Janaka Had with Sage AÀ¶¡Vakra on ‘Liberation, Knowledge and Dispassion’
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1 Vicharasetu - August 2009 2 Contents Gurupoor¸im¡ Message Enrich Your Life with Knowledge-austerity 03 NaiÀ¶hika Brahmacharya – A step towards Inner Transformation 05 Telesatsang – 10 Renunciation for a Householder 10 Gurupoor¸im¡ & Retreat – Perspective of a new Participant – Anuradha Bhatia 17 Gurupoor¸im¡ at Other Centres — Devotees 21 Correspondence Empowering Mind through Meditation 25 News & Notes 28 Subscription Annual 3 years’ 6 years’ 12 years’ India Rs. 50/- Rs. 125/- Rs. 250/- Rs. 500/- Foreign (by Air) Rs. 1000/- Rs. 2500/- Rs. 5000/- Rs. 10000/- Bank charges Rs 35.00 to be added in the case of outstation cheques (within India). Narayanashrama Tapovanam Venginisseri, P. O. Paralam, Thrissur. Kerala - 680 575. India. Fax & Tel. (0487) 2278363 email: [email protected] Website: http://www.brahmavidya.org Vicharasetu - August 2009 3 Gurupoor¸im¡ Message Enrich Your Life with Knowledge-austerity HariÅ Om Tat Sat. One more Gurupoor¸im¡ has arrived, reminding us – particularly the Brahmavidy¡ seekers – about the need to enrich our life with austerity, inculcating sensitiveness and refinement in our personality. The success in any field of life rests mainly upon the austerity coordinate you are able to generate and preserve in yourself. To be austere throughout is very rare. But every one should become austere to some extent at least. Through austerity alone our inner personality strives to cultivate subtle lasting qualities. Gurupoor¸im¡ brings the message of austerity again and again, so that at least during these holy months people will strive to gain some austere worth in their life. A good, noble human life rests on the three pillars of Yajµa, D¡na and Tapas. Yajµa consists in the deep feeling of allegiance towards the Source of the entire creation. D¡na, a far simpler virtue, consists in helping those not related to you, proportionate to your resources. It safeguards against lavishness and waste, and also contributes to the welfare of the whole society. Tapas (austerity) consists in striving to eliminate the undesirable elements in yourself and incorporate the desirable ones, aided by restraint, discipline and refinement. The motivation for austerity comes from the mind and intelligence. Austerity itself, in truth, rests on one’s mind and intelligence alone. “What austere refinement have I gained in the past year, and how much can it be enhanced this year” – is the most useful examination for a seeker during this sublime period. Do not fail in this self-assessment. Of all forms of austerity, Knowledge-austerity is the highest, deepest and subtlest. In all spiritual dialogues like Bhagavadgeet¡, AÀ¶¡vakra SaÆhit¡ and even áreemad Bh¡gavatam, knowledge-austerity alone is imparted and imbibed. Reflect upon this fact and try to understand it well. Also discuss it with others around. Vicharasetu - August 2009 4 As usual, Gurupoor¸im¡ will be observed in the Ashram, by expressing allegiance to the whole Guru-parampar¡ from Brahm¡ downwards to áa´kar¡c¡rya and the rest. From the next day starts the 6-day retreat. Many of you are not able to be present here during the period for various reasons. Nonetheless, the effort on the part of every one to embody an additional note of austere sublimation should be there. May the Day and the following four-month holy period enrich you and your family with the great Knowledge legacy of our land, a heart wedded to the Guru-¿iÀya relationship and what it represents for the growth and fulfillment of human life. This time, during the Retreat, I propose to discuss the very unique Self- realizational Text called AÀ¶¡vakra SaÆhit¡. It is a dialogue King Janaka had with Sage AÀ¶¡vakra on ‘liberation, knowledge and dispassion’. AÀ¶¡vakra drives home the essence, growth and fulfillment of Self- realizational experience, the enrichment it brings and deepens. My love and ¡¿¢rv¡d to all of you. Nutan Swamiji and M¡ also send you their loving good wishes. Antar¡tm¡, Swamiji 05 July 2009 Vicharasetu - August 2009 5 NaiÀ¶hika Brahmacharya A step towards Inner Transformation [Ramesh and Rima have been closely associated with the Ashram for quite a few years now. After seeing Poojya Swamiji, listening to his discourses, then gradually participating more and more in the Delhi Jµ¡na Yajµas and running of the CIRD-Delhi, slowly they got integrated with the Ashram life. Simultaneously on the other hand, with ease and naturalness, they also renounced their professional life, and life with the parents, siblings and friends. The decision to take up Ashram life wholesomely came about two years ago. Brahmacharins they already were. Now, with their growing maturity and