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1 The Path of Introspection •…¿ ¥…i…¬ +…{x……‰ i… {…Æ˙®…¬ While the Temple Institution is indispensable for the welfare of the society, it should not be to the neglect of the scriptural truths and findings about the Supreme Divinity. Temple worship marks only the beginning of one’s devotional pursuit. It has to be refined with scriptural enlightenment, to lead the devotee to his final goal. The devotee must find that the Lord of the universe is not far away. He is in us, around us, and in fact, is one with us. This understanding should become powerful and wholesome, so that all kinds of piecemeal effort to propitiate the Lord get replaced by an all-fold vision. –– Swamiji January 2008 Vol. 43 No. 04 Narayanashrama Tapovanam Vich¡rasetu - January 2008 2 Contents Relevance of Temples in Daily Life - II 01 Prabh¡ta-ra¿miÅ 157. Spiritual Contemplation 12 Telesatsang 7. Hinduism, the San¡tana Dharma 16 In Gurusannidhi - 25 M Prabhakaran 21 Correspondence Being Objective in Self-evaluation 25 Subscription Annual 6 years’ 12 years’ India Rs. 50/- Rs. 250/- Rs. 500/- Foreign (by Air) Rs. 750/- Rs. 4000/- Rs. 7500/- Bank charges Rs 35.00 to be added in the case of outstation cheques... Narayanashrama Tapovanam Venginisseri, P. O. Paralam, Thrissur. Kerala - 680 575. India. Fax & Tel. (0487) 2278363 email: [email protected] Website: http://www.brahmavidya.org Vich¡rasetu - January 2008 3 Relevance of Temples in Daily Life - II [This is the second part of the essence of the talk given by Poojya Swamiji at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi on 16th November 2007. The earlier part, published last month, covered evolution of Temples during the Vedic Times as a primary societal need, and explained ‘The Science of Temple Installation and Worship’ as a product of the creative human mind. The Temple idolizes the Supreme Reality. The next phase of devotional ascent is presented below.] Temple worship – an initial step It is true that Temples are a definite need of the society. While hospitals and health centres look after the needs of the body, and the schools provide education for the mind and intelligence, Temples help build powerful devotional culture in the hearts of the people. Though Temples are public places of worship where many congregate, each one goes there individually, to express as well as elevate his devotion. If worshipping in the Temples or adoring a symbol of God constitutes only the initial step of devotion, what are the next stages a devotee should take up? How to know about them and pursue them effectively? From ¡ch¡ra to vich¡ra We are generally given to ¡ch¡ras – religious routines and practices. These are necessary to mould the mind, making it fit for further growth and expansion. But ¡ch¡ras, in general, are something to be outlived and vich¡ras adopted and pursued vigorously. Only then the thoughtful human will be able to achieve his ideal. The place and purpose of áreemad Bh¡gavatam arises in this context. Bh¡gavatam is the most recent and authoritative scripture on the subject of devotion. Relevance of áreemad Bh¡gavatam Vyasadeva states right in the beginning of the Text that he discusses the supreme dharma openly – dharmaÅ projjhita-kaitavo’tra paramaÅ. By such a discussion, Bh¡gavatam proposes to install the Lord in one’s heart, making Him abide there for ever. You may wonder whether this is possible. “Yes,” Vyasadeva affirms. We say God, Brahman and Self. But what exactly do these words signify? What is Vich¡rasetu - January 2008 4 God, in terms of human understanding, experience and realization? áreemad Bh¡gavatam clarifies it in the form of the response to the question put by the Br¡hma¸as to S£ta, the expert scriptural narrator. S£ta is very learned and commands respect from all people for his erudition and narrative skill. To the query as to what is God, the ultimate Reality and what constitutes the essence of all scriptures, he replied: ¥…n˘Œxi… i…k…k¥… ¥…n˘∫i…k¥…∆ ™…VY……x…®…u˘™…®…¬ * •…¿‰ i… {…Æ˙®……i®…‰ i… ¶…M…¥…… x… i… ∂…§ti…‰ ** áreemad Bh¡gavatam 1.2.11 Knowledgeable people say that it is the ‘non-dual knowledge’, advayam jµ¡nam. This non-dual knowledge alone is spoken of as Brahman – the Ultimate Reality, Param¡tm¡ – the inmost Self, and Bhagav¡n – the Supreme Lord. This pronouncement of áreemad Bh¡gavatam is extremely significant, invaluable. What we call as God in religion, is in truth, the non-dual Knowledge. The Supreme Reality, the Ultimate substance, which philosophy discusses, is also the same non-dual Knowledge. The inmost Self, spirituality speaks about, is no different. Such is the declaration of the great holy Text! It means a great