2010 New Year

Philosophy

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The protector

Philosophy

The Real Jagadguru

Lecture by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj given on 14th Jan 2007

The word Jagadguru is made of two Sanskrit words ‘Jagad’ (Universe) and ‘Guru’ (Guide). Hence Jagadguru means the Guru of the entire world.

Jagadguru title is conferred in two ways. One is eternal while the other is conferred by great scholars. The second kind of Jagadguru title conferred by contemporary scholars is not an eternal Vedic title depicted anywhere in the Vedas. In the age of Kaliyug, this tradition of honoring Jagadgurus began some 2500 years back with Jagadguru Shankaracharya, who was recognized as the descension of Lord Shiva.

In Kaliyug there was a lot of hypocrisy and misunderstanding in the name of religion. Many imposters, who knew nothing about what the scriptures said, who were not even acquainted with the names of Ved - Shastra, didn’t know how many of each there were, came to be seated on positions of high spiritual prestige. These conmen started duping innocent people by initiating them with a mantra in their ears and making them their disciple. People became more and more confused. When this issue became a big menace in the society, great scholars of those times, decided that they would select and honor one saint with topmost scriptural knowledge, who was endowed with true divine love as a JAGADGURU. The holder of this title being empowered with authentic knowledge and being the possessor of divine love, would provide guidance to all honest seekers of God and put an end to the religious hypocrisy and confusion prevalent in the society. All spiritual aspirants could confidently go to such a Guru, seek spiritual guidance, understand and learn true philosophy and the meaning of the Vedas and progress on their path to God realization.

Since Jagadguru Shankaracharya, four other saints have been honored as Jagadgurus in this Kaliyug. As per the Vedas there was, there is and there will Only be One Jagadguru - Shri Krishna. “Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum”. I am going to shed some light on that Jagadguru Shri Krishna. We are all devotees of Shri Krishna. There does not exist a living being who is not a Devotee of Shri Krishna. It may sound strange, but the fact is that all of us, Foolish or Genius, Believer or Non-Believer, Human Being or Animal, want Happiness alone. We all want to get rid of hostility, confrontation, greed and attachments that trouble us incessantly. We want to get rid of all unhappiness and want to attain Pure Bliss. Jagadguru Shri Krishn is another name of this pure unadulterated Infinite Bliss.

There are 3 eternal entities. Bhokta (The enjoyer - Individual Soul), Bhogya (Object of sensual-enjoyment-Maya), Prerak (The Governor of both, who is God). God is the controller of Jeev and Maya. Jeev is a part of God. Jeev and God have several relationships with each other such as that of father, mother and brother. We, the individual souls, are ignorant and as a result unhappy. He is All Knowing and Ever Blissful.

The Vedas say “God is Happiness”. By knowing Him alone, our ignorance and unhappiness will go away. By attaining Him, we will attain Happiness. So we need to know Him.

How will we know Him? Through the Vedas!

But the Vedas proclaim “No-one can know God”. Why? Because He cannot be experienced by the Senses! The Mind and Intellect cannot comprehend Him. So how will one know Him?

The Mind and Intellect perform their functions by the power granted by God. Then how can they understand the source of their own power. Beyond the senses are the objects of the senses. Beyond the objects of the senses is the Mind, beyond the Mind is the Intellect. Beyond the Intellect is the Soul. Beyond the soul, is God! The Mind and Intellect being material are incapable of even comprehending the Soul, what then can be said about comprehending God. Clearly, God is beyond the comprehension of the Mind and the Intellect. The creator Brahma says, nobody can know Him. Shri Krishn stated in the Gita ‘No-one is able to understand me and reach me because of my Material Energy - Maya'.

त्रिभिर्गुणमयैर्भावैरेभिः सर्वमिदं जगत्। मोहितं नाभिजानाति मामेभ्यः परमव्ययम्॥
गीता 7.13

“All living beings are governed by the 3 modes of Maya. And I am beyond the three modes of Maya. Hence nobody can know Me”. Disappointed we again go to the Vedas, Shvetashvtropnishat says,

धातुः प्रसादात्। देवप्रसादाच्च ॥
श्वेता.

