Narada Bhakti Sutra - Post 37

Dear All,

We continue with the previous sutra.

In the previous post, we have gone through the prerequisite in the path of Karma and Jnana and also saw how a sadhaka can fall in both these path, if he has not understood the purpose clearly.

The sutra says ,"(It [supreme devotion] is again higher than action knowledge and Yoga.)"

We will now move to the path of devotion and see how it is easier and safer than the other 2 paths (according to Narada).

In the path of Karma, the success of actions and the self glorified competency of the person who takes up actions results in inflation of Ego in his heart and he tends to fall in his sadhana.

In the path of Jnana, the knowledge of Upanishads and related treatise itself has the danger of inflating Ego in the sadhaka's heart and he tends to fall.

LESSER CHANCE FOR FALL IN THE PATH OF BHAKTI

If  we carefully notice, in both the path - Action and Knowledge, the aspirant actually and deliberately has to take up special efforts for taking up actions or for gaining knowledge.

Both the paths prescribe some pre-qualifications.

In the path of Jnana, the aspirant has to be bestowed with 4 qualifications - Viveka, Vairagya, Shad Sampat and Mumukshatva and has to approach a qualified Guru and take initiation and then practice Guru's instructions.

In the path of Bhakti, however, the Bhakta has to renounce all efforts, all actions, all his individual sense and has to just immerse in God's love.

There is no pre-qualification in this path, there is no education or knowledge required in this path. 

In fact this path connects to both the other path.

Only after undertaking  actions, the ego level comes down a bit and then the mind settles for focussing on Lord.

Thereafter, the person who takes up action is first a devotee. He must learn to offer all his actions as a worship of his Lord and must perform actions without expecting / conceding about the results of his actions.

BHAKTI CULMINATES IN JNANA

And about the path of Knowledge, the author can share with authenticity through his own personal experience in the last 40 years of Sadhana  as to how important it is to be a Bhakta first, a devotee first, to be able to succeed in the path of Jnana.

From 1976 to 2010 in this  birth and may be for several births earlier about which he cannot know, the author was a devotee of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

His expression of devotion was through the medium of Bhajans.

Without a prescribed way of learning music, with absolutely no knowledge of technicalities of Music (even now, he has no knowledge of Music), Divine Lord out of His grace, made him sing from his childhood.

And, when the Lord ultimately commanded from within to take up the path of Jnana in 2010, it was only the devotion, the heart that had melted in devotion, the culmination of all the interpretations which came from within on all the Bhajans taught by him (rather shared by him and learnt by him together with other devotees) was instrumental in taking him to a level where, Knowledge sinked in as and when the Viveka Chudamanis / the Brahma Sutras and the Upanishads and the Moksha Gitas, the main treatise in the path of Knowledge were read and absorbed!!

It is only a heart filled with Love for God which is conducive to succeed in Jnana.

How?

• At the peak of devotee's Love for God, the God and the devotee have both almost vanished and only LOVE glows in the heart. (The above truth has been dealt in great details in the theme "SURRENDER" in this blog.)

• Once a devotee exists as Love, the duality between him and the God is gone already.

• The Bhakta has already turned from seeing God outside ( in form) to experiencing God within ( as Love).

• So, without knowing what is Atman and what is Brahman, he is already experiencing Atman (SELF) as LOVE.

• Here, whether the devotee takes up the path of Jnana or just exists as Love, in both situations, he has / he is able to transcend his individual ego, expand his heart either as Love or upon absorbing the upanishad essence that God is that all pervading Brahman and you are that (Tat Twam Asi).

• When the author was introduced to all vedanta treatise by Sai's grace, the heart had melted and he was existing as Love already. So,when he was exposed to the essential truth which is the essence of all upanishads, all treatise of Jnana - 

PURUSHAM EVA IDAGM SARVAM (All is that Purusha, THAT pure consciousness)

or

SATHYAM JNANAM ANANTAM BRAHMAN (Brahman is  pure existence, pure knowledge  and infinite) 

or 

ISAVASYAM IDAM SARVAM (GOD AS PURE CONSCIOUSNESS, PERVADES THE ENTIRE CREATION AND BEYOND),

All these srutis aligned so easily with the state of the sadhaka and the only expression which came from within was " AHO AHO, the expression of Janaka in Ashtavakra Gita on realizing God within.

The Sadhaka realized- " Oh, what ever I have been experiencing or rather existing as---- LOVE--- is nothing but the God expressed in all treatise in the path of Jnana as that part of the God or the Pure consciousness or the Purusha or the Brahman, which exists within me as Atman/ Individual consciousness.

The Hither to existence as Love, on finding its true essence, was filled with BLISS and discovered that the same ananda is described in the Jnana path as SAICHITANANDA!!!

