Love For Loves Sake Alone

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya

From the moment we arise from bed to the time we retire to bed, we interact with various experiences that create many impressions in our mind. A multitude of these experiences constitutes our life. Apart from the current direct interactions with the experiences of daily life, we have to also contend with our past experiences which indulge on us as samskaras. Hence, the human journey can become quite taxing at times. It leaves one confused, overwhelmed and despondent when life unfolds against their wishes and efforts with no apparent reason.

Swami Vivekananda explains the phenomenon of life as a continuous struggle between us and everything on the outside. Every moment we are actually fighting with external nature, and if we are defeated then our life has to go. Ask for nothing, want nothing in return. Give what you have to give, it will come back to you, but do not think of that now.

I generally don’t like to attend commercial conferences because from my past experiences it proves to be a very elaborate and exhausting ‘talk-shop’ which ultimately results in or amounts to nothing.  However my mind has failed to close its doors on the Hindu conference organised by the Sri Sarada Devi Ashram at the University of Kwazulu-Natal last week. The flood of well researched, awe inspiring papers and talks based on scriptures like the Ramayana and Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna has yet to subside as it continues to erode my  ignorance and misconceptions of life.

Swami Vimokshananda’s talk on Prayer in the Gospel was a vibrant, ingenious and candid expose of our ignorance and lack of understanding of the operations, laws and mechanisms within the universe, and our fragile and sketchy faith in the Master of the universe as the preceptor of our liberation.

Is there one who has not shed tears of anguish or questioned God as to why certain prayers were not fulfilled. You may have done pilgrimage to all the main temples in hope of certain rewards; you make have undertaken severe austerities and fasting and still not achieved what you wanted. On the other hand, you see people making no effort and achieving their wishes. Everything they touch or do turns to “gold”. It is at these junctions and moments of despair that we see faith shatter into a million pieces.

A very profound poem by Mary Stevenson comes to mind now, which brings some solace to the mind when you sit back and reflect on these incidents and try to simulate how your life actually would have turned out if your prayer was answered.

One night I dreamt I was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,

other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed

that during the low periods of my life,

when I was suffering from

anguish, sorrow or defeat,

I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,

‘You promised me Lord,

that if I followed you,

you would walk with me always.

But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life

there were only one set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most, were you not there for me?’

The Lord replied,

‘The times when you saw only one set of footprints in the sand,

is when I carried you.’

A sense of gratitude conjures in your heart, bowing in prayer to the Lord for saving you from what would have been a total disaster. It is your needs that the Lord takes care of not your wants, expressed Swami Vimokshananda, whose countenance radiated with divine effulgence as He relayed these assuring words to a devoted audience.

Being exposed to the mind-purifying aura of revered Maharaj on that day, I was constantly subjected to a mental image of Lord Shiva for the entire week after the conference. It was only on Thursday night when I was doing some reading on Revered Swami Madhavanandaji Maharaj, the 9th President of the Ramakrishna Order (as His mahasamadhi day according to the Gregorian calendar fell on Saturday, 6 October) that I found resonance in this image.

Swami Madhavananda like Swami Vivekananda translated the Vairagya Satakam  - a poem by the illustrious Saint Bharthari  which contains 100 verses on renunciation. It is after reading this poem that the mind relinquishes any doubt that insatiable desires are the root cause of his troubles.

Mahadeva is regarded as the Lord of renunciation, who adorns nothing but a tiger skin smeared with ash seated in the cremation grounds, absorbed in deep meditation on the self. Even though the moon which is so far away can cause mental turbulence in man, how is it that He who adorns the crescent moon on His head radiates such bliss? It is this state that we should all aspire to achieve. A few verses below will give you an indication of how renunciation of desires will help elevate your levels of bliss instantaneously.

Hope is the name of this river, whose water is desire,

And thirst the waves thereof.

Passion is the crocodile living in that water,

Vain resolves are the birds that reside

In the tree of virtue on the shores and kill it.

But there are the whirlpools of delusion

And despondence, the high banks.

The great Yogis are blissful because they,

With their pure minds, never crossed this river.

Many of us, like Maharaj mentioned in His talk, engage in ‘petitionary prayers’ -  with the hope of fulfilling our desires in exchange for the worship rendered. Swami Vivekananda has cautioned us against such with His fiery words:  

Give up hope, says the Vedanta. Why should you hope? You have everything, nay, you are everything. What are you hoping for? If a King goes mad, and runs about trying to find the King of his country, he will never find him, because he is the King himself. He may go through every village and city in his own country, seeking in every house, weeping and wailing, but he will never find him, because he is the King himself. Knowing that we are God we become happy and contented. Give up all these mad pursuits. It is better to love God for love’s sake; and the prayer goes: O Lord, I do not want wealth nor children nor learning. If it be Thy will, I shall go from birth to birth. But grant me this, that I may love thee without the hope of reward - ’love’ unselfishly for love’s sake.

It is with this firm conviction and surrender to the feet of God alone, that you can rest assured that all your needs will surely be taken care of. This assurance is also given in the Bhagavat Gita itself by Sri Krishna: Those persons who worship Me, meditating on their identity with Me and ever devoted to Me—to them I carry what they lack and for them I preserve what they already have.

On this day as we remember Revered Swami Madhavananda and His contributions, may we strive to cultivate deep love for God alone; renouncing all wants for desires, and attain the perfect state of bliss and yoga like Lord Maheshwara, is my sincere prayer. Please follow the hyperlink below to read the complete Vairagya Satakam.

