BHAJA GOVINDAM = TREAT ALL EQUALLY = SEE YOUR SELF IN ALL = POST 12 Vs 24,25

THE ESSENTIAL

DOs AND DON’TS OF LIFE

BHAJA GOVINDAM

 by

Sri Adi Sankaracharya

 (POST.12. Vs 24,25)

VERSE 24

(Attributed to Medhaatithira)

THVAYI MAYI CHAANYATHRAIKO VISHNUH

VYARTHAM KUPYASI MAYYASAHISHNUH

BHAVA SAMACHITTHAH SARVATHRA THVAM

VANCHHASYASHIRAADHYADHI VISHNUTHVAM

 (... Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam, Govindam…)

Meaning:

in you; in me; and, in all other places (too),

there is but one All pervading Reality; the Vishnu (or the Brahman);

unnecessarily, you are being impatient and getting angry, with me;

become equal-minded, everywhere,  and in all circumstances;

you, if you want, very soon, can attain the Vishnu-Status.

Commentary:

Brahman is (i) eternal (ii) all pervading (chaitanyam) and (iii) supreme Aananda or joy

If Brahman is all pervading - he is in me; he is in you and he is every where.

In fact, he is – me, you and everything; and everywhere. This is the all-pervading reality of Brahman.

Maya also is a product of Brahman. Maya veils our wisdom and creates ignorance in us. In ignorance, we are unable to recognize the Brahman in ‘us’, as ‘us’.

You are unable to see your self as Brahman; nor can you see me as Brahman. The Maya’s veil is so powerful. The Drama of the world – called Mithya prapancham goes on under this veil.

Under Maya – you fight with me; I fight with you. But, when the veil of Maya is removed, when we see the Brahman (or Vishnu) in all – where is the question of treating one as superior and another as inferior; where is the question of loving one and fighting another?

We look at all beings as the same representation of Brahman.

The last line is very significant.

If you want.. you too can attain the Vishnu status itself and very quickly too..

Adi Sankara and his disciples are never tired of using all terms like Vishnu, Eswara, Maheswara, Brahma, Govinda etc to denote the one and the same Brahman. When Brahman is one and you too are Brahman – where is the distinction?

Unfortunately, the veil of Maya is so powerful that – 1200 years after Adi Sankara, many people are still fighting each other, saying, my God is better than yours; my God is the only God.. and so on.

Going back to the earlier sentence : If you want.. you too can attain the Vishnu status itself and very quickly too..

How to attain the status of Vishnu?

Be equal minded in respect of every one; and in all circumstances. Whether the other person is good or bad, friend or foe, generous or greedy; angry or peaceful – this must not sway or unsettle your equal mindedness. you must keep it at all circumstances. This leads you towards Vishnuthvam, or Vishnu status.

You must want ardently to attain this Vishnuthvam. You must want it very seriously and very sincerely.  Then, your equal mindedness leads you to the Vishnu status (or Brahman status).

In puranas, Maya is also called – Vishnu Maya – not as Siva Maya or Brahma Maya. The reason is Brahma’s work strops with creation. Siva’s work is dissolution. The work of sthithi or maintaining the universe is in the hands of Vishnu – and that is when, Maya is in full play. Therefore, it is usual to refer to it as Vishnu Maya. If you remove the veil of Maya and see all as Vishnu at all times and circumstances – you have attained Vishnuthvam.

Let’s make a start. Let us improve daily. The goal will come nearer, as we move towards it.

VERSE 25

(By Medhaatithira)

SATHRAU MITHRE PUTHRE BANDHAU

MAA KURU YATHNAM VIGRAHASANDHAU 

SARVASMINNAPI PASYAATHMAANAM

SARVATHROTHSRIJA BHEDAAJNYANAM

 

(... Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam, Govindam…)

Meaning:

Ø against an enemy, against a friend, against a son, or, against a relative,

Ø never, make efforts for either fighting, or, for making friends,

Ø in everything and everywhere, see, the Self,

Ø everywhere, lift away (cast out), the sense of differences born out of ignorance.

