Verse 10
हृत्स्थलेमनःस्वस्थताक्रिया|
भक्तियोगबोधाश्चनिश्चितम्||
hṛtsthale manaḥsvasthatā kriyā |
bhaktiyogabodhāśca niścitam ||
The mind in the place of the Heart is Self-abidance;
This is certainly action, devotion, yoga, and Knowledge.
This verse is neither part of this chapter on
Bhakti, nor an introduction to the next chapter on Ashtanga Yoga. It gives the
overall message of the entire text, which is to show that all paths lead to the
same goal of Oneness, in different ways.
The interesting point here is the positioning
of the verse. It is a literary feature to locate it at the very centre of the
four parts of this book, with two parts on either side of it. Located this way
it is called “Deheli Deepa Nyaya” given in Sadhana Panchakam.
In this literary form, it is as if a lamp is
positioned at the common doorway between two rooms so that it lights up both
rooms. In this case this whole verse is that lamp and it applies to the two
Yogas before it as well as the two after it.
In other words, the verse “lights up” the
entire text; it applies to all the four Yogas. The comment indicates in a
graphic way that all four Yogas lead one to the same goal.
Abidance in the Heart:
Philosophically, the “Heart” represents the
original source of our being, our very core – that is, our Self. Abiding in the
Self is being pointed out as the common goal of all the four Yogas discussed in
this book.
Swastathe: “abide in itself”. This is
another significant word. It carries connotations of being relaxed, contented,
and being well established in the Self. This is referring to abidance in the
Self.
When, by attaining the above-said state which
transcends meditation, the mind – which had to rise in order to do the actions
of nishkamya puja, japa and dhyana –
remains subsided in the source (the real Self) from which it had risen, that is
the culminating point of karma yoga (the path of desireless action) and bhakti yoga
(the path of devotion).
It is also the culminating point of raja yoga
(the path which seeks union with God through various methods of mind-control)
and jnana yoga
(the path of knowledge).
How such Self-abidance is brought about by
karma yoga and bhakti yoga has been explained in the preceding verses;
How it is brought about by raja yoga
is explained in the following five verses; and how it is brought about by jnana yoga
is explained from verse 16 onwards.
Adi Sankara does not consider Bhakti as
different from Karma yoga. Worship, Patanjali yoga, Enquiry- all are meant to
help you gain knowledge. Bodha, enquiry, becomes the direct means of Knowledge
whereas others are indirect means. Indirect in the sense, all other means lead
to the Self Enquiry.
In another book, Sri Ramana says,
‘Scrutinizing “To whom are these [defects], karma [action], vibhakti [non-devotion], viyoga [separation]
and ajnana [ignorance]?” is itself
karma, bhakti, yoga and jnana,
[because]
when one scrutinizes thus,
[the ego or individual ‘I’ will be found to
be non-existent, and] without ‘I’ these [four defects] can never exist.
Abiding as Self, alone is the truth.’
What does the above profound words of
Ramana mean, if they have to be understood in a simpler manner?
1) Human beings generally suffer from any/all
of the four defects as under:-
- Too much of actions only
- Lack of devotion
- Separation (from Lord/ Self)
- Ignorance (of one's divine existence)
2) He says, what is important is for each one
of us to scrutinize as to who is having all these defects?? Whether our
real, true existence or our believed existence that we are this body, this
mind, this intellect, this vasana, this ahankara etc.?
3) If one does this scrutiny enquiry
sincerely, each one of us is bound to come to a conclusion that all these
defects are for the mistaken identity, the individual ego, I (the Ahamkara
I), not the Aham I, the SELF.
4) Thus, this scrutiny is more important
and let it be through any path - Karma or Bhakti or Jnana, which are the
means. The End is more important!!
At least, He concludes, "ABIDING IN
SELF or EXISTING AS PURE SELF (Divyatma svarupas, as Swami addresses us) IS THE
ONLY TRUTH, THE SATH.
Love.
