Narada Bhakti Sootras
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
|| lÉÉUSpÉÌ£üxÉÔ§ÉÉÍhÉ || NARADA BHAKTI SOOTRAS The Art of Loving the Lord “THE SANDEEPANY EXPERIENCE” Reflections by TEXT SWAMI GURUBHAKTANANDA 35 Sandeepany’s Vedanta Course List of All the Course Texts in Chronological Sequence: Text TITLE OF TEXT Text TITLE OF TEXT No. No. 1 Sadhana Panchakam 24 Hanuman Chalisa 2 Tattwa Bodha 25 Vakya Vritti 3 Atma Bodha 26 Advaita Makaranda 4 Bhaja Govindam 27 Kaivalya Upanishad 5 Manisha Panchakam 28 Bhagavad Geeta (Discourse -- ) 6 Forgive Me 29 Mundaka Upanishad 7 Upadesha Sara 30 Amritabindu Upanishad 8 Prashna Upanishad 31 Mukunda Mala (Bhakti Text) 9 Dhanyashtakam 32 Tapovan Shatkam 10 Bodha Sara 33 The Mahavakyas, Panchadasi 5 11 Viveka Choodamani 34 Aitareya Upanishad 12 Jnana Sara 35 Narada Bhakti Sootras 13 Drig-Drishya Viveka 36 Taittiriya Upanishad 14 “Tat Twam Asi” – Chand Up 6 37 Jivan Sootrani (Tips for Happy Living) 15 Dhyana Swaroopam 38 Kena Upanishad 16 “Bhoomaiva Sukham” Chand Up 7 39 Aparoksha Anubhuti (Meditation) 17 Manah Shodhanam 40 108 Names of Pujya Gurudev 18 “Nataka Deepa” – Panchadasi 10 41 Mandukya Upanishad 19 Isavasya Upanishad 42 Dakshinamurty Ashtakam 20 Katha Upanishad 43 Shad Darshanaah 21 “Sara Sangrah” – Yoga Vasishtha 44 Brahma Sootras 22 Vedanta Sara 45 Jivanmuktananda Lahari 23 Mahabharata + Geeta Dhyanam 46 Chinmaya Pledge A NOTE ABOUT SANDEEPANY Sandeepany Sadhanalaya is an institution run by the Chinmaya Mission in Powai, Mumbai, teaching a 2-year Vedanta Course. It has a very balanced daily programme of basic Samskrit, Vedic chanting, Vedanta study, Bhagavatam, Ramacharitmanas, Bhajans, meditation, sports and fitness exercises, team-building outings, games and drama, celebration of all Hindu festivals, weekly Gayatri Havan and Guru Paduka Pooja, and Karma Yoga activities. This series is an effort to promote the learning of Vedanta; it does not replace the Course, but hopes to inspire young people to spend two years of their life for an experience that is sure to make a far-reaching spiritual impact on their personal lives. Sandeepany is an all-round spiritual course that gives proper direction to the youth and to those approaching retirement. Hinduism is in dire need of a band of systematically trained teachers or Acharyas who can serve this Eternal Religion. – The Author, 8th September, 2019, Birthday Anniversary of Swami Sivananda Om Namah Shivaaya! Text 35 || lÉÉUSpÉÌ£üxÉÔ§ÉÉÍhÉ || NARADA BHAKTI SOOTRAS “The Art of Loving the Lord” Composed by Devarishi Narada Muni, Son of Brahmaji Reflections by Swami Gurubhaktananda on the Series of 18 Lectures by Swami Swarupanandaji, Director-Acharya of Chinmaya International School, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, delivered at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, Mumbai February 24th – March 4th, 2013 Adi Shankaracharya Swami Sivananda Swami Tapovanji Swami Chinmayananda SERVE LOVE GIVE PURIFY MEDITATE REALISE Copyright & Author’s Details Author: Swami Gurubhaktananda (ex Krishna Chaitanya, born Bipin R. Kapitan in Durban, South Africa) Email: [email protected] © 2019 All Rights Reserved. Copyright held by Swami Gurubhaktananda. About This Edition: Web Edition: 8th September, 2019, Sacred Birthday of Sri Swami Sivananda Website: Chinmaya International Foundation: