Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 63, October 13
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.
Guru Dhyanam:
Gurur brahmä gurur viñëuù gurur dēvō mahēçwaraù
Gurussäkñät parambrahma tasmai çré guravē namaù
Sri Bhooyuta..
Ajnana timiraandhasya jnaanaanjana shalaakayaa
Chakshurunmeelitam yena tasmai Sri gurave namah
Akhaëòa maëòaläkäram vyäptam yēna caräcaram
Tatpadam darçitam yēna tasmai çré guravē namaù
Dēhē jévatvam äpannam caitanyam niñkaÿam param
Tvam padam darçitam yēna tasmai çré guravē namaù
Akhaëòam paramärtham sadaikyam ca tvam tadōççubham
Asinä darçitam yēna tasmai çré guravē namaù
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
Brahmänandam parama sukhadam kēvalam jïänamürtim
Dwandwätétam gagana sadåçam tatvamasyädi lakñyam
Ēkam nityam vimalamacalam sarvädhé säkñi bhütam
Bhävätétam triguëa rahitam sadgurum tam namämi
Sri Vasishtham Namami
Ramaya ramabhadraya ramachandraya vedhase
Raghunathaya nathaya sityah pataye namah
Aapadaamapahartaaram
Om Purnamadah
Om Santissantissantihi
In the Yoga Vasishtha, in the Vairagya Prakarana in the 30th sarga we are discussing the topic Prayojana Kathanam.
We saw how Sri Rama described his state of mind and placed his questions before his gurus, to benefit all of us. He pleaded for initiation.
A new insight developed in my mind after a discussion with Dr. Swarna Prasad. Here, Sri Rama acknowledged his ignorance and declared himself as a disciple. In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna as Guru used Arjuna as an excuse to teach us spiritual wisdom. Rama here was still very young. The traditions in Treta Yuga were different. Soon Rama will go into exile. There he would have no one to teach but Lakshmana. Now he became a student, and received knowledge from his gurus. In the next Yuga, the Dwapara Yuga, he incarnated as Jagadguru Sri Krishna.
After Rama, Vishnu incarnated as Parasurama and Balarama. Rama told many rishis that he would again give them darshan as Krishna in the Dwapara Yuga. Rama and Krishna were complete avataras/incarnations unlike the others.
As for himself, as Paramatma, grief was as insignificant as a blade of grass.
I mentioned yesterday that Mother Sita regarded her troubles as being as insignificant as a blade of grass. This might create a question in your minds. The torment she suffered was enormous. How can we say that she treated it as insignificant? She is enlightened and was not troubled. Then why did she cry? She wept because Rama was weeping for her sake. Her sorrow was an expression of the sharing of Rama’s grief. It is the same with Rama. Rama wept thinking of Sita’s grief. Both great souls were feeling the other’s pain.
Verse
O Brahmarshi, Sri Rama is addressing the gurus. The antahkarana, the moon in the sky called the heart has a stain. Please remove the stain and make me flawless, regardless of any hurdles you may find on the way. Another meaning is that as quickly as possible, remove my flaws. For Vedanta study, negative energies will be very strong, trying to obstruct progress. Sri Rama is praying for them to be removed and overcome.
Verse
What should I grasp? What should I let go?
Heyopaadeyavarjita is a name for Mother Goddess in Sri Lalita Sahasranama. Mother transcends both the desirable and the undesirable.
This word ‘heyam’ means that which is to be rejected. We should develop the discretion to know what should be held on to and what is to be discarded.
Sri Rama has declared that this entire world lacks essence. Sri Tyagaraja says only Ramarasa is the essence in this world. That alone should be captured and enjoyed. A Kannada song describes how to prepare the Ramarasa payasam, a dessert with different ingredients that will together make the sweet pudding with the essence of Rama as the main ingredient. You will find it in some books. Please look it up. Swamiji has composed a bhajan, Rama nama ki madhur malaayi.
How to give complete rest to this mind?
