Narada Bhakti Sutra - Post 80

Sutra 76. Bhaktisaastraani mananeeyaan tadbodhaka karmaani karaneeyaani.

[(For the attainment of Bhakti) the teachings of scriptures that promote devotion should be constantly meditated upon and actions that rouse devotion should be practiced.]

Bhaktisaastraani: treatises on devotion

Mananeeyaani: should be reflected upon (Vichaara)

Tadbodhakah karmaani: practices or acts that rouse devotion;

Karaneeyaani: should be performed / practiced (Achaara)

This Sutra is a supplement to Sutras 12, 14, 49 and 62.

Sutras 12 and 14 refer to the Bhakta’s attitude to study and spiritual practices, as well as social service, even after God-realization.

Sutras 49 and 62 refer to his attitude towards the same before the dawn of devotion.

Sutra 76 deals with the same attitude during the stage of Mukhyabhakti.

It is clear that, according to Narada a devotee does not give up his spiritual practices or social service at any stage either before or after realization.

A devotee should study books which place before him the ideals of devotion, the glory, the sweetness and the leelas of the Lord, the stories of saints and the practices which help him to cultivate devotion. Devotion develops by the study of such devotional scriptures.

The most important books in Bhakti shastras  are Ramayana, Srimad Bhagavatam, Narayaneeyam, Gita, Vishnupurana. Adhyatma Ramayana, Tulsi Ramayana (Rama- charitamanas), Vishnu Sahasranama, Sandilya Sutras, Siva Purana, Devi Bhagavata, the Narada Pancharatnam, songs of Alwars and Nayanars, Thevaram, Thiruvachakam, Dasabodha,  Tukkaram’s Abhanga etc.

In the spiritual vocabulary, “Manan or mananam” suggests reflections upon the Upanishad declarations which are the truth in the declarations of the Rishis of the yore.

In this Sutra, “Mananeeyaani” is used, which implies its significant suggestion and association that the term “Bhakti Sastraani” as employed by Devarishi Narada includes also the Upanishads.

In its first part, the sutra gives what is to be done at the mental or more precisely, at the intellectual level when it talks about Mananeeyani.

In the middle part, it talks about the physical transformation and re-adjustment of one’s behavior with the world. This is the discipline of the mind, Vichara.

This transformation mentioned should be implicitly reflected and shining out in one’s conduct of life, which is given towards the end of the Sutras- Achaara.

Dear All, 

In Sai Organization as well in Society in general, Author has come across so many huam beings who go about carrying a flag of “be good, do  good” and say, “I practice practical spirituality, I serve society, I see God in all, this is enough in spirituality, no need for reading all books on Spirituality, practice is enough”.

Yes, some thing is better than nothing. If such beings actually practice what they say, it is Ok to that extent.

Let us take one line of such human beings and ponder upon that. The line- “I see God in all”.

Practically, if the author asks them ( though he never asks, as in the previous sutra only we learnt that vain discussions in Spiritual matters should never be taken up), “Can you please describe and explain how you see God in all, Which God you see in All?”.

Author can assure the readers, there will be no satisfactory answer and there will be only arguments and fights.

To see God in all - as per scriptures

Now, Author shall explain in a very brief way, as to  how our scriptures teach us about this one line / one truth, which will reveal how important is it to read our sastras / our scriptures, in order to understand the grand truth given there, so that leading life in the back-drop of / with the faith and conviction about such truth becomes much easier, more meaningful.

·      God, existing as formless, nameless, attribute less- existed alone and nothing else was there.

·      God willed (mystically) and through a process, this creation came into being.

·      At first, God created the 5 elements one by one.

·      Thereafter, all the 8.4 million  species created, with man being the last and the pinnacle of God’s creation, are made only with the combination of 2 or more of these 5 elements.

·      5 elements could not have come on their own when there was only God and nothing else.

·     Thus, God  Himself, or THAT SPIRIT itself allowed itself to become the matter, the 5 elements.

·      So, 5 elements are God Himself.

·   Since every other thing, including human beings are made of 5 elements, we are all essentially God’s creation and we are all created exactly alike.

·      That God which has been dealt all te while, has been described in the very beginning as form less and attribute less.

· Thus, such a God cannot be ultimately experienced as  a God with form, but as a spirit within, when we transcend our mind and we get the subjective experience of God within.

All the above truth, given in our scripture, when they are read, contemplated or reflected upon, meditated, absorbed and then, we get the inner experience of that God’s essence, then , WE HAVE SEEN GOD IN US!!!

Only when we have EXPERIENCED / SEEN GOD WITHIN US, CAN WE EXACTLY EXPERIENCE THE SAME ESSENCE EVERYWHERE, WHATEVER WE SEE, WHATEVER WE HEAR, WHEREVER WE GO, WHATEVER EXPERIENCE WE GET.

IT IS HERE THAT “SEEING GOD IN ALL” comes true actually.

Now, readers, it is not said that one must not undertake selfless service. What is said here is that, it is only our scriptural reading and contemplation which will make everything clear to us, add purpose to our existence and make us lead every moment of our life as a new moment (moment to moment)!!!!!

Love.