Blog

August 2021

Man cannot get rid of his heavy load of desires. They seem to multiply as the body moves nearer the grave. This is Maya. This is Moha. The only antidote to this disease is Self-knowledge.  
 – Chinmaya

How do I know I am bound by Maya?
The above quote gives us the self-test. A mind filled with desires is a sure indication that we are in the clutches of Maya. At the seat of mediation, if we find our mind wandering, then know for sure that we are Maya-dasa, and not Maya-pati.

How to escape Maya?
The Lord says in the Geeta:
दैवी हि एषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया । मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते ॥
The Lord says that it is impossible to cross over His Maya without surrendering unto Him.

There is a beautiful allegory in Shreemad Bhagavatham in this regard.

Once upon a time, there was a very famous king named Puranjana. He had a friend whose name no one knew, and whose actions no one saw.

In the quest for a suitable city for him to dwell in, he travelled all over the world. As he was given to very lascivious ways, no place could satisfy him. At last, in the southern region of the Himalayas, he came across a city that had nine gates with all comforts and luxuries. 

Then the king saw a beautiful lady who arrived at the place by chance and was attended by ten aides. She was looking out for a husband. Seeing her beautiful form, the king instantly fell in love with her and sought her hand in marriage. And then happily married, they started residing in the city of nine gates. The city was ever guarded by a powerful army headed by an ever-wakeful 5-hooded serpent.

As the days passed by, the king became completely infatuated by the lady. When she sang, he too sang. When she laughed or wept, he too laughed or wept. When she ran or stood, lay down or sat, he too did so following her. When she heard or saw, smelt or touched, he too did the same. He rejoiced in success and sorrowed in distress in unison with her. Thus deluded by the attachment to his wife, Puranjana followed the dictates of his wife like her pet animal.

Once the great archer Puranjana started on a hunting expedition to the forest of Panchaprastha in his swift chariot along with his wife. Proud of his strength, Puranjana ranged the forest hunting with the bow in hand. He was so intoxicated with the excitement of chasing wild animals that he left behind his wife, his constant companion. He ruthlessly slaughtered the wild animals with utter indiscrimination. Extremely tired, hungry and thirsty, he returned to the palace. After a bath, food and rest, he found his wife in her apartment, unhappy for having left her alone in the forest in the excitement of chasing and hunting wild animals. Being an expert in conciliatory tactics, he sought forgiveness and won her heart again through his sweet loving words of apology.  In this way, they lived happily for many years.

Puranjana developed a deep-rooted attachment to his progeny, his home, his treasury, dependants, and thus became completely entangled in worldly concerns.

There was a Gandharva called Chandavega. He had his followers of 730 powerful Gandharvas. Half of them were fair and the other half were dark. They started attacking this city part by part, by going round and round. The ever wakeful serpent resisted them bravely and fought these Gandharvas valiantly for 100 years.

But unfortunately, the enemies, instead of weakening kept on growing in strength. The entry of the armies of Yavana king Bhaya (fear), along with Prajvara (fever) and Kalakanya (the daughter of Time) made the enemies even stronger and it became impossible for the commander-in-chief (serpent) to safeguard the city anymore.

Kalakanya made the city weak and infirm. The city lost all the beauty and grandeur and became pitiable to look at. The city was robbed of all its wealth. And into such a collapsing city Yavana troops and the Gandharvas barged in through all the nine gates

and occupied it completely. Just then arrived Prajvara and he set the whole city on fire.

When the city began to burn, great was the suffering of Puranjana, the owner, because of his identification with it, its residents, his servants, and family members. With his limbs disabled, with his strength stolen away by the Gandharvas, and his neck caught in the stranglehold of the Yavana foes, Puranjana began to cough and breathe hard.

Overpowered by Kalakanya, engulfed by the feverish fire, and attacked from all sides by the Yavanas, the serpent, who was the protector of the city, was subject to great suffering. He no longer found it possible to do his duty. He fled from the burning city. When the serpent that acted as the protector of the city departed, the city fell into pieces and disintegrated into its elements.

The Yavanas captured Puranjana alive and dragged him to their master’s place.

Even when he was dragged off by the powerful Yavanas, Puranjana, wrapped as he was in the darkness of Tamas, failed to think of his real friend. Corrupted as he was by excessive sense indulgence, he completely lost the awareness of his real nature, and grovelled in the limitless expanse of darkness (Tamas) for a long time.

Afterwards, in his next birth, he was born as a woman in the palace of Rajasimha, the king of Vidarbha. In this new birth, she was married to king Malayadhwaja of Pandya territory. They lived a happy married life, and when all the family responsibilities were over, Malayadhwaja decided to lead a life of Vanaprastha to devote more time for spiritual pursuits. He handed over the kingdom to his son, and retired to the forest, along with his wife (earlier Puranjana).

She found great delight in serving her husband whom she loved more than her life. One day, wondering why her husband was on the meditation seat for an unusually long time, she went near him and gently started stroking his feet. She found that his body had lost its warmth. It was only then she came to know that her husband had left the body in meditation long back. Her husband’s death made her extremely miserable.

Extremely grief-stricken and crying inconsolably, she made a funeral pyre and placed her husband’s body on it and set fire to the pyre. She decided to enter the funeral pyre along with her husband.

It was at that time that she heard a sweet voice from behind. There stood a Brahmana who spoke these sweet words, “O friend! Do you remember me, this nameless friend of yours? You and I were Swans, homeless, abiding for several thousand years in the lake of Manasa-saras! But alas, abandoning me, you went in quest of sensual enjoyments, and after wandering here and there, you entered into a city of nine gates built by a woman. And engrossed in the pleasures she offered, you forgot everything about the Reality and degenerated to this sorrowful state.

“You are not the daughter of the king of Vidarbha, nor is this king your husband, nor are you the husband of that woman who confined you to the city of nine gates. In your previous life, you thought of yourself to be a man and in this life you consider yourself to be a woman. This is all due to my Maya. Both these things are false. Both of us are of the essence of purity. Know this to be our real nature. I myself am you. And you are none other than me. Men of true understanding find no difference between us.”

Listening to these words of the Brahmana, the daughter of Vidarbha king attained absolute peace.

The meaning of the allegory:

Puranjana is none other than Jeevatma, the individual soul. The city of nine gates is the physical body. The nine gates are the nine orifices in the body, namely 2 eyes, 2 nostrils, 2 ears, 1 mouth, anus and the genital. Puranjana is a king because he is the master of this nine-gated city.

The beautiful woman whom he met in the city is the intellect. She is assisted by the ten attendants, namely the five organs of perception and 5 organs of action. The five-hooded serpent who guarded the city is the Pancha-Pranas.

Puranjana’s infatuation with the woman is nothing but the intense identification of the Jeeva to this physical body. Whatever the body does, he feels he is doing it.

The hunting expedition is nothing but his dream experience. Puranjana leaves his wife behind and indiscriminately kills the wild animals sitting on his chariot. So too the Jeeva, sitting on the chariot of dream body indiscriminately goes through various experiences without any willpower, without his intellect to guide him.

But after the hunt, and getting refreshed, Puranjana goes back and meets his wife. So too, after the dream state, the Jeeva comes back and joins his intellect in the waking state.

The 5-hooded serpent guarded the city. So too it is the Pranas that keeps the body alive and healthy. But this it could do only for 100 years. The Gandharvas, fair and dark, 730 in number, are the days and nights, equal in number. These Gandharvas attack the city going round and round. So too, as the days go by, the body decays and becomes infirm with the passage of time.

The king of Yavana is fear. As the person becomes old, he is filled with various worries and anxieties. The Kalakanya is none other than old age. She makes the city (the physical body) weak and infirm.

The Prajvara’s attack is the fever which is like burning the city. And when the body dies, the Pranas, the commander in chief, has to flee the city.

Puranjana is captured alive by the Yavanas. So too the Jeeva never dies with the death of the body. Along with his worries and anxieties, he departs the body. He remains in the state of Tamas, till he gets the next body.

Our last thoughts decide the next birth. As Puranjana was addicted to sexual pleasures, he was thinking of women at the time of death. Hence he is born as a woman in his next life.

After the death of her husband, the lady meets the Brahmana, who is none other than God/Guru, who introduces her to her true Self. And this knowledge liberates her from all sorrows.   

We have already gone through millions and billions of births, as plants and animals, as birds and insects, as men and women. The choice is ours. Do we desire to continue this roller-coaster ride of re-births and re-deaths filled with pains, sufferings and uncertainties? If yes, then we need to do nothing; just continue living our life in ignorance as we have been doing from the beginningless past.

But if we are suffocated and fed up, and if we crave for liberation, then Self-knowledge alone is the way.

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

May 2021

To give love to all others is the only way to enrich life as nothing else can.   
– Chinmaya

The power of love is unbelievable. There are innumerable instances in the history of mankind to prove this fact. One such incident is given below.

