Post Aarathi Talk 07 on 9th July 2017 Guru Purnima

Full Transcript(Not Corrected)

This is called Guru Purnima. So, do you know what is the symbolism of Guru Purnima? Today, specifically, for four reasons it is very auspicious. The first, like Krishna Janmashtami, Ram Navami or Durgashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, one day has been allotted for the worship of Guru. And according to Hindus, our Adi Guru, real Guru, not God. Hello, come on, come on, come on. Yes, come on. Quick, quick, quick. Oh, you got a crown now. Yes, queen, you know. Queen, come on. This is for you. Thank you. This is for you. Thank you. You are okay? So, very important. Today is very auspicious day because of four reasons. One day, specially allocated for the worship of the Guru. Today is also called Guru Purnima and Vyasa Purnima. Why Vyasa Purnima? Because Vyasa is our Adi Guru. You understand Adi Guru? The first Guru. How did he become the first Guru? Because he was the person who brought together all the Vedas and edited them. The word Vyasa means editor. Veda Vyasa. He who edited the Vedas. As you know, Vedas are almost countless. But we have lost so many of them because the fathers don't want to teach anybody excepting their children. Because that is a professional, what you call now, DMR. Digital Rights Management. So, if we pass on that knowledge to somebody, that's like passing on a patent. So, that selfishness, narrowness had come and because of that we have lost 90% of the Vedas. But from the real point of view, it... Hello? Shri Bhushan? I missed you here. Yeah. Sorry. Are you coming in the morning? Yes, in the morning. Good. Thank you. See you next Sunday, Guru Maharaj. Yeah. From now on, I don't have any commitments. So, you can come every Sunday. I'm here. Shri Bhushan? Thank you, Guru Maharaj. Yeah. Prasad. Prasad, you can enjoy it. Thank you. Guru Maharaj, I have to leave now. Oh, the train is leaving? Yes. Okay, come again. Are you here or are you leaving? I'm leaving. When? I'm leaving on the 10th of August. 10th of August. Oh. 13th of August we are celebrating Krishna Janmashtami. But anyway, come in between. You live here, right? Yes. Now I'm moving to the US. Oh. When are you moving? It's still late. October 1st. Okay. Anyway, 13th of August we are celebrating Krishna Janmashtami. Then after that there will be a Durga Puja. If possible. Okay, Ma. Take care. Okay. When are you coming? I'm coming on the 3rd of August. Who else is coming? Irma is coming. Oh. And Shoham on the 5th. Okay. Good. So, what is the second significance of Guru Purnima? Veda, Vyasa Purnima. Because through Vedas, the whole Hinduism has been founded, spread and still spreading because of Veda Vyasa. Not only that, his greatest contribution was... Irma, how are you? Alright, thank you. Please take your seat. You have no option until your driver moves. No, that's correct. Yeah. So, Veda Vyasa not only had edited the Vedas, but his greatest contribution was two. One, how to interpret Vedas so that there would be no confusion in the minds of the people. That he did in the form of Brahma Sutras. Brahma Sutras is one of our three foundational scriptures. The foundational scriptures of Hinduism are three. That's why they are called Prasthana Traya. What are they? Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, Bhagavad Gita. So, what he did, Veda Vyasa had done, not only he edited, wherever there seemed to be a contradictory opinion, he picked out that and said there is no contradiction, it is only different expressions of the same truth. And such kind of, what is called, doubtful or possibly there would be doubts, all those topics he had brought into one book and that book is called Brahma Sutras. What is the meaning of Brahma Sutras? Sutra means that which indicates, go this way, that which indicates this is the way to Brahman, that is called Brahma Sutra. Sutra also means aphorism. So this is first contribution. Second, he knew that lots and lots of people have no access to the Vedas. In fact, in the past, excepting Brahmins and some Kshatriyas, people did not have access to Vedas. And therefore, what he did, how to bring the teachings of the Vedas in simplified language to ordinary people, this he did through what? Mahabharata? No, Ramayana's writer was Valmiki. And then Puranas, Ashta, Dasa Puranas, 18 Puranas. Actually there are 30 to 36 Puranas. Major Puranas are 18 and Upa Puranas, Maha Purana and Upa Purana supporting are 18. So 36. And it is all attributed to Vedavyasa. We don't know whether it is true or not, but we take it. Whoever does it, he is Vedavyasa. But definitely they followed his footsteps without deviating. That's why his authorship. Now these Puranas are divided into three parts. Those which extol the greatness of Vishnu, these are called Vishnu Samparkita Puranas. And those who extol Shiva, Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana, Linga Purana, etc. These belong to the Shiva extolling. Because everybody doesn't follow the same path. Some like to think of God as Vishnu, as Devi. But every Purana points out that there is no difference between Shiva and Vishnu and Devi and Ganapati and Skanda or Kumara. They are all a choice. That's all. You like to think of Vishnu, God, in the form of Devi. That's fine. So that is where Hinduism's greatness lies. Different names of Gods and Goddesses doesn't mean different Gods. It means different names and forms of one God or Goddess. This is the greatest contribution of Hinduism. So what he did is Prasthanatraya Upanishads. Then what is the second one? Brahma Sutras. What is the third one? Bhagavad Gita. Where is this Bhagavad Gita? Where does it come? In Mahabharata. So it is the greatness of Vedavyasa. The essence of the Vedas is brought out in the form of Puranas and especially Mahabharata. So Mahabharata has a very special name. Do you know what that name is? It is called Panchama Veda. Fifth Veda. And whatever is there in the Mahabharata, whatever is there elsewhere is in the Mahabharata. And whatever is not in Mahabharata is not anywhere else. Literally it is true. Even if we exclude the entire Mahabharata, but take only two parts of it. One is Bhagavad Gita, another is Vishnu Sahasranama. Then it contains all philosophies. So this is his greatest contribution. That's why we worship Vedavyasa. That's why it is called Vyasa Poornima. This is the second, Guru Poornima. Then Vyasa Poornima. Third significance is, in the past at least, people start their Amarnath Yatra on this particular day. And then it starts on this day. But nowadays I believe that they can go one month earlier, two months earlier. Because the climate has changed. Previously because the ice used to melt and make way only at this particular time. Now seasons have become upset. So anyway, the tradition is people start for Amarnath Yatra on this particular day. Or they reach two, three days earlier they start and reach Amarnath on this particular day. So that is the third symbolism. The fourth symbolism is, this is when monks, wandering monks, stop for four months in a particular place. It is called Chaturmashya. Shankaracharya's other wandering monks. Because this is the rainy season. That's why Bhagavan Buddha, when he was wandering, he used