Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
Day 57, October 5
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 Brahmaa, Sri Bhooyuta.. , Ajnana .. Akhanda, Dehe …, Akhandam ..
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
Brahmanandam, Sri Vasishtham Namami, Ramaya, Aapadaamapahartaaram, Om Purnamadah,
Om Santissantissantihi
Sri Rama is describing how we view this world that is made up of the five elements, and how in fact we should view it. What is real and what is not real in this world? We see as real what does not really exist. We are blind to what is actually real. This is a huge mistake. How do we correct this mistaken notion?
Sage Valmiki is gifting to us through Sri Rama this very poetic verse.
Aalokyate ..
We are viewing the world without using proper discretion. We wonder what Sri Rama means by that statement. Does not the world consist of whatever we perceive? How can we be wrong in taking as real whatever we experience as the world? The world appears to us as per our Samskara/mental attitude. Does each individual have the same approach towards the world? Can ignorance be of different levels, as more ignorant and less ignorant? Ignorance is ignorance. Everyone in the world suffers from ignorance. When we come to the ashrama, we should see Swamiji. Once we see Swamiji, whether or not we see the ashrama is not important.
We are seeing the world. But we are forgetting the presence of God. Only the foolish see the world the way we are seeing it.
We know of the five elements: earth, water, air, fire, and space. Is there anything in this world other than these? Everything is made up of different combinations of these in different proportions. But that the world consists only of the five elements is not a correct view. Man is not just a mixture of the five elements. Unless another important feature, whether you call it as life force, consciousness, or soul is added to the mixture of the five elements, man does not become a living creature. Nothing lives without that additional element. We forget that entity and see the presence of only the five elements. The Paramatma/Supreme Soul has been forgotten by us, because He is not seen. Only those who lack wisdom argue that only what is perceived is real. If you close your eyes, then does the world cease to exist? You may argue that because another person has his eyes open still, and is seeing the world, the world exists. It exists for him. But does it exist for you?
What is seen may appear as real. But reality is quite different. 2 times 2 is always only 4 and never 6. The wise see this material world including all the things that are useful for them and those that are useless for them, and yet, they are never for a moment forgetful of the presence of God.
The rest of us who are unwise, see only the material world and consider it as real, forgetting entirely the existence of God, who is the actual reality. Rama is hence, giving us this Upadesa.
Chamatkriti ..
With this unreal substance called the world, can anything be prepared? It is only with what is substantial one can prepare something. With imaginary rice, oil, ghee, dal, and vegetables, can one prepare a meal? If the world is unreal, how are we able to produce so many things and how are we able to experience so many things?
An oyster shell appears like silver. The man ran to grab it thinking the he can sell it and make money. In the rays of the sun, it shone beautifully. But once he realized that it was not silver, he discarded it. Similarly, this world, which is not real, is not useful. Just as one cannot make silver ornaments with what appears as silver in the oyster shell but is in fact not silver, what appears as real in this world is in fact, not real.
As per our individual samskaras, we create our own individual worlds. Altogether, it becomes a world for all. This is not real. Now they are slowly introducing us into the scriptural knowledge. Just because you think that it is silver, can you make silver ornaments using the oyster shell?
This same verse poses the question and gives the answer also.
O noble soul, I am stating what I know and I am posing a question.
Sometimes what we think of most, comes as a dream. Sometimes, most unfamiliar scenes occur.
A king dreamed that he was a beggar. But when he woke up, he looked for his throne, not the begging bowl. Similarly, a beggar who dreamed that he was a king, also woke up to his life as a beggar. The dream is not real.
Many strange visions occur in a dream. Sometimes dreams have also helped people to destroy their sins.
Harishchandra got a dream. He sold his wife. Lost his son. He became a guard at a cremation ground. He was one of six great emperors, whose wealth is Dharma. H was the foremost amongst them. The names must be remembered every day. His dream lasted for 12 years, filled with uninterrupted suffering. It was as if he was sleeping on a bed of thorns. He suffered agony. When he finally openend his eyes, he saw his Guru Viswamitra. He was surprised and served him. Viswamitra says, you have experienced the consequences of sin in your dream. Those sins have been destroyed because of his suffering in the dream, as told by Viswamitra, his guru. The science of dreams says that the tears you shed in a dream exhaust your sins.
Dreams appear to be true. But they are not true. This life in the world is similar.
Rama is emphasizing this point.
In the olden days, a box would be brought. Many scenes will be shown inside that box. A cloth would be draped over us and we would be asked to look through a hole. From total darkness, you only look at those scenes. Even after coming out of that experience, the scenes will remain in our memory.
A past dream, an ongoing dream.
This world appears like a dream. But we experience pleasures. But these pleasures are not true. Harishchandra is a great king.
We are speaking about ordinary people and the dreams that they experience.
A Chinese saw a butterfly in a dream. Does this dream belong to me or to the butterfly? Many times one wonders whether this world is real or illusory?
First understand this question and ponder over it, that this world appears before us like a dream.
Pleasures are appealing. After enjoying them for 95 years, why not think of the truth behind it then? It is only when one is grief-stricken one thinks of Sadguru and devotion. Why worry about those things now, while at this young age? Why not begin to enjoy the pleasures?