We exert excessively even for accomplishing a small task. The mind is lacking focus. Great souls succeed in missions very quickly. Some persons attain siddhi by chanting the name of God just once. Some attain by chanting a mantra a hundred times or perhaps a hundred thousand times. Some never seem to attain siddhi despite great effort. The reason is that concentration is lacking.
This Samsara is causing lots of troubles. It is filled with infections. This is like a cholera epidemic. Earlier, medicines were administered with prayers in the Ayurveda system of medicine. Doctors pray that the medicine should work. That is their mantra. Then the medicine will be effective. God’s power is more effective than human power in healing ailments. Without prayer even a small problem will become aggravated. With God’s will even a major disease will get cured easily.
Verse
I am looking for unlimited, unbounded bliss. Our happiness is bound by certain limits imposed by time and place and the things and objects we associate with. Brahmanandam/Supreme Bliss is unlimited. It transcends any limitations and it is eternal.
Desakaala anavachchinnam is a phrase to remember.
Such happiness I seek. My mind needs to be cooled. Like a bouquet of flowers that blooms such happiness and the everlasting happiness granted by the full moon, such happiness I seek.
Verse
I need to feel full inside. I feel vacant inside.
Paina pataaram Lona lotaaram is a saying in Telugu. A tree appears majestic but is eaten up inside by termites. By a mere touch it will collapse and disintegrate.
A half-filled pot of water creates a jarring sound. Swamiji cried as a baby.
Only when the inner heart is filled and is whole, one derives peace.
Shanti pathas are there for different Sastras, such as sahana vavatu, purnamadah purnamidam and so on. This Sastra grants such fullness.
That full state Sri Rama is seeking, where he will never again feel grief again. He never again felt this kind of grief.
When Sri Rama lost his most beloved wife, he wept. Yet, he adhered to dharma in his battle to win her back. Any other person would have jumped off a cliff and killed himself. Where did he derive such strength of mind to withstand such a calamity? It was from the Upadesa given by Vasishtha. Also when he deliberately sacrificed the company of Sita, he got the inner strength to abide by Dharma, because of the Upadesa received from Guru.
You are all-knowing. Kindly enlighten me.
What remains with us and supports us during difficult times is the guidance of Guru.
verse
That greatest state of bliss and composure I seek. O great soul, those who do not seek that state, their fickle thoughts torment them the way hunting dogs torment and torture a traveler in a jungle. He is an inferior being. Inferiority is not of the body, whether he is weak, unattractive, puny, or ill-formed, but that his mind and goal in life are inferior.
This concludes the 30th sarga.
The 31st sarga is Raghava Prasnaha
What is the objective in Rama’s mind? What is he intending to ask?
Vedantins have a great quality. Even if an atheist is teaching Vedanta, one must sit and listen. The gurus are great Vedantins. Rama is a youth. Yet, they are listening intently to his narration. Some of the examples that Rama is presenting are new to them, although they are enlightened souls. Each person has his own way of seeing things. Rama is guru to us, not to Viswamitra and Vasishtha. He is their disciple. Unless one is asked, one should not reveal information, is a statement in Sanskrit. It is a common understanding in the world. Unasked if something is given it will not be valued.
They will keep listening as long as I continue to speak, thought Sri Rama. It is time that I present my questions. Sri Rama’s pleading for Upadesa is called Raghava Prasnaha.
He compares this life to the rainy season.
Proccha
The moon worn by Siva on his head is not a visible moon. Similarly, one’s longevity is unpredictable and unseen. Life is like the raindrop that is dangling at the tip of a new leaf at the topmost branch of a tree. It might drop to the ground at any time. It is breezy up there. Living in such an unpredictable body, how am I expected to live and what is it I am supposed to learn?
Kedaara
In a field, they store water. It attracts a lot of frogs and they make a terrible noise. One cannot sleep and cannot even withstand the racket. The frogs keep croaking loudly constantly. The frog dies exhausted, croaking till it cannot croak anymore.
