Jnana Vahini - Post 18

To realize that the self is beyond all these subordinate categories, Bhakthi is the first requisite. 

Bhakthi merges in Jnana and becomes identified with it. Bhakthi ripens into Jnana; so do not speak of them as different. At one state it is called Bhakthi, at a later stage we refer to it as Jnana. Once it is cane, later it is sugar.

Through Bhakthi, the Jiva is transformed into Siva, or rather, it knows it is Siva and the Jiva idea disappears. To posit oneself as Jiva, that is Ajnana; to know oneself as Siva, that is Jnana.

A white cloth that has become dirty, is dipped in water, cleaned with soap and warmed and beaten on a slab in order that it may be restored to its color and condition. 

So too, to remove the dirt of Ajnana that has attached itself to the pure Sath-Chit-Ananda Atma, the water of un-blemished conduct and behavior, the soap of Brahman-reflection, the warming of Japam and Dhyanam and the slab of Renunciation are all necessary. Then only can the fundamental Brahman-hood of the Atma shine forth.

It does not help if the soap is good when the water is soiled. All that soap and all that bother of heating and beating will be wasted, for the cloth will continue to be as dirty as before. 

This explains why many aspirants fail. Though they have meditated on Brahman for many years and studied about it for long, their modes of behavior and conduct are all wrong. The fault lies in the water, not in the soap! Their daily habits, acts and activities are mean and low; the Dhyana on Brahman is all wasted. 

A set of persons with curious ideas have cropped up recently and they strut about with great pride, for they have no yearning for God, even no use for God; they are Sevaks and they are satisfied with Service! 

But the essence of Seva is selflessness and abnegation of the fruit thereof; the Sevaks have no right to look down upon the godly and the Spiritual aspirants as inferior. For, that is but reaching for the fruit while neglecting the tree! Selfless service is the final fruit of the Godward Discipline. 

How can the fruit be gained without the long and laborious nurture of the tree? The very foundation of Nishkaama Karma is Prema towards all beings, Prema that seeks no reward. Without spiritual experience of this higher Love, selfless service is impossible.

How pure is the heart full of Bhakthi to God and Prema towards all things! Selfless Service is possible only by such; the rest only prattle about it and pretend to be impelled by it. Only those who are well established in the faith that all are children of God, that He is the Inner Motive Force of every being, can include themselves in that class of social servants.

Author’s note - In the last month’s sadan talk, while talking about SERVE ALL, we shared the following essence.

·         Service can start as a deliberate sadhana in the initial stage, to reduce our gross ego.

·         But, as much as the duality must go in devotion, in seva also, once the expansion of love happens, the duality between me who is serving and him who is served in camp/ in hospital etc. must go.

·         Only at this stage, when this line comes true in your state of existence, Seva is a happening, like the moon spreading its breeze is a happening, sun illumining the world is a happening, a mahatma serving all who come to him is a happening!!

·         We are not doing any Seva for the benefit of others. Seva is a manifestation of the expanded love that we exist as.

We can realize how much Swami’s words align with what we learnt that day. Swami says, “How pure is the heart full of Bhakthi to God and Prema towards all things! Selfless Service is possible only by such”.

Love.