Think before you ask of God

God is our first and last resort in asking for boons and blessings. We present to Him a daily shopping list of wishes and seek that He grants us exactly what we want. Our list of wants and desires is never ending and always renews itself automatically on a regular basis. God is kind enough to grant us what we want, yet we are not appreciative of what He gives us and we whine to Him habitually. Our whining takes form of more and more wishes. We seek the latest and best in the market – of mechanical toys and electronics and cars and homes and clothes, health, wine, women, song, wealth, a little more wealth,  some more wealth and then a lot  more wealth.

It is better to ask of God than to fall at the feet of man.  When we seek from others, we are in a vulnerable position and can be blackmailed by them in various ways. We are forced to compromise our ethics, principles, morals and beliefs by the other person on whom we depend on. When this happens on a regular basis, we suffer and we are forced to rethink our strategy and we start seeking from God. When we pray to God, we are granted what we want without the ugly physical, emotional, mental and financial blackmail we undergo at others hands. So we grow bolder and seek more and more from God.

Many a times our wishes are granted at once and we suffer because we are given. We must learn to ask of God in the right way. This little story drives home this point:

A man was lost in the forest and was wandering around all morning trying to find a way out. The sun was high in the sky and he was lost, thirsty, hungry and fed up of life. He spotted a huge tree at a distance and walked towards it. This tree was unusually attractive with a large canopy of leaves and shade. Colourful birds sat on it and were twittering away. As he neared the tree, he could feel a cool breeze move through the tree and around it. He sat down beneath the tree and felt much better with the coolness. A thought came to his mind: how nice it would be if I could have a long cool drink of water! Lo and behold, a pot of cool, crystal clear water appeared in front of him. He picked up the pot and drank deep of the water. His thirst was quenched and he felt much better. Then he thought: what if I had a meal of hot delicious food! Lo and behold, a large plate of fresh cooked, fragrant food appeared in front of him. All the items were his favourites. He fell upon the food and ate his fill. His hunger satisfied with a large, heavy meal, he was now feeling drowsy. He said: what if I had a cot with a soft mattress and pillow to sleep here under this tree! Lo and behold, a cot appeared with a soft mattress and pillow. He fell on it and made himself comfortable. The breeze was cool, the tree was shady, his thirst and hunger replete and a comfortable bed beneath him – the man was in heaven. As he was about to fall asleep, a sudden thought came in his mind – what if a tiger suddenly pounces on me and kills me! Lo and behold, a tiger suddenly rushed out of the forest and attacked and killed him!

The tree was the Kalpavriksha tree – the tree that grants all that we seek of it. The man should have thought a little, when each time he made a wish and it was granted. He had no clue who granted his wishes and that he should be careful in what he was wishing for. His wrong thinking/wishing brought about his sad end.

God is the Kalpavriksha tree. The Universe and Nature cater to all of our wishes. It is our greed and lack of foresight that creates all our problems in life. We seek a highly paid job and pray for it and then are not able to handle the responsibilities. We pray for a larger business and we destroy the land and water around us which reflects in polluted environment for which we suffer. We ask for the latest car and get it. We are content for a very short time and then unhappiness sets in as a newer model comes into the market and someone else has the new one.  We seek beauty  and appearance at the cost of health, morals and ethics and then pay the price for it in form of unhappiness as we are not equipped to handle the consequences of what we are given.

Let us surrender to God and seek only His Love and Grace. Divinity knows what and when to give us and God’s decision about what to give us and when to give is always perfect. He, who has created the Universe and its teeming zillions of lives, knows how to take care of us. So let us learn to pray in the right way- to seek of God to give us what we need and not what is our greed.

How to receive Guru Kripa

The grace of the Guru or Guru Kripa is a unique and mysterious force which bestows on the disciple all qualities that he lacks and makes him an extraordinary being for helping and serving others and also for receiving the highest level of knowledge, wisdom and realisation.  Guru Kripa bestows divine light, bliss and immortality on the disciple. This extraordinary force and blessing can be received only by those who are disciples. 

How can we be a disciple?

We have to accept that the Guru is a divine being and we are a spirit living in miserable state of being in this body of flesh and bone. When this awareness comes and there is a driving need to overcome this state and attain the state of bliss, we take the first step in being a disciple. The Guru is free from all bondage and we need to learn how to free ourselves from the bondage of world.  When there is an internal anguish and need to overcome the bondage of this material existence, the Guru Kripa flows. This anguish needs to be expressed through soul longing and not just mere words.

The next step is to serve the Guru. Serving the Guru includes following all his instructions and teachings and doing the daily practices taught to us. Our ego and preconceived notions on how to live life and what is right and wrong form a Himalayan barrier between us and the Guru Kripa and only Guru Seva done in right spirit will help break it. The disciple should be humble and obedient even in spirit. Else it will not be possible to overcome our lower nature, the mental blocks, the past habits, arrogance and karma which keep us enmeshed in this world.  To be a disciple, you should obey even in dream. The Guru is not human but we are human. We have to be completely blind to the human side of the Guru and focus only on his Divinity. This will help us to transform ourselves from the human to Divine. Our relationship with the Guru is purely Divine. We must cast off the human relationship with the Guru and enter into the Pure Divine relationship with him.

We live tied to the world and its bonds. We seek from the Guru help to fulfil our physical, mental, financial and emotional difficulties.  When we seek only paltry things from the Guru, we will receive only those small gifts and not the great blessing of Guru Kripa. We must rise beyond the human relationship with the Guru and enter into the awareness of his Absolute Divine Essence. Then our daily sadhana will help us shed the human consciousness and reveal the divinity within us. Then gradually the Grace of Guru begins to manifest in us and we enjoy Guru Kripa.

Know that you are the child of God and demand of Him your Divine Heritage. If you stand before Him and always seek bread, butter and a better car that is all you will get. Seek Him and you get Him and all the treasure of the Universe. See Guru as God, and as his child you will partake of the wealth of the Cosmos. Then Guru Kripa manifests and works in you.

Finally we have to wait for the time when the Guru deems it right for us to receive the Ultimate Treasure of Self Realisation. We need inner maturity and development of certain qualities which help us to receive the full force of the Guru Kripa. Only the Guru knows when we are ready. Till then we must wait in patience and go on with self preparation by doing disciplined sadhana and guru seva. When we are obedient and willing disciples, the Grace of Guru will flow into us automatically. We should not make the mistake of ordering how and when the Grace should enter into us. We cannot ask the Guru Kripa to adapt to our needs and desires. We have many desires and karmas within us and Grace can come to us as disappointments too. And these setbacks, when accepted as blessings will bestow the Guru Kripa on us.  Pray constantly to the Guru to help you follow his instructions and surrender unto his Divine Personality. The most perfect way of receiving Guru Kripa is by being a real disciple. Let every effort by thought, word and deed of your daily existence be aimed at this.

Guru Kripa or Grace of Guru

We have read in the prior teachings about the Grace of the Guru or the Guru Kripa.  It is a unique force, a divine blessing, a benevolent radiation from the Guru which bestows on the disciple blessings of knowledge, Holy Scriptures, long life, wealth, wisdom and the highest state which is self realisation. Sadananada, Aruni, Kalyan, Maharaj Shivaji and many others received extraordinary blessings and knowledge through Guru Kripa or Grace of the Guru. All that the disciple seeks to attain in life and much more are attained when the Guru blesses the disciple and the Guru Kripa flows into the disciple.  Guru Kripa seems to set aside all norms and laws that operate at the higher plane and grant the receiver the bliss of the Supreme.  On the face of it, it would seem that it is only the will, blessings and Grace of the Guru that matter and not the regular sadhana or practices on the part of the disciple. The Holy Scriptures tells us that there is nothing other than Guru Kripa which helps us to attain perfection in life.

