Seeds Of Consciousness - 235

🌹 Seeds Of Consciousness - 235 🌹
✍️ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta Gita
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

🌻 84. A true devotee, by abiding in the knowledge 'I am', transcends the experience of death and attains immortality.🌻

Who is a true devotee? The one who not only understands the 'I am', but also abides in it without swerving from it for even a moment over a prolonged period of time.

He and only he who has done this 'Sadhana' (practice) with complete devotion is a true devotee. A moment of ripening is bound to come and he will transcend the 'I am', then he will know no death and will attain immortality.

It must be understood that it is the 'I am' that is born and dies. You are the Absolute, apart from the 'I am', and know neither of these.

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


30 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 138

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 138 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

130

Excessive speech with Guru must be avoided. You should not praise other gurus in His presence. Unless Guru himself brings up the topic, do not speak about other gurus in His presence. Do not show your back to Guru. Many people walk in front of Guru showing him their backs. It should be avoided.

One should walk to a side or at a little distance away from Guru, behind the Guru. Those who follow the above rules will earn the grace of Guru. Guru’s compassion effortlessly showers upon them. Here are benefits that are received from Guru.

Sloka:
munibhyah pannagebhya sca surebhya sapato piva kalamrtyu bhaya dvapi guru raksati parvati

Parvati, all the way from the poison of venomous snakes, to the curses of sages and gods, Guru protects his disciples. He even protects them from the sting of death.

Sloka:
nityam brahma nirakram yena praptam sa vai guruh Sa sisyam prapaye tprapyam dipo dipantaram yatha

Only he, who identifies with Brahman who is eternal, and formless, is Sadguru. As one lamp lights another, Guru passes on to the disciple whatever the disciple deserves. When a lamp lights another lamp, it gives all the light that it has, to the new lamp. It does not withhold any light back for itself.

The new lamp that is lit gets endowed with as much light as the lamp that has lit it. It is Guru’s wish that the disciple should have the same level of experience and enlightenment as He. He does not keep any secrets. He discloses to the disciple everything that He knows. Many spiritual powers are there.

The details are explained here as to what should be prayed for, and what will be granted. Too much thinking about what should be asked for, is useless. We must learn about what we should ask for. We do not know what we require, but He knows what is required for us, and also when it should be given.

Therefore, we should think before asking for boons or favors. Only the strength to endure difficulties may be prayed for. Beyond that, there is nothing else to pray for. Never pray for anything in excess. Guru passes on all his powers to a deserving disciple.

Hence, you should become a worthy disciple. You have a wick. You should soak it in the oil called spiritual practice and keep it ready. Do not distress yourself with regret that you have not accomplished anything as yet.

Continues....

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


30 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 137

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 137 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

129

Sloka: 
apriyasya ca hasyasya navakaso guroh purah na niyogaparam bruyat guro rajnam vibhavayet

One should not make fun or be frivolous in the presence of Sadguru without his permission, especially if it is distasteful to him. First explain that you are going to make a joke about a certain subject and obtain his consent before being funny. 

If he disapproves of the subject of your humor, then you have to change the topic. If he nods approval, you may proceed. You must observe his facial expression and notice whether he is pleased or displeased before proceeding with your humor.

Many people are overly talkative in the presence of Guru. One must not be too free and excessive in speech giving more information than what has been asked for. 

Bragging about one’s accomplishments should be avoided. Never say, “I have done this even before being requested by you. Even before you mentioned it, I have already solved this problem.”

One must wait eagerly for Guru’s command and follow it scrupulously with reverence. It is now being explained.

In the previous 7 verses, Lord Siva has explained in detail how one should conduct oneself in the presence of Guru. 

That should give us an understanding as to how important these rules are, and how careful one must be in behaving in the presence of Guru. Based on these rules, other restrictions should be imagined and anticipated.

Sometimes, deliberately Guru makes mistakes just to lead you astray. He tries to cause suspicion in your mind and see if you will distance yourself from him. 

Then you wonder why your Guru is making such errors and you will go away. Much later, you will realize your mistake and will bite your tongue. But you are then too ashamed to go back to him. On purpose Guru does these mistakes, or pretends to do it the wrong way. 

At such times you should not try to correct him. There are many who tell Guru that he is doing things the wrong way. That is very wrong to do so. Sometimes Guru forces or encourages you to break your rules of behavior or daily disciplines such as doing Sandhya Vandana or offering daily worship. 

But because he made you break the rules one day, you must not become lenient with yourself and continue to break the discipline. The situation when he made you transgress the rules, he did with a certain purpose. He knows the reason. 

At least in your mind you did what you were supposed to do. But because he allowed you to become lapse in your discipline for one day, the following day you should not relax your rules. When you break a rule as per his command, the merit or sin goes to him. But you must not do it out of your own free will.

Similarly, one should never try to teach Guru a lesson when he makes a mistake, or try to correct his thinking or behavior. Whatever Guru is saying, must be understood in the right spirit. 

The intent, with which he is saying something, should be understood by listening to him attentively. Each word may have a hundred different meanings. His pronunciation and grammar may sometimes be imperfect. 

You must not find fault and question how he can speak erroneously like that. You must never point out his mistakes or try to correct them.

Continues....

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


29 Nov 2020

Seeds Of Consciousness - 234

🌹 Seeds Of Consciousness - 234 🌹
✍️ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta Gita
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

🌻 83. Who would have witnessed the message 'I am', if your prior state of non-beingness had not been there?🌻

The very answer to such a question, if asked with a deep intensity, can land you into the Absolute state instantly. Prolonged, earnest meditation on the 'I am' holds the potential for such an occurrence.

Even if you cannot actually experience this, through pure verbal understanding you can see that there has to be 'someone' that witnesses or knows the 'I am'- otherwise the 'I am' would never have come to be.

Meditation on the 'I am', which is the 'Sadhana' (practice), holds the key to knowing and becoming that 'someone'.

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


28 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 136

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 136 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

128

Sloka:
Gacchatah prsthato gacchet gurupadau na langhayet | 

Nolbanam dharayedvesam nalankaram statholbanam

While guru is walking, you must only follow him. You must never overtake him or walk ahead of him.

You must never be dressed ostentatiously, wear showy jewelry or use elaborate cosmetics and ornamentation in the presence of guru. Devotees who do it out of ignorance are forgiven, but not disciples.

Who are devotees? Who are disciples? What is the difference? Those who merely come for darshan and leave are devotees. Those who come frequently to see guru, listen to his words of wisdom, offer him gifts and services off and on, and lead their family lives as per the advice given by guru are disciples.

Once the relationship is established as that of guru and disciple, certain rules must be followed.

