Shruti Says by Barkha Khandelwal

Bhaj Govindam 

Verse 4

nalinīdalagatajalamatitaralaṃ

tadvajjīvitamatiśayacapalam ।

viddhi vyādhyabhimānagrastaṃ

lokaṃ śokahataṃ ca samastam 

The Fourth verse said to me - Sruti says🌷

Our life/chances of this body being alive are as fragile and uncertain as the existence of a trembling drop of water seated on the leaf of a lotus plant.

Infested with and in the clutch of destiny, disease of the mind/body and ego, the entire world is in the hands of great agony/sorrow.

——————-

आए हैं सो जाएँगे, राज- रंक फकीर ।

एक सिंहासन चढ़ी चले, एक बँधे जात जंजीर ॥(Kabirdasji)

Aaye hain so jayenge,raja rank phakir

Ek sinhasan chadhi chale, ek bandhe jat janjeer

This one truth if internalised, is capable of breaking the hold of maya, freeing us from delusion and connecting us to the higher eternal truth.

This is the only constant in our life, that one day we all have to leave this world and go. No one will live here for eternity. Our existence is as fragile and temporary as a drop of water on the leaves of the lotus, a slight wind, a light tremor or even the rays of the sun can dissolve its existence.

This one truth we negate through out our lives and live as if there will never be an end. The reality is far different, not only, will we have to leave, but the time of our departure though unknown to us, is predetermined.

We all have a fixed number of breaths, time ones gone never comes back, yet the biggest lie that we tell ourselves is that, we have unlimited time at our disposal. A self created illusion which we securely cocoon ourselves in. 

Maya-delusion also does her best to keep us from awakening to the transient nature of reality. The reality is that everything in life is a passing cloud and nothing really matters in the end.

Maya spins a web around the unsuspecting victims. First the victim gets stuck in the sticky webs (Samsar) and then in order to get free (of agony and to get momentary joy), the victim struggle and moves viciously (to fulfil ones desires), only to get more deeply caught (in the cycle of mundane existence). 

Just like, quick sand’s downward pull increases when one struggle to get free, the more one tries to get joy, the more one tries to fulfil ones desire, the more the thirst grows and the more one gets agonised. Mrigh-Trishna - the poor deer keeps chasing the mirage to quench its thirst or chases the smell of Kasturi (Joy) outside, not knowing that it lies within(Anand)

To strengthen her hold on us, Maya makes us feel that we are fully the masters of our own lives, and makes us firmly believe that this unreal, temporary world, is real and eternal. On the contrary, sadly the reigns are always in her hand - the three reigns that she hold are;

• Destiny 
• Disease(Body and Mind)
• Ego

Destiny

Life is but a dream, let the vision cease. But, if you can’t, fill your hours with selfless love and service free. (Vivekanadaji)

If we were to be told that there is no reason to what happens to us and no answers to our questions of why. Just like in our dreams characters and situations arise and subside when we awake. We too are, but, the actors in Gods dreams. Dreams have no reasons - does that not leave little room for justification, clarification and analysis.

But, explanation we seek, as we cannot equate our selves to nothing. Our Ego won’t allow that, would it?

So, the whole concept of Karma comes into play,. I will just keep it simple and say that there are various types of Karma’s - Sanchit karma, Agami Karma and Prarabdha. Prarabdha, simply explained is, as we sow so shall we reap, every action has an equal and opposite reaction (carried forward birth after birth). 

This very trap called Karma, we fill our existence analysing, when good happens we say we deserve it and when bad enfolds, we question, what did I do to deserve it.  

However, the wise, drops karma, by dropping the ‘Karta and Bhokta bhav’, I am neither the doers nor the one who reaps the fruits, he says. When, it is destiny(Lord) that is at play - what has to happen will happen, the way it is supposed to happen;

सुनहु भरत भावी प्रबल बिलखि कहेउ मुनिनाथ।

हानि लाभु जीवनु मरनु जसु अपजसु बिधि हाथ॥(Ramcharitra Manas)

Suno Bharat Bhavi Prabal Bilakh kahe muni nath,

Hani labh jivan maran,yash apyash sb vidhi hath.

But, not many can accept it, and just be. This absence of compete acceptance and surrender, is the cause of extreme grief in the world. 

Note: Dropping Karta and Bhokta Bhav does not make one complacent - the tremendous energies of the universe operate through this person. 