The Supreme Power takes on the form of the ParamGuru to guide the soul back to Godhead. The Guru is an ocean of compassion and he showers his love and grace equally on all. Why is it that only some of the disciples seemed transformed and not the others? We can see that majority of the disciples fall prey to their lower selves and suffer.  They suffer from delusions and ignorance and are deceived by the lures of the world and personal desires. This is a seemingly worrying situation. The Holy Scriptures declare that Guru Kripa is the ultimate for attaining everything worthwhile and the Guru who is extremely loving showers love and grace on all. The Grace of the Guru is a divine force which is more powerful than the Philosopher’s Stone. The ParasMani or the Philosopher’s stone turns base metal into gold while the Guru transforms a normal disciple into a realised being and a being worthy of helping and transforming others. Guru Kripa transforms a base disciple into another ParasMani or Philosopher’s stone. Then why is it that all disciples are not full of bliss? Where are we going wrong?

Serious reflection on this particular question can give the answers.  We then understand that it is not just enough for the Guru to give the Guru Kripa or bestow his Grace on the disciples. It is equally or perhaps even more important on part of the disciple to receive the Grace. When the disciple receives the Grace or Kripa, it brings a transformation, a metamorphosis, a change - from mere mundane man into the Supreme Being. A man immortalises himself when he receives the Grace of the Guru. He transforms from a mere human being into a Divine Being.

This fundamental rule is easy to understand. We all know that we can take the horse to the water but we cannot make it drink. Only when the horse drinks the water, it can quench its thirst. The bountiful Nature gives wholesome gifts of grains, pulses, fruits and vegetables. We need to go to the places where they grow, pick them and prepare them in order to eat them and satisfy our hunger. We must all learn to be a good receiver. The Supreme Power, ParamGuru and Nature are all generous givers. We must learn to be good takers.

How can we learn to be good takers? We can do so by being good disciples. Love, compassion and blessings of the Guru are available for all, even for those who are not disciples. Those who love the Guru and are devoted to him but are not his disciples receive the Guru’s love, mercy and blessings.  But it is only for the category of those who are the disciples, that Guru Kripa or Grace of Guru is bestowed. By being good disciples we can receive this Guru Kripa which bestows the highest realm of immortality, light and infinite bliss.

Lessons of Water, Honeybee & Deer

A spiritual seeker needs to develop divine qualities like awareness, compassion, forgiveness, detachment etc. The best way of learning these qualities is by actually observing them in people or things around us. Dattatreya has noted for us many such instances during his wanderings.

Water - water is ordinary. It is found all over earth in form of rivers, lakes, wells, streams and ocean. It is used by every living organism on earth and it is replenished and is always available. None can live without water. Over millions of years, water has been responsible for shaping the face of the earth. It is responsible for the growth of the mighty forests, trees, plants, fruits, crops and vegetables. It is a major factor in shaping the climate. Water cleanses, purifies and refreshes. Water is ordinary but when we see the functions of water – it is extraordinary. It serves all but is not proud. It flows from the higher level to the lower level.

To Dattatreya, water was symbolic of the compassion of a yogi. The compassion of a yogi flows into the world very quietly and soothingly and nourishes and refreshes the world.  The yogi should bestow health, peace and joy to all creatures that resort to him and yet remain humble. So water was another Guru to Dattatreya.

Honeybee:  The honeybee flits from flower to flower and draws in the sweet nectar. It does not crush the flower or destroy it. It takes in only what it needs. The flower also gives willingly to the honeybee.

From the honeybee, Dattatreya learnt that he should take alms of food that is given voluntarily and he should take only what is needed by him for the day and not store for the future. Bhiksha or taking alms of food of needed for one meal and not storing food and blessing the giver is the practice followed in India by saints, sages and spiritual seekers.

Dattatreya also learned that, just like the honey bee visiting all flowers but taking only what was needed by it for making honey, a spiritual seeker should read all Spiritual Scriptures, but should retain only that which is essential for his spiritual practice.

Deer: A hunter was chasing a deer and the deer being light and fleet footed managed to escape easily each time. Dattatreya saw the hunter play music to the deer. The deer forgot its fear and being fascinated by the music came near. Then the hunter pounced on the deer and caught it.

Dattatreya understood that when the spiritual seeker has a weakness, he can be distracted and caught easily. Passions, sensual desires, folk music and dances are distractions which lure the senses of the seeker and cause his downfall. By giving in to his desires, the seeker loses whatever spiritual progress he has made and falls down. The seeker who has raised himself from lower gunas/quaities to satwa/purity loses it all and plunges into rajas and tamas again (lower qualities of action and laziness).

A spiritual aspirant needs one pointed concentration or ekagratha to achieve the goals of the path.  He should be aware of his weaknesses and be alert so that he does not lose sight of his goals.

Why a special room/corner for prayer?

It is a practice in most homes in India and also in other parts of the world to have a prayer room or prayer altar. This is a special room or corner for worship and prayer. Pictures or images of God and Guru are kept here. A lamp or candle is lit, incense burned and worship is offered to the Supreme Power of the Universe.

Each room in our home has a purpose. Every room is furnished and decorated in a different manner. We have the living room used for family gathering and relaxation, the bedroom for resting and sleeping and the kitchen and dining room for cooking and having food. The prayer or puja room is found where the homes are larger. Else most people in the world have a corner or altar for worship and prayers. Here daily worship is offered.   Other spiritual practices like meditation, japa, reading of the Holy Scriptures, devotional singing, ceremonial worship etc are done here. Special worship is also offered here on days of festivals, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and other thanksgiving functions. Special worship is also offered when we face troubles and are grieved and need solace and comfort from the Divine Father and Mother. This corner of the home is a special place for all members of the family.

All that we have are gifts from Divinity. Our bodies, our homes, all our properties, our children, family and friends are all treasures given to us by God. We recognise that God is the resident of our heart and body. Likewise He is the main power and resident in our homes too. When the soul leaves the body, the body is declared dead and is discarded. A home where there is no prayer corner is like a body without soul. It is lifeless. The altar corner or prayer room is the heart and soul of each home.

When we live with the acceptance that God is the resident of our heart and bodies, we take care in maintaining internal and external cleanliness of self. We watch our thoughts, words and deeds. We are conscious when we exhibit the negative traits of anger, pride, lust, greed, vengeance and possessiveness. We do our best to remove such ugly traits from within as the Lord of the Creation is the resident of our heart and body. Similarly, when we accept and live with the consciousness that God is the owner of our home, we will keep our homes neat and clean and well maintained. By acknowledging that our home is a gift of God and that we are mere caretakers of the home, we get rid of false ego and pride of possession.

A prayer room or altar at home also keeps us aware of the Omniscience of God. God is all pervading. We remember this each time we pass by the prayer room or altar. When we offer prayers and thanksgiving at the altar or prayer room, we are able to accomplish the most difficult tasks, for grace of God is what gives the results. It is up to us to do the work to the best of our ability and leave the rest to God.

When prayers are offered in a special prayer room or altar or corner of the home dedicated to God, that area carries healing vibrations. Prayers and feeling the presence of God in that place makes the place peaceful and holy. The mind calms down quickly and we can meditate and pray.  Regular prayers, mantra japa and meditation accumulate spiritual thoughts and higher vibrations in this place. Whenever we are tired or agitated or grieved and we seek solace in this place, we will receive comfort due to the presence of these vibrations. We feel calm, energised and rejuvenated in this corner. In homes, where worship is regular, the holy vibrations from the altar or prayer room pervade the entire home and the home becomes restful and the occupants peaceful and balanced.

Have a special corner in your home for prayers, japa and dhyana.  Encourage all members of the family to worship here on a daily basis. Have family prayers daily or weekly. This will bond the family with the glue of Divine Love and Vibrations. A family that prays together stays together.  Keep your personal asan/ seat for japa and meditation clean and do not share it. Light a candle or lamp every time you pray. Offer incense and flowers to the Lord there. Do not shout or use abusive language here. Maintain the sanctity of this place. Then this place will become a sanctuary to you and you will find peace and comfort here each time you need it.

