Dhyana Vahini - Post 24

Chapter IX

Swami writes, 

 

Discuss the good in others, not the bad

The good should never even discuss the evil that others do, for that will contaminate them. The stories of Druva and Prahlada will, if listened to, grant merit and show the path, and the stories of Savithri and Anasuya will destroy the roots of evil and strengthen character. How does this happen? What is the explanation? They are all holy, and their careers are blameless; therefore, to discuss them and their lives is worthwhile and beneficial. That is the explanation. 

Some critics of “good people” justify their own carpings by saying that they are trying to correct the good people still further and make them even better! No, they are really provoking the good people to evil and drawing that evil upon themselves. They are themselves becoming evil people.

Never think about the badness or evil of others. If you can manage it, always keep trying to turn them to good ways and giving them good advice. One should cultivate peace of mind, the charitableness and eagerness to promote the welfare of all that is necessary for the attitude. These can come only through repetition of the divine name and meditation. The wealth derived from repetition of the Lord’s name and meditation is good qualities (sadguna). Good qualities clean the exterior and also purify and ennoble the inner tendencies.

Waves originate in the upper layers of the sea. They are caused by the wind, so the wind can be said to have that power. So too, the mind of the intelligent person is full of thoughts and opinions. When the proper atmosphere is present, these spring up and roll in from all directions.

 

The Lord assumes the yearned-for form

In the same manner, the Lord is manifest in the picture or image that one worships, but is this due to any special excellence of the picture or image? No. The picture, the photo, the image — these are and remain as picture, photo, and image. 

The fact is that on account of the intensity of the devotion of the devotee, the Lord cannot desist from manifesting Himself for them. For that reason, He assumes — in stone, wood, or paper — the form that the devotee contemplates and meditates upon and worships. 

He materialized from a pillar for Prahlada’s sake! For Vamana, He became visible in a stone! For Markandeya, He issued from a linga (egg-shaped stone)! In order to fulfill the yearning of the devotee, Hari, the Immanent Basic Being of the Universe, will come in any form, in anything, at any place.

 

Introspection

There was no need to introspect as the author vividly remembered what he had read in this context and he could access that and share with you.

Regular Worship Unveils The Divinity In The Idol

Regular worship, Puja and other modes of demonstrating our inner feeling of recognition of Divinity in the idol unveils the Divinity latent in it. This is truly a wonder and a miracle. The picture comes to life. The idol speaks. It will answer your questions and solve your problems. The God in you has the power to awaken the latent Divinity in the idol. It is like a powerful lens that focuses the sun’s rays on to a bundle of cotton. The lens is not fire and the cotton is not fire either nor can the sun’s rays, by themselves, burn the cotton. When the three are brought together in a particular manner, fire is generated and the cotton is burnt. Similar is the case with the idol, the Sadhaka and the all-pervading Divinity. Puja makes the idol shine with divine resplendence. God is then enshrined in the idol. 

The Image, A Mass Of Chaitanya

The idol is only a symbol of the Divine. A devotee does not behold therein a block of stone or a mass of metal. It is an emblem of God for him. He visualises the Indwelling Presence in the Murti or image. 

For a devotee, the image is a mass of Chaitanya or consciousness. He draws inspiration from the image. The image guides him. It talks to him. It assumes human form to help him in a variety of ways. The image of Lord Siva in the temple of Madurai in South India helped the fuel-cutter and the old woman. The image in the temple of Tirupati assumed human form and gave witness in the court to help his devotees. There are marvels and mysteries. Only the devotees understand these.

When Idols Became Alive

For a Bhakta or a sage, there is no such thing as Jada or insentient matter. Everything is Vasudeva or Chaitanya — Vasudevah Sarvam Iti. The devotee beholds actually the Lord in the idol. 

