GOD IS SADGURU AND JAGADGURU

                 GOD IS SADGURU AND JAGADGURU

                     Moha is the reason for sorrow

     Every body (deha) is impermanent. Death is certain for the body. Inspite of knowing that death is certain for every being, if he cries for the dead person, it is because of this person developed moha for the body of that person, who died. Thus, the reason for this sorrow is only moha ( delusion) and not prema (love).

     It is said Beauty is Bliss and Bliss is Beauty. Neither can exist without the other. Only Atma has both bliss and beauty. Since it has both it is permanent ; eternal. This atma has no vikara (change). As it has no akara (form) , it has no vikara. Eternal bliss emerges from one's own "hridaya" , every individual enjoys the same bliss in this universe, which is nothing but reflection of the inner bliss. This hridaya ananda is the resplendent, self-effulgent and all pervading light. 

      People may say, Swami is advocating sense control and brain control; will it not be a living death for us after controlling our senses. Our swami says for them as follows:

     I once again emphasizing the fact that I am not advising you to remove the senses; let them remain as they are. Make use of them when required. But, apply brakes in times of danger; i.e., when evil thoughts prompt you to act in evil ways through the sense organs. In such situations, apply brakes and control your senses. On the other hand, if the brakes themselves are removed, there will be greater danger to your vehicle. " A bullock that is not tied to the yoke, a horse without a bridle, a car without brake and a human being without sense control are most dangerous," it is said.

wick - sense control  is needed - jeewan jyothi  (the light of life) will shine

for this earthern plate- vairagya is necessary to hold it.

you must have oil - devotion (Bhakti)

     After all these things are available, there must be someone to light the lamp. Only then will the lamp glow. The one that lights the lamp is God. 

     Arjuna had bhakti and vairagya. Along with that, Krishna advised him to develop sense control. The lamp is now ready in Arjuna, with the earthern plate, wick and oil in position. Now Krishna lighted the lamp.(knowledge)

    There is knowledge. There is also an intention to learn. Can the knowledge be aquired? No. There must a teacher to teach that knowledge. He is the Guru. He is the Jagadguru. He is verily God. If you want to recognise the atma sathya (atmic truth) that pervades and guides the whole universe and if you want to perform all your karmas (actions) in the right spirit, you must have a sadguru (great spiritual teacher). He is the guru of gurus, the jagadguru. He is verily God.

     If ajnana (ignorance) is removed by jnana (knowledge or wisdom), then all our sorrows will also be removed. said the Lord. 

     In accordance with declaration " Mamaivaamso Jeevaloke Jeevabhoothah Sanathanah" (all living beings are a part of mine and they are as eternal as I am) (Bhagavad Gita 15th chapter 7th sloka) . There is no doubt at all in saying that humanness is divinity. Man x infinity = God. Since he is human he tends to forget Infinity and experiences only human nature, keeping his individual goal in mind. If he is to experience Infinity, he has to contemplate on the divinity in humanity.

     Mind alone is responsible for bondage or liberation. This truth has been conformed by the sruthi (vedas) and smrithi (sastras or scriptures). when the mind stops functioning ( free from thoughts), all the indriyas automatically stop functioning and come to a standstill. All the indrias in our body are under the control of the mind. However the mind has two forms, impure and pure. When the mind comes under the control of the senses, it becomes impure mind. When it comes under the control of the intellect, it becomes pure mind.

     The mind is full of sankalpas (resolutions) and vikalpas (negations). That which contemplates is called mind. There is no specific form for the mind. If you turn it towards maanavathwa (humanness), the impurities of the senses can be avoided to a certain extent. You must make an effort to gradually keep the mind away from these impurities.This sadhana is called dhyana (meditation). This is also called yoga.

     The body requires proper rest, similarly the mind requires peace. How does the mind acquire peace? It is only when sankalpa and vikalpa are controlled. A mind which always runs after sense objects can be diverted to pure thoughts by a practice of sense control. This is called Abhyasayoga (the yoga of practice). 