Commentary:

See yourself everywhere! 

This - is almost a continuation of earlier verse.

Don’t make efforts to fight an enemy, the verse says.

Why so? Because, there is no enemy!! There also - is only you.

Don’t make any special efforts to make friendships.

Why so? Because, there is no friend out there. There also – is only you.

There are bound to be differences among people. None of us are made the same way. Our differences are based on Naama, roopa, guna, desa, kaala and other differences.

These are external. At the root of every Individual, there is however, the same Atman. There is only the same Brahman.

To start with - try to sink all your hate, all of your anger against an enemy. Pray for him. This is all to neutralize your enmity towards him. This leads to a state in which your enmity is gone. But, no special friendship has developed.

Next, equate him with a friend – and try to see both of them equally.

This is called Pratipaksha bhavana. Placing the opposite feeling – to neutralize the feeling we want to conquer. The goal however is – to come out of the LOVE-HATE duality completely. We hate none. We love none. Not that we are indifferent to all.

No. This is not the goal. We want to see our own SELF in all of them.

When we wash our hands, do we feel any special love towards one hand to the exclusion of the other? Suppose, a leg is bruised, do we feel less love for it and more for the healthy leg? Whatever we do to our own body parts – we do, with equal concern and seek all of their health and welfare. We have no special friendship with one limb and no special enmity towards another limb. We see our self in all the limbs.

Similarly, we must see our self in all people.

We must cast out all differences between people and our relationship with them. All these gradations and differences are born out of ignorance, out of looking only at the physicality of the person, not his inner core. The inner core every where is Brahman.

We have seen in some of the earlier Posts on Maya – 3 stories on Maya, how Maya creates and nurtures differences in us leading to all sorrows (or Samsaara) and how the lifting of the veil of Maya makes us, see the reality of the oneness of Brahman everywhere.

It is for this reason – that Pancha Maha Yajnas are prescribed in India.

Help the Devas (Angels or universal Powers); Help the Sages; Help the dead and alive ancestors; Help the humans; Help all other beings (animals, birds etc); Do the help selflessly – not for some selfish ends.

These are the Pancha maha Yajnas. These 5 Yajnas are to be performed daily. Not one today, tomorrow another and so on. We can’t claim, helping human beings is helping god. No. You must do all the five Yajnas daily. Every SELFLESS, HELPFUL deed is called a YAJNA.

The Pancha Maha Yajnas are prescribed precisely – to create the feeling of equality for all these five categories of beings, and to enable us to see the self in all of them.

These are external enemies and friends. What of the inner friends and enemies? Let us see in the next verse (next post).

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BHAJA GOVINDAM = HOW DOES A YOGI BEHAVE ? = WHICH IS THE ESSENTIAL ENQUIRY? = POST 11 Vs.22,23

THE ESSENTIAL

DOs AND DON’TS OF LIFE

BHAJA GOVINDAM

 by

Sri Adi Sankaracharya

 (POST.11)

VERSE 22

(By Nityanatha)

RATHYAACHARPATA VIRACHITAKANTHAH

PUNYAAPUNYA VIVARJITAPANTHAH 

YOGEE YOGANIYOJITACHITTHO

RAMATHE BAALONMATThAVADEVA

 

(... Bhaja Govindaj, Bhaja Govindam,Govindam…)

Meaning:

Ø He who wears the cloth (shawl) made up of rags of cloth rejected by others and thrown on the road;

Ø One who treads the path that is beyond merit and demerit,

Ø the Yogi (sage), whose mind is totally immersed in Yoga (or union),

Ø enjoys (or lives) like a child (or), like  a madman.

Commentary:

Yoga – means union. What is this union?

Union with one’s own self. This union with Self really is Yoga.

I am the Brahman. Aham Brahma asmi. This realization has happened to the yogi. His union with his self has taken place.