Disease (Body and Mind)

I always wonder, which is more painful, the bodily pain, pain caused by others or the mental trauma we inflict on ourselves. 

In the beginning of Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran, it is said that there are three types of Taap/Agony - Adhyatmika (origin in our own body and mind), Adhibhautika (inflicted by other creatures) and Adhidaivika (having its source in natural calamities).

Most or rather all our agonies/sorrows are just Adhyatmika in nature, inflicted by the self to the self. Nothing and nobody other than us, has the strength to cause sorrow or joy. 

External forces can present a situation, but can not dictate our reaction to it. No matter how painful the bodily disease or how disastrous the external condition, an individual has the capacity to be free from grief and sorrow. 

However, the power of maya forces us to believe that we are the puppets in the hands of Samsara and cause of our happiness and agony are external to us. 

Ego

I am, I am, I am and I am. This is ‘I ‘ the ego. 

Jab mai tau prabhu nahin , 

Aur jub prabhu tau mai nahin.

Till this ego is, there is pain, sorrow and grief and god/self realisation is not possible.

This ego - ‘I’ stands between us and our own true self. That is, the Sat Chit Anand Swaroop. This ego, does not want to accept that God alone is, that the wave is nothing, but the ocean. In the fear to lose its independent identity, it struggles an endless ordeal. If only it knew, that the wave is the ocean. 

If only it knew, Tat Twam Ashi, Aham Brahmasmi, I am that and that is is me. The tremors of the fearful drop sitting on the lotus leaf would stop, as it would know that, whether it becomes one with the water below or is evaported to skies above, it is un-destructible, it always was, it always is and it always will be.

Internalising this, to win this game and get free from the clutches of maya, one has to just stop indulging in it. One has to stop playing the game and be in full acceptance of whatever is meted. 

रात गंवाई सोय के, दिवस गंवाया खाय ।

हीरा जन्म अमोल था, कोड़ी बदले जाय ॥(Kabirdasji)

Raat ganvaai soy ke,divas ganvaaya khay

heera janm aamol tha,kodi badle jay.

One should not waste ones precious Human Birth and sleep to this every changing world and wake up to this one eternal truth - God. 

When is the right time to turn to God?

It is, right now. 

काल करे सो आज कर, आज करे सो अब ।

पल में प्रलय होएगी,बहुर- करेगा कब ॥(Kabirdasji)

Kal kare so aaj kar,aaj kare so aab

Pal main pralay hoyegi, bahuri karega kab

Because,

कल समय मिलेगा, यही सबसे बड़ा भ्रम है।(Osho)

Kal samaye milega, yehi Sabse Bada Bhram hai.

Hari Om 🙏

Geeta Chapter 1 Arjun Vishad Yoga Verses 34 and 35

Session on Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran Book 9 - In order to understand Ram Avatar, we went on to understand Vibhisan Gita

Vibhishan Gita written by Tulsidasji in Ramcharitramans Lanka kand

Bhaj Govindam 

Scenario:

It is very essential to remember who this is being addressed to. Shankracharyaji is addressing the seekers/Sadhak, who are on the path of Self-Realisation/God-Realisation. (I chose to believe we all are journeying towards the self.)

As we all know Sanatan Dharma says that Human Birth is very precious and it can help us cross the ocean of mundane existence, free us from the cycle of birth and death. 

To be able to make this leap, the Vedas say - Manur Bhav - Manusya tu Manusya Banja. Simply put, ‘it is a journey between Human being and being Human’.

The words used in Bhaj Govindam are not sugar quoted and again they mean exactly what they say, hard hitting as they might be, it is best to take them the way they are intended by the Great Guru.

Verse 3

naariistanabhara naabhiidesham

drishhtvaa maagaamohaavesham

etanmaamsaavasaadi vikaaram

manasi vichintaya vaaram vaaram

The third verse said to me - Sruti says🌷

Oh fool, stop lusting over her body, this is the cause of all delusion-Maya.

Beyond the covering of a thin layer of skin, it is nothing but flesh and filth.

—————

Just like Love and Attachment are not interchangeable. So too, Lust and Love are not the same. Attachment and lust are selfish, meant to satisfy sensual desires, where as Love is divine, pure and selfless, it just is.

