Shraddhavan – Further Reading
Shraddhavan – Further Reading
Shraddhavan labhate jnanam, tatparah samytendriyah
Jnanam labdhva param shantim achirena adhigachchhati
FURTHER READING:
Shraddhavan labhate jnanam tatparah
If you have dedication and perseverance and deep interest, you will accomplish it ( attain wisdom).
Jnananam labdhva paraam shantim….
When a man comes into the sphere of the true knowledge, his total outlook changes and he sees life a new vantage point. He looks out upon the noisy panorama of confusion and troubles, but keeps a serene harmony within himself. The irritations that once visited him daily, become mellowed and are themselves caught and held by a higher force.
A person with a steadfast faith and sincere yearning and who has also mastered his senses will obtain wisdom. Having got wisdom, he soon enjoys mental peace.
Faith is very important for sadhana and lack of earnestness is lack of faith. Many devotees have realized their goal in life because of their firm faith.
A person who maintains unruffled balance in heat and cold, honour and disgrace has attained Prashanti. Prashanti means absence of Kama, Krodha, Lobha(greed), Moha and Dvesha(hatred). Genuine shanti is free from fear, suspicion, anxiety and doubt, when we identify all happenings as expressions of the one Divine will, we are in Prashanti. Shanti is a constant state of inner tranquility. The man of shanti radiates peace all around and also shares his blessedness with everyone he comes across.
The mind runs over the happiness or misery and translates or exaggerates the response and makes you feel elated or dejected. Control the mind and you remain unruffled. That is the secret of shanti. To gain this equanimity, you have to do sadhana in a systematic way. Then you can be happy under all circumstances.
Train the mind to restrict itself to good company, good thoughts and good deeds. Practice dhyana on any form of the Lord and repeat with the awareness of the sweetness any name of the Lord. That will teach the mind to be selective and produce good music out of the joys as well as the griefs that are incidental in life.
For the child’s understanding:
How do we go about attaining jnana and the supreme peace?
By purifying our minds. Our senses, eyes, ears and tongue take in impressions very fast and take these to the mind. Now if these impressions are good and clean, i.e., if we use our eyes to see only that which is good and clean, our ears not to hear gossip or scandal and our tongue to talk gentle, sweet and encouraging words, then our mind attains purity in thought. Thoughts are the basis of all speech and action.
Similarly, we should use the karmendriyas such as hands, feet and speech for the benefit service to all. In this way, we quickly acquire Enlightenment. Life then becomes clean righteous and meaningful. Then follows joy and peace.
To light a lamp, a container, wick, oil and fire are necessary and most essentially there should be someone to light it. Similarly, to light the lamp of wisdom in an individual, he should possess the container of earnestness, perseverance, determination (tatparah), the oil of faith (shraddha) and wick of sense control (sanyatendriyah). The Guru then kindles the flame of jnana.
What is shraddha – faith?:
Faith is that quality which can stand the ridicule of the ignorant , the laughter of the low minded. Faith in the words of the Guru and faith in the sacred scriptures lead the earnest seeker through concentration and discipline to the highest goal. Faith and love for the Guru can work wonders and miracles.
Shraddha is steady yearning , a longing of the drop for the ocean. If enlightenment should be quick – a burning zeal must be there.</p.
STORY:
1. Sri Ramakrishna’s Gospel:
“When will I have the vision of God ?” asked an ardent devotee of the master.
Instead of giving a direct answer, he took the novice to the seashore and held him immersed in water for a while. He was then asked how he felt ?” I thought, I would die for want of air to breathe” came the answer. Such a quest of God, with such an intense urge, would reveal Him immediately was the answer given by the master.
2. Kabir and the King of Bokhara (Complete surrender to the Guru)
Ibrahim Adham, the king of Bokhara was very fond of the spiritual way of life. He always sought the company of sages and saints. However, he lived in such luxury that he slept on a bed with a mound of flowers laid on it all the time.
One day as he heard a sound on the palace roof, he got up and saw that there were two men on the roof.
“What are you doing here ?” he asked them sharply.
“What are you doing here ?” he asked them sharply.
“Sir, we are camel drivers and we are searching for our lost camels”, they replied. Amazed at their stupidity, the King said scornfully,” How could you ever expect to find camels on the top of the palace?”
“In the same way, that you are trying to realize God in your bed of flowers” was the reply.
This shocked the King and completely changed his way of life . He abandoned his throne and started his search for a Sadguru. He then heard of Kabir Sahib- the weaver saint. He went to Kabir and asked him if he could stay with him. But , Kabir said that he was too poor and a weaver with nothing in common with a king. But the king begged and pleaded, saying that he could give him the riches King had in plenty.
At last Kabir agreed but did so on one condition that the King would live and work like them. So the king worked like a common servant, cleaning the loom, washing the yarn and the thread. Six years passed by and the king worked without a murmur throughout these years.
One day Mai Loi entreated Kabir Sahib saying, “The king has now been with us for a long years – he has been eating what we offered him and has been doing what we have ordered him to do, without uttering a word of complaint. He appears to be highly deserving.”
“As far as I can see, the King’s mind is not yet crystal clear”, said Kabir.
Kabir replied, “The best way to prove it, is to do what I ask to do, and thereafter come and tell me what you heard from his mouth. Please go on to the top of the roof and as the King comes into the street, throw the entire sweepings of the house upon his head.
Mai Loi did as she was asked and as the sweepings fell on the lead if the king of Bokkara, he looked up and sighed, “If only this was Bokhara, you could not have dared to do this for me.”
Mai Loi returned to Kabir and repeated this. He said,”Din’t I tell you that the king was not yet fully deserving of the great gift of the name.”
Now another 6 years passed by and the king still worked as hard as ever. One day, Kabir Sahib said to his wife “ The vessel is now completely ready to receive the Nectar”. Mai Loi said, he has ever been dutiful and willing and never does he complain even if there is no food for him in the house.
I do not find any difference between his condition now and six years ago.
Kabir said to her, “If you want to see the difference once again throw the refuse and rubbish of the house on the King’s head”.
The next day when the King was passing the house, she did exactly as she was asked On receiving this gift on his head the King said,” May you , the doer of this, live long. This mind is still full of ego and self. It had to be treated this way.”
Again Mai Loi repeated the King’s words to her husband. This time Kabir told her,” The king now deserves the great treasure of ‘Vision of the Divine’.”
Then Kabir told the King,” Your devotion has been complete. You may return to your Kingdom.”
The king went back, but not as a king . He now ruled the kingdom as a servant of God. He now belongs to the court of the Lord.
3. The story of Narada:
Narada was the son of a servant maid in his previous birth. Fortunately, for him he got the good company (satsang) of many rishis who were camping near his house for many months. He used to hear their discoveries with faith and concentration.
He also got the chance to serve them. Because of such good company, he became so devoted to the Lord. After his mother’s death, he entered the forest and started mediating. After severe penance he got just a glimpse of the jyoti and he was told that in his next birth he would be born as Narada, the great rishi and devotee. Thus with his dedication and faith, he became the great devotee, Narada.