Brahman is Sath – Chith – Aananda; It is the eternal truth; the all pervading Chaitanyam, the supreme joy; This state of Brahman is realized by the Yogi within himself and as himself.

One who is in such supreme joy, what does he want more than that and what for? In this state, all his needs have evaporated. He has no further needs; His Joy is ever lasting and the highest. It cannot be disturbed by any incident or event.

Even small rags of cloth gathered from the roads, he gathers and wears only for not embarrassing others. Not for himself.

Whatever he does – there is no Karthrithva bhavana (sense of being the doer) in him. Therefore, his deeds are beyond  punyam and papam, which lead to punarjanma or re-birth.

For the rest of this mundane world, his actions look child-like or like that of a mad man.

For example, if we give him money or diamonds, he may throw them into a dustbin. He may sleep under a tree in the dust, in preference to a luxurious bed. All his actions are beyond  mundane logic. 

But, he is the one with the highest wisdom.

Do we not hear of great yogis like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sri Ramana Maharishi, Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, etc, behaving in such odd fashion?

They never cared for amassing any thing. Ramana lived a beggar’s life with a joy, unknown to some of his wealthy disciples. So did the other yogis like Sai baba. Place him in a king’s palace. He may sleep under the cot. They are like that – child like. They may look like mad men from our view point. They are yogis known to us.

But, there are so many great Yogis – in such rags and on the streets; who are totally unknown to us. Differentiating a yogi from an ordinary beggar requires careful watching.

VERSE 23

(By Surendra)

KASTHVAM KO’HAM KUTHA AAYAATHAH 

KAA ME JANANEE KO ME THAATHAH 

ITHI PARIBHAVAYA SARVAMASAARAM

VISWAM THYAKTHVAA SWAPNAVICHAARAM

(... Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam, Govindam..)

Meaning:

Ø Who are you?

Ø Who am I?

Ø from where, did I come?

Ø who is my mother? who is my Father?

Ø thus, enquire, all  and every thing;

Ø leaving aside the entire world of experience,

Ø which is essence-less and a mere dreamland born of imagination.

Commentary :

Who are You? Who am I?

Know thy self!

This is the most important question posed and answered in elaborate detail, in the Upanishads. This is the greatest science there is.

The physical bodies are a product of the Pancha bhoothas, space, vayu, agni, water, and earth. The physical bodies come from them and go back to them. They are constantly undergoing changes.

They are not you. They are not me. The physical bodies do not also represent our father or mother. But, these bodies are part of  the world of experience. They are within the field of the five senses.

This physical world is an essence-less world and the physical bodies are a part of this world of experience.

They are not the reality. Their own cause is beyond the sense experience and is the reality.

The essence is the reality but is beyond ordinary experience. The essence is – ‘I’. This essence is “YOU”. We need to explore the self; the essence.

Unfortunately – this ESSENTIAL enquiry is getting identified with religion  by people who do not go into this question at all.

These people want to prostrate before a God whom they don’t know. Paradoxically, they don’t even know themselves and are not even interested in knowing themselves.

He who does not know himself – how can he know a higher being – like, the God?

What greater science can be there – than the one which explores the self and finds the self?

This enquiry has nothing to do with religion. Upanishads have nothing to do with ordinary religion.

They are the highest science available to humanity. The whole focus of this blog also is on this central question. Explore your self. Find your self. In that exploration only, we have seen Atma Bodha, Nirvana Shatkam and Maneesha panchakam. Bhaja Govindam is only a continuation of the same exploration.

The present verse also –is pointing out that the world of experience is merely and experience of our imagination; it is much like a dream only. It is therefore asking us and urging us to explore our own self and find the self. Explore your self; Explore your self.