It was 8^th January 1950. The night Satsang was in progress in the Bhajan Hall of Swami Shivanandji’s Ashram at Rishikesh.  It was fairly dark in the Bhajan Hall as, during the Kirtan, even the lantern which is used for reading of Gita, etc. is reduced and put aside. The two lamps which shone brightly on the either side of the main altar were able to illumine only a third of the Hall, leaving the entrance to the Hall dark.

Through the dark entrance approached a dark force. Govindan approached Swamiji, axe in hand. He did not have to take much trouble  to approach Swamiji , who was sitting just next to the entrance.

The axe was raised. The devatas shuddered in the heavens. And the axe fell. Indra, the presiding deity of Govindan’s hand trembled. The axe missed its mark. The door which received the blow cried aloud its warning.

Govindan became more nervous. He raised the axe again. This time a picture on the wall stood in front and received the blow. The two blows missed the mark. Only the wooden handle of the axe struck Swamiji’s head. Generally, as soon as Swamiji enters the hall, he would remove the cloth turban he wears when he leaves his Kutir (during the winter months). But, today, he forgot. So the axe-handle could strike only the cloth-padding on Swamiji’s head.

Swamiji ‘woke up’ to the fact that someone was trying to assault him. He thought it was a stick with which he was being beaten. He raised the hand and said, “Have you finished the job? Do you want to beat me more?”

The raised hand received the axe, and the axe made a mark on the skin. It was no more than a scratch.

Vishnuswamiji (who was an adept in Hatha Yoga) who was sitting near Swamiji got up in one leap and hugged

Govindan so tightly that the latter could not lift his hand again. Vishnuswamiji dragged Govindan out of the hall.

The crowd in the Bhajan Hall immediately realised what had happened. One or two people helped Govindan’s hands and feet to be tied. As is natural in the case of gatherings, one or two people fell on the assailant and started beating him. Padmanabhan who was in the yajnashala room heard Swamiji shouting at the top of his voice: “Ohji! Don’t beat him! Please don’t beat him!”

Padmanabhan  rescued Govindan and the latter was taken to a room nearby and locked in.

“Continue the Kirtan,” said Swamiji, and the Kirtan, Arati and Shanti Paath were duly conducted and the Satsang came to a close.

Some of the Ashramites  ran to the police station, got a couple of constables to follow them and ran to the Bhajan Hall. All rejoiced that Swamiji escaped practically unhurt. The only thing which hurt them was that there could be someone in the world breathing as man who could even think of doing such a thing which Govindan had done.

All believed firmly that the Lord himself was protecting Swamiji.  Govindan was lying in wait for Swamiji in the morning. He knew that Swamiji generally came along all way from his Kutir to the Bhajan Hall, for the morning class. Swamiji would then be entirely undefended. It would be an easy job for the assailant. But… Swamiji did not come! Ashramites wondered whether Swamiji was alright in health. He was alright.

Govindan made a couple of circumambulations of the Bhajan Hall, impatiently waiting for Swamiji. Govindan never used to stir out of his room before 9 a.m. when he would stir in bed. For one day he attended the morning Satsang and did Kirtan also in the early morning hours; though it was the devil who gave him the opportunity.

At night too, Swamiji would have removed his turban. But Swamiji himself did not know why he did not remove the turban only that day!

Govindan had calculated the distance between the door and Swamiji’s head and adjusted the axe aright in the first instance; but forgot to take count of the projection of the Bhajan Hall door. When the first blow missed its mark  he became conscious of this factor; but when he went nearer his mark he forgot to re-adjust the axe and so missed the mark again.

Indeed the Lord Himself was protecting Swamiji!

After the Kirtan, the ashramites went from the Bhajan Hall to the room in which Govindan was kept. The rope that bound his feet together was removed. He stood up, guarded on both sides by policemen. The crowd watched. Swamiji went straight to Govindan, and bowed to him with folded palms. The police Inspector gazed at this scene in great wonderment.

“Govindaswami, do you want to deal some more blows? Here I am. Kindly satisfy yourself.”

Govindan muttered: “No. I don’t want to beat you anymore. I am satisfied.”

Swamiji enquired lovingly, “What harm did I do? Why did you get so angry with me?” For this there was no reply.

The crowd gradually dispersed and gathered near Swamiji’s Kutir.

“What shall I do Swamiji? Shall I register a case against this man?” Asked the police Inspector.

“No, no. Just send him away from Muni-ki-reti. That is enough,” said Swamiji and went back to his Kutir only to be greeted by an endless stream of visitors, and that too at that hour of the night! Many men and women of the locality were literally in tears when they saw Swamiji. But Swamiji coolly sat, smiling radiantly.

Aged Swami Achintyanandji with his walking stick, ran to Swamiji’s Kutir to dress his wounds.

The next day, it was decided that Govindan should be provided with two Ashramite-escorts and left on the Grand Trunk Express with a ticket to Salem, his native place.

Swamiji was absolutely against booking any case against Govindan.

Swamiji said: “No. We should not punish him. He only worked out my Prarabdha.  Do you mean to say that anything would happen without His will behind it? No,no. It was the Lord’s will. The Lord only prompted Govindan to do what he did. Are ‘dyutam Chhalayataam asmi’ and ‘taskaraanaam pataye’ mere words? Does not the same omnipresent Lord indwell the robber and the dacoit, the murderer and the burglar? No, no. I will not let the police charge Govindan. We should thank him for working out my Prarabdha so easily.”

“The Lord has spared my life because  there is some more service to be performed through this body. I must go on with that service. That is all that this incident indicates to me.”

Swamiji  went to the police station at about 11 a.m. with fruits, books, clothes, new blanket and Japa Mala. With his own hands he applied Kumkum and Bhasma on Govindan’s forehead. Swamiji then prostrated to Govindan. Others present there were aghast at this sight. Swamiji then gave the books with his autographed blessings.

“May Lord bless you with health, long life, peace, prosperity, devotion, wisdom and Kaivalya!”saying this,  Swamiji then initiated Govindan into Ashtakshari Mantra, gave him the Japa Mala and the book and gave the following advice:

“Kindly repeat the Lord’s name incessantly. Do regular and vigorous Japa. Forget all that happened. Only take care that the mind does not run into the old vicious grooves again, and that you are not impelled to commit the same mistakes over again.

“Please read good spiritual books. Do not mix with bad characters. The latent spirituality will become patent through Sadhana. Spirituality is latent in you now. If it was not at all there, you would not have come here.

“I have asked Sashwat Swamiji and Purushottamji to accompany you till Agra and provide you with all comforts and conveniences during the journey. From Agra, you will get a ticket for Salem. Kindly write to me as soon as you reach Salem. Please write to me frequently about your welfare and your sadhana. May God bless you.”

Swamiji then repeated ‘Om Namo Narayanaya’ several times and made Govindan also repeat the sacred Mantra.

Special dishes, like Rasam etc., were prepared and given to Govindan before his departure.

Swamiji then wrote a note to the police Inspector that he did not want to proceed against Govindan in any manner and that the police might drop the incident out of their minds.

In the evening there was a Thanksgiving Service and prayer for the long life of Swamiji in the Bhajan Hall. It was arranged by Sri Gauri Prasad of Swarga Ashram. The gathering chanted the Maha Mantra in chorus, and the hall was filled with the vibrations of the Maha Mrtyunjaya Mantra which was chanted aloud by the entire gathering. Swamiji then distributed Prasad with his own hands.

On 19^th February 1950, Swamiji received a Tamil letter from Govindan, which said:

“I have reached Salem safely. I am grateful to you Gurudev for what you have done. I pray that any other pitfalls that may beset my path of life may also be removed by your Holiness’s grace. I am your humble disciple.”

When Swamiji had read the letter, he said to the Ashramite who was the postal-in-charge: “Please put Govindan’s name on the Magazine Free List. Include his address in the Prasad Register also. All free literature should be sent to him. I will send him books also. I will write to him to come again.”

Swamiji’s supreme love had transformed Govindan, the murderer, into a good soul.

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

April 2021

Yoga is not twisting the body, but straightening the mind.   – Chinmaya

In modern times the term ‘Yoga’ is widely misunderstood as Yoga-asanas. The above quote corrects our understanding.

Yoga-asanas form one of the limbs in the eight-limbed Patanjali Yoga Sutras. Yoga- asanas are important because they help us in keeping the body healthy. An unhealthy body always demands attention upon itself, and will not allow the mind to withdraw and meditate on God. Hence a healthy body is unavoidable for all spiritual practices.

But many immature seekers misunderstand the means to be the goal. They conclude that the only purpose of Yoga is to remain physically fit and healthy! When they have mastered all the bodily twistings and bendings, they declare themselves to be Gurus and Yogis of the highest order, and start their own Yoga Institutes charging heavy fees from their ignorant disciples!