Sloka:
Guru ninda param drsthva dhavaye datha varayet sthanam va tatparityajyam jihvacchedo ksama yadi

If anyone is blaming guru, such persons must be chased out, or else prevented from speaking ill of guru. You must contradict them, argue with them and must convince them that they are completely wrong. If none of these are possible, leave the spot at once and go far away, saying, “You do not leave. You do not stop talking. I cannot argue with you and convince you. Hence, I leave your presence”.

But to listen to verbal abuse of guru and to tolerate it, thinking that whatever the other person says is his own business, is a terrible sin. The only atonement for it is to cut out the tongue.

What is the harm in tolerating such speech? One word or argument amongst those ten arguments he gives may cause the disciple to begin entertaining doubts about his guru.

Suspicion may arise that may be there is some truth in his words. Cut out your own tongue or cut out his tongue. It does not mean taking a knife and actually cutting off the tongue and going to the hospital. You would have to then get stitches or you would have to get a replacement tongue from some animal, like a dog, or get a wooden replacement tongue.

What it means that you should endlessly speak until the opponent is either convinced that you are right, or runs away, unable to take the force of your arguments. He should simply run away and leave your friendship. That is the meaning of cutting their tongue. Shut them up completely. It is not as easy as taking a pair of scissors and chopping off your tongue and getting stitches.

Continues....
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


28 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 135

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 135 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

127

Sloka:
Upabhunjita no vastu guroh kincidapi swayam | 

Dattam grahyam prasadeti prayohyetanna labhyate ||

One should not take even a very small quantity of anything belonging to Guru without asking, even if it is rotting or going bad or whether the Guru choses to just cast it aside or throw it away.

Without his permission, one should not even take the leftover Prasadam (food offered to God which is then consumed by devotees) just because there’s no one else to eat it. You should first get permission, “Can I have the small amount of the Prasadam leftover?”. It means that without getting permission, you cannot take the Prasadam.

Say, someone cut a fruit for Swamiji. If there is a little bit of the fruit’s skin left on the fruit, you cannot even take the skin without letting the Guru know first because that fruit belongs to him. Someone offered the fruit to the Guru.

You cannot even take the seed from the fruit. If you are having to take it you cannot take it yourself. Only once the Guru grants permission and gives it you as Prasadam can you take it, because such Prasadam is not something you always get. If he gives it you himself, there’s no greater nectar than that Prasadam.

Sloka:
Padukasana sayyadi guruna yadadhisthitam | 

Namaskurvita tatsarvam padabhyam na sprset kvacit ||

You cannot lie down on the Guru’s bed without his permission. That will lead to terrible hell. You should first tell the Guru. Lot of people sometimes use the Guru’s footwear considering them as ordinary footwear. That should not be done.

You should not use the Guru’s seat for your own meditation assuming you’ll be able to meditate better, that the power of Guru’s meditation on that seat will benefit you and that the spiritual energy will quickly rise in you, just like a scorpion would climb over you. If you do this, the scorpion will climb over you, but the spiritual energy will not.

We should not use the Guru’s seat. These are supremely sacred items, worthy of worship. Seats and cots should not be touched without permission. In fact, you should offer obeisances to all these items. You should never touch them with your feet. A lot of sin will accrue to someone that does that. Even touching these items with your knees would be wrong. That is why they are asking us to be very careful.

Sloka:
Gacchatah prsthato gacchet gurupadau na langhayet | 

Nolbanam dharayedvesam nalankaram statholbanam ||

When Guru walks, the disciples should walk behind him. You should not step ahead of him. You can walk in step with him, but you should not step ahead of him.

Continues....
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


27 Nov 2020

Seeds Of Consciousness - 233

🌹 Seeds Of Consciousness - 233 🌹
✍️ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta Gita
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

🌻 82. How were you prior to the message 'I am'? In the absence of the message 'I am' only my eternal Absolute state prevails. 🌻

The inquiry has to begin with the question as to what you were before you were born. Or how and what you were prior to the coming of the message 'I am.

In the absence of the message 'I am' or in the absence of the feeling that 'you are' do you know anything? You cannot, as on the disappearance of the last concept 'I am' you are totally devoid of content.

There is no experience anymore, you are empty! This is your true eternal Absolute state that ever prevails.

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


26 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 134

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 134 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj


126


Sloka: 
Hunkarena na vaktavyam prajnaissisyaih kadacana | 

Guroragre na vaktavyam asatyam ca kadacana || 

Wise disciples should never frown upon their Guru and never should they utter falsehood. 

Sloka: 
Gurum tvam krtya hunkrtya gurum nirjitya vadatah | 

Aranye nirjale ghore sambhavet brahma raksasah || 

If the Guru is addressed in the singular number or frowned upon, or argued with the intent to proving oneself better, one will take the birth of a Brahmarakshasa (fierce demon spirit) in a terrible jungle without water. 

This is not an ordinary curse. Lot of people these days wish to be disciples that prove better than the Guru. 

One may have more knowledge than the Guru, but one must never argue with the Guru. One must not reproach the Guru. If this holds true even for the Guru that gave you education, you can imagine how important this is for the Guru that blesses one with knowledge. 

A lot of people want to show off their closeness with the Guru. Saying, “I am very close to the Guru, I grew up here since I was a child. See how I address him”, they address him in the singular. 

Saying something like, “Yes, I’ve taken care of it, how many times should I tell you?” may seem okay to us since we’ve always been so close to the Guru, especially when we are considering him a son, or a brother, but one should address the Guru very carefully. 

Thinking, “I grew up near him, he brought me up, I am like a son to him”, you can’t talk as you please. Sometimes, we address the parents in the singular, “Sleep mother! How many times should tell you?” It’s still okay if we address the parents in the singular, because they are our parents. But, you should not  talk to the Guru in that manner. 

A lot of people frown on the Guru, “HMMM…I know! You told me once, it’s okay! I understand if you tell me once!” You should not talk to him like you talk to other people. If he asks you to do something, “HMM…I’ll do it. Do I have a choice? I don’t!” One should never talk like this. 

When we consider Guru as a father, or a brother or God or a parent or a husband, when we feel that way, we should be very careful how we talk to the Guru. When caught talking like that, you should not deny that feeling. You have to pay for it, just as one that eats salt has to drink water or one that eats grass has to cough. 

That is why they are saying that if the Guru is frowned upon, or argued with the intent to proving oneself better, one will take the birth of a Brahmarakshasa (fierce demon spirit) in a terrible jungle without water. What a curse!

Continues....

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


26 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 133

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 133 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

125

The paths of worship vary depending on the differences between the practicants and their eligibility. That is why, here, they are initiating us into this special path of knowledge. The sloka says, “visuddha jnana yogatah”. A question arises here.

