DEIVATHIN KURAL # 87 (Vol # 3) Dated 14 May 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 87 (Vol # 3) Dated 14 May 2009
(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from page 384 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too, mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham. blogspot. com constantly updated.)

110. This 'sreshtan', that is, the superlative human being who is a Gnaani as well as a Bhakta, has to come down to the level of the common man and show by example as to how the common man is supposed to lead his life! Though for the Gnaani, it is an unwanted come down, he does become easier to emulate. The common man is already at the lowest rung of the human beings. He may descend to further lower levels of existence, only if he does not follow the Karma as given in the Saastra-s. Once he starts doing the aachaara-s as given in the Saastraa-s, he has already got on to the first step on the ladder for climbing up from where he is.

111. So, though these Aachaara-s at the initial stages give only mundane returns, they are fulfilling an important purpose of keeping the senses from going astray, on the one hand and successively cleansing his mind on the other. The 'sreshtan' who is above all this need for a return from the Karma-s, has to observe these aachaara-s sincerely without any attachments. Seeing him, the common man wishing to emulate, finds it easy to follow suit. He may find it difficult to copy actions such as Dhyaana and Atma Vichara! He has neither the time nor the aptitude, as yet for such things. As he matures he may do that also! But since the returns of other aachaara-s are more apparent, he will find it easy to emulate despite the efforts involved. So, as he does these Karma-s, there is the apparent worldly gains ('Drushta Phala') and the not so very apparent gains of cleansing of the mind and slow erosion of desire for them and attachments (Adrushta Phala'). Thus the gains indirectly include some returns for the society such as the individual's discipline, the family's being taken care of and awakening of interest in the society's wellbeing! This is the 'nish kaamya karma'. The route for that is through 'kaamya karma'!
112. The 'sreshtan' who is at a higher level, for motivating the common man, has to show the way by doing 'nish kaamya karma' without attachments. Even if this 'sreshtan' does not point out the direction, people will always keep doing something or the other, wanting this or that. They do not stop from such activities even for a moment. "..na hi kaschit kchanamapi jaatu tishtat akarmakrit..." Because, Nature that is the Maya tying them up in the knots of 'satva-rajo-tamo guna-s' causes them to endless actions. "...kaaryate hyavasa: karma: sarva prakrutijair gunai:...", says Bhagawat Gita [3.5.].

113. So, even when this Vidvaan or Sreshtan are not there to act as a role model and demonstrate exemplary behaviour; the average mass of people are likely to keep on doing something or the other for the sake of their own satisfaction. This energy is being canalized through the disciplined modes as approved by the Saastraa-s. Though the 'kaamya Karma' that is , the satisfaction of desires is the objective, the means of doing so, instead of being left to individual whims and fancies, is made to follow the path as approved by the Saastraa-s. There by the means of doing so is up-graded in value.

114. Though the action is aimed towards satisfaction of desires, it is moderated by the dictates of the Saastraa-s. "Get up at 4 AM in the morning. Take a cold water bath. Let the food be not too spicy or non-veg. So many restrictions on food and drinking habits. Restrictions on dress, behaviour, language and so on!" Such control is not likely to be there when you are free wheeling! When control is lost, indiscipline and dirt increases. The same when done with discipline increases peace and cleanliness. When you act as per your whims and fancies, pride and conceit increases. There is no place for reverence and devotion there. The actions as per the Saastraa-s, makes you understand that the 'Phala Dhaata' is not a random chance but, God Himself. That slowly but surely inculcates a sense of gratitude towards that God! He does not need our gratitude. We need to develop such attitude to grow in to maturity ourselves!

115. Sugar Coated Pills. The way the individual being is cajoled into better behaviour and disciplined attitude, is like using sugar coated pills being given to cure our illness. The gains of 'kaamya phala' are the sweet sugar coated pills. The child does not know that too much sugar is not good for his health. Similarly majority of the individuals are not aware that they are likely to fall by the way side, due to their over indulgence. The Rishis the path finders of the Saastraa-s, out of their infinite love of the common man, wish to correct him without violently turning him about. Their message is that, 'this is activities approved by the Saastraa-s by doing which you can gain all your desired results. But, going for desired results means that you have to face many hazards. As you get the desired results through controlled disciplined actions, the aim is to get over the urge. The child does not know initially that the sweet pill has medicine inside. Later he gets over the need for satisfying the urges as well as the need for the medicines!

116. Another factor. Though here Lord Sri Krishna has spoken about 'Kaamya Karma', as you start doing the activities as given in the Saastraa-s, there are also some 'Nish Kaamya Karma-s' too. For example, there is Sandya Vandanam, required do be done thrice a day. It does not say as to what is the effect for doing it. But, it is very well emphasized that not doing Sandya Vandanam is sinful. Fearing this people are under compulsion to do this daily ritual. As you do many things for apparent gains, you are compelled to do certain things out of fear of the demerits. (It is interesting to note however that Sandya Vandanam contains a beautiful collection of ideas, concepts and mantras, from all over the Veda-s. Actually doing this one Nitya Karma, even without knowing the meaning, is enough to take you across the 'Bhava Saagaraa', as it contains the 'Ashtanga Yoga' of 'Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi'. More than anything else, it contains the japa of Gayatri Mantra. Elsewhere, Kanchi Sankaracharya, the Periyaval has said that, for a person initiated in to Gayatri Japa, no other Mantra is ever required! If doing Sandya Vandanam without understanding a word of it is good enough, doing it with understanding the meaning of each and every word, is immensely beneficial to the individual, the family and the society!)

117. High Pinnacles of Excellence of the Past & Abysmal Nadir Reached Now. What some of the reformers recommend now is that, no body including the common man need to do any of the traditional Aachaara-s as given in the Saastraa-s. They should all be treated at par with a Gnaani and be discussing the finer subtle points of 'Tattva Vichara'! What the Saastraa-s and Bhagwan Sri Krishna say is the exact opposite that, the Gnaani too at par with all, should be doing the Karma as required in the Saastraa-s! Both are talking of equality, from totally different view points!

118. Who is correct, the reformists / neo-swamiji-s or Saastraa-s / Bhagwan Sri Krishna? For an answer all that we have to do is to look at recent history and compare it with the state of affairs as obtaining these days! We will talk about this in the next edition of the Deivathin Kural!

(To be continued.)

Sambhomahadeva.