Yoga is defined in Bhagavad Geeta as follows:

तं विद्यात् दुखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम् |= Disassociation from our association with sorrow is Yoga.     समत्वम् योग उच्यते| = Quietening the mind is Yoga.

According to this definition, any one of us can be a Yogi. It is not the Rudraksha, or the ochre cloth, or the forehead-marks or the rituals that make a Yogi. Amidst all the disturbing and challenging situations, if we can keep a balanced mind, then according to Geeta, we are Yogis.

 Amidst disobedient children, screaming husband, and the innumerable responsibilities of the household, if the housewife can remain calm and poised then she must be considered a Yogi. Even under work pressure, if the officer is maintaining his equipoise, then he too is a Yogi.

What should happen to a person who practices Yoga sincerely? This incident will make it clear:

A particular Swami had once stayed at the Sivananda Ashram (Divine Life Society) at Rishikesh for a considerable time and had done a lot of work for the Ashram. He then left the Ashram to do intense austerity. After long years, he was again seen in the Ashram premises for a short duration. But he went away without informing anyone. There was a discussion about his attitude towards the Ashram.

Someone reported the matter to Swami Sivananda and said, “Swamiji, perhaps he did not stay on at the Ashram because he was not given a rousing reception he might have expected.”

Swamiji said, “What reception? A sannyasin should not have such expectations and desires. He left the Ashram to do intense austerity and sadhana. If he had really done much austerity, he would have developed a loving heart, an entirely changed angle of vision, and this would have electrified whomever he met here. He would have adopted an attitude of humility, of service, of brotherly love towards everyone here. He would thus have endeared himself to everyone. Naturally, a different atmosphere would have been created. This is the way. He should always conquer people’s heart through love and service. There is no other way. If he was not able to do that, it means the sadhana was a continuous indulgence in inertia and an increased fattening of the ego.”

‘Straightening the mind’ means eradication of all vices and cultivation of all noble virtues mentioned in the scriptures. Twisting the body is easy; straightening the mind may take lifetimes!

A letter was on Swami Sivanandji’s table. A ‘great’ European Yogi had written to Swamiji requesting him to invite him to India. This was needed to obtain a passport.

Looking at the letter, Swamiji lamented: “What a big show of themselves do these so-called Yogis make? They fly from one country to another with so much pomp and ostentation. The net result? Only grand receptions, parties and farewells. Is it not?”

A visitor remarked, “Yes Swamiji. We have seen many of them move about in regal comforts.”

Swamiji smiled mischievously and said, “Some of them should be received with unique honour. Instead of flags and festoons adorning the reception entrance, people should hang old shoes and broom-sticks. What do you say?”

Devotees struggled to control their laughter.

Then Swamiji added, “We should not wait for the thing to happen actually. We should train ourselves. I have done so. I have beaten myself with shoes severely. This I used to do especially on Birthdays – just after returning to my Kutir. After the meetings where people had praised me, glorified me, deified me, I would go into my Kutir and beat myself nicely with a pair of shoes: ‘What are you? You wretched flesh-blood-excreta made body? Do you want garlands? Can you not wear torn clothes? Do you think that you are great? Do you want to be prostrated to? Now, take these beatings.’ ”

It is well said – “Yoga is not beating one’s own drums, but beating oneself to shape.”

A small batch of smartly uniformed school students arrived at the Sivananda Ashram at Rishikesh. In great joy, Swami Sivanandji greeted the youth.  They were served tea and light refreshments. After speaking a word or two to each student, Swamiji addressed them all:

“Do you know the drill?”

“Yes, Swamiji.”

“But do you know the Upanishadic drill?”

“What?” The boys looked at one another and ultimately at the teacher with a querying forehead, as if to ask: “Do you?” The teacher and the taught, all were eager to be taught by Swamiji.

The boys were quickly arrayed in two rows.

“Om Tat Sat”- Came the command from Swamiji. The boys instinctively stood to attention as Swamiji himself did so. Now started the drill.

“Matr Devo Bhava”- Palms folded at the chest in salutation.

“Pitr Devo Bhava” – Both hands raised above, vertically.

“Acharya Devo Bhava” – Hands brought down in one swing along with a nice folding at the hip.

“Atithi Devo Bhava” – Palms folded at the chest in salutation.

“Om Tat Sat” – Attention.

Then Swamiji explained the significance of this drill. “This is the Upanishadic drill. The words of command are great utterances of sages in the Upanishads. May your mother be your God. May your father be your God. May your teacher be your God. May your guest be your God. These feelings are roused up when you repeat these sentences. Slowly your inner nature is divinized.”

Then ‘Baithak” exercise:

‘Sita’- Fists clenched, fore-arms bent at the elbow and raised, then the entire body lowered assuming a ‘sitting on the heels’ position.

‘Rama’- Normal standing position, but with clenched fists, ready for another round.

‘Om tat Sat’: attention.

After a few such exercises, Swamiji then led the students in a march, with the marching tune: Bhum Bhum Bhum bhum Mahadeva; Hara Hara Hara Hara Sadashiva;

Then Swamiji lectured to the students on the essence of Yoga. A carpet was spread and Swamiji taught the children Yoga-asanas and explained their usefulness.

Swamiji then encouraged the boys to sing. One boy sang nice songs. There was then an elocution competition. One of the bright students explained in simple language how spiritual institutions were the crying need of the hour.

The students then formed themselves into two groups and requested Swamiji to give a topic for debate. Swamiji gave the topic: “Need for spiritual life.”

This put to test the boys’ creative faculties. It was wonderful how the boys spoke ‘for’ and ‘against’ the proposition.

Swamiji distributed prize books to the boys who took part in these competitions. The boys and the teacher were then served with tea and fruits and given a hearty send-off.

Swamiji was highly pleased. Within a brief spell of half-an-hour, he had sown the seed of spiritual life in the hearts of those intelligent boys – the future citizens of this glorious land.

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

March – 2021

Being himself exactly the Supreme Being, but thinking himself to be separate from Him, Jeeva strives to become united with Him. What is there stranger than this?  – Ramana.

Is there even an iota of difference between Jeevaatma (the individual self) and Paramaatma (the Supreme Self)?   “Absolutely not!” unanimously say all the Vedas.

तत् त्वम् असि | Tat tvam asi– = ‘That you are’ – says Chandogya Upanishad of Sama Veda.

अहम् ब्रह्म अस्मि| Aham brahma asmi– = ‘I am Brahman’- says Brhadaaranyaka Upanishad of Yajur Veda.

अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म| Ayam aatma brahma– = ‘This Self is Brahman’- says Mandukya Upanishad of Atharva Veda.

प्रज्ञानम् ब्रह्म| Prajnaanam brahma– = ‘This Consciousness is Brahman’- says Aitareya Upanishad of Rig Veda.

Vedas are unanimous in declaring the absolute Truth.

But wonder of wonders! Even when it is so clearly and explicitly declared, we refuse to believe or accept! Hence the Bhagavad Geeta says:

आश्चर्यवत् पश्यति कश्चितेनम् आश्चर्यवत् वदति तथैव चान्य: ।

आश्चर्यवत् चैनम् अन्य: शृणोति श्रुत्वाप्येनम् वेद न चैव कश्चित्||

(Some see It with wonder; some speak about It with wonder; some listen about It with wonder; and wonder of wonders – in spite of all these, none knows about It, even though It is one’s own Self!!)

Long long ago, in a kingdom of ancient India, a play was being staged in the royal court. The play was named “The Princess of Kashi.”

They wanted a cute little pretty girl of around five years to play the role of the princess of Kashi. A search was conducted in the kingdom to find the suitable girl for this role, but in vain.

The queen, seeing the dilemma, came up with the suggestion, “Why not dress up our little cute prince as the princess? He is five years of age. A boy or a girl looks very much alike at that age. Moreover, there is no much acting involved in this role. Why create such a big fuss about such a small issue?”

The suggestion was agreed upon by the drama-team. The handmaids of the queen soon busied themselves around the prince and they did a splendid job of dressing up the prince into an extremely charming princess of unimaginable beauty!

The play was over. Queen’s eyes were not satiated seeing her own son in the form of this charming princess! But alas! Now the make-up had to be removed and the princess would disappear forever. What can be an alternative?

An idea struck her. The best court artist was summoned. The painting was made. The artist after finishing the painting marked the date and the occasion on it: “The Princess of Kashi. Dated…”

Fifteen years passed by. By now, the handsome young prince had grown up. He was getting trained to take over as the heir of the throne. One day, while wandering through the palace, he found a set of stairs leading underground. Being curious, he followed the staircase. He reached an old store-room, dusty and full of cobwebs. As he was exploring the safely preserved artefacts and antiques, he chanced to come across the painting which read – “The Princess of Kashi”. He was mesmerized seeing the beauty of the princess. Seeing the date, he thought to himself, “By now, she must be of my age. If only I could marry her…”

The thought of the ‘Princess of Kashi’ possessed him. He lost interest in everything including food and sleep. His shyness did not allow him to disclose this matter to anyone else. But others found him lost in thoughts day and night. The king and the queen understood that something was bothering their beloved son. They asked the wise old minister, whom the prince loved very much, to find out what the matter was.

