Guest guest Posted May 12, 2005 Report Share Posted May 12, 2005 Sai Ram Light and Love Swami teaches.... (11 - 12 May 2005) Vedhapursha Jnaana Yajna Leads to Sadguru Human being is now able to soar into outer space and reach up to the Moon; Earth and sky are hisplaygrounds. But, though he is intelligent enough to sail through space and under the sea andshoot bombs across continents, he is not moral enough to live at peace with his neighbour. Human being slaughters own brethren and sisters, steals, plots full conspiracies, revels in lies and breaks the law,and destroys peace in own heart and in society. Everywhere there is the dark cloud of anxiety, fear, discontent and agony, disturbing the rich as well as the poor nations of the world. In this condition, typical to Kali Yuga, we have Dharma, in plenty, in books and perhaps, even in the words we speak. But, without the strength derived from dedication and faith, and from purity of character and conduct, Dharma is powerless to earn the Grace of God. That is the situation in which we are today.But, there is no reason to lose heart. When the ignorance that has enveloped it is removed, Dharma willagain shine forth and sustain the world. The Vedhapurusha Jnaana Yajna is one of the means to make Dharma shine. (About Vedhapurusha Jnaana Yajna was also briefly mentioned in previous serials 'Swami teaches...'). The Vedhapursha Jnaana Yajna is the sum and substance of all five types of Yajnas, and elaborate paraphrase of the rite. The sages of India laid down that all activity has to be done as a yajna, as offerings for the glory of God, in an atmosphere of thankfulness and awe, of humility and holiness. The goal of all activity was idealised as the happiness and peace of all living beings. The foundation for real peace is, according to the Vedhas, the quality of Maithree, which means amicability, friendship, compassion, kindness. It can also be taken to mean, "my three," that is to say, my word, deed and thought shall be in accordance with thy word, thought and deed. That is to say, we shall speak, think and act together, without friction or faction, in the atmosphere of love and understanding. By Vedhas immortality is achieved not by adventurous deeds, not by brilliant progeny, not by vast treasures, but, only by the practice of renunciation and sharing. Below is a brief description five types of Yajnas that have been prescribed for human being, to make an aspirant approximate to God. For these, there is no need to have intermediary priests, or costly materials, or elaborate ceremonies. Every householder can perform these and achieve the fruits. 1. Dheva Yajna (Yajna for the Gods). This means that one dedicates all thoughts, words and deeds for the glorification of God. 2. Pithru Yajna (Yajna for the manes) : The offering of food or consecrated water in the name ofthe deceased father, grandfather, great grandfather, and of the mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother. There are those who laugh, ridiculing this rite, saying that such offerings cannotreach them. But, the manthras uttered during the offerings reveal that these deceased ancestorsare addressed as identifiable with Gods and the rite is highly sublimated. This is the way to express gratitude to the persons who brought us into this world. 3. Brahma Yajna (Yajan for the sages and spiritual lore): This is to be performed by the study ofthe scriptures, the Shaasthras or other sacred texts, which arouse tile craving for liberation. 4. Manushya Yajna (Yajna for mankind): This is done by means of hospitality to guests, therelief of sickness, pain and poverty. 5. Bhuutha Yajna (Yajna for living beings): This entails kindness to animals, especiallydomestic animals that yield milk and slave for us in the field as draught animals. It includes pets,cats and dogs, sheep and all things that creep and crawl, including even ants. The heaping ofgrains over anthills in order to feed them is done as an expiation for the destruction of such antsas might have taken shelter in the fuel that we burn. The Rig Vedha is the Vedha full of prayers to God for the realisation of the aims of life; the Yajur Vedha describes the ceremonial and ritual aspects of worship; the Sama Vedha extols the Gods through song and poetry; the Atharva Vedha gives the secret formulae for preserving health and security of body and community. Each individual is born with the question "Koham" on its lips. "Who am I" is the question which presses on every breast. And the answer is given by every breath - Soham (He am I), the inhalation whispering 'So' and the exhalation, 'Ham'. But, the question is brushed aside by the mind, impatient to dabble in the toyland it pictures the world to be; the answer is denied admission into the understanding, by the ego, which derives temporary pleasure thereby. Realise that your breath is answering the question correctly and live in the consciousness that you are a wave of the He, that is, the Infinite (Cosmic) Consciousness, that is God. The five-element human's body equipped with five senses has as its life-breath the five-letteredformula, enshrined in the Namaka section of the Yajur Veda "Namah Si-vaa-ya". It is a basicmantra which means "that which can save, when meditated upon." Every mantra has a seedsound(bijaakshara) which precedes it and provides it with additional potency. Sound emanatedfirst through the will of God. So the bijaakshara is fundamental for the mantra and its efficacy.The bijaakshara for the fivelettered Namah Sivaya is the Vedic sound, 'Om'. 'Sivaaya' in the mantra means 'to Siva'. Siva is the five-element-lord and so He has all the power and wealth the five can yield to human who is too a composite of the five. This mantra confers good fortune, wealth, prosperity and happiness. Pandits have commented on this formula and explained it in various ways. But, the formula contains a more universal and abstract concept. It has to be pronounced always with 'Om'. There are potent mantras that can transform personality and bring Grace to the aspirant. 