Sai's simple declaration which is the most profound truth expressed in all 108+ upanishads came true and the author realized that:-

LOVE 
(which he existed as, in and at the culmination of his devotion

IS 
(The existence as Love was discovered as Pure existence or SATH or IS)

GOD
(The pure existence IS got concluded as GOD or SELF or ATMAN or BRAHMAN, The true Identity of SAI/ Any incarnation- The supreme purusha)

Swami called on the Humanity 

LOVE IS GOD, LIVE IN LOVE

Each and every told and untold truth in this one line from SAI which is a Maha vakya by itself like the mama vakya Aham Brahmasmi or Tat twam asi or Pragnanam Brahma or Sarvam Khalvidam Brhama , got revealed and unveiled in its fullest yet subtlest level upon living / existing as the above Maha vakya itself!!!!

So, to conclude, though not absolutely necessary, still, a heart filled and expanded in Love in the path of devotion, is most conducive to succeed in the path of Knowledge.

SUMMARY

Narada has explained in this sutra that Bhakti is greater than Karma and Jnana and even yoga (Raja yoga).

Author has substantiated this sutra with his own life example.

However, the sutra is not to be taken to undermine the aptitude of those who are wholly in the path of action or those who are able to focus on the unmanifest God in the path of Knowledge.

Previous Sanskaras brought from previous birth and also given by parents in this birth plays a great role in taking an aspirant to a particular path.

There are these beings who cannot sit and meditate on the unmanifest God or shed tears in praise of God in form. They are more keen on serving the society, undertaking all headships to serve the society and for them, Karma is the path.

There are these beings who are men of heart, emotional by nature and easily able to get immersed in praying to their chosen God.  Bhakti is their path.

And, there are these beings who prefer head to heart, who seek to examine and enquire about the CAUSE for each EFFECT and can thus get deeper into the CAUSE for this CREATION, THE FIRST CAUSE which was not the EFFECT of any previous CAUSE and take up SELF ENQUIRY. For these men of HEAD (INTELLECT), Jnana is the path defined.

BY WHICHEVER PATH CHOSEN, BY WHICHEVER JOURNEY UNDERTAKEN IN SPIRITUAL PATH, THE DESTINATION (final and common) IS TO REALIZE GOD AND THIS PURPOSE MUST BE CLEAR BY A KARMA / BHAKTI / JNANA / RAJA YOGI!!

LOVE.

Narada Bhakti Sutra - Post 36

Sutra 25. Saa tu karmajnanayogebhyopy adhikataraa.

(It [supreme devotion] is again higher than action knowledge and Yoga.)

Saa: it; devotion, that Para Bhakti 

tu: again; in distinction from others 

Karma-yoga-jnana-yogebhya: than action, knowledge and Yoga 

api: even  

Adhikatara: superior, higher, greater.

In Sutras 25 to 33 Narada explains the greatness of Para Bhakti. He says that Karma, Jnana and Yoga are methods to achieve the result whereas Bhakti is the result itself.

Yogi is one who enters into a living communion with God and perfectly realises His immanence and activity everywhere in the world.

Unless one is blessed with love of the Lord, unless one’s heart is purified by devotion, it is impossible to perform unselfish service.

Without real devotion, one cannot know the nature of the Lord.

Bhakti or devotion is an end in itself. In Jnana and Yoga there is the risk of a fall. In the path of devotion there is no risk as the devotee receives full support and help from God. 

How?? 

FALL IN KARMA

While undertaking Karma, one may get so much immersed / drawn into / find ego fulfillment in his actions that He may forget the real purpose of the path of action - Karma yoga.

A person who takes up this path, must have the clarity that by undertaking selfless actions, he must reduce his ego, be simple, humble and noble. 

He should never expect any praise / any appreciation for his actions.

And most important, all along his path of action, even though one may not have the strength to melt in his love for God, even though one may not be totally immersing in prayers, still, he must have perfect clarity that it is the Lord who is using him to perform all selfless actions, may it be for the family or for the society.

What happens in reality in most cases when we take up action?

Exactly opposite of what is required in this path as given in the above paras, happens to us.

We are appreciated for our actions and our ego swells.

We are able to accomplish certain things through our action and we fail to realize that we are mere instruments and it is God's grace that He has used us in accomplishing such tasks.

We are  over occupied mentally in planning and doing actions that we get stuck in actions and we are never able to evolve spiritually.

This is slipping / falling down in the path of action.

FALL IN THE PATH OF JNANA

When we  take up the path of Self enquiry / Jnana / wisdom, the basic foundation is that we start with the question "Who am I" because, we have to be clear that after all, the flesh and bone that we exist as, the mind that rules us is not the real I and therefore, we start enquiring who really am I??

Then we take up various treatise in the path of Jnana, the main upanishads and then various treatise on vedanta which supports and compliments upanishad learning.

We gain knowledge of what is Brahman, what is Atman, what is universal consciousness and what is Individual consciousness, what is liberation in this path etc.

What happens then in some or many cases?

We start keeping ourselves at a very high pedestal when we look on all the worldly level people who do not process such knowledge.