The Murti is the same as the Lord, for it is the vehicle of expression for the Mantra - Chaitanya which is the Devata. The same attitude should the devotee have in regard to the Murti in the temple, which he would evince if the Lord would appear before him in person and speak to him in articulate sound.”

(Extract from Swami Sivananda’s article on “Philosophy and significance of Idol worship”)

In essence, as much as Brahman is all pervading, how can Brahman be not there in the idol which is worshipped by the Bhakta??

Thus, when the devotion is single pointed and Bhakta reaches the most intense stage in his devotion, Chaitanya, which is present in the idol ( as much as it is pervading the entire creation) chooses to manifest as the form of  lord whose image in there in the idol, and the idol speaks, the idol blesses, the idol hugs the bhakta!!

 

Love.

 

Dhyana Vahini - Post 23

 Chapter IX

 

 Spiritual Development

 

There are three stages of spiritual development: first, the hazy uncertain stage; then, the active stage of striving; and last, the highest stage. These are the stages of passivity (thamas), activity (rajas) and purity (sathwa). 

When growing out of the first stage into the second, it is unnatural for a person not to improve step by step.

Three stages of growth

The period from childhood to adolescence need not be seriously considered. One need not worry much about it. 

1st stage

With the dawn of adolescence, one enters upon the first hazy uncertain stage and engages in many fruitless activities. 

2nd stage

Later, one attains ripeness and strength. This is the stage between the uncertain and the certain. 

3rd stage

It is when one has reached this intermediate stage that one must yearn for the fulfillment that is possible in the final stage.

 

In the intermediate stage, one will have certain natural propensities and tendencies that are not desirable and have to be eschewed. These are: conceit, mischievousness, obstinacy, inquisitiveness, lust, greed, shame, fear, vengefulness, disgust, etc. 

If one has these, one cannot surrender oneself to Siva. These tendencies have to be uprooted completely, or at least there should be a systematic endeavor to get rid of them. 

Such aspirants will have to be swimming against the current (Vyathireka pravaaha gathi). Proceeding against the current is the means to reach the Source, floating with the current means getting farther and farther from It and losing sight of the Goal.

Of course, swimming up the river is a bit hard, but every stroke takes you nearer to and not farther from the goal. To overcome the strain, one must have the raft called meditation. Through meditation, the weakness of the physical frame can be overcome, the wayward speed of the mind can be controlled, and progress toward the seat of grace is made easy; one can attain the primordial divine Force (adimurthi). 

Instead, if one cares more for the ease of the journey and floats along the current, one would be traveling away from grace, turning their back on it. The primordial divine Force will gradually become distant and disappear. People who float along with the current will get lost in increasing misery. And for what profit?

The evil tendencies mentioned above are the causes for this tragedy. If only they had been overcome, the divine Source could have been certainly reached. Without striving for that, all activities will end in failure. 

Moreover, the world loves only good people, people endowed with good qualities; it keeps bad people at a distance. Exterior charm attracts the animal; internal charm, resulting from character, pleases the Lord. Do not be tempted by the low tastes of the world and the cheap regard that people bestow. 

Strive for the holy grace and love of the Lord. The affection that people shower is inconstant, for it depends on their likes and dislikes. 

But the love that the Lord bears to you depends on your good qualities alone. It can also give you permanent joy. Those who are enamored of the external will tumble into disappointment and sorrow every now and then.

Beauty consists in character, not in anything else. There is nothing more charming than that.

Introspection

Indeed a difficult post!!

In today’s post, Swami has dealt elaborately with the intermediate stage where mind tries to make us its slave.

Chinmaya says, “Thoughts and the mind are definitely inter-related. If the thoughts are calm, the mind is calm. If the thoughts are agitated, the mind is agitated. Similarly, if the thoughts are hopeful, the mind is hopeful. If the thoughts are despairing, the mind is despairing. 

The mind is exactly as the thoughts are. Therefore, anyone who is trying to understand what the mind is will arrive at the conclusion that the mind is thought. When I look at my mind, I discover it is a movement of constantly changing thoughts.