Like a small creeper or a net that snaps, the vocal chords break inside the frog’s throat.
We develop good associations and relationships. But this obstructs the acquisition of Jnana.
Moha/illusion is like a thunderstorm. It begins as a sprinkle and gets increased to a terrible storm. A peacock shouts with joy at such a time, and the flowers bloom during the rainy season.
verse
During the rainy season, cats are said to have a greater appetite for mice. The cat called Death looks all around, searches for, bites, chews to bits and discards all living creatures. The cat called death swims tirelessly along the flow of Samsara to catch the mice called creatures.
Verse
How to travel in this dreadful storm? What kind of umbrella can withstand this powerful storm? Cars and houses also get carried away in the floods. What is the refuge for me? Which god do I pray to? Once upon a time, a lotion would be applied that would allow one to fly away during a flood. Who do I pray to? While climbing hills one is supposed to pray to Rama. During fire hazard one is supposed to pray to the Vayu deva and Hanuman. That is my concern. Please tell me which deity will give me rescue.
During rain people take shelter under a tree, in a porch of a house, or in a cave. I am caught in this terrible storm called life.
verse
This life is a jungle. Here a glorious sun must rise.
Verse
Sri Rama gives us a Subhashitam. There are very great souls, who are extremely intelligent and powerful. Either on earth, sky, heaven, or netherworld, the wise and great souls have earned the power to uplift beings who are inferior. Sri Rama is praying for bringing about a change in his life. This is a Subhashitam. He is praising the greatness and power of great souls. We must remember this.
Verse
Viswamitra is there present in the assembly. Trisanku’s life was a part of his life. In the Bala Kanda of the Ramayana this story is narrated. Trisanku asked his guru Vasishtha to perform a yajna to lift him to heaven with his body. Vasishtha said, “It is not possible. You may leave. If you are a true disciple, leave my presence.” Trisanku went to the 100 sons of Vasishtha. He prostrated to them and said, “I asked my priest, your father for ‘sasareera swargam’. He has denied my request. At least you all should perform the yajna to help me achieve my desire. The sons got angry at Trisanku. Guru is not a magician to cast a spell. How dare you ask us to do what he has refused to do? If you approach others for a boon rejected by your own guru, you are a ‘guru drohi’/betrayer of Guru. “You become a Chandala”, they cursed.
Chandala is one without a caste. Each caste is designated a satkarma/beneficial activity by God.
Trisanku will be deprived of the stimulus to do any good deed. His body turned black, his ornaments fell off. A blanket covered his body where royal robes once were. He became devoid of satkarma. In that state he went to Viswamitra. He went to the enemy of Vasishtha, his guru. He praised himself. He boasted. He only asked his guru for the position of guru, he said. “I went to his sons. They cursed me.”
Viswamitra had the power to grant him ‘sasareera swarga’. He granted him the wish. Trisanku floated up and went to heaven. The deities threw him down. He fell headlong towards the earth. He cried out to be rescued. Viswamitra created a separate location for him to live called Trisanku Swarga. The axis for the wheel that supports the three worlds was created by Viswamitra. That is what Trisanku Swarga represents. The power of Viswamitra was so great.
Sunassepha was also a person in Viswamitra’s story. To Ambareesha he was sold as a sacrificial beast to be offered as narabali in a yajna. Viswamitra is the maternal uncle of Sunassepha. The boy cried out for rescue. Viswamitra gave him two mantras to chant. The deities will protect you from death and Ambareesha will still receive the fruit of the yajna, Viswamitra said.
This is guru charitra.
You are so great, O Gurus. Whoever seeks refuge with Guru will certainly succeed.
Verse
In this wretched worldly life, I wish to reject all worthless things. Life must be filled with essence. Please teach me how to find essence in this life.
Verse
The spring season is described how at that time the milky substance falls from the trees to the ground and makes it pure. Flowers bloom and make everything fresh. Please initiate me and give me satisfaction.