Among all knowledge, are there things like impure knowledge and pure knowledge? We may wonder if it is it not enough to just refer to it as “knowledge”. True. There is only pure knowledge. But, first, the bad thoughts piling up in you in so many different ways, in so many different aspects and in various different corners need to be eliminated.

Until then, you will not realize that knowledge. To drive away each aspect of your ignorance, each aspect of knowledge needs to be given to you. None of these directly confer you with self-realization. That is why these do not comprise pure (visuddha) knowledge .

But, since these rid you of a certain kind of ignorance, these comprise knowledge. That is why, this is referred to as impure (asuddha) knowledge.For example, take the sciences or the scriptures. If we use them properly, the impure knowledge will be the steps that lead us to pure knowledge.

Those that attain that path will attain the path of Jnana Yoga in their spiritual practice. Beginners often ask a stupid question, “How long do we have to do this worship?” The following answer is being given

Sloka:
Yavattisthati dehosau tavaddevi gurum smaret |

Gurulopo na kartavyo nishtitopyadvaye pare ||

Siva says to Parvati that as long as the body exists, Guru has be meditated upon. Even if one is following the all-important non-dual discipline, one should not ignore the worship of Guru. We are given this body so we can worship God.

That is why, as long as the body is there, even if there is just one second left for the body, one must worship God. When they say “as long as the body exists”, it means, as long as the feeling that the body is mine, exists. First, this feeling should be destroyed and burnt away.

For this to happen, it may take several eons. In the meanwhile, you may receive different kinds of knowledge, some of it may be knowledge of non-duality to rid you of your ignorance. That is why they are talking about what happens in the meanwhile. Regardless, as long as the feeling that this body is yours exists, the worship of the Guru must continue.

This is a must. A question may arise here. Once we receive knowledge of non-duality (that the Guru and I are not separate), why should one continue to meditate? Because, at that point, it means that the Guru is meditating upon himself.

Continues....

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


25 Nov 2020

Seeds Of Consciousness - 232

🌹 Seeds Of Consciousness - 232 🌹
✍️ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta Gita
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj


🌻 81. With the transcendence of the knowledge 'I am', the Absolute prevails. The state is called Parabrahman, while the knowledge 'I am' is Brahman. 🌻


It is very important to understand that the knowledge 'I am' is Brahman. When you transcend the 'I am' you transcend the Brahma state and prevail as the Parabrahman or Absolute.

The Brahman is both with qualities ('Saguna' Brahman) and without qualities ('Nirguna' Brahman). With qualities it is the manifest world and without qualities it is the unmanifest world.

The 'I am' and 'I am not', the 'knowing' and 'not-knowing', the 'being' and 'non-being' are all the same. They have simply been designated using opposite terms. The Absolute or Parabrahman state transcends both as there is no duality or opposite there.

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


24 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 132

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 132 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

124

The Guru is not bound by any rules. However, there are hidden meanings behind the footwear and robes he adorns. We should observe carefully.

For instance, ochre robes indicate sacrifice and righteousness. The white flowers symbolize the fragrance and beauty of dharma combined with truth. The white sandalwood paste shows the state that’s beyond the dualities of passion and hatred.

The necklace of pearls indicates that he is beyond all planetary effects. If he is completely adorned in white, it means he is imparting knowledge. The greatness of the Guru is clearly described again in the next two slokas.

Sloka:
Yasmin srsti sthiti dhwamsa nigrahanugrahatmakam |

Krtyam pancavidham sasvat bhasate tam gurum bhajet ||

The Guru who shines with the power of creation, preservation and destruction restraint and grace should be served.

Sloka:
Na guroradhikam na guroradhikam na guroradhikam na guroradhikam |

Siva sasanatah siva sasanatah siva sasanatah siva sasanatah ||

There is no one superior to a Guru. This is the ruling of Lord Siva himself. Until now, we’ve been initiated into the path of meditating on the Guru. Now, we will be initiated into the path of worshiping the Guru through Jnana (knowledge) Yoga.

Sloka:
Jneyam sarvam vilapyeta visuddha jnana yogatah |

Jnatrtva mapi cinmatre nanyah pantha dvitiyakah ||

All that reveals itself (Jneyam) should be burnt with the purified Jnana Yoga. Finally, the “Jnatrtvam” also should be burnt. There is no way other than this. “Jnatrtvam” is the ego that leads one to believe “I am the one gaining knowledge”.

The paths of worship also vary depending on the differences between the practicants and their eligibility.

Continues....

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


24 Nov 2020

Seeds Of Consciousness - 231

🌹 Seeds Of Consciousness - 231 🌹
✍️ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta Gita
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

🌻 80. You are neither the 'I am' nor the activities carried out by the beingness - you as the Absolute are none of these.🌻

This mirage 'I am' has to be understood along with all the tangle of activities that it gets itself caught up in.

This illusory 'I am' or 'beingness' is the very root of everything, every activity you engage in, every action that you perform has the 'I am' as its basis. Can you recollect any activity prior to the appearance of 'I am'? No.

So what does this suggest? It clearly shows that you stand apart from the 'I am' as the Absolute. The 'I am' has only appeared on you and you have nothing to do with it or its activities.

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


23 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 131

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 131 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

123

Now, they are talking about where we should visualize the Guru as residing while meditating upon him.

Sloka:
Hrdambuje karnika madhya samsthe simhasane samsthita divyamurtim | 

Dhyayedgurum candrakala prakasam saccit sukhabhista varam dadanam ||

We should meditate upon the Sadguru visualizing him as one in a divine form, who is seated on the throne situated on the elevated part of our lotus like heart, shining with the splendor of the moon and granting us the boon of eternal bliss.

Next, they describing with what colors and decorations one should visualize the form of the Guru, who is the source of self-realization.

Sloka:
Svetambaram sveta vilepa puspam mukta vibhusam muditam trinetram | 

Vamanka pitha sthita divyasaktim mandasmitam sandra krpa nidhanam ||

One should meditate on the Guru who is the image of Siva, who has donned white clothes, applied white sandalwood paste, is decked in a garland of white flowers and in ornaments made of pearls, is happy, has the divine power seated on his left thigh, is ever-smiling and is an ocean of compassion.

It doesn’t mean the Guru should always appear as described in the Sloka. Since our Guru described in the Guru Gita, we should not ask the Guru to come dressed in white clothes and white pearls, or that he erase the dark decoration on his forehead and apply white sandal paste instead. If you say that, you’ll receive a good smacking.

It means that he is not bound by any rules. However, there are hidden meanings behind whatever he is wearing. He may wear different footwear, wear different colored robes, or adorn himself with different kinds of sandalwood paste. All these have a hidden meaning. We should observe carefully.