"One whom He graces attains Him”.

यमेवैष वृणुते तेन लभ्यस्तस्यैष आत्मा विवृणुते तनूं स्वाम्‌ ।
कठो.

Now the question arises - How do we attain His Grace? His Grace depends on complete surrender of the mind. To learn how to surrender we have to adopt one of three paths i.e. Karma (Path of Good Deeds) Gyan (Path of Knowledge) and Bhakti (Path of Devotion). Why? Because we are part of Sat Chit Anand Brahm. Nature of Sat is Karm, Chit is Gyan and Anand is Bhakti. So there are 3 paths. Also, we have 3 natures (swabhav). So there is a path for people with each of those three natures.

Let us first understand the path of Karm / Karm Dharm.

In Vedas, there is a classification of all human beings by Varna (caste) and 4 stages of life (Brahmacharya-bachelor, Grihastha-householder, Vanprasth-hermit, Sanyas-renunciate). The actions, performed by one, according to his caste and as per the stage in life are called Dharma or Varnashram Dharma.

Yamraj once said, the definition of Dharm is very complicated. The celestial Gods-Devata, Great sages- Rishi, Muni also do not the true meaning of Dharma.

षड्भिः संपद्यते धर्मस्तेऽति दुर्लभतराः कलौ

To follow Dharm, one has to perform Vedic sacrifices and Yagya. There are 6 rules for performing a Yagya- the place, time, doer, process, musical notes, and material of yagya. All have to be 100% proper. With the slightest mistake in any one of these, one is banished to hell. If one can do it 100% correctly, all the time, then one qualifies to go to heaven, which is a place of temporary material gratification. All mental diseases such as anger, passion, greed, jealousy etc exist there too. For this reason, the Vedas consider the path of Karma as the path of Foolish ones, for despite doing such hard labor in practicing the path of Karm Dharm, the net result is Heaven, which ultimately results in miseries and sufferings.

The second path is that of Gyan or Knowledge. Not everyone is qualified to walk the path of Gyan. To be able to pursue this path, one has to have complete control over the mind and senses. It is possible to somehow control the Senses, but controlling the Mind is next to impossible. One, who is not qualified to follow the path of knowledge, cannot tread on this path. And if after many lifetimes with all the intense practice one does attain success, then too, one has to surrender to God.

Attainment of knowledge without devotion is sheer ignorance. Love is directly proportional to the value of any object. If you know that this piece of diamond is worth a million then you love it worth a million. If you find out it is not a diamond then love ends.

So the last and only resort for God realization is Bhakti. God has stated in the Vedas. When you develop the same feelings of love and devotion towards your Guru as you have towards me, then I will grace you and you will attain My knowledge. It is then, that Maya will leave you and you will get all that you desire for.

यस्य देवे परा भक्तिर्यथा देवे तथा गुरौ। तस्यैते कथिता ह्यर्थाः प्रकाशन्ते महात्मनः॥
श्वेता

Brahma Ji says - I have studied the Vedas 3 times and have reached this conclusion that when you keep worshipping Shri Krishna, all that you want, will happen by itself. Love God, like an innocent child. Call out to Him with tears of longing; He will not be able to bear it. He will come running for you. Be mindful of the fact that there should be no desire of material benefits or liberation. Call out to Him earnestly, so as to be able to serve Him. Sing His glories, as you remember His Divine form, pastimes and attributes with tears of love in your eyes. This will purify your mind and cleanse out the material attachments. You can do all this even when you are engaged in other household and worldly chores. Thus, when your mind is 100% cleansed, the Guru will grant you the Divine power which will make your mind Divine. Then Maya with all its soldiers (anger, passion greed etc.) will leave you immediately forever. Then by the grace of God, you will be able to see His Divine form and enjoy unlimited Divine Love-Bliss perpetually. No worldly problem will ever be able to perturb you. Hence by attaining Jagadguru Shri Krishna alone, can one become all blissful!