When milk is put into the pot, it is called a milk-pot. When honey is put in, it is called a honey-pot. Similarly, when you put ink into it, it is called an ink-pot. The pot remains one and the same.

Similarly, the mind is one and the same, whatever thoughts are put into it. It is a happy mind when the thoughts are happy. It is a worried mind when the thoughts are worried. It’s a depressed mind when the thoughts are depressing. Between the thought and the mind, there is a relationship; thought alone, however, is not the mind.

On the thoughts propelling mind at the intermediate stage described by Swami in today’s post, Swami says, “In the intermediate stage, one will have certain natural propensities and tendencies that are not desirable and have to be eschewed. These are: conceit, mischievousness, obstinacy, inquisitiveness, lust, greed, shame, fear, vengefulness, disgust, etc.”

And what is the prescription to overcome the above. Swami says, we have to go against the current, we have to fight against all these tendencies.

For swimming against these evil tendencies, Swami says, “Through meditation, the weakness of the physical frame can be overcome, the wayward speed of the mind can be controlled, and progress toward the seat of grace is made easy; one can attain the primordial divine Force (adimurthi).”

Once we can achieve this through meditation and to calm our mind, Swami assures the ultimate gift and says, “If only they had been overcome, the divine Source could have been certainly reached.”

And Swami gives moola mantra for all this in one line,

 “Strive for the holy grace and love of the Lord.”

 

Love.

 

Dhyana Vahini - Post 22

Chapter VIII

 

Everything is pure, everything is God

"Do not entertain in your mind the idea of purity or impurity while doing this spiritual practice or meditation. There is nothing impure in the world. When the Lord is immanent everywhere and in everything, how can anything be impure? Even if something appears to the ulterior eyes as impure, the moment it contacts the name of the Lord, it becomes purified.

Note this point! If someone discovers a treasure while answering the call of nature, will they hesitate to take it because he is impure at the time? Purity and impurity are the result of the mental reactions of a given moment. When one is giving money to someone, one talks of the auspicious time and the purity of the hour. But when one gets a chance to take money, every moment is auspicious! The mind is the reason for both attitudes.

Similarly, no thought of purity or impurity will bother you if you have full faith in the love of the name of the Lord. On the other hand, if you feel some compulsion and some discontent, all kinds of possible and impossible obstacles will present themselves. Therefore, give up all such feelings and strengthen the faith in the unshakable holiness of the name and its appropriate form. Firmly believe that everything is made holy by His name."

Introspection

There is a beautiful couplet of Kabir which goes like this.

Bura Jo Dekhan Main Chala, Bura Naa Milya Koye

Jo Man Khoja Apnaa, To Mujhse Bura Naa Koye

Translation

I searched for the crooked, met not a single one

When searched myself, "I" found the crooked one

This exactly echoes the truth given by Swami in the dhyana vahini portion covered above.

This doha deals with our perception behavior and tendencies. It has been invariably noticed that we tend to find fault with someone else for our situations and circumstances. Our "I", the ego, always tries to put blame on others. Non-awareness of our own self is the cause of this attitude. Resultantly, we find ourselves being busy in criticizing and condemning others and conveniently term them as crooked or evil.

So Kabir says that instead of finding fault and maligning others, dive deep into your own self. Amazingly, an honest introspection will reveal that all fault lies with "me" and "my" own perceptions and attitudes. If there is any evil or crookedness, it is in "me". Correcting this and opting for a loving and compassionate attitude will change one's perceptions and the world will appear wonderful all over again.

When our heart is pure, when we are in tune with our SELF, no matter how the world is, no matter what wrong / impure things us are there around, our pure mind fails to recognize impurity in anything that we come across, anything that we experience.

