Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 166, July 8
Sri Sadgurubhyo namaha
Om Santissantissantihi
Note translator: first part missing in recording
It gets us into trouble if we apply worldly rules and attitudes in spirituality. The examples cited from worldly life may be used for the purpose of a better understanding of the spiritual concepts. But if you try to merge worldly and spiritual values in behavior and thought, spirituality will not be absorbed. The two are not compatible. You have to leave the worldly attitudes when you begin your travel inward. That is an external journey. This is an internal journey. The two roads travel in totally opposite directions. It is impossible to be on both roads simultaneously. You have to leave worldliness to become spiritual. Spirituality gives peace, comfort, and happiness.
iti yena ..
He is way beyond our entire potential strength, knowledge, and power. Even the collective mental or physical strength of all creatures is still less than His power. He is always one step above all else, and all others.
Children in their play declare: Whatever you bid, I bid one above that.
However high you may go, He will be a thumb’s length above it. He is not of this world. Whatever religion one may follow, whatever rituals one may perform, whatever image one may worship, whatever be the way of individual prayer, in the end one has to close the eyes and offer prayers. He is not of this world. People fight over each other’s supremacy to no avail. He is above and beyond all these differences. All of this controversy and contradiction is of this world.
Kabir Das said: God is within you. Do not search for him outside of you.
One must keep remembering this. We search outside and get tired. In the end, you find His presence only inside your own heart.
suddha samvit ..
He can assume any form of his choice. He can be the sky, the earth, the air. He moves faster than we can think or speak. He is Pure Consciousness. Before you can think or speak of something, He becomes that.
He, who is limited cannot be Supreme. Water and mercury take the shape of whichever container they are poured into.
Water is pure. We drink only pure water. Contaminated water spoils our health.
He can assume the form of any of the five elements.
But instead of seeing Him, the living conscious entity, we choose to see only the inert matter of the world. We think the physical world is real. We see the world instead of seeing Him.
Sri Rama’s question as to what is it that is basis upon which our delusion rests, is answered thus. Mano Bhrama – delusion
kurvan …
He appears to be engaged in action, while it is you, who are acting. You impose your activities upon Him and think that now, He has accumulated karma. He is untouched by karma. You are under delusion. This endless Creation amazes us. But to indulge in thoughts of this Creation and its wonders and be preoccupied with that will disturb our spiritual pursuit.
We make the mistake of first placing Him on a pedestal and then bringing Him down to our own level. In the worst case, we even seat ourselves on top of Him. What happens then? This mind will not grasp the right concept of who He is, in this entire lifetime. His consciousness does not penetrate into our heads. Such a deluded person will become disqualified from attaining liberation. No one wants such a state. Therefore, never attribute actions or the consequences of actions to Paramatma.
svaatmani ..
This Jnana has no setting or fading away. Samvit is a word that frequently occurs in Swamiji’s bhajans. Samvit is total and pure Jnana. In Gita Saara, Swamiji blesses that we should attain such Jnana which is nothing but Pure Bliss.
Jnana is free from any change or perversion.
He is ‘Nirvikaara’ – the word is self-explanatory that He is never engaged in any action. It also means that there is never any change in Him.
There is raw rice. When it is cooked, then there is cooked rice. When we speak in spiritual terms, raw rice vanishes from existence when it is turned into cooked rice. You cannot extract raw rice out of the cooked rice. A conversion or a transformation has occurred. In God’s case, it cannot happen. How can we accept that He Himself has turned into this Creation? That would mean that He, as Himself, no longer exists. It is not our experience. It is not the experience of the great souls.
That proves that the world is an illusion. Only Brahma is real. He never undergoes any change or modification.
We have to keep remembering this point if we wish to be on the spiritual path. If we wish to experience Truth and Supreme Bliss, we must keep reminding ourselves of this Truth. This is a Maha Vaakya – a most profound statement.
At once, the question arises within our minds: Then where did this world spring from?
He has no rising or setting. He is One and one alone.
Then why do they speak about non-dual while describing Brahma?
He is One. That is not sufficient to say that. Because, at once, the thought of two enters our mind. One can only exist when the thought of a second exists. Its existence occurs only in relation to the other. This is the worldly parlance. Unless there is the possibility of duality or multiplicity, one would not say, there is only one.