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Philosophy

Recognizing a genuine guru

If your Guru acts in the following manner then He is a genuine Guru :

He grants you true knowledge of the scriptures.
He explains to you the aim of your life and how to attain it.
He teaches a very practical way of devotion,
He is endowed with deep devotion,
Symptoms of divine ecstasy are often expressed in His body,
His association naturally attracts your mind towards God,
As a result of His association and teachings, His devotees begin experiencing the initial symptoms of love,
He is concerned only about your spiritual progress,
His life is dedicated to the welfare of his followers so sincerely, that he does not care for his personal comforts, likes and dislikes.

If your Guru acts in the following manner then he is not God-realized and is fake :

Gives you verbal boons/blessings or allurements of material gratification,
Initiates by whispering mantra in your ear,
Shows miracles of psychic powers,
Behaves like they are possessed by a Devi, Devata or God,
Casts evil curses
Promises to alter someone's karmic destiny

IF SOMEONE EXHIBITS THE FIRST SET OF ATTRIBUTES THEN HE IS A TRUE SAINT. SURRENDER YOURSELF TO HIM WITHOUT AN IOTA OF DOUBT OR HESITATION. THE EXTENT OF YOUR SURRENDER TO GURU IS THE EXTENT OF YOUR CLOSENESS TO GOD.

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Philosophy

Padya-prasoono-pahaar

Shri Giridhar Sharma Chaturvedi, the president of Kashi Vidvat Parishat had humbly offered the title of Jagadguruttam to the Crest Jewel of Saints -Swami Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj.

यद्भूषणत्वमहनीयपदोपलब्धि- प्रादुर्भवत्पदविवेचनचातुरीकः। शेषाहिरापमहिमानमशेषमान्यं विश्वेश्वरो विजयतां स दयापयोधिः।।१।।

yadbhūṣaṇatvamahanīyapadopalabdhi- prādurbhavatpadavivecanacāturīkaḥ। śeṣāhirāpamahimānamaśeṣamānyaṁ viśveśvaro vijayatāṁ sa dayāpayodhiḥ।।1।।

Lord Shankar honored Bhagwan Shesh Ji to become His ornament. Due to this honor being bestowed on Shesh ji, when Shesh Ji incarnated as Saint Patanjali, in a different lifetime, he was blessed with expertise in analysis skills. By virtue of such extraordinary skills, He composed an extensive thesis on Sanskrit Grammar, which highlighted Shesh ji's glories beyond doubt. All glories to Lord Shankar an unfathomable ocean of mercy.

वैराग्यार्कमरीचिशोषितजगद्व्यामोहपंकः क्षित्तौ, नूत्नःकोपि सविग्रहः कृतधियामानन्दपुन्जोदयः स्वामिश्रीलकृपालुनाममहितः सद्भक्तिपुष्पावली- प्रोल्लासाय वसंततामुपगतः ख्यातः समुद्योतते।।२।।

vairāgyārkamarīciśoṣitajagadvyāmohapaṁkaḥ kṣittau, nūtnaḥkopi savigrahaḥ kr̥tadhiyāmānandapunjodayaḥ svāmiśrīlakr̥pālunāmamahitaḥ sadbhaktipuṣpāvalī- prollāsāya vasaṁtatāmupagataḥ khyātaḥ samudyotate।।2।।

Beholding the vision of Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, it appears as if the sun-rays of His detachment have dried the slush of delusion. Now Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, the veritable spring season of bliss of the holy souls has arrived. His pleasant presence makes the flowers of the creeper of devotion bloom naturally. His magnificence is universal.