For instance, ochre robes indicate sacrifice and righteousness. The white flowers symbolize the fragrance and beauty of dharma combined with truth. The white sandalwood paste shows the state that’s beyond the dualities of passion and hatred. Did you see how much meaning there is in what he’s wearing?

Continues....
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


23 Mon 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 130

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 130 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

122

We discussed that the sages, unable to tolerate Nemi’s heinous acts, came together and decided to sever both his legs. But, not only did he escape death, a lot of demons were born out of his severed legs. This created more work for the sages. The sages had to kill all the demons.

They thought about what happened and decided this time to sever Nemi’s arms. From the arms were born divine beings. The sages handed over the kingdom to these beings who took good care of the kingdom.

But Nemi would neither live nor die. The sages thought some more. They gave him poison and cut him into pieces. But, he still wouldn’t die. Each piece of this severed body would eventually join together.

Due to his mother’s grace, he continued to live. Even after being given poison and being cut into pieces, he lived. Each severed piece was a living being. Each piece seemed to have life. Nemi experienced hell on earth.

We think he survived, he lived, but every piece was experiencing hell. Eventually, one day, Lord Datta came to him, initiated him into worship of Guru and uplifted him. All the divine beings shouted slogans, “Datta! Jaya Guru Datta! Datta!”. Although Nemi was a great sinner, he achieved higher worlds by the grace of Guru.

You should not construe whatever happened in the meanwhile as the outcome of Guru’s anger. It was the compassion of the Guru. That is what is called Kshalana (cleansing).

The Guru is always in bliss. That is why the previous sloka said “Prasannam” (bliss). The Guru is the epitome of bliss, the source of bliss, embodiment of knowledge. To such a Sadguru, you should always offer obeisance. Next is another mantra to meditate on the Guru.

Sloka:
Nityam suddham nirabhasam nirakaram niranjanam | 

Nityabodha cidanandam gurum brahma namamyaham ||

Obeisance to Guru who is eternal, pure, formless, tranquil, embodiment of truth and knowledge, who is always teaching, who is embodiment of universal consciousness and bliss and an embodiment of the Absolute.

Here, “Nityabodha” shows that he is always teaching. That means, if you meditate on him in silence when you face difficulties, you will hear his voice. There is no doubt whatsoever.

Continues....
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


22 Nov 2020

Seeds Of Consciousness - 230

🌹 Seeds Of Consciousness - 230 🌹
✍️ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta Gita
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj


🌻 79. First came the 'aham' as 'I am', then 'aham-akar' (identification with body, ego), now go back to 'aham', dwelling there realize 'aham-brahmasmi' 🌻

The feeling 'I am' or 'Aham' was the first to appear and then it identified with the body and became 'I am so-and-so' or 'Ahamkar' (Aham= I am+Akar=this shape or form or body=Ahamkar meaning the Ego).

Now leave aside the shape or body or 'Akar', revert to and stabilize in the 'Aham' or 'I am'. Dwelling there realize that 'I am Brahman' or 'Ahambrahmasmi'.

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹

21 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 129

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 129 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

121

We discussed that once, during the days the yajna was in progress, the king got very thirsty. Unable to bear the thirst, he drank the water that was kept in a pot right there. The next morning, the priests saw the empty pot. When they realized that the king drank all the water, there was an uproar among the priests.

The king was working so hard so he could have a son, but look what he did now. The priests had saved that water because the process of sanctifying the water with the mantras was not yet complete; the priests wanted to complete the process and offer the water to the queen the next day.

The king had committed great sins in the past. The priests were putting in all efforts into the Yajna because it is only after the sins are removed that he could have a good son. But, in the meanwhile, before the water could be completely sanctified, the king drank the water.

As a result, the king assumed pregnancy. Because the king drank the water that was meant for the queen, the king assumed pregnancy, what to do?

After 9 months, a little boy came into the world tearing open the king’s stomach. Tearing open the stomach was the only way he could come into the world. That son was Nemi. The priests, with the power of the mantras, revived the king who died when his stomach was tore open.

Nemi grew up into a young man. But, because the process of sanctification hadn’t completed, Nemi grew up into an extremely wicked man. A lot of experts on Upanishads and story tellers use this story as a great example.

In due course, Nemi became king. His wicked acts had no limits. He was already wicked, and after he became king, he felt he was god. All demons are like that. As soon as they get absolute power, they believe they are god . If they see Brahma in front of them, they ask for immortality. Those with these two qualities – desire for immortality and belief they are God – are demons.

Nemi announced he was God. He ordered everyone to stop doing Yajnas and rituals and serve and worship him instead. But, he had the complete grace of his mother. She had done great penance. Due to her protection, he was saved from all dangers.

Gradually, people in the kingdom reached the point where they could not take his atrocities anymore. All the sages came together and decided to sever both his legs. But, due to his mother’s grace, not only did he escape death, a lot of demons were born out of his legs. The sages were surprised that there was so much evil coming out of his legs. The sages killed all the demons.

They thought about what happened and decided this time to sever Nemi’s arms. When they severed his legs, several demons were born out of them. Let’s see what kinds of things are born when the arms are severed.

Continues....

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


21 Nov 2020

Seeds Of Consciousness - 229

🌹 Seeds Of Consciousness - 229 🌹
✍️ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta Gita
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj


🌻 78. On the state of non-beingness, beingness as the 'I am' has occurred, who that is, is not important, the 'I am' is important, stay there. 🌻

You were never born. This knowledge 'I am' has quite spontaneously occurred on your unborn state without any reason, just like a dream spontaneously occurring with no reason and volition at all.

The so-called person or whoever has come to be is of no importance: it is the feeling 'I am', which in its wordless nascent state is important, you have to reside there.

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


20 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 128

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 128 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

120

We discussed that the Sadguru never gets angry, but if he does get angry, the anger will not go away until the devotee is benefited. It’s not enough for the devotee to apologize. Until the devotee is truly transformed, he will show his anger.

The Guru will reprimand the disciple in many ways. He will scold him all the time, he will scold him using different words. He will recollect over and over and scold the disciple. If you think the Guru’s scolding was over that afternoon, he will continue to scold till the evening. He will scold in new ways.

Sometimes, he’ll even attribute a new wrong-doing to you. What do we think then? We may occasionally lose faith in the Guru. “I did not commit that mistake that he’s scolding me for, why is he scolding me for this?”. But, until he uproots the poison in you from the root, he will not stop. He will keep scolding .

Sometimes, he may scold you every time he sees you. Sometimes, he may chase you down and scold you. Sometimes, he may call for you and scold you. He will sit you down and scold you. It’s so hard when he sits us down and scolds us.

