Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 74, November 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
Yesterday we watched the Deepotsava which is a sacred ritual prescribed by the scriptures.
Vasishtha insists that we should follow the directives given in the scriptures to obtain benefits with certainty.
Yesterday we discussed the answers to a question as to how to cleanse the mind. Is it necessary to control our thoughts? We decided that we have to keep filling the mind with good thoughts and engage in good occupations.
Suri Duvvuri posed a question. We have some thoughts which are neither good nor bad. But they occupy the mind. Do they cause harm?
There are people who obstruct our work. Sometimes innocent children will obstruct our work. Should we send them away and avoid their presence? When such neutral thoughts come, like children, we should give them chocolates and send them away.
The neutral thoughts, if allowed to remain, will begin to create vasanas in the mind. In the future they could cause harm even if at the present time they are not bothersome.
Therefore, such thoughts also should not be encouraged. Only thoughts of the divine should be allowed to fill the mind.
Uncontrolled thoughts tend to make us engage in undesirable actions which will eventually lead to sin.
Hanuman saw in the process of searching for Sita, many women in the night in different poses. Naturally, he had to search in places where women reside, because he was searching for Mother Sita. Therefore he had to witness their different physical features and postures. Upon examining his mind keenly, Hanuman found that the sights of those women did not produce any effect on his mind. In the Kali Yuga there is an exception that as long as you restrict your thoughts and do not put the evil thoughts into action, it is tolerated.
7-8 years ago in a Kriya Yoga course, I was asked by Sri Swamiji to give some guidelines to the class. I said that the sadhaka should keep chanting a mantra and focus on the breath while doing Pranayama. Suri Duvvuri asked a question as to how both could be done simultaneously. I do not know if he remembers it.
The useless thoughts which are neither good nor bad will in course of time get strengthened and will stick to us like Vasanas/tendencies. We know about friends and enemies. We invite friends and keep enemies away. Thoughts are likewise. In spirituality, the divine thoughts, the friends should always give us company. Although in real life, even the company of friends sometimes becomes excessive. A sadhaka seeks privacy.
Children draw our affection. They are neither enemies nor friends. Although they are harmless, their company and the obstruction they may cause to our activity in the future, are to be avoided. Give them chocolate and send them away. An occasional neutral thought is the medium stage. It is not bad like entertaining a bad thought. But those who are in the middle region are vulnerable to falling down. Just as they also can rise to a higher level if they are careful and cautious.
Vasishtha insists that Jeevanmuktas are required. Suka Yogi taught us the Bhagavatam out of great compassion. Sadgurus come as Jeevanmuktas to help us. Vyasa enjoys the same type of liberation as Suka Yogi, affirms Vasishtha. His depth is not visible to us. We only see the physical form of Guru. We are unaware of his inner intention. Many times Guru does not express his wish. We must ask and try to behave the way he wishes for us to behave. A water body’s depth we do not know until we get in. We can only see and estimate the visible dimensions. A lake’s depth is what defines its worth.
Krishna appeared like a Bhogi – one who indulges in enjoyments. But He is the greatest Yogi. We must not make a false judgment. We must follow Krishna’s words, not imitate His behaviour. We must follow Rama’s behaviour. He did not speak much. Whether the Mukta is with or without a body, his inner nature is the same, just as an ocean is an ocean whether it appears calm or turbulent.
In the Sastras, an example that is given must not create confusion. In water there is pure water and contaminated water. Air, whether it is blowing or remaining still, is still air. We must grasp the essence given in the example and not keep looking for mistakes and flaws in every example that is given. Once questioning for its own sake becomes a habit, it will never end.
Mukti means merging with Paramatma. Therefore, Sadguru is Paramatma. Vasishtha leaves no room for any doubt.
Verse
In the matter of Knowledge, both Vyasa and Vasishtha are equal. Although Rama asked about Vyasa, by implication, he is also questioning about the qualification of Vasishtha. Therefore, Vasistha confirms that both he and Vyasa enjoy the same level of liberation. Both are merged in the Paramatma and identify with Him. We must have firm faith that Sadguru is capable of leading us towards the state of liberation which he is in.