www.chinfo.org Series Title : The Sandeepany Experience Series Subject: Vedanta & Supportive Subsidiary Texts Declaration by the Author: The material in this series is under inspiration of the Sandeepany Vedanta Course, but largely consists of the Author’s reflections on the Course. He is deeply indebted to the Chinmaya Mission for its excellent presentation of the Course by their renowned and dedicated Acharyas. Personal Dedication 1. To my Late Parents, Smt Sharadaben & Sri Ratilalbhai Kapitan who inspired me to study in life, to stick to the path of Dharma and pursue the highest ideals; and swamped me with their abundant Love; 2. To Pujya Sri Swami Vimalanandaji Maharaj (1932-2019) the Late President of the Divine Life Society of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, who constantly encouraged and supported this effort; 3. To Pujya Sri Swami Tejomayanandaji (Guruji) for his boundless vision and inspiration to create a vibrant organisation; 4. To Sri Swami Advayanandaji and Sri Swami Sharadanandaji my Acharyaji and Upa-Acharyaji at Sandeepany, who imparted their bountiful knowledge and wisdom with rare selfless Divine Love, just as the Rishis of yore would wish to see them do. ***** NARADA BHAKTI SOOTRAS “The Art of Loving the Lord” Narada Bhakti Sootras “The Art of Loving the Lord” CONTENTS: Introduction: “Divine Love as Taught by Narada” 5 CHAPTER ONE PARA-BHAKTI SWAROOPAM (Sootras 1-24, 24 No.) 8 “The Nature of Supreme Devotion” 1.1 Overview of Para Bhakti (Sootras 1 – 6) 9 Sootra 1: The Text Begins 9 Sootra 2: Nature of Para Bhakti – A. Supreme Love 10 Sootra 3: Nature of Para Bhakti – B. Immortality 10 Sootra 4: The Fruits of Para Bhakti 11 Sootra 5: External Signs to Recognise Perfection 12 Sootra 6: Internal Signs to Recognise Perfection 12 1.2 An Anatomy of Para Bhakti (Sootras 7 – 14) 14 Sootra 7: Absence of Desire Due to Renunciation 14 Sootra 8: Renunciation is Consecration 15 Sootra 9: Two Principles in Consecration 15 Sootra 10: a. Unification Explained 16 Sootra 11: b. Indifference Explained 16 Sootra 12: On Conforming to Scriptures 18 Sootra 13: Danger of Contradicting Scriptures 19 Sootra 14: On Conforming to Social Customs 20 1.3 Definitions of Bhakti (Sootras 15 – 24) 21 Sootra 15: Variations in Definition 21 Sootra 16: According to Sage Vyasa 21 Sootra 17: According to Sage Garga 22 Sootra 18: According to Sage Shandilya 22 Sootra 19: According to Sage Narada 23 Sootra 20: Here Are Examples 23 Sootra 21: The Gopis of Vraja 24 Sootra 22: Case of Flawless Devotion 24 Sootra 23: Case of Flawed Devotion 25 Sootra 24: The Flaw in Flawed Devotion 26 1 CHAPTER TWO PARA BHAKTI MAHIMAA (Sootras 25-33, 9 No.) 27 “The Greatness of Supreme Devotion” 2.1 The Superiority of Para Bhakti (Sootras 25 – 27) 28 Sootra 25: Bhakti Compared With Other Paths 28 S 26 & 27: Why is Bhakti Superior? 29 2.2 Bhakti is its Own Reward (Sootras 28 – 33) 30 Sootra 28: View 1 – “Knowledge Alone is Needed” 30 Sootra 29: View 2 – “Both Knowledge and Bhakti are Needed” 31 Sootra 30: View 3 – “Bhakti Alone is Needed” 31 Sootra 31: View 3 – Affirmed by Examples 32 Sootra 32: View 3 – Examples Explained 33 Sootra 33: View 3 – The Conclusion is Declared 33 CHAPTER THREE GAUNA APARA BHAKTI (Sootras 34-45, 12 No.) 35 “The Beginnings of Devotion” 3.1 Development of Gauna Bhakti (Sootras 34 – 37) 36 Sootra 34: Sadhana: The Hymns of the Rishis 36 Sootra 35: Sadhanas 1 & 2: Renunciation & Detachment 37 Sootra 36: Sadhana 3: Loving Service 37 Sootra 37: Sadhana 4: Hearing Lord’s Glories 38 3.2 Grace in Gauna Sadhana (Sootras 38 – 42) 39 Sootra 38: Grace of Saints & God 39 Sootra 39: The Rarity & Influence of Saints 39 Sootra 40: Grace Obtained By Grace Alone! 