यद्व्याख्याननवीनमेघपटलध्वानेन चित्ताटवी नास्तिक्योपहतात्मनामपि मुदा सूते विवेकांकुरम्। स्फूर्जत्तर्कविचारमन्त्रनिवहव्याक्षिप्तदुर्भावना- भूतावेशविषश्चिरं विजयतामेकोयमीड्यो नृणाम्।।३।।

yadvyākhyānanavīnameghapaṭaladhvānena cittāṭavī nāstikyopahatātmanāmapi mudā sūte vivekāṁkuram। sphūrjattarkavicāramantranivahavyākṣiptadurbhāvanā- bhūtāveśaviṣaściraṁ vijayatāmekoyamīḍyo nr̥ṇām।।3।।

Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj's discourses are like the roaring of new clouds. They pacify the minds tortured by disbelief in God. Listening to His lectures gives birth to seedlings of divine knowledge in the mind. For those suffering with illusion, misconception and negative sentiments Shri Kriplau Ji Maharaj is like a potion of ambrosia. All glories to him forever.

नानादर्शनसंविमर्शनकलाकौतूहलैः कोविदान् धिन्वन् व्याकुलितान् नरान् नयपथं प्रीत्या मुहुः प्रापयन्। तृष्णार्त्तान् भगवत्कथामृतर सैः सिंचन्नसौ धीमतां वाक्पुष्पांजलिपूजितोमितगुणाम्भोधिः समुज्जृम्भते।।४।।

nānādarśanasaṁvimarśanakalākautūhalaiḥ kovidān dhinvan vyākulitān narān nayapathaṁ prītyā muhuḥ prāpayan। tr̥ṣṇārttān bhagavatkathāmr̥tara saiḥ siṁcannasau dhīmatāṁ vākpuṣpāṁjalipūjitomitaguṇāmbhodhiḥ samujjr̥mbhate।।4।।

The so called scholars, who were confused and misled due to the contradictions in various philosophies, shiver on getting a vision of Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj. Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj encourages them to tread on the path of righteousness, by lovingly preaching to them. Shri Maharaj Ji brings peace to those suffering from agonizing thirst of material desires, by bestowing upon them the nectar of divine knowledge. He is the ocean of countless virtues. Having been glorified with the poetic flowers of homage, Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj is embellishing the assembly of distinguished scholars.

येनास्मिन्निखिलेपि भारतमहादेशे विशेषोल्लस- त्प्रज्ञेनोज्जवलभक्तियोगकलितं संस्थापितं मण्डलम्। धर्मोद्धारधुरीणभावमनिशं कीर्त्त्या समं बर्द्धयन् धन्यो मान्य जगद्गुरुत्तमपदैः सोयं समभ्यर्च्यते।।५।।

yenāsminnikhilepi bhāratamahādeśe viśeṣollasa- tprajñenojjavalabhaktiyogakalitaṁ saṁsthāpitaṁ maṇḍalam। dharmoddhāradhurīṇabhāvamaniśaṁ kīrttyā samaṁ barddhayan dhanyo mānya jagadguruttamapadaiḥ soyaṁ samabhyarcyate।।5।।

Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj is equipped with the highest level of knowledge, in India. He has established “Bhaktiyog Mandal”, an organization illuminated with the real light of devotion. His intense desire to establish and promote ‘Dharm’ is increasing by the day along with His ever increasing fame. Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj is GREAT! He is being conferred the honorable title of “Best of all Jagadgurus.”

तदीये लोकानामुपकृतिकरेस्मिन्नुपगमे पुरे शम्भोरुद्यत्कतिपयपदाम्भोरुहभरैः। श्रुतिस्मृत्युक्तार्थ प्रवचनगुरोः संयमिमणेः कृपालोस्तस्यैषा विलसतु सपर्या बुधगणे।।६।।

tadīye lokānāmupakr̥tikaresminnupagame pure śambhorudyatkatipayapadāmbhoruhabharaiḥ। śrutismr̥tyuktārtha pravacanaguroḥ saṁyamimaṇeḥ kr̥pālostasyaiṣā vilasatu saparyā budhagaṇe।।6।।

Shri Kripalu Ji is an expert at delivering discourses on the Vedas and Smritis. He is the crest jewel of all the those who have control over their senses. During this blessed assembly, in the holy city of Lord Shankar, Shri Kripalu Ji is being glorified with the flowers of these poetic verses.

