Vicharasethu – July – 2012 2
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1 Geeta Tattva Sameeksha 2012 : Poojya Swamiji arriving at the venue Vicharasethu – July – 2012 2 Contents Science of Inner Redemption – 38 Silence of the Enlightened 02 Verses for Introspection 21. Nurturing a Family of Virtues – M¡ Gurupriy¡ 10 Prabh¡ta-ra¿miÅ 196. Is Man Helpless under the Forces of Nature? 13 Correspondence On the Theory of Re-birth 16 Inspiring Value-orientation in Young minds One-day Camp for students – Sumesh 21 Back to Eternity Swami Sankarananda 23 News & Notes 25 M…÷Æ˙…‰v™……«x…‰x…Ë¥… x…i™…∆ n‰˘Ω˛“ •…¿®…™……‰ ¶…¥…‰i…¬ * Œ∫l…i…∂S… ™…j…E÷Új…… {… ®…÷HÚ…‰%∫……Ë x……j… ∫…∆∂…™…: ** Gurug¢t¡ 2.63 By meditating on the Guru always, one gets inundated by Brahman. Wherever he may live, he remains free. There is no doubt in this. Narayanashrama Tapovanam Venginissery, P.O. Ammadam, B.O. Paralam,Thrissur. Kerala 680 563, India. Tel. (0487) 2277963/2278302/2278363 email: [email protected] Website: http://www.SwamiBhoomanandaTirtha.org Vicharasethu – July – 2012 3 Recording of the discourse series for television (Samadhi Mandir) Vicharasethu – July – 2012 4 Science of Inner Redemption – 38 (Series on Yoga-v¡siÀ¶ha, Nirv¡¸a-prakara¸a) Silence of the Enlightened Sage VasiÀ¶ha said: ∫…÷π…÷{i…®……Ëx…¥……x¶…⁄i¥…… i™…Ci¥…… S…k… ¥…±…… ∫…i……®…¬ * EÚ±…x……®…±… x…®…÷«HÚŒ∫i…π`ˆ…¥…π]ıˆ§v…i…i{…n˘: ** (6p.68.1) R¡ma, be ‘sleep-like silent’, shunning mind’s indulgences, free from the slush of imaginational vagaries, abiding firmly in that supreme abode. R¡ma asked: ¥……R¬Û®……Ëx…®…I…®……Ëx…∆ S… EÚ…π` ˆ®……Ëx…∆ S… ¥…‰n¬˘®™…Ω˛®…¬ * ∫…÷π…÷{i…®……Ëx…∆ ®……Ëx…‰∂… •…¿x•…⁄ Ω˛ EÚ®…÷S™…i…‰ ** (6p.68.2) O lord of spiritual silence, I know oral-silence, eye-silence, sensory- silence. O Brahman, tell me what is called ‘sleep-like silence’. Austerity through silence Sage VasiÀ¶ha introduces here the concept of suÀupta-mounam, sleep- like spiritual silence. Mouna or silence is very common in spiritual and religious parlance. It generally denotes the practice of avoiding articulation of all kinds. Even loud recitation or chanting of any hymn or mantra is given up. By its very nature, such oral abstinence for any extended period of days or weeks is not easy. Silence forms an important part of religious and spiritual austerity. Everyone is given to speaking. Without oral interaction, it is difficult to co-exist. So, to refrain from speaking altogether is rather strange and difficult, no doubt. Also, some ascetics observe silence to avoid interaction with worldly people. But in actual spiritual pursuit, especially in the context of the discussion Vicharasethu – July – 2012 5 VasiÀ¶hadeva is having with Sri Rama, does such Rest peacefully silence count at all? Is not the focus far deeper, on the involving mind, intelligence and ego? That is why, ‘Subjectude’ within, as in he elaborates on the concept of silence, its content sleep. and effectiveness. The discussion is quite revealing to seekers, especially those given to truthful introspection. Sage VasiÀ¶ha’s words are penetrating and immensely relevant: “Be silent like one asleep.” The