With love and prayers always

Yogan

Link for Vairagya Satakam: http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_9/writings_prose_and_poems/bhartriharis_verses.htm

Sri Hari -Our Emissary!!!

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Sri Hari

 

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 

Yesterday saw many families make their way to the temples for the observance of the first Saturday in the auspicious period of Purutassi. Although many will congregate at temples, a significant number also observe their home prayer on this day. From a physical perspective it is marked with absolute purity as by the first Saturday many households would be thoroughly cleaned; all non-veg provisions completely removed; and a set of new utensils and cookware would have replaced the conventional ones. The bhakta by this time having abstained from, meat, alcohol and other pleasures is also in a physically purified state. This process assists in constituting a divine and conducive environment to welcome and serve the Lord with an assortment of delicacies prepared with immense devotion and love.

 

Seated at the feet of Narayana at our temple prayer, tears were instantly liberated from my tear ducts as I gazed at his blue fatherly countenance - bedecked with the finest ornaments, bracelets, armlets, fish-marked earrings, kasturba necklace and draped in His favourite pithambara (yellow) dhoti. This coupled with His ruby-studded diadem and naamam (insignia worn on forehead) and radiating with the beauty and brilliance of Mother Lakshmi. As I sat transfixed at His lotus feet, embraced by the coiled body of Adi Shesha, I bowed mentally again and again to the unborn merciful Lord who dwells in the hearts of the detached.

 

My mind grazing on the meadows of His boundless beauty hinged on the image of His feet at once recollected the avathar of Vamana. That very Srinivasa (abode of Maha Lakshmi)  from whence all wealth flows, in this form armed with a begging bowl, staff and adorned with a mere deer skin and loin cloth - in complete contrast to Sriman Narayana as seen above, came for the benefit of His devotee Bali Raja.

 

Bali Raja, the grandson of Prahalad was an asuric King who was a great devotee, had won over the kingdom of the heavens by his might and prowess blessed upon him by his Gurus. In Fear of him, the devas abandoned their abode and sought refuge at the lotus feet of Maha Vishnu.  The all-knowing and all-pervading Lord, already mindful of the catastrophe afflicting them, agreed to assist

 

At the behest and guidance of his Guru Sri Suckracharya, Maharaja Bali was asked to perform a special sacrifice in order to retain the power and status obtained. Taking the form of a brahmacharian boy, holding in his hand an umbrella and water vessel, Vamana approached the sacrifice hall on the banks of the Narmada river with the quest to reduce the ego of Bali Raja. Sage Vyas Dev described the countenance of the Lord as the rising sun at dawn, whose brilliance paled the others into a mere shadow, making them wonder if the visitor was the sun deity. He was accorded a warm and loving welcome as per protocols prescribed by the dharma.

 

After the ceremonious welcome, the King offered the Lord in His form as Vamana anything He desired as a gesture for blessing his sacrifice with His divine presence. In an exalted state after conquering the heavens’, assuming that he now ruled the universe, very proudly offered cows, gold, house, hearty meals, prosperous villages, horses, or anything that he fancied. In reply to his boisterous offer, the Lord humbly requested just 3 paces of land measured by His feet.

 

Hearing this, the King ridiculed the Lord, saying that He must be stupid  and immature to seek  such a pittance in land from the master of the universe who has the ability to gift an entire continent and implores  the Lord to ask of more so that He may never need to ask assistance from another ever again.

 

To this, the Lord who is intelligence himself replied that even the pleasing of objects of the universe will not be enough to satisfy  a man who has no control of the senses. A person who is not satisfied with 3 feet of earth will not be satisfied with getting a whole continent. He will aspire to get 7 continents. A man who is satisfied with what he has is happy. But a man who has no mastery of the senses will not be satisfied even if he received all 3 worlds. The chief cause of man's entanglement is his insatiable longing for wealth and pleasure. Upon hearing this the King laughed condescendingly and promised the Lord 3 paces of land although being warned by his guru that Vamana was indeed the Lord and his promise will bring ruin to him

 

Sri Hari immediately resumed His glorious form and grew limitlessly. With the first pace, He covered the entire earth and with the second pace He covered the entire heavens and then stopped. In a very aggrieved tone, He then asked Maha Bali for the 3^rd step he promised clarifying that if one did not upkeep a promise then he would have to enjoy the regions of hell.

 

It was then when confronting this majestic form of the Lord, humiliated by this intellect and power, Bali humbled Him in defeat and offered his head as the 3^rd pace. Thus having received the touch of Maha Vishnu, he was released from the bonds of misery and liberated.

 

This wonderful episode given to us by Vyas Dev - so descriptive and colourful in presenting the wonderful sports of the most merciful one - brings so much of inspiration and guidance for us humans plagued by these obstacles that prevent our spiritual progress.

 

Sri Ramakrishna said: "It is on account of the ego that one is not able to see God. In front of the door of God's mansion lies the stump of ego. One cannot enter the mansion without jumping over the stump."

 

With all his material possessions King Maha Bali's ego was so huge that it blinded him from seeing the Lord and the advice of his Guru (who could see the Lord because of His pure heart and unattachment to wealth, ego, fame and lust).

