Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 114, March 9
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 begin a new topic today, Vichara Niroopana.
We have learned about Shama Niroopana, how peace helps both the individual and society. Pranayama, austerities, and social service help us to achieve self-restraint, concentration, and peace of mind, which will ultimately lead us towards enlightenment. Sadguru helps us to achieve it. The fruits of peace of mind have also been explained to us.
Vichara means to thoroughly explore a subject to know everything about it. It grants both peace of mind and also happiness. Many times the word Vichara is misunderstood as being drowned in grief. It is not the actual meaning.
Vichara consists of five aspects.
Artha and Anartha have to be distinguished. Truth and falsehood; benefit and harm; what is helpful and what is detrimental; a clear understanding of these will lead us towards liberation.
Saara and Asaara have to be distinguished. What contains useful essence and what is devoid of any essence; what is important for our soul and for our well being; in the scriptural statements and in Guru’s words, what applies to us, and what does not; what is beneficial and what is not – these have to be carefully examined.
Pramana Taatparya Vicharana – Some are under the wrong notion that we do not require a path to follow and that we have the freedom to go whichever way we like. The Veda never tells lies. It is the standard. It is the authority. How to understand and interpret its teachings is important.
Atma Tatva Vicharana – examining the nature of the Soul.
When we are in distress, we consider all aspects of our trouble and think deeply about it. We weigh the pros and cons and determine what is important and what is unimportant; what is to be accepted and what is to be rejected.
Both for Shama/peace and for Santosha/happiness, this Vichara is important. It is like the middle pendant in a necklace with the two on either side and it embellishes both. In the company of the enlightened, such as Sadguru, we must engage in discussions to understand the ultimate knowledge, which is the best remedy that cures all types of ills. Contemplative analysis will remove the weeds called sorrows and difficulties. Today we will begin to learn in depth about how to go about this process.
Sastra
This section is extremely important. The Sastra consists of scriptural and Vedic knowledge received from Guru. By receiving this knowledge, our minds become purified. The mind will be free from all contamination and wrong understanding. Kaaranajna/Sadguru should be approached for clarification of any doubts. Always Guru should be consulted when in confusion.
We only see an object. We do not question how the object came into being. We think that the source of it not necessary for us to know. We sit before a meal. We should question about where the substances originated. The chef, the store, the fields, the farmer, rains, sun, earth, and so on. Ultimately, the sequence of events will lead us to the original source, which is God. In everything we do, we must examine the aspects thoroughly. In a factory, prior to beginning manufacturing a product, the availability of all the raw materials is considered, how much is needed and if it will always be available and on schedule, and in sufficient quantities. One must consult Sadguru and proceed in the right path to achieve success in the spiritual search.
vichaaraat
By such deep analytical exploration, the ability to grasp the subtle aspects of things will be developed. We have to use a microscope to see objects which are invisible to the naked eye. We must develop an acute interest in the deeper aspects of any issue. An intellect which is thus trained to delve deeply into the cause of things, especially in the Spiritual Science, will lead one to the Paramatman, who is the Ultimate Supreme Entity. One can scientifically go as far as the subatomic particle and stop there. Some can go even beyond and reach the highest entity in existence beyond which nothing exists. What gives light even to the Sun will be understand. Samsara is the cycle of birth and death. It is not spouse and children as many misunderstand. We must understand this concept.
aapat
This is a forest filled with perils. We must get out of it. For that we need to find the proper direction to proceed. We must climb a tree or a mound to see where we are, and if there is any smoke emanating from somewhere to indicate human habitation, or ask another traveler for directions. In a dense, dark forest, not even a footpath may be visible. If we are able to see the sun and determine in which direction he is rising and setting, then we will have an idea which way to proceed.
Endless, limitless desires are there in the form of innumerable trees, creepers and bushes. Analytical thinking is the saw that can chop the trees down and create a path for us to get out. Is this terrible state without an end?
Some are disinterested and lazy to even make an attempt to find a way out. In society and in spirituality, there is no place for laziness. Why did God create the evil tendencies within us, such as greed, anger and so on? Why would God gift us such things? We have developed them from within us. If in fact, if God indeed had granted us these inner enemies, perhaps it is also good for us in a way. We realize that these cause us pain and we make an attempt to be rid of them.
There are some absolutely ignorant ones who have no desire to get out of the rut. They revel in their own wickedness. They are of demonic traits. They think that life has been granted only for indulging in physical enjoyments. They should be educated that there is a higher and more enduring enjoyment than this when one gains spiritual knowledge. Yes. It is agreed that we are all born for enjoyment. But one should seek permanent bliss and not chase after fleeting pleasures. That understanding and realization must take root in the hearts of people. When one is unaware of this, or forgets this and remains preoccupied in mere worldly lusts, sin, dishonesty, and selfishness will keep increasing. Those who know this truth must share this knowledge with others.
