Essence of Vedanta - Part 1

Dear All,

We read in an earlier post on the six major concepts that vedanta covers which are Jiva (Individual), Jagat (Creation), Isvara (Creator), Bandha (Bondage), Moksha (Liberation) and Sadhana (Path). 

Now, the Guru has taken over and instead of directly giving the Maha Vakyas or transcendental truth like the Acharyas used to pour in the upanishadic era, here is the Master who is trying to explain the grand truth, step by step, in an easier way for the student of this modern Era.

Let us read the following article / writing of Swami Tejomayananda and when we reach the end, we will pick up the essence and proceed to explain further on the second concept - Creation with respect to Maya.

Scene 1

In an extremely wondrous garden, roses of different hues are swaying in ecstasy. The light of the early dawn has speckled them with its dewdrops which shine as pearls lending an additional grace to the beauty of the garden Just then, a group of young girls giggled and gaggled their way there.

One of the girls cried out in sheer delight, “Aha! Just look at all these beautiful flowers that have blossomed here. I’d love to put one of them in my hair”. And she ran to fetch it but one of her friends cautioned her about the gardener but who cared?

She touched a flower and was about to pluck it when, suddenly, a voice boomed loudly, “Who is it? STOP! THIEF!”

The girl’s hands shook and shuddered. No flower came her way, rather, an over – protective thorn, pricked her finger. But the gardener devilishly gleamed and curled his huge moustache, content with the fact that he had at least caught someone today. His attention was ever fixed on the flowers waiting for an opportunity for someone to touch even a single one of them so that he could let out his roar. The beauty of the flowers never really bothered him.

Scene 2

After some time, a Krishna bhakta came along chanting, “Shri Krishna Govind Hare Murare, Shri Krishna Govind……………”.

“Ah! What beautiful flowers!” he remarked, “O Krishna, You have Yourself created these flowers so that they may be offered in worship unto You. I will make a garland of these lovely roses and decorate them around Your neck, O Krishna”.

Singing Krishna, Krishna, the Krishna bhakta ventured closer to pluck, and once again the voice boomed, “Who is it ? STOP! THIEF!”

The elderly gardener was a stern disciplinarian of sorts. No sooner did anyone touch the flowers than he would bellow out loud, suddenly appear out of nowhere and swoop down on his prey. Otherwise, he was simply invisible to the naked eye.

As soon as the booming bellow descended on his ears the devotee lost all sense of devotion and landed on the other side of the road cowering from sheer fright.

Pleased with the wondrous effect that his voice had, the elderly gardener went back to his hidden lair waiting for his next prey. God also seemed to be pretty pleased with him. Soon, a young cajoling couple chanced to come there.

Scene 3

Love is blind, or blinds one. So they say, and here is ample proof.

So lost were the couple in each other’s love that they were not aware of others around them. Slowly but surely, both reached the predestined spot. Now, let’s listen to their sweet nothings.

“Oh! This garden is so cute!” said the girl.

“Ah yes, just like you, my love”, said the boy.

“What? Like me? What a comparison!!! I am not so long and large, am I? And there is no green grass growing all over my body…………….What are you talking about? Had I known earlier that you were so devoid of poetry, I’d…….. Anyway, let that be. Say, have you seen these pretty roses? You must get them for me. You had promised that, if need be, you would pluck flowers from Heaven just for me. Remember? Let the Heavens be as they are. But, for the moment, get these flowers for me”.

Hearing these words, the lover boy’s heartbeats beat even faster. He realized what a big mistake he had committed.

The devilish visage of the gardener and his fierce moustache flashed in front of his eyes. From his fallen face one could easily infer that he had encountered the gardener earlier too. But, on the surface, he laughed and said, “You yourself are my most precious rose. Why do you need this flower then?”

“Nothing doing. I just want that rose.”

“Okay, I’ll get it”. Left with no choice the youth threw furtive glances hither and thither and reached the vantage point and …………….. then, …………………..

The moment the blind lovers had even the faintest suspicion of the presence of a third entity other than their twin – blessed one, they walked away from the scene of disaster and didn’t stop till they reached home.

Continued....

Hari Aum Tatsat.