He will seem to set up this session, where he sits you in front of him, settles into a comfortable position after his meal, makes sure you’ve been well fed too and scolds you for hours on end. How do we feel then? Should we think that our Guru has gone crazy? Should we think we’ve gone crazy?

Or, are we going insane listening to the Guru’s words? But, there’s one thing in the Guru’s heart that’s constant throughout all of this: Until you turn a new leaf – until the Guru’s resolve to benefit you is complete, the anger will not subside.

The Guru’s compassion is boundless. It goes on for generations and lifetimes. It forgives the wrong-doers and gives them a better state. To understand this better, we should look at the story of Nemi from Bhagavatam as an example.

Nemi Tata was a king. He did not have children for a very long time. He meditated on Brahma and received a boon that he would have a good son. But, when he still didn’t have a son, Nemi conducted a big Yajna.

Once, during the days the yajna was in progress, he got very thirsty. Unable to bear the thirst, he drank the water that was kept in a pot right there. The next morning, the priests saw the empty pot. When they realized that the king drank all the water, the priests lamented.

The priests had saved that water that was being sanctified by the mantras for the queen the next day so she could have a good son. But, the king already drank the water.

Continues....

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹

20 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 127

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 127 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

119

Sloka:
Anandamanandakaram prasannam jnana swarupam nija bodha yuktam |
Yogindra midhyam bhavaroga vaidyam srimadgurum nityamaham namami ||

I always offer obeisance to Sadguru who is the embodiment of bliss, the source of bliss who is ever gracious, embodiment of knowledge, self-realized, the best among yogis, praiseworthy and doctor of all diseases of samsara. In this sloka, the crux is in the word “prasannam”.

This word contains the essence. That bliss is the natural quality of the Guru. That is his eternal state. It never changes. Some people say, “My Guru’s mood is down. What is this, he spoke like this? He was so angry. Because he was not in a good mood, he scolded all of us. He humiliated us. We were hurt”.

Some others say, “It’s okay if we are hurt, but our Guru seemed hurt and that is why we feel hurt”. It simply means that they were hurt, but because they can’t say it directly, they say, “When he was seemingly upset while talking to us, we were not hurt, he was hurt”.

This is an indirect way of saying the same thing. It’s like referring to your son-in-law as your daughter’s husband, why not just say he is your son-in-law? Some people say, “He was upset this time, but if you talk to him when he’s in a good mood, it’s amazing.

He’ll give you everything you ask for. He will even give away the clothes he’s wearing.” Is this how much you’ve understood the Guru? How foolish is this! Sadguru never gets angry. But, if he gets angry, the anger will not go away until the devotee is benefited.

Every thing he does is for the devotee. The anger is also to benefit the devotee. It’s to remove the ignorance in the devotee. “My doctor had no compassion, he cut me open to extract from inside my stomach”. If he had compassion, the problem in your stomach would not go away.

If the doctor said, “O stomach, my patient’s stomach, you have this problem inside, it’ll be nice it that problem goes away”, will the problem go away? If the ailment in the patient’s stomach needs to be removed, surgery needs to be performed.

If your Guru also thought like that, “My beloved disciple, you’ve come after a long time, I am so happy to see you”, if the Guru always praises him and showered him with affection saying “Bravo!”, when will the disciple learn to get better? When will he learn spiritual truths?

When will the vices in him be removed? If the mother scolds the child, is it because she’s jealous of the child? It’s only because she wants the best for her child. It’s the same reason the father scolds the child. If the Guru scolds the devotee, it’s even better, the Guru is greater than God. The Guru wants you to benefit not just in this lifetime, but in every lifetime.

That is why, he’s humiliating you. You should consider yourself lucky. If he’s scolding you in front of others, you should consider it your spiritual accomplishment. You should realize that you’ve learned your lesson. You won’t repeat the mistake ever again. You won’t commit that sin in any other lifetime.

Continues....

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


19 Nov 2020

Seeds Of Consciousness - 228

🌹 Seeds Of Consciousness - 228 🌹
✍️ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta Gita
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

🌻 77. Right now, right here, you are the Absolute, the Parabrahman. Hold on to the 'I am' very firmly, ever abide in it and it'll dissolve, then you are as you are. 🌻

This very moment you are the Absolute, or the Parabrahman, the only trouble being that you have wandered away far off from the 'I am' and are lost in the add-ons.

Here lies the crux of the whole 'Sadhana' (practice) where you have to snip-off all the add-ons or appendages and come to the 'I am' in its total purity - that is, when it dawned on you without words.

This done, you now have to hold on to the wordless 'I am' very firmly and always abide in it, then it will disappear and you will be in your true natural state.

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


19 Nov 2020

Seeds Of Consciousness - 227

🌹 Seeds Of Consciousness - 227 🌹
✍️ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta Gita
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

🌻 76. From non-being to being, how is it known? By the knowledge 'I am'. Stay there in the 'I am', then you'll go back from being to non-being. 🌻

The way in is the way out, from the unmanifest to the manifest, from absence to presence, from non-being to being. How is this so? It is the knowledge 'I am', which, when it spontaneously appears, makes this possible.

So the 'I am' is the connection or gateway in, thus it must also be the means on disconnection or the gateway out. But, for this reversal to occur you have to be in the 'I am', the feeling of the wordless 'I am' must completely engulf you, only then will you be free from its clutches and enter non-being.

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


18 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 126

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 126 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

118

Dileepa realized that the lion had great powers. He knew it was not an ordinary lion because it could speak human language. He was surprised to hear it speak. We discussed that the king replied humbly, “Lion king, it is true that this is your territory. It is also true that this divine cow is your prey. But, this divine cow is under my protection.

So, please let go of the cow and eat me instead. That will be just”. Saying so, he lowered his head to the lion. The cave glowed with divine light. Nandinidhenu looked very pleased .

She said, King, this is all my creation. I am happy with your devotion and dedication. Ask me for whatever you want”. All that transpired was an illusion. That was the Guru principle at play.

Dileepa prostrated to Nandinidhenu and asked to be blessed with children. Those who place their faith in Guru and walk in the path shown by the Guru will never face difficulties in life. They will always be happy. Dileepa obediently followed every word uttered by the Guru. He obtained what he desired. Next, they are initiating us into the mantra for meditating on the Guru.

Sloka:
Brahmanandam param sukhadam kevalam jnana murtim dwandwatitam gagana sadrsam tatvamasyadi laksyam |
Ekam nityam vimalamacalam sarvadhi sakshi bhutam bhavatitam triguna rahitam sadgurum tam namami ||

Obeisance to Sadguru who is the source of bliss, giver of great comfort, form of pure knowledge, beyond all dualities, sky-like, the essence of Mahavakyas like Tatvamasi, the only one, unique, eternal, pure, steady, witness to all intellect, incomprehensible to intellect and who is beyond the three qualities of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Here, we come across “dwandwatitam” and “bhavatitam”.