The wise minister approached the prince and had a friendly chat for a while. Finally, when the prince became cheerful and talkative, the minister, with all tenderness and love, asked him sweetly “My son, what bothers you?”

Prince: “I am in love.”

Minister: “That is so nice! Who is the girl?”

Prince: “She is the Princess of Kashi.”

Minister: “That is wonderful! But where did you meet her?”

Prince: “I have not met her. I have only seen her picture.”

Minister: “Where did you see it?”

The prince took the old man to the underground store-room. Brimming with excitement, he showed the painting to the minister. The minister, seeing the painting, became thoughtfully silent. Old memories flashed past his mind in a moment.

Now the minister was all in smiles.

He said: “O prince! This is not the Princess of Kashi!”

Prince: “Whoever she is. I will marry only her.”

Minister (smiling): “But you can’t marry her.”

Prince: “Why not? As per the date mentioned here, she must be of my age. ”

Minister: “True. But you can’t marry her!”

Prince: “Why? Is she already married?”

Minister: “No. But you can’t marry her!”

Prince: “Is she real or imaginary? Does she exist?”

Minister (laughing): “She is real. Yes, she exists, but you can’t marry her!”

Prince: “Do you know her?”

Minister (non-stop laughing): “Yes, very much! In fact, even you know her!!”

Prince (confused): “What??? Who is she?”

Minister (laughing aloud): “O Prince! You Are That! Tat Tvam Asi!!”

The prince could not believe his ears! He remained blank, transfixed, astonished!

He again stared at the painting, now with a renewed, enlightened vision. He mused “Yes. There is a similarity; the facial features of the princess match with mine. The minister must be right.”

Then the minister went on to describe the whole drama-incident that had happened 15 years ago. The reality gradually sank into the prince; and he, along with minister burst out with a hearty belly-laugh.

Needless to say, the misery, the infatuation of the prince was gone forever.

The story has a deep spiritual significance.

1. This world is the ‘Princess of Kashi’.

2. The prince felt that the princess would make him happy. So he desired the princess. In the same way, we are convinced that the world can give us peace, happiness and security. So we desire the world.

3. The prince realizes that he himself is the princess of Kashi.

The truth is, the world has no existence other than the Self. The Self alone exists, and upon the real Self, the illusory world is projected by the mind.

4. The moment the concept of ‘the other’ disappeared, the desire of the prince also disappeared. All desires come from the concept of ‘the other.’ When we realize that there is nothing other than the Supreme Self, all desires vanish.

5. True happiness lies not in fulfilling the desires, but in making the mind desireless. And the mind becomes desireless when it knows that ‘I am already what I desire.’

The world appears to give me Sat (existence), Chit (sentiency, life) and Anand (happiness, peace, fulfilment). But the truth is – Sat-Chit-Anand is already my nature.

Q= What happens when I know “I am already what I desire?”

A= All desires end.

With it, the mind ends. (Because the mind is nothing but desires.)

With it, the world ends. (Because the world is nothing but the projections of the mind.)

Q= What remains when the mind and the world end?

A= The Truth alone remains.

Q= What is that Truth?

A= Tat Tvam Asi. That You Already Are.

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

February 2021

There is no reincarnation at all, either now or before, nor will there be any hereafter. Reincarnation exists only so long as there is ignorance.   – Ramana

“I can’t believe this!”

Thus many will protest after reading the above quote.

Listen to an incident that happened in the times of Swathi Tirunal Rama Varma, the king of the kingdom of Travancore.

Swathi Tirunal Maharaja had a great friendship with Tampan, the great magician. Once Tampan was asked to perform in the public. The venue was arranged. Men and women assembled. King Swathi sat in his throne along with his relatives and friends. The queen was also seated behind the transparent curtain.

Tampan greeted the king and the audience and spread a blanket on the stage. After invoking the gods, he was about to start his performance.

Suddenly a thread came down from above, with a letter tied to its tip. It gently touched Tampan’s head giving him a sudden surprise. He untied the letter, opened it and read it carefully.

He then turned to the king. “Your Highness, I am sorry. I cannot perform today. Devendra, the king of gods, has sent this letter asking me to report to him urgently to help him in the war against demons.”

He gave the letter to king Swathi. The king went through the contents of the letter which was in the Devanagari script.

Before he could even respond, Tampan had caught hold of the thread and climbed up. He disappeared within a minute. The king looked on helplessly as the audience sat spellbound. There was absolute silence.

After a while, it began to rain. But it was not an ordinary rain. It was raining blood, followed by a rain of human limbs and carcasses of horses, elephants and men, all piling up at the venue. The king soon realised that the whole thing was Tampan’s magic.

But when the bleeding head of Tampan dropped from above with a thud at the venue, king Swathi was bewildered. The audience sat terrified. The queen fainted behind the screen. King Swathi got to his feet to go to his wife, and suddenly he heard Tampan calling him from behind:

“Had enough for the day, Your  Highness?”

The king turned back and saw Tampan standing near the chair with a glee on his face!

The queen regained consciousness in a few minutes and grumbled to the king for scaring the wits out of her! A sigh of relief escaped the king.

He showered many fabulous gifts on Tampan even as the audience greeted him with thunderous applause!

If even an ordinary magician can make us see and believe the non-existent, what to talk of the Maha Maya of the Lord!

Q= How can you say there is no jeeva (individual), no jagad (world), no karma (actions), etc.? We clearly experience it?

A=Our experience is not proof of the existence of a thing. The blueness of the sky, mirage waters, dream world etc., are all experienced. But they are non-existent. A magician, like the above story, makes us experience many non-existent things. Hence experience has nothing to do with Reality.

Q=Then how to know what is Real?

A=Silence the mind. What remains? The Self. That alone is Real.

Q=Then what about all this creation?

A= As long as the Self-ignorance exists, the mind will exist. As long as the mind exists, these imaginations – jeeva, jagat, eeshwara, karma(actions), karma-phala(fruits of actions), kartrtva(doership), bhoktrtva(enjoyership), punarjanma(re-incarnation) – all will exist. They are mere imaginations of the mind projected on the Self.

Q=Hard to digest!

A=Then develop your digestive capacityJ

Truth cannot be diluted to suit your digestion!

Q=How to silence the mind?

A=By silencing the ego. Know that this ego is an illusion.

There is a very beautiful incident in the life of Houdini, the great magician. His whole life was a tremendous success; he was a miracle-monger. He did so many miracles that if he was a man to cheat humanity, he could have cheated everyone very easily. But he was a very sincere man. He would say, “Whatsoever I am doing is nothing but skill; there is no miracle in it.”

 No magician has ever done as much as Houdini has done. His power was almost impossible to believe. He was thrown in almost all the great prisons of the world, and within seconds he would be out. He was chained, locked, and within seconds – the

chains wouldn’t work, locks wouldn’t work – something would happen, and he would be out. He would be out almost within seconds, not even a minute. Even the well-trained police force became helpless in front of his talents.

But in Italy he failed – only once in his life. He was thrown in the central prison of

Rome, and thousands of people had gathered to see him come out. Minutes passed and

there was no sign of him. It was almost half an hour, and people started getting restless

because it had never happened: “What has happened? Has he gone mad, or died? Or has the great magician failed?”

 After two hours, he came out perspiring and laughing loudly. And the people asked, “What happened? Two hours? We were thinking that you had either gone mad or you were dead! Even the authorities were thinking to go in and see. What happened?”

He said, “They tricked me; they made me a fool. The door was not locked! All my skill is to open the lock, and I was trying to find out where the lock is, and there was no lock.

The door was not locked at all, it was already open. Tired, exhausted, worried, puzzled, I fell, and when I fell and struck the door, the door opened. That’s how I am out; not

because of my skill.”

This story has a deep Vedantic message.

1. Houdini was imprisoned.

We are all imprisoned in this world, in this BMI.

2. Houdini imagined that doors were locked.

We imagine that our individuality, our ego, this ‘I’ in us is real. 

3. Houdini never questioned the lock.

We never question this ‘I’.

4. Houdini tried everything except doubting the lock.

We do everything in life, except questioning this ‘I’.

5. After a long time, tired and exhausted, when Houdini fell on the door, the door opened.

After very many births, tired and exhausted, when we surrender this ‘I’, the real ‘I’shines forth.

6. Houdini became free.

We are released from the clutches of egoistic ‘I’, and the prison of birth and death.

7. The truth is, the door was never locked!

The truth is, we were never bound!