to live in rainy season. They cannot travel. That's why they stay in particular places, the villagers supply their food needs, shelter. And they give instructions, teaching for these four months to the villagers. So this is a great opportunity. Even Shankaracharya's do it even now. But that importance also has become dwindled now. Because communications have improved and then they can go by taxis, by cars, by trains, etc. This was all long before. But anyway, some people observe and they start the four monthly meeting or stoppage on this particular day until rainy season is over. Means July, August, September, October. These are the four important significances. Now why Guru Purnima? Every religion accepts the importance of Guru. But Hinduism excels every one of them. So how do you come to know about God? I have no Guru. Nobody taught me. And I know about God, about religion. How did you come to know? Scriptures or parents? Parents, culture, tradition. But how did they come to know? Scriptures. What is scripture? What is scripture? You have to be very clear about it. What is scripture? It is the expression of the experience of a particular God-realised soul. After realising God, when their mind calms down, it is said automatically they are governed by the universal will, cosmic will. And there comes what is called Karuna, compassion. Because if nobody conveys this, what is their experience? How do we know? So that somehow divine will makes them and they don't have independent will. When a person realises God, do you know what happens? That individuality surrenders itself to God. That is called God-realisation. Individual realisation we always have. I am this, we always have that one. But the moment we remove that and admit I am universal, then our will doesn't belong to us. It belongs to God. So in some minds that divine will inspires them. You have to pass on this knowledge. A beautiful example is there, when Buddha had realised God, it is said for 14 days he went dancing round and round that Bodhi tree. Because he sat under a Bodhi tree. The tree is not an enlightened tree. The tree is called enlightened tree because Buddha attained enlightenment under that tree. So the tree is not what is called a God-realised soul. Like you know, you go to Panchavati in Dakshineshwar and naturally you touch. Have you not done that? You have not done that. I have been to Dakshineshwar. No, no. What I am asking, did you go and touch the Panchavati tree? No. It is waiting for you. Next time when you go, without coming to me, how dare you visit Dakshineshwar. You know, why do we go to Kamarpukur? You know the experience of M? Very interesting. You know M? The compiler of the gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. What he heard, he had put in writing. That is why it is a scripture. So what was Ramakrishna telling? His experiences that I have realised God and this is the sadhana I have done. Only two materials. God exists. How? Because I have experienced Him. And how did you experience? This is the method I have followed. Every scripture contains only, actually three we say. What is that? Tattva, Purushartha and Hita. Tattva means what is the truth, real truth. Not as we experience, but what is the real truth. Purushartha means why we should have that experience, otherwise inspiration will not come. Okay, you realised God, that is okay, but I am not for it. No. What are you searching? You are also searching for God. But people don't say that we are searching for God. What do they say? We are searching for happiness. That is all. Anyway, Surendra told a beautiful joke today morning. I am going to share it with you. So the controversy is about arranged marriages and versus, you know, love marriages. So this fellow, the candidate for the love marriages, said, how could you marry, how could you live with a woman about whom you don't know anything? The other fellow said, Gosh, how could you live with a woman after knowing her? Anyway, what I heard, you know, is not copyrighted property. So how do we know whether God exists? These people confirm, and they have to confirm it again and again and again. Once upon a time somebody said, I realised God, we will have doubts. That's why Sri Ramakrishna came again to reconfirm what is already confirmed by thousands of saints. Every saint is a confirmation that God exists. How do we know? Because they are the happiest of people. One characteristic of a saint which we never see in ordinary people. Do you know what it is? They are always happy. Joys. Why are they joyous? Because they got God. We can't see what is the source of their happiness, but we can see their happiness. Whatever be the external circumstances, they are very, very happy people. So how do we know about God? Only through scriptures. What is a scripture? It is nothing but the expression of a saint. That is why we must have faith in the scriptures. What happens in the course of time, we lose faith in the scripture itself. If there is no person to confirm what the scripture is telling, the scripture loses its validity. This is what happens. Then every now and then some saint, some incarnation will come, Acharya will come and live that kind of life and reconfirm that if you follow the scripture, you will also get what it is telling us. That is why every time God incarnates, these two factors will happen. In fact, four things happen. Whenever God incarnates, four things happen. Do you know what those four things are? No, no. That is a general idea. Four definite things will happen. After I describe it, then you go and think over it and you will understand what happens. The first thing is that their name becomes a mantra. Before Krishna's incarnation, there was no Krishna mantra. Before Rama's incarnation, there was no Rama mantra. After their incarnation, now Rama himself has become one form of Ishta Devata. So every time in incarnation, Jesus Christ, Buddha. Buddhaṁ śaraṇaṁ gacchāmi. That is the mantra. Then Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. This is called Jesus mantra. Their form becomes an object of meditation. Their name becomes a sacred mantra. Their life and teachings become the scripture for the present age. There are the three things. Every time God incarnates, inevitably these three things will happen. The fourth thing that happens is that an organization springs up. A traditional, guru-shishya-parampara tradition, GPS. Do you have a GPS in your car? You know that GPS? Guru-parampara system. It guides. Just as GPS guides you, this also guides. This is how we have to follow. An organization springs. The first three remain for this age, as long as this yuga lasts. The fourth one, because it is a secular organization, it degenerates. That is how what is called different sects will start. So like Durga Puja in London. Few Bengalis come together and organize a Durga Puja. And during and after the Durga Puja, they quarrel. During Durga Puja, they quarrel. After Durga Puja, they split. Next year, you will see two separate Durga Pujas. And the same thing continues. Now in London, how many Durga Pujas are there? At least 20, so far as we know. This is invariable. The same thing happens with every organization. Ramakrishna Mission's fate also will be the