TWO BIRD ALLEGORY

Yadhaa nadyah syandamaanaah samudre, stam gacchanti naamaroope vihaaya |

Tadhaa vidyaannamarpppaadvimuktah, paraatparam purushamupaiti divyam ||

---Mundakopanishad 3.2.8

(Gushing and over flowing rivers lose their names and forms as they merge with ocean. In the same manner, knower  of the Truth, freeing himself from  his name and form, is imbued with  the Supreme, Illuminating Consciousness)

Indian Vedanta exponents had propounded way back that 'I'  is not at all the gross body, it is the Atma - Soul that resides in the body; the  'I' consciousness is there only with the Atma's presence, the moment Atma is liberated, the body is just like a firewood stick consumed by the fire.  Though the the consciousness that is Atma may appear to be in different forms, it is but a part of the Supreme consciousness, Paramatma.  Before merging away into the latter, it undergoes many many illusions on account of the play of Trigunas (Satva, Rajo, Tamo - Attributes), Six vices namely, Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya) and bound by the Five powerful sense organs, causing to indulge in all sorts of sins and pious acts as well with an admixture of elations and dejections. This is the sum up of Jivatma's earthly sojourn.

'Beings' on earth, who are conscious about good and bad, the illusory material world  are  compared to supreme swan which is capable of segregating the cream of milk from the whey.  Other beings are compared to parrot that, being ignorant of what is good and bad lives in  whiling away in tasting sweet as well as sour fruits.

A detailed description of the allegorical two bird Illusion is in the Mundakopanishad:--

'Dva suvarna sayuja sakhaya samanam vriksham parishasvajayate |
Tayoranyah pippalam svadvatti anasnan anyo abhichaka seeti ||' (3.1.1)
(Two birds of same kind and never being separated are sitting on the same tree. Of them one is tasting fruits and the other sitting calm)

'Samane vrikshe purusho nimagno nisaya sochati muhyamanah |
Jushtam yada pasyatyanyam Isamasya mahimanamiti vitasokah ||' (3.1.2)
(Jiva and Atma are in  the same body. Jiva, that is man, being in ignorance, suffering in illusion. He is  coming out of this woeful situation only when he is becoming aware of his nature of Atma  and its magnificence)

In all simplicity for the common man, the keertana ' Jivatumai Vundu Chiluka' Annamacharya has described the Individual Soul's bound life being ignorant of it's identity with the Supreme consciousness , Universal Soul - Paramatma.

' O parrot! You are the Jivatma (Individual Soul); Looked from the other side you are verily Paramatma (Supreme Soul). But because of ignorance, you are not able to realise this fact.

'O Parrot! You are bound in the cage called Atma.  You are brought up by none other than Myself. Do you know how you got this bondage? It is on account of Karmas ( Actions of previous and present births).  Your limbs are shackled.

'O Parrot! Making me studious day and night  you learnt various studies.  You feel cosy under the wide feathers but you cannot tolerate the vagaries of  cold and heat. That is, you cannot tolerate the difficult and dire conditions.

'O Parrot! You are befriending with Five aimless vagabonds. They by threatening,  make you obey them.  How long will you be scared by them?

 Six kind less foes  (Arishadvaarga - Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya) are trying to keep you under their subjugation constantly. Your life is under the risk of down fall due to them. O Parrot! you have in addition a 'weakness'. You cannot survive without food. To fetch it you make un necessary, un warranted  chatterings. O Parrot! You enter into attachments with all and lose your virtues.  Strange thing is, you don't learn a lesson and become wise  even after losing.

'O Parrot! Ponder over with wisdom. Who are 'You'? Who am 'I'? I am yourself  and you are myself.(All souls are one, though looking as many due to illusion). The Almighty residing in as 'Antaratma'  is all pervading Paramatma (Supreme Soul). Be bold being aware of thisTruth.

'O Parrot! Things happening to you are some by human acts, some of which may be rectifiable and others not. Some are divine (by Jivatma) which are Prarabda karmas. Knowing that these are all part of divine illusion please don't forsake me. Be vigilant and follow the Almighty. I owe to you  for awakening me from vanity of all these worldly matters.'