That means, he is beyond the dualities and the activities of the intellect and hence cannot be comprehended by them. This can only be realized through experience. That experience is gained through service to the Guru. Next, they are initiating us into another mantra for meditating on the Guru.

Sloka:
Anandamanandakaram prasannam jnana swarupam nija bodha yuktam |
Yogindra midhyam bhavaroga vaidyam srimadgurum nityamaham namami ||

Eternal obeisance to Sadguru who is the embodiment of bliss, the source of bliss who is ever gracious, embodiment of knowledge, self-realized, the best among yogis, praise-worthy and doctor of all diseases of samsara.

Continues...

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


18 Nov 2020

Seeds Of Consciousness - 226

🌹 Seeds Of Consciousness - 226 🌹
✍️ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta Gita
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

🌻 75. When the body dies the 'I am' goes into oblivion and only the Absolute remains. Stay put there, nothing happens to you the Absolute. 🌻

The 'I am' is the essence of the five elements and three qualities that form the body-mind.

When the body falls off, the 'I am' disappears and only the Absolute remains. As you stay put in the 'I am', a time will come when the 'I am' will disappear and you remain as the Absolute.

You are not the body-mind, so you know no death but only the disappearance of 'I am'.

In any case the body will drop off and the 'I am' disappear without asking you, so realize 'your' relevance, before you irrelevantly depart.

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


17 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 125

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 125 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

117

One day, sage Vaishtha addressed king Dileepa thus, “Dileepa, you take my daughter out for walks only in the vicinity of your house, will you not take her to the forests and show her the beauty of the forests? You are the king, what are you afraid of? Take her out for walks farther away. You are only showing her the vicinities around the house. That is not enough. Show her the forests.”

Dileepa obeyed his Guru’s command. He took Nandini (the divine cow) to the forests. Nandinidhenu roamed around freely in the forests, walking happily with Dileepa. A few days passed like this. There was no need to shepherd Nandini like other animals, she would follow the king exactly as asked. Sage Vasishtha’s ashram is in the Himalayas. The forests were in the Himalayas too.

So, Nandini was very familiar with that area. One day, she set out with Dileepa and was roaming freely as usual when she suddenly disappeared. She was walking with Dileepa and following him closely, but disappeared all of a sudden.

A worried Dileepa began anxiously searching for Nandini. As he was wondering how he would face sage Vasishtha, he heard the roar of a lion and the cry of a cow in a cave. Immediately, without a second’s delay, he darted into the cave. His sped like an arrow into the cave. There, a lion had Nandinidhenu in its clutches.

As Dileepa was about to shoot his arrow to kill the lion, his hand involuntarily got stuck mid-air. At that time, the lion spoke in human language thus, “King, this is my territory. This cow is my food. So, let me eat my food. Don’t be unjust. I need to eat my food, so please restrain yourself. Don’t attack me”.

Dileepa realized that this lion had great powers. He knew it was not an ordinary lion because it could speak human language. He was surprised to hear it speak.

The king replied humbly, “Lion king, it is true that this is your territory. It is also true that this divine cow is your prey. But, this divine cow is under my protection. So, please let go of the cow and eat me instead. That will be just”. Saying so, he lowered his head to the lion.

The cave glowed with divine light. Nandinidhenu looked very pleased . She said, “King, this is all my creation. I am happy with your devotion and dedication. Ask me for whatever you want”.

Dileepa prostrated to Nandinidhenu and asked to be blessed with children . That is what he wanted. The Guru had instructed him to worship Nandini and be blessed by her.

Continues...

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


17 Nov 2020

Seeds Of Consciousness - 225

🌹 Seeds Of Consciousness - 225 🌹
✍️ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta Gita
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

🌻 74. You are even before you could say the words 'I am'. Witnessing happens to the state prior to your saying the words 'I am'. 🌻

The source, substratum or background has to be there before anything can appear on it. You say 'I am', but 'you' are before that, only because of this can you say 'I am'. Witnessing happens to that formless state which is prior to your being through the 'I am' which has appeared on it.

That unborn state is ever present, it is neither the 'I am' nor does it require the 'I am', it is beyond needs or any sort of dependence.

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


16 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 124

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 124 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

116

Sloka:
Srimatparabrahma gurum smarami, srimatparabrahma gurum bhajami |
Srimatparabrahma gurum vadami srimatparabrahma gurum namami ||

Srimatparabrahma gurum namami.

Obeisance to Guru, the embodiment of the Absolute, whose name I cherish in my memory, whose name I utter, whose praises I sing, who I offer salutations to. Every pore of King Dileepa’s body was filled with this feeling. That is why he attained what he desired by following the orders of the great saint Vasishtha. Shall we learn that story?

The kings in the Sun dynasty achieved lasting fame by the grace of Guru Vasishtha. King Harishchandra and other great kings like him became worthy of always being remembered only by the grace and protection of the Guru. Everyone in the sun dynasty followed a dharmic way of life. Dileepa belonged to this dynasty. King Dileepa was very great.

He was as great as he was loved by his people. He, in turn, also loved his people very dearly. He even conducted several rituals and ceremonies for his people’s benefit. He even undertook religious vows for their welfare. He conducted dharmic activities only for the welfare of others. Even after doing so much, this great king didn’t have any progeny.

One day, Dileepa’s wife got sad wondering why they could not have children. Dileepa was also sad and proposed to his wife that they pray to sage Vasishtha and do as the sage commands. Dileepa and his wife were in full agreement.

They went to the sage’s ashrama and decided to do as he ordered. They prayed to the sage. The sage sent them to stay in the Ashrama for a few days. As soon as they left to settle in the Ashrama, the sage sat down to meditate. With his divine vision, he looked in to why king Dileepa had no children. He saw that a curse was preventing Dileepa from having children.

What curse was it? It was the curse of Kamadhenu (the divine cow that grants all wishes). But Kamadhenu was in Patala Loka (nether world) and it was usually difficult to get hold of. In place of Kamadhenu, it’s child Nandinidhenu was in the ashrama. Sage Vasishtha decided to get Nandini to bless king Dileepa.

Immediately, he called for the couple and asked them to worship Nandinidhenu saying,

“From today, Nandinidhenu is completely your responsibility. Do as Nandini says. Place all your burden on Nandini. How you protect her is not my concern. Nandinidhenu must be as happy with you as she is with me. Protect her and look after her carefully. I don’t care how you do it.”

Dileepa and his wife obeyed the sage’s orders. From then on, they cared for Nandinidhenu like she was their own child. They looked after her with a lot of care and respect.