8. Who saved Houdini? Not his effort, but God’s grace.

Who saves us? Not our effort, but God’s grace.

9. But it was his effort which led to his collapse.

So too, our efforts are unavoidable for complete surrender.

While summerising the entire Bhagavad Geeta in ‘Geeta Saara’ in just 42 verses, Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi glorifies surrender by chosing this verse as the conclusion:

तमेव शरणं गच्छ सर्वभावेन भारत । तत्प्रसादात् परां शान्तिं स्थानं प्राप्स्यसि शाश्वतम्||

O Arjuna! Surrender to Him alone with all your being. By His grace, you will attain supreme peace of the Self and also the eternal Abode of liberation.

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

January – 2021

Overall power and adorability by all came to God because He never says ‘I’ even in forgetfulness. – Ramana.

The law of life is:

Even God, when the ego is pampered, becomes a man – finite and miserable.

Even man, when the ego is dissolved, becomes God – Infinite and Perfect.

But the itching to pamper the ego is very hard to contain!

How do I pamper my ego?

When I live to execute my will, and not His will… when my likes and dislikes are more important for me than living in His submission… when ‘I and mine’ (vyashti) becomes more important than ‘all’(samashti)… when I compete and assert myself, than co-operate and dissolve myself… when I become selfish and self-centred rather than selfless and God-centred… – all these tendencies pamper the ego.

Why do the majority of us like pampering our ego?

The egoistic joys, though finite, are immediate and effortless. It doesn’t demand any discipline or alertness. It is very natural to us.   

To such egoistic people, the Lord says “Since you are doing everything to pamper the ego, tathaastu– may it be so. May you remain as the ego.”

The result? We end up with all the characteristics of ego – finite, ignorant, arrogant, selfish, jealous, powerless, discontent, miserable, and transmigrant (going from body to body, world to world).

There was a man who was an exceptionally brilliant sculptor. Somehow he came to know that his death was near and the Yamadootas are soon coming to take him. He devised a plan. He sculpted many identical statues exactly like himself, and stood along with them.

When the Yamadootas arrived, they were confused seeing the identical figures. For a moment, they wondered, “Who is the real one?” But being in this profession for a long time, they knew how to tackle the situation. 

Looking at these identical statues, they gave a mocking laugh, “I was told that you are the best sculptor in the profession. But you have made such a big mistake!!”

The sculptor, unable to take this criticism, couldn’t control himself. He shouted back, “Mind your words! No one could ever find even the slightest error in my work! What mistake are you talking about?”

Now the Yamadootas, with a success-smile on their face, approached him and caught hold of his collar. As they dragged the unwilling trembling sculptor to Yamaloka, they said, “O fool! This is the mistake. For everything you say- ‘I did it, I did it’…”

What happens when we dissolve the ego?

When we dissolve the ego, the Lord says, “Since you seem to be busy annihilating the ego, may you not exist.”

The result? The individual, finite existence of the ego vanishes. What remains is only the Infinite Existence of God. We merge with God, like the finite drop, losing its individuality, merges with the infinite ocean to become the ocean.

As Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda says beautifully, “‘Renounce your ego’ is the only request from the Lord. ‘And I will make you God’ is the promise.”

In the life of all great saints, we see how they renounced their ego in all their day-to-day activities.

An American businessman, Mr Joffo, came to meet Sadhu Vaswani one day. Mr Joffo’s great desire was to start “The Gandhi International Centre for Peace and Plenty”. He had already roped in the then Union Minister, Mr S.K. Patil, to be the Chairman of the centre. It was his earnest desire that Sadhu Vaswani should consent to be a member of the Committee.

Vaswani commended him for his fine idea. “Mahatma Gandhi has been forgotten by his own people.” He said to the American. “You are doing well in trying to bring the people back to Gandhi.”

“You are the spiritual heir of the Mahatma,” Mr Joffo told the Master earnestly. “It would be in the fitness of things that your name should adorn the committee of the Gandhi International Centre.”

Sadhu Vaswani smiled as he replied, “My Guru taught me to inscribe my name in the list of servants. When the office of the servant is vacant, let me know.”

The American was taken aback. Never before had he met a great soul whose one aspiration had always been to become the “lowliest of the low.”

Destiny took Vaswani, again and again, out of his solitude to perform “great” things in life – but he always felt happy in doing little things. He rejoiced in the company of the “little ones”- the poor in spirit. Very often, admirers and devotees asked him to participate in big conferences and seminars. Invariably his reply was, “Let the cobbler cobble his shoes.”

Humility and simplicity are the hallmarks of the great ones!

This is an incident shared by Lt. Col. Ashok Kini H, SM, VSM (Former Comptroller to The former President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.)

It was the first visit of an elevated saint, Shankaracharya of Kanchi Mutt, H.H Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal, to Rashtrapati Bhavan.

 Since President, Dr Kalam wanted to give due honour to the saint, he called me (I was the Comptroller in President’s House) to his office and asked me the traditional protocol.

I told him, “I will receive the Saint at the gate and bring him inside.”

After a few minutes of deep thinking, he asked me, “What will happen if I receive him?”

I said, “Sir, you will honour the Saint and make his position more important than the President.”

He smiled. He didn’t say anything.

Then, once inside the office, I briefed him, “Sir, I will bring the Saint here, put his seat (asan) on this sofa and will request him to sit; and you will continue sitting on usual President’s sofa chair.”

He again asked me, “What will happen if I make him sit on my sofa seat?”

I again said, “Sir, you will honour the Saint and make his position more important than the President.”

He smiled once again and did not give me any more instruction.

After thirty minutes, when the Saint was to reach the Rashtrapati Bhavan, a few seconds before his arrival, to my surprise, I saw Dr Kalam, standing behind me at the gate. I immediately went behind the President. He was there to receive the saint with garland and flowers.

We received the Saint, walked through the corridors and straight entered into his office.

When I was spreading Saint’s seat (tiger skin asan) on the visitor’s sofa as we had discussed, he directed me to put the same on President’s sofa chair.

I was shocked by this simple, humble and great gesture. This was President Kalam!

We offered fruits and flower basket to the saint. 

After the meeting, I asked him the reason behind doing this.

He smiled and said, “I wanted the sofa seat of the President of India, to be blessed by the Saint’s spiritual power so that whoever sits here later also gets the Saint’s blessings.”

I admired these words of my spiritual guru Kalam and said: “Sir, you are not only a scientist but you are yourself a saint in disguise too.”

As usual, he gave his meaningful smile. 

Those who allow their heart to be ruled by the Lord, and not by their ego – they rule the hearts of all!

Somebody wrote the first biography of Ramana Maharshi in Malayalam. Factually it was full of errors. He had written that Bhagavan was married, and had four children, and one day suddenly he felt Arunachala was calling. So he disappeared from his place and appeared in Arunachala.

Interestingly, he took the proof to Bhagavan to get it corrected. Bhagavan went through the writings, and then told him, “You may publish it.”

He took it to get it published, but the printer had his doubts. He showed it to Kunju Swami, a Malayali devotee of Bhagavan. Kunju Swami went through the writings and got the shock of his life!

He took it back to Bhagavan and said, “Bhagavan! All non-factual errors have crept into this. How can you allow him to publish it?”

Bhagavan looked at him and said, “Do you think this is the only thing which is false? And everything else is true?” After a pause and with a sweet smile, Bhagavan continued: “He wrote what he knew. What you know you write.”

The one in whom the ‘I’ is dead, verily he is Brahman, so says the scriptures.

India is poor and illiterate – agreed. But this is a divine land where, even today, in every nook and corner, we find mahatmas – both men and women – who have mastered the art of self-effacement, and live their simple lives, steeped in bliss, unknown to any.

When Swami Vivekananda returned from the West, one British friend asked him, “Swamiji, how do you like now your motherland after four years’ experience of the luxurious, glorious, powerful West?”

Swamiji said, “India I loved before I came away. Now the very dust of India has become holy to me, the very air is now to me holy; it is now to me the holiest land, a place of pilgrimage, a teertha!!”

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

December 2020

God’s creation does not bind. That which does so is Jeeva’s own creation.
—Ramana

We alone are responsible for our misery.

How do we bind ourselves? 

The scriptures say:  मन एव मनुष्याणाम् कारणम् बन्ध मोक्षयो: | = Our mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation. We bind ourselves with our wrong notions.

A man came to Nagarjuna, the great Buddhist mystic, and said, “I would like to meditate, but I am not able to concentrate. Please help me.”

 Nagarjuna looked at the man and said, “Do you love anybody?” The man felt a little  embarrassed. With a little hesitation, he said, “I love only my buffalo. But I really really love her, she is such a beautiful being.”

Nagarjuna said, “That will do. You go and sit inside that cave, and continuously think only one thing – that you have become your buffalo.”

