Rama someone different by that same name?
This question troubled Arishtanemi. So he asked if this was the same Rama as he had heard about. If so, how is it possible for this Rama to be bound by illusion? If he were free from illusion, then, why did he need Guru’s instruction to free him from bondage?
Sage Valmiki affirmed that it is the same Rama. But when he incarnated, he determined to give up his divine stature and be born as an ordinary mortal. Had he appeared on earth as Sriman Narayana, people would get frightened to see Him. Similarly, if Datta had come down to earth as Datta, we would be frightened. That is why he has had to take a form as an ordinary human being, to have us interact with him and have us follow his guidance in our lives.
Great souls incarnate by their own deliberate resolve. Hence, Rama, who was born as a mortal went through a period of time devoid of his state of omniscience. Great souls resolve prior to being born that they are going to forget that they are the all-knowing Supreme Soul. Since they cannot carry out their earthly living if they descended as omniscient souls, they pre-resolve to leave behind their omniscience prior to birth as mortals.
Therefore, Rama had no clue that he was omniscient. He now claimed that he knew only what was taught to him by Sage Vasishtha.
What is the form of Paramatma? It is not a human form with four arms. He is a manifestation of Consciousness and Bliss. He is radiance. He is enlightenment.
We are surprised that a great Rajarshi is so ignorant as to ask such a question, since we all know who Rama is.
Arishtanemi knows that Rama is Paramatma. Rama is Lord Vishnu Himself. He is Lord Narayana. For such a one, there is no need for spiritual instruction. That is why Arishtanemi asked this question. It is not possible for Rama to be in bondage. If Rama were free, he would have no need of gaining liberation with Vasishtha’s guidance. You can describe a light bulb. But you cannot describe its radiance. We can apply this concept to our Sadguru also.
Valmiki said: I understand your question. It is a very good question. It is indeed Rama, the son of Dasaratha, who I am talking about. Lord Narayana became the victim of a curse, and using that as an excuse, He came to the earth born as the son of a king. What was his condition? He was the lord of all the worlds and yet, he temporarily chose to forget his real identity. If everything is remembered when God incarnates as a mortal, it would be difficult to go through the experiences of a human being on earth. For that reason, prior to incarnating, Lord Narayana resolved to forget His true identity. As Rama he claimed to know only what was taught to him by his parents and teachers.
Arishtanemi was surprised to hear this.
Rama is Consciousness itself. We only think of Him as having four arms and so on as Vishnu is depicted.
Consciousness and Bliss is Rama. That is His form. How do you describe Light? Light is light; that is all.
Who cursed Lord Narayana? He is supposed to be beyond the reach of mind and speech. How can one such receive a curse?
Once upon a time Sri Hari wished to visit Brahma Loka. He went there. Everyone received him with honors and showered hospitality. Sage Sanat Kumara alone did not rise to receive Him to offer respect. Sanat Kumara was enlightened and did not see Sri Hari as separate from himself.
4 brothers, the mind-born sons of Brahma were there, who are forever youthful, Sanat is the prefix of all their names, indicating their perpetual youth. They are the first teachers of Vedanta. That is why they are offered special worship during the Vyasa puja on Guru Purnima. These are first knowers of Vedanta in the world.
Sri Hari was angry that out of arrogance Sanat Kumara did not rise when He entered as a show of respect. He acknowledged that Sage Sanat Kumara was a highly enlightened soul. Yet, He cursed him to be born amidst the shrubs of pampas grass, as Murugan, Lord Subrahmanya. He would be named Sarajanma. He was cursed to be born, as the eternal youth, Kumara, with a specific burning desire to protect the celestials (by killing the demon Tarakasura).
Sanat Kumara once had a dream in which he had participated in a war between the demons and the deities. This incident is narrated in the Chandogya Upanishat. He dreamt that he had participated in a battle between the celestials and the demons to help the celestials. He told his father Brahma about this dream. Brahma said that although he was not supposed to get such dreams, since he had dreamt it, the dream had to come true. He had to be born and remaining ever youthful would have to fight against the demons to give protection to the deities. Since because of this dream it was predestined that Sanat Kumara had to be reborn as Subrahmanya, Sri Hari found this to be the appropriate time for the dream to come true, and hence, He gave his curse. At once a transformation took place in Sanat Kumara. His Rajo Guna increased and he reciprocated with a return curse. He told Sri Hari that out of arrogance that He was all-knowing, Sri Hari had flung this curse at him and hence, he had to be born with minimal knowledge as a human being.
One has to be extremely careful in interacting with Brahma Jnanis, the omniscient ones like our Sadguru. With any guru, for that matter, including our parents and any elders, when we do not know the extent of their knowledge, we have to always remain on guard. Otherwise, we will suffer the bad consequences. We must never do anything to anger them. Even if they feel slightly uncomfortable due to our behavior, even if they do not utter a curse, we will suffer the negative consequences. We have to be always extremely careful not to offend or inconvenience them in any manner.
Sanat Kumara became furious and cursed Sri Hari that for a short duration He would have to suffer from ignorance.
The reason for this curse is to make us understand that without Sadguru’s guidance it is impossible for anyone to obtain spiritual wisdom and liberation. Even one as great as Rama, had to seek refuge at the feet of Guru to become enlightened. That is the lesson here for all of us. This is an enactment of a play by Sri Hari to teach us the absolute importance of having Sadguru.
