Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 113, March 8
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
The past two days there was no discourse.
We conducted Lakshmi Jayanti at Sri Datta Venkateshwara Temple yesterday. Lakshmi abhishekam and Lakshmi Ashtaka parayana by 108 married women in the presence of Sadguru Swamiji have taken place. Goddess Lakshmi was not born on a particular day. She grants fulfillment even to the celestials. She takes us to our goal. In the Vaivasvata Manvantara, she emerged from the Ocean of Milk. That is why we celebrate Lakshmi Jayanti in this Phalguna Masa.
Lakshmi does not mean wealth alone. Not everyone requires monetary wealth. The wealthy do not require more wealth. They require peace of mind. Even those who are not wealthy are sometimes at total peace. Prasanna Lakshmi, Siddha Lakshmi, Jayalakshmi are all some of the names for Lakshmi. Actually Mother Goddess has many names. One of them is Moksha Lakshmi. She teaches us the nature of the Parmatman. She has really no birth or death. How can God have a birthday? We merely speak of the day as Lakshmi Jayanti for our easy understanding.
Shama Niroopana is the topic we are discussing. Shama is control, concentration, and restraint of the mind, which are practiced as means to obtain peace of mind. If one can practice control of the mind throughout the day, then enduring peace will be experienced. There is no richer or greater person in this world than the one who has conquered his mind. We are told that the secret and ultimate purpose in life is to obtain peace. In Kriya Yoga, practice of Shanti is the most important. It has to be cultivated. Peace is the weapon we use to battle against all our inner enemies such as greed, jealousy, ego and so on. We must first overcome anger. After that, even worldly joy must be transcended.
The one who keeps running after it, will not grasp it. The one who sits calmly will grasp it. This, in spirituality goes against the rule of the world. In worldly affairs, people think that those who feverishly chase after things are the winners. It is not so in spiritual practice. That is what the Upanishads teach us.
The one who is at peace is as delightful as the moon. Even on a battlefield, a man of peace will remain calm and composed. Sri Krishna taught the Bhagavad Gita on the battlefield of Kurukshetra because he taught this Yoga Sastra to transmit Yoga Sakti. This occurred in the midst of all the arrayed enemy armies and all the warriors thirsting and eager to commence the battle. It shows the principle of Sadguru that he ever remains calm.
Sadguru’s glance is a flow of nectar that gives great bliss because he is filled with peace. Whoever receives such a compassionate glance from Sadguru will also be blessed with peace. Such great souls cast their peaceful glances towards everyone without any discrimination. Those whose minds are at peace perform all their actions without any bondage with the karma they perform. They are free from the deluded notions of ‘I’ and ‘mine’. Their hearts are absolutely pure and free just like the sky.
Even among kings, prosperous persons, and individuals who are strong in different areas, only those who are endowed with peace are commendable and worthy.
Peace is the greatest attribute. All other virtues are useless and will decrease, if peace is lacking. Peace cannot be stolen. Peace will lead us to the highest state. Sage Vasishtha urges Sri Rama to seek Peace.
In the Anaghashtami Vratam we invoke all the siddhis, including Kamavasayita which is the highest state of liberation and peace, which is a state that is free from desires and impurities.
Whether the man at peace is running, walking or sitting, he is not attached to the action he is performing. It is as if he is not doing any of the actions, although he may be appearing to be engaged in actions. He transcends both happiness and anger. He does not fly into a rage. He does not jump overboard with joy. He is ever balanced. He is like the pure, gentle breeze that gives us comfort always.
A parent may appear to be angry when he is scolding a child but his anger is only a pretense, assumed for the benefit of the child.
tushara
Peace is extolled here. Who is a man of peace? Paramatma (Santakaram) and Mother Goddess (Shantaam, shuddhaam) are described as manifestations of peace and purity. They are like the full moon. It is not that they are circular in shape like a round plate or a chapati. They radiate peace and comfort like the moon. All agitations of the mind, caused by fear, anger, and disease are all dispelled in their presence.
In a battlefield or on a death bed, when death is at hand (Mukunda Mala beautifully describes this by Kulasekhara Alwar) one should remember God, although it may be extremely difficult to do so. We never know when death will strike. That is why we must keep chanting God’s praises constantly. Now, with the chanting of Hanuman Chalisa constantly, people experience that sometimes they wake up with ‘Jaya Hanuman’ on their lips or in their dreams also they are reciting this prayer.