One more 'Tatvic' lyric on the allegorical Parrot that is Jivatma, we have from melody par excellence, Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna (in YT) - "Gudu China Boyera".  You can have a glimpse of this from the 'Arenar Songs' blog under the  category "Kadamba Mala" (other than Annamayya).

As of the sincere seekers' quest, such illuminating knowledge about non dual nature of the birds is helpful in daily spiritual sadhana.

"Jivatumai Vundu Chiluka"

Paramatma -Supreme Soul (Top)

                                                     Jivatma - Indiavidual Soul (Bottom)                                                                                                           

Om Shanti!




                    

INCARNATIONS IN LYRIC

'Sat' - The Truth about the 'Being' is sought after by the seeker through ages. The paths for the inquisitive search  are many. Gita  mentioned about them as yogas, like karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, Raia yoga, Jnana yoga and others. Among these  Bhakti path is concerned about devotee deity relationship. Initially, a form for  un-manifest Consciousness is envisioned and worshipped devotedly. The devotee's search culminates in realisation  of wisdom about the The Ultimate Truth - all pervading, one single  Supreme Consciousness.  So, the concept of the Form of the  deity has grown and  scriptures reveal various accounts of  these deities generally residing in heavens above, and descending down on the earth down, periodically with a purpose - to attend to the devotees, to take cudgel against the wicked, extermination  of rampant evil doers etc.  These descents  may be of either human or animal form depending on the necessity of the occasion.  Their births will generally have illustrious reputation  on this earth. Such descents of the deities on the earth  are termed as 'avatars' or incarnations. Bhagavatha deals of various avatars of Lord Vishnu. Commonly we hear
about Sri Rama and Sri Krishna as incarnations  being worshipped  by the maximum Indian house hold.

The description of these avatars were well woven in to the fabric of a sankeertana by the  deft master weaver,  Annamacharya in his "Timmireddi Maku Nicche Dishta Maina Polamu, Bommireddi kappaginchi Podi sese Bolamu".

'Timmanna or Tiammareddi alludes to Lord Venkateswara, manifest Form of the 'Param Atma', Almighty - The Universal Soul - Supreme Consciousness.  Bommireddi alludes to the Jivatma - the Individual Soul on earth. Bhoomi or Kshetra is monitored by Kshetrajna, the Individual Soul. The Land Lord (Paramatma, Supreme Soul) gave for tilling the 'gracious' land (human body) to the Cultivator (Jivatma, Individual Soul).  Now we admire at various Lands that descended on earth.

"Tinnireddi maku nicche dishtamaina polamu, bommireddi kappaginchi podisese bolamu ||

Nindinatti madugula niruvanka polamu, kondalu mochina pedda gobbarapu bolamu,
Andane polamu rajulundeti polamu, chendivesi makulella selagina polamu ||

Asapadi vara dana madagina polamu, basalato gadu netru pattamaina polamu,
Rasikekke Munulaku racchaina polamu, vesaraka Nageta vegilaina polamu ||

Manchi gurutaina ravimani cheni polamu, vanchina gurramu dole vayyali polamu,
Yenchaga Srivenkatesu niravaina polamu, panchukoni lokulella bradiketi polamu ||"

'Nindina madugula niruvanka polamu' -            The body (Form) in waters aplenty (Matsya Avatara)

'Kondalu mochina pedda gobbarapu polamu' - The body which lifted Mandara mountain during                                                                                     churning of milk of ocean,Ksheera sagara madanam,                                                                               alluding to turtle (Kurma Avatara)

'Andane polamu rajului vundeti' -                    The body (land) inhabited by pigs (Varaha Avatara)

'Chendivesi makulalla chelagina polamu' -       The body pouncing on the wicked, sinful (Narasimha                                                                               Avatara)

'Asapadi vadanam adigina poolkamu'ra  -        The body that asked for alms of land (Vamana                                                                                        Avatara)

'Basalato kadu netru paa miana polamu' -        The body that indulged in much bloodshed by vow                                                                                   (Parasurama Avatara)

'Munulaku racchai rasi kekkina polamu' -         The body that protected the sages (in yagas) (Rama                                                                                 Avatara)

'Vesaraka nageta vegilaina polamu' -                The body carrying on shoulder the heavy plough                                                                                     (Balarama Avatara)

'Manchi gurutaina ravimani cheni polamu' -     The body that became famous under the  Ashwattha                                                                                tree (Buddha Avatara)

'Vanchina gurramu dole vayyali polamu' -        The  body that trotted on well groomed horse (Kalki                                                                               Avatara)'

The Universal Soul's varied manifestations described above in different Forms of Fields (Lands) grows in us more admiration and awareness about our identity with it.!