The man said, “I can do it. In fact, I am wondering how you came to know of it, because sometimes I think… I love my buffalo so much that sometimes I think of how it will be if I become a buffalo in my next life.”

Nagarjuna said, “You go, and don’t come out of that cave until I ask you to come out.” One day passed. The second day passed. The third day passed. On the fourth day, in the morning, Nagarjuna went to the man’s cave and called him from outside, “Now please come out.”

The man did not come out. After waiting for a while, Nagarjuna enquired, “What is the matter? Why don’t you come out?” The man responded from inside, “I am trying hard, but I don’t think I can come out. I am so huge and the cave-entrance is so small… and don’t you see my horns? I think I am permanently stuck here!”

Three days, continuously thinking that he is a buffalo, a buffalo, a buffalo… He had auto-hypnotized himself!

The man, having lost all hopes, started weeping.  He said, “Now it seems that I will never in my life be able to get out of this cave. And for three days I have been hungry and thirsty, and now I cannot get out. Help me please. Please do something…”

Nagarjuna said, “I can see it is so difficult. But don’t worry. Do what I say. Now think that you have become a man, and that you are no more a buffalo.”

The man had to think for at least three hours that he was a man and not a buffalo.

And in three hours the buffalo disappeared, the delusion disappeared. He opened his eyes. He came out, greatly relieved, extremely grateful, and fell at the feet of Nagarjuna.

Let us apply the above quote to this incident.

1. He was a man. This was God’s creation.
2. But he imagined himself to be a buffalo. This was his (Jeeva’s) creation.
3. His creation (wrong notion) caused bondage, and made him miserable.
4. Even when he thought he was a buffalo, he was always a man. God’s creation alone is real, not the imaginary creation of the Jeeva.

In the same way:

1. Our nature is Sat-Chit-Ananda. This is God’s creation.
2. But we think we are the body. This is our creation.
3. Our creation (wrong notion) causes bondage, and makes us miserable.
4. In reality we are never bound. It is only an imagination.

The law of nature is – we experience what we strongly believe in. Hence the experience of misery is not because of the reality, but because of our wrong notions.

Bhagavad Geeta says: न अनुशोचन्ति पण्डिता: | = The wise people never grieve, because they are ever in touch with the reality. And the reality never gives us grief.  

Mulla Nasruddin and his wife were lying in bed. They had no children, and the wife was very eager to have a child. As they were about to fall asleep the wife said, “Listen, if we have a child where will we put him to sleep? – because there is only one bed.”

So Mulla slid a little towards the side, saying “We will put him right here between us.”

And the wife said, “And then if we have a second?”

Mulla slid over a little more saying, “We can put him here also.” 

The wife said, “Miserly fellow! And if a third comes?”

Mulla slid over more and was just going to say “Put him right here,” when he fell off the bed with a crash. His leg was broken. He howled and yelled in unbearable pain. The neighbours gathered. They asked, “What happened?”

He said, “This child – who does not yet exist – broke my leg. And when a non-existent child can cause so much trouble, what to say of a real one!”

 He turned to his wife and said, “Excuse me, I don’t want any children. This experience is enough!”

Who broke his leg?  Not the real child, but the imaginary one.

So too, who causes misery to us?  Not the reality, but our wrong notions.

Q=How does the wrong notion ‘I am the body’ make us miserable?

A=Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi says:  वृत्तय: तु अहम् वृत्तिम् आश्रिता:|

The notion that ‘I am this body’ is called ‘aham vrtti’. It is also called as the ego or the ahankara. All the agitations of the mind are because of this wrong notion.

Q=How is ‘aham vrtti’ related to the agitations of the mind?

A= There are millions of demands for the body regarding health, security, self-respect, looks etc. The mind becomes constantly busy worrying about the ‘yoga-kshema’ – the welfare and wellbeing of the body. Hence the cause of mental chattering is ‘I am this body’ notion.

Q=How to stop this chattering?

A=The cause of mental agitation is ‘aham vrtti’. Hence to eliminate agitations, we have to eliminate ‘aham vrtti’.

Q= How to eliminate ‘aham vrtti’?

A= Bhagavan says: Do self-enquiry. When we enquire into the nature of ‘aham vrtti’, we come to know it doesn’t even exist! अहम् अयम् कुतो भवति चिन्वत: अयि पतति अहम् निज विचारणम्| ‘I am this body’ is a wrong notion which has crept in the mind due to lack of self-enquiry.

Q=What are the consequences as a result of self-enquiry?

A= Bhagavan says: अहमि नाशभाजि अहम् अहंतया स्फुरति हृत्स्वयम् परम पूर्ण सत् | With self-enquiry, the ‘aham vritti’ – the false ‘I’- falls, and the real ‘I’ – the supreme Reality – shines forth in its place.

I come to know that I am the supreme Self which is infinite and immortal, all-perfect and all-bliss. The chattering of the mind stops, as there are no more demands or cravings, desires or expectations. The mind rests in eternal peace.

Somebody asked the great Zen master Bokoju, “What do you do? What is your religious discipline?”

He said, “I live an ordinary life. That is my discipline. When I feel hungry I eat, and when I feel sleepy I sleep.”

The questioner was puzzled. He said, “But I don’t see anything special in it.”

Bokoju said, “That is the point. There is nothing special.”

The questioner was still puzzled. He said, “But this is what everybody else is doing –

when hungry they eat, when feeling sleepy they sleep.”

Bokoju laughed. He said, “No. When you eat, you do thousand-and-one things also. You indulge in aimless thinking. The mind thinks, plans, imagines, worries. You are not at all in the present. When I eat, I simply eat. Then there is only eating and nothing else. It is pure. When you sleep you do thousand-and-one things – you dream, you have nightmares. When I sleep I simply sleep, there is nothing else. When sleep is there, there is only sleep. Not even Bokoju exists. When eating is there, there is only eating. Not even Bokoju exists. When there is walking, there is only walking – no Bokoju. There is walking, simply walking.”

Chattering of the mind is bondage. Quietude is freedom.

Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi says: कृत्यमस्ति किम् स्वस्थितिम् यत: | And the Bhagavad Geeta says: तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते| = For the one who abides in the Reality of his own Self after destroying the illusory ego through self-enquiry, there is nothing else to do, for he has attained the highest.

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

November 2020

Life is a piece of art which can be made beautiful and polished, chiselled and shaped, by your own careful self-effort – Chinmaya

Reforming oneself is like chiselling a stone to perfection.

i. An unreformed person is just like an unpolished stone – unattractive and unproductive, and hence wanted by none, ignored by all.

ii. Within an uncut stone, there is an unseen beauty waiting to manifest itself. So too, even in the most uncultured person lies the ever perfect Supreme Self waiting for manifestation.

iii. Without a master sculptor, the hidden beauty of the stone remains ever hidden. Without a Guru, a person roams about, life after life, unaware of his infinite nature.

iv. Only when the stone makes itself available (i.e. yielding to the chisel, remaining steady without moving, without cracking) the sculptor can transform the stone. So too, only with surrender and obedience to the Guru, one is transformed.

v. Chiselling is a painful process. So also is the process of self-reformation.

vi. Chiselling is a time-consuming process. Self-reformation is in no way different.

vii. Chiselling only removes, never adds. So too, in the process of self-reformation, there is only the removal of all wrong notions.

viii. Once the process is completed, the erstwhile unworthy piece of stone becomes a priceless treasure. So too, the erstwhile sinner becomes a liberated sage, revered by all.

While the former charms the world with its outer beauty, the latter blesses the world with his inner divinity.

Shah Ibrahim Adam, the King of Bokhara, was overcome with a desire for God-realisation. However, he lived in such luxury that he always slept on a deep mattress of fragrant flowers. One night, when he was going to bed, he heard a noise above him and, on investigation, saw two men roaming about on the palace roof.

“What are you doing here?” he asked them sharply.

“Sir, we are camel drivers and are searching for our lost camels.” They replied. Amazed at their stupidity, the King said scornfully, “How could you ever expect to find camels on the top of a palace?”

“In the same way as you are trying to realise God in your bed of flowers,” was the reply.

The King was shocked. Their reply made him deeply introspective. He abandoned his throne and went in search of saints in his own kingdom, but without satisfaction.

Thereafter he went to India, the land steeped in spirituality and an abode of spiritual giants. He finally reached Kashi, and there he heard of Kabir, the weaver saint. Accordingly, he asked Kabir to accept him as his disciple.

“There is nothing in common between a King and a poor weaver like myself,” Kabir replied, “and two such different persons could hardly get together.”

But the King pleaded with him. “I did not come to your door as a King but as a beggar,” he said. “Again I beg of you to accept me.”

Seeing the earnestness and sincerity of the King, the kind-hearted Mai Loi, the wife of Kabir, also requested her husband to accept him, and the saint gave in to her request.

In a weaver’s house, what could the King do other than preparing the woof and the warp? Six years passed by, and the King did this work without a murmur.