 

In two steps, the Lord stripped him off everything he owned - indicating to us that all that we possess is by the grace of God alone and must be used diligently and for His service. Abuse of such can be easily taken away. In the 3^rd pace, by His mere touch, removed his ego. It is known that the ego operates in the realm of the mind, hence by placing His feet on the head, the Lord diminishes the ego.

 

Therefore, the placing of the naamam (symbol of Narayana's lotus feet) on the forehead during the observance of Purutassi reminds us to displace ego with humility and always serve His divine will.

 

During this month of Purutassi - apart from your personal sadhana - also take time to serve the Lord in the less fortunate. Swami Vivekananda always reminds us that the Lord is the sum total of all jivas. Utilise your resources to serve Him in all. In that way, your worship becomes more direct.

May the grace of Sri Hari be upon all is my sincere prayer.

 

With love and prayers always

Yogan 

ONENESS!!!

|| Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

Aum Namo Narayanaya

150

 

As the earth, fauna and flora take delight in the darshan (rain) from the heavens - anxiety fills many minds on the impending damage as drains become rivulets and rivers exceed their banks engulfing the landscape. I am reminded of a passage by Swami Vivekananda in His Karma Yoga lectures when He speaks of man's futile exercise in accumulating land, buildings and other material assets at the expense of spiritual knowledge; when all these material possessions can be wiped out in an instant by floods, earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes to mention but a few.

A grim reminder of this was the memorial of the horrific September 11 attacks where airplanes hijacked by terrorists plunged into the Twin Towers - iconic buildings populating the skyline of New York. The event shattered and tore at the integrity of a nation that built its foundation on liberty and prosperity for all. These attacks on freedom have since spread across to other nations, eroding the peace and tranquillity that once carpeted the land.

As the world recessed into an emotional tide over these events, I warmed my heart to an event that took place on the very same day on the very same soil, exactly 119 years ago. 11 September 1893 saw an attack of a different kind, as Swami Vivekananda represented the world’s oldest dharma at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Addressing the august gathering, Swamiji ‘s divine words attacked the skewed and narrow ideals of the world.

His opening address, which attracted a 3 minute standing ovation for His opening remarks, were pregnant with prophetic wisdom on what the world would face because of its refusal to understand the advaita nature of creation.

–Swamiji's speech:

"Sisters and Brothers of America. [At this moment came the ovation]. It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions; and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.

My thanks also to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honour of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration.

I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation.

I will quote to you brethren a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest childhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: 'As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.'

The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: 'Whosoever comes to me, though whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me.'

Sectarianism, bigotry, and it's horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful Earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization, and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now.

But their time hass come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honour of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal."

Mans ignorance fuelled by his blinding ego has alienated himself from the principles of the Universe. Basing his superiority on colour of skin, power, and wealth he has become a slave to maya instead of serving the truth. The truth as explained by our revered Swamiji that "every being is potentially divine", and "the God that we all seek, the only God I believe in, the sum total of all souls". If we all understood and followed this simple doctrine, we would see peace and harmony return to the world.

To amplify His message Swamiji established, on 19 March 1899, the Mayavati Advaita Ashram in the Himalayas, which is totally non-dualistic. As an ashram dedicated to the study and practice of Advaita Vedanta, no images or idols are worshipped here, not even of Sri Ramakrishna, and no images were kept in the premises according to the ashram ideals set by Swami Vivekananda Himself.

This centre set up by Swamiji is the panacea for the fragmentation and discord found in the world today. He further added: "Here it is hoped to keep advaita free from all superstitions and weakening contaminations. Here will be taught and practised nothing but the doctrine of unity, plain and simple - and though in entire sympathy with all other systems, this ashrama is dedicated to advaita and advaita alone."

Based on this principle as expounded by the Mayavati Ashram, a group of interested people are busy planning a similar centre in South Africa in celebration of Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth celebration. The centre will help heal divisions and contribute towards building a society that understands its unity in the diversity.

We invite professionals (architects,surveyors, engineers) and financiers (donors), trusts etc. who would like to be involved in this project to contact me on 0027837877510 or via email at yoganviv@gmail.com.

May Swamiji’s ideals of the oneness seep through every crevice of society and help cement a unified world based on love and harmony, is my sincere prayer.

Wishing all devotees of the Lord Venketeshwara, well over Purtassi, which begins tomorrow.

With love and prayers always

Yogan

Jai Ganesha !!!!

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

Lord Ganesha

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 

The last traces of winter were eliminated last week when the spring rains drenched the crusty earth, injecting life into the lassitude roots thus releasing them from the clasps of their 3 month slumber.  The pungent aroma of earth wafted by the halcyon breeze enchanted the creatures to dance to the symphony of joy in anticipation of the entrée of succulence.

 

As much as we find ourselves happy within this jubilant period, there are many who see life as leaving a rancid, repulsive and repugnant taste in their mouth. Swollen with despondency, it’s the sincere devotees who label God as a sadist who is merrily entertained by the pain, grief and suffering of them who have invested so much of time in His worship. Going to bed and arising with tears at their futile efforts in seizing joy in their efforts, they become decrepit and take on the morbid outlook of life.

 

Ekam Sat Vipraha, Baudhi Vedanti - There is only one truth, the seers refer to it by various names. In its unrelenting pursuit of taking the seeker across the ocean of samsara; Hindu Dharma through the crystalline revelations of the great rishis has been able to present the incorporeal satchidananda into personal deities or forms  with special qualities and attributes that the seeker will identify with and relate to in order to  appease the troubled mind or need.