Nonviolence - at level of Society

Increasing desires and struggle for prestige, power and need to dominate others brings out violence in society and national levels. Our education is geared at imparting increased information and income. We aim at bigger jobs with better salaries. The standard of living has gone up. The violence and crime rate has also gone up in the society.  We have possessions but live with fear of violence which stalks us at all times.

Society is made up of groups of people. All change in society must come from the individual level within the group. Education which is a basic necessity for growth and development must emphasise on non violence and peace. From a young age, we must be taught reverence for life.  Where there is reverence for life, there will be ahimsa. All creation is divine. We are all children of God. We are parts of the same Cosmic Body. When the toe is hurt, the eye weeps. These truths should be taught at the school levels with examples of global progress and global disasters. When one part of the world progresses economically, the other parts share the benefit. When one part of the world is hit by natural or manmade calamities, the suffering and shortcomings in that part will have effect on other parts of the world in form of fall in food production and exports, increased diseases and sickness, slump in stock market etc. 

Children should be taught from early age to solve problem through discussions and not fists. When they learn to integrate thought, word and deed, there is simplicity in their character and bearing which helps ahimsa to blossom. Respect for others opinions, harmonious differences and non violent solutions to differences will help us to have mastery over our baser selves.

Peace, satisfaction and contentment in life come when we work for humanity and for a higher purpose. Children must be taught and trained in community service and service of needy from a young age to experience these truths. Respect for nature and appreciation of creation will ensure that children learn to use resources well and not spoil or pollute nature. When there is advancement of understanding and truth, ahimsa or nonviolence flourishes. 

 Our world has suffered many recent wars and lives in the shadow of oncoming wars. These have resulted in great horrors and countless deaths. How do we reconcile war and ahimsa? In the Bhagwad Geeta, Sri Krishna  teaches ahimsa. He also orders Arjun to fight and destroy the  Kauravas and their huge army. That would be mean killing of many tens of thousands of soldiers. And it would cause destruction of their families. Was this order of Sri Krishna a contradiction?

A simple everyday example helps us understand the above. When a person falls sick, the doctor has to sometimes cut off the diseased part in order to save the body. Such an operation is ahimsa. It is following of dharma of a doctor for the highest good of the patient. Duryodhana of the Kauravas and his group were like a cancerous growth. They had to be cut and removed in order to save the society.  Small remedies cannot erase evils like the powerful, battle hungry  Duryodhana.  If people like him are not removed, the society will disintegrate and good people will suffer. Sri Krishna was asking to follow the laws of Dharma and Ahimsa though the entire war was full of bloodshed and carnage.

As individuals we do not respond to violence with guns, arms and armaments.  We can cope up with violence with ahimsa, peace and non injury. But at the level of the Nation, the Government cannot allow the security of the nation to be endangered. It must be always prepared to defend the security of the nation from anything and anyone. Ahimsa must be understood in its totality. 

Nonviolence- at personal level

Nonviolence is non injury towards all living creatures. It is non injury towards all beings at every possible level. Ahimsa or nonviolence should be practised at all levels, at the levels of thought and speech and also at physical level. Ahimsa is said to be the greatest dharma. When there is violence at home and society, the nation is disturbed. Progress and prosperity slow down when ahimsa is not followed. Dislike turns into anger and hatred and these change into verbal and physical abuse at individual, home and society level. This in turn leads to vengefulness, fear and misuse of power which ultimately corrupts the peace and progress of the society and world.

The definition of ahimsa is relative. It depends on the circumstances and motive. A knife used in vengeance is violence.  A knife wielded by surgeon to cut off some unhealthy flesh is ahimsa. It is seva or service. Where the motive is to hurt or cause pain – it is violence. Where it is to take care, nurture or serve- it is ahimsa or non violence. To be deliberately abusive to another is violence. But a mother shouting at her child to stop it from rushing into danger is ahimsa. To speak a truth in order to deliberately cause grief or pain to the other person is violence. To speak a white lie in order to save another from danger is ahimsa.

If ahimsa means not to use weapons or violence how we do defend ourselves? Read this very illuminating story:

A mighty serpent lived at the edge of the forest. It had a scary appearance and was long and strong. It had a fierce hiss. If anyone passed by, it would strike out at them and bite them. The people in the surrounding areas were terrified of it. Once a sage passed by that area.  The serpent was very impressed seeing the radiance and peace on the face of the sage. It touched the feet of the sage and sought blessings. The sage remarked that if the serpent wanted to have peaceful live it should give up violence.  It should not bite people and harm or kill them. The sage blessed the serpent and left.  From that day it made a strong resolve not to bite or kill anyone.

After some days the villagers noticed that the serpent had stopped hissing. It lay peaceful in the sunlight when people passed by without hissing or biting. Soon a few school going children came closer to observe it. They saw that it did not react at all. This news spread in the village. Then one day a group of children threw some stones at the serpent and hit it.  The serpent did not hiss or strike back. The children became bolder and pelted it with lots of stones and nearly killed it. The serpent managed to crawl into its hole and hide for its life. It lay there for many days, hurt and bleeding and with no food as it could not go out hunting.  The serpent lay there dying and the same sage passed by. He saw the condition of the serpent and was horrified. When he touched it with love, the serpent was revived. He asked the serpent: Why are you in such a terrible state? The serpent replied: O great one, I was following your orders. You told me not to be violent. When I became peaceful I was attacked in this manner by the villagers and was nearly killed.  How can I be peaceful and yet follow ahimsa? Please teach me. The sage replied: Hiss. I never told you not to hiss!

Like the serpent we must be peaceful at heart but we must learn to hiss when others have violent intention towards us. Seeing our hiss they will maintain distance.

Violence comes when there is a feeling of difference between one and another. We do not have feelings of violence towards those who are truly ours. A mother will not have violent feelings towards her child. Only when we are truly established in the spiritual path and feel the love of God within us, we will be able to give up violence. When we see all creation as reflection of God, there will be no violence in society or nation. Only a man of God can live in peace without even hissing.

Understanding Others

We look at others and judge them by their looks; when someone speaks, we judge them by their speech. We like or dislike someone by the color of his skin or hair or figure or type of shoes he wears. When we judge others we stop ourselves from understanding them. And when we judge, we are also judged and most often, misunderstood. In order to have a good and loving relationship with our partner, family, friends and at work, we need to stop judging and start understanding.

Nothing is what it appears on the surface. We cannot understand anyone in a few sessions of meetings or talks. Within a few minutes of meeting someone, we label them as smart, stupid, intelligent, surly, cheerful, sad etc. By not making an effort to understand them, we are passing judgement on ourselves. Our moods and emotions are not stable even during a single day. Events of the day make us happy or surly or angry or depressed. But we get over them and are our normal selves. It is wrong to judge or be judged by short moods or swings of life.

During the stages of our life as child, teenager, young adult, adult and old person we are very different. Each stage of life brings a different approach to life and also develops different qualities in us.  The physical strength, innocence, freshness of approach, mental maturity, intellectual growth, emotional stability, wisdom all grow at varying levels in different phases of life. To know and understand a person, we need to persevere in understanding the person over a period of time and let go of judgement.  This story is a great example:

There was a wise man whose four sons lacked maturity and wisdom.  He wanted them to learn how to understand events and people and not pass quick judgements. So he sent them out to go and observe at a huge mango tree which grew at a great distance near a mountain.

The first son went in the winter season, the second son visited during the spring, the third son trekked there in summer and the youngest son camped there before the fall. When all were back, the father called them together and asked them to describe what they had observed during their visit.