Verse
Please cleanse me of all contamination. May this mind-moon become filled with nectar.
Verse
How do I understand the process of this life? How do I earn the fruit of both this world and the world hereafter? Teach me how to travel in this jungle called life. Then my life will improve.
Ragadwesha
I wish to be free from love, hate, luxuries, and other things that torment me. What is required to be learned, to achieve this? Please teach me that.
Dheera, O great souls, just as mercury does not burn in fire, fallen in the fire of this world, I wish to survive.
Verse
The reason I ask is, one who falls into the ocean cannot from getting wet. No matter what kind of cap you wear, your hair will certainly get wet. One born into this world has to perform action. Please teach me how to perform it.
Verse
There is nothing but blame in the performance of actions. Even satkarmas/good deeds are done with like and hate. Either I should be well, or he should perish, are the feelings entertained by the mind. I see no action that is free from comfort or discomfort.
Verse
Is there fire in this world that does not burn? It is the nature of fire to burn. If it does not burn, it is not fire. There is no action that will not cause degeneration. There is nothing greater than Jnana in this world. Every scripture declares this.
Jnana is liberation. Sri Rama praises the value of spiritual knowledge.
Verse
In the three worlds, without that yukti/technique, that yoga, there is no salvation. The mind remembers and registers the vasanas/tendencies from past lives. Without extinguishing them there is no liberation. Please teach me the technique to get rid of tendencies.
Until you feel that I have fully acquired the knowledge, please continue to teach me.
Verse
Vyavahaara
While engaging in the affairs of the world, how can I remain free from being touched by them? Please teach me.
Verse
Those great souls who have led such lives and still obtained the greatest peace, the strategy that they followed, that I wish to learn.
Verse
O great souls who have destroyed your illusion. please show me the way. Please teach me all that you know.
Verse
You may say, there is no such thing in this world. In case you say that or you wish not to disclose it to me, or you choose not to tell me, then I will try on my own. If I fail to find it from my own effort, then I will discard and relinquish everything totally. I will give up my ego and even the wish to breathe. I will neither eat, nor drink even water. I will not even wear clothes. I will not bathe or engage in charity.
Verse
I will do nothing. I will not earn. I will not try to protect myself from danger. If you refuse to tell me, I will give up my life.
Vishnu Datta says in the Datta Darsanam: Even if you kill me, I will not leave your feet. Such should be the firm determination.
Verse
I will give up all doubts and questions. If you do not remove my doubts, then who will help me? I will remain static like a picture drawn on the wall.
Verse
This is the conglomeration of all things, this body. I will gradually give up this body. Soon I will do that. I will give up inhalation and exhalation. I will reject and discard everything. I have no one. No one belongs to me. Without your instruction and initiation, like a lamp that gets extinguished without oil, I will get extinguished.
Are these questions? Or are these answers?
Siddhas and Charanas/demi-gods came there and said: This is the Maha Upadesam of Sri Rama.
Sri Rama at this stage has Jnana but not the experience of it. To attain that, he requires instruction. Knowledge is there in him, but not the wisdom born from experience. Vasishtha then gives him instruction.
Verse
This is the concluding verse. Having said this, beautiful like the moon, with extreme grief-filled mind Rama remained still. Sri Rama took a vow with Rajo Guna befitting a Kshatriya/a king.
When seeing dense clouds causing great thunder, the peacocks feel ecstatic and shout loudly. Their shouts and screams called Keka lose to the sounds of the deafening thunder of the clouds. Shouting constantly, finally exhausted, the peacocks remains still. Such was Rama’s state.
Keka/shout – this Telugu word came from this.
Like a peacock, Sri Rama vehemently,passionately and fervently expressed himself and then remained quiet.
Nabhascharaha – the celestials
There are 24 Vyasas. They remain in the form of lights. They are everywhere. They are all-pervasive. Light penetrates everywhere.
The Sages and celestials were amazed at the words spoken by Sri Rama. For half an hour they rained flowers on him.
