Click here for the salient points at satsangs from 09 May to 13 May.
====================<14 MAY
2003>============================
DIVINE
SOULS:
1) Do sadhana in isolation.
Mind's entire focus must be on God. Fixing mind totally on God is possible. Here, isolation does not mean physical isolation.
It does not mean you have to lock yourself in an empty room to do bhakti. Your mind must be in isolation from the material
world, wherever you do bhakti.
2) For example, when you add
water to milk, water dissolves in milk, diluting it. If you let milk be, it will ferment into curd. Once it becomes curd,
even if you add water, the curd will stay unaffected; it won't get diluted (unless you purposefully churn it to make buttermilk).
But when in milk form, water can easily dissolve in it, diluting it.
3) Likewise, if you learn to
keep the mind stable, without letting any external things dilute it, it will learn to stay fixed on God. Once it becomes attached
to God, it will be like curd -- it won't get diluted by anything else. It won't get distracted by worldly things.
4) People go jogging, to gyms,
play tennis or badminton, so on, in order to stay physically fit, to keep their bodies in fine shape. Just like body needs
exercise, mind, too, needs exercise. Or else, the mind without regular exercise
will weaken the soul.
5) How can we fix mind on God?
There are two ways: through gyaan and bhakti.
6) In gyaan marg, one
stops thinking, becomes nirvikalp, stays in a state of samadhi, understands the knowledge of chakras
in the body, can concentrate all energy and mind at the tip of the nose and chant OM endlessly. The overall objective is to
stop thinking.
7) Not everyone can adopt gyaan
marg because it's a very difficult task as it is the nature of the mind to think.
8) So an easier approach would
be to realize the truth that thinking comes naturally to mind; so wisdom lies in using this knowledge to our benefit. So do
continue thinking, but think only of God at all times. Thinking of God always
is the ultimate transcendental meditation.
9) Some say they are able to
concentrate extremely well while at office, performing all the duties and discharging all the responsibilities. But when they
sit down to meditate, the mind runs helter-skelter.
10) This problem can be overcome.
11) Understand why you are
able to concentrate so well while at work. The mind craves novelties, new sensations always. It gets bored by monotony. This
suggests that you are able to give the mind what it wants while at work. Hence you are able to focus so well on official tasks.
Your mind is always on its toes, so to speak.
12) Likewise, while meditating
and doing sadhan bhakti, don't let the mind remain stagnant. Let it roam gently, freely, not into the material world,
but into the spiritual world. Let the mind saunter through the spiritual world, recounting all the forms, acts, powers, leelas,
pastimes, qualities of God. If your isth-daiv (favourite God) is Bhagawan Sri Krishna, then let the mind recall
His birth, His childhood, His youth, His pastimes with fellow cowherds, His divine mischief with His beloved gopis, so on.
There are countless aspects that one can recount this way.
13) This is true of any God.
Who your isth-daiv is among the five prime deities is immaterial -- what matters is your ability to let your mind recall
the innumerable aspects about that God.
14) Once you feed the mind
what it wants -- and it wants novelty; it does not want monotony -- it will do what you want
it to do, which is to fix it on God.
15) Roop dhyaan (focus
on form) is a very useful tool to fix the mind on God. Now, perhaps, you might be thanking God for making it easier for you
by assuming so many forms. Imagine, had not God assumed so many forms, it might have been very difficult to do roop dhyaan.
You must realize that your memory is already replete with innumerable images of God and awareness of His various leelas,
pastimes, acts and manifestations.
(Devotees, note:
You may have seen many devotional movies, read many devotional materials, attended religious ceremonies, heard discourses,
discussed with friends and relatives, contemplated yourself, so on. The more you do this, the more insights you will gain.
This will make it easier for the mind to recall these aspects whenever you want. To use an analogy, the files are all already
there in your mind, the versatile human computer with unlimited storage capacity. You can keep on adding fresh data to these
files. All you have to do when you sit down to meditate is access the correct directory of the mind, and move from one file
after another, just like you would do when you use your computer.)
16) Recall God's various images.
Also chant His name. Sing Kirtans. When you sing kirtans, the mind will automatically recall the relevant images associated
with the kirtan's content (lyrics). The rhythm and melody of the kirtan will help the mind to stay focused on God. It soothes
the mind.