same. Already it has split into three. The first was Swami Nirmalananda. He separated himself and he has his own Ramakrishna Ashrams. The second was Swami Avedananda. You know that Ramakrishna, Avedananda, Vedanta. Ramakrishna, Vedanta Centre, they call it. Instead of Ramakrishna Mission, they have their own headquarters, branches and all that. Third, of course, is our Ramakrishna Order. But it will happen. When a powerful Swami separates, then there will be some people who follow him and then it separates itself. That is how, whether it is Hinduism or Christianity or Islam, sectarianism, that is how it comes. The biggest problem in Islam is to Shia and Sunni. And still they are fighting. How much butchering, genocide has happened. Sunnis murdering Shias and Shias murdering Sunnis. The whole Iraq Saddam Hussein wanted to annihilate the Sunnis. And this fight is going on even now. Everywhere it is the biggest fight. Anyway, that is not our subject. The fourth, what is it? An organization springs after them. Started by their disciples. And in the beginning, it will be very pure. But as time goes on, it becomes degenerate. And then it becomes political. It becomes, what you call, worldly, very worldly. And that is the time when the incarnation, God incarnates again. But the three will remain. That is why in this yuga, Rama was the first incarnation and Krishna was the second incarnation. Then came Buddha, then came Jesus Christ, then came Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and then came Ramakrishna. But you will notice, Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, they will not be worshipped. They will have influence, they will have followers, but they themselves will not be worshipped as gods. Whereas incarnations are worshipped as Ishtadevata, one form of God. Their names become mantras and their lives are scriptures. For example, Ramayana is a guideline for people how to live a dharmic life. What is the greatest scripture of life and teachings of Krishna? You know that. Bhagavatam. Bhagavatam is nothing but Sri Krishna's life and other incarnations' lives. And Bhagavad Gita is His main scripture. But there is another scripture which influenced people quite a lot, but indirectly, of Bhagavan Krishna. Do you know what that scripture is? It comes in Bhagavatam. The 11th Skanda chapter of Bhagavatam is called Uddhava Samvada. Sri Krishna Uddhava Samvada. And what is the difference between these two? Bhagavad Gita is purely a logical, philosophical book, mostly. Whereas Uddhava Gita is a pure devotional scripture. There is one snippet, as a sample, you know, when we went to Japan, there is, under every station, railway station, there will be a huge market. This you don't see everywhere. Huge underground market under every railway station. The idea is, when people are commuting, they should not go anywhere, just get down, buy what you want, and then go. So, we also went. And then, one of these beautiful Japanese girls, they will give free samples. Sweets and snacks, anything you want. The idea is, you eat, if you like, you buy it. So, by that time, you visit 4-5 girls. Your stomach is full. So, one snippet. So, Bhagavan Krishna is telling to Uddhava, Uddhava, I do not live anywhere. I live where my devotees sing of me with devotion. I live in them. This idea is beautifully represented in Valmiki Ramayana, sorry, not Valmiki Ramayana, but in Ramcharitmanas. Beautiful episode, one of my favorite episodes. You know, Rama was exiled. He goes to Dandakaranya. He meets Valmiki. In the Valmiki Ramayana, he doesn't meet. Only his wife meets. When Sita was abandoned, then he meets. In Ramcharitmanas, Rama straightaway goes. Very beautiful episode. Rama went from Ayodhya and he had to cross Ganga. And then Gohaka, he was the boatman. And then Rama says, Goha, please take me across. He says, yes, on one condition. I have to wash your feet thoroughly. Rama, very innocently, why? Because, Lord, I have a problem with your feet. I heard that your feet touched a stone and it became a woman. Now, already I have one wife. If my boat also becomes a woman, I have two problems now. First, I lost my boat. And an extra burden, another woman. How am I going to maintain? So, better I wash your feet thoroughly, and then you can sit in the boat. I am safe, you are safe, both of us are safe. So, Rama crosses Ganga and meets Dandakaranya. For 14 years he has to live. He asks Valmiki, Ramcharitmanas, greatness of Ramcharitmanas, Maharshi, I have to live in this place with my wife and brother. Can you, you are familiar with this place, can you show a place which is suitable for us? Then Valmiki asks counter questions. First you tell me where you are not, then I will tell you where you are good. Indirectly, you know. Acknowledging that you are God. And then he gives a beautiful description. Have you read it? Ramcharitmanas? You read this particular chapter. I will give you examples. O Rama, dwell in that place where the persons are never satisfied however much they hear of your stories. They are not happy coming to an end. That means they want to go on listening to your heart. Dwell in the hearts of those people who never wish any worldly object excepting devotion to your lotus feet. Dwell in the hearts of those people who do not cherish lust, anger, greed, envy, pride, delusion. Dwell in the hearts of those people who are always eager, like a mother who has given birth to a new baby, always there, wherever they are, their attention is on the baby. So those who are forgetting themselves always think of the welfare of the other people. Dwell in their hearts. That is the fitting place for you to dwell. That means these are the spiritual qualities we need to develop and otherwise God will not come. You don't invite a big swami and show him the toilet and say you take your seat here. I will serve you tea and coffee. Yeah, so many devotees, you know, they want to keep their carpet clean. What do they do? They lift the carpet and push everything under the carpet. Looks very nice. Anyway, I am making fun of it, you know. So, these are the descriptions, three pages of description where Rama should dwell, indicating indirectly Rama will not dwell in another place where such conditions are not fulfilled. And there also is a beautiful law. A law is that all good qualities are like thieves, thick as thieves. One cannot live without the other. That means if you practice, develop one good quality, all the other good qualities have to come like what is called Dhanalakshmi, Viryalakshmi, Yasholakshmi and Kirtilakshmi, then Vidyalakshmi and Satyalakshmi, like that. You know that story? Astralakshmi. Do you know that story, Amitabh? How many of you know? There was a king and he was a very truthful person. And he was very prosperous and his name spread all over. In every way he was like a saint. But somehow he committed some mistake. And that night when he was sleeping, the most beautiful lady came in his dream and said, I cannot, you committed this thing wrong and I am leaving you. Then he asked, Mother, who are you? She said, I am Dhanalakshmi. He said, Mother, I have committed a mistake but please don't go. No, no, no, you have committed. I cannot live in this place. She goes. Then next another lady