Deivathin Kural Series - 96

Om Namah Sivaya.


Deivathin Kural # 96 of 08 Nov 2006.

1. These e-mails are translations of talks given by the erstwhile Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over more than sixty years, published by Vanady Padippagam, T.Nagar, Chennai, India, in ten volumes, in the Tamil language. On line version of this book in Tamil is available at 'www.kamakoti.org'. The english version is likely to be available very soon. These e-mails are simply an effort on the part of the sender, to share some of his bliss, as it is said, 'Yam perra peru peruga ivvaiyagam'. When he adds any personal observations he uses the phrase, 'KTSV adds'.
2. To-days lecture, titled, 'Sadangugal' ie., 'Religious Functions', in pages 455 to 457, in Volume 1 of Deivathin Kural, as part of a series of lectures under the Heading, 'Karma Margam', or 'The Path of Action', from pages 436 to 466. Unless specifically mentioned, he or man includes, she or woman.
3. I talk of 'Karma Anushtanangal', ie., the observance of various religious functions, daily and periodically and on special occassions. A doubt arises as to what is the need for such functions, since 'Atma Anubhavam', ie., self realization, is an inner happening. How can these rituals be of any use, is their question.
4. Yes. It is true that, once you have had a glimpse of your inner, real self, there is no need for any functions or rituals anymore. But if we sincerely test ourselves, as to whether we have even a trace of what is the 'inner true being', we will know as to how farther away, we are. Having taken many lives, having accumulated a whole lot of good and bad karma effects, all those smells are deeply imbedded in our memory, ready to be recalled. We also know who we are! But that Gnana is covered under debris. By doing good, we have to off set, the past karmas, remove the debris and salvage our true identity! Till all the Negatives are cancelled-out by the Positives, till 'nil balance', is achieved, we remain under 'Agnana'. Till then we need these functions and rituals and should consider them as essential, inescapable, unavoidable, necessities!
5. So for the common man, all these drills of actions are important. Other than taking us forward on the inner journey, they have the important usefulness of keeping us on the rails, so to say. Some apparent fringe benefits can be identified. When you do things, in a certain order, we learn to focus our attention, on the matter at hand. Attention to one to the exclusion of others, teaches us concentration and conservation of efforts.
Through, Do's and don'ts, in keeping fasts, in dress, in the way a ritual is conducted, we learn discipline. We learn to deny or at least delay, self gratification. We learn hard work and will-power individually, and organizational capabilities collectively. By subjugating our will to the common goals, we learn humbleness and humility.
6. So by strictly observing and adhering to what is considered as, 'only a sadangu', we get, concentration, discipline, will power, humility and morality. Without these things, to say that I am doing, 'Atma Vichara', or that I am on the process of self-realization, can only prove to be a boastful statement.
7. Buddha did not lay down elaborate rituals. Neither did he approve of Vedic procedures. But He did lay a lot of stress on behavioural discipline.
What Jawaharlal Nehru called 'Panch Sheel', is very important for the Buddhists. Prior to Adi Sankara, there was a sect known as, 'Poorva Meemamsakars'. They used to advocate that we are not to bother about God. Simply doing the Karmas would be enough, as per their belief. But Sanatana Dharma goes more systematically and logically, through Action or Karmas of daily and periodic rituals; through them attainment of 'seelam' of control of the mind and discipline; with that develop devotion to God; then arrive at Atma Gnanam, in that order.
8. If you keep a cow in your house, you can get milk. But there will also be much need for keeping the place clean. Similarly, if we take care of the Cow of Karma rituals, we get the milk of Seelam, but we will also run the risk of feeding our own 'Ego'. This has to be carefully guarded against.
9. For true Self-Realization through Yoga of Atma Gnanam, there is no need for any rituals. So also we do not need any Pooja or devotional activities. But can we jump to the end stage at the very beginning? At the initial stages we do need all the help we can muster. We need God as an exemplary, ideal, repository of all good qualities. We think of God as the natural whole-some-ness of all that we cherish and admire, such as, Beauty, Power, Knowledge, Capability, Mercy, Compassion and Grace, with no chance of any derogatory qualities. With the passage of time, thinking the loveable qualities of our beloved God, our own negative qualities get dissolved; and we become what we cherish and adore.
10. In conclusion, let me emphasise, these rituals have an important role to play in our life. They take us to Gnana Yoga, through Karma Yoga. Through simple procedures, they lead us to the highest levels of understanding of existance.
Sambhomahadeva.