One who is at peace while living, is a Jeevanmukta. Associating with such Jeevanmuktas/enlightened souls gives us also peace.
amrita
This is the nature of Sadguru. He is like a flowing holy river such as the Ganga. River sceneries, especially away from big cities are very attractive and soothing to look at. Everyone feels like living in their vicinity. Our nature gets attracted by the flowing rivers and the pristine beauty of nature. Be they wealthy or poor, people get drawn to the beauty of nature.
On all those who approach him, the man who is at peace, the Sadguru, casts his loving glances. Even enemies become friends in his presence. Such a person is called a Jeevanmukta, Sadhu, Satpurusha, or Shaantaha.
yontasseetalata
It is not a matter of applying sandal paste or perfume to keep the body cool and fragrant. Inner calmness is important. When continually the name of God is chanted, one feels tired after a while, one feels thirsty, and the tongue becomes parched, as one keeps saying Narayana Narayana or Namassivaya, Namassivaya. But inside, one feels calm.
When clouds gather, we may rejoice that it is going to rain. However, when the sky becomes clear after the rain shower, we feel happy. The sky is always pure, although sometimes when it is overcast with clouds it may appear unclear and tarnished. Because of its purity, the sky appears blue, even though it is not really blue. Maha Vishnu is compared to the sky because of his absolute purity. He is not dark. Krishna is not black as a crow. His is a bluish hue. Lord Narayana is described as being blue. He is pure. No matter what He may be doing, he is not touched by any contamination caused by either like or dislike.
In spirituality, likes and dislikes will retard one’s progress. The results may not be externally visible but internally they cause damage to one’s spiritual growth. When actions are tinged with likes and dislikes, they are not perfect actions. They pull one downward. The sky cannot be painted or stained. Similarly, the enlightened have hearts that can never be contaminated with favor or disfavor even though they are occupied in several endeavors which may appear to be imperfect at times.
Sri Krishna explained to Bhima who was under the false impression that Bhishma was on the side of adharma for favoring the Kauravas. Bhishma told Bhima, when asked, that he had to be loyal to the king because he is eating the salt of the kingdom.
Krishna, however, explained to Bhima that Bhishma’s heart is ever pure. It is always established in the Paramatman regardless of where he may be (on the Kauravas’ side), or what he may be doing (supporting the evil king Dhritarashtra). Bhishma was adhering to his duty and to the promise he gave to his father. Had Bhishma left the Kuru court, adharma in the kingdom would have perhaps skyrocketed. His presence there at least kept it somewhat controlled. Bhishma himself did not boast to Bhima that he was always established in the Supreme Almighty. It was Krishna who disclosed Bhishma’s true noble nature to Bhima.
Krishna had vowed that he would not fight. Yet, he picked up his disc (Chakra) and got ready to kill Bhishma. He got down from the chariot even. Bhishma put down his weapons and was overjoyed to welcome his death at Lord Krishna’s hands. (However, Krishna did not go through with his threat to kill to Bhishma in the battle. He pretended anger only to spur Arjuna into action)
tapasva
Even the greatest among Tapasvis (those who are rich in the power of penance), the most valiant, and the strongest of kings, the most accomplished of performers of Yajnas and Yagas, or the the best amongst the virtuous, still, if not possessed of peace, will lose the benefit of all their virtues and great traits. Viswamitra, as Kaushika (which means owl), before he became a great rishi, used up his power of penance to burn a crow to ashes out of instant rage because he lacked calmness and tolerance. One instant’s indiscretion can ruin the power of penance accumulated over years. It is not my intention to belittle Sage Viswamitra. He is a very exalted rishi, and became a Brahmarshi, the friend of the Universe. I emphasize the fact that before he attained that level, he went through certain stages during his spiritual pursuit when he followed the incorrect path and was vulnerable to anger.
The mind must be kept under control at all times and must not yield to anger. We may have some small virtues of compassion and kindness towards the less fortunate. With peace in the heart, such tendencies will get enhanced. However, when there is no peace in the heart, the negative traits will proliferate. Nothing comes equal to peace, regardless of any other qualities one may possess. It is only with peace that other virtues will flourish.
shama
We are approaching the end of this sarga. Now the greatest benefit of Shama is mentioned. Nirvritti, the greatest bliss, is the fruit obtained by practicing Santi or peace. It is the Supreme Bliss. There is no bliss higher than this.