One day Mai Loi entreated Kabir saying, “This King has been with us for six long years, has been eating what we offer him, and has been doing what we order him to do, without uttering a word of complaint. Because of all this, he appears to be highly deserving. So please give him the initiation.”

“As far as I can see, the King’s mind is not yet crystal clear,” Kabir told his wife.

Mai Loi again entreated, and reminded Kabir that what the King had done was a tremendous service to them; and that she could not even for a moment believe that he did not deserve initiation.

“The best way to prove it to yourself is to do what I ask you to do,” Kabir replied, “and thereafter come and tell me what you hear from his mouth. Please go onto the roof of the house, and as the King comes into the street, throw the entire sweepings of the house unto his head.”

Mai Loi did as she was asked, and threw the sweepings on the head of the King.

“If this were Bokhara,” the King said indignantly, “no one would have dared to do this to me.”

Mai Loi returned to Kabir and repeated what the King had said.

“Did not I tell you that the King is not yet ready?” Kabir said.

So another six years passed by, during which the King worked as hard as he had during the first six years.

One day, Kabir said to his wife, “The vessel is now ready.”

“I do not find any difference between the condition of the King six years ago and now,” Mai Loi replied. “He had been ever dutiful and willing, and has never uttered a word of complaint, even on days when we have had a large number of sadhus in the house and there was nothing left for us to eat.”

“If you want to see the difference,” Kabir told her, “you may once again throw the refuse and the rotten rubbish of the house upon the King’s head.”

The next day, when the King was passing the house, she did exactly as she was asked.

The King, now bathed in dust and garbage, stood there undisturbed. With joined palms, he peacefully looked up and said, “May you, the doer of this, live long. May God bless you. Arrogant and egoistic that I am, what else can I deserve other than this?”

Again Mai Loi related the King’s words to her husband. This time Kabir replied, “As I told you, nothing is lacking in him now.”

Kabir initiated the King into the spiritual knowledge, and within a short time, through thorough reflection and meditation, he realised his true Self. Kabir then told the King, “Your devotion is complete. You may go anywhere you like.”

After having received the blessings of his master, Ibrahim Adham returned to Bokhara, but no longer as a King. One day, as he was sitting on the banks of river Tigris, and mending his old torn garment with a small needle and thread, he was seen by his minister, who had gone out hunting. The minister was returning from the hunt, and although he had not seen the King for twelve years and the King was in tattered clothes, he recognised him and asked if he was not Ibrahim Adham. The king replied in the affirmative.

“Your Majesty, I am your minister,” the hunter then told him. “During your long absence, I have trained your children well in the art of warfare, and now my only wish is that you should return to your throne.” The minister then vowed to continue to serve him devotedly.

On hearing this, the King threw his sewing needle into the fast-flowing river and asked the minister, “Can you get the needle back for me?”

“It is not possible for me to do that, Sir,” the minister replied, “but in barely half an hour I can bring a hundred thousand such needles from the city.”

“No. I am interested in my own needle, and no other.”

The minister expressed his complete helplessness, saying, “The water is very deep, the current is rapid, and it is absolutely impossible for me to recover the needle.”

“Is there any other means of recovering the needle?” the King asked. “Or is there any other man who could get it for me?”

“No Sir, I don’t think so. That needle is lost forever.” The minister replied.

The King then closed his eyes, and lo and behold! A small fish came out of the water, holding the needle in its mouth and placed it at the feet of the King.

“What will I do with your kingdom,” the King said to the minister,” when I have become the servant of that Lord who rules over all the worlds, and under whose command is everything that lives in them? He has made me unlimited, like Himself, and you are suggesting I go back to my former kingdom?”

“I am no longer the person I was before. Like the drop merged in the ocean cannot be retrieved, so too this little self has merged in the ocean of Satchidananda. I have experienced the worlds beyond all imagination. And just as you could not get back that needle for me, so you cannot get back that King you lost. Please go, therefore. Let my sons and your good self do as you like. Keep your kingdom with you and leave me alone. This is the greatest service you can do to me. May God bless you…”

‘Bhaja Govindam’ says:

रथ्या-चर्पट-विरचित-कन्थ: पुण्यापुण्य-विवर्जित-पन्थ: ।
योगी योग नियोजित चित्त: रमते बालोन्मत्तवदेव ॥

A Yogi who has perfected himself revels in bliss like a child, or like an intoxicated one. Outwardly, in abject poverty, but inwardly, he rules like a King, having mastered his mind and the senses. How can such a reveller in the infinite bliss of the Self ever be tempted back into the worldly ways?

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

October 2020

You are ordinary or extraordinary depending on your attitude towards the situations that you face and how you respond to the challenges in life. – Chinmaya

The attitude of the extraordinary is: “The question is not who is going to let me, but who is going to stop me!”

This is the story of the most successful and ‘the most decorated Olympian of all times’ – Michael Phelps. In Olympic history, in any game, in any country, no one ever has won medals like him. He participated in four Olympics and won 28 medals out of which 23 are gold medals!

(Interestingly, in Olympics India also has won 28 medals, but only 9 out of them are gold. And that too in 100 years, in 24 Olympics, in 57 different events, with more than 100 sportspersons participating in each Olympics!!)

Phelps’ life was not devoid of tragedies and challenges.

He was born in 1985 in Baltimore, the U.S., as the youngest of three children. His parents used to quarrel and fight very often, and this had a very negative impact on the tender mind of young Phelps. In 1994, when he was just nine years of age, his parents divorced, and his father left them and remarried later. This shattered the little boy and he often sunk into depression. He was frequently found sitting alone and crying, unable to find love and peace, affection or attention from anyone.

When Phelps was in the sixth grade, he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – a disease which made a child very restless and unable to concentrate on any subject.  

Swimming, which he had learnt at the age of seven, became a great relief and a blessing to distract his mind from inner conflicts and to exhaust his pent-up energies. He would spend hours together in the swimming pool and this was noticed by coach Bob Bowman. He was quick to notice the hidden talent and tireless passion of this little boy. With the full support of his mother, Bowman started coaching him seriously.

The intense frustration of this boy became an effective tool in the hands of the expert coach Bowman. He directed his energies of unbearable frustration towards achieving noble goals. He trained him harder and harder, all the time inspiring him to dream high and achieve big. He kept inspiring him, “Son, you have all the powers in you. You can break all records. Dream as big as you can dream and anything is possible. Just keep trying…”

These elevating words started working magic in the pure heart of that little boy. The world started to witness the unimaginable talents of little Phelps. Even at the age of 10, he started breaking records in his age group and soon was selected for the national team.

In 2001 World Championship, at the age of 15 years, he became the youngest swimmer to break a world record. In 2004 Olympics in Athens, he won six gold and two bronze medals. Phelps, still a teenager, his performance was the second-best ever at a single Olympics after Mark Spitz, who had won seven gold medals in 1972 Summer Olympics.

After the 2004 Olympics at Athens, Phelps decided to achieve the unachievable.  He made a brave bold announcement, “In 2008 Olympics in Beijing, I will break the record made by Spitz. I will win 8 gold medals!”

Even the greatest swimmers considered the record made by Spitz as unbreakable. People made fun of Phelps. “What does he think of himself? Is he God or what!” He was ridiculed. He became a laughing stock.

But with every criticism and ridicule, he remained silent outward, but more determined inward. Ian Thorpe, the great Australian swimming legend, whom Phelps considered his icon and role model, passed a comment, “I don’t think Phelps is going to achieve it.” Thorpe’s comment had a terrific impact on Phelps. It was like petrol being poured into a raging fire. His determination became even more fierce.

We are reminded of Ronaldo, one of the greatest footballers. He told his critics: “Your love makes me strong. Your hate makes me unstoppable!!”

From 2004 till 2008, Phelps began his intense practice. It was self-punishing and torturous. If Mark Spitz had trained for 8 hours every day for four years, Phelps trained every day for 12 hours. Totally cut off from the world, without a break on Sundays or weekdays, birthdays or holidays, he kept on practising.

To quote Swami Vivekananda’s words: “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life. Think of it. Dream of it. Live on it. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of the body reverberate with it. Forget everything else. Then success is sure. All power is within you. You can do anything and everything.”

Phelps did exactly that. Every insult, every word of discouragement showered at him, he wrote it on pieces of paper and stuck it everywhere – on the walls of the bathroom and bedroom, on the wardrobe and on the mirror. These taunting words became the RDX to explode the storehouses of motivation within. Even during those moments of tiredness and exhaustion, he inflamed himself by repeating time and again: “2008 – not 8 medals, but 8 gold medals. Come on. You can. You must… You definitely will…”

The coach Bob Bowman, a strict disciplinarian and a taskmaster, had long back wiped off the term “No” from  Phelps’ mindset. He asked him to practise, with earphones on, with single-pointed focus on his lane – neither left nor right. 