Since we are discussing spirituality, and wish to avoid any chance of confusion, we also specify: non-dual one. There is no possibility of a second’s existence. The two terms have to be mentioned together. It is a very special subject. It is a personal experience for everyone. Aparoksha – is the experience.
With this, this sarga ends.
Mumukshu Prayatnopadesaha is the next sarga.
What should a seeker do, to follow the spiritual path?
We are told to first learn the Datta Stavam, then the Sadguru Stavam, and Ashtalakshmi Stuti. We are asked to perform Anagha Vratam and Sadguru Paduka Puja. There is a system, a procedure to follow.
asya devadi ..
To have the realization of Paramatma, one has to have Jnana. It is not attained by mere performance of karma and the experience of its attendant discomforts. Karma for spiritual attainment is not easy. Jnana is easy. Just eat your fill and listen. In Karma rituals required for enlightenment, a lot is involved. The goal is liberation, not earning money or fame. Karma here does not refer to day to day worldly activities.
A question arises: At the very beginning of this work, Sage Agastya had said, Karma and Jnana are the two wings of a bird which can fly away to liberation.
Now how can it be said that Karma is not effective? Karma devoid of Jnana is fruitless. Performance of spiritual karma should result in cleansing of the mind. That should lead one to getting on the path of Jnana. If one just remains on the path of Karma, to fulfill worldly desires, without ever attempting to attain Jnana, then, it will not lead to liberation. Yajna for attaining Swarga. heavenly pleasures and so on, are referred to here. Offer the fruits of your good karma to please God and not for personal benefit. If God’s grace is earned, the motivation will arise within the heart to seek liberation. Being preoccupied with rituals and austerities only to fulfill worldly desires certainly is not the way to attain liberation. Karma without Jnana will not yield liberation. Karma is Jada, inert. It lacks the capacity to yield benefits on its own.
Every action has a reaction only because God alone has the power to grant that reaction. Without God’s grace liberation is not attained.
natvan ..
Jnana is anushthana – the means. Listen, keep recollecting and pondering deeply. This is the most important part of travel on the path of Jnana.
What is liberation? Removal of sorrow is liberation. As long as there is a second entity, there will be sorrow. How will the sense of duality go away? It will vanish only with Jnana.
We saw a mirage in the desert. We ran towards it. It now appears to be a little farther away. We run some more. We keep chasing the mirages thus, one mirage after another, until finally, exhausted, and never finding the water we seek, we fall down dead. Such is Karma. Karma does not give the realization that what you are chasing is only a mirage.
Only Jnana has the capacity to enlighten you that what you actually see is only a mirage. It makes you realize that chasing after it is absolutely useless. It gives you the experience that a mirage is only an illusion and non-existent. That only one exists and it is non-dual. Such Jnana spares you from the exertion and the exhaustion of running after mirages.
Even the performance of a million karmas will not remove the delusion from your mind that what you are seeing is a mirage. Only Jnana has the power to dispel delusion.
Remember this example.
verse
God is not far away. The path of Jnana is not difficult. You do not need to chase after someone else and catch Him. Paramatma is within yourself. You simply have to realize it. You only need to chase after yourself. You are only attempting to know yourself.
He is neither easy to grasp nor is He difficult to catch. It is very strange.
Kantha chaameekara nyaayena – it is said.
A woman kept weeping, sobbing desperately. She said she is in utter anguish because she cannot find her most precious necklace. All the relatives tried to help her find it and kept searching everywhere frantically. While this was going on, Sadguru came into their midst and asked what was going on. The problem was explained. Even the relatives were crying at their failure at finding the lost jewel. Collectively they wept and wailed. Sadguru pointed at the woman’s neck and said: I see something shiny there. Is that the ornament you are looking for?
The woman felt around her neck and was thrilled that the jewel had been with her all along. The relatives scolded her. They never looked before at her neck to see if the jewel was there.
Many times a mother will have the child in her arm and will search everywhere as if the child is missing.
Was the necklace far away? No. it was very close to her. But she forgot and was oblivious of the necklace’s presence around her own neck.
This is a great example.
svaananda ..
Personal bliss is His form. He will be found within yourself. The body must be treated with respect. It is very wrong to think that either tormenting the body or giving it excessive comfort will yield enlightenment.
Indulging in luxury will increase the desire for physical pleasures. It involves journeying into the external world, instead of into the inner world.