At a superficial level, it is telling us that one should not be compulsively attracted to the opposite gender. Shristi has been created and it needs to be sustained. Agreed, but an act of procreation has been made recreational, which is being condemned here.

Sadhak, even if he is a Grihasth has to be vary of being swayed to the pleasure of the sense and be in discipline and decorum. Two people come together in life not for Bhog, but for yog. Most of our greatest Sages have been Grihastas. It was never felt that path of salvation was unattainable by a Grihasta. 

At a deeper level, it is indicating that one should change ones vision and see everyone as the divine and not as a body. Deha-buddhi is that which causes, such misplaced emotions. When we see each other as the supreme energy, deep respect is born.

However, it is easier said than done. It is true that the strongest weapon of maya are Kancan and Kamini - Wealth(verse2) and Lust(verse 3). To get over the desire for both is a herculean task. In the next verse, the solution to overcome the pull is also given. 

Darkness can be overcome by light. So too, true knowledge of this perishable body, a piece of flesh and filth, which is not kept a minute after the underly energy departs, is not worth lusting for.

Our shastras never emphasis on suppression, they emphasis on reasoning and sublimation.

Suppression - Fighting the negative head on. 

Sublimation - Focusing on the truth and divine, letting the vice thin automatically. 

To explain further in Swami Shivandji's words :

"Suppression of urge is not eradication. You can never be free of that which is suppressed. The suppressed desire will attack you again and again and will produce irritability and restlessness of mind. It will again manifest with redoubled force when a suitable opportunity arises, when the will becomes weak.

The mind should be rendered pure by meditation, Japa, Kirtan and prayer. If the mind is filled with sublime divine thoughts by meditation, Japa, prayer and study of holy scriptures, the desire will be devitalised or de-energised by the withdrawal of the mind. The mind also will be thinned."

To conclude would put forth a quote by Viveknandaji and a clipping by Kirit Bhaiji, which echo what Shankrachaya ji is saying;

“The same Law is applied to the married or the single. If one wastes the most potent force (Ojas Shakti) of one’s being, one can not become spiritual." 

Hari Om🙏

Geeta Chapter 1 Arjun Vishad Yoga Verses 34 and 35

Session on Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran Book 9 - In order to understand Ram Avatar, we went on to understand Vibhisan Gita

Vibhishan Gita written by Tulsidasji in Ramcharitramans Lanka kand

Bhaj Govindam 

Verse 2 

Mudha jahihi dhanagama trshna

Kuru sadhbuddhim manasivi trshnam I

Yallabhase nijakarmopattam

Vittam tena vinodaya chittam I

The second verse said to me - Sruti says🌷

Oh fool, move beyond the flood of desire for wealth and become desire-less.

Rejoice in whatever comes your way (Good or Bad) as the fruit of Karma.

——————

Would like to work backward on this verse. Will start from the second sentence and move to the first. 

1. In Ramcharitra Manas, it is written;

Sunahu bharat bhavi prabal bilakhi kaheu muninath,

hani labhu jivanu maranu jasu apajasu bidhi hath I

With a heavy heart, Muni tell Bharat, that the power of destiny is immense.

Lose, gain, life, death, fame and defame are all in the hands of destiny. 

2) Honi hokar rehti taale nahin talti..

Whatever has to happen will happen, no one can avoid or stop it.

3) Awaken, life is but a dream, let the vision cease.

If you can’t, devote your life to selfless love and service free.

Here, even the concept of destiny or the divine will have been refuted. To say, it is all a dream.

———————

1 and 2 talk about the Karma Philosophy: 

We have taken multiple births, in various lokas and donned various bodies, appearing in various species. In every birth, where we consider ourselves as the ‘Doers- Karta and Bhokta’, there are consequences. Based on that, we get our next birth, and all that surrounds us in terms of people, things, situations etc. 

To put it simply, what we get is the cumulative sub total of our Karma. This karma philosophy is also very complicated. With each Marg having its own explanation, which we are not getting into here.

To put it simply, ‘As we sow so shall we reap’.

So, Shankrachayaji, says with joy and glee embrace all that comes your way. You are getting what you deserve nothing less and nothing more. It is all as per your doing-karma. So, why complain when we have less and why rejoice when we have more. 