     In daily life, for a person travelling in the ocean of samsara, self control and knowledge about the Atma, i.e., the power of discrimination as to what is permanent and what is impermanent, are very necessary. Without this human life will be meaningless. Man has to achieve two things- freedom outside and inner freedom. Control of senses is necessary for leading a happy life in the outside world. Similarly, for achieving inner peace mental freedom is essential. 

     For every human being, whether he is asthika or nasthika, sense control is very essential. When the senses are agitated and crave for sensual pleasures, several weaknesses will arise in man. When the human body thus becomes weak, he will not be able to undertake any activity. His condition will be miserable.

     Truly speaking, man cannot achieve even a small task without the support of Divine Power. Take for instance, Arjuna's case. He was able to perform many heroic deeds and  fight the battle of Mahabharatha and vanquished the enemies. But, after Lord Krishna left for his heaven abode, Arjuna could not fight with the forest tribals and rescue gopikas while bringing gopikas to Hastinapura. What is the reason? All the while, Arjuna was under the impression that it was all the strength of his own mighty shoulders that won him many battles.  Arjuna was able to win many battles by the power granted to him by the God. ( deivabala).

    Man is able to perform all his activities only because of the support and sustenanace provided by God residing as the indweller, as atma swarupa in him.

    Either you have to turn your vision towards God or you must use your intellect and develop knowledge. If none of these methods is employed, then ignorance remains as it is. That is why Sri Krishna advised Arjuna to develop his Jnana. If dehabimana is to go, first the raga and dwesha (attachment and hatred) have to go. If ajnana has to be destroyed, jnana has to be developed. That is why it is said jnana (knowledge) alone can confer liberation.We must be able to recognise the divinity i.e., atma thathwa, by process of enquiry. 

     Every individual must devote three fourth of his time to enquiry and one fourth to sadhana. When these two are combined, human life will become meaningful. Do not engage your body in useless pursuits. Engage yourself in purposeful karmas. Only then will your life be sanctified.

Uttaradhimath Swami's discourse

                        Narada's birth (uttaradi math Swami's discourse)

Narada narrated this 

     In my previous birth I was born to a dasi. My mother and myself were doing service to the Yathis. During Chathurmasa vrata I heard the discourses and upadesas of the Yathis sitting in a corner outside. Then myself and my mother cleaned the leaf in which the Yathis and others took their food. I developed bhakti by hearing the upadesas. The bhakti increased two folds and three folds.On the final day of the Chatur Masa vrata Yathi called me and keeping his hand on  my head instructed me to keep the upadesas in mind and do sadhana to realise the sakshatkara the God. For that my mother was a hindrace. My mother died by the snake bite. I thought that it was the sankalpa of the God to help me to do sadhana for the realisation by doing dhyana.So I was not worried.  I thought that by these upadesas vairagya  was developed.  After roaming from one place to another and forests I sat down under Aswatha tree and did dhyana. I had the dahrshan of sakshatkara which lasted for a short time. I felt very sorry. Paramatma told me that I gave you this darshan to make me to understand what is ananda I enjoy by my darshan of the sakshatkara. The Almighty has advised me to do sadhana further. You will get my darshan and and big position. You will have the memory of the smarana of the previous birth. Then I  took birth from the lap of Bramhan as Narada. I became virakthi sigamani. Paramahamsa sanyasi. I am able to narrate the various avathara of the Almighty. This Bhagya I got because of the seva done by me for the sathpurushas.

         So the seva has to he done for the sathpurushas.

       Anna Suddha

     We must eat food prepared by the people who are having good and pure thoughts. We should not eat food prepared by persons having evil thoughts.

     Bhishma preached dharma while he was lying on the  bed of arrows awaiting for his death. At that time Draupadi asked him why he was keeping quiet when her vasthra was removed in the open court in front of all. Bhishma replied that it was due to the blood running in him by partaking the food prepared and served from the palace of Duryodhana who had evil thoughts and demonic feelings and hatred.

   Then Draupadi questioned the reason for the preaching  dharma now. 

   Bhishma replied " the blood which was in my body has oozed out by the arrows of your husband Arjuna which pierced my body. When I was thirsty, Arjuna gave me water by piercing the land with his arrow which was Ganga water and purified me. These are the reasons for my state."