deeper involvement with the mission, Poojya Swamiji felt that they should be given the naiÀ¶hika brahmacharya – the vow of lifelong brahmacharya leading to sanny¡sa – and a corresponding dress and name. The transformation took place in a serene early morning function, in the presence of a number of devotees. There was no ritual or ceremony. After the puÀpa-samarpa¸am, Poojya Swamiji explained in his Prabh¡ta-ra¿miÅ message, the importance of brahmacharya in spiritual life. And then, after Ramesh prostrated before Poojya Swamiji, Nutan Swamiji and M¡, Swamiji asked him to prostrate eastward thinking of his parents. He was then given the brahmacharin dress. Similarly, Rima after prostrating before Swamiji, Nutan Swamiji and M¡, prostrated before her father, who had come to witness her daughter’s dedication to this great cause. She then received the brahmacharini dress from Swamiji. Touched deeply by the sacred dedication as well as the grace of the Guru-parampar¡, most of the witnessing devotees had tears of joy and sublimity. As both of them came back in their pristine white dress, Poojya Swamiji announced their spiritual names and handed over the instructions to be followed in their life. The blessings of their Gurudev and the great lineage shone brilliantly on their countenance. Following is the summary of what Poojya Swamiji spoke on the occasion.] Vicharasetu - August 2009 6 HariÅ Om Tat Sat. Jai Guru. Today is an important day in the life and history of Narayanashrama Tapovanam. I have always been saying that between ideals and actions, I love actions more than the ideals. If an ideal cannot be actualized, then I am not interested in it. If there is something that can be actualized, even when it involves a little deviation from the usual practice, I prefer that. There are some exceptional notes of goodness and forthrightness, which normally, the society around may not appreciate. I always used to say: “The society is right, I am also right!” May be my rightness will be understood and appreciated after a few years. I never wanted to be wholly guided by what was currently prevailing. But, what great and rare people have trekked has been really the path I invariably choose. I was always impressed by Sage Valmiki looking after Sita – Sita, whom King Rama had abandoned. This is something that no ordinary human being would ever do! It required a Sanny¡sin or a Maharshi to take up the task! Similarly, Kanva Maharshi looked after Shakuntala, who had her unusual yet unique birth. What I want to emphasize is that even when the kings and emperors failed to do something good and great, they entrusted the tasks to the Maharshis. That is how Sri Rama abandoned Sita near Valmiki’s ashram! Rama was a great King, honoured even today! But he was unable to look after his pregnant wife, or make any arrangements for her. He had to ask Lakshmana to leave her near the hermitage of Valmiki! What do you think of the stature of such Maharshis? Somehow these two instances have appealed to me greatly and I have been guided by them. When I took up sanny¡sa from my Gurudev in Kolkata, I decided to come home! No Sanny¡sin will ever do that! Even my brother, Poornananda Swamiji – he had not become Poornananda Swamiji then – asked: “Why are you going home?” Normally, when ascetics take up sanny¡sa, they go away from their parents and brothers. But, I wanted to go to them and explain matters fully. In this, perhaps I am an exception. I wanted my people to see how their Sanny¡sin son was! I said: “I would like to go home first. Thereafter, I shall start my journey.” That is what I did. When M¡t¡ji Sulabh¡devi came to me, I found that there were two choices before me: to accept and grant what a seeker devotee had come asking for in full submission, or to abide by the norms of the society and my image. I valued her Vicharasetu - August 2009 7 seeking more than everything else. Yet, I never found fault with the society. The society is absolutely right. And I am also right! That is all what I say! When I gave sanny¡sa to Nirupamananda Swami, the case was equally noteworthy. In that decision, his parents were fully involved. When he wanted to come here, the first person who wrote to me was his mother: “My son is not at all happy here at home. He would like to be there at your Ashram. I am sending him. Let him grow under your guidance.” It seems, before coming here, Nirupamananda Swami had also written a letter to his father, who, after reading it, shed a lot of tears. But understanding the matters, he gave his son the consent and blessings. So, when you want to become a wholesome seeker, there can be no secret about it. It should be let known first to the people of the house. Of course, they will express all kinds of sentiments and emotions.