'Thimmireddi Maku Nicche Dishta maina Polamu"

'Dasa Avatara'

(Photo taken from Bommalakoluvu.co.in)

Om Shanti!

       

NOT EDUCATION AND DISCOURSES ALONE

Happiness and well being are any body's wish in general. In our practical day to day life we come across people very rarely with the assertion that they are absolutely satisfied with what  the Almighty provided for them to live in  on this earth comfortably. Every one has his own list of desires, wants, aspirations which knows only one trend, that is, the graph  scaling new heights as the age advances - indeed 'An Endless Scroll!'

People get education. But does it bring in them any awakening? Mostly, eduction  has become a passport  for getting some occupation.  Is that all?  Who tells 'What is the Way of Living' in this world to realise the aims of 'happiness  and well being'.  Proper bringing up right from child hood with due parental care and school education by devoted teachers will go a long way in the character building of every child which assures to the child comfortable well being in the society as he grows up.  

If you can recollect, in one of the earlier posts - 'Self Control - Waiting for A Delayed Gratification' (28.09.2015) - we had discussed the Marshmallow Experiment , it's findings about the children who became highly successful in their later career,  that 1) Waiting for gratification  is worth it and 2) I Have the Capacity to Wait! Taking cue from these findings, how can one under estimate the noble attributes of  'Meditation and Self- Control'.

Lack of such care of imbibing morals and ethics in child hood, results in blossoming up of discontented souls on various counts.  The traits which are resulting  in unsatisfied, dejected spirits is narrated by Annamacharya in the sankeertana 'Enta Chadivina Enta Vinina'.

'By academic education one may find livelihood and by hearing discourses on may become aware of the subjects unknown hither to. But these will in no way drive away one's blues. One who has the habit of blaming others, one who indulges in sensual pleasures and one who has always wavering and fickle mind, unless being ridden off these vices can not have happy life on this earth and thereafter. Hell is the destination  for such bound  beings.

' One who eyes on others' legitimate properties, one who indulges in insinuations at others, and one who has arrogant attitude towards others, unless being cleared off these vices,  cannot have happy life on this earth and thereafter.  Besides his calamities will not give way.

' One who comes out of uncertainty, disbelief and gets rid of anger, untruthfulness and surrenders himself totally to the inner Almighty, he will have the ultimate triumph. Otherwise no respite from his woes.'.........

Thus we can understand  the innate qualities. which mould the personality of the being, apart from education  and discourses. have to seek the Almighty within, which would only can drive away the woes of this world.

Catch them young! That is the approach, to our children  to present a beautiful world with noble qualities in every body in the society, which in turn assures happiness and well-being in one and all . Our awareness of this concept if  put in to sincere practice, can turn hell to heaven !

"Enta Chadivina Emi Vinina"

Om Shanti!                                                                                                                                              

FORM DOES NOT MATTER

I am not a professional! Still the response of the noble souls about my views and songs is causing dampening of my eyes.  An encouraging sign for my continuation of sharing of more and more spiritual knowledge. This has become possible only by the awareness in you of the presence of One Almighty in all beings of this creation.

When one is aware that the whole creation itself is manifestation  of the Almighty, he obliterates  the disparities of 'status' of birth, and Form taken by him, because he knows every being is resided by Almighty only. Thus every being revels in its birth as of being in  paradise.  Annamacharya gives us this knowledge through the keertana 'Edayanemi Hari Icchina Janmame Chalu'.

'Whatever be the birth, why one should worry about it, once having the knowledge that it is given by the Almighty only. Not only that. He actually residing in all of them in equal proportion - (Samam Sarveshu Bhuteshu Tishtthantam Visweswaram... from Gita, discussed in previous blogs).  A dog revels in it's birth and never thinks it is mean. An insect  in its mud pool habitat feels being in the paradise. It is all in the 'mind set'.  This applies to the 'realised souls' on this earth who are ever blissful about their birth, with the awareness of all pervading Almighty in every being.....