40 Sootra 41: Solving the Riddle of Grace 41 Sootra 42: Sadhana is for Grace Alone 41 3.3 Beware of Evil Company (Sootras 43 – 45) 43 Sootra 43: Shun Evil Company 43 Sootra 44: It Causes Utter Ruin 44 Sootra 45: A Ripple Becomes a Tsunami! 44 2 CHAPTER FOUR MUKHYAA APARA BHAKTI (Sootras 46-55, 10 No.) 46 “The Higher Sadhanas of Devotion” 4.1 Crossing Maya in Bhakti (Sootras 46 – 50) 47 Sootra 46: The Recipe to Cross Maya – 1-3 47 Sootra 47: The Recipe to Cross Maya – 4-7 47 Sootra 48: The Recipe to Cross Maya – 8-10 48 Sootra 49: The Recipe to Cross Maya – 11-12 48 Sootra 50: Crossing from Gauna to Mukhyaa Bhakti 48 4.2 Love Inexplicable (Sootras 51 – 55) 50 Sootra 51: Divine Love is Inexplicable 50 Sootra 52: Like Taste to the Dumb 50 Sootra 53: Bhakti is Rare to Find 51 Sootra 54: Describing the Indescribable 51 Sootra 55: THAT Alone! 52 CHAPTER FIVE GAUNA-MUKHYAA BHEDA (Sootras 56-66, 10 No.) 53 “Differentiating Lower from Higher” 5.1 Breakdown of Gauna Bhakti (Sootras 56 – 60) 54 Sootra 56: Three Types of Gauna Bhakti 54 Sootra 57: Gradation of the Three Types 56 Sootra 58: Easily Recognised & Attained 57 S 59 & 60: Reasons Why Bhakti Needs No Proof 57 5.3 Stepping into Mukhyaa Bhakti (Sootras 61 – 66) 59 Sootra 61: A. Facing the Miseries of the World 59 Sootra 62: B. No Need to Abandon Good Activities 60 Sootra 63: C. Never Entertain Temptations 61 Sootra 64: D. Never Give Room for Pride 61 Sootra 65: E. Sublimate All Negative Tendencies 62 Sootra 66: F. Transcend the Whole Realm of Duality 63 3 CHAPTER SIX MUKHYAA BHAKTA (Sootras 67-75, 9 No.) 64 “The Devotee at the Higher Stage” 6.1 Ready for “Take-Off” (Sootras 67 – 69) 65 Sootra 67: Definition of the Mukhyaa Bhakta 65 Sootra 68: The Benevolence of the Mukhyaa Bhakta 66 Sootra 69: Sanctifying Power of the Mukhyaa Bhakta 67 6.2 The Bhakta’s Grand Vision (Sootras 70 – 75) 68 Sootra 70: Seeing God in Everything 68 Sootra 71: Everything Gets Sanctified & Blessed 69 Sootra 72: Eyes of Bhaktas See No Distinctions 69 Sootra 73: Equal Vision Explained 70 Sootra 74: Avoid Vain Disputes 70 Sootra 75: Diverse Views Are Never Reconcilable 71 CHAPTER SEVEN MUKHYAAT PARA BHAKTI (Sootras 76-84, 9 No.) 72 “From Higher to Supreme Devotion” 7.1 Checkpoints to Para Bhakti (Sootras 76 – 80) 73 Sootra 76: A. “Obey the Scriptural Injunctions” 73 Sootra 77: B. “Beware of the Wastage of Time!” 74 Sootra 78: C. “Maintain a Firm Ethical Foundation” 74 Sootra 79: D. “Be Free from Mental Anxieties” 75 Sootra 80: E. “Realisation Comes as Lord’s Blessing” 76 7.2 Attainment of Para Bhakti (Sootras 81 – 84) 77 Sootra 81: Para Bhakti = Jivanmukti = Realisation 77 Sootra 82: APPENDIX – The Eleven Modes of Bhakti 78 Sootra 83: BIBLIOGRAPHY – The Bhakti Acharyas 79 Sootra 84: PHALA STUTI – Narada’s Parting Assurance 80 ***** 4 lÉÉUS pÉÌ£ü xÉÔ§ÉÉÍhÉ "mÉUqÉ mÉëåqÉÃmÉÉ" NARADA BHAKTI SOOTRAS 7 CHAPTERS (84 Verses in Total) “The Art of Loving God” OVERVIEW OF THE TEXT THE DIVINE TEXT OF Narada begins with Para Bhakti, the state of Supreme Love for the Lord.