Narada Bhakti Sutras Lecture 11 Su.11-15 on 10-January-2019
Opening Invocation
ॐ जननीं सारदां देवीं रामकृष्णं जगदगुरुम पादपद्मे तयो: श्रित्वा प्रणमामि मुहुर्मुहु :
Om Jananim Saradam devim Ramakrishnam jagadgurum Padapadme tayoh shritva pranamami muhurmuhuh.
Spiritual Discourse on Devotion and Self-Realization
The Foundation of Spiritual Life
How should we live our life? We should be identifying ourselves with God. To identify ourselves with God, whatever is not conducive for our development of devotion should be given up. Whatever helps us to become devoted, that should be encouraged.
We have to follow "Tad anukula acharana." So this says, "tasmin" means in God, "ananyata" - God is not somebody's. God is mine.
So Madhusudana Saraswati wrote a beautiful commentary on Bhagavad Gita. And therein he is stating something very important.
The Three Steps of Spiritual Progress
Spiritual progress takes place in three steps. He was an Advaitin. So spiritual progress takes place in three steps.
First Step: I Belong to God
What is the first step of Bhakti? That I belong to God. When a devotee is totally convinced, "I belong to God," he has developed the first step towards God.
Second Step: God Belongs to Me
Then what is the second step? God belongs to me. Because I may belong to God, but God may not love me. God may treat me as, you know, slave owners treat slaves, or our people treat maidservants. So like that. Now, God belongs to me.
That means what? I belong to God, God belongs to me. You know what it means? There are two types of relationships in this world. We have to understand that.
Understanding Relationships: I-It vs. I-Thou
So, I have a dog. So dog belongs to me, dog loves me, I also love dog. But what relationship is it? That is not a proper relationship. There can be no relationship between man and an animal. Relationship could and should exist only between two human beings. So this is the one type.
Most likely we are having that type of relationship in this world. What is it? I-it relationship. There is a big philosophy there. You don't need to go into it, but I am telling what it is.
How does your employer treat you? Not belonging to you. It is a cow. We are all animals to our employers, isn't it? They want to - just as we feed cows. Why do we feed? Suppose it stops giving milk. So, what is it? What type of... I belong to you, you belong to me.
Suppose the employer has a son, whom also he employed in the company. Now how does he treat that person? He is my son, he is going to take over it later on. So his relationship with his son - employee is there, but employer's relationship with regard to his son is unlike the relationship between employer and everybody else who is working. So this is the relationship we are talking. We are of the same nature.
Two human beings belong to the same nature. So God and Jeeva, Ishwar and Jeeva also belong to the same nature. He is also Consciousness, I am also Consciousness. He is also Shuddha, I am also Shuddha. He is Nitya, I am also Nitya. He is Chaitanya, I am also Chaitanya. He is Ananda, I am also Ananda. He is Sat, I am also Sat. He is Sat-Chit-Ananda, I am also Sat-Chit-Ananda.
Third Step: Non-Duality (Ananyata)
This is indicated by the second step. First I belong to you, then you belong to me. And then the final step is that there is no I and you. There is only one reality. That is called "Tasmin Ananyata." The slightest difference between me and God is not there.
So there are only two things actually: Chaitanya and Jada. Chaitanya and Jada.
Jada means what? Achaitanya, inert, lifeless. So far, what is my relationship with you so far? My relationship with me and any human being is different. I don't consider this as even living, you know.
So animals also. But mentally, we employer-employee also, even though human beings only. He loves non-human more than human.
Suppose ten people are working like you under him. Suddenly somebody has invented a computer, which will do much better than all of you together, very fast. What does he do? He will discard you, because they won't go and get out and there will be no quarrels about this thing, no holiday demands, no extra pay, salary raise, no problem at all. That is what is going to happen now.
So "Tasmin" means in God, "Ananyata" - I am not different from God. God is also not different from me.
Discrimination in Spiritual Practice
Anything that stops my progress towards this goal, we should treat it as enemy. But what do we do? Anybody who makes us unhappy, we treat them as enemies. But actually, they are our greatest friends. God sent them specially. You know why? Because we are developing tremendous amount of detachment towards them. That means our mind is free from them.
Whereas if I love my wife, my husband, my son, my parents, then these are the shackles. I am calling it love, but it is more of a bondage than real love. You understand? Why? Because sooner or later, either they go away or I go away. This is the simple fact. That is what we are talking about here. So, I am going on.
We are connecting. So, "Tasmin, Ananyata, Girudishu, Udashyam." You have to find out now. Discrimination. We are talking about discrimination. What is favourable, what is inimical, that discrimination should be there.
"Tasmin" - we are discussing, you know, anything that makes us forget God is our enemy. Anything that reminds us of God is our greatest friend. That is why Holy Mother said, "Misery is a gift from God."