The first son said that the mango tree was without any beauty and twisted and gnarled. It was simply not worth the long journey to see the tree. The second son said perhaps eldest brother was blind as when he saw the mango tree in spring, it was full of light green and golden leaves and buds and had an enticing fragrance. It was a symbol of a great future.  The third brother said that the mango tree was magnificent and full of leaves and green mangoes.  Many birds and little animals took shelter in its greenery. To rest under the shade of the tree and the cool breeze was heaven. Perhaps his brothers had not observed the full truth of the reality of the tree. The last son said all his brothers were idiots and born blind as they could not see the tree bent with the luscious golden fruits and  enjoy the happy twitter of the birds and chatter of the monkeys there. The tree was a haven to man, bird and beast. It was a symbol of life and fulfillment.

An explosion broke out between the brothers with each one calling the other names and claiming what he saw to be true. The wise man stopped their fight and explained to them that what all of them had observed was right and true. He added that though what each explained was true, it was incomplete as they had seen only one season of the tree’s life. He explained to them that it is not possible or right to judge a tree or a thing or a person by one season only. It is possible to know and understand the essence of a person or anything only when we are with them through all their seasons of life, through their joys and sorrows, through their seasons of pains and pleasures and through their ups and downs in life. If we give up on the tree or man when its winter, we will fail to see the developing beauty during spring, the growth and ripeness later.

Understanding a person means preserving through all the difficult patches of his life with the faith that better times come. Every person has a story to tell, a hidden pain which shapes him. When we approach him with understanding, he may reveal his true self to us. This leads to new lessons in understanding of others and self and new lessons in life. This richness and treasures cannot be got from books but only by experience and right approach. When we approach others with this understanding, love and compassion come as fruits and life is full of love and promise. One of the finest results of this approach is the understanding it gives us of ourselves.

Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

‘I am such a good person. I am suffering’. ‘He is such a wicked person. How come he is so rich and enjoying his life?’  We hear such statements regularly.  It appears that most of the good people in the world are suffering and the evil and wicked are flourishing. Is that really so?

When we look closely at humanity – every single person is suffering. It does not matter if he is good or bad. All suffer in some way or the other. So such questions regarding suffering are meaningless. Just because a person is good does not mean he will not suffer.

We need to understand what is ‘good’. A person who works and feeds his family is merely doing his duty. He is not being good. When we return a favour done we are not doing anything special. It is a mere payback. When we help others to complete their goals, we are good. When we help and serve others in society for sake of helping them and without expectations, we are good.  Man is a divine being on a human holiday. He should not forget his original nature. When we perform acts which confirm to our original nature, we are good. An incident in the life of Namdev illustrates this truth: once when Namdev came out from bath, an insolent villager spat on him. Namdev went back into the river and took bath again and came out. He did not say a word. But again the villager spat at him. And again Namdev went for bath. And again the villager spat. This went on till Namdev had bath for 108 times. The villager realised his mistake and fell at the feet of Namdev. Namdev forgave him for he had realised his true Nature – that he was the Atman. And the Atman is beyond insults. This is goodness at its heights.

We need to realise our true nature in order to be good. True goodness is the quality of the Supreme Power. When we identify with that Power and realise that Power within us we become good. We see no differences between human beings and serve all with a higher purpose. When the yearning for serving others with no expectations comes, goodness begins to surface within us. When we follow the practices of Mantra Japa and Meditation and Bhakti, goodness strengthens. When every action is performed for with love of God and Mankind, there is fullness and strength in the goodness.

What is suffering?  All people in this world suffer. Suffering does not choose any particular person. Suffering can be because of past actions.  However we are good in this life, if we have sown thorns in past times, we cannot reap jasmine blossoms. There is suffering in world due to pain, sickness and handicapped bodies. But the degree of sorrow is wholly subjective. We may have great wealth but suffer if no one gives us importance. We may be powerful but if every single person does not accept our power we suffer. A handicapped man may have physical discomfort to some extent but when he overcomes his shortcoming and achieves his goals, he is a happy person and feels no suffering. Suffering comes when we are forced to do something against our principles and ethics. A saint will undergo any extent of personal discomfort instead of causing pain to others. He suffers only when he cannot help others who are in need or pain.

Our bhakti or love for God protects us from suffering. We accept the situations and happenings as the Will of the Supreme Power and are able to tap in resources and energies of the highest level and move on. What is suffering to one person is not so for another. A bhakta is protected by the love of God and the higher purpose of life for which he lives.  A good person does not suffer. When a good thought enters his mind he is happy. When circumstances are not favourable he accepts them as will of God and is again happy. Only when we compromise our goodness we suffer. Hence we must be very strong in our convictions. Then there is no suffering.

Lessons of the Bird of Prey & the Maiden

For those who have eyes to see and observe, Nature is the best teacher. Nature teaches lessons of amazing wisdom and knowledge and the spiritual seeker can get lessons which are invaluable for the path and life. We continue with the lessons learnt by Dattatreya as he wandered around in the forests in India, observing the happenings around him.

Bird of Prey: During his wanderings, Dattatreya observed a sparrow flying with a piece of food in its beak.  He saw the sparrow fly frantically, trying to escape a larger bird which was chasing it. The bigger bird attacked the sparrow and pecked it on its sides in order to get the food. Understanding that its enemy was larger and stronger, the sparrow instinctively dropped the food and freed itself of its chaser. The sparrow then rested on the branches of a tree sighing in relief and was at peace.

By observing the sparrow and its chaser, Dattatreya understood that when a man runs after material pleasures and desires, he will be pursued and attacked by many, as all men crave and live only for worldly pleasures and desires. So he will have to face a lot of opposition, competition and antagonism. If he learns to overcome his craving for worldly desires, he will be left in peace by others as he is no longer in the race for material things. When the enemy is stronger, we should not hang on to possessions. Dattatreya realised that letting go and overcoming desires is the only way of peace in the world.

This truth of letting go applies not only to material desires and possessions, but also to strong emotions. When a strong emotion overcomes us, it is not wise to fight it at that stage. It is better to watch and witness the storm caused by the emotion in our mind in a detached manner. When we do so, the energy associated with that emotion settles down peacefully after sometime. If we give in and react at once, we will cause destruction to self and others. We will  always regret when we react unthinkingly.

The spiritual seeker needs to build up his foundation of self control and self assessment systematically. He must stabilize himself and be in balance. He needs to learn to overcome and balance the whirlpools and storms of the mind. Else his sadhana will not be successful as he will fall prey to every passing desire and possession. We must observe ourselves and acknowledge our limitations and shortcomings so that we learn how to overcome them and strengthen ourselves. Else we will give up our spiritual practices in the early stages of sadhana itself.

Maiden: A young girl who was alone at home taught Dattatreya a very valuable spiritual lesson. He observed that the young girl was alone at home when unexpected guests arrived. In India, there is a tradition of ‘athiti devo bhava’ meaning the guest is divine and the host takes utmost care and caters to the needs of the guest with respect and honour. The girl had to prepare food for all. She needed to pound rice before she started cooking. As she pounded, her glass bangles made noise. She did not wish to disturb her guests, so she removed all the bangles except two in each hand. When she started pounding again, the two bangles clashed against each other and made noise. So she removed one more and kept only one in each of her hands. She was now able to work noiselessly and without disturbing her guests.

Dattatreya immediately understood that one should walk the path of God alone.  When a number of spiritual seekers live together, a lot of unwanted gossip takes place. This prevents single-minded effort in the daily practices. When we have even a single companion, he can create mental noise and unrest. A spiritual seeker needs to live in solitude in order to carry out his practices well. Great silence is required in the path.

Shivratri - the Night of Blessings

MahaShivaratri, the holy day of worship of Lord Shiva falls on 20^th February, 2012. There is a fascinating story behind this festival. And after learning the story, we will understand the need and importance of preparing self for worshipping Lord Shiva and receiving His Grace on this day.

Sati Devi, the daughter of DakshaPrajapati married Lord Shiva after performing tapas and austerities. DakshaPrajapati did not like Lord Shiva and was against Him. In order to insult Lord Shiva, he performed a grand yagna to which he did not invite Lord Shiva. Sati Devi went to attend the yagna but was insulted by Her father. Seeing the lack of respect Her father had for Her Husband, Lord Shiva, She was grieved and enraged.