comes. Vidyalakshmi goes. Vivekalakshmi goes. Bhagyalakshmi goes. Bhagyadalakshmi Varamma. Beautiful song, Purandardasa song. Like that, seven Lakshmis have gone. Then finally comes the most beautiful lady in the whole universe. Then he asks, Mother, who are you? She says, I am Satyalakshmi. Then he says, Mother, let all the other Lakshmis go but I cannot leave you. I will not leave you. I will not allow you to go because I am truthful. I want to be truthful. I cannot let you go. That means what? I am going to become? Untruthful. If you go away, that means I become untruthful. That I have committed mistake but I am not going to leave you. She looks at him and says, alright, I will be with you. The moment she said that, all the other seven Lakshmis, we cannot live without her. So these all good qualities or bad qualities are like a gang. If one quality is there, unless it is supported by the other qualities, it won't stay. Anyway, I used to be like a gang, you know. They all rub together. This is what Sri Ramakrishna beautifully gives an analogy. On a pond, there will be some creeper. If you pull any side of the creeper, the whole creeper comes. So good qualities are like that. Bad qualities are also like that. This is what is called in Bengali, maje maje paan khai. Good, you are a good devotee. I like you. Those who remember whatever I said, I don't like too much. You know, there was one man, householder, he had a daughter of marriageable age. So he heard about a boy and he went to interview the boy. Two versions are there, I will tell you, because we have to enjoy today. So this father, he asked the boy, do you smoke, do you drink, do you do this and that? He said, no, no, no, I have. In this Kalikala, such a young man who had absolutely no bad qualities at all. He couldn't believe his ears. Then he turned to the mother and said, your son says like that, is it true that he doesn't have any bad qualities? Mother said, yes, more or less it is true. I have to tell you truthfully, maje maje paan khai. Now and then he chews this betel, paan. Oh, that is not wise at all. He immediately said, no, no, always he doesn't. Whenever he smokes a cigarette, then only he eats this one. He doesn't smoke always, only when he drinks a little bit. He doesn't drink all the time, only when he eats a little bit of meat, then he drinks. He doesn't eat meat all the time, only when he steals something occasionally, then only. This is one version. Second version is also exactly, he has this habit, that habit, that habit, no, no, no. Kali Yuga, Harishchandra. Then he asked his mother, does he really has... no. He says, absolutely. Only one bad quality he has. He lies. The third one. This is the third version. This man went and interviewed the boy and then he came back home. His wife was waiting. How did the interview go? Oh, fantastic. So, tell me all about it. I have got good news, bad news. What do you want to hear? He says, first you tell me, what is the bad news? He says, I asked him, what about your education? He said, no, I depend on God. What about earning money? I totally depend upon God. What about providing a house for your wife? I depend upon God. For everything, he says, I depend upon God. This is the bad news. The wife asked him, what is the good news? And he said, the good news is, he thinks I am God. That is the good news. So, what was the subject we were talking about? Earlier? All good qualities come together. So, that is what Bhagavad Gita, or whatever it is, this Ramcharitmanas is telling, and that is the most wonderful creation. Same thing, Valmiki Ramayana. Same thing, Mahabharata, through Bhagavad Gita. So, because of this wisdom that is coming from such a long time, the very essence of the Vedas, that is why Vedavyasa is so adorable. But ultimately, whatever good knowledge we get, it all comes from a Guru. Ultimately, it comes from a Guru. Are you okay? Is it not creating some discomfort to you? What? Come, shake hands. Okay, thank you. Shake hands. Good girl. What is your name? I don't know your name. Please tell me your name. Yes. Pari. Oh, thank you. Yes. Did you eat the sweet? Here, there is a nice sweet for you. Have you seen? See, see, see. Yes, thank you. Hey, what is your name? Shoham. Shoham. What is your name? You give it to your sister also. Give it to your sister. You take it to her and give it to her, okay? Yes, good girl. Hindus have a belief, without Guru, we cannot progress in spiritual life. And if there is a conflict between God and Guru, whom should we obey? Guru. Will there be a conflict between God and Guru? No. But we can have. Psychological disease is there. But there is an actual funny incident is there, which is a real incident. You know, I think it is Sanatana Goswami or Jiva Goswami. One of the disciples of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He was a very hard taskmaster. And he used to live in Vrindavan. And he used to discipline his disciples very harshly. This is what Sri Ramakrishna mentions in his Gospel. And one day, the disciples could not bear this harsh treatment of the Guru, and they prayed to Radharani. Who is Radharani? The presiding deity of Vrindavan. You know, the presiding deity of any particular place is the Divine Mother. Not the male principal. For example, Varanasi. Who is the presiding deity? It is the mother, Annapurna. Because she looks after. You know, also they say, he goes bhavati bhiksham dehi. And then unless he gives, she gives. He cannot function. Shiva shaktiya yukto yadi bhavati prabhavitum This is Saundarya Lahari. The very first verse says, if Shiva is not joined with Shakti, then he could not even do his function. Vishnu cannot do his function without Lakshmi. And without Saraswati, what would be Brahma? Actually, Brahma is Saraswati. Do you know that? Because he has got these four faces. Chiturmukha Brahma. What are those chiturmukhas? Four faces. Four Vedas. So, mother, Brahma is another name. Saraswati is the Shakti. And Brahma is the application. Lakshmi is the Shakti. Vishnu is the application. Shakti or Parvati or Kali or Gauri or Durga is the Shakti. And the application is called Shiva. That's why Shiva is always identified with Jnana. That is why if anybody dies at Varanasi, the first thing that happens, according to Thakur's beautiful vision, every time a Jiva is there on his funeral time, you know what happens? What Sri Ramakrishna said? Shiva only utters the Taraka mantra. But it is totally useless. Unless the Divine Mother comes and cuts all the bondages. That is why, you know, when Holy Mother was there, Swami Brahmanandaji was also there at Varanasi. So one day, I think somebody asked a question to Holy Mother. Why the Divine Mother should be propitiated? Then instead of answering herself, because we consider her as Mahamaya, she sent this question to Swami Brahmananda. Why Divine Mother should be worshipped? And he gave the answer. He said, unless Mahamaya releases a person, he cannot go beyond the Maya. It is Maya which binds us. It is again Maya which also releases us. So here naturally the question that comes is, why does Mahamaya bind us? Is it binding or is it to give thappad, so that we become awakened and then go forward? Vandana means, you understand, suffering. Suffering, English