This is the first curse incurred by Sri Hari.
There is a second curse. This is from a woman. Such a curse is extremely powerful.
Once upon a time, Khyati, the wife of Sage Bhrigu performed severe penance with the wrong idea of causing harm to the celestials and hoarding all benefits for her own progeny. She wished that no one in the world should be superior to her.
This type of penance is demonic in nature. If she were to succeed in obtaining her wish, it would have been calamitous to the worlds. Hence, all the celestials strongly persuaded Sri Hari to kill Khyati since no one else was capable of killing her.
It became imperative that she be killed by Sri Hari. There was hesitation to kill her since she was a woman. But when an evil intention is behind her penance, her gender should not be a consideration. She was being a revolutionary towards a wicked cause. Therefore, Sri Hari killed her. Since his wife was killed without his knowledge while he was absent, Sage Bhrigu got angry and he cursed Sri Hari to be born as a human being on earth and suffer a separation from His wife.
The results of this curse were experienced by Sri Hari in His incarnation as Sri Venkateswara Swami also.
Yet another curse was incurred by Sri Hari by Brinda.
She was the wife of Jalandhara. Once upon a time, when Sri Hari was with Mother Radha in Goloka, Sudama paid a visit and interrupted their privacy. With that Mother Radha became upset and cursed Sudama that he should be reborn as Jalandhara in the family of demons. He took birth accordingly. Brinda’s power of chastity was protecting the life of the evil Jalandhara. He could be killed only if his wife was forced to lose her chastity.
To protect the welfare of all the worlds and to safeguard the celestials, Sri Hari had to take upon Himself the task of spoiling Brinda’s vow of chastity. He appeared before Brinda in the guise of Jalandhara. Brinda was deceived into believing that her own husband had come home and her vow of chastity was broken. Since the timing was apt, Jalandhara was killed. Brinda got enraged that by deception her husband got killed, she cursed Sri Hari that He too should suffer separation from His wife. Since Sri Hari believed that He deserved the curse because of his act of deception, He willingly agreed to suffer the consequences of the curse.
Another incident occurred in the story of Lord Narasimha. Devadatta’s wife was performing penance. After killing the demon Hiranyakasipu, Lord Narasimha was wandering the earth still in His frightful form emanating flames of fury. Devadatta’s wife got frightened out of her wits seeing this scary form and ended her life by jumping into a river. Devadatta realized what had happened and cursed Lord Narasimha that He should be born on earth as a human being and suffer a separation from His wife.
Thus, Sri Hari suffered from four curses that He should be born as a mortal and suffer a separation from His wife.
Now, has your doubt been cleared? Sage Valmiki asked Rajarshi Arishtanemi.
This is the way that a Guru gives detailed explanations to clear the doubts expressed by a disciple. If we ask for one explanation, Guru will bless us with ten explanations. If we ask Swamiji to sing one bhajan for us, he will sing ten bhajans to bless us. Such is the grace of Guru. It is our fault for not asking Guru. This incident here teaches us how to express our curiosity and how to reverentially ask with genuine interest to completely clear our doubts.
We have to be alert as students to ask relevant questions to gain meaningful answers. The first thing that we have to give up is laziness. We sit idle, complacent that we have attained spiritual wisdom, having listened to some Vedanta. Until the highest state is achieved, we must keep doing our karma and keep listening to the teachings of Guru. We are not even at the stage of listening to Vedanta all day long every day, staying in a holy place like Badari or Kasi. We are still living at home, or in an ashram here, and we are still under certain obligations to care for people at home. We must have a burning interest within us to learn and we should have the realization that Sadguru is making us do everything that is being done, or that Sadguru Himself is doing everything. We are merely instruments. If we carry on like this, our activities are not disturbed and at the same time we acquire spiritual wisdom.
Arishtanemi is wonder-struck at this revelation by Sage Valmiki.
Valmiki now gives spiritual instruction to Arishtanemi, who has immense experience and knowledge as a king and a sage. Vasishtha gives instruction to Sri Rama who is going to be the future king. This we must remember. After receiving this spiritual wisdom from Vasishtha, Rama did not go away into the jungles. He went along with Sage Viswamitra. He received instruction and training from him. He fought battles and killed the demons. He ruled his kingdom. It is only at the end he went to the Sarayu River.
What Valmiki is sharing with Arishtanemi here in the Yoga Vasishtha is the instruction given by Sage Vasishtha to Sri Rama when for a short duration Rama felt troubled by spiritual doubts.
To have half knowledge and jump to wrong conclusions is not correct. Many people make that mistake and spoil their lives. Please do not do that. Listen completely. Understand thoroughly. Let God give you guidance.
This concludes the 1st sarga called Sutrapatanika Varnana.
The 2nd sarga also begins with a dhyana sloka. Please repeat after me.
divi bhūmau tathākāśē bahīrantaśca mē vibhuḥ
yō vibhātyavabhāsātmā tasmai sarvātmanē namaḥ ||
In the first sarga there were 3 dhyana shlokas –
Sadaatma, Jnaptyaatma, Brahmaanandaatma were mentioned.
In this, Sarvaatma – the way the thread in a garland holds together all types of living creatures, God is meditated upon and offered salutations, as the one Supreme Soul holding within Him all different souls.
It is we, who quarrel and differentiate between different species, races, and communities. For Him, all are one.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Om Santissantissantihi