She invoked the fire of tapas or austerities within Her and gave up the body which was given by Her father. Nandi reported this tragedy to Lord Shiva who sent Virabhadra to destroy the yagna. Lord Shiva was in great grief at the death of Sati Devi and He carried Her dead body on His shoulder and roamed in Akash (space) for many thousands of years. Then He moved on Earth wandering around the areas where Sati Devi lived. The grief and pain of Lord Shiva seemed unending and He refused to let go of the dead body of Sati Devi. Lord Narayana (Vishnu) saw that the Creation was being affected by the lack of attention from Lord Shiva and He took matters into His hands. With His sankalpa or intent, He sent the Sudarshan chakra and cut the body of Sati Devi part by part into 52 parts and each part fell at different places and formed a Shaktipeeth. Since the dead body of Sati Devi was cut into pieces by Lord Narayana, She is also called Narayani. The Shaktipeeths are power spots where worship of the Mother Goddess- Narayani is performed.

Then Lord Shiva went into period of long, deep meditation and the Mother Goddess was reborn as Parvati, the daughter of Himavan – the King of Himalayas. She too performed tapas and wedded Lord Shiva. Shivaratri is the day of their wedding – the day when Shakti or the Universal Power united with Lord Shiva. When the body does not have Shakti it becomes Shava or dead. Shakti gives the power to the body and makes it Shiva or Consciousness.  On this auspicious, holy night Lord Shiva embraced Shakti/Parvati and united with Her.   With the union of Shiva with Shakti, blessings, powers and siddhis gushed out from Lord Shiva. These were received by Gods, Asuras, Demons and Men as per their nature, needs and preparedness to receive. All those who sought union with Shiva Consciousness were rewarded with boons of strength and siddhis. Hence on this day, we are advised to bathe, have a light diet of milk and fruits and focus on Shiva and Shakti all day and worship Shiva. When we keep ourselves ready and prepared, the Grace of Lord Shiva and Shakti flows into us and we are blessed.

The festival of MahaShivaratri is a day and night worship of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is the Primeval Energy which keeps the Universe in balance. When Lord Shiva unites with Shakti, He is the creator. In the form of MahaKaal, He is the destroyer of all that is created. Lord Shiva is the MahaYogi. He is Mahadeva. He is Chandrashekar. He carries the Ganges on His head and also the Moon. In His Tandava dance, He reveals the Primordial Conception, Sustenance and Destruction. He is the Aghori. He is Dakshinamurthy – the Adi Guru.

On this day of MahaShivaratri, we, the disciples of the path of Kundalini Maha Yoga should mentally focus on the ParamGuru who is verily the form of Lord Narayana, Lord Shiva and Shakti and do japa and meditation of SitaRam Mantra. The Rama Mantra is very dear to Lord Shiva and he does the continuous japa of Rama Mantra. The Rama Mantra carries the energies of Lord Narayana as Rama is an incarnation of Lord Narayana. Worship of Lord Narayana bestows the Grace of Devi Narayani.

So we must prepare ourselves by body, mind and soul to receive the Grace of Lord Shiva and Shakti. After bath, wear clean and fresh clothes and light the lamp or candle.  Offer incense to God. Sit on the asan and thinking of ParamGuru, Lord Shiva and Shakti do the japa of SitaRam Mantra. Maa Sita is Shakti Herself and Rama is ParaBrahman – the Absolute. Surrender to Divinity mentally and emotionally and do the japa. Lord Shiva has Himself told Devi Parvathi that the Rama Nama bestows all the treasures of the Universe including the Knowledge of Self and Ultimate Grace. Paying respects to the advice of Lord Shiva, let us all do the japa of SitaRam Mantra and receive the blessings of Lord Shiva and Shakti.

Lessons of Pingala, Arrow-maker & the Playful Child

We continue with the lessons Lord Dattatreya learned from Nature.  When we live in awareness and are conscious of what is happening around us, we learn lessons from Nature which help us walk the divine path effortlessly.

Pingala – One day Dattatreya observed a prostitute named Pingala. She had dressed herself well and was waiting eagerly for a particular client to come so that she could satisfy her lust and also receive a generous reward from him. She waited for him till late in the night. But he did not come and she was extremely disappointed. She reflected on her actions and was disgusted with herself.  She felt that she was stupid that she had waited for her client and had disregarded the Divine Spirit within her. She understood that lust and expectations lead only to disappointments in life and meditation on the Divine Spirit lead to peace and eternal bliss. At the height of her suffering, detachment and wisdom dawned on her.  She turned her awareness within and was able to cut the bondages of attachment to lust, her clients and wealth. A great transformation took place in her and she was able to focus on God within her. Through such repentance she was able to attain blessedness.

By observing her, Dattatreya understood that a sage should reject the lure of Siddhis as such lesser powers could beguile and lead astray a spiritual aspirant from the final goal. He also learnt that waiting for others to do things will lead to disappointment and pain. He understood that renunciation and inward reflection are the only way of realising infinite bliss and joy. Viveka and Vairagya – knowledge and detachment are needed to soar freely and reach the Light within.

 Arrow–maker:  Once Dattatreya passed by an arrow-maker. Dattatreya noticed that the arrow-maker was completely focussed on moulding a sharp arrow. His concentration was so intense that he was totally undisturbed by the colourful noisiness and gaiety of a royal procession passing by. Dattatreya understood that when a spiritual aspirant is concentrated on the Self, he is oblivious to the world. He is totally absorbed in the light within himself.  The lures and temptations and the colours and the merriment of the world cannot disturb him. The arrow-maker reminded Dattatreya the importance of sattwaguna and undisturbed one pointed focus or ekagrata which are essential for a seeker. The single minded concentration and all absorbing contemplation of self is the sole secret of success in spiritual path.

A Playful Child:  A little child is relaxed and playful. He has no ego and does not recall the pains of past or plans for future. He lives from moment to moment. Since he does not know honour or dishonour, he holds no grudge against anyone. He has no tension in play or competitiveness. He lives and plays in sheer joy. For him, life is fun and full of celebration. His happiness comes from within. It does not depend on any external factor or conditions.

Dattatreya understood that a sage of perfect enlightenment is like this playful child. His happiness and contentment spring from within. His bliss does not depend on any external conditions. The spiritual path is full of love, joy and celebration. The spiritual seeker should be alert and not give in to the weight of ego. Ego destroys contentment or santosh.  Contentment is an essential quality of a seeker or disciple.

Lessons of the Moth, Elephant, Ant & Fish

Once while wandering in the forest in search of spiritual knowledge, Yadu saw Lord Dattatreya. Dattatreya was radiant and blissful. So Yadu asked him who he was and what he was doing in the forest. He also wished to know the secret of Dattatreya’s inner radiance and contentment.

Dattatreya replied that he was an Avadhoot.  An Avadhoot is a person who is free of all material bondages and ties. His bliss and contentment were the results of self realisation. Dattatreya lived in peace with Nature and had observed Nature and had gained wisdom from Creation. He described the lessons he had learnt from 24 of God’s Creations. The lessons from the moth, elephant, ant and fish are:

The Moth: Dattatreya often observed that the moth was tempted by the glitter of fire and the sparks that came out from it. Being tempted by the warmth and dazzle of fire, the moth came nearer and nearer and got burnt by the fire and died. Most men are like the moth. They are tempted by the dazzling pleasures of the material world and come nearer and nearer and are enmeshed by them. Then they are caught in the endless cycles of birth and death.  Their desires lead to self- destruction. Such behaviour is very different from the behaviour of the wise man. A wise man gets a glimpse of fire of wisdom and abandoning everything else, he leaps into it. The result is that he burns down the illusion that he is a limited self and he realised that he is One with the Supreme Power.