It was then that an unfortunate thing happened in 2007. He incurred a wrist injury – a crack in the bone of the right hand. Doctors warned him, “No practice allowed. Rest is a must to heal. Forget about the Olympics.”

Many voiced their opinion, “Are you mad? You can always try for the next Olympics. Life and health are more important.”

The truth of life is: “If you want something you never had, you have to do something you never did.”

Phelps did something unique. He gave rest to the hands, but meanwhile decided to train only his legs without hands! Thus within a year, his hand recovered, while his legs, trained without the support of hands, became like toughened steel – stronger and swifter! This practice made him almost unbeatable, invincible.

So well said, “While losers find excuses to escape, winners find ways to achieve.”

The 2008 Beijing Olympics started. His fans and foes and the whole world watched with bated breath. “Will he make it?” The events began.  Out of all, the fourth event was a memorable one  – 200-meter butterfly.

The gunshot was heard and he jumped into the pool. An unfortunate thing happened. His goggles cracked. Through the crack, water started leaking into his eyes. The game had already started and now there was no stopping. The gush of water made him literally blind. But thanks to his relentless practice for years, the last 100 meters, though seeing nothing, he swam fiercely, with the guesswork of his past experiences.

And finally after reaching the end-point, when he removed the goggles and saw the scoreboard, he was wonder-struck. He saw-  Phelps= 1.52.03=World Record!

He could not control his tears…

He kept on winning, event after event, gold after gold. None could match his power.

In the seventh event, the 100-meter butterfly, Phelps won by just one-hundredth of a second!

So true: “The law of luck is: The harder you work, the luckier you get.”

And finally, Phelps won the eighth gold medal on Aug 17 in the 4×100 meter medley relay, breaking Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals, which stood since 1972.

Ian Thorpe, Phelps’ role model, who had predicted Phelps can’t do it, was in the gallery watching his performance. After the event, Thorpe came and hugged Phelps and said, “I am so proud of you. Never in my life, I have been so happy to have been proved wrong!”

Phelps broke many world records, and he even made a record of breaking maximum world records………..

Many wonder why they don’t progress spiritually as expected. Let us pause a little while and ponder…

If temporary worldly attainments like Olympics demand such struggle and sacrifice, how much more commitment should we expect from us to attain the permanent spiritual attainment!

But here we are, with faithless seekings and lifeless strivings, with sloppy disciplines and sleepy meditations,  we dream to attain the Infinite and the Immortal!

It is well said:

“Many want it to happen. Some wish it would happen. A rare few make it happen.”

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

September 2020

Nothing in this world, which is but a two minutes’ dream, is worth worrying. – Chinmaya.

Why take life so seriously? It is no more than a mere dream. To illustrate this point there is a famous story of king Janaka.

One night, finishing all his royal commitments and having had his dinner, Janaka went to sleep. Suddenly he was awakened by the guards. “Your Majesty! We have been attacked by the enemy.”

Janaka quickly got up from his bed, wore his armour, took possession of his weapons and came out of his chamber. The army high-command briefed him regarding the grave situation. A quick plan of action was charted out. Escorted by the army officials, Janaka entered the battlefield. A terrible war broke out.

Very many of his soldiers were killed, and he himself was wounded badly. At last, the bloodiest war was over and Janaka was defeated. He was captured alive, chained and dragged in front of the enemy king.  

The conqueror said, “ Janaka! You have a reputation of being a good king. So I shall not kill you. I will take your empire and you are exiled. Leave my kingdom within 24 hours.”

Janaka, now exiled from his own empire, started walking out. All along the way, people, with the doors of their houses shut, peeped through their partly opened windows to get a glimpse of their erstwhile emperor – wounded and humiliated, tired and exhausted. But none dared to offer him food or drink out of the fear of punishment from the new king.

Janaka wondered at the new turn of events, “Destiny is strange! The emperor of yesterday has become a beggar of today. My own people who had honoured and revered me till the other day, now despise me. I can’t get even a glass of water to drink!”

After a long, long walk he managed to cross the border and reach the neighbouring kingdom. Tired and hungry, he frantically searched for food to keep himself alive.

As luck would have it, not far off, he saw a long queue. Prasad was being distributed in a temple after the arati.

With great relief, he also joined the queue. And finally, when his turn came, to his bad luck, everything was over. Even the last bit of food particle was scrapped off from the cauldron.

The man who was distributing prasad, looking at Janaka’s condition, felt pity for him and said, “You seem to me a good person going through bad times. I will not disappoint you. I have kept a little prasad for myself. I will give my share. I hope that is OK with you.” 

Janaka said in a pitiable tone, “Anything is OK for me, just anything. I am dying of hunger and exhaustion!”

The man brought his share, put it in a bowl and handed it over to Janaka. The erstwhile king, with trembling hands, received it in a great hurry. As he was about to eat, a hungry kite, in an attempt to snatch the food, swooped down in a hasty impatience. The bowl in his hand was knocked down to the floor, and the food got scattered all over in dust and mud.

Janaka could take it no more. Weeping and wailing, he collapsed on the ground.

Janaka jumped up from his bed. He looked around. He found himself comfortably seated on his bed in his palatial bed-room. He was sweating profusely and his heart, pounding heavily.

The guard came running. “Sir! You shouted. You need any help?”

Any other person would have said, “Oh! Nothing to worry. Just a nightmare!”, and would have gone back to sleep. But Janaka entered into a deeply pensive mood. To the guard who was awaiting an order, the king asked in a thoughtful tone, “Is that true, or this true?”

The guard was confused, unable to make the head or tail of what was being asked. The matter was immediately reported to the queen, Sunaina. The queen hurried to the king’s chamber. She asked anxiously, “Is everything alright?”

The king, remaining in a serious mood, repeated the question, “Is that true, or this true?”

The queen stared at the king for sometime and murmured, “What has happened to you? Till yesterday you were perfectly normal!”

Word was sent to the royal physician. In no time he rushed in. He took the pulse, and asked the king, “Sir! Everything appears normal and fine. Are you feeling any uneasiness anywhere?”

The king gave a blank look at the physician, and then mumbled, “Is this true, or that true?”

The gossip-media, waiting to munch upon any sensational news, were quick on their feet. The rumour spread like wildfire: “King Janaka has gone crazy!” 

As none could answer the question of Janaka, it was decided to have a discussion in this matter in the assembly of the learned scholars, thinkers and philosophers. All of them were invited, and they, at the opportune moment, assembled in Janaka’s court.   

It was at this time that the great sage Ashtavakra arrived. All the ones assembled there got up in great reverence, as they already had had a first-hand experience of the greatness of this spiritual giant, in their earlier meeting.

(The story of their earlier meeting went thus: Long back, for the first time Ashtavakra entered Janaka’s court to engage in a discussion. He had eight deformations in his body and hence walked in a peculiar way. The entire assembly, looking at his gait, burst into a peal of laughter. Ashtavakra, in response, gave a sweeping look to all, and then thundered out a louder roaring laugher. All became silent wondering why he laughed.

Ashtavakra then said, “O King! You have kept a bunch of cobblers as your advisors. Like cobblers, they see only the shine of the outer skin, not the glory of the inner Self!” The entire assembly hung their heads in shame. Ashtavakra then defeated all in spiritual discussions, and gave them a taste of his deep wisdom and spiritual illumination.)

The sage was duly worshipped and was seated comfortably by the king. After the exchange of pleasantries, the discussion began.

Ashtavakra: “O king! Your question is – is this true or that true.”

Janaka: “Yes Sir, this indeed is the question which is bothering me.”

Ashtavakra: “Now listen. When you were miserable in that (dream world), was this (waking world) existing in that?

Janaka: “No Sir, this was not present then.”

Ashtavakra: “Now when this is, is that existing in this?”

Janaka: “No Sir, that is not existing now.”

Ashtavakra: “When that was, this was not. And when this is, that is not. Hence O king, neither this nor that is true.”

Janaka (confused): “O Guro, does it mean, then, that there is nothing called truth?”

Ashtavakra (smiling): “Don’t jump to conclusions Janaka! Analyse your experience in even greater detail. Now tell me, were you present in that?”

Janaka: “Yes! I was the one who went through all the miseries. The experiencer must be present in every experience.”

Ashtavakra: “Good! Are you present in this?”

Janaka: “Yes. I experience this. Hence I am present in this.”

Ashtavakra: “O king, you have answered your question.  The proof of Reality is abaadhyatvam satyatvam– that which can never be denied in any state, in any period of time alone is true. You were in that. You are in this. In fact, both this and that are in You! You are the very substratum, the very witnessing Consciousness upon which the play of this and that is happening. Without You, neither this nor that could ever be possible. Hence O king, the Reality is neither this nor that. You are the only Reality. Tat Tvam Asi.”       

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T