Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 115, March 10
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
We are discussing the topic called Vichara Niroopanam. This is the second of four topics which are compared to the guards who safeguard the gates to Liberation.
Vichara is learning, understanding, grasping a subject by questioning Sadguru. It is contemplation about God.
Everyone, at all times should be dwelling on thoughts of the Almighty, regardless of what stage of life they may be in, students, householders, or mature persons. Knowledge gives bliss. Meditating about oneself or Self-enquiry is Vichara. When there are questions, you go to the information desk to clear doubts and get knowledge. We must ask Sadguru questions about ourselves. If Sadguru is not available, one should go within and ask oneself.
Illusion, like an intoxicated elephant destroys the lotus called discretion. The lion called knowledge kills the elephant called delusion.
It is important to listen, ponder over, analyze, question, and gain knowledge.
The intellect which has blossomed with discrimination, like a hollow gourd floats on water, will not drown in delusion. Those who engage in analytical thinking for gaining knowledge will not be disturbed by sorrows because knowledge has the power to destroy grief.
Sorrows fill us with dirt. We forget our true nature. I gets obstructed or buried. Tamo Guna, the sleep if ignorance should be given up. When the sun is out, there is no darkness. When Sadguru’s knowledge is gained, sorrows will be dispelled and great happiness will be attained.
The Bhagavad Gita says tadviddhi ..
Sadguru should be reverentially approached, served, prostrated to, and questioned. What is in the mind should be expressed respectfully. Then Sadguru, out of compassion will give us a chance to pose our questions. We should ask only such questions, answers to which are unavailable elsewhere, either in books or with others.
Sadguru is enlightened. Therefore, He has the answers to our questions. We have forgotten how to travel inwards. We have neglected to ask questions regarding ourselves. Vichara throws light both on restlessness and unease, and on grief, to dispel both of them. Self enquiry will grant happiness.
Indra once lost his kingdom. He was told by Brihaspati, his Guru, to hide in a lotus stalk and do penance addressing Maha Lakshmi. Dattatreya Swami, as Guru, appeared before him by the grace of God, taught Indra the mantra, the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam, and advised him to do penance. Indra thereby regained his kingdom.
Vichara is a Kalpavriksham/the celestial wish-yielding tree. Once a resolve is made, it will bear fruit. One should have the eagerness to clear spiritual doubts by asking Sadguru. Many people do not know how to gain benefit from the presence of Sadguru in their lives. They approach him only for trivial worldly problems.
yaviveka
Those, whose intellect has blossomed through self-questioning, will become great personages. When a teacher is giving instruction the students are distracted with other thoughts. Yet, they raise their hands that they have understood the subject, although their minds were elsewhere. Such students who are disinterested, and dishonest, fail to learn.
Such, whose intellect has blossomed, will not drown in difficulties. The dried up hollow gourd will always float in water. Similarly, the mind of the wise is light with knowledge and will float, without ever drowning in distress.
vicharodaya
Knowledge should awaken within our minds. If we are complacent, and unwilling to learn, then it does not benefit us. When things are going well, spiritual pursuit must begin. While one is affluent, healthy, and has the capacity to inquire, one must utilize the intellect to keep making enquiries about oneself. That in itself is the real pilgrimage.
People go to Kasi and declare that the Siva Linga there is huge. It means that they have not really visited the temple. Because the Siva Lingam there is small. It is in Ujjain that the Siva Lingam is large. Atma Darshana/enlightenment is most important. Self-Realization is the ultimate goal in life. One should be continually engaged in contemplation about oneself.
When a new place is approached, one must keep asking for directions to get to the destination. Those who thus ask, will be eligible to receive all the benefits that are available.
verse
If we journey through life under the guidance of Sadguru, our path will be smooth. If we fail to do so, we will find ourselves in a wild jungle filled with thorny shrubs and thickets of dense foliage. The path will be obstructed. Not even a single step can be taken forward.
Mandavya Maharshi was placed in a Shula Panjaram/cage with sharp spears all around, where he could not even move an inch. It was a most horrible punishment. Such will be the situation of those who reject the thought of Self-enquiry.
Not engaging in self enquiry results in a life filled with grief. No spiritual progress can be made by such persons. Life will become unbearable.
kajjala
Sage Vasishtha is giving a blessing to Sri Rama and to us all.
Just like the eye ointment which is thick and black, and intoxicating like liquor, the unwillingness to learn will darken the minds like Tamo Guna. It will completely block entry into the land of knowledge. One should always be ready and eager to learn from Sadguru. One must be ever alert and awake to learn about oneself.
mahaapadati
The dangers and troubles we face seem to be endless and numerous. How to survive such a life? Such will be the life of one who remains ignorant. One should only question knowledgeable persons and ask only the right questions. Asking the wrong persons will mislead us and also make us targets of their ridicule. One should follow Dharma, the scriptures, the Vedas, and Sadguru’s instructions. One who does so, will be immune to the darkness of ignorance and the sorrows caused by it. As effortlessly as the sun dispels darkness, an individual will be freed from the darkness of ignorance, once knowledge is gained. Even when the urge to question and the yearning to know, awakens within us to know the truth, the darkness will begin to disappear.
verse
Devotion is most essential. All types of good deeds such as rituals, social service, and so on, must all be done with a feeling of reverence and not with an attitude of egotism or a superior air. God has given me. I share my wealth with the needy who represent the Paramatman – such should be the attitude of a seeker. ‘Brahmarpanam’ one says while offering a grain of rice to the God within. Then all stomachs will get filled. When you feed one person with humility, with a prayer that what you give should reach all hungry beings, then your act of charity will bear fruit. First, the mind should be purified.
Thoughts will keep entering the mind. But the negative thoughts should not take the form of actions. Like a stream, thoughts flow through the mind. Before the bad thoughts that have come unsolicited into the mind take the form of action, you must take precaution and move them out of the mind. If you build a dam and hold all wicked thoughts within the mind, one day the dam will burst and the bad thoughts will express themselves as evil deeds. Remain alert. Avoid doing bad things. Allow the bad thoughts to simply dissipate. Replace the bad thoughts with good thoughts. Constant contemplation on God, mantra Japa, and charitable acts will push the bad thoughts out. The bad thoughts entertained by others are not known to us in the Kali Yuga. In the previous Yugas, people were able to read the minds of others and protect themselves. We do not have that ability.
Deliberately fill your mind with good thoughts. Then the bad thoughts will automatically disperse. Mind itself is Manasa Sarovara. Keep it pure as it deserves to be. Suppose, there a huge golden, fragrant lotus emerges and blooms in your own Mind/Manasarovar. Such ones who have such pure hearts will be strong like Himavan/huge snow-capped mountain. Such a mountain can withstand even the most powerful gust of wind.
Once Bhima felt that his strength was not sufficient to even endure a gust of wind. Both Bhima and Hanuman are sons of the Wind God. Bhima had a trace of ego. Hanuman is ever free from ego. Bhima could not even move a hair from the tail of his big brother Hanuman who blocked his path in the form of a huge monkey, just to teach him a lesson. Bhima felt humiliated and his arrogance was defeated. These episodes from the scriptures teach us many useful lessons. Merely offering prostrations to Lord Hanuman is not enough. We must study his stories and learn the valuable lessons which they teach us. Sadguru’s Life History teaches us many great lessons.
vikasa
Those who lack the ability or the inclination to engage in deep self-enquiry are unfortunate.
We will discuss this subject further tomorrow.
Now Hanuman Chalisa Parayan will take place during the Sri Chakra Puja. Please participate in it.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Om Santissantissantihi