      So we have to partake food prepared by people with good thoughts and intentions and also offering the food to the almighty chanting Krishnarpanam. Even, when we drink water we should offer to God chanting Krishnarpanam. 

    Whatever we partake food or water must taken as prasadam.

      Poothani the demon came to feed poisonous milk to Lord Krishna.

      Who is this Poothani? Poothani  was the demon Thataki who was killed by Lord Rama. She took birth as Poothani in her next birth and wanted to take revenge by feeding poisonous milk, as Krishna was a child. 

     Once Oorvasi Angel in heaven in the palace of Indra, mated with one Gandhrva Danduri in front of Kubera without his consent. Kubera cursed for her bad behviour in front of him without any respect, to take birth as a demon who will have ugly appearance  loosing her  beauty as  she was proud of her beauty and did not behave properly in front of the person like Kubera. 

    Poothani came to Gokulam as a very charming and beautiful lady. Many gopikas gave their children to her for feeding milk. But all the children died. When she came to feed Lord Krishna she was killed. Here both Oorvasi and Poothani were in the same body. Oorvasi a devotee of Vishnu wanted to feed milk but Poothani wanted to add poison. So Krishna sent Oorvasi to her abode in heaven and sent Poothani to Naraka.

   We have to learn that we should not be proud of our appearance or any other qualities and also behave properly with respect in front of elders. The Lord gives his blessings and excuse if we have good thoughts.

The Characteristics of a Sthithaprajna

                                                      The Characteristics of a Sthithaprajna

    Sri Krishna exhorted Arjuna to firmly establish in atma sthithi (the nature of Atma) and perform all his actions. The actions will be fruitful if he has swaswarupa smriti (awareness of one's own self). Then the actions will not blind the person. To perform such actions control of senses is very essential. Whoever has such control, is sthithaprajna. (one who is firmly established in constant integrated awareness).

     The main characteristic of sthithaprajna is to maintain equanimity, 

i.e. to take heat and cold, happiness and sorrow, honour and dishonour and profit and loss with the same sense with equanimity and constantly engross himself in the awareness of one's own Self. As long as the man is bound by the dehathma bhava he cannot attain such a state of sthithaprajna.

     There is only one thing in this universe, which is beyond the panchabhuthas, that is Divinity. Therefore aspire for divinity, keep it as your goal and perform the duties ordained on you. Actions (karmas) coupled with jnana are the best. Jnana (wisdom) means realising the unity of divinity. Actions meant to realise the atma thathwa are supreme. You perform actions. But, consider them as actions to please God and carry on your activities. Thus explained Lord Krishna to Arjuna.

     There are no objects, individuals or things in this world, which are true and eternal. There is nothing in this outer world which is not in you. That which is all-pervading, which you are not aware of at the moment, is Sathyam, Sivam and Sundaram. Therefore, make an effort to realise that Sathyam(truth), Attain that Divinity, Sundaram (beauty). Do your duty. Thus, Lord Krishna taught so many things to Arjuna including the characteristics of  sthithaprajna and instilled a sense of confidence in him to get ready for the balltle.

     Sri Krishna further exhorted Arjuna " keep your aim firmly fixed on Me," obey my command and perform your duty.

     One who lives in the awareness of the atmathathwa and ignores worldly pleasures is called sthithaprajna.

     A sthithaprajna means a sarvasanga parithyagi (a total renunciant). You perform all actions. Engage yourself in worldly activities. But, fix your aim on the atmathathwa.

     Lord Krishna played the grand game as a chariator to remove the dehatma bhava of Arjuna and firmly install him in paramathma thathwa.

Lord Krishna exhorted Arjuna thus. The world is impermanent and gives you unhappiness only.  Therefore, seek refuge in the true and eternal Divinity. God is the only one who does not undergo change. He is the eternal and self-effulgent flame. Seek refuge in that flame. That is the paramjyothi.(supreme light).  That is the jivana jyothi (the light of life). That is the akhanda jyothi (the eternal light). That is the adwaitha jyothi    ( the light of non-dualism). Seek refuge in that jyothi. Thus the Lord Krishna taught in ever so many ways and dispelled the darkness of ignorance prevailing in his heart.