 

Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakotee Sama Prabha
Nirvighnam kuru mey Deva, Sarva kaaryeshu Sarvadaa

O Lord Ganesha of Large body, curved trunk, with the brilliance of a million suns,

Please makes all my work free of obstacles, always.

 

Here is an exit offered to those who find themselves being beguiled by the world. Shri Ganesha is a deity of the Hindu pantheon who is revered, praised and worshiped by all for His ability to remove obstacles before any task. For one who has a preliminary understanding of Ganesha, He becomes the alchemy by which your woes shall disappear. Such is His ability that He is placed at the zenith in terms of hierarchy to ensure that any task undertaken results in completion and auspiciousness, devoid of obstacles.

 

The iconography of this most propitiated Lord is quite unique and highly captivating even amongst children. Thus through this physical magnetization, progressive enquiry will lead one to discover the profound underlying philosophy and relevance of Ganesha in our quest to an ethereal live, as sweet as the modakas held in His hand.

 

Essentially He is the embodiment of intellect developed through learning (huge ears), one pointed mind and focus (one tusk, small eyes), discrimination(trunk) and the abnormally large head on an average body epitomises the importance of the intellect in all that we do.

 

One does not need to be a rocket scientist to understand the fundamental principles of planning, thinking and analysing a task before we undertake it. In all aspects of life we see that planning is the initial step to ensure that every possible variable is thought of so that the desired result is achieved, hence the term “went according to plan” is used to illustrate that an idea was successfully transformed to the desired result. However when things do not go according to plan, the mind often starts to run riot and orchestrates a coup upon the intellect placing the ego at the helm of power and decision making. The ego’s faithful cabinet of desires (lust, greed, hatred, envy, anger) start to undo all the good that has been done by the intellect.

 

At the base of Ganesha you will find a mouse which is eating the modaka which is meant for the Lord - this symbolises that desires start to erode the gains made by the seeker. The Mythology also draws our attention to the incident where Lord Shiva beheads Ganesha, when as a centurion to His mothers abode fails to recognise His father and denies Him entry. The beheading results because the ego rises so much that one becomes ignorant of the Lord. Since the ego is fuelled in the mind situated in the head, this incident represents the slaying of the ego. Replacing it with intellect or wisdom is symbolised by the head of the elephant as explained above. Hence, Ganesha sitting on the mouse and using it as His vehicle, shows that the intellect and wisdom must have the ego or mind under control at all times.

 

For those who are sincere devotees of the Lord and feel despondent at the way life is hurling lemons at you - fear not! It is the Lord Himself in the form of Vigneswara (Lord of obstacles) who has placed these before you out of compassion and mercy for you to ensure that your journey to liberation is fast and definite.

 

I am reminded instantly here of the parable Sri Ramakrishna explains in the Gospel:

 

In a certain village there lived a weaver. He was a very pious soul. Everyone trusted him and loved him. He used to sell his goods in the market-place. When a customer asked him the price of a piece of cloth, the weaver would say: 'By the will of Rama the price of the yarn is one rupee and the labour four annas; by the will of Rama the profit is two annas. The price of the cloth, by the will of Rama, is one rupee and six annas.'

 

 Such was the people's faith in the weaver that the customer would at once pay the price and take the cloth. The weaver was a real devotee of God. After finishing his supper in the evening, he would spend long hours in the worship hall meditating on God and chanting His name and glories. Now, late one night the weaver couldn't get to sleep. He was sitting in the worship hall, smoking now and then, when a band of robbers happened to pass that way. They wanted a man to carry their goods and said to the weaver, 'Come with us.' They led him off by the hand. After committing a robbery in a house, they put a load of things on the weaver's head, commanding him to carry them. Suddenly the police arrived and the robbers ran away. But the weaver, with his load, was arrested. He was kept in the lock-up for the night. Next day he was brought before the magistrate for trial. The villagers learnt what had happened and came to court. They said to the magistrate, 'Your Honour, this man could never commit a robbery.' Thereupon the magistrate asked the weaver to make his statement.

"The weaver said: 'Your Honour, by the will of Rama I finished my meal at night. Then by the will of Rama I was sitting in the worship hall. It was quite late at night by the will of Rama. By the will of Rama I had been thinking of God and chanting His name and glories, when by the will of Rama a band of robbers passed that way. By the will of Rama they dragged me with them; by the will of Rama they committed a robbery in a house; and by the will of Rama they put a load on my head. Just then, by the will of Rama the police arrived, and by the will of Rama I was arrested. Then by the will of Rama the police kept me in the lock-up for the night, and this morning by the will of Rama I have been brought before Your Honour.' The magistrate realised that the weaver was a pious man and ordered his release. On his way home the weaver said to his friends, 'By the will of Rama I have been released.'

 

In the four arms of Lord Ganesha you will find an axe, rope, abaya mudra (hand in blessing position), and a plate of modakas. The all merciful Lord says to us: make your intellect the controller of your being, using all spiritual knowledge and practices, axe away all desires, and practice intense faith to bind yourself to the Lord. Then remove all fear knowing that He is in control of your life and actions. Then a place of sweetness (modaka) awaits you.  Festering in negativity will bring no good. Immerse yourself in this divine love, focused and intent on victory. Take every challenge and make it an opportunity for success.

 

On the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi, I sincerely pray that the grace of Mudalvana (one who is first worshipped) is upon all and may victory be yours.