Continues...
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


16 Nov 2020

Seeds Of Consciousness - 223

🌹 Seeds Of Consciousness - 223 🌹
✍️ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta Gita
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

🌻 72. One who has realized the knowledge 'I am', which means transcending it as well, for him there is no birth or death nor any karma. 🌻

This is something very important to understand - that is, the verbal understanding of the knowledge 'I am' is altogether different from its actual realization. There are many who will verbally or theoretically understand the 'I am', yet the rarest of the rare will realize it. Why so?

Because realizing it means transcending it as well, the 'realized one' is no longer an individual, that's why the Guru is not an individual. The 'realized one' knows that 'I am unborn', so there is no question of birth or death for him.

How can any Karma, Karmic residue or transmigration, as understood in Hindu doctrine, be applicable to the unborn? It's the end of it all!

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


14 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 123

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 123 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

115

Sloka:
Deva kinnara gandharvah pitaro yaksa caranah |
Munayo naiva jananti guru susrusane vidhim ||

The method of filial service to Guru is a big secret. The Gods, and other heavenly spirits (Kinnaras, Yakshas, Gandharvas and Charanas), Pitris (spirits of ancestors) and the great saints don’t know the method. 

None of them knows the method of service to the Guru or the Guru principle. Next, they are stating the reason why so many beings fail to understand the principle of Guru.

Sloka:
Madahankara garvena tapo vidya balanvitah |
Samsara kuharavarte patita ghanta yantravat ||

On account of penance, education and muscular power, people become egoistic and fall into the whirlpool of samsara. This is likened to a pot tied to the device for drawing water from a well. The pot may appear to float momentarily, but it quickly sinks into the water. Some people say “I have only a daughter. Once she’s married, I’ll have no other worry. 

The rest of my life will be spent in chanting the divine names of the Lord. All I need is for daughter to get married, I need nothing else”. The daughter gets married. The father is enjoying seeing his daughter and son-law in marital bliss, but before long, there are grandsons and granddaughters. The pot sinks again. Before it could rise, it sank again. New responsibilities are added. People think, “I can avoid these responsibilities, these don’t affect me”. And even while they are saying this, they are taking on these new responsibilities. 

People that say that they will avoid these responsibilities can definitely not escape them. Those who avoid them will do so silently.

Next, they are talking about the greatness of meditation upon Guru in very clear terms.

Sloka:
Dhyanam srnu mahadevi sri guroh kathayami te |
Sarva saukhyakaram tadvat bhukti mukti pradayakam ||

Siva says to Parvati to listen to him talk about the meditation upon Guru which is the all comforting, the source of satisfying the worldly needs as well as of granting redemption.

Meditation as we discussed yesterday should be done with purity in thought, word and deed (trikarana shuddhi)

Sloka:
Srimatparabrahma gurum smarami srimatparabrahma gurum bhajami |
Srimatparabrahma gurum vadami srimatparabrahma gurum namami ||

Obeisance to Guru, the embodiment of the Absolute, whose name I chant, whose praises I sing, who I offer salutations to. Guru Datta.

Continues...
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


14 Nov 2020

Seeds Of Consciousness - 222

🌹 Seeds Of Consciousness - 222 🌹
✍️ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta Gita
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

🌻 71. At the moment all you know is the 'I am', which is a product of the five elements, three qualities or the food body, but you are none of these. 🌻

The 'I am' emanates from the five elements and three qualities that make up the body-mind which can also be called the food body. It is food that sustains the body using the vital breath.

The 'I am' is the very essence of the food body, which is a composite of the elements and qualities. Since this is nothing but an assembly that will disintegrate one day, it is dependent and transient and hence does not qualify as the real or truth.

But to understand the unreality of all this, especially the 'I am', you have to meditate on it, then you will know that you are none of these. In fact you were never any of these; it was the deceptive game of 'I am' that made you believe what you are not.

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


13 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 122

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 122 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

114

Indra’s Guru Brihaspati put him out of dangerous situations several times. We’ve discussed this in many stories. Once, Indra was so immersed in material pleasures that he did not even notice the arrival of his Guru. As a result, he lost his position as the king of heaven.

Subsequently, he prayed to Guru Brihaspati and was reinstated to his position. Another time, there was a battle between the gods and the demons in which the gods were victorious. 

It was only due to the protection provided by Guru Brihaspati that Indra won the battle. Otherwise, victory would not have been possible. It’s only because the Guru was always with him that he won the battle. 

It is due to the Guru’s grace that Indra understood the concept of Parabrahman. That is why, Indra became the leader of the gods, he was the first one to understand the supreme truth by the grace of the Guru.

Indra has the grace and protection of Brihaspati every step of the way. Once, Indra was saved from Siva’s wrath by the grace of Brihaspati. Let’s delve into the story.

Once, the Guru and the disciple wished to see Lord Siva. Dressed as a hermit, Indra went to Kailas (abode of Siva) with his Guru. Siva also wished to see them. Guised as an Avadhoota, he waited for them on the path to Kailas. Indra and Brihaspati saw the Avadhoota enroute to Kailas and inquired about Lord Siva. The Avadhoota didn’t say anything. 

Even as Brihaspati was wondering who the Avadhoota might be, great danger befell. Indra got impatient and in a haste, raised his weapon to attack the Avadhuta. That’s it. The Avadhuta turned into Siva and pointed his trident at Indra. Immediately, Brihaspati fell on the Lord’s feet and prayed to him in several different ways and pacified him. He requested Siva to let Indra go saying, “Let him go. He did not know what he was doing”. Siva took pity, forgave and released Indira at the behest of Brihaspati. Otherwise, who knows what would happen to Indra. This story shows how the Guru protects in even the most dangerous situations.

Like this, in several instances, Guru Brihaspati saved the gods from various obstacles and dangers. The Guru stood by them as a shield of protection. The Guru thus protects those who place their faith in him.

Just as the Guru protected Indra from all kinds of dangers, he protects anyone that places faith in him. He even protects the disciples from the curse of Gods. That’s the nature of the Guru and that’s how he protects.

Now, the sloka describes how difficult and how great the meditation on the Guru is.

Sloka:
Deva kinnara gandharvah pitaro yaksa caranah |
Munayo naiva jananti guru susrusane vidhim ||

Continues...
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


13 Nov 2020

Seeds Of Consciousness - 221

🌹 Seeds Of Consciousness - 221 🌹
✍️ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta Gita
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

🌻 70. The Absolute or the Parabrahman is prior to the 'I am', it's the unborn state, so how can it have the knowledge 'I am'? 🌻

Your true, natural, Absolute or Parabrahman state is before the knowledge 'I am' appeared. It is the state that ever prevails and knows no birth or death.