If we take what he is indicating a little further, we will understand that he is saying, that you are not the Doer, when you consider yourself the doer, that is when, Karma comes in play. The one who is desperate to find a reason for what is happening to him/her, is in a state of ‘Ego - I am’, hence, for my existence and happening in my life there is a reason.

Therefore, the 3 rd point says that all is nothing but a dream. Think - How much control do we have on our dream. We are a part of God’s dream. The one who has understood, that I am not, there is no reason, there is no Karma, it just is. Is able to be in a state of Anand no matter what. 

For, he does not run after reasons and justifications. He accepts all as the divine play, a divine Leela. When life becomes a directed play, the character does not lament or rejoice. That which is not real, does not upheaval ones emotions.

‘Upar wala paasa faike neeche chalte daav,

Kabhi dhup tau kabhi chav.’

Lord roles the dice and accordingly the moves happen,

sometimes there is sunshine, sometimes shade.’

There is no reason, move beyond Karma and be in glee. The world will see you as eccentric, but, you enjoy the show.

This understanding, helps one become desire-less, dispassionate, a Vairagi. 

Hence, he says, when this Saad Buddhi, the truth, the right knowledge, the realisation dawns, all desires take leave. 

For, it is only a Fool, who unaware of this play, desires for wealth. The fool, chases wealth and spends all his life amassing it and later protecting it.

The awakened, knows, that wealth is also part of the whole drama, if the script demands for it to come, it will, if it meant to stay it will, if it is meant go it will. 

What has to happen will happen.

Just be.

Hari Om 🙏

Geeta Chapter 1 Arjun Vishad Yoga Verses 33

Session on Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran Book 9 - In order to understand Ram Avatar, we went on to understand Vibhisan Gita

Vibhishan Gita written by Tulsidasji in Ramcharitramans Lanka kand

BhajGovindam🙏

Scenario:

There are two scenarios that need to be kept in mind while analysing and internalising the verses.

• This was said to the Scholar, Pandit who was memorising the Sanskrit grammar rules.
• Later, the flow of emotion was so strong that, it flowed like a gush to his students, who continued the compositions. 

Verse 1

Bhajagovindaṁ bhajagovindaṁ govindaṁ bhajamūḍhamate | 

samprāpte sannihite kāle nahi nahi rakśati ḍukṛñkaraṇe |

The first verse said to me - Sruti Says,🌷

The three words that really stir my heart are;

• Moodh: Fool 
• Bhaj: Rever
• Govind: God 

Oh Fool have reverence for the God who is the controller of all and dissolve in him. 

‘Have love for God, have love for God,

Just love the Lord, Oh Fool.

At the time of your death,

These Sanskrit grammar rules will not help.’

The evident plight of Guru Shankaracharya, when he looked at the learned scholars, Sadhu, saints, sages, tapasvis, yogis etc is expressed in this verse. All of them apt, accurate and proficient at what they were chanting and practicing, but missed out on very essence, devotion to God. 

So, shallow was their pursuit and so, ruthlessly rigid their path, that nothing, but mundane futility was conveyed by the tedious torturous exercise. They failed to experience the divine themselves, and repelled other from him.

Little did they understood that only what comes from the heart goes to the heart. The lord is a romantic experience, seldom visible in words. Till one experiences, internalises and surrenders completely, no matter how articulate the words of the scholar, they will be mere hollow disturbing noises.

Very often, we see such people flood the shores of spirituality, Sanatan Dharm, emptying it of the very essence which is devotion. Their empty endeavours make what should have been a divine inner experience, a race of outer perfection. 

In their attempt to repeat superficially the scriptures verbatim, they forget, the scriptures are, but, a result of the divine awakening.

Sankaracharyaji is telling us that while reading these sacred expression of divine bliss, don’t get stuck on the words, one should take an effortless dip in the ocean of love, where through these words, the rendezvous of the author with God can be felt.

Time and again, the same message has been echoed to deaf ear of our so called Scholar - The self proclaimed custodians of Sanatan Dharm.

Am enclosing few more expression of the same message that was conveyed by Guru Shankaracharya; 

• As Kabir Baba’s bleeding heart also said, “Potha pad pad jaag muah pandit bhaya na koi, Dhai aakhar prem ke pade so pandit hoye”

• The Bhajan Yam Niyam sayam (Attached), and

• Verse from Ram Charitramas in uttarakhand (attached)

Immerse and experience the oneness, for after that, there is no death.

Hari Om 🙏