word suffer is a Hindi word. Do you know that? Jeevan eth safar hai. Yeah, that is what Buddha is preaching, you know, life is nothing but suffering. More or less same with sansara. Sansara is some sort of... Yeah, she is returning back to me what I have given to her. I always remember that. Some sorry. One who is in samsara is called what? Some sorry. You want to be in samsara and not have any sorry, sorrow. Who is it? Some sorry. If you are some sorry, you are some sorry. Not some sorry, all sorry only. Anyway, Swami Brahmananda said, unless Mahamaya cuts the bondage and releases, he cannot go. This was what Sri Ramakrishna had seen in a divine vision. Shiva tells you are Brahman. Taraka means that which saves. What is the save? Your real nature is Brahman. Tattvamasi. But the Jeeva cannot get released unless the Divine Mother really gives that understanding. That is why when we pray to the Mother, upper caste people, they pray after the Ignopavita. What is the prayer? I meditate upon you, O Divine Mother. Actually it is for the Mother. How? Savitri, Saraswati, Gayatri. Morning Gayatri, noon Saraswati, night Gayatri, Savitri, Saraswati. Three aspects of the Divine Mother. It is Divine Mother. That is why it is called Shakti. Saguna Brahma is nothing but Shakti. Because that which gives birth, we call it Mother. You know anything. So Saguna Brahma is nothing but actually it is giving birth to this whole universe. That is why they say Saguna Brahma has given birth to a Brahmanda. Anda means what? Egg. So this whole universe is considered as an egg. We are also, you know, Dvijas. All of us are Dvijas only. Dvija means what? Twice born. Second time born. All of us are Dvijas without knowing it. Not only Brahmins. You know why? What is a Dvija? A bird is a Dvija. What is the first birth of the chicken? Egg. After that the egg becomes chicken. Like that. So here also it is the Mother's egg. The only difference is in the birds the egg comes out and then becomes the bird. Whereas here all this development takes place within and then the birth takes place. That's why we are also Dvijas only. So who gives birth? She is called a Mother. Always we use feminine word for those who give birth. So he who gives birth to this whole universe he is also nothing but Divine Mother. That is why Ramakrishna specifically uses that word Shakti. Brahma and Shakti. Saguna Brahma is nothing but Shakti. So if you understand this way Saraswati and Brahma. What is this? Saraswati is the Shakti and Brahma is the application. Similarly Lakshmi is the Shakti. What is Lakshmi do you know? Not wealth. Not money. It is the power of maintenance. So Shiva also requires Kali. That is how Ramakrishna had given beautiful Shiva and Shakti. So we are in the kingdom of Shakti. We cannot go out to Brahman. It is like going to a foreign country. Unless she gives the visa, stamps in the passport, we cannot go out. And what is that, that gives us possible do you know? It is called Vidya Maya. So only one clarification we need to do. Avidya Maya is not our enemy. Avidya Maya is our well-wisher. If we learn normally to become wise then Avidya Maya is not necessary. But Avidya Maya takes us through this, drags us through this path of suffering so that one day this suffering will wake us up. That is called preparation. But if you connect it to Vedanta, the meaning becomes absolutely clear. Every spiritual development has two parts. Understanding and preparation. And practice. That which falls under understanding and preparation is called Purva Kanda, which is Karma Kanda we call it. And that which, when we are ready, then we practice it actually in our life, that is called Jnana Kanda. That's why even Bhakti Yoga is divided into two, Gauna and Para. Vaidhi Bhakti, you know Ramanujacharya, Swamiji when he gave lectures on Bhakti Yoga, he took from Ramanujacharya's commentary from the Sri Bhashya. Brahmasutra Bhashya of Ramanujacharya is called Sri Bhashya. So he takes these seven qualities which every devotee must develop. Viveka, Vimoka, Abhyasa, Kriya, Kalyana, then Anudharsha, like that seven qualities. Unless a devotee or non-devotee or a Jnani, unless he develops these seven qualities, he is not fit to enter into that second stage. This preparatory stage is called Purva Kanda of the Vedas. As you know Vedas are divided into two parts. So if you study Advaita Vedanta, they give a misinterpretation. Karma Kanda, it is Avidya, it has nothing to do with Jnana, and you cannot get God Realization unless you come out of it. That is what is called Renunciation. That is what is called Sannyasa. Unless you become a Sannyasin, you are not going to. That is not traditional explanation. Sri Ramakrishna gives us the explanation. This is the preparation and this is actual practice. So every part, Karma Yoga also has got two parts. Do you know what are those two parts? Sakama Karma Yoga and Nishkama Karma Yoga. Sakama Karma Yoga means you don't want spiritual life, but you have worldly desires. There are two ways of accumulating worldly desires, fulfilling worldly desires. One is hook and crook, by hook and crook. That means you don't follow the scriptures. The recommended path that you fulfill all your worldly desires by following the scripture. And the scripture has got two parts, only two parts. Do you know what is that? Vidhi and Nishedha. Vidhi means do this. Nishedha means don't do this. And in case a person, you know, we are impulsive people, we commit mistakes. That is why if we have repented of what we have done, wrong things. That is why it is called also Bhattyavayapapa. Sins of two different kinds, omission and commission. Commission means what? You are supposed to do certain things and you don't do. That creates Papa. What is commission? You are not supposed to do and you do it. Human beings, being weak, they do commit both, commission and commission. And therefore there must be a way for them. When is the way? When a person understands, I am the cause of my own suffering, I want to get rid of it, then comes prayaschitta. So for every bad karma we have done, there is a prayaschitta, atonement, the action which takes us out of it. What is the atonement to do, you know? Very interesting. Once somebody, some monk committed some offence and he recognised it. Then he went to Mahapurush Maharaj and asked Maharaj, I have committed this mistake, now what shall I do to get rid of this? Then he said, you do your mantra japa 10,000 times. After that you take your, don't take food from morning, complete 10,000 japa, then offer it to Shri Ramakrishna, then you pray, O Lord, in my ignorance I have committed this wrong thing, and now you please forgive me, and that is it. Don't commit in future. So this is also given as a provision in our scriptures and it is called prayaschitta. Very beautiful word because chitta means what? Mind. Prayaschitta means, do you know what it means? How to get back that state of mind before committing the crime, how the mind was. So how to get back that state of mind and that is done only by doing some parikrama. That is there in Christianity also, you say you do this one, do one, and like that. Irma, your health is okay? Yes, thank you. Nice to see you. Today is a very holy day, so tell her to