Insects and pigs are happy even in the sewers and gutters which we feel repelled at. We cannot even approach such stinky places but a pig happily rolls in it. The spark of happiness exists in all living creatures, regardless of where they may find their happiness. We mention that in our dhyana shloka, sphuranti ….
We remember that every single living being has a right to happiness and has a capacity for happiness. A child revels in playing in the mud. He cries when we give him a bath. But we run quickly to wash away the dirt if we get muddy. We feel uneasy if we get soiled. It is all a matter of perspective. At each level, the degree of happiness keeps increasing. The happiness of a common man is greater than that of an animal; that of a deity is greater than that of man; that of Indra, the lord of gods is greater than that of the celestials. Beyond that is Brihaspati’s joy which is superior. And beyond that is Brahma’s ecstasy. The ultimate happiness is Nirvriti. It is the state of the Paramatman. It is the highest bliss. It is attained by a heart that is filled with nothing but peace. Our trivial sensory enjoyments are nothing compared to that ultimate ecstasy.
verse
The one whose heart has no place for anything else but peace is filled with all the greatest of virtues. Such a one is a treasure house of the best of qualities. Peace rises in the heart of such an individual, as the moon or the sun rises in the sky. It fills their heart like the light of the full moon.
seeman
Amongst all virtues, peace is the best decoration. It is the pinnacle of all great qualities. For all living creatures, this is the most important attribute. If all the virtues are compared to a kingdom, peace is its boundary. If peace is worn as an ornament, no other ornament is required.
Sri Krishna is described as being the most beautiful. There is a beautiful shloka that mentions this. He wore, not any lavish jewelry, but objects from Nature itself as his ornaments. He wore red and black seeds (guruvinda) as his attractive earrings. Krishna went through many different stages in his life. Akroora witnessed all these stages of infancy, childhood, youth, middle age (when Krishna appeared as a veritable politician), and old age of Lord Krishna. Yet, Akroora said, the happiness he felt at seeing Krishna in his natural state amidst the cowherds of Gokula, wearing only objects from nature as his ornaments, he never felt afterwards. This is stated in some versions of Bhagavatam. Observe for yourselves. Those who are at peace always, are the most attractive people. Their peace spreads all around.
Sri Jayalakshmi Mata’s sari and simple ornaments as seen in her photograph, fill our hearts with bliss when we see them. They are simple but give us pleasure. Her peace of mind that radiates from within her, reflects in her face and gives us immense peace.
sankateshu bhaya
During times of danger and troubles, peace of mind gives the greatest comfort and solace.
Now the last verse.
shamam
Peace is nothing short of the nectar of immortality. No one can steal one’s peace of mind. Knowledge, Saraswati, Herself turns into Lakshmi, prosperity. Other objects may be taken away but not one’s peace of mind. Losing anything at all will not disturb the serenity of those who possess this wealth called peace. The noble souls preserve this treasure called peace and bliss inside their hearts. Even while living, the supreme bliss comes to their experience. They live in that state of highest happiness.
O Sri Rama, you should gradually follow in the footsteps of the great souls who did sadhana earlier, to obtain this peace and bliss. You must also seek to obtain and safeguard your peace of mind.
Losing anything else is immaterial, as long as with complete faith in Sadguru, one preserves his peace of mind. As long as one is alive, peace of mind should be preserved and cherished.
Rama, follow the same path towards liberation as followed by the enlightened souls who have lived before us. This must be practiced by all of us. This is the only way. Lack of peace in the heart is a sign of lack of complete faith.
One must always question oneself whether the daily agitations we experience in the mind are really necessary.
Shama, Vichara, Santosha, and Sadhu Sangama are the four topics. Now we proceed to the second topic of Vichara, which means analysis and deep contemplation to earn spiritual knowledge.
Now, during the Sri Chakra Puja, Hanuman Chalisa will be chanted. I request everyone to join in. Only those for whom the enunciation is difficult, Swamiji has given the lenience that they may simply listen. But even those who listen, must do so with concentration, and without other preoccupations, such as speaking to others, or being on the phone. When mass chanting is done, the group count is taken, with faith that everyone is sincerely participating. That way everyone will receive the benefit of chanting the prayer.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Om Santissantissantihi