 

Do not reject Him, cultivate love for Him

"Cultivate love (prema) for the Lord. It has infinite potentiality. An iron chain can be broken with ease, but not the chain of love that binds you to the Lord. The cruelest of animals is also overpowered by love. This is the illusion (maya) of the Lord! If only the floodwaters of this love were directed not to the lakes and shoals on the sides of the river but to the ocean of the Lord’s grace, what a holy task it would be! Then the individual (jivi) would realise the purpose of life. This is the highest liberation (moksha). To direct that love on to the name and the form of the Lord without interruption — that is real meditation."

Introspection

The subject has been covered in so many talks on Bhajans taken up in Sai Centre in Muscat.

Also, there is a dedicated session on “LOVE IS GOD” which is available in Author’s youtube channel.

In one of the talks on Love and Service, Love was explained in three stages

Stage 1  -       Loving God with Form

Swami has beautifully written on this, “To direct that love on to the name and the form of the Lord without interruption — that is real meditation.”

This is the beginning in spiritual journey in the path of Bhakti where, the devotee engages himself in whole soul devotion towards his chosen God and such devotion transforms to Love for God.

Stage 2 -       Loving the God within

This is stage 2 in the context of service / seva which was explained. Otherwise, in the path of Love, this is the ultimate stage where, the bhakta experiences the Love for his God deep within himself, as LOVE. 

Stage 3 -       Loving God / experiencing the Love within as Love without

Having discovered God as Love within, with such abundance of Love, when the bhakta gets into the world, he experiences nothing but LOVE in everyone, in everything around. 

And the manifestation of His love, sharing of His supreme Love with everyone around who are now no more separate from him, is what is called “True Seva”.

 

Swami continues, 

"Do not mistake this temporary abode as your eternal dwelling place. Do not lose heart at evanescent troubles and short-lived tragedies. Immerse yourselves in the effort to attain the eternal Lord. Everything in this world is subject to decay — if not today, at least tomorrow it is bound to disintegrate, right?

It is not right to reject the Lord, who is eternally related to you, and to be misled by this world with which one is related for just two days! As already written,

The relatives come up to the outer gate, or maybe up to the burial ground, but your real relative is the Lord, beware!

The Lord will never give you up. Considering the number of births you have had, you have had countless mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, sons, daughters, friends, and enemies. Do they subsist today? Do they remember the relationship? You are no one to them, and they are nobodies to you. But you and they have the Lord in common as the unchanging relative. He subsists throughout all the births; He is eternal. He watches over you from birth to birth. What greater tragedy can there be than forgetting such a Lord?

With the senses weakened and powerless and refusing to function, with the parents, wife, children, and relations all crowding on one side and the messengers of death compelling you to pack up for the journey without delay on the other —who knows when this call will come and how? Before that moment comes, be ready with the thought of God."

Introspection

Rather than writing further on what Swami has revealed, it is appropriate to quote few lines of a famous Hindi Bhajan here.

दो दिन का जग में मेला सब चला चली का खेला कोई चला गया कोई जावे कोई गठरी बांध सी भावे कोई खड़ा तैयार अकेला रे चला चली का खेला रे खेला रे खेला रे

This world (and your life) is like a Fair which goes on for few days only, the life is a game of coming and going.

Someone has gone, someone is going, someone else is ready to go, all alone. Life is a game of coming and going (birth and death)

मात-पिता सूत नारी भाई अंत सहायक नाही फिर क्यो भरता पाप का ठेला रे फिर क्यो भरता पाप का ठेला

Mother, Father, Children, Wife - None of them are going to be your support till your end, knowing this well, why do you still keep on adding to your Karma due to your attachment towards all of them?

ये तो है नश्वर संसारा भजन को करले ईश का प्यारा ब्रह्मानंद कहे सुन चेला रे चला चली का खेला रे खेला रे खेला रे

This world is ephemeral, Engage yourself in singing the glory of Lord, Being in love with Lord can only get you Brahmananda, otherwise, life is a game of coming and going!

 

Love.