bring you now and then. Would you like to have some sweet, Irma? No, thank you. Take that. You want to go, Amitabh? Sir, it is alright to drive. Yes, yes. And, sorry, sorry. You know, Shanta, we do that little Shambhush, you said to give Shanta, so I have got the bag, Marks and Spencers bag, Suran has taken, he has got my peanuts, spice peanuts, and her thing is there. Where is it? Suran? I have kept it up. Oh, you kept it up. She meant green bag. Anyway, I have not seen it. No, you won't have, but she specially told me, so I am specially telling you. She will want feedback. Yes. Okay, Amitabh? Yes, Maharaj. When will we see you? Okay, Maharaj, take your leave. You have to do prayaschitta. How many times? You do 10,000 times, I don't know. 10,000 japa, then you don't feel like going in front. I know. You do japa on the way. Yes, I will do that. Yes. Definitely. Yes. Thank you, Maharaj. Okay, see you again. See you again. Thank you for a lovely day. Yes. So, this is how prayaschitta is done. What is the point I am making here? The avidya maya is not inimical to us. It is our mother. Maya is our mother. Maya is not there to bind us. Maya is there to lead us slowly, gradually to God. This is the most wonderful teaching of Sankhya Yoga. There is a system called Sankhya Yoga, philosophical school. And at the end it says, this prakruti, like a loving mother, leads each jiva from a state of ignorance to a state of wisdom, but through ups and downs. And ultimate goal is, you rascal, and you have fallen into my compound, and I don't want you, and I have nothing to do with you, and I tried to, nice words to send you out, but you have not gone, so I have no option but to kick you out of my gate. So she brings until the gate, and one kick says, that is your home. This is not your home. Out with you. And then again she comes back. For each jiva, she leads by hand. This is the greatest contribution of Sri Ramakrishna to understanding what is the real role of maya. So we know Bhagavad Gita supports it. Yes, yes. Absolutely right. So we don't want to be Kuntis. We are ready to quote Kuntis, but not ready to follow Kunti. So how does Bhagavad Gita support? Bhagavad Gita Do you understand the meaning? This maya, it belongs to me. This is my power. What is maya consisting of? Three gunas. Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Daivi, Hyesha. Gunamayi. Daivi, Hyesha. It is divine power. Divine means what? My power. How can God's power be inimical to jiva? Is it ever possible? A loving mother, will she be an enemy to her own children? It is not possible. So how can the divine mother be inimical to us? No, she is not inimical. Then why this samsara and other things? Only Hinduism gives the explanation. It is gradual evolution from a low state of consciousness to the highest state of consciousness. That is what you know. Your Vedas are divided into four for this purpose. Life is divided into four for this purpose. All people are divided into four categories for this purpose. Do you understand? Shudra to Vaishya to Kshatriya. And what is that Shudra and other things? From pure Tamas to more Rajas. From Rajas to Sattva. From Rajas Sattva to pure Sattva. This is the evolution. Brahmacharya Ashrama, student's life to married life. Married life to? Grahastha life. There is a lot to learn. What is to be learnt in Grahastha Ashrama, do you know? Tolerance. It is seen something very interesting, you know. I am telling you. People have done research. They found out people who are not married, most of them, exceptionally different, they are not caring people. They become most selfish. Because they have never had the experience of sharing it, caring for other people, sacrificing one's own part, portion, to the other fellow. Have you heard the joke? There were two brothers. Elder brother and younger brother. One day somebody gave them a cake. So the elder brother, out of love for his younger brother, gave him. You cut the cake. So that fellow cut one third and two thirds. He took two thirds and then he gave one third to his elder brother. The elder brother got so angry. And he said, You did like this. This is unfair. Do you know if I cut the cake, what I would have done? The younger brother asked, What would you have done? I would have cut two thirds and one third. I would have given you two thirds. And I would have taken one third. The younger brother said, That's what I did. Why are you angry? So, how to love, how to develop love first. Second, you know, householder's life, ups and downs are there. How to be equanimous, even under those circumstances. So, so many things to learn. How to enlarge ourselves into, you know, when there is wife, there are two. When there are children, there are more. So, if you can extend it to other people also, that is called growth. But usually it stops with family. So, why is householder's life there, provided by God? So that we learn how to be equanimous, how to perform the right things, and how to develop slowly love. What is love? Expansion of oneself. Obviously, I love myself. Then, when I love somebody else, then I identify myself with that person. This is the real purpose. And Vedas are divided again into those four parts. Mantra, Brahmana, Aranyaka, and Upanishad. What is mantra? You just have the knowledge how to chant, with a little bit of meaning. What is Brahmana? How to apply them in day-to-day rituals, so that praying to God. You know what is this prayer to God? O Lord, everything belongs to You. It is You who are giving in the form of the Panchabhutas, and let me never forget that, so let me offer first to You. Otherwise, Sthena eva saha, Bhagavad Gita says, he who gets it from God and doesn't return it in the form of offering, he is indeed a thief. Sthena means thief. We don't consider ourselves thieves. We think that, oh, we have done it with our own effort and all that. No. Who gave you the power? Who gave you the understanding? And who is providing all the atmosphere, climate? Everything is God's grace. That's why we acknowledge. Arati, symbolism of Arati, one day I told you. We offer five elements. The light, the water, the cloth, the flower, and the Chamara. What do they represent? Five elements. What does it mean? It means, O Lord, the whole universe belongs to You. I also am made up of these five elements. I also belong to You. When we understand this properly, rightly, correctly, and that is the real worship of God. Then Sharanagati will come. So, this Avidya Maya is not our enemy. She is a mother who is like a school teacher. She is teaching so many lessons. Slowly, she is making our understanding deeper and better. And once we reach that state, then Vidya Maya takes over. She says, you don't need all these secondary classes, elementary school lessons. Now you have become PhD. You live yourself only with those Mahavakyas. So, there is also Bhakti Mahavakya. Not only Jnana Mahavakya. Bhakti Mahavakya. You know what is Bhakti Mahavakya? Sharanagati. Ramayani has this. We simply say surrender. But it has to fulfil six conditions. Then only the ultimate thing is called Sharanagati. So, Sharanagati means what? You are no different from God. You don't exist separately from God. What does a Jnani say? That individual I is false. What is true? Only