Somehow, within, our ego, our impression that we are highly learned, creeps in. In vedantha, this is called "Shastra vasana" or the impression about oneself excelling in all shastras!

WHEN EGO COMES, THEN WHAT HAPPENS?

H   EGO   S.   , i.e., HE GOES!!. God leaves us, or, in the understanding in the path of Jnana, we go far away from experiencing the bliss of God as Atman / Self / Pure consciousness. 

The purpose is defeated.

We will continue with the same sutra tomorrow as something more has to be conveyed by the author on this sutra!!

Love.

Narada Bhakti Sutra - Post 35

Sutra 24. Naasthyeva tasminsthatsukhasukhitwam.

(There i.e. in that illicit love there can certainly never be happiness of the other.)

Tasmin: in that (profane love), therein, in illicit love

Tat sukha-sukhitwam: happiness in the happiness of the other

na: not

asti: is, exists

eva: certainly.

In that sort of illicit /selfish love, there is no idea at all of one’s feeling happy in the happiness of the other.

In the case of the Gopis, the Beloved was God Himself. There was no desire in them for physical contact. They tried to make Sri Krishna happy by offering their all to Him.

They derived immense happiness from this act of service. They had no idea of any sensual enjoyment. Sensuality is selfish passion. It seeks gratification through others, but pure, divine love seeks to make the Beloved happy and to derive happiness from the happiness of the later. 

Happiness in the happiness of Other 

The subject referred in this sutra, in the context of Devotion to God, is SELF SACRIFICE for God Realization.

A true Bhakta sacrifices everything to attain God's Love, to attain God realization.

There are numerous stories of such devotees who sacrificed everything to please God / to attain God.

Mira sacrificed palace, her home, everything and went around, singing about Krishna, totally immersed in Krishna's Love.

Emperor Bali offered everything that he had, his kingdom, everything and said to Lord, "Oh Lord! I am offering to you the heart which you gave to me. I offer to you all my wealth, my kith and kin and everything else. Protect me, who has surrendered to you."

A heart touching incident to reveal what exactly is SELF SACRIFICE in devotion is worth mentioning here.

During the Super Specialty Hospital build, Swami was so intricately involved with the project that he would lose time with His students. This was difficult for the students, as much of Baba’s time was now dedicated talking to people involved with the project. However, the boys understood the reason behind the change and now communicated with the Swami through letters.

One afternoon, Swami went back into His room after collecting letters from students and the public. A while later, the door opened and Swami came out holding a letter in His hand saying, "Who wrote this letter? Which boy wrote it?". The boy who had given the letter recognized it to be his. Filled with fear, he slowly got up. Swami asked, "You wrote this letter?" Fearing the worst, the boy just nodded. "Come here" said Swami.

Legs shaking and body trembling, the boy tip-toed to Swami. Swami then said to the people on the veranda, "You know what this boy has written and done? He says, 'Swami, I am very anxious to do something for the Hospital Project. If I were a rich man, I could have written a cheque. If I were a contractor, I could have contributed building materials. If I were an engineer, I could have helped with the construction. If I were a doctor, I could have opted to serve here. I cannot do any of these things because I am still a student here. Yet I want to do something. So Bhagavan, out of Love for You, I decided to save money, money that I would otherwise have spent on soft drinks, snacks and various personal conveniences. For example, I now wash my clothes instead of giving it to the Dhobi [washerman]. This way, I have been able to save a hundred rupees. Please allow me to offer this with Love at Your Lotus Feet. If this money could get even a little brick for the Hospital, I would consider myself Blessed!'" 

After saying all this, Swami held opened the envelope and held up a hundred rupee currency note for all to see. Bhagavan then slowly said, "For Me, this hundred rupee note is more valuable than the biggest of cheques". 

(Source: Radio Sai)

Whereas,

In an illicit Love, all that there man needs from his paramour is sensuous satisfaction for himself and in return, he offers some money / some wealth. 

Such a man does not sacrifice anything for his paramour, does not consider her satisfaction to be of much importance. He just needs things for himself in the relationship.

Summary

In divine love the devotee sacrifices everything unto the Lord. There is a sense of self-forgetfulness. There is no trace of selfishness. The devotee does not at all care for his own happiness. He is willing to court suffering in order to make his Beloved Lord happy.

To make Lord happy is to be understood as "Following Lord's commands, Lord's instructions and lead one's life accordingly.

Swami has clearly spoken on this.

"How do you give me Ananda? By taking to heart what I say and putting in into daily sacrifice."

(Divine discourse, 29.9.1960)

The essential difference between the worldly love and the Godly love has been perfectly brought about in this sutra with a striking analogy.

The worldly love springs from the flesh (physical) and seeks but a sensual satisfaction. 

Godly love is utterly selfless and makes the lover joyously sacrifice, happily sigher because his goal is only to make his beloved God happy!!

Chinmaya concludes his commentary on this verse with this beautiful line. 

"To enjoy at the very joy given to his joyous beloved is the subtlest joy demanded in pure love".

Love.