Definition of Exclusive Devotion
"Anyasrayanam tyago ananyata." Another definition of what is Ananyata. So, what is Ananyata? Exclusive devotion is abandonment of all other supports.
We should not say something: "My husband is going to help me, my mother is going to help me, my children are going to help me, my doctor is going to help me." A little bit of help, worldly help, they can do. No doubt about it.
But what is the greatest help? When I am dying, who can help me? Nobody can help me. This is a fact of life. We have to live.
When this body goes, we don't even remember our parents and all those people. Everything will leave us. But only God cannot leave us. Why? Because we are God's and God is ours. So, that is what he is saying. "Anyasraya," support, dependency upon "Sarva Dharma Parityajya."
That means what? Karma Yoga will give you Mukti? No. Bhakti Yoga will give? No. Raj Yoga will give? No. Dhyana Yoga will give? No. No Yoga will give. What will give? Only God's grace.
All these are meant for what? To obtain God's grace. Keep it in mind.
The Story of Shankaracharya and the Chandala
How do we know? This Totapuri, even Shankaracharya, was supposed to be a Brahmin man, isn't he? So, one day he was going, and suddenly, one chandala stood in front of him. They were to walk in the same narrow path. So, Shankaracharya lost his mind. He did not think.
He said, "Hey, get out of my way."
"I said, you, you are addressing, you have addressed, sir, you. What do you mean by you? If you are thinking of this body, and if a doctor cuts both of our bodies, what will be the blood? What will be the bones? Will there be any holy bone? There is all hope for you, because you don't eat meat, and there may be full of hole only. There is no holy bone, unholy bone. It is all exactly the same."
In Greece, there was a proud king, and his mentor was a philosopher. And one day, this king went to a temple, and by the side of the temple, there was a crematorium. So, he saw his Guruji furiously digging.
"Crematorium? You are digging? What for?"
So, then he said, "I am trying to find out what is the difference between the bone of a dog and the bone of a king. What is the difference? Bone is bone, skin is skin, blood is blood."
From body point of view, what is the difference between a mosquito's body and your body? If God is asking, you will tell, there is a huge difference. Mosquito is very economical. We don't want this much. Where as we want? Otherwise, you go and scream. Aye? Scream.
Achieving Oneness with God
So, Narada is telling that, how do we achieve oneness with God? Because we are already having dependency upon so many things. Now we are claiming we want total dependence upon God. So, the first condition is, get rid of all dependency.
The moment we get rid of, we don't need to do anything, because we are already like that. Here is water, and inside that pond, there is a sealed water pot with water. And the inside water is taken from this pond only.
Now the inside water is telling, "Ma, this fellow has imprisoned me. How can I come to you?"
So, what should be done? The pot has to be broken. After that, what needs to be done? Nothing. It is already there. So, break that pot. What is that pot? Ahankara.
Body is not the problem. To think I am the body is the problem. This body is also made up of what? God only. God only is appearing in the form of the Ananta. Can you understand this point? God is everywhere, isn't it? If He is everywhere, He is Ananta. Ananta means infinite.
Infinite means He is everywhere. If He is everywhere, excluding me only, He is everywhere. Or including me also, He is everywhere.
So, if He is me, then who am I? God. Only God. Only some particular name, shape, and name. And that's all. Really, the body came only from God.
Scriptural Evidence of Divine Manifestation
Scriptural evidence: "Atmana Akasha Sambodhana." The Akasha came from Atman. Atman means what? Atman is manifesting in front of us as Akasha.
"Akasha Vayu." From Akasha, Akasha is manifesting as Vayu. "Vayu Agni." Vayu manifesting as Agni. Agni is manifesting as Jala. Jala is manifesting as Prithi. Prithi is manifesting as food. All these roots, fruits, and all those things. And this body came out of? Food only.
That is why, for a mosquito, when it comes to us, that is its beautiful young lady, "I love you." I love you is okay. But why? Food. It also got discrimination, you know. Young person, old person. Like that, it sees. It is the most juicy. Just like us.
"Anya Shriyanam Tyago Ananyata."
Activities: Worldly and Spiritual
"Loka Vedesh Tadanukola Acharyanam. Tad Virodhish Udasenatha."
"Loka Vedesh," we discussed. Activities can be divided into two parts. So-called worldly activities and spiritual activities. Eating, drinking, bathing, bathing, bathing, etc. - worldly activities. Doing Japa, Shastra Pathna, Vritha Yatra, Coming to the Ashrama - These are called Vedic Kriya.
So, even here, whatever helps us to develop devotion, alone should be done. Whatever is inimical to devotion - You should not think about them, you should be indifferent to them, people also, they will criticise you and do something.