17) The real meditation can
be done only after God-realisation. Until such time, you have to practise bhakti. When you are able to practise bhakti
consistently by mentally recalling God's various forms (avatars) and images of various stages of each avatar,
God will grant his divine energy Yog Maya to you.
18) We can also do manasi
puja worship in mind, just like physical puja.
19) Some people think rich
people will get better benefits from God because the rich people spend so much money on bhakti, they offer precious
gifts to God, donate huge sums to charity, so on.
20) That is not true. What
counts really is your love for God. So, it doesn't matter whether you are rich or not-so-rich in terms of material wealth.
What matters is the amount of love you have for God. In manasi puja, you can imagine that you are offering God a diamond
necklace. You can also imagine that you are preparing God's favorite dish in the kitchen, to offer it to Him as prasad.
You can imagine that you've written a treatise of poems in praise of Him and have dedicated it to Him. You can imagine you've
woven a wonderfully fragrant garland of exquisite flowers and put it around God's neck in devotion. This way, you can imagine
whatever you like, and offer it to God mentally. It has the same effect as doing puja physically. What is important
is purity of your heart and genuine love for God.
21) But if you find manasi
puja difficult, you can always focus on the deities in physical form. Scriptures say deities can be in the form of wood,
precious stone, metal, paint and mind.
22) What is the sadhana
we are supposed to do? For how many hours every day? We have 24 hours every day for this body which will eventually become
mud. Some people believe ten per cent of one's earnings are for God. Likewise, ten per cent of one's time should be for God
ideally. You might say, "OhmyGod!, that's impossible, I've a hectic schedule, I'm a busy man."
23) Fine. Then allot at least
five per cent of your time to God every day. If two hours are not possible, at least earmark one hour every day.
24) What time of the day is
ideal for bhakti? Well, anytime. The point to remember is, you must do bhakti when you can focus your mind totally
on God. You can even spread your bhakti time into smaller time-slots through the day. Like, half-hour in the morning,
half-hour in the evening. Or in whichever way that is convenient to you.
25) Some people say the best
time for bhakti is morning, two hours before sunrise. That's when the world is really peaceful in your neighborhood.
Not many disturbances.
26) Which side should one face
while praying? This is NOT a factor at all. God is everywhere, in all directions You can face any direction, (though some
who believe in vaastu shastra and other such schools of thought think that facing east or west is best). The important
factor is your devotion, your pure heart, your will to do bhakti, your love for God.
Your effort is 95 per cent, all other factors account for no more than five per cent.
27) How should one do bhakti?
You can adopt a comfortable posture. But don't recline or lie on the floor merely because that is also very comfortable. Scriptures
say sit carefully and do bhakti.
28) Once you sit carefully,
fix the mind on God next. Keep on thinking about God, His leelas, His forms, pastimes, so on. Keep on thinking again
and again about His qualities.
29) Repeated thinking of something
in mind is called chintan.
30) But please note, flawed
chintan, that is chintan accompanied by ignoble thoughts, impure heart, inner concealed desires, superficial
devotion, can result in suicide, whereas genuine chintan can result in God-realisation.
31) There are two forms of
meditation: meditation in union, meditation in separation.
32) Satsang is meditation
in union. Kirtan-singing has many benefits, as said earlier.
33) You can also do meditation
simply, in silence, without any kirtans. But with kirtans, you have an easier approach to God. Kirtans
make it easier for the mind to imagine the variety of God's leelas, pastimes, so on. Mind always wants variety. So
give it the variety it needs. If you do so, the mind will find it easier to stay focused on God. Kirtans, with their
delightful lyrics and melody and rhythm, evoke a variety of emotions and images within us. When you do kirtan wholeheartedly,
external influences won't affect you. The mind gets totally absorbed in devotion.
34) Once, Lord Siva told Parvati-mata
that there are three forms of mahasadhana: through tongue (singing); through ear (listening); and through mind (thinking).
35) But don't fix mind on a
fixed picture or object or memory. Make that picture or memory dynamic. Imagine the God in the image is moving about. Imagine
you are actually conversing with God. Imagine that God is your friend, and you are chatting with Him. Tell Him about your
experience. Communicate with him mentally. Thus mind will become engaged in God.