a Divine Lord, Brahma. He calls it Brahma. Ultimately, both paths. That is why in the great master class we have Iti, Iti, Ni, Iti, Ni. Two paths. Iti, Iti means a positive path called devotional path. And Ni, Iti, Ni means the path of knowledge. Both lead to the same goal. Nobody should say that mine is superior, yours is inferior. This is what Shri Ramakrishna had come to preach. There are different paths. You follow the path, not what you like, but what you are fit for. If you are an emotional person, then you should not follow Gnana Marga. And if you don't have that much emotion, but intellect, don't follow the path of Bhakti because it doesn't suit you. This is the secret of Hinduism, as interpreted by Shri Ramakrishna. There are many paths, Jato Moth, Tato Path. But take that path, don't take any path because it appeals to you. Take that path which is absolutely suitable for your personality. That is the key of secret. And who will tell us which path is most suitable? It is only Guru can tell. This is only one aspect I spoke today. But the second most important aspect is if you cannot love Guru, you cannot love God. Why? Because a Guru and God, there is a lot of difference. What is the difference? God in the form of a picture or a statue doesn't react. If you prepare payasam and only put white salt, Ramas, this will not change. Prasannatam ya nagatabhishekatha tathanam amle vanavasadukkatha mukham pujasri raghunandarasya me sadastu sa mangala manjula pradha You know the meaning? Prasannatam ya nagatabhishekatha When Rama heard the news that his father Dasaratha had openly declared, you are going to be coronated tomorrow, Prasannatam ya nagatabhishekatha His face cut did not break into a happy smile. tathanam amle vanavasadukkatha Similarly, when he got the news next morning, he had to go to the verse. nam amle means it has not become lana, it has not become black. Exactly. So then, mukham pujasri raghunandarasya me That beautiful face of Sri Rama, which is ever smiling, sweet, cheerful, joyful, whatever be the circumstances, let that face cut ever remain in my heart without deviating. That means what? If I can think of Rama always happy, what would be my face cut? It will be also happy face cut. If you meditate upon happy God, what should be your face? Because it is not what you say, but what you feel. That is the, let me meditate upon that. That is how Ramana is so beautiful. Ramana. And how Ramana came into our, that is a different issue. But what is, it is the Guru, if we have Guru, he is a human being. So he is a human being, he will have human likes and dislikes. As Swami Dayananda Saraswati used to say, you know, if any stupid disciple comes and says, that sukhe dukhe same kurutvala abhala abho jaya jaya, and then he burns the dosas, burnt dosa he suffers, he says, I will call him and give him one slap and say, when you are preparing dosa, don't think of Mahavakya. Only think of how to prepare good dosas. Because I am not God. I react. So that is the difference. The photo, the statue doesn't react. But it reacts to people who are totally devoted, to Sri Ramakrishna. It will react. You know that instance? Sri Ramakrishna came to a stage when he could not perform worship any longer. You know that one day he said, I went out, I wanted to pluck flowers, I saw already the trees have been living only for the purpose of offering their fruits and flowers to worship the Divine Lord. So how can I pluck? Because they have already been offered. So from that day he said, I could not do worship. Then what happened? First he brought Hriday, but later on his cousin Haladhari. And this Haladhari, he was not a good person really. He had a lot of defects and other things, but reluctantly because he was getting some salary, he was doing the Kali Puja. But one day the mother appeared, Kali appeared to him and said, you think I am Tamasi. You understand? Tamasi means, you know, cruel goddess. I am there only to respond. And you have insulted me. I will not keep quiet. I will kill your son. Like that she told him. You don't know this? Yes. It is there in the Leela of Prasanga, great master. And then after a few days, that son had died. Anyway, then he came and told Sri Ramakrishna, I can't do the Puja, because whenever I sit, I think of her, you know, as not worthy of being worshipped. Then Sri Ramakrishna said, my mother is made up of three gunas. Why is she only Tamasi? If you think she is Satviki, she is Satviki. If you think she is Rajasiki, she is Rajasiki. If you think she is Tamasiki, then she is Tamasiki. Do people think like that? About God, do they think like that? Yes, they think like that. You know how? If any man thinks, my divine mother loves goats and sheep and all those things, we have to sacrifice. And then we eat. That means, who are they? Tamasik people. If they are Tamasik people, what would be the idea of their God or Goddess? Tamasik only. If they are Rajasik people, do you know what they do, Sri Ramakrishna? Yes, they will decorate beautifully, golden ornaments like that, and the bhoga has to be given in golden plates, and there will be now and then this perfumed... Any Rajasika person, what he does, he cannot help, because that is his nature. But if he is a Sattvic person, he doesn't matter. Just simple, some flowers, little bit of fruit, and then whether he will not decorate it, and he will not do... Any external sign will not be there. But the divine mother will be supremely happy, because that is the nearest type of true worship. What is the true worship? Oh Mother, this whole world is Yourself. Why should I offer anything to You? Because already, like Guru Nanak, you know that song he composed? Which one? Oh, most marvellous song. One evening, Guru Nanak was a wandering monk, he was, you know, wandering monks, you can't expect them to have clean clothes, and nice hair, and all those things, dusty, dirty, and the cloths were torn. He wanted to attend a Hindu temple to witness the Arathrikam. The priest did not allow him, seeing his appearance. Then he went out. By that time, the darkness came. Then he saw a brilliant moon, and then the stars. He broke into a song, Gagana Maya Thala Ravi Chandra Deepa Gupane. You have never heard that song? Oh, it's a wonderful song. Gagana Maya Thala. Do you think it is in the Gospel? I think it is in the Gospel. Gagana Maya Thala. This whole sky, the Arathi plate. And the sun, and the moon, and the stars, are the lamps. And day and night, 24 hours, they are doing you Arathi. Dhoopa Malaya Anila. Dhoopa means, you know, we give dhoopa. This beautiful southern bridge is... And what is the water for Arathiya? The beautiful rivers that are flowing, they are the waters. And then all the flowers that are blooming is for your... All the beautiful fruits, they are all offering for you. That means the whole universe is worshipping you. Naturally, he broke into this because that is the height of his spirituality. That is the essence of true power. So the point is, why we should worship Guru, because if you can please the Guru, and he will be pleased only when you do everything correctly. Sometimes he will scold you, severely. I have so many instances, today I will not tell you. Sometimes he will kick you out for whole life. As