काशीस्थपण्डितश्रेणी प्रशस्या कुसुमार्चनात। कृपालुस्वामियोगीन्द्रस्वागतं शुभमेधताम।।७।।

kāśīsthapaṇḍitaśreṇī praśasyā kusumārcanāta। kr̥pālusvāmiyogīndrasvāgataṁ śubhamedhatāma।।7।।

This worship and adulation of Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj has glorified the congregation of scholars of Kashi. Oh King of the Yogis! O KripaluJi Maharaj! We welcome you. May this, increase auspiciousness all over and bring peace to everyone.

Kashi Vidvat Parishat wishes that your glories reach the pinnacle.

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Philosophy

As years go by

Saal Saal Bita Jaye, Govind Radhey Ab To Hathilo Man, Hari Mein Laga De

December 31st is the last day of the year. Jan 1st is celebrated the world over with great cheer and happiness, as the beginning of the New Year. Let us however, introspect to see if going of the previous year and coming of the next year is a great cause of celebration or grief, for e.g. you have $100,000 in your bank and you have spent $60,000 then do you celebrate or do you get concerned that you have only $40,000 more left in your account. You keep counting only $30,000 is left! Now only $20,000 is left and now only $2,000 is left.

Likewise, God has given us this human body to attain our ultimate goal. At the end of each year, we must introspect - During this year, how closer we got to the aim (God) of our life. The Hindi word for worship is Upaasna. It means "To get closer". How much closer are we to God now than before? For example someone is feeling cold and someone else lights a fire. The closer one gets to the fire, the more the feeling of cold will diminish. How far have we moved from the world and how close are we to God? We do not introspect / think. We celebrate the fact that 20 years of our life have passed, 50 years have passed, 80 years have passed. We tell our kids, "My life has passed... Now you should worry about yours". Is this human life a burden that you are saying "Life has passed"? If someone has been sentenced to jail for 10 years and 9 years have passed, then 9.5 have passed and finally tomorrow the term of the sentence will be over, celebrating for that reason can be understood. What are you celebrating? Are you going to get freedom from the cycle of birth and death, from 8.4 million forms of life? What have you done to attain freedom from this cycle? You have not even given it a good thought! If you had realized the futility of this world barely a moment before death and resolved to attach your mind to God, then your future would have been made. So, coming of the New Year is not a reason to celebrate. We have to think, why are we celebrating, what is there to celebrate about? We have to perform self-retrospection.

After election, all parties do a retrospective meeting, to analyze why they lost, what were the shortcomings that need to be overcome the next time. We should do a serious retrospection once a year, also every month and if possible every day before sleeping. We should review all the actions performed during the day - good and bad and think - How much did we attach our mind to this world and how much to God today. If every day we think like that, then our wrong deeds will reduce with each passing day. Next month they'll be even lesser and one fine day, they will be completely eliminated. However, we don't think about it even as we grow old. We are fearless. O! We are not going to die yet. We are only 90. What is your idea; you will live for 100 years? Even if you were to live for 200 years, what will happen after that?

So in self-retrospection, you will find that we are careless. A District Magistrate was once telling me, his story. He once appeared for an exam. During the exam, while trying to think hard for an answer, he fell asleep. He slept for an hour when he woke up he had only 30 minutes left. He tried to finish the paper quickly but couldn't and failed. He at least got 30 minutes, before the end of the exam. We on the other hand, do not realize the importance of this human life, even till the last moment of death.