36) Often times, the mind tends
to run away to the material world. Don't give up. Persist. Perseverance will yield the desired results, sooner or later. And
if the desired result is God-realisation, you will attain Divine Love through persistence and perseverance.
==================<15 MAY 2003>==========================
1) Scriptures say the
biggest wealth one can possess is Divine Love. God is not impressed by the amount of knowledge we gain. He is impressed only
by the amount of love for Him.
2) The only question that matters is, how can we attain Divine
Love? Nothing else matters in the ultimate analysis.
3) And no kind of sadhana, except bhakti, can help
one attain Divine Love.
4) The only way to get Divine Love is when God Himself bestows
His grace and mercy on us.
5) On what basis does He bestow His grace on us?
6) But then, He says He won't bestow His grace on anyone directly!
6a) In other words,
He bestows His grace indirectly.
6b) Sri Krishna tells Arjun, "I bestow my grace only through my
devotee." Such a true God-realised devotee can be your guru. Without the grace of one's guru, no one can attain Divine Love
through bhakti.
7) For example, Sri Krishna did not give bhakti directly
to Uddhav. He played a trick (leela), made Uddhav go to Brindavan and meet with the Braj-wasis, and from there,
ensured that Uddhav got Divine Love through gopis. The gopis were Krishna's true devotees. By virtue of that,
they were, in a sense, gurus of Uddhav.
8) (Remember, the
other day, we had understood that Bhagawan Sri Krishna told Arjun that a guru is essential to understand the Gita.
Although Krishna and Arjun shared sakhya bhaav (friendly relationship), when the God decided to deliver the Gita,
it was in His capacity as Arjun's guru, not as God. By then, friend Arjun had accepted Him as guru.)
9) To whom does a guru bestow his grace? Does a guru display any
bias, prejudice or partiality while choosing the candidates for bhakti?
10) Guru says you
can't buy Krishna Prem. Divine Love is not a commodity. It is invaluable. Priceless. You have to ask for it. Beg for
it. Guru will give it to those who simply ask for it. But you must ask with sincere desire.
11) It is said God is our father, mother, everything. Cry out
to Him sincerely. He will bestow His grace through a guru. What is sincere desire?
12) Swami Vivekananda once asked Ramakrishna Paramahamsa how one could see God. So the guru-ji took his disciple to the river where
he would bathe daily, and asked Vivekananda to take a dip in the holy water. When Vivekananda went under water, the guru-ji
held his head firmly with his hand, keeping it under water, not letting the disciple come to the surface.
13) Vivekananda realized his guru-ji was trying to teach
him something. Since Vivekananda was a good disciple who had surrendered completely to his guru, he did not question what
the guru-ji was doing. He had the confidence that something right was being done. But soon, Vivekananda was feeling
breathless. His whole body was convulsing under water. The guru-ji still held Vivekananda's head firmly under water
with his hand, not letting it reach the surface.
14) Vivekananda realized that if he remains under water for even
one more minute, he would die. That's when the guru-ji let go Vivekananda.
15) After reaching the surface, Vivekananda told his guruji
that had he (guru) held him (Vivekananda) under water for one more minute, he (the disciple) might have died. That's when
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa said that one attains Divine Love in a similar situation.
16) Just like Vivekananda pined for oxygen while under water,
one has to pine for God. The desire has to be sincere, genuine; it has to be so intense that one would die if one does not
attain Divine Love the next moment. Only when Divine Love becomes the all-important thing for one's very survival, just like
oxygen was essential for Vivekananda under water, does one attain it.
17) Once, a disciple of Sant Eknath said he is keen on
God-realization but, unfortunately, he was being weighed down by worldly duties and responsibilities, which leave him with
little time for devotion. He wanted to figure out how he could still attain God. Eknath-ji empathized with him, but added
that he foresees the disciple's death in seven days.
18) However, he said the disciple can still attain Divine
Love. So the disciple, though sad, said he would very much like to attain God-realisation, and sought Eknath-ji's help
and guidance.
19) The guru told him the only condition now for Divine Love is
that he should be free of all worldly responsibilities, and empty his mind totally of all worldly thoughts, so he could do
devotion intensely.