The Elephant: The wild elephants in the forests are difficult to catch. The elephant handlers know the trick of catching the huge tuskers easily. They create a stuffed female elephant and leave it in a place frequented by the wile male elephants. Lust lures the male elephants into the trap and they are caught effortlessly by the elephant handlers. Similarly man is also caught by the lure of the opposite sex. Then he gets bound by the chains of desire and infatuation. Those who walk on the spiritual path should take great care and not get caught in lust. This is an easy snare in which all are trapped. The seekers of self realisation must be free from lust. Films, pictures, stories of pornographic nature must be avoided. Even thinking constantly on the opposite sex will divert the energies towards lust and pull down a person from his one pointed search of God.

The Ant:  The ant is a tireless worker. It is never discouraged by obstacles or hindrances in its work. It searches for food and carries the food back to its nest. It overcomes all sorts of setbacks and works to collect the maximum food possible. A yogi who seeks to unite himself with God will meet many hurdles and obstacles in the path. Like the ant, he should overcome them tirelessly and forge ahead.

The ant also has another lesson to teach. The ant is a hoarder of food. It stores up a lot of food material which it does not eat or give away to others. Hence larger and stronger creatures are tempted to plunder the ant hill and rob the ant of its collection of food. In such adventures, there is loss of life to ant and also loss of the collection of food.  By observing the ant, Dattatreya learnt that when man collects too much of treasures of food, wealth and possession and does not give anything in charity, he becomes a victim of robbery and theft. He and his family could also lose their lives when plundered for wealth. 

The Fish:  Dattatreya learnt two lessons from the fish.  There is plenty of food in the water, yet the fish is tempted by the fat and tasty worm dangling in the water. When the fish goes to catch the worm, it gets caught in the hook and is reeled in. The craving for delicious and varied food is a big downfall of man.  When the tongue is controlled, all other senses can be easily controlled.  A fish never leaves it home i.e. water. In same way, a yogi should never lose sight that he is Divine and should strive tirelessly to attain the truth.

Arjun - Sakhya Bhakti

Arjun, the third brother of the five Pandavas was a skilled archer and great warrior. Sri Krishna was his cousin and they were of the same age. The relationship between them was that of best friends. Arjun has the Sakhya Bhakti towards God. God was his best friend.  To Arjun, Sri Krishna was not just his  best friend but also guide, philosopher, saviour and God. Sri Krishna played a major role in the life of Arjuna guiding him and teaching him. The relationship between them was that of the Soul – Jivatma with the Supersoul – the Paramatma. The relationship between the Soul and God are as old as time. After the initial separation, the soul has to merge with the Supersoul. The relationship between Arjun and Sri Krishna shows the process.

Arjun had to face innumerable problems throughout his life due to the rivalry and enmity with his cousins, the Kauravas. Sri Krishna was his best friend and rescuer and they were inseparable. On every occasion when Arjun needed help, Sri Krishna came to his rescue. He guided Arjun in his education, supported his play & contests, protected him when he was in exile and whenever he was in danger. He got his sister Subhadra married to Arjun. When the great war broke out between the Pandavas and Kauravas, he was their mediator for peace and when negotiations did not work out, he was Arjun’s charioteer. When Arjun developed cold feet and did not want to fight, he taught him the immortal Bhagvad Geeta in the midst of the battle field. The Bhagwad Geeta is the supreme teachings of the Lord which were given through Arjun to all of mankind for ages to come. The soul passes through countless births and deaths and is caught in illusion. Only when the Supreme Power decides to put an end to the pain and misery of soul, the Lord reveals the light of Truth and Arjun could see the Supreme Power and reality of Truth of Life.

Why did Sri Krishna choose Arjun as receiver of the Supreme Truth of Bhagwad Geeta? Pandavas were five brothers and besides Arjun, the Lord could have selected any other brother. If waging the war was the main goal, Bhima would be an excellent choice as he was thirsting for vengeance. If the goal of the great war was destruction of adharma and reestablishment of dharma, Yudhisthtra would be an excellent choice. But the Lord deliberately selected Arjun for the purpose. Bhima lacked the qualities for learning yoga or self enquiry as he lacked control and had animal rashness in him. Such a person was not fit to receive or understand the Holy Song. Yudhishtra was already far too well established in yoga and giving him any more would be an overflow. Arjun’s levels were in between Bhima and Yudhishtra. He had overcome his lower instincts but had not reached the refined levels of a Yogi. He had necessary qualifications to overcome his shortcomings and rise in virtues into the realm of Divinity which is the purpose of Life. 

Arjun was a Maharati – a great warrior. He won over external foes and also fought with and overcame his inner foes. Courage and ability to face self and overcome the shortcoming are essential qualities for grasping Bhagwad Geeta and putting it into practice. Hence the Lord selected Arjun as effective instrument for receiving and transmitting the sublime teachings of Bhagwad Geeta. Sri Krishna told Arjun: Arjuna, you are my closest Bhakta and you are my dearest friend. That is the reason why I taught you this Supreme and Secret Teaching. The Lord appreciated and rewarded Arjun for his Sakhya Bhakti. Arjun was a supreme Bhakta. He had implicit obedience and was pure hearted. But being a devotee was not enough to receive the highest teachings. Sri Krishna uses the word ‘mitra’ for friend. The friend has no fear. So it makes him a perfect recipient of the Supreme Knowledge. 

Hanuman - Dasya Bhakti

Dasya Bhakti means to regard self as servant and God as the Supreme Master. Indeed, God is the Supreme Master. When we look at the world around us, it is breathtaking.  Nature speaks to us about the greatness of God. The vast expanse of the sky, the rugged mountains, the lush green trees, the cool clear lakes and the gurgling streams speak of the wonder that is God. The colors of the rainbow, the sparkle of the sunlight, the coolness of the moonlight, the variety of life forms, the crops, the fruits, flowers and fragrances are all the magnificence of His Creation. The vast starry skies, the planets and Milky Way, the vastness of the Universe are all mind boggling. We have spent  many hundreds of years studying the Creations of God and still have much to learn. We understand that the Intelligence, foresight, planning, love and care that God takes in all of His creations are beyond our understanding. God is truly the Greatest of Masters and it is so easy to bow to Him at the sheer vastness and variety of His Creations and love and serve Him as His Servant.

Hanuman is the Avatar of Lord Shiva. This avatar was born in order to help Rama in His mission of establishing dharma on Earth. It was also to teach mankind about depths of bhakti and how to be a perfect bhakta. Hanuman had the Ram Nam – the Rama Mantra before he met Rama.  He did the mantra japa and dhyana of Rama every free moment of his life. He had not met Rama but knew of the greatness and value of the Rama Mantra and was steadfast in his loyalty to the name.

Hanuman met Rama during Rama’s exile in forest. Rama was in search of Sugriva to help him search for his missing wife Sita. Hanuman was the minister of Sugriva and came to meet Rama in disguise of a Brahmin. Hearing him speak Rama was very impressed and remarked that the Brahmin had mastered the Vedas and their branches; the accent was wonderful, auspicious and captivating. 

When Rama revealed his identity, Hanuman fell at his feet and prostrated. Rama said he was the prince of Ayodhya but Hanuman saw him as the Lord of the Universe. His love and surrender to the name of Rama was so deep that he was able to perceive the Reality. After this encounter, the story of Rama is entwined with Hanuman. Hanuman is with Rama at every step of the further events, serving him as an outstanding, highly intelligent, resourceful and understanding servant.  We can read about these events in the the Valmiki Ramayana and the Ramcharitamanas of Goswami Tulsidas.

Hanuman introduced Rama to Sugriva; he headed the search for Sita and carried the ring of Rama to hand over to Sita; he leaped over the sea and killed several demons on way; he discovered Sita and consoled and comforted her about Rama’s love for her and that Rama would soon come to rescue her; faced Ravana and burnt the city of Lanka; brought together Vibishana and Rama; fought long and hard and very bravely in the battle between Rama and Ravana; saved the life of Lakshmana by carrying the Sanjivani (life giving herb) mountain from the Himalayas and served Rama as long as Rama lived his earthly existence.

