Deivathin Kural Series - 8

Deivathin Kural 8 dt 15 June 2006.
Om Namah Sivaya.
1. To continue from where we left off, in the previous e-mail, it is a fact that, to make the mind thoughtless, like an inert piece of wood, self analysis / meditation / Yoga are the only ways. Then why am I talking about devotion, instead of these methods ? Adi Sankara says, that to be without a worry, or care or any onus of having to do some thing; is Moksham, while, Bhakthi or devotion is an activity of the mind. Then why am I telling you to resort to devotion ? Adi Sankara says in one place that, the best method for Moksham is devotion. But immediately in the next sentence, he gives a new definition of devotion. He says, "To analyse one’s self, and to be steeped in such endevour is devotion." So the devotion he talks about is the same as Yoga, or Atma Vichara.
2. Despite Adi Sankara’s this definition of Devotion, which is contrary to popular understanding; he himself laid emphasis on the importance of rituals in connection with, Chandra Mouleeswara Puja and such activities, amongst his followers. Despite keeping Nirgunopasana, ( or deep immersion in the formless attribute of God), as the Ideal, he himself established Sagunopasana and was acclaimed as, ‘Shanmada Sthapagar’. These last two words of Shanmada Sthapagar, is for the fact that, he re-established, the wholesome ritualistic worship of, Vinayaga, Siva, Parvathi, Surya, Vishnu and Shanmuga, known respectively as, Gaanapathyam, Saivam, Shaktam, Sauryam, Vaishnavam and Kaumaram. He went around the length and breadth of India, on foot, to many temples, from Kanyakumari to Kashmere, and composed songs of high literary and devotional value. So it is clear that He fully approved of devotion in the commonly accepted mode.
3. However, in to-day’s world, especially amongst the so called elites / educated class, Yoga and Meditation, are the in thing. Devotion, Puja, rituals, going to Temples and such activities are looked down upon. All such activities are called blind beliefs and devotion is sentimental.
4. But let us pause for a moment to see as to why, Adi Sankara, who was deeply rooted in Atma Gnana, also approved of or rather strongly encouraged, devotion and ritual procedures? He approved of all daily, periodic and seasonal, procedures, duties, fasts and so on, for devotion. Why ? Let us try and answer these questions.
5. We are deeply involved in worldly affairs. Our minds are all the time relentlessly running after endless pursuits. Let us say that we sit down with the decision, that we are going to meditate for some time.
Not even Meditate. We just decide to go blank, not thinking about anything for a few minutes, like when taking a short break in between hectic activity. What happens ? Within no time, we find that, our minds have duped us and run away in more directions than one. We try in vain to be thoughtless. Our attatchments, hatereds, sorrows, fears, joys,apprehensions, desires, doubts and so on; continuously keep buffeting us from all sides. Followed by endless plans to do this, do that and so on; add infinitum; add nauseum. However much one seriously and sicerely tell oneself to go blank, to deeply submerge in the Self, we are not able to do that.
What is the reason for this incapacity to control our mind ?
6. The reason why we are not able to control this mind of ours, is our past actions, or 'Poorva Karma'. So in the next e-mail let us look at Karma.
Sambhomahadeva.