Swami Brahmananda had done to one of his disciples. Who loved him the most? Why? Because this disciple had become totally dependent upon his Guru. Every Guru's wish is that his disciple becomes completely free. Okay, guidance is there. I have given you. But don't depend, what shall I do? Like small children, like that you go. In the school, I want to go. For everything, grown up person, shall I do this? Shall I do that? This is not spirituality. It is total idiocy. So the Guru, if necessary, he will separate and say, you go and live independently. So Guru can become very angry. How are we supposed to interact when the Guru is not happy with us? If we can keep our mind equanimous, there must be some problem with me. That's why the Guru is great. He is perfect. He loves me. But he wants to teach me lesson. If we can take his anger or annoyance in this light, then you know what happens? Apply it to God. Because in life, this is what happens. Then your devotion to God will never become less because already you have practiced this. Like that Sufi story, one Sufi Guru instructed his disciple, do you want to be my disciple? Yes, sir. Then from tomorrow, go and pay money by the hour and get abused for six months. You don't know? One man went to a famous Sufi Guru and told him that I want to become your disciple. He said, yes, come tomorrow. Very sincere fellow. And then he told, this is the first lesson, go to such and such a fellow who was a wicked fellow, from sunrise to sunset, get abused by him, but pay him every hour for abusing you. Six months. And this fellow went and got abused for six months by paying money and came. He proved that he was really a sincere disciple. He will follow anything. Even if the Guru says for whole life you get abused, he will do that. Then the Guru told him, now you go to Basra, another city, and there you will meet your Guru. You will get enlightened. You are ready. So the disciple went. After two, three days, he reached that place. And the moment he entered into the city, one ugly, wicked, old fellow confronted him, started abusing him right and left. And this disciple started dancing with joy. That stopped the other fellow in his tracks. He said, I am abusing you and you are dancing with joy. Why? Because he said, Sir, for the last six months, I was paying... No, no, I am getting free. Then that man said, yes, you come to me. I will show you how to reach God. So, this is, if we can love God, Guru, in spite of how he treats us, then we can love God. Because it looks as though God many times is angry with us. Especially this is the bug among the devotees. Because devotees have got special pride. Worldly person suffering, they must have done some bad karma. But I am a devotee and I am paying insurance every morning and evening in the form of gudi gudi japam and all that. And how is that this fellow is not coming to my rescue? This is the... Why are you not coming? This is the idea. Suppose he doesn't come. Is it for your good or not? If we can accept that God is gracious always for our good he is doing, our devotion becomes steadfast. That is why all teachings, Sukha, Dukhe, Samayakritva, Labha, Labho, Jaya, Jaya, Tato, Yudhaya, Yudhya, Swa, Naivam, Paapam, Abhavasi, Bhagavad Gita. If there is good, be happy. If it is not good also, keep your mind equanimous. Very important. Otherwise, it is worldly love. You love me, then I love you. That's all. You behave nicely with me, I will also behave nicely. Then what is the... Every worldly person is doing that. Every child is doing that. You know children love me. I love Maharaj. How long? Until the flow of Kit Kat supply continues. The moment I stop that... Talaq. I talked so much. Very good. Thank you. It's going to take more than a week to digest this. He is underestimating. He is overestimating himself. I have a lot to speak about the Guru. Experiences. And anyway, finally, I want to tell this one. I told already so many times. My training center principal Maharaj, Swami Vadat Maharaj, it happened to him. And now, only a few days back, I came to know to whom it happened. Anyway, one young man, he went to Belur, not to take initiation. He took initiation. And you know we have to give Guru Dakshina, some prescribed things. Then he knew Swami Bodhatmananda, very great soul. And he came to pay his respects. And Maharaj asked him, why did you come today? He said, I received initiation today. Then the Swami asked, have you given Guru Dakshina? He said, yes Maharaj, I have given Guru Dakshina. You know that prescribed, some cloth, a little bit of fruits and sweets and money and a few things. They prescribed. Because the devotees don't know. Then he said, I have given Guru Dakshina. Then Swami asked, do you know what Guru Dakshina is really? He said, no. Then he got puzzled. He understood that is not real Guru Dakshina. He said, what is Guru Dakshina? Guru gives you the bija, mantra. It is like a seed. Sow it in the soil. And look after it. It grows. And it will give four fruits. You eat first fruit, you eat the second fruit, you eat the third fruit, and ultimately you eat the fourth fruit. You know what are those four fruits? Dharma, Artha, Kama, ultimately Moksha. So, when you attain Moksha, that is true Guru Dakshina. Because only at that time, Guru becomes free of your burden. Until that time, it is his responsibility to slowly help you. That is true Guru Dakshina. All this is just formality. And that is the greatness of the Guru. Are you hungry? Are you hungry? No? Did you like this sweet? Yes. You want one more? Sure? Alright. Okay, Gayatri. Yesterday, Naga, why? Yesterday, Hari's daughter's concert, she was singing. She gave a concert? Yes. What is it called? First one or what? Probably the first proper one, yes. What do you call it? Arangetra. She did one before, but yesterday was a proper one. Where did it take place? In Pinar. Went off well? Yes. It was very good. Karnataka music. Blessed, you know. Even a person who is trained in this music, I get so much joy in hearing these beautiful ragas rendered so beautifully. Whenever you are free, Guruji, children will come and sing for you. But I will never go for any hall. They will come here. The Shankara song was about Dakshinamurthy, so I didn't realize Guru Purnima yesterday, today, so... There was Kabir's bhajan as well yesterday. Which one? I couldn't really follow the words. Very, very beautiful compositions. We have in our Keptan Sangra, our traditional. One particular song is my favorite. That's Meera's bhajan. Oh, that is Meera bhajan. Not Kabir's. No, no, no. We substituted Rama. Because Priya sounds a little bit like a worldly love. No, but Priya means my beloved will come. That means you dance. This Anahata Dhwani is constantly sounding. You just keep quiet and listen to it and like a snake, which dances in its hole and the person melts. This is beautiful. You understand? Because this is all behind each one of our body and mind. Who is there hiding? Only the Divine. And then another, my favorite. Childhood has gone in playing like that. Beautiful. Okay. Thank you. Wonderful. So, you were not tired or anything? 26 miles? 50 km. That would be approximately 26 miles. Yeah. I'll take one for Anisha. Okay. Okay, I'll take for Sanaya. Thank you.