 Hanuman is Chiranjeevi – having eternal life. He lives even now doing his japa of Rama Mantra and helping those who do the Rama Mantra. His sole reason for existence is to enjoy the sweetness and bliss of Rama Mantra.  Hanuman derived all his strength from the name of Rama. We are blessed to have the SitaRam Mantra with us. When we do it diligently on daily basis, the blessings of Hanuman will be with us.

Nava Vidhi Bhakti

Supreme attachment to God is Bhakti. The bhakta has selfless love for God. This Supreme Love for God is expressed in nine different ways. The bhakta’s love for God is intense and exclusive. Such love is manifested in all the methods of devotion to God. Bhakti automatically indicates a person of morals and ethics. We cannot develop love for God if we are crooked at heart or if we are full of desires and tempted by worldly things, or if we are overly attached to our family and to food or to the body and are egoistic or earn for sake of wealth, name, power and position. Where one is lured by the things of the world, pure love of God cannot exist. Where there is the right knowledge and detachment from worldly things, pure bhakti can exist.  “Where there is Rama, there is no Kama” meaning where there is Love for Ram or God there is no Kama or Desires. Kama has to be renounced for attaining Rama. This renunciation or detachment is attained through the Nava Vidhi Bhakti or Nine Forms of Bhakti.

The Holy scriptures of Srimad Bhagvad and the Vishnu Purana describe the nine forms of bhakti. We follow the path as per our inner inclination. Any of the nine paths will ultimately lead to Divine Illumination or Self Realisation.

Sravana means hearing the stories of God’s glories and stories connected with His Divine Name and Form. When we hear the stories of God, our mind merges in the divine love of God and we remember God even in our sleep. King Parikshit attained salvation through sravana.

Kirtana is singing the glories of God. The bhakta is filled with divine emotion and love. He loses himself in the love of God. Meerabai did kirtana or sang about God at all times.

Smaran is remembering God at all times.  The mind of the bhakta is always engrossed in the memory of God and meditates all times about the glories of God alone. God is to be remembered at all times. Prahlada and Druva did smaran of God at all times. 

Padaseva is serving the feet of the Lord. It is done by Lakshmi Devi or Parvati Devi. Understanding that the Universe is the body of God, we can serve the sick and needy as service to God.

Archana is worship of God. It can be done through an image or picture or even the mental form of God within yourself. Flowers, fruits, incense etc are used in archana. The advanced bhakta leaves the external form and worships the form of God within himself. The purpose of worship is to please God and to purify self through surrender of ego and love of God.

Vandana is prayer and prostration to God. Prostration to God helps overcome ego.

Dasya Bhakti is service to God means the bhakta sees himself as servant of God and loves and serves God. He carries out the wishes of God seeing God as the Supreme Master. Hanuman is the example of Dasya Bhakti. Serving  the saints, sages and other bhaktas , serving poor and sick as forms of God is also dasya bhakti. 

Sakhya bhava is seeing God as ones best friend. Arjun had this love for SriKrishna. Love at human level is full of expectations and give and take. When God is loved this way it is transformation of mundane love to the Divine. 

Atma Nivedana is self surrender. The bhakta offers everything to God – body, mind and soul. He has no personal existence. He is a part and parcel of God and God takes care of him. He becomes the perfect instrument in the hands of God. 

Bhakti is supreme Love for God.  A bhakta loves God in different ways. Bhakti helps a bhakta to attain the Supreme State of Self Realisation. The nine modes of bhakti are ways in which a bhakta attains the supreme state of life. We can take up any of these modes and reach the highest state. The path of bhakti is easiest and follows the natural inclination of human nature to love God in familiar ways.  Bhakti takes us slowly and gradually to God without demanding any extreme behaviour or drastic changes in way of life. It is a progressive realisation of God. 

Emotions or Bhavas in Bhakti

Bhakti is love for God. First we learn to love God as He fulfils our desires. We present to Him a daily wish list and when He fulfils some or most of them, our love for Him grows.  God is a great fisherman. He knows how to hook and reel the souls in. He first fulfils a few desires, and then when we learn to love Him, He fulfils more desires and our love grows for Him as He is a daily wish fulfiller. Our desires are endless and we increase our love and prayers to Him. We get glimpses of His love, peace and bliss and want them. Then we get hooked and slowly He reels us in with His eternal Love and Bliss. We finally learn to love God for Himself.

As our love for God grows, we call out to God in a special way, we get immersed in the love of God and there is self forgetfulness. This is called Bhava. Bhava establishes the relationship between us and God. Our love for God grows into great love and the bhava becomes mahabhava. Mahabhava is great and intense love for God where we have our being and existence in God. This is Supreme Love for God.

These Bhavas or feelings are natural to human beings and so these are easy to practice.  We must  practice the Bhava which suits our temperament. The five bhavas are  Shanta, Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya and Madhurya.

Shanta means peaceful. In Shanta Bhava, the devotee is Shanta or peaceful. He does not jump and dance. He is not highly emotional. His heart is filled with love and joy. Bhishma Maha Pita of Mahabharata was a Shanta Bhakta.

Dasya means the attitude of servant towards the Master.  Hanuman was a Dasya Bhakta. He served Lord Rama devotedly. He pleased his Master in all possible ways. He found joy and bliss in the service of his Master.

Sakhya means friend. In Sakhya Bhava, God is a friend of the devotee. The devotee moves with the Lord on equal terms.  Arjun had the Sakhya Bhava to Sri Krishna. Arjuna and SriKrishna used to sit, eat, talk and walk together as intimate friends.

Vatsal means a child. In Vatsalya Bhava, the devotee loves God as his child. Yasoda had this Bhava with Lord Krishna. There is no fear in this Bhava, because God is your pet child. The devotee serves, feeds, and looks upon God as a mother does in the case of her child.

Madhura means sweetness. Madhurya Bhava or Kanta Bhava is the highest form of Bhakti. The devotee sees God as his lover. Many devotees had this great love for God. Radha, Meerabai, Andal, Gauranga, Jayadeva - all had this bhava towards God. This is offering of self and soul to God. This is called Atma Samarpana.  The bhakta and God maintain a line of separation from each other to enjoy the bliss of conjoining  and love but always are one with each other. This love for God is not an earthly relationship as in between man and woman. The earthly conjoining is selfish and full of lust. Each partner is concerned about his own satisfaction. The Divine Love is born out of Sattva or Purity. The Earthy Lust is full of Rajas or Activity and has attachment to bodies. Ego is the governing quality of earthy conjoining but there is a total absence of Ego in the love between bhakta and God in Madhuraya Bhava. Earthly love and Divine love are like darkness and light. Divine love cannot be understood by man living a material life.  When a man transforms into the divine, the true love for God begins.

Lessons of the Sun, Pigeon, Python & Ocean

We continue with the lessons Dattatreya learnt from observing Nature. Dattatreya related his learning to Yadu when Yadu came across him in the forest.

Sun – The Sun that shines in the skies is one. But it appears as many when it is reflected by water in puddles, gutters, wells, ponds, lakes, streams and rivers. It looks different according to the quality and contents of the water but in itself it is same and unchanging. In the same way the Supreme Power manifests itself as many souls in all living creatures and appears different according to their physical structure.  When the light of the Sun falls on different forms, it illuminates all the forms to our vision. In the same way, the sage illuminates the true nature of all beings to his disciples.

The Sun evaporates water from various bodies of water and returns the water back to Earth as life giving rain. In the same way the wise man can take in the essence of objects through his sense organs without being obsessed with the external form of the object.  The Sun taught Dattatreya about the quality of omnipresence without ego. 