This body is a very important tool in the search for liberation. Poet Kalidasa said beautifully, “Sareeramaadyam bahu khalu dharma saadhanam – of all the means for attaining Dharma, the body is the best means.
valmeeka taadanaadeva mrtah krta mahoragah
By hitting the snake pit from the outside, one is not going to kill the snake. It will not die. The snake will simply move away to a safer place underground.
There are ways to punish the body, that some people follow in the spiritual path, which are truly dreadful and frightening. It appears as if people have taken on a vow to torment the body. Is it necessary to do so?
Ahimsa is a great path to follow. – Non-violence towards others and towards oneself.
Avoiding hurting others but hurting oneself is not a good practice. Fasting for good health in a systematic way is advisable. But, fasting for three days and then on the fourth day to stuff oneself beyond a limit, is not a good practice. Just do ‘naktam’ which means skipping the night meal only, or some people practice not eating a meal after sunset. Do something easy and sensible. If health does not permit fasting, then, do not punish the body. It is our duty to protect the body.
When Rama refused to eat, he was told that it was not a good practice. After fasting for 15 days, Swetaketu was unable to chant the Vedas. Then, they said: unless you eat, your intellect will not function. Your mind will not work. Food has life energy. It is required to maintain the body.
naayamaatmaa balaheenena labhya(ha)… – A weak person cannot attain enlightenment. Swami Vivekananda said that the nerves of a seeker should be strong as iron. The intellect should be quick as Mercury/quick silver.
As we go deeper into this subject, countless questions will arise. To understand the answers to all of them, a lot of intellectual power is required. Physical strength is also needed. Excessive eating is bad. Moderation is most important. Each one’s body is different. Constitutions vary. One should seek the recommendation of a doctor.
Jeevanmukti should be achieved.
While the body is alive and functioning, enlightenment should occur. Yoga Vasishtha speaks only about Jeevanmukti. It just does not speak about Videha Mukti, liberation after the body is given up at death.
In Nirvana, they explain. While you live, you must experience. This body might have taken its birth anywhere, in any country, in any family lineage, whatever gender, it makes no difference. As long as you have the intense yearning for liberation, nothing else matters.
One’s own body is the best means for attaining liberation. Mere penance and austerities will not grant enlightenment. To experience inner bliss, there is no other way than the acquisition of Jnana.
Sadhu Sangama, the company of Sadguru works wonders in this regard. Keep following Sadguru. It is a most powerful experience. But one should not come to the ashrama just to get a break from the routine of cooking and cleaning, and to enjoy a respite from having to work, and have a holiday.
Just because the Annapurna Mandiram serves hot, fresh, delicious food, do not come here, unless your heart yearns intensely for Sadguru’s company.
You must become immersed in spirituality once you come here. If you come to the ashram, and are still involved in worldly affairs and do not give up a worldly mentality, it is useless.
By an earnest effort, with Sadguru’s help, delusion will be dispelled. It is a natural path to tread, this seeking of holy company. There is nothing unnatural about it.
ayam ..
Sat is Jnana.
Deho devalayah proktaha – is a good sloka. Do you remember it? You hear it often.
To say that Sadguru’s grace is enough for me, I need nothing else, is a lazy man’s escapist attitude. When you have intelligence and a capacity to understand, you must put it to good use. It does not help to remain indifferent. You must utilize your opportunities to learn and to remember Sadguru’s teachings. The body is the temple.
Jeevo devaha sanaatanaha – the inner light is God, He is ancient. He is not one who comes and goes. He lives eternally.
Tyajedajnaana nirmaalyam – With that realization, you first cleanse the premises or the mind/body with the dirt accumulation from the previous day. When you open the temple doors first thing in the morning, what do you do first? The old faded flowers and used worship materials should be removed.
The premises should be cleaned, the way you bathe and change into fresh clothes. Here it means that you must remove your ignorance and cleanse yourself.
soham bhaavena poojayet – Then you worship with the feeling that you are one with Paramatma. Soham – I am He.
This one sloka explains it all. Only great souls can pack so much meaning into one verse – it gives the procedure for Sadhana to last through eternity, not just a few lifetimes.
The total realization must occur, that this inner soul is the same as Paramatma. Then no trace of sorrow will remain. That is called Jeevanmukti.
Therefore, seek the company of Sadguru. Listen to beneficial scriptures.
Note translator: end is missing.
Sri Guru Datta