 

With love and prayers always 

Yogan

Purutassi is Perseverance

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 

As hospitable as we are, we welcome our new guest Spring with open arms and jubilation - a bit relieved to let go of our previous guest who pretty much denounced outdoor activity and encouraged inertia. Bringing with it life, fresh scents and colour in bounty, the wonderful season unleashes a new perspective on living. The huge potential of outdoor activities like gardening and walking gifted to us by the extending light hours of day will have us shed some of the accumulated energy stores from Winter. Spring also provides complimentary access to various other feel-good activities - one which shall commence in 16 days.

 

I had a dear friend who waited on Purutassi with such anticipation and devotion that the mere mention of Govinda would immediately paralyse the heart with intense love, forcing the eyes to well with elixirs of joy. The preparations and arrangements would incite tremendous competition between us, to the point of arguing about whose house Venketeshwara will visit first and partake of the sumptuous feasts. To be immersed in such spates of divine intoxication facilitated by the Divine Father Himself, was a rare gift indeed, and shall be treasured by me eternally.

Lord Venketeshwara

 

Purutassi is essentially celebrated by the South Indian community and is dedicated in praise and worship of the great Lord Venketeshwara who resides on the Edumalai or 7 hills of Thirumala. Venketeshwara derives its roots from Vem (destroys) Kata (sin) and Eswara (Lord). Hence, He is known as 'Kali Yuga Varada' (the boon-bestowing Lord of this age who burns away our sins).

 

The month of Purutassi entails strict discipline by bhaktas, who observe vegetarian diets, celibacy, and engage in spiritual practices and observances for attaining the grace of the most merciful Father. However, there are some people whose minds traction on methods of curtailing the fast by scheduling the prayer on the first Saturday and continuing the feasting thereafter. Actually that is no major train smash for the Lord. Being allocated as a month of sadhanas is for the benefit of the bhakta. It is not that the Lord is fast asleep for the year and awakens during this time (as described by some of our ancestors) to bestow His grace on us.

 

The Sama Veda expounds a beautiful idea: “Only those who work hard can think of achieving something. Sitting idle or hoping for results without making an effort is nothing but foolishness. We live in a time when people want maximum output from minimal input. That may produce dividends in a business module, but will not however bear any fruit in the spiritual arena.

 

The mythology states that the seven hills is adi shesha - the bed on which Maha Vishnu reclines; and on the last hill known as Venkatdri is the town of Thirupathi where the Lord is enshrined in a temple of pure gold. I had been to Thirupathi many times prior to 2009, however in that year, I was set on summiting Thirupathi by foot.

 

Resolute and determined, I awoke with bursting enthusiasm at 4am, and was transferred to the base station by the driver with only a bag slung across my shoulders packed with a survival kit of water and a few nourishments. With a constant wave of devotees passing through the gate by the minute, chanting Govinda from the crevices of their hearts, it wasn’t long before that evinced a wonderful flow of adrenalin charging me in the direction of Vaikunta (abode of Narayana). It was short-lived though as by the 250^th stair of 3990, I was lying face down against the stone landing smoothened to fine glaze by the millions of pilgrims who previously stepped upon them. Gasping for breath, my chest reeling with pain, and my entire body aching to numbness, my instinct drove me to place my passport in my pants pocket for easy identification, lest I leave my mortal coil. Unable to even call His name, I resigned to a mental dialogue with the chief of Thirupathi.

 

Dome at Thirupathi

Although many would embrace the opportunity to leave the body within this holy precinct, I advocated and argued for His mercy and grace to allow me to have darshan of at least the dome of His abode from the last step. At this point, seconds seemed like hours. Never to leave the hand of His child, my incapacity was neutralised by a bout of new wind. It suddenly began to rain heavily, and as if beating to the tune of the rain, my legs lifted me toward my destination. At times it did seem as though I was floating on the back of Garuda instructed by the Commander-in-Chief to deliver me to Vaikunta. It was 3 hours and 43 minutes after passing the base station that I stood on the 3990^th stair, heart cramping with emotion and eyes flooded with tears gazing with awe at the Golden Dome presiding over the earth. At this time, all else felt insignificant. Drowned in an ecstacy of divinity, a sense of fulfilment and bliss commandeers your existence.

 

If you recall a few blogs ago, we spoke of the awakening of the Kundalini Shakti -  which is described as a coiled serpent (adi shesa -yezhu malai- seven hills) at the muladhara chakra (base station). The aim is to raise this through to the seventh chakra (Thirupathi ) which is known as the Sushama or thousand-petalled-lotus in the head. Reaching this stage, one merges into samadhi where all sins have been burned away and rests on the eternal ocean of bliss (darshan of Venketeshwara)

 

However, we learnt through experience that the journey is not easy and requires much perseverance and discipline in order to reap rewards. We may slip and fall along the way, but we must immerse ourselves in faith and continue. We for too long have placed emphasis on the superficial components of the sadhana like observing a vegetarian diet. Yes, as much as it assists, we should try to negate the stubborn obstacles that thwart our progress. Even if you are going to observe a vegetarian diet for a week, try to engage in a sadhana of speaking the truth irrespective of the circumstance for the entire month, or refrain from being envious or getting angry.  Practice these for the month and try to perpetuate it thereafter, and you will find your darshan to Him will be expedited.