     Jnana jyothi

          If you want to light the  lamp, you must have an earthern conclave plate, a wick and oil. These three are essential. Similarly if you want to light the lamp of wisdom, the earthern plate of vairagya is most essential. Here devotion is the oil and sense control is the wick. It is only when these three come together, is possible for the atma jyothi (the light of atma the self) or jnana jyothi (the light of wisdom), or the param jyothi (the supreme divine effulgence) or the prana jyothi (the light of the life)  to glow.

     An ajnani thinks that he is enjoying the sensory objects with his senses and feels very happy; but actually, that happiness is not from the external world. It is happiness within. It is a reflection of the inner happiness.

control the senses

                                                         Control the senses

             We must be careful from the beginning not to give scope for bad thoughts to enter the mind even in small matters. A man who has become a slave to the indriyas can never recover himself. He will never be able to have happiness. First of all we must find a way out by which the senses can be controlled. When you control the senses and bring them under the care of the mind and when the mind itself is subjected to the discrimination of the intellect, you will be able to decide what is right and what is wrong, correctly.

             A person who takes the intellect as the basis, transforms himself into purushothma (the best among men). What is buddhi (intellect)? That which has the power to discriminate between permanent and impermanent. If you depend on such an intellect, it will lead you in the right path, till your last moment.

            Sri Krishna devoted a lot of time in this sankhya yoga, to the concept of sense control. Once it is achieved, the other yogas like karma or bhakti become easy. Till such time you achieve sense control, you must continue to depend upon jnana yoga. 

           Perishable objects give us only perishable happiness. Therefore, Lord Krishna exhorted Arjuna to strive for attaining true and permanent atma thathwa.This is atma jnana. Without obtaining this, there is no use of acquiring any other jnana. 

           Sri Krishna emphasised the fact "Adhyathma Vidya Vidyanam", meaning atma vidya alone is true vidya.

           Considering the body as the chariot, senses as the horses, mind as the bridle and the Intellect as the charioteer, the jiva (being) must continue his journey, sitting in this chriot. 

           You must firmly hold these horses called senses, with the bridle called the mind. There is no basis at all for the mind's wanderings. Therefore, while depending upon such a mind, one must be careful enough to hold it firmly by using the discrimination of intellect.

(Intellect should control the mind with discrimination what is right - then mind will control the senses.)

           If you really want to attain divinity, you must be free from the pancha dosha (five faults). 

1. Vaag dosha       - speaking bad words.

2. Drishti dosha     - seeing bad things

3. Kriya dosha       - doing bad deeds

4. sravana dosha  - hearing bad words

5. Mano dosha      - thinking bad thoughts.

         If you are able to remove these pancha doshas from your personality, you will become Paramathma verily.

Man should keep his tongue under control. This is the first and foremost sadhana. The reason being, the tongue has two powers , talk as well as feel the taste. Therefore, it must be always be engaged in divine activities.

         You must ensure that you do not use bad words against anybody or cause harm to anybody. Engage yourself in speaking good words, in contemplation on God and the singing the glory of God. Thereby, sanctify your time.

        Undertake sadhana to keep your senses under control, gradually. 

        For this type of sadhana abhyasa (practice)    and vairagya ( detachment) are necessary. 

       If you cultivate a sense of detachment from the objects  by developing a feeling the all that you see are impermanent objects, you can control your senses. This is abhyasa yoga. 

      We are Aryas not Anaryas. We must tread the right path. 

      We must develop purity. We must have illumination. 

In order to travel the path of righteousness, we must have illumination. And that illumination is Jnanana (wisdom). Those who have that jnana are divine beings. The rest are demons.

     Whoever controls his senses, will have the capacity to undertake any task. There is nothing which he cannot achieve. 

    " One who becomes a servant to the unsatiable desires also becomes a servant to the whole world. To the one who conquers desire, the whole world will fall at his feet."

      You should never become a servant to the senses. Instead, the senses should become servant to you. 

Thus Sri Krishna exhorted Arjuna about the sense control and desire. He instructed to acquire the jnana by which one can distinguish between atma and anatma.