deal. We have to understand that Knowledge – Prajµ¡nam that Rigveda refers to in its mah¡-v¡kya – is the Ultimate Existence, Substance. áreemad Bh¡gavatam exposes the content and message of the Vedas, especially the Vedanta of the Upanishads. The presentation is dressed beautifully with devotion, dispassion and God-realization – bhaktiÅ, viraktiÅ and bhagavat-prabodhaÅ – through a variety of discussions, narrations and expositions. God is no other than the Indweller The very first verse Dhruva uttered is immensely meaningful and should make every devotee think and reflect wholeheartedly: ™……‰%xi…: |… ¥…∂™… ®…®… ¥……S… ®…®……∆ |…∫…÷{i……∆ ∫…\V…“¥…™…i™… J…±…∂… HÚv…Æ˙: ∫¥…v……®x…… * +x™……∆∂S… Ω˛∫i…S…Æ˙h…∏…¥…h…i¥…M……n˘“x…¬ |……h……z…®……‰ ¶…M…¥…i…‰ {…÷Ø˚π……™… i…÷¶™…®…¬ ** áreemad Bh¡gavatam 4.9.6 Vich¡rasetu - January 2008 5 Obeisance to you, O Supreme Purusha! You have, wielding all-fold powers, entered into my being and with Your very presence have activated my dormant speech as well as the other faculties like hands, legs, ears, skin and the pr¡nas. What does this point to? God, the all-pervading Almighty is already present within us. His presence alone activates our body, senses, life forces, mind and the like. Therefore, at no time can we get disconnected or be away from the Lord. All that we need is to realize that this is so, and be governed by that understanding. The Lord of the world is not at all away from any one. He is one with us, in us and also around us. This understanding should become strong and wholesome so that all kinds of piecemeal and broken effort to propitiate the Lord will come to an end. While the Temple Institution is indispensable for the welfare of the society, it should not be to the neglect of the truths and findings about the Supreme Divinity, Godhood. Temple worship marks only the beginning of one’s devotional pursuit. It has to be touched up so as to lead the devotee to his final goal. Dhruva’s words echo the Upanishadic message See what Kenopanishad pronounces on the subject. The Upanishad starts with a direct question: E‰Úx…‰ π…i…∆ {…i… i… |…‰ π…i…∆ ®…x…: E‰Úx… |……h…: |…l…®…: |…Ë i… ™…÷HÚ: * E‰Úx…‰ π…i……∆ ¥……S… ®…®……∆ ¥…n˘Œxi… S…I…÷: ∏……‰j…∆ EÚ = n‰˘¥……‰ ™…÷x… HÚ ** Kenopanishad 1.1 By what is the mind propelled to alight on objects? How does the first life force begin to pulsate? What is the power that activates speech? Which divinity empowers the eyes and ears to perceive? The Upanishad also provides the answer with authority and stunning clarity: ™…x®…x…∫…… x… ®…x…÷i…‰ ™…‰x……Ω÷˛®…«x……‰ ®…i…®…¬ * i…n‰˘¥… •…¿ i¥…∆ ¥… r˘ x…‰n∆˘ ™… n˘n˘®…÷{……∫…i…‰ ** Kenopanishad 1.6 What the mind cannot comprehend, but what is known to reveal the mind Vich¡rasetu - January 2008 6 and its functions, know that to be the Supreme Reality, and not the one that you worship here externally. The Upanishad continues: “What man cannot see with the eyes, but by which the eyes are ‘seen’, what the ears cannot hear, but by which the ears are known, what the life forces cannot activate, but what activates the life forces themselves, know that to be the Supreme Existence and Consciousness, and not the one that you worship here externally as the Idol or Symbol.” God needs no worship from any one Prahlada says: x…Ë¥……i®…x…: |…¶…÷Æ˙™…∆ x…V…±……¶…{…⁄h……Ê ®……x…∆ V…x……n˘ ¥…n÷˘π…: EÚØ˚h……‰ ¥…fih…“i…‰ * ™…tVV…x……‰ ¶…M…¥…i…‰ ¥…n˘v…“i… ®……x…∆ i…SS……i®…x…‰ |… i…®…÷J…∫™… ™…l…… ®…÷J…∏…“: ** áreemad Bh¡gavatam 7.9.11 The compassionate Lord of the Universe is full in Himself. He does not yearn for any respect or offering from the ignorant people. All the offerings, prayers and worship but conduce to the devotees’ own welfare, like the adornment put on the face reflected in the mirror! The Lord is already contented and full, with all that He possesses. Nija-l¡bha- p£r¸aÅ is the word used. What a beautiful epithet! Being so, where is the need for Him to look for anything from anyone? A fact, devotees either do not know or fail to think about. Thus it is due to their basic ignorance that people go on praising the Lord, worshipping Him variously and making a variety of offers at His altar. AviduÀaÅ, ignorant are those who take to such rituals. As they are not aware that the Lord, whom they worship, is really self-fulfilled, that He does not need anything from anybody for any purpose, they indulge in an assortment of eulogies in order to please Him. What happens then to all the worship that people offer to the Lord? Why have such practices gained so much of currency? Why so many different ways of worship have been prescribed at all? Prahlada gives the answer: Whatever is done in the name of God, as worship, praise or offer, verily benefits the devotee himself.