“Washing Away the Hoards of Sins”
Paridhooyataam: This strong term is used here with deliberate
intention. It means “shake off violently”. The scars from old wrong deeds have
to be shaken off in very much the same way as a dog shakes off water from its
body by giving itself a vigorous shake!
The learning from Karma
session (also the blog posts on KARMA theme) helps in fulfilling this
instruction to a great extent.
Through Sadhana, through
Purushartha, through exercising viveka , through not listening to the
dictates of ahankara and chitta (MBCA session), one continues to
collect white arrows (good results of action) and clears out the remaining
red arrows ( results of sinful actions of the past) through one’s prarabdha karma.
“Wash away” is a very strong and direct way of describing the
above process. One cannot eliminate, one cannot erase, one cannot by pass, one
cannot ignore, one cannot over power the effects of past sins. They can only be
washed away, where, the detergent and the water used for washing away the
effects of all past sins are Purushartha
and surrender.
Also, there is a way to wash away through expiatory actions
called Prayaschitta Karma when an
aspirant is in early stage of spiritual sadhana
and is not clear about various aspects of Karma,
about various aspects of antahkarana,
about the very purpose of his birth.
Prayaschitta is like the road
tolls we pay. On the highway, traffic causes wear and tear of the road surface,
and toll fees are needed to repair the road. In life, too, we have to pay with Prayaschitta in order to continue our
journey. Hindu Dharma devotes considerable attention to this Karma as it plays a key role in reducing
Karma.
Practical Aspects of Prayaschitta
Karma (at the beginning of Spiritual sadhana)
1. The Lord’s Name is the most common form of Prayaschitta Karma. It is a medicine that works wonders. All
the saints are unanimous in their advice on the glory of the Lord’s Name. There
is no escape from this Prayaschitta.
2. Devotional acts of service are a key part of Prayaschitta. The Lord in turn does His
bit for us. He lifts the burden of the past and removes the stains of Karma. He also removes the tendency to
do the same wrong again. How?? By rendering our heart purer when we are devoted
to the Lord.
3. Apology and forgiveness work hand in hand as a pair. Apology
draws forth forgiveness from the other party. Apology is the horse which pulls
the cart of forgiveness.
4. Fasting, pilgrimage and penance – these are common forms of Prayaschitta in which one deliberately
puts oneself through hardships. Traditional pilgrimage or Yatra is done without luxury and comfort.
5. A resolution should always follow Prayaschitta Karma – “I shall never do it again.”
Swami Sivananda fills our heart with great hopes when he
describes “SIN”, thus:-
“The ignorant man only says: "I am a great sinner."
This is a serious mistake. Never for a moment think that you are a sinner. You
are the most holy one, you are the ever-pure Atman. Sin cannot touch you. You are above vice and virtue, Dharma and Adharma. Punya and Papa are mental creations only. Sins are
mistakes only.
An ignorant Jiva
commits these mistakes during the course of his journey in this world on
account of Avidya or ignorance.
Through mistakes he gains experiences and marches forward in his path of
spirituality. Every mistake is your best teacher. One has to evolve through
sins and mistakes. These mistakes are inevitable. Some people become a prey to
thoughts of sin. They ever brood: "We are great sinners. We have committed
many crimes." This is a great blunder.
Whenever thoughts of this nature worry you, you should think: 'I
am doing Japa of Om. This will burn all old sinful actions. This will purify my
mind. I am doing Tapas, fasting and
charity. These are all great purifiers.
I am becoming purer and purer. Nothing can affect me now. I am like the effulgent fire. I have become a holy person.' Assert, whenever such negative thoughts of sin trouble you: 'I am the Nitya Suddha, ever-pure Atman.'
Hear the words of assurance of Lord Krishna in the Gita:
"Even if the most sinful worships Me with undivided heart, he too must be accounted righteous, for he hath rightly resolved. Speedily he becometh dutiful and goeth to eternal peace. O Kaunteya, know thou for certain that My devotee perisheth never.
They who take refuge in Me, O Partha, though of the womb of sin,
women, Vaishyas, even Sudras, they also tread the highest path. How much more
easily, then, the holy Brahmins and devoted royal saints (attain the goal);
having obtained this impermanent and unhappy world, do thou worship Me.
Fix thy mind on Me, be devoted to Me, sacrifice unto Me, bow
down to Me, having thus united thy whole self in Me, taking Me as the supreme
goal, thou shalt come to Me." Ch. IX-30
Continued….
Love.