 

"Where there is harmony between mind, heart and resolution - nothing is impossible" declares the Rig Veda.  Let us derive our strength and inspiration from this quotation and with deep devotion and resilience undertake a special sadhana during this auspicious month to help us on our journey to Vaikuntam is my sincere prayer.

 

With Love and Prayers Always

Yogan 

 

He Submits to the Will of the Devotee

|| Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya

We often hear people speak about the sport of the Lord, or His leelas. People attribute this past time to many reasons namely: for the pleasure of His devotees; to teach mankind and others; and even suggest removing evil and freeing the world from the clasps of tyranny. Although reading these divine plays exalts the consciousness to the most sublime boundaries of our existence; in actual fact I believe it to be a wakeup call to abandon our frivolous ambitions and subject ourselves to intense introspection and evaluation of our core purpose.

Our abnegation for the nectar of eternal truths often thought off as fruitless clichés with no relevance in our time, finds us often grasping at straws at some of the artless situations that confront us. In all our sophistication and readiness, the Lord often finds a way to bruise our ego to indicate to us that there is a supreme cause that forms the backdrop of this world stage.

Friday’s weather report of high temperatures on Saturday slid past unattended - as we consider ourselves ready to combat nature with our creativity and genius. Super cool air-conditioning, cinema quality home entertainment and a fridge stocked with eats provides a utopian resort from the harsh and adverse weather conditions.

An almost 18 hour power outage held central and northern Tongaat hostage subjecting them to the realities and evanescence that comforts are. Facebook, BBM and other social media were inundated with furious protests as many were left irresolute on how to proceed without the assistance of the fancy aids they have become so attached to and dependent upon. We always utilise all the resources at hand  to ensure we make the best and sound financial investments, yet to our detriment, pay little heed and attention to our spiritual life and future.

Every saint and scripture has eulogised the techniques of being ‘Master of our own destiny’ - ultimately being one with Brahman that is free from all bondages and action, resting on the ocean of eternal bliss. Yet many incidents and small lessons by the merciful Lord expose how we are slaves to our own creation. History has shown us that slaves were never happy and never progressed until they freed themselves from the fetters of their masters.

Utilising these best practice methods as used by Rishis to great success evinces potential divinity within us, as proclaimed by Swami Vivekananda - unleashing torrents of bhakti, that it even places us in a position to arrest the Lord.

 

 

Mother Yashoda trying to tie the Lord

 

 

The Bhagavatam relates how one day, whilst Mother Yashoda was busy engaging in her household duties and churning the curds, she was approached by baby Krishna full of hunger. He instantly abducted her attention from her activity and solicited her milk to appease His hunger. Whilst affectionately feeding Him with an abundance of love, She noticed that the milk kept on the fire for boiling was overflowing.  She immediately left the child on the floor and ran to its attention.

Angry at this, Krishna’s eyes became red and hands trembling He used a stone roller and broke the churning pot letting go of all its contents. After taking down the boiling pot, Mother Yashoda returned only to find spilled curd and the broken pot. It was without any doubt She reasoned that it was Her son’s work.  The boy was not to be seen anywhere. He soon caught Her eye, eating and playing with butter stolen from the store.  As She approached Him from behind with a stick in Her hand, He took off with great haste. She intensely followed Him (Him whom even a Yogi’s mind well prepared by practice and austerity fails to do - as mentioned by Vyasa). After much effort, He was finally caught , but upon looking at His terror-stricken-eyes, His mother caste off the stick releasing the intent to beat Him, but decided to tie Him to the husking mortar instead. Our revered Vyasa further explains: ‘He who is neither inside nor outside, who was neither before nor after, who is the universe Himself, the unmanifest Supreme, sporting as a human the master of all senses, Him the Gopi taking as Her child tried to fasten to the mortar’.  

In trying to fasten the guilty Krishna to the mortar, Yashoda Maiya found that the string in Her hand was short by two inches to complete the round. She attached another string to it and that to was short by two inches. This continued until all the string in Her house was exhausted, but was still short of two inches to complete the round. All the Gopis standing and watching began to laugh at Yashoda’s predicament and She also burst into laughter in utter astonishment. Finally seeing His mother perspiring, with hair disheveled and exhausted, the Lord felt pity for Her and allowed Him to be tied up out of kindness for Her.

This heartrending and melting incident sheds light upon the core purpose of our birth. Like when the mother was feeding her child, and left him to attend to the boiling pot, we also have left the Lord to attend to our duties on earth.  Due to this separation, the Lord plays wonderful sports to remind us of our goal and draw our attention back to Him (breaking the pot). Living in this world busy with our earthly activities, we have failed to arrest His full love and attention by two inches. I was contemplating on this idea and through the grace of Sri Ramakrishna arrived upon an insight.

In the midst of the deadliest silence you will notice the heart beat (duk-duk) two distinct sounds, which represents the two inches. The heart which through this two beats supplies oxygenated blood to all parts of the body allowing us to live.  That heart beat is the power of God. However we have used this power given to this body to embark on activities that deviate from the path of releasing the effervescence of bhakti that is within (lust, hatred, greed, anger, envy etc). When we start to use these two heart beats for good - through our actions, words and thoughts - the Lord will allow Himself to be bound to our lives out of mercy and love for a pure devotee.  With the Lord attached by your side, can there be any problems for you?