Now through remote control they arrange for a rain of flowers on the stage.
All were stunned at Sri Rama’s speech. Vasishtha and Viswamitra also remained in stunned silence.
When the flowers fell, the bees came out of them and began buzzing. That was the only sound that was heard, the Omkara. Mother Bhramaramba, the consort of Mallikarjuna Siva appeared as a bee to kill a demon.
Verse
Like the chanting of the Veda, Rama spoke words never before uttered or heard by anyone.
Nabahschara maheechara sammelanam
As they descended to the earth from the heavens, the Brahmarshis were all jostling in a rush to come down and have the darshan of Rama. They all served Rama.
Aho bata kumarena
Mutual greetings and honors were exchanged.
With their permission, Sri Rama sat down after offering them his prostrations.
Verse
O this youngster has given us these wonderful statements. They are all so clearly stated, so noble, and so enlightening, so informative, so well rendered and exhilarating. We have heard them from Sri Rama, what we have never heard before.
Satodara chamatkritihi
Such speech has never been heard before. Only one in a million can speak enchantingly like this. This expression of Mother Goddess Saraswati will grant all boons that one may wish for. None but you can express like this, O Rama, they extolled.
Verse
Whoever listens to this speech of Sri Rama is blessed. Those who follow this brilliant train of thought expressed by Rama are indeed great. Those in this human body, who think that this case filled with blood and flesh is the ultimate, are totally deluded and are the most inferior.
Veres
Only beasts are deluded by this cycle of repeated births and deaths and are enamored of it. The humans who are of that mindset are no better than beasts. Only those who give up this delusion and journey toward Jnana are the worthy ones.
Anuttama
Rare trees are there and are hard to find. These words are like such rare tree species. When such words are heard, they should be treasured, cherished and continually pondered over.
Samyak
At this young age, he has fully understood the way of this world with just his analysis and discretion.
Sri Gandluru Narasimha Sastry, when he read this work, has underlined this phrase ‘chiruvayassu’/young age.
Sulabhaaha
Sandalwood trees do not grow everywhere. They only grow in selected regions. Sri Rama’s words are rare like sandalwood trees.
Verse
There are trees in every forest. But Lavanga latas/special species of trees and creepers are rare. Only in Kerala you find them.
Verse
Sri Rama’s words give delight like moonlight and bouquets of fragrant flowers.
Verse
O great souls! This wretched world lacks essence and Sri Rama’s words have now imbibed it with essence.
Verse
Only those who search for the essence in this life are the exalted human beings. They are ever extolled and emulated.
verse
Such a man as Rama has never been born before. Such a one will not be born in the future. Sri Rama is ever unique.
Sakala loka
Unanimously all the great sages declared:
Such exhilarating words have been spoken by Raghava/Sri Rama. What is the use if we do not respond to his statements? All that we have learned, all of our penance is a waste if we do not answer his questions. We have to search for answers if we do not have them.
Unanimously they decided to give Upadesam to Sri Rama. They took a vow. They resolved to teach Sri Rama. Although not all of them taught Sri Rama, still, it was a unanimous resolve.
This concludes the Vairagya Prakarana.
We have discussed many topics and concepts beginning just after Guru Purnima during the Chaturmasya Deeksha. Please keep remembering them. Ponder over them. Pray to Sadguru. Increase your devotion to Guru. By Guru’s grace, even things not mentioned in books will be inspired in the minds. Increase your sadhana.
Swamiji once went to Cambodia. He called from there and mentioned a very important Hindu heritage monument. He insisted that it should be seen. Prasad is taking me there and then to Malaysia. I will return on the 20th. After that we have the Deepavali festival. Swamiji will be going to Chennai.
In the Karteeka Masa Mumukshu Vyavahaara Prakarana will be commenced. It begins with the mention of Sage Suka.
I pray to Sri Swamiji to help me complete these discourses without any hurdles. I pray for his grace on all devotees.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Om Santissantissantihi