seeker can be so, if he sternly shuns all undue indulgences the mind habitually is given to. Leave all anxieties, which the preferential and prejudicial thoughts and leanings bring about. And rest peacefully on the ‘Subjectude’ within, as in sleep. Just as the wakefulness dawns in one, it also sets. Both dawning and setting take place within the individual body. This becomes evident when one feels tired and sleeps off at the end of the day. If thus the sleep withdrawal is possible for the mind, the sleep-like wakefulness also must be possible. That is what VasiÀ¶hadeva explains to the prince of Ayodhya, as a redress for all his agitations and anxieties. To arise and awake, and equally to recede and rest, are possible for the Consciousness within oneself. The potential and possibility for both are there. Austerity – physical & spiritual Sage VasiÀ¶ha said: u˘ ¥…v…: |……‰S™…i…‰ Æ˙…®… ®…÷ x…®…÷« x…¥…ÆË˙ Æ˙Ω˛* BEÚ: EÚ…π`ˆi…{…∫¥…“ ∫™……VV…“¥…x®…÷HÚ∫i…l…‰i…Æ˙:** +¶…… ¥…i……™……∆ ∂…÷πEÚ…™……∆ GÚ™……™……∆ §…r˘ x…∂S…™…: * Ω˛`ˆ…ŒVV…i…‰Œxp˘™…O……®……‰ ®…÷ x…: ∫™……iEÚ…π`ˆi……{…∫…:** ™…l……¶…⁄i… ®…n∆˘ §…÷n¬˘v¥…… ¶…… ¥…i……i®……i®… x… Œ∫l…i…:* ±……‰EÚ…‰{…®……‰% {… i…fi{i……‰%xi…™…«: ∫… ®…÷HÚ®…÷ x…: ∫®…fii…:** (6p.68.3-5) Vicharasethu – July – 2012 6 O Rama, revered spiritual thinkers say that the silent ascetic is of two kinds: one is immobile like a log, and the other liberated while alive (jeevanmukta). The wood-like ascetic is steeped in rigorous dry rituals, without reflecting upon their hollowness and inefficacy. He tries to control his senses forcefully, not caring to sublimate the mind, which alone employs the senses. On the other hand, he is considered liberated, who discerns, by spiritual reflection, the transitoriness of the world. He is stably seated in his own inner Self. Though he is seemingly like secular people, his contentment is from within. To advance in any field of understanding, your To advance in any thoughts should become subtler and loftier. And field of this will be possible only when the right understanding, your concepts and postulates are presented before thoughts should become subtler and you. Like climbing a hill step by step, take to loftier. one concept after another sequentially. VasiÀ¶hadeva is laying down such a process of ascension and advancement. Sage VasiÀ¶ha says that silence is of two kinds. One is the hard core silence, admitting no leniency or reconciliation. It is rigid like a dry log, not flexible at all. He refers to those who abandon speech altogether for a long period. It is mere oral silence, superficial. Our body itself is inert. It is the mind and intelligence that employ the body. How can then the silence of one part of the body, namely the mouth or tongue, be the true inner spiritual silence? VasiÀ¶hadeva explains that the wood-like ascetic is given to rigorous rituals and ceremonies, scrupulously attending to all the details with regard to the materials and place used, as also the manner of employing them ceremoniously. At the same time, being ignorant and hence deluded Vicharasethu – July – 2012 7 about the effectiveness of these practices, he does not understand