Day 96. Realisation- 6

From Joy are born all creatures, 

       by joy they grow and to joy they return.

     (Taitiriya Upanishad)

We saw in the previous 3 blogs that Adi Shankara's teachings were not aimed at Householders.( When a Nobel laureate speaks , the audience will not be an ordinary one!). So, where will a householder seeks/gets spiritual guidance ?

 Kapila Gita could be one firm avenue. It is part of Bhagavat Purana which describes the story of all Jivas- rather elaborately. All Hindus at one point of time  or other ask the question, how to realise  the God described so much in our scriptures.. 

Many embark even on Sanyasa from a young  age in this noble pursuit. Adi Shankara left home at the age of 8 or so. Swami Vivekananda in his twenties.( Recently I listened to an monk from RK ashram, who stated  that the desire to become a sanyasi arose at the age of 9, but as insisted by his mother, he completed his PG before  renunciation. Now he is touching 84 years!) At the same time some do not even take up in ripe old age!

•  Devahuti, wife of Kardama Prajapati could be a TRUE representative of  a typical householder in many ways. 
• She had nine daughters and the tenth child was Kapila Vasudeva, an avatar of Lord Vishnu.( This may not be  fully applicable to the current age.)
• Kardama Prajapati took to sansya when Kapila Muni turned 10 years of age. Kapila waited for his mother to develop vairagya for this world and seek spiritual guidance.
• At last, one day, she approaches Kapila Muni- who was merely 10 years of age- for spiritual guidance. She was aware that her son is an avatar of Vishnu and hence approached him with all reverence, not merely as son. 
•   Having spent her life in bringing up of nine daughters and marrying them of, she had completed her responsibilities and thereafter felt a sense of futility, disgust for the mundane human life.
•  The right time to seek spiritual counsel indeed. Hence this story will resonate with the life of majority of Hindu people in the world. All of them embark on life’s journey with great fanfare and with multiple experiences, one day reach the plight of Devahuti.
• In her case Kapila Muni was present at home for long. For us, we may have to look ardently for a teacher, guru.
• Not to be worried about  that. It is said that once the shisya is ready, Guru will appear

***ASK NOT WHAT HINDUISM WILL DO FOR YOU,

      BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR HINDUISM***

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ तत् सत्

 8 AM

Day 95. Realisation- 5

The  third and last kriti  being covered here is NIRVANA SHATAKAM. In just six  slokas , Acharya has summed up  the whole learnings/teachings covered in the Vedo -Upanishads. Hence it is  also called as a mantra for deeper mediation too. Though the contents are very  limited its import is unfathomable. 

It is definitely aimed at advanced Sadhakas , who alone will be able to derive its hidden meaning in full and benefit from it completely.

But other seekers can also recite and reflect over it in their spiritual pursuits.

The first sloka is cited here . Others can be easily picked from the net.

मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कार चित्तानि नाहं
न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।
न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥१

I am neither the mind nor the intellect, the ego and the memory,
I am neither  ears, the skin, the nose and the eyes,
I am neither  space, nor earth,  fire, water and wind,
I am the formless substratum, consciousness and bliss,
I am Shiva only.

Like this the next five verses follow. Reading, Reciting, Reflecting deeply on those slokas, over a period of time in proper seclusion/guidance and with single minded focus, as being done by sanyasis, will take one to the goal intended.

One thing I realized after studying Acharya's writings for  a  very long time. Those are directed at sanyasis who have acquired the Sadhana Chatushtayam qualities- covered repeatedly in these blogs earlier .

"May those sanyasis,

 1) who are seekers after liberation,

 2)who have purged themselves of all taints of the Mind by the observance of the prescribed methods, 

3)who are averse to the worldly pleasures, 

4)who are of pacified minds, and 

5)take delight in the Srutis-- appreciate this salutary teaching".

                                 Viveka Choodamani,  Adi Shankaracharya ( sloka 579)

 Hence the benefit the Grihastasramis get  by reading those works will be very, very limited. First one should have ADIKARITVAM- eligibility - to pursue spiritual teachings of the highest order. Acharya has addressed such  target groups only( see box above). 

Knowing this funda early will help one to avoid needless anxieties and frustrations on the spiritual front.  Even if there is  only one true disciple the Guru will be  more than happy. In spiritual field quality and not quantity is important.

Be happy. Be safe.

***ASK NOT WHAT HINDUISM WILL DO FOR YOU,

                                BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR HINDUISM***

ॐ तत् सत्

6 AM

Day 94. Reaslisation-4

Param Brahma-परब्रह्म,- Parabrahma in Hindu philosophy is the "Supreme Brahman" that which is beyond all descriptions and conceptualisations. It is described as the formless (in the sense that it is devoid of Maya) that eternally pervades everything, everywhere in the universe and whatever is beyond.

Param Brahma is conceptualised in diverse ways.

·        In the Advaita Vedanta tradition, the Param Brahma is a synonym of Nirguna Brahman, i.e. the attribute-less Absolute.

·        Conversely, in Dvaita Vedanta and Vishistadvaita Vedanta traditions, the Param Brahma is defined as Saguna Brahman, i.e., the Absolute with attributes.

·        In Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Shaktism, Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti respectively are Param Brahma.

·         Mahaganapati is considered as Param Brahma by the Ganapatya sect. 

·        Kartikeya is considered as Param Brahma by the Kartikeya sect.

·        Para is a Sanskrit word that means "higher" in some contexts, and "highest or supreme" in others.