Rama says, yes. One feels like that. But afterwards to attempt to realize the truth, it will be difficult to do so. The moment the desire comes to the mind to know the truth, one must at once begin the internal search. Today itself, one must begin the attempt. Later on, it will be too late. It will then become a tree growing in the sky. Do it now. Do not waste your life. Fulfill your life right now.
Greed and possessiveness are most difficult to overcome. If this takes over, all the others will also increase. Desire, anger, and avarice are gateways to heaven. This is mine. I have to protect it. This youth is mine and I have to extend it, is also an undesirable thought. Unless the effort begins at once, it will be too late to even get a whiff of truth. Tomorrow is unpredictable. We must utilize today to engage in this pursuit of truth.
This statement applies to everyone in the modern day.
A goat is taken for grazing. It begins to climb a mountain.
The goat climbed over boulders, and a steep hill side to find the very last tree at the mountain top. It eats the leaves. It climbs the thorny tree and when it reaches the top most limb, unable to withstand the pain of the thorns, loses its balance, and falls down to its death.
Chasing after more and more out of greed, like the goat that falls to its death, man also goes to an excess. One must draw a line. One must get rid of dissatisfaction. Unless you first gain peace of mind, you cannot provide peace of mind to others. One must be selfish when it comes to peace of mind. This is not the worldly peace where there is lack of terrorism and so on. This is inner peace that we are speaking about. Do not follow the example of the goat. When there are plenty of leaves available on the lower branches, why climb so high? It is still the same species of tree that is at the tree top as on the level ground. The same goat climbed yesterday also. It found that it is the same species of tree. Still it climbed again today, only to lose its life.
Similarly, in this series of births, we climb to high levels, only to fall down. We do not travel towards God. We become greedy about worldly success.
We aspire for to reach a position that cannot be reached. There is not an iota of benefit in reaching such a position. It is important no doubt, to protect this body. Subhashitam says that we have to take care of the body.
What is the purpose? No scripture ever tells us that we should torment the body or kill it by committing suicide. One must protect the boat. What is the point in keeping the boat safely tied on the dry bank. What is the purpose served by such a boat? It will still rot with rain and sun. The boat should be placed in the water and used for the purpose for which it was built. What is the use of having a human body if it is not used for achieving its proper purpose?
By great merit acquired in some past lives, you have acquired this human body, by the grace of Guru. You have spent much merit to purchase this human body. It is a great purchase. All our efforts are directed towards traveling towards eternal bliss. No one makes effort to gain pain. We have to cross this ocean of sorrow and reach the other side. We have to do this before this human body, which is like a boat, does not break to pieces or rot. In a small verse, this great teaching is conveyed to us in the Subhashitam. As per the age and condition of the body, the necessary exercises should be performed to keep the body fit and useful. Develop knowledge, respect for elders, and guru. The ignorant one rejects all of these and is unable to climb the spiritual ladder.
Speaking about goats, now Rama speaks of deer with black spots. They are not easily found. One should perform a Yajna where they are found, because such place are very holy. Some humans rarely display a very noble personality with compassion, truth, kindness, gentleness, and so on. We must remain noble. We must not degenerate to the level of the wicked. There are gentle people and there are cruel people. We must follow the example of the wise. There are many who do good deeds but do not use discretion. Discretion is very important. The lack of it may lead one astray.
Seeing the bad plight of men, Rama feels very sorry. Many people do not show sympathy. Many simply criticize. The first among who tries to help the misled ones is Sadguru. God is like a corpse, lacking sympathy totally. He is not in the least bit concerned about helping these persons who are treading the terrible path and suffering as a consequence. Things appear pleasing but they yield painful results. That Destiny/God is making us do terrible deeds. We must make an effort to overcome the acts of destiny. One must use the inner strength to overcome the influence of fate. One who has the support of Sadguru gains the strength to even conquer over fate. It is important for us to make the effort.
This is the last and the most essential verse;
People do various things, mostly with selfish desires. Most are this way. Not even in a dream do we find those who do good deeds properly using their discretion. Always the actions that give painful results are chosen by the people. How do I succeed in this travel through this life? Rama is just 16 years old and is completely confused as to how he is going to proceed through this journey called life. This is called Snatakam. One is made to take a vow at the completion of studies that he would utilize his knowledge only for the benefit of society.
It is like the Graduation Ceremony. The students must remember their oath and their responsibility.
Rama is reminding us of this. The world is like that. How should we conduct ourselves? How do we earn the grace of Sadguru who will properly guide us? What is the use of living in this world, is what Rama is indicating. That statement that this life is not wanted is wrong. That is why Sadguru is required. We did not choose to come into this world. Because Rama stated that this life and this world are not good, Sadguru intervened and gave him the required instruction.
The bad thoughts and actions which lead us away from Truth and lead us towards the path that blocks liberation should be avoided. We have to use our discretion and choose the right path.
In the 28th sarga called Sarvabhaava avirata viparyaasam – Sri Rama explains how these things are all illusory. How do we succumb to this illusion? How do we overcome this illusion? Until illusion is removed, we cannot experience divinity.
Sri Guru Datta