THE ESSENTIAL
DOs AND DON’TS OF LIFE
BHAJA GOVINDAM
by
Sri Adi Sankaracharya
(POST.8)
Verse 19
(By Anandagiri)
YOGARATHO VAA BHOGARATHO VAA
SANGARATHO VAA SANGAVIHEENAH
YASYA BRAHMANI RAMATHE CHITTHAM
NANDATTI NANDATHI NANDATHYEVA
(... Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam, Govindam..)
Meaning:
Ø let some one revel in Yoga,
Ø let some one revel in Bhoga,
Ø let some one seek enjoyment in company,
Ø let some one revel in solitude away from the crowd,
Ø but, the one in whom, the mind revels in Brahman, ,
Ø he enjoys, he enjoys, only he enjoys.
Commentary:
For sheer beauty and completeness of message, there are two verses in Bhaja Govindam which stand out and attract readers a lot.
One is – Sathsangathve nissangathvam…
This gives the simplest and most effective starting point for a life full of joy, which leads us very easily and effortlessly to liberation, to jeevan mukthi, even when we are alive in this physical body.
It says – your task is very simple; seek the company of the good and the truthful..follow them.. rest of the steps follow automatically and take you to liberation and joy! This is by far, the simplest, yet, extraordinary message. This moment (and every moment), all that you need to do is – seek out and keep good company. That is all there is, to life, and, spirituality.
The next is the present verse – yoga rathova..bhoga rathova...
It tells us - you will enjoy life, you only will enjoy life..all that you need to do is - let your mind revel in Brahman.
There is a circularity in the relationship between Brahman and joy. If your mind is reveling in Brahman, you (automatically) enjoy, you will enjoy and you only enjoy.
But then, if you are extremely joyful at this moment, you are automatically in Brahman. If you are in Brahman, you are joyful; if you are joyful, you are in Brahman. Because, Brahman is equal to joy which is equal to Brahman. Each is the definition of the other.
As simple as that. So, how to be in Brahman? Keep joyful.
Sri Pramarthananda gives a beautiful definition of liberation. He says – liberation is simply - total, absolute fearlessness.
I like this definition. It is a simple message; And, it shows the path very clearly.
Cast aside all of your fears. This is the simplest way – to attain liberation.
Are you in some problem. Let it be. But, leave aside the fear. Your vision clears immediately.
If you get into an illness, let it be. Leave aside the fear.
If you lose a limb. Let it be. Leave aside the fear.
If you lose your spouse or child, let it be. Leave aside the fear.
If you lose money, wealth, property etc – let it be. Leave aside the fear;
If you are to die, let it be. Leave aside the fear.
You are liberated. You are instantly joyful.
How to be joyful? Leave aside your fears. You are joyful; and you are instantly reveling in Brahman.
With this one prescription, let us look at the sloka again.
You may be reveling in yoga, or, in bhoga, in company or in solitude – if you are reveling in your mind in Brahman, you will enjoy; you only will enjoy.
So, externalities do not matter; they can be any thing; yoga, bhoga, company or solitude.
Cast aside all fears. Your fearless mind automatically becomes joyful…and automatically revels in Brahman. And, at the root of this process is – the simplest first step – seek the company of the good and the truthful. Your fears will dissolve. Your joys will return. You will attain Brahman.
But, why do you, I and everybody want to be joyful at all?
Because – we want to return to our natural state!! Which is, being joyful.
It is very natural for every one, to want to return to their natural state!!
You are aananda…brahma.. you are joy your self… So you want to return to that state.. fears are acquired in the middle..fears come out of possessions, relations, attachments…become non-attached.. only in your mind…see how you enjoy all these without any fears…see how all these things turn out to be much more useful and joy giving..
in reality.. the joy is coming from within you… the fears are coming from outside..stop the fears outside.. you are joy your self..
==aham – sath, chith, aananda para brahma
(I am the eternal, supreme consciousness, joyful Brahman)
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