So spiritual activities, can they produce spirituality or can they also produce too much of Ajnana? Yes, it can produce, it is producing. See how it produces, because perhaps we are not aware, maybe you are aware, maybe you are not aware, that's why I am telling you, because I am sitting here and I know you for the last 40 years. And some new devotee, a young lady comes and then I am not looking at you, I am only looking at her, there could be two reactions:
"Okay, I have heard Swamiji so much, this young lady is new, so Swamiji is paying attention to her." This should be the attitude.
"He is neglecting me and he is paying attention to this new chap, I am such an old devotee," and I am also saying you are a very old devotee, not attractive devotee, very old devotee, and like that, it's good.
Another person, "I am doing Japa for the last, every day 2 hours, and how much Japa you are doing? 250 minutes, who is more spiritual, who is more spiritual, a fellow who is doing 2 hours?" Because pride comes into it, pride comes into it. "Since I am doing for the last 50 years, when were you initiated? 6 months back, and do you know when I am initiated? 60 years back, whose devotion is greater?" Depends upon the number of years, yeah.
The Story of Two Swamis
Anyway, I have to narrate you a funny story - story means really it happened. I was in Cherrapunji for 5 years, so there was one Swami, I will not tell you the name, later on he left, he used to get up at 7:30, and the head of the centre used to get up at 4:30. Every day the senior Swami calls the junior Swami and scolds him, "What is this, you have become a monk, you are getting up at 7:30," like that, like this many days he went.
So one day the junior Swami got very angry, he said, "Ok, let us sit and one to one talk."
So senior Swami, about 60 years or so, junior Swami, just a few years, maybe junior Swami asked, "Swami, how many years you were here as a monk?"
"So I was here for 50 years, 50 years as a monk, and how many years am I here?"
"Only 12 years."
"So before joining, what time were you getting up from bed?"
He said, "I am getting up, what time were you getting up?"
"I was getting up at 6:00 and now what time you are getting up?"
"4:30, it took you 50 years, from 6:00 to 4:30, do you know what time I was getting up? 12:00, now I am getting up at 7:30, I reduced 5 hours within 12 years, you reduced 1.5 hours in 50 years of your worship, now tell me who spiritual progress is."
Now I will judge anybody's spiritual progress by the physical amount of japa and other things.
The Parable of the Two Monks
Sri Ram Krishna gives a beautiful parable. In a forest, there was an old man, monk, very hasty, and the king had a rule, any monk coming, he would supply food, so this monk had come into the kingdom, living in the forest for the last 50 years, and every day noon, roti, dal, the king would send to his servant, and the old man was very happy, remember.
One day, neighbouring kingdom's prince, he got vairagya, he became a monk, so he heard about this old monk, and then he came and said, "Please make me your disciple."
So the old man said, "Alright," he gave sanyasa, and he gave maha mantra, and then jealousy came, "Every day the king is sending me food, if this person stays with me, I have to share my food," so he told, "You know, it's very near to Rajdhani, and so many people will come, your mind will be distracted, you go 2-3 miles inside, and there will be nobody alone, nobody will come," and that man took guru's commandment, went and then left.
Next day, a servant appeared with two tiffin carriers, one tiffin carrier is ordinary aluminium carrier, another was made of gold, and this servant came, as usual, every day he was carrying, and roti dal, this fellow asked, "What is there in that other?"
"So it is meant, our king heard that a new monk had come, then king ordered that I should supply food."
This old man said, "Open that, I want to see," all royal dishes were there.
"What, is this king a stupid fellow, I have been here practising tapasya for 50 years, and he is sending me roti dal, this kuchika fellow came only yesterday, and he is sending all royal dishes, why is it," he angrily shouted.
And the servant said, "Sir, I don't know, the king ordered me, so I did accordingly, but if you wish to know, I will ask him, and tomorrow I will bring the answer."
So he said, he went and delivered food, and the next day again came in the same way. "Did you ask the king?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
And he said, "If you don't like this food, you can go back to your village."
What was the fellow previously, he was a farmer, eating roti and dal, so if he gives up his monastic profession, then he will go back, he has to till his own land, and his wife will prepare some joda roti and all those things, he has to eat. But this man is coming from a royal family, suppose today he gives up his monastic life, where do you think he will go? He will go back to his raja prasad, he was accustomed to eat those food.
What is the meaning of this parable? That every one of us is judged by God, according to our capacity, our karma, etc.
The Practice of Discrimination in Activities
So, "loka vedeshu tad anukula acharanam tad virudhishu udasenata" - indifference to obstacles consists in undertaking only such activities, whether ordinary life or those enjoined in the Vedas, as are favourable to eat, eat means what, bhakti, that which helps us to improve, increase our devotion to God, those activities must be taken, but activities means not only activities, the motive behind it.