Pigeon – Dattatreya watched a hunter ensnare a nest of baby pigeons. They were trapped by the net thrown by the hunter. Their piteous cries lured the mother bird who rushed to rescue her babies. She was caught and all of them died together. The father bird came in after some time and seeing the fate of his beloved and his family he was heartbroken and he leaped into the snare of the hunter and was caught and died.  Dattatreya realised that samsara or worldly bondage was dangerous. It destroys spirituality. It was attachment to the family which destroyed the mother and father birds. We are full of likes and dislikes, passions and opinions. These keep us trapped in this world and destroy the desire of spirituality in us. The higher yearning for Truth and God are smothered and choked to death by our rigid mind, intellectual clutter and cries of the ego.

Man is an intelligent being but caught in the snares of possessiveness, he causes his own spiritual destruction. The self which is originally free gets associated with the body and  is caught in the snare of senses and desires. It  is  then trapped in the endless cycle of birth, death and pain. Hence the pigeon was also a Guru to Dattatreya. 

Python – The python is slow and lazy and does not go out in search of its prey. It lies in its resting place and waits for the victim to come to it. It devours whatever creature comes its way. Looking at the python, Dattatreya learnt that a wise man does not run after pleasure but accepts what comes his way and is content with it. He learnt the lessons of contentment from the python.

Ocean – the rivers receive the heavy rains and overflow and rush towards the ocean. Any number of rivers enters into the ocean but the ocean never overflows. It receives all the waters but holds its boundaries. During summer, the rivers are dry and less water enter the ocean. Yet the ocean maintains its level of water. In the same way, the wise man receives all the impressions of joy and pain of the world but is never disturbed by them. He maintains his level of balance and peace at all times. Like the ocean, he is stable and withstands the onrush of impressions through the senses. He always maintains the highest levels of ethics and principles under all conditions. The depths of the ocean are unconquerable and not easily understandable just like the depths of the wise man. The ocean taught these important lessons to Dattatreya.

What is being Spiritual

We see a shifting trend in the modern world – people are moving from religion to spirituality. What is being spiritual? We term Monks to be spiritual. Do we need to wear ochre robes like them and live in isolated places like the mountains and hills?  Do we need to get new names with ‘Das’ or ‘Ananda’ or ‘Tirtha’  etc attached  to them? Do we need to give up our families and jobs and all comforts and work for the good of humanity? We could do all that. But there is no guarantee that it will make us more spiritual.

What is being spiritual? It is the common factor we find in all spiritual people, the quality that is so captivating and tantalizing that we find on their faces and in their eyes – Peace!  We like to gaze at the face of Buddha for he is the embodiment of peace and looking at him we feel peaceful.  Spirituality is about a way of life which brings you peace within yourself and you are at peace with yourself and life. We seek peace outside us. But peace is within us. Peace is a quality of the Soul. We need to dust the layers of ignorance which cover the Soul and we will find ourselves peaceful.

 In order to get peace of mind we need to develop our potentials to the maximum and work for ourselves, our family, society and nation. When we dedicate our talents and efforts to higher cause or purpose we always feel more peaceful. To reach this level of understanding we need to read and study the lives of saints and other peaceful people, texts which teach peace and ways of achieving peace and find our own way of attaining peace. Each of us is a unique individual. Our needs and talents are different. What works for one may not work for the other.

Dedicating our talents and efforts to God gives us the highest level of peace. That Supreme Force of the Universe which supports our every breath and gives life to the zillions of cells in our body and makes us move and think is Love and Peace. When we develop bhakti or deep love for God, we are able to realise God within us and also within all creation. Then every moment of our lives, our every action, all our thoughts are all aimed at serving that Supreme Force. This gives the highest level of satisfaction and brings the maximum development of our inner potentials.

Becoming spiritual is a slow and gradual process and we shift our thinking and sense of values in a manner which does not shake or shock our families or us.  To make our lives spiritual we need not leave our home and family. We only need to change our thinking and attitudes. We need to monitor our thoughts and reactions. We need to regroup our priorities. We need to do things which give us maximum peace. When we live our lives with aim of doing all our actions with love and dedicate our entirety to God we are spiritual and living in the best possible manner. Our thoughts, words and actions flow as one without disparities. We think, speak and act with the same words and with wisdom.  When life flows with in such a synchronized manner we are at peace.

Spirituality is not giving up family or friends or our favourite car or couch. It is giving up of our negativities. We must work consciously and constantly on self improvement. We must live in awareness of our thoughts and overcome the qualities of anger, lust, vengefulness, pride and attachment in ourselves.

Practise of Mantra Japa and Meditation are very useful. For they help us go within ourselves. They are tools of self discovery. They are inner cleansers and dust off the layers from the Soul and reveal the peace within us. They reveal truths and higher principles. They strengthen our resolve and will power. They give energy for self transformation. Peace is to be found only within. And it is a voyage of self discovery.  Ultimately every soul walks this path and reaches the same destination albeit by different routes.

Lessons of Sky, Fire & Moon

King Yayati was obsessed with lust. This weakness was his undoing as he was cursed by a Rishi to become old before his time. There was a redeeming factor – if anyone could exchange his youth for the old age of the king, the curse could be reversed. Yayati begged his eldest son Yadu to help him out. Yadu was interested in spiritual life. He thought over this situation deeply. He understood that his father’s desire for youth and enjoyment of lust was impermanent. He was filled with detachment. But he did not wish to give up his youth as he was convinced that this was the best time of life for spiritual sadhana and preparing himself for development of higher consciousness. His father threw him out and Yadu was more than happy to leave his home. Yadu walked into the forest in search of a ParamGuru. In the forest he met Dattatreya and learnt spiritual lessons from him. Some of the lessons are about:

Sky – the sky covers the world like a canopy but it is not a part of the world. It appears to be limited but in reality it is limitless. In the same way the Atman or the Soul resides in the body but is not the body. Our deeper mind is like the sky.  The sky is vast and seems spread all over. It seems composed of clouds which are a part of the sky but not the sky itself. Our mind holds thoughts and feelings and seems limited but in reality it is limitless in its possibilities.  

At times, the sky appears overcast and dark with clouds. Sometimes it appears blurred due to dust and smoke. At sunrise or sunset the sky takes on glorious hues of orange, red and gold. But the fact is that the sky is colourless. It is not touched or stained by anything. The soul is like the sky. It is not touched or stained by the thoughts and actions of the man.   The true sage should be like the sky. He should not get affected by time or physical processes or anything happenings in the world. His inner world should be free from the emotional reactions to things and events like the sky or space. The sky was the third Guru of Dattatreya.

Fire – Fire was the fourth guru of Dattatreya. Fire presents itself as blazing flames or sometimes as burning embers covered by ash. It is always present in all objects as latent heat. The fire accepts all things offered to it – it does not see the worthiness or unworthiness of the object. All things put in fire are burnt and reduced to ashes.  It purifies everything and reduces all matter to its essence – ash or bhasma. The fire of inner awareness burns all ignorance and purifies the mind and reveals the inner essence of self – the Atman.  Also the sage of perfect realisation accepts food given by everyone, burns down the sins and blesses the giver.

Fire has no specific form of its own. It assumes forms as per the fuel used. In the same way the Atman or self has no form but appears in forms of Gods, human beings, animals and trees when it is associated with their respective physical bodies.  The ever present Supreme Soul or the Universal Power is the source and end of all forms in the Universe. The manifestation of forms is  between the origin and the end. The nature of the element of fire is similar. The manifested fire transforms all objects into ash and also consumes the same ash. Similarly the self realised man has the wisdom to reject the forms and properties of things as illusion and know that the essence and origin of all is the Supreme One. The element of fire was the fourth Guru of Dattatreya.

Moon- the Moon is unique as it appears to wax and wane during the bright and dark fortnights; but it remains the same always. Man passes through many phases in life – infancy, childhood, young adult, mature adult and old age. He undergoes many changes of moods throughout his life.  During all these physical changes of body and the changes of the moods of mind, the Self of man remains same. Moon has no light of its own. It only reflects the light of the Sun. The soul of man is a reflection of the light of the Universal Power.