We think a lot about this world-our wife, sons, wealth, health etc. But we do not think about "Ourselves". You are the Soul. Think about making "Your" future. You will have to leave this body. At the time of death, if you don't leave everything willingly then you will be forced to leave it. So every year do a self-retrospection. Feel that the sand of time is slipping away from your hands moment by moment. Resolve to make your future brighter. Think - What if we don't get a whole year, we might have only 6 months left of our life, or may be only a month. An engineer, who helped construct this Satsang Bhavan, slept one night and did not wake up the next morning. No body knew what happened. While sleeping his heart failed. Time does not wait even for a second. King, beggar, saint all have to go. Recently, Saddam Hussein was executed. In Iraq he was worshipped. After bowing down to Khuda, everybody used to bow down to him. All have to go. Some go happily and some go crying. God too has to go. After 11,000 years, Yamraj went to Lord Ram to remind him saying,"Lord Your time has come, if You wish to stay longer You can, I am not objecting to it. This is Your world. My job is to remind. I am fulfilling my duty".

Celebrate the New Year only if you resolve to use your unwavering intellect, to subdue your stubborn mind and attach it to God. It won’t "get attached" by itself. You have to make an effort to attach it. You have been sitting idle, hoping it will attach itself one day. Why will it attach itself? You practice to attach it to world and it will get attached to God! Whichever area you try to attach it that is where it will get attached. Shri Krishn has said in Gita, "If you ponder about the happiness in the material world then your mind will get attached to the world and if you think about happiness in Me then it will get attached to Me". It is all about your thought process. The more you think about something the more your attachment grows. This year we have to make a firm resolve to increase thinking about God.

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Kid's Story

The protector

This is a leela narration from the great epic Mahabharat, wherein the Supreme Lord performs seemingly understandable actions to protect His devotees. Enjoy!

It was the last day of the great battle of Mahabharata. All Kauravas except Duryodhana had been killed. In the face of death, Duryodhana approached his friend Aswathama for help and asked him to give him courage and bring solace to his troubled mind. Aswathama assured Duryodhana that he'd do his best and took a vow that before the break of dawn; he would kill the Pandavas and bring the good news to Duryodhana. Before setting out on his mission, Aswathama went to the temple of Kali to pray for strength to accomplish the onerous task he had set out to achieve. Kali, in an unseen voice, told Aswathama that the Pandavas, having sought refuge under God’s lotus feet, cannot be killed. Nevertheless Aswathama insisted on pursuing his determination and extracted the blessing of Kali only in general terms and set out on his task.

Knowing about the vow taken by Aswathama, Lord Krishna approached Sage Durvasa to seek his help in saving the Pandavas. Sage Durvasa welcomed Lord Krishna. Krishna indicated that he had some work to be done and that Sage Durvasa was to perform that task. Durvasa was overjoyed and readily agreed to do whatever Krishna wanted him to do except telling a lie. Krishna assured him that He will not ask him to tell a lie. He however, asked Rishi Durvasa to perform all actions as per His instructions.

Krishna then apprised Rishi Durvasa of Aswathama's vow and asked him to take the Pandavas under his protection for the night. The plan was to have a pit dug up to hide the Pandavas in the night. The pit was to have been covered by a wooden plank with Rishi Durvasa being seated on it. If and when Aswathama came, and enquired about the whereabouts of the Pandavas, Durvasa was to state the truth while emphasizing certain words. Durvasa agreed.

Aswathama searched all over for the Pandavas but could not find them. He then decided to approach Rishi Durvasa in the hope that this all knowing Saint, would be able to tell him the whereabouts of the Pandavas. Upon reaching his ashram, Ashwathama praised the great saint Durvasa for his divine knowledge and asked him about the whereabouts of the Pandavas. Durvasa, as planned, pretended anger and shouted 'Pandavas! They are hiding under my feet!' Durvasa is well known to be short tempered. Hearing the angry uproar of Rishi Durvasa, Aswathama got scared thinking that he was the cause of Rishi Durvasa's anger. He assumed that Rishi Durvasa's furious reaction was a result of his annoyance and disgust upon being disturbed. Thinking so, Ashwathama left the Rishi's ashram.

Thus the Lord protected His surrendered devotees while keeping His word that Rishi Durvasa did not have to tell a lie.

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Who Builds Our Destiny?

Links of 2-4 related articles to go here