Sage Vasishtha and Sadguru Swamiji have no differences between them. Great souls refer to themselves in the plural to indicate Self-respect. It is not done out of ego. No one should put down oneself or degrade oneself.
Sri Rama interrupted the thought process of Vasishtha. Now that his question has been addressed and satisfactorily answered, Vasishtha now tells him to listen to what he has to say with attention.
Listening with attention is an ornament for the ear. Earrings, some small pieces of gold, when worn as ear ornaments, make the mind sharper. The touch of gold against the skin has that effect. Swamiji gives them to youngsters sometimes to encourage them to wear them.
It is more difficult to lose hearing than sight. It is most essential for us to hear sounds. On a flight, when the ears get blocked, we feel miserable. There are those who can neither here nor see. Those who are blind are blessed with great memory. Those of us who can both see and hear, do not properly utilize those functions.
Knowledge removes the blindness caused by ignorance. Such words I will now speak. Listen attentively. The benefit of listening to Yoga Vasishtha is this that it destroys spiritual ignorance.
By effort, any living creature can attain anything. Purusha is the divinity within oneself. It does not indicate gender like male. It refers to any living creature.
View Swamiji’s sadhana and see how much he has achieved. Forget about his divine birth and his mother’s grace.
He was born in Mekedatu, grew up in Bommeparti, and now the entire world has become too small for him. He has to look for other worlds now to explore. The intensity and the level of his sadhana we must consider and recognize.
In Madhya Pradesh, a man, to travel 10km to go to the next town took 2 hours to cover the distance because it was a mountainous path. He approached a politician for help in building a tunnel. The politian gave his word. Twice the elections took place, and no action was taken by the government. The promises were kept only as promises. The man took it upon himself and singlehandedly powdered the rocks and built a tunnel. Search in the newspapers for this account.
Dhruva, the small child, was asked by his mother to approach the Father of the Universe since he was pained at the neglect he suffered from his father, the king. His determination earned him the grace of Sadguru Sage Narada who initiated him into a mantra, and Dhruva by intense penance had the darshan of Lord Narayana. That is Purusha Prayatna/individual effort.
Rama, with help from mere Vanaras, crossed the ocean and killed Ravana by his determined effort.
We have a tendency to brush away the idea of making attempts saying oh they are all great souls since birth. It is an excuse we use. The great ones have earned their powers by their resolute efforts.
Sarvame..
Oh Raghunandana (child of Raghu dynasty), with true effort and focus, anything can be obtained in this world, for sure. Paurusha does not mean arrogance. It means inner resolve and unflinching effort.
Iha..
Be like the moon which is cool and pleasing. The smiley face appears like a full moon. Peace and joy come from the moon. Following the methods stipulated in the Sastras and the Vedas, when one sincerely makes an effort, true to thought, word, and deed, one will certainly succeed. Your heart will be at peace and comfort when such a method is followed.
If you attempt what should not be done, your mind will be troubled by fear and doubts.
Excessive desire and anger will heat up the body and cause ill health. They destroy happiness.
Jeevanmuktas experience the bliss that comes from personal sincere persevering effort.
Paurusham ..
We have to understand Vasishtha’s teaching here. Many people give the excuse for their failure that destiny is not on their side. This is such a great confirmation from Vasishtha that there is no such thing as luck. If you walk, you will reach the destination. If you eat, your stomach gets full. Those who are lazy or deluded put the blame on bad luck, without making any effort. They invent this concept called luck.
Luck and the consequence of karma are two different things.
Sadhoopadishta ..
Effort should follow the guidance given by the saints/Sadguru/Veda. Following such a path is Paurusham. One should not randomly do things as per one’s own whim. The correct procedure as suggested by Guru must be followed. Any other method is madness.
This is a wonderful sarga.
All the four purusharthas can be attained by individual effort with proper guidance from great souls/Mahatmas. With blessings from elders we should proceed.
Today is Kartika Somavara. Let us witness Siva Abhisheka. There will be a Jugalbandi concert arranged by Manjunath. After that we will have the Maha Mangala Harati.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Om santissantissantihi