'Om' (AUM, the Pranava) is one such. Raama is another mantra, having the same numerological vibrations: A equalling 0, U equalling 2 and M equalling 5, so that AUM is 7, whereas R is 2, A is 0 and M is 5, so that Raama too is 7, a very seminal number, with the important spiritual tonalities. Human has the potency to elevate him/herself to Ananda. Only one has to get rid of the obstacles that deny this experience. The I-sense, the ego, constructs the world it is after. It shatters the One into many and takes pride in deceiving itself. When 'I' is eliminated, Ananda is experienced fully. One becomes truly and genuinely One's Self when this 'I' does not intrude. 'I' sets one apart and establishes Dwaita (Duality). No 'I' brings together and establishes Unity, One-without-a-second, A-dwaitha (Non-dualism). 'I' sense arises, persists and disappears. The One-without-a-second is A-Kshara, it is symbolised by 'Om', the Pranava, the ever-alive. The Guru who is ever in this consciousness is the embodiment of Brahma-Bliss, since he is merged in the Ananda which Brahman is. It is not imported or acquired or attained. It is inherent in every heart. The world, the cosmos, every particle, is Ananda itself but being ever in it, with it, of it and forit, human is unable to be It, on account of the darkness that misleads and deludes. The Guru grants the highest joy. What exactly constitutes this joy? Is it physical well-being? Mental poise? Intellectual alertness? Sharpness of the senses? No. The rishis declare that words return crestfallen after attempting to describe that state. Even the mind with its fast-moving wings of imagination cannot reach that state. The highest joy has its source and spring in the Atma, the spark of the Cosmic Splendour, Awareness. The person who is ever aware of the Atma within and in all is therefore the Sadguru. Below are several essential qualities, attributes and expressions concern to Sadguru. 1. Embodiment of Wisdom - Jnaana Murthim: What is meant by Jnaana? "Advaitha Darsanam Jnanam": the awareness of the One, without a second, is Jnanam (the supreme wisdom). And the Sadguru is the embodiment of that wisdom, having unbroken experience of the One. Those who are commonly known as gurus are signposts. But the Jnaanamurthi is with you right through, beside you and before you, smoothing the path until the journey ends in him. 2. Dvandvaathitham: The Sadguru is unaffected by the inevitable dualities of life: joy and grief,profit and loss, ridicule and respect. 3. Gaganasadrsam: Untouched by happenings and incidents but forming the perennial base, likethe sky enveloping the nature. 4. Thath-thwam-asyaadi-Lakshyam: The living exponent and experiencer of the four crucialaxioms of the Vedic thought--That-thwam-asi (That Thou Art), Ayam Atma Brahma (The Self isverily Brahman), Aham Brahmaasmi (I am Brahman) and Prajnaanam Brahma (Consciousnessis Brahman). 5. Ekam: The One; though apparently passing through varied experiences and even no experiencewhile awake or dreaming and in deep sleep, The One is unaffected and remains as One - the guruis firmly established in the One. 6. Nithyam: Eternal, untouched by time, the Sadguru is eternally pure, aware, serene. 7. Vimalam: Faultless, nothing can tarnish its purity. The Guru has no desire or sense of want. Heis perfect. 8. The Eternal Witness, Achalam: The Sadguru, which is another name meant for God, knows no change in his primal perfection, whatever form he may assume. The Achalam is the unmoving screen. 9. Sarvadhee: All-pervasive, all-activating intelligence. 10. Saakshi Bhutham: That which has become the witness of everything, everywhere, like the sunwhich activates but is only witness of the activity. 12. Bhaavaatheetham: He is beyond all urges, emotions, feelings and thoughts. 13. Trigunarahitham: Not bound by the three modes of qualities that divide living beings intocategories - the serene mode, the active mode and the dull. When bound, you are human, whenyou are free from entanglements and limiting characterisations, you are divine. 14. Sadgurum: The worthy Guru. 15. Tham: To Him 16. Namaami: I offer my reverential homage. Beyond all limitations of time and place the Guru is pure chaithanya, Is-ness; his consciousness is all pervasive. Who is a genuine Guru? The Guru who deserves homage must possess these attributes. This is only another way of saying that God alone can be the guide, the path and the goal. The genuine Guru must have overcome Maya and the ego; he must be free from desire and need. The verse which speaks of Guru as Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara is quoted often. But, the One has not broken into three, one part in charge of creation, another who fosters and maintains and the third who dissolves and destroys. The Pranava mantra 'Om' (AUM) is symbol of the One. Brahma is A, Vishnu is U and Shiva is M and all three are indivisibly united in 'Om'. The problem this verse poses is whether Guru is God or God is Guru. The answer is - God is Guru, the ever-present, ever compassionate, the Witness who resides in the heart. Human is consumed by time; God is the master of time. So, take refuge in God. Let God be yourGuru, your path, your Lord. Adore Him, obey His commands, offer Him your grateful homage, hold Him fast in your memory. This is the easiest way to realise Him as your own reality. This is the one and only way.God alone is the Sadguru. You may say that you will not believe in God unless you have clear experience personally about Him. You take many things on trust; it is impossible to insist on personal experience for everything which we have to believe, if life has to run smooth. Take this also on trust for, many sages, saints, scientists, have accepted it and experienced it. (Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 10. "Light, love, joy," Chapter 22 and "My three," Chapter 29; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol.18. "God is the only Sadguru," Chapter 14 and "Significance of Ganesa worship," Chapter 21). Namaste - Reet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.