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BHAJA GOVINDAM = CYCLE OF "BIRTH - LIFE - DEATH - BIRTH AGAIN " = SEA OF SORROWS = RAY OF HOPE = POST 10. VS.21

THE ESSENTIAL

DOs AND DON’TS OF LIFE

BHAJA GOVINDAM

 by

Sri Adi Sankaracharya

 (POST.10)

VERSE 21

(By Nityanaatha)

PUNARAPI JANANAM PUNARAPI MARANAM

PUNARAPI JANANEE JATARE SAYANAM 

IHA SAMSAARE BAHUDUSTAARE 

KRIPAYAA(A)PAARE PAAHI MURARE

 

(... Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam..Govindam…)

Meaning:

Ø once again, birth;

Ø once again, death;

Ø once again, lying in the mother's womb,  

Ø in this Samsaara, which is very hard to cross over and which has no end,

Ø through thy Infinite Kindness, save us, O Destroyer of the demon Mura.

Commentary:

In verse.20, it was said, pray the Lord Murari and you shall have no need for quarrelsome arguments with the Lord of death, Yama.

In Verse,21, we are doing precisely that.

The cycle of “birth – life – death – birth (again)” is called Samsaara, and it is a veritable sea of sorrows.

It is  very difficult to get out of this sea of sorrows.

Why so?

Karma, both good and bad, is inherent in this cycle. Karma leads to Karma phalam and Karma phalam leads us to further karma.

Attachment to the body – mind complex is inevitable in this cycle.

Attachment to worldly things, worldly matters, and worldly people is unavoidable in this cycle.

All this throws us again and again into this “birth – life – death” cycle.

But, all these are Mithya and Maya – which we get entangled with and which veils our eyes from the truth.

There is only one hope.

Our permanent relation is only with Murari, the destroyer of demon Mura, or symbolically, the demon of our Ego, and surrender to him is the only way to come out of this cycle.

We are therefore praying – O lord, the destroyer of my ego, save me from this sea of sorrows called Samsaara.

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BHAJA GOVINDAM = GITA,GANGA & GOVINDA = WHAT IS SO SPECIAL OF THEM? = HOW DO THEY DESTROY OUR FEARS? = POST 9 (Vs.20)

THE ESSENTIAL

DOs AND DON’TS OF LIFE

BHAJA GOVINDAM

 by

Sri Adi Sankaracharya

 (POST.9)

VERSE 20

(By Dhridhabhakta)

BHAGAVADGEETA KINCHIDADHEETAA

GANGAA JALA LAVA KANIKAA PEETAA

SAKRIDAPI YENA MURARISAMARCHAA

KRIYATE TASYA YAMENA NA CHARCHA

(.. Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam, Govindam…)

Meaning:

Ø To the one who has studied the Bhagavad Geeta even a little;

Ø To the one who has sipped at least a drop of Ganga water;

Ø To the one who has worshipped lord Vishnu at least once;

Ø to him, there will never be an occasion for quarrelsome argument with Yama, the Lord of Death.

Commentary:

This verse is highly symbolic.

Bhagavad Gita is the repository of both secular and spiritual knowledge. It is the highest knowledge available on earth, of the most intelligent way of living for human beings , which can easily turn us into the wisest men.

It starts with ‘Arjuna Vishadha Yoga’(1^st chapter of Gita) – which portrays, not only Arjuna’s problems, but also, all of our problems. While Arjuna was relating his problems, lord Krishna was just listening. He did not speak; he did not offer solace; he did not offer advice;

The first sloka is a classic in itself :

Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya : “What are my people(Kauravas) and Pandavas doing in Kurukshetra?”

This is the only sentence Dhritarashtra speaks in the whole of  Bhagavad Gita.

All problems of the world emanate from this one distinction we all make ; my people; and they.

‘They’ are ‘not my people’.

When some people are ‘my people’, even if they are very bad people; and when some other people are ‘not my people’ even if they are very good people, we become the root cause of  the problems of the world.

Dhritarashtra is no doubt blind by birth.

But, his real blindness is – his unwillingness to see and correct the ‘bad’ in ‘my people’ coupled with his unwillingness to see and accept the ‘good’ in the ‘other people’

This is the universal ‘dhritarashtra blindness’ disease. We are all afflicted with this highly contagious disease.