·        Brahman in Hinduism connotes the Absolute, the Ultimate Reality in the universe. In major schools of Hindu philosophy it is the material, efficient, formal and final cause of all that exists.

·         Brahman is a key concept found in the Vedas and is extensively discussed in the early Upanishads and in Advaita Vedanta literature(Wiki)

A seeker needs to know well  from the above that Brahman is only one, and for the convenience of the Sadhaka different names- Saguna- are given. Neither Vyasa or Shakaracharya had any confusions on that. Only half baked followers have such doubts over the superiority issue. 

Even Gods may be helpless in solving their eternal confusions -caused by either Maya or Kali !!!  

This Brahman is discussed extensively in all the Kritis by Jagad Guru Sri Shankaracharya.

One such small ,but not much known, important treatise is Brahmanuchintanam. In this the Acharya has dealt with Brahman comprehensively. First sloka reads-

Ahameva Parabrahmam  Vasudevaakhya mavyayam

Itisyad nischito muktah, bandha eva anyadha bhavet. 

 I am the imperishable Brahman alone, also called Vasudeva, whoever understands this is liberated,  others are still in bondage.

( A highly philosophical/Vedantic poem for the serious sadhakas to recite and meditate. In some 29 slokas, the Acharya takes the true seeker to sublime heights of awareness/ realization). Needless to add, this poem is addressed to advanced Sadhakas- definitely not beginners.

How simply the Acharya has tried to put the highest truth for awareness and understanding! Only difficulty for anyone will be understanding this fully and abiding by it, as human mind with its vagaries dismisses such wholesome thoughts and wanders  aimlessly- birth after birth -after the fleeting, like the child playing with sand castles/bubbles or Sita Devi wanting the Golden Deer!

 Be happy. Be safe.

***ASK NOT WHAT HINDUISM WILL DO FOR YOU,

      BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR HINDUISM**

ॐ तत् सत्

8 AM

Day 93. Realisation 3

The immanence and greatness of Jagadguru Shankaracharya was briefly touched in the previous blog. Acharya has created many compositions. All are having one focus , as I could understand and that is to convey to the world  at large the illusory nature of this phenomenal world. He pithily   and  succinctly stated this as -BRAHMA SATYAM JAGAD MITHYA.

·        (While writing this blog yesterday, I came across a video by Dr. B H Lipton, whose thesis- though not accepted by the mainstream scientists yet- is that belief system determines our future not DNA.(“ In his book The Biology of Belief, he claims that beliefs control human biology rather than DNA and inheritance:” wiki).

·         His findings are closer to Vedantic declarations that Mind /desire is the root cause of this phenomenal existence- once you rise above mind- thoughts-world cease to exist.

·         Hopefully, theywill fin d- like acceptance for Yoga , that came after 70 plus years of independence- and confirm that what Vedas proclaimed about the  \Universe- Isovasyamidam Sarvam- and the illusory nature of the world- Jagad Mithya- may get approval of the West one day for larger acceptability. Not that approval really matters to Indian wisdom in any way.)

Among the numerous works seen/studied/listened to by me, I have selected three kritis in the next 3 blogs- reading of which will give the quintessence of Acharya's line of thinking to serious seekers.

The first kriti  that I wish to cover is Bhaja Govindam, which is one of the earlier texts read by me during 1978 or so. The experience and impressions left a lasting memory. The song in a way summarises the reality of this ephemeral world and life, and helps the seeker to take the mind easily to the spiritual path. In some, 31 slokas,  Adi Shankaracharya and his disciples  spontaneously bring forth these verses.

The first sloka is cited below-

भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं

गोविन्दं भज मूढमते ।

सम्प्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले

नहि नहि रक्षति डुकृङ्करणे ॥

Ø The   sloka  states that “Hey fool- Moodha- , worship Govind( God) and studying rules of grammar will not  surely help one at the time of death.

Ø This can have many interpretations and is very apt for any age. We come across people  indulging in hair splitting discussions endlessly on trivialities. Will that really serve any useful purpose?

Ø Mere wastage of time/breath. Whether the Ram Sethu is mythical or actual ?What engineering skills they possessed ? Was there a Pushpaka Vimana? If we had the technology so long ago , then how come Wright Bros got  the credit for invention? All hair raising questions indeed?  Who can now tell and give answers?

Ø  But people like to debate endlessly-preferably at Prime Time. Instead of focusing on the bad deed of Ravana abducting a woman through deceit, we are concerned about the brand of Pushpaka vimana !!

Ø Acharya’s words are very relevant to such persons. Available time, being very limited on this  earthly soujourn, must be used  more profitably- here he says by worshiping the Lord.

Ø We can adapt to include useful work—as all cannot and should not-  resort to full time  worship of God— then who will   produce food, provide transport , protect country from enemies etc. Acharya  must have used this in a broad  sense. Understand the spirit , rising above the letters.

Ø The subject is esoteric in nature  and one cannot do justice to it through social media. Hindu teachings are done under the Guru-Shishya Parampara- definitely not on an  online mode.

Ø So I wish to restrict  discussions on this aspect due to the said limitations.

Discussions can give only Brama – confusions= not Brahman , which I read somewhere long back.

Much to learn and imbibe for an earnest and serious seeker.

***ASK NOT WHAT HINDUISM WILL DO FOR YOU,

      BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR HINDUISM**

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ तत् सत्

8 30AM