DEIVATHIN KURAL #161 (Vol #4) Dated 15 Mar 2011

DEIVATHIN KURAL #161 (Vol #4) Dated 15 Mar 2011

(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 the last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. Today we are proceeding from the second para on page number 894 of Vol 4 of the Tamil original. The readers may note that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://Advaitham.blogspot.com updated constantly)
562. We put across all sorts of lame excuses for not trying sit down for meditation even for a few minutes, because we lack in self confidence and also because our faith in the words of our elders is so flimsy! Where there is a will there is a way. If we have the clear intention to annul the untruthful mind of ours and make an effort to realise the Aatma, there is certainly a chance of opening the door to Self Realization.
563. What is the reason for the lack of will power? We are so scatter brained that we do not feel the need to find the way out. If we are stuck in torrential rains or out in the open under scorching sunshine, think of the intensity with which we will be looking for an open gate or door in somebody’s house, will we not? Our immediate need of the moment is to find some opening that we will be knocking on closed doors urging them to open. Like that if we feel the urge to enter the portals of the inner Aatma from the heat of the sunshine or the spattering of incessant rain, we will do so. As we are complacently, foolishly looking for silly pleasures, we are not making the effort, possibly. (KTSV adds: Jesus Christ is said to have advised the masses, “Knock! The doors shalt be opened. Ask! Thou shalt be given!” Does it not sound as though, he was also exhorting the masses to put in some similar effort?)
564. For such people, by pointing out the problems of life and its lack of reality, creating the urge and thirst for knowledge of the truth and for pointing out the way; is the job of organizations like this Kaamakoti Matam. People like me are entrusted with the responsibility to draw your attention to this need. So, I request you all to give it a deep consideration. Is your life now quite happy and free of problems? Though there may be some occasions for some happiness and satisfaction, often does it not happen that we are buffeted by various pulls and pressures? Is it not true that we are never able to say, “I am quite happy without any fear, worry or sorrow!”? Put your hands on your chest and tell me the truth! My statement is true, is it not so? OK. Why is it so? Why are we subjected to so many pulls, pressures and discomfitures?
565. If you think about it, you will see that nobody is able to keep quiet even for a few moments. Either we are doing something or the other or thinking about doing something. Endlessly we go on planning, scheming or doing wishful thinking. All that comes to destroy peace in our lives are originating from these actions of ours. Then when we do have some time to spare, we are on the lookout for entertainment or some vicarious pleasure! At the same time we all know very well that we are happiest when we do not have anything to do. Like two and two makes four, we all know that ‘no work means happiest’!
566. The next question is, “Why do any work?” Think about it! We know that everything that we do is to fulfil some desire of ours. Our actions done out of anger or delusion or infatuation or by any other feeling, on deeper analysis will be known to be based on some desire that would be lurking underneath. May be it is just a desire that we wish others to know that we are very duty conscious! OK, then if you try to see if you can stop doing that work, you will also see that it is next to impossible! Our innate nature is driving us to do something or the other. So, if you want to know what the Saastraas say about this, let me tell you. They say, “Do whatever you have to do but, cut down on doing things to satisfy your desires. Instead of doing things purely for personal selfish gains, let us start doing them for the sake of the society’s welfare. As many types of works are there, they have been nicely apportioned as swadharma. Start doing your duties as per that.
567. Then we will know that the swadharma Karma Anushtaana are meant to enable us to curtain personal desires and not to destroy them completely. They only divert our attention from being selfish. Added to that is the principle of Bhakti. The source of desires is the mind. From the senses if you focus on Easwara, the selfish desires can be controlled. In the beginning since people are predominantly identifying themselves with the gross body, the actions by the body are cleansed and the focus shifts from the gross to the subtle. As you go on making an effort to cut down on personal desires and work for the common benefit of all; to a large extent the pulls and pressures of life ease off and a fair amount of peace and happiness evolves automatically.
568. Even then, if you further think about it, you will find that complete peace and permanent calmness does not result. We will be aware of many complaints and discomfitures. May be we will feel that our efforts are not being properly appreciated. Even in our devotion to God, we will be aware of not experiencing God’s Grace inwardly. God’s real nature is not so clear through devotion. As we will not still know God’s real nature, inwardly we will also not know our own real nature. Because deep in Bhakti, we will still be aware of not really knowing the one who is devoted (that is the Self) and the one who is the target of our devotion (that is the God)!
569. Now when you think of it deeply, to get over our desires is still not the end! For the mind that is deep in devotion, will know of persisting deficiencies, problems and regrets; will also know that finally the mind has to go too. Then only the battle is over and eternal peace attained. At that stage if we sincerely study the books on Gnaana; we will know that it is the Aatma that is Easwara and Jeeva and also seen as the world at large! Instead of the peripheral mind it is the deep inner mind, the cleansed mind that will comprehend the deeper truths of Vedanta. Then, only then, we will be ready to knock on the door, like the man stuck in scorching Sun or the man stranded in floods; we will be looking for some opening. For that to happen from the beginning we have to start with some ‘Aatma Dhyaana’.
570. Aatma cannot be deliberated upon, yes! It is not a matter subject to even Dhyaana or anything else. May be that are we not able to comprehend even a little bit when we hear such things as, “It is unaffected by anything like the deep vast oceans; it is like the wide open expanse of Space; it is the undivided whole, absolute peace”? Do we not feel a thrill and expansiveness in ourselves? Let it be an imagination or delusion. Such a thought may only be a thought. But, it does not hurt anyone. As long as it causes us to keep quiet and gives us peace and lessens our feverishness, it is great indeed. We who are constantly hurting the world by our sense organs and mind; are made to just be without any action; even if only for a few minutes every day; that is Aatma Dhyaanam! If we start off like this, eventually the real will make it known to us by revelation on its own. So, once we become aware that we are stuck up in a never ending struggle, wish and seek peace of mind and body; there will be a mind for it and there will be a way!
571. Being the Maya SwaroopiNi, as all of these so many ‘I, Me and Myself’, having subjected all of us to all these conflicts and pulls and pressures; simultaneously motivating us also towards Aatma Gnaana; that AmbaaL, by her Gnaana Swaroopa may grant us eternal peace, I pray! For this She has to Will it so. For Her the will and the way are the same, which is also the goal! Still, instead of doing everything just by Her will, making us her tools, as though we can make so many efforts with aspirations; She plays Her Leela. So I pray to Her to make us enter the process of undertaking the journey towards Aatma Aananda. In the end, opening the gates of Gnaanam may She grant us the peaceful bliss of Adwaita Aananda. Let us all pray, “gnaana vairaagya siddhyartam bikshaam dehi cha Paarvathi”!
(With that the series of talks on Adwaitam come to an end. Next we will go on to Bhakti that is Devotion.)
Sambhomahadeva.