Whatever is known or seen only appears to have occurred on it using the knowledge 'I am' as a basis for propagation, which is all an illusion.

But once the illusion is gone how can it have the knowledge 'I am'? It doesn't even need this knowledge as it is the unborn state.

You must have a firm conviction and come to the conclusion that you are unborn.

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


12 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 121

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 121 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

113

Sloka:
Urasa sirasa caiva manasa vacasa drsa |
Padbhyam karabhyam karnabhyam pranamostanga ucyate ||

What is Sashtanga Namaskara? Many people don’t know what it means, they mistake it for incense and keep searching around. When prostration is done with full concentration and offered with these eight parts – chest, head, mind, word, sight, legs, hands and ears, it is called Ashtanga Namaskara (ashta=eight, anga=parts; Sashtanga = with eight parts). When some people do prostrations or bhajans or puja, their mind engages in endless other distractions.

They recite mantras with their lips, but they continue to observe everything around them with their eyes. Their thoughts have no end. That is not the right procedure. Whether or not you have devotion, when you close your eyes and engage in bhajan or chanting, the divine waves from those sounds will enter your nervous system through your ears. 

Here, the eyes don’t just refer to the external eyes, you should close all Jnanendriyas (5 cognitive senses of smelling, tasting, seeing, touching and hearing) while you pray. Some people think it’s enough to close your external eyes while praying, “Yes, I close my eyes when I mediate”. But, what they see inside, with their eyes closed, is different. They have a whole different world inside. Those Jnanendriyas, the inner eyes, should be closed. That means, all Jnanendriyas have eyes.

There’s sense of touch for example. All those should be closed. Mind should be made still.

That is the right way to do it. That is why here, they ask us practice Sashtanga vandanam (salutations with the 8 parts).

Here on, the slokas tell us that worshiping the Guru is of utmost importance not only in the human world, but also in Gods’ world.

Sloka:
Guroh krpa prasadena brahma visnu maheswarah |
Samarthastat prasado hi kevalam guru sevaya ||

It is with the grace of Guru, the trinity of Godhead became capable of creation, preservation and dissolution. Those who serve the Guru alone with get the grace of the trinity.

Indra has all the wealth and luxuries. Those pleasures are never constant. They even make Indra unsteady. They cause the mind to vacillate. The reason why Indra is sometimes seen as arrogant is due to these pleasures and wealth.

Continues...
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


12 Nov 2020

Seeds Of Consciousness - 220

🌹 Seeds Of Consciousness - 220 🌹
✍️ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta Gita
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

🌻 69. Finally, you have to transcend the 'I am' to enter the concept-free Parabrahman state, where you do not even know you are!. 🌻

Ultimately what is the whole objective of the 'Sadhana' or 'Practice', which cannot be avoided? After understanding the knowledge 'I am' completely, you will have to meditate on it.

You just cannot by-pass this step. The whole idea is to transcend the primary concept 'I am', only then will you be free from all concepts and enter your true natural Parabrahman state.

This state is ever prevailing, right now, at this very moment itself! In fact you were never out of it. In this state there are no concepts, hence it is devoid of content and there is no question of any experience, thus you won't even know that you are.

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


11 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 120

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 120 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

112

Sloka:
Srinatha caranadwandwam yasyam disi virajate |
Tasyai dise namaskuryat bhaktya prati dinam priye ||

Siva says to Parvati that she should offer obeisance everyday to the direction in which her Lord Guru’s pair of feet rests. Here Lord Guru is referred to as Srinatha, i.e., Lord Vishnu, giver of wealth, granter of auspiciousness, giver of wealth and the form or pure consciousness.

The word “Sri” has all these meanings. You should offer obeisance to the direction in which such a pair of feet rests. Needless to say, since he is pure consciousness, his feet are, in reality, present in all directions. Next, they are talking about how we should be during worship of the Guru.

Sloka
Tasyai dise satatimanjali resa nityam praksipyate mukharitali yuta prasunaih | 

Jagarti yatra bhagavan guru cakravarti viswasthiti pralaya nataka nitya saksi ||

I offer the garland daily which attracts bees to the direction in which my God, my emperor Guru who is eternal witness to the play of creation, destruction and preservation of the worlds, is.

In this sloka they say, “mukharatali yut”. There is a secret message here. Here, in the lotus like heart, the bee is the thought that is drinking the nectar of bliss. That means, we should keep the mind pleasant while praying. Only if the mind is sweet will the bees be attracted. Only such fragrant flowers are worthy of being used in worship. Now, prostrations to the Guru.

Sloka:
Urasa sirasa caiva manasa vacasa drsa |
Padbhyam karabhyam karnabhyam pranamostanga ucyate ||

When prostration is done with these eight parts – chest, head, mind, word, sight, legs, hands and ears, it is called Saashtanga namaskara (ashta=eight, anga=parts). When some people do prostrations or bhajans or puja, their mind engages in endless other distractions.

Continues...
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


11 Nov 2020

Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 119

🌹 Guru Geeta - Datta Vaakya - 119 🌹

✍️ Sadguru Ganapathi Sachidananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj

111

Sloka: 
Sarva mantra swarupaya sarva tantra swarupine | 
Sarvagaya samastaya sivaya gurave namah ||

Obeisance to Guru who is Siva, and the personification of all spells and religious rites, who is in everything and who is the embodiment of everything.

Next, they are describing the reason why Guru has been praised as Siva in the previous verses.

Sloka: 
Manusya carmana baddhah saksat parasivasswayam | 

Gururityabhidham grhnan gudhah paryatati ksitau ||

The Parameshwara (God) Himself enters a human body, takes on the name of Guru and wanders secretly on earth. To help us understand for ourselves if our worship and understanding of the Guru has been successful, a test is being described here.

Sloka: 
Sivavad drsyate saksat sri guruh punya karmanam | 

Naravaddrsyate saiva sri guruh papa karmanam ||

Guru appears as Lord Siva to the righteous. The same Guru appears to the sinful as just a human. So far, Lord Siva blessed Mother Parvati – in other words, he blessed us – with the slokas that praise the Guru using the refrain “Sivaya Gurave Namah” and “Tasmai Sri Gurave Namah”. 

Here, we are being told that when we offer salutations to the Guru, we should primarily offer salutations to the Guru’s feet. The upcoming sloka says that the direction which contains the Guru’s feet is very powerful. Whether we are sleeping or sitting or whatever state we are in, we should think about which direction the Guru’s feet are in, “Now, my Guru is traveling west, so his feet are in the western direction” or “My guru is in the east” or “My guru is in the north”. Based on which direction he is in, we should offer obeisances in that direction.

Continues...
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹


10 Nov 2020