The Brahmani in the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna explains to Master: "My son, everyone in this world is mad. Some are mad for money, some for creature comforts, some for name and fame; and you are mad for God." She assured Him that He was passing through the almost unknown spiritual experience described in the scriptures as mahabhava - the most exalted rapture of divine love. She told Him that this extreme exaltation had been described as manifesting itself through nineteen physical symptoms: including the shedding of tears, a tremor of the body, perspiration, and a burning sensation. She declared the scriptures had recorded only two instances of this experience, namely, those of Sri Radha and Sri Chaitanya. We have thus witnessed how through this mad love for God, the Divine Mother Herself manifested before the Master.

May we also develop this love for God, which brings Him within arm’s length of our lives, is my sincere prayer.

With love and prayers always

Yogan

Bhagavatam - Translated by Swami Tapasyananda

Pic courtesy of internet

Every Bit Counts

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya

Baby Krishna

As the winter makes its graceful exit - the torment of the chill and icy winds are slowly being replaced by exceptionally balmy days.  The alarms are being sounded, as life is intravenously being infused into the dormant grass, shrubs and trees by Mother Nature. The bugle band of spring has barged in stridently arousing the hibernating creatures to action. In the midst of this jamboree I still lay seized to winter, recovering from a chest infection. Confining me to the bed for many a day; my mind though was adjunct from the body and revelling in the ambrosia of the nectar of the Bhagavatam.  It was in a way the tonic that augmented the allopathic treatment for my illness.

Speaking of winter, I must add that the Province of KwaZulu-Natal is the famed destination of travel in winter as warm beaches provide excellent recreation despite falling temperatures in other provinces. However, one of nature’s most phenomenal acts which draws tourists by the thousands is termed the "sardine run" - an annual spectacular that occurs from May through July when billions of  sardines – or more specifically the Southern African pilchard - spawn in the cool waters of the Agulhas Bank and move northward along the east coast of South Africa. Their sheer numbers create a feeding frenzy along the coastline. The run, containing millions of individual sardines, occurs when a current of cold water heads north up to Mozambique where it then leaves the coastline and goes further east into the Indian Ocean.

In terms of biomass, researchers estimate the sardine-run could rival East Africa's great wildebeest migration. However, little is known of the phenomenon. It is believed that the water temperature has to drop below 21°C in order for the migration to take place. In 2102 - the sardines failed to 'run'. The shoals are often more than 7km long, 1.5km wide and 30m deep, and are clearly visible from spotter planes or from the surface.

Sardines group together when they are threatened. This instinctual behaviour is a defense mechanism, as lone individuals are more likely to be eaten than large groups. I recall how one year, I watched as an entire batch of the shoal was netted out at our local beach. It was not a pretty site for me to watch, as literally thousands of fish gasping for air were dragged to the shore and left to die.

While laying on my bed these few days thinking of the "no show" of these silvery treasures of the ocean, I for some reason instantly connected this thought with man and the one episode I read from the Bhagavatam.

Being envious, jealous and desirous of each other we have lost our individuality; and like these fish, slavishly follow other cultures and way of life. It is so evident in our times that activities with such meaning and positive impact on our lives are being replaced by transitory, baseless activities - for instant pleasure and gratification.

This type of behaviour makes it so easy to be trapped by the net of maya and dragged from the ocean of bliss onto the shores of worldly life to wither and die gasping for air.

At Kamsa's behest, the demoness Putna entered Vraja and by her special powers transformed into the most beautiful woman. She approached the house of Nanda and found Baby Krishna laying in His cot. She then picked up the child, placed Him on her lap and took Him to her breasts to suckle highly toxic poison which would kill any being in an instant.  However, Sri Krishna, the indweller of all beings, who was to be the death of her, gripped and pressed her breast and began to suck - drawing the life blood out of her.  Screaming to be released, she struggled and collapsed to her death.

Relieved that the baby did not fall into any harm, they performed special pooja for His well-being.  They then cut the huge body of Putna into pieces and carried it some distance away from the village, and cremated it on a pyre of firewood

But alas, as the pieces of her body burned, the sweet smell of sandalwood spread from it and permeated the air. This was because Krishna suckled the demoness.  Those sacred feet of His which devotees cherish in their hearts, which receive the worship of even those who are the objects of the worlds adoration - with those feet He stepped onto her lap and suckled her breast; with the consequence that, even though she was a demoness, she got the reward due to the mother of God incarnate - what shall we then say to those mothers and cows who fed Him with love and attention.

In this world, no amount of sadhana or prayer is wasted - despite living in the world and being trapped in this maya. Instead of wasting our lives away gasping and crying for material possessions or things that have not materialised (like relationships etc); even if we can simply just utter the Lord's name we will have some sort of relief from the clutches of desire and maya. As much as Putna acted on the account of desire (Kamsa) - by merely touching the Lord, she got liberation. This is further propounded in the Gita when Sri Krishna says in Chapter 8, Verse 2:  And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.

In this age of Kaliyuga, the Lord, understanding the forces of Maya being so over-powering on the mind; through His infinite mercy is willing to grant His grace to His devotees by merely calling His name - for that which sages in the other ages had to perform years of austerities.

So always remember that every little bit of sadhana counts. Never loose a single moment to engage in devotional service. May He through His infinite mercy grant us all  liberation by His name, glance and touch is my sincere prayer.