Crimes are committed; wars are fought; people become extremely unhappy – only because of this one reason.

Then starts the other disease – Arjuna’s sorrow. He is not sorrowful that the war is taking place. He is not unwilling to kill millions of soldiers. He is not unwilling to kill other great warriors. But, he is totally unwilling to make war with ‘his people’ who are now on the opposite side.

His grand father, Bhishma, his teachers Drona, Kripa and others are unfortunately on the side of Kauravas – due to some compelling historical reasons. These four, five people on the other side – make Arjuna extremely sorrowful.

Same problem again. My people vs other people. I can kill all others. But, how can I kill these ‘ my people’?

Lord Krishna lets Arjuna ventilate all his sorrow.

Only when Arjuna says – ‘I am your disciple. Because of sorrow, my intelligence is destroyed. Please teach me what I should do.’, Lord Krishna really starts teaching him the Gita.

This is also the traditional method of every spiritual Guru. Only when you are ready, only when you go to the Guru and surrender to him, he comes forward and then the teaching starts. Then the absorption starts. But, first, you must be absolutely ready to surrender to the Guru.

From the first sentence to the last sentence of Gita – it deals with the essential, day to day human problems, why they arise, why we suffer from them, and what are the different types of solutions suitable to different types of persons.

It is not that Jnana Yoga is suitable for all. No. Karma Yoga is more suitable for some. Bhakthi yoga is preferable for some. Gita teaches us the essential classification of Gunas, and classification of people based on Gunas, classification of the visible and invisible universe,  renunciation (Sanyasa), meditation, knowledge of the world and knowledge of the beyond, knowledge of the perishable and imperishable and so many other critical areas of wisdom.

A person who has studied Gita methodically – becomes a repository of both worldly wisdom and spiritual wisdom. Mere reading of Gita or its recitation is not what is meant here. A thorough study, of even one sloka per day, is a great way of making the day useful to you.

It is for this reason that  - the present verse of bhaja govindam says – study at least a little, of the Bhagavad gita;

The second prescription in the verse is – sip at least a drop of Ganga water.

What is so great about Ganga water?

Gita has come from Krishna’s wisdom.

Ganga has flown down to earth from Siva’s head. It acquired extraordinary purity when it was bound in the head of Lord Siva and was released from there. That is the reason to consider Ganga as the most sacred river. A drop of water going into you takes Siva’s wisdom and purity into you, along with it.

All rivers, even if born in Himalayas do not have that sanctity or purity. Ganga water is considered both sacred and pure.

The third task is – worship lord Vishnu at least once. Why so? Lord Vishnu is the sthithi karaka, the one who protects you. Brahma’s task is to create – which is over. You are already born. Siva’s task is to dissolve. That is long away. In the mean time, you are subject to birth and death and every time, the lord of death, Yama visits you, it is painful and fearful for you. The biggest fear for all is the fear of death.

Who can take away the fear of death? The one who protects you; Muraari, the lord Vishnu, who destroys the rakshasas. Mura – is also representative of the EGO in us. Surrender to Lord Vishnu takes away our Ego.  Where the Ego was, there, Lord Vishnu resides now - in us.

Worship Lord Vishnu at least once  - and, may you combine your thought, word, deed and emotion all, in your worship of Muraari.

Then, can the lord of death, Yama ever frighten you? No.

You don’t have to have any argument with him. When he comes to take you, he will look at you with the greatest respect – you, the one who has studied the Gita, drank into you Lord Siva’s purity with Ganga’s water, and worshipped Lord Vishnu, the protector.

Yama will take you with the best of honours and best of care. Wherever he takes you, he will take care of you very well. You don’t need to be afraid of him.

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BHAJA GOVINDAM = SIMPLEST PRESCRIPTION = BE JOYFUL TO BE IN BRAHMAN = BE IN BRAHMAN TO BE JOYFUL = POST 8 VERSE 19

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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