Once the axe of discretion chops down the trees, the trees will not sprout again.
mohena
We experience grief and delusion frequently. We lose hope. We become desperate. Some people in course of time get over it. When the near and dear ones depart, when diseases strike or business losses occur, when peace of mind is lost, the mind sees the world through the eyes of illusion. The world appears drowned in darkness. The one in a depressed state refuses to come out and see the light. One cannot easily persuade the person to get out of his helpless and hopeless state. At such a time, the example of the enlightened should be presented to the depressed person. It must be shown how, armed with spiritual knowledge the realized souls remain happy.
vichara
The scholars grasp this technique of getting out of trouble, which is to dwell on thoughts of God. Through analysis and critical examination, the intellect becomes clear and free from doubts. When mantras are chanted, it is most helpful to remember and understand the meaning. Intuition improves thus. Desire to perform good deeds will be stimulated. The wise improve themselves by this process.
verse
To cross over this ocean of Samsara should be the foremost aim in life for everyone. When every single individual feels this urge to realize God, he will be free from any temptation towards doing evil. It will then greatly benefit society. Those who are content to drown themselves in sensory pleasures are detrimental to society. Without any boundaries, they stoop to sinful acts to satisfy their personal desires.
One has to eventually cross this ocean. How long will one keep swimming in these troubled waters? How long does one have to face the hurricanes and dangers lurking? How to cross this? It is dark. There is no direction to follow. Just as a man lost in a forest climbs a tree to spot the sun, one sees a lighthouse near a harbor that shows the direction for sailors and those lost at sea. In ancient times they built temples on seashores such as at Tiruchendur and Rameshwaram. A Kartika Deepam is lit on the top of the temple tower to help travelers. The light of knowledge shows travelers which path to follow. It clearly shows the merits and demerits of the different paths.
What is the use of traveling without a map? We should look for that light which will show us a way out of our eternal predicament here in this world of illusion.
Vichara is the bright light that will help us to cross this ocean of Samsara.
Aarooha
Within us is a lotus inside the heart. We do Namaskara indicating the lotus of Jnana. The intoxicated elephant called delusion destroys mercilessly this lotus of discretion. The person whose discretion is destroyed or is not awakened is harmful both to himself and to society.
Vichara/deep analytical and critical thinking is the ferocious lion that kills such an intoxicated elephant called delusion. Vichara enhances our compassion and kindness and makes us better human beings.
moodhaah
The influence of analytical thinking is immense upon the human mind. Even the foolish ones and the sinful ones eventually get liberated, to our surprise. By the power of Time, some day, somehow, every being gets liberated by the grace of Sadguru. If we put in our deliberate effort towards it, Sadguru’s grace is earned much faster. We cross this ocean more quickly. We may feel that the wicked ones never deserve to be liberated. But even such a person’s inner understanding and inner analysis is unknown to us, although he may appear wicked outwardly.
We keep doing good deeds. We purify the mind. We travel towards liberation. This involves effort. The path of Jnana is also effective but it is tough for some persons. The two paths of Karma/selfless action and Jnana/spiritual knowledge are available for us. One may choose the path that is suitable for the temperament and aptitude of the individual.
The person who feels the inner urge to seek God and to get liberated, will not indulge in sinful acts. He will watch his behavior and thoughts and will tread the path of Dharma. He will exercise self-restraint. If society consists of all such people, how wonderful it would be!
rajyaani
O Sri Rama, this Vichara/Jnana is a Kalpavriksha/the wish-yielding tree that gives fruits all year long. If one stands under the tree and makes a wish, it grants the wish, whatever it might be. This tree exists in heaven. No super market can compete against this. This concept of the eternal Kalpavriksha is a trick played by God upon our minds to tempt us with wish fulfillment so that gradually we will proceed towards the desire to attain heaven and hence perform good deeds, and then ultimately proceed towards liberation. This is a spot to take some rest under this Kalpavriksha. This tree is analytical thinking. New insights will occur from within. The intellect will get stimulated and new ideas for a more comfortable travel towards salvation will occur.
In our language, with simple and interesting examples, each idea is introduced to us one by one in a stepwise manner. Yoga Vasishtha is the most ancient spiritual work which came into existence after the Upanishads. All other works are based on the information contained in this scripture. Let us pray to our Sadguru that we will be able to understand and assimilate its valuable teachings.
Now during the Sri Chakra Puja, Hanuman Chalisa will be chanted. I urge everyone to participate.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Om Santissantissantihi