Monday, December 3, 2018

Bhaja Govindam - Post 20

Verse 19

योगरतो वा भोगरतो वा सङ्गरतो वा सङ्गविहीनः ।
यस्य ब्रह्मणि रमते चित्तं नन्दति नन्दति नन्दत्येव ॥ १९॥

yogarato vā bhogaratovā
sangarato vā sangavihīna,
yasya brahmai ramate citta
nandati nandati nandatyeva

(One may revel in yoga or pleasures; in the company of people or bereft of company. Only the one whose mind steadily delights in Brahman revels; indeed he alone is truly happy.)

In the previous verses, Sankara deals with dispassion and desire and traces to their origin.

Now in this verse we do the same for Happiness, and trace where it comes from. 

It is a common belief that object fetch us happiness.

In a session, author deals with this.

A south Indian coffee which brings immense satisfaction to a South Indian, is not touched by a pathan based in Afghan who finds satisfaction only in tea.

Similarly, a south Indian lady may love to wear a south Indian silk saree whereas a lady based in Banaras may not even touch a Kancheepuram silk saree, she may go in for only attractive Banaras silk saree.

Also, for a same human being, as he moves from childhood to youth and from youth and manhood etc., the objects which give him satisfaction keep varying. Obviously, those games which gave him great joy while he was a child, may not attract him when he reaches his adolescent age. 

In his youth, he may get attracted to some female and his life’s purpose would then be to attain that girl as his partner. He feels his life will get fulfilled only when he gets that girl as his partner in life.

So, one thing is clear.

No object in this world has propensity to give high level of happiness to all human beings in all times, in all situations!!

Happiness is in Self Alone!!! 

Taittriya Upanishad deals with various levels of Ananda / Bliss. 

For simplicity sake, let us prefix each level of ananda explained in this Upanishads as a level.

Level 1 - Suppose there is a young man — a noble young man — versed, the best of rulers, firm in body and strong and possesses the whole world, full of wealth, is his: that is one measure of human bliss. 

Level 2 - This human bliss, multiplied on hundred times, is one measure of the bliss of the human gandharvas, as also of a man versed in the Vedas and free from desires. 

Level 3 – This bliss of the human gandharvas, multiplied one hundred times, is one measure of the bliss of the celestial gandharvas, as also of a man versed in the Vedas and free from desires.

Level 4 - This bliss of the celestial gandharvas, multiplied one hundred times, is one measure of the bliss of the Manes, who dwell in the long — enduring world, as also of a man versed in the Vedas and free from desires.

Level 5 - This bliss of the Manes who dwell in the long — enduring world, multiplied on hundred times, is one measure of the bliss of the gods born in the Ajana heaven, as also of a man versed in the Vedas and free from desires.

Level 6 - The bliss of the Gods born in the Ajana heaven, multiplied one hundred times, is one measure of the bliss of the sacrificial gods who have attained to divinity by means of sacrifices, as also of a man versed in the Vedas and free from desires.

Level 7 - The bliss of the sacrificial gods, multiplied one hundred times, is one measure of the bliss of the gods, as also of a man versed in the Vedas and free from desires.

Level 8 - The bliss of the gods, multiplied one hundred times, is one measure of the bliss of Indra, as also of a man versed in the Vedas and free from desires.

Level 9 - The bliss of Indra, multiplied one hundred times, is one measure of the bliss of Brihaspati, as also of a man versed in the Vedas and free from desires.

Level 10 - The bliss of Brihaspati, multiplied one hundred times, is one measure of the bliss of Prajapati, as also of a man versed in the Vedas and free from desires.

Level 11 - The bliss of Prajapati, multiplied one hundred times, is one measure of the bliss of Brahma, as also of a man versed in the Vedas and free from desires.

ULTIMATE LEVEL OF HAPPINESS -BRAHMANANDA

He who is here in man and he who is in yonder sun — both are one. He who knows this, after dying to this world, attains the self which consists of food, attains the self which consist of the vital breath, attains the self which consists of the mind, attains the self which consists of intellect, attains the self which consists of bliss. 

While all other happiness are  at mental level, once a spiritual aspirant, after years or may be several births of Sadhana, realizes SELF / Brahmananda, he crosses the stage where he is able to exist separate from Bliss / Happiness and is able to experience Bliss with his mind.

Such a man is free, but not whimsical. He enjoys without attachment. 

Such a Jivanmukhta, though without any possession and yet is ever content, though he may be engaged in lot of activities, yet he remains inactive (from within), though in Bhoga sometimes but he is  still untouched by it.

While sankara said, 


Nandati Nandati Nandaty Eva
(He alone truly enjoys, without any doubt)

The author prostrates to Sankara and dares to change the expression and says:

 He does not enjoy true happiness, HE IS JOY.

As long as one says, I enjoy this, I enjoy that, to that extent, He is different from the thing he is enjoying or the experience he is getting out of the object of enjoyment. This is so because no object can give eternal enjoyment, which has been dealt clearly in the beginning of this post. 


But here is the vairaagi or the Jivanmukhta who does not enjoy bliss but exists as the very source of Bliss.


He sings,


Chidananda Roopah Shivoham Shivoham

[The embodiment of consciousness absolute, Bliss absolute, the benign one am I, I am Shiva (the ever auspicious)]

Love.




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