20) The discipline, driven by the realization that he has just
seven more days to die, began to settle all his dues and debts and responsibilities, so that he could get as much free time
as possible for devotion.
21) In six days, he discharged all worldly duties and on the seventh
day, was totally free, ready for devotion. Had not the guru-ji told him he has only seven days remaining in his life,
the disciple may have never made an effort to create some time for devotion, and would have continued to cite excuses, deluding
himself that worldly duties are stopping him from pursuing God.
22) The lesson to learn from this episode is that we should think
that every day could well be our last day. We must not postpone any good thing we want to do. Postpone
only bad things. Don't forget two things ever -- death and God. That is the only way to learn NOT
to procrastinate.
=======================<16 MAY 2003>========================
1) Just gaining knowledge and awareness of the Scriptures' content
is not enough. If you pay keen attention to discourses, but forget the substance soon after, it's of no use.
2) Total (100 per cent) acceptance of such knowledge from within,
total surrender of mind, intellect and ego, is the key to God-realisation. That's the only way that can help us to cross the
ocean of Maya.
3) Repeated hearing
of the Vedas helps. Such repeated hearing of the sounds of the Vedas impacts our mind positively.
4) If you have questions or doubts, do ask. But ask questions
with faith. First accept the substance of the Scriptures from within. You will gain divine knowledge not by means of intellectual
exercise but by faith.
5) If one has a skeptical mind, no amount of explanations by the
guru can satisfy one and clear the doubts. A skeptical mind will have endless, meaningless doubts.
6) The climax of hearing is understanding. The climax of understanding
is knowledge. The climax of knowledge is god-vision. And the climax of god-vision is love for God.
7) The second condition to develop intense desire for God is manan,
that is, repeated chanting of God's name.
8) If a human being forgets Scriptural knowledge, he becomes an
animal. If you want the knowledge gained to stay with you forever, think about it again and again. This is called manan
or chintan.
9) The third stage of knowledge is vividh-dhyasan, the
will to decide. The day you decide in favor of God, you will realize God. The day you decide to believe in God totally from
within, without any shred of doubt, you will attain Divine Love. The faith, the belief, the conviction, the surrender, or
whatever you call it, has to be total, 100 per cent. Even 99.99 per cent is not enough.
======================<17 MAY 2003>=====================
1) Singing of kirtans (songs and hymns in praise of God
and His leelas) is called yug dharm.
2) It's so easy to fix mind on God through kirtan.
3) If we just chant "OM", mind gets bored. It's only
extraordinary gyaanis who can fix their mind on God by merely chanting OM endlessly.
3a) The mind's natural instinct is to rebel against monotony.
4) So, it's best to give the mind what it wants -- novelty, which
drives away boredom. This is where the numerous kirtans help.
4a) Each kirtan has a different theme, a different tune,
and evokes a different imagery and emotion. So utilize the endless variety. Let the mind feed on the abundant variety.
5) Sadhana can be done every day. It's simple.
6) There are two kinds of bhakti. i) vaidhi bhakti;
ii) raganuga bhakti
7) Bhakti done strictly according to rules of Scriptures
is vaidhi bhakti.
8) Bhakti done with love and attachment to God, but with
no fear of God, is raganuga bhakti; it is bhakti done simply because one has love for God, and has no expectation
from Him in return.
9) Raganuga bhakti is governed by two rules: i) always
think of God; ii) never forget God. J
10) But remember, rules are slaves of bhakti, and bhakti
is not the slave of rules.
11) Vaidhi bhakti's fruit is Dwarka Ras, where Sri
Krishna is the Lord.
12) Raganuga bhakti's fruit is Braj Ras, where God
is a friend, which is one of the sweetest things one can aspire for.
Click here for the salient points at satsangs
from 09 May to 13 May.
Click here for the salient points of the Q&A session during Spiritual Picnic.
Please note: the Swamiji
elaborated on these and other topics (like Divine Love, acceptance of the substance of the Scriptures) in the subsequent
house programmes (satsangs at devotees' houses) across Singapore. This site will be updated, gradually, with content
on the essence of the discourses at house programmes. So do re-visit regularly for updates.
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