A puja is a clear instance. Puja you go to a temple, in Tirupati for example, how much time they allow you to see God? A fraction of a minute, because "jargandi," move forward, but they are constantly there. You are only taking lot of trouble, some people even climb, walking all the 6 kilometres, go there, and sit and stand in the queue, you know, big queue, and then ultimately they will go, and they are allowed only for one minute, they are so devoted, they are prepared to take that trouble.
So what are the devotees looking at? At God. What are the pujaris looking at? At your pocket. He brings that arati plate, so if you don't give, the arati plate will become arati plate for him, that's why if you give more, then he will put a longer time also, he will put more time also, he will give better prasada also, all these things, but when we go like that, he will give special garland, special prasada, he knows that, so there swamis will renounce it.
What is the point we are talking about? You can be worshipping God 24 hours a day, but you can be pujari, it's a very simple, pujari, puja, it's true, they are professionals, but pujaris like Ramakrishna, they are totally devoted to God, they don't care for anything.
The Spiritual Nature of All Activities
So here is a beautiful hint. Our life consists of two, one is normal activities, which we have called worldly activities, but they can be spiritual activities, provided the outlook, motivation is spiritual.
Nidra could be spiritual activity, can you understand that? "Nidra samadhi sthiti," nidra is compared to samadhi. Why? A devotee when he sleeps, he says, "Oh lord, let me sleep very well, so that when tomorrow morning when I get up, I will be filled with joy, I will not get sleepy, when I am meditating upon you, when I am worshipping you, when I am studying you, with full alert mind, I will be able to do that," that's why he is using sleep for coming nearer to God next day.
But if you think it is a boring job, and sleep is a beautiful, happy escape menu, then it is purely worldly activity.
So what is worldly activity? To desire worldly happiness is worldly activity. What is spiritual activity? Whatever be the activity, including cutting meat, butchers, virtuous butcher, dharma vyadha, some way or the other, what are we talking about, there is nothing called worldly or spiritual activity, every activity can be worldly, every activity can be spiritual, depending upon what is our goal.
Story of Swami Akhandanandji's Service
So just one simple incident I want to tell you. At the early stages of Ramakrishna mission, we did not have facilities, and mosquitoes are common to everyone, so all the brother disciples, one huge mosquito curtain, entire room, and everybody used to sleep. They had only one chaddar extra, one shirt extra, one dhoti extra, it will be there outside, and inside only, so whoever needs to go out, he will put it on, go out, finish the job, come back and leave it there for the next person.
So one night, people were trying to sleep, and Swami Akhandanandji saw, nobody was able to sleep, because it was so humid, so hot, people were tossing and turning, then he said, "What is the point of my trying to sleep, I can't sleep, but if I can help them sleep, then I will be rendering service to them, tomorrow, because they will be thinking only about Thakur."
So he brought a big fan, he put it in water, and started fanning them, and then he was telling, after a few minutes, everybody stopped tossing and turning, very happily they fell asleep, and he said, "All my tiredness, sleepiness has disappeared, because when I saw, they were very happy, and I got so much of happiness."
See now, what are we talking about? "Doka Videshu, Tad Anukola Aachanam," Tad means Bhakti, Anukola Aachanam, whatever promotes devotion, we should adopt, whatever doesn't, we should give up like poison. "Tad Virodheshu Pudasena," there will be people who will criticise you, there will be people who try to put obstacles in your path, there will be people who like to pull you down, you should not take revenge upon them, what should you do? "Pudasena," Pudasena means what? Ignore them, be indifferent to them.
Then if we practise this one, our devotion will go.
The Beginning of the Spiritual Journey
First he gave definition. We are not at that stage, we are only cartoonists. One of our Swamis, an American was initiated, after initiation, he made one Sastang Pranam to his Guru, and he said, "Guruji, now that I am a realised soul, what should I do?"
This is one cartoon. He thought that getting initiation is only the beginning, not the end.
Our devotees, Belur Math devotees, they come, "Maharaj, do you know, we are initiated devotees, our name is registered in Belur Math, we are registered, certified devotees, we know Ramakrishna very well."
Hearing that, I become small, but I ask one question, "You know Ramakrishna very well, but does Ramakrishna know you?" That is more important than your knowing Ramakrishna. If he says, "I don't know this fellow," this is totally useless.
So this is beautiful. We will talk about it. Are you coming tomorrow evening? Ok, so Saturday, I have got this, yes, Saturday evening if you want, afternoon we can go. What time is the class? 7:30.
Closing Prayer
ॐ जननीम् शरदाम् देविम् रामक्रिष्णम् जगत् गुर्म्
पादपद्मे तयोः स्रित्वाः प्रणमामि मुहुरुमु
Oṁ jananīṁ śaraḍhāṁ deveṁ rāmakriṣṇam jagad-gurum
pādapadmetayosritvā pranamāmi-muhurumuhu