With love and prayers always

Yogan 

(sardine run- Wiki pedia)

Efficiencies in the Life of Man

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Shree Krishna

Aum Namo Narayanaya

The incipient  “birth” of Krishna found solidity on Thursday when after an intense longing to hear Swami Vimokshananda read from the Bhagavatam bore fruit. In my recollection of last year’s Gita Week in the last blog, I was much desirous to receive once again through his mellifluous tongue, the leelas of our beloved Kanhaiya. Like a venus fly trap, its words so adorably strung on a thread of intense bhakti, that on contact it encloses your being - so much so, that I actually feel the Bhagavatam should be the prescribed text preceding the Lord's appearance day. Within the spiritually charged ambiance of the ashram adequately lit, and seated at the feet of Maharaj, it is a sojourn you want never to end.

Exchanging thoughts with people as they emerge from such celebrations and satsangs always extracts very positive and inspiring words. The mood and energy around them is nothing short of divine. A few days later, speaking to the same person paints an altogether different picture. In total contrast to the post satsang, the person has liquefied into volatility reactive to all sorts of external stimuli. Even they would agree that the challenge would be to maintain the amped feeling post satsang.

At this time, we query the agent that dissipates our accumulated positive and divine feelings. Sri Ramakrishna said that the winds of God’s grace are incessantly flowing and we must unfurl our sails to catch it. Within the campus of the ashram or temple seated within this laboratory of divinity with our sails fully extended, we trap excessive amounts of grace and sail vast tracts on the ocean of ananda (bliss). Outside the confines of this controlled environment however, we seem to fall prey to the pirates of desire who cognitively make holes in our sails inhibiting us from sailing the high seas of ananda.

In this light, we ask the relevance of scriptures like Bhagavat Gita and Bhagavatam in providing solutions to our helpless slavery of the world, on us. The common themes that run through them, penned by the same author, written well after the incidents depicted in them, notifies our earthy minds that deep within these words lies a treasure of Vedanta that can help us wage battle with the pirates of worldliness. Stitched with this quest to derive some answers, I bowed before Swami Vivekananda palms together, and with humility I asked: "O teacher amongst teachers, have mercy upon me and reveal to me your ignorant child, the secrets of these ancient wisdoms."

Through Swamiji's infinite grace and compassion, some ideas came to mind which I would like to share with you all. Why did Sri Krishna have to born in the dark fortnight? And why especially the 8^th child of Vasudev and Devaki will slay Kamsa? Vasudeva is the embodiment of truth. And Swami Vimokshananda mentioned that Devaki is the embodiment of the enlightened heart.  Kamsa - derived from the root of kama symbolises desire. When desires imprison truth and an illumined heart; it  heralds the reign of darkness, ignorance and adharma. Hence, as promised by the Lord in the Gita: 

Yada yada hi dharmasya; Glanir bhavati bharata; Abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srjamy aham. -Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion - at that time, I descend Myself.

In his inspiring discourse on Thursday, Maharaj described how the kundalini shakti lays coiled like a serpent at the base chakra. It needs to rise to the  7^th stage known as sahasrara (the thousand petaled lotus). After reaching this, Master says the aspirants enter into samadhi (the 8^th phase) which is the eternal union with God, In the Gospel, He refers to this as the "black waters of the ocean”. Interestingly, Krishna means the “dark one”.

The first step in this battle that we wage against the pirates would be to have intense love for God, thus gearing ourselves into an armour of spiritual life. This will invoke the divine kundalini shakti to awaken and rise.  In the Gospel, Master says that the kundalini, when awakened, passes through the lower centres and comes to the anāhata, which is at the heart and stays there. At that time, the mind of the aspirant is withdrawn from the three lower centres. He feels the awakening of divine consciousness and sees light. In mute wonder, he sees that radiance and cries out: 'What is this? What is this?' This is the readiness of the heart to be the seat of the Lord (Devaki).

It is then after surpassing the 7^th stage and entering samadhi (8^th stage) that Krishna (8^th child) is born, freeing truth and enlightenment from the fetters of desire. The supreme union with God where all the fetters of the manifest world and desires fall away, floating free in the ocean of satchidananda in absolute freedom.

The route to achieving this state is for man to become efficient by plugging the holes of desires. This can only be achieved by concentration. As in the corporate world, efficiency is derived through a process of outsourcing; this technique was given by Bhagwan more than 5000 years ago, when He said: "Surrender all actions unto me with your thoughts centred on self; cured of mental fever, engage in battle" (BG 2,30); asking Arjuna to surrender all actions to God alone and concentrate on the goal. Leave and outsource all your troubles and needs at the lotus feet of God and undertake the task of self realisation - that's our goal.

Swami Vivekananda said: "Concentration is the essence of all knowledge; nothing can be done without it". Ninety percent of thought force is wasted by ordinary human beings, and therefore he is constantly committing blunders; as the trained mind never makes mistakes.

In concluding, I want to leave you with this beautiful song sung by Sri Ramakrishna, about Sri Krishna:

Behold the waves of Gora's ecstatic love;

Under them all, the universe lies submerged!

And in His love,  I too, long to be drowned.

O friend, Gaurānga's love has swallowed me;

Who else feels for our misery like Gaurānga,

Dragging us from the mire of worldliness?

Dive deep, O mind, dive deep in the Ocean of God's beauty;

If you descend to the uttermost depths

There you will find the gem of Love. . . 

May Sri Krishna take birth in all our hearts and remove us from the fetters of desire, and help us to that ocean of ananda is my sincere prayer.

With love and prayers always

Yogan