that the ultimate goal of human life cannot be attained through these. These hard-core ritualists, given only to external control of senses, fail to recognize that every sensory activity begins at the bid of the inner mind, and its outcome also is in the mind. Thus what needs to be silenced, is the inner mind. That alone is worth seeking. Four types of silence S…i…÷π|…EÚ…Æ˙®……Ω÷˛∫i…∆ ®……Ëx…∆ ®……Ëx… ¥…n˘…‰ V…x……: * ¥……R¬Û®……Ëx…®…I…®……Ëx…∆ S… EÚ…π`∆ˆ ∫……Ëπ…÷{i…®…‰¥… S… ** ¥……R¬Û®……Ëx…∆ ¥…S…∫……∆ Æ˙…‰v……‰ §…±…… n˘Œxp˘™… x…O…Ω˛: * +I…®……Ëx…∆ {… Æ˙i™……M…∂S…‰π]ı…x……∆ EÚ…π`ˆ∫…∆Y…EÚ®…¬ ** (6p.68.7-8) Knowers of spiritual silence say that there are four kinds of silence. Oral silence, sensory silence, wood-like silence and sleep-like silence. Restraining speech is oral silence. Controlling senses is sensory silence. Abandoning activities and performance is the wood-like silence. (Three of the four types of silence are mentioned here, as the fourth, the silence of the Knower, is discussed subsequently.) ®…x……‰®……Ëx…∆ {…\S…®…∆ S… i…x®…fii……Ë EÚ…π`ˆi……{…∫…‰* ¶……¥…‰ ∫…÷π…÷{i…®……Ëx……J™…∆ V…“¥…x®…÷HÚ…‰%x…÷V…“¥… i…** j…π…÷ ®……Ëx… ¥…∂…‰π…‰π…÷ ¥…π…™…: EÚ…π`ˆi……{…∫…:* ∫…÷π…÷{i…®……Ëx……¥…∫l……™……∆ ∫…… i…÷™……« ∫…Ë¥… ®…÷HÚv…“:** ¥……R¬Û®……Ëx…∆ ®……Ëx… ®…i™…‰i…Œi∫…r∆˘ i…SS… ®…x…: EÚ±…* ®… ±…x…∆ V…“¥…§…xv……™… i…j…∫l…: EÚ…π`ˆi……{…∫…:** (6p.68.9-11) There is a fifth kind of silence, mental silence, in the austere wood- like ascetic. The profound sleep-like silence is inner and attitudinal. It is cherished and pursued by the one liberated while alive. (This Vicharasethu – July – 2012 8 inner silence is induced by the right knowledge of the non-active Self, which is like the centre of the circle.) In all the three kinds of silence, the subject is the wood-like austere seeker. Sleep-like silence is the fourth state, the tur¢ya, occurring to one liberated while alive. Non-speaking is said to be silence, but in it the mind remains active and impure, conducing to bondage of the soul. The wood- like ascetic is given to rejoicing in it. Enumerating different types of silence as oral, sensory, wood-like and sleep-like, VasiÀ¶hadeva declares that the first three are ‘wood-like’ in effect. There is no spiritual sublimity or elevation to be gained by their practice. The mind, being active like earlier, continues to remain impure. Out of ignorance, the wood-like ascetic perhaps revels in such inner mental turbulence and cyclone. The bondage in the form of inner constriction and rigidity does not abate. So the seeker has to judiciously eschew them and strive for suÀupta-mounam, sleep-like silence, which leads to and results from true spiritual enlightenment. Enlightened inner silence |…∫°÷ÚÆ˙ŒSS…k…EÚ±…x…®…‰i…x®……Ëx…j…™…∆ ∫®…fii…®…¬* ¶…¥…Œxi… ®……Ë x…x…∫i…j… x… i…VY……∫i…i∫l…±…“±…™……** x……j……‰{……n‰˘™…i……Y……x…®…‰i…x®……Ëx…j…™…‰ EÚ±…* ±…“±…™…… EÚ l…i…∆ i…‰x… i…VY……: E÷Ú{™…xi…÷ ¥…… x… ¥……** <n∆˘ ∫…÷π…÷{i…®……Ëx…∆ i…÷ V…“¥…x®…÷HÚ ®… i… Œ∫l…i…®…¬* +{…÷x…V…«x®…x……‰ V…xi……‰: ∂…fih…÷ ∏…¥…h…¶…⁄π…h…®…¬** (6p.68.13-15) In all the three kinds of silence, mind displays its witchcraft. Those who practise these are silent, but are not Knowers of Truth.