'When every being is the Almighty Himself, why bother about what Form (birth) one takes on this earth.  For a dog it's life is majestic one. It never feels that it's birth is 'mean'. Once the mind is accustomed to its own life, what difference does it make about good birth and otherwise.  The all pervading Almighty is present as Supreme Consciousness in the being. That is why every being has passion for life.

'For an insect, the place it resides in, the muddy pool, is like paradise. It is the best place enjoyable in this world for it. It is enough if the place is stable and comfortable (in the mind of the being); why bother about higher plane or lower plane of existence, since all these planes are pervaded by the  One Almighty only.  So in what ever place one nay be it is enough if he is conscious about and be with the Almighty within.

'For a true Jnani (the realised soul), every place is Paradise. Taking his life in to his stride as Almighty's, he is liberated! Every astute  devotee and seeker with total surrender to the Almighty has no more sense of disparities of low or high birth in this world.'......

In Mahabharata we have a character by name Vyadha, a realised soul in the profession of a butcher ! 'Vyadha gita' is the knowledge imparted by him to an astute brahmin, Kaushika..

How much 'heavenly' a pig's  life is - for a pig,  is in an anecdote retold here.....'King of the Gods, Indra, once became a pig. He had a cosy family with wife  and children. He was so amorous about his beautiful wife ( dark lady pig) that he could not live even for a minute without her, wallowing  in the dark muddy pool, paradise for him. The gods in the heaven searching for  Indra, came down to earth and saw the plight of Indra. When exhorted by them to leave the body of pig and assume the post of King of the Gods in heaven once again, Indra refused to oblige and said on the contrary, " Never mind! I am very much happy here with this beauty and children. I don't believe  in better paradise (Heaven, his real abode) than this kingdom of mine - dark muddy swamp with fellow pigs)"  When their beseechings to their Lord were falling on deaf ears, they had no other go but to cut through the pig body, thus liberating Indra. Upon realisation  of what had happened to him, Indra felt shy about Illusion undergone in Pig's life.'

Thus what matters is  the all pervading Almighty inside not the external bodies of the beings, taking different 'forms' in the nature (Prakruti - Illusion).  This awareness and association with the Almighty in a seeker brings about blissful existence in this world!

Edayanemi Hari Icchina Janmame Chalu

(King of Gods, Indra's Illusion)

Om Shanti!                                                                                                                                               

PLEASANT FULL MOON WITHIN

'Sense objects are more powerful than sense organs';  My mentor says every day in yoga. Why the 'Illusory' world is taken for Reality by the beings and what keeps them  on chasing after the mirages, throughout their existence on this earth, has the answer in the  afore said dictum.  A shrewd man of wisdom realises what is the Ultimate Truth by proper identity of himself. For all the acts done by him is he responsible? The learned one understands with right perspective about the play of Illusion  by the Almighty within. Knowing this he joyfully seeks  becoming one with 'That  Source', by the ennobling act of 'total surrender'. He will take refuge in  the Almighty within by merging his ephemeral body consciousness into the eternal Supreme Consciousness!

My dear seekers. I whole heartedly share with you  the fact that, there will be  really a 'pleasant coolness of the Full moon' in your 'being', as you too are on the path of 'total surrender'.  I never contemplated in my past life  that  I could have a turning point of 'total surrender' and the divine revelations were so much impelling within me that, they are well received by the noble souls world over. Just you will feel queer about my instant revelation while I am still on the computer...

A few hours back it happened. My grandson (age 2 plus) saw a tiny fly - probably 2 to 3 mm - was sticking to the room wall by my side. As he went near out of curiosity, it flew away in to the open balcony.  He started  crying for it.   "Pipilikadi brahma paryantam" - that is,  the Supreme Consciousness is present in,  right from the micro level  tiny ant to the macro level boundless cosmos. Hence I asked him to repeat my devote words of exhortation  to the Almighty in the fly "O tiny fly! Please come back for my sake. I don't disturb you this time". Lo, honouring the lad's prayer, the fly came  back to the same spot on the wall. My  grandson shared the joy of 'return of fly' with his parents. The contrast between the 'tiny fly' and 'immense 
happiness' in the spotless lad's heart is that matters most.  

That is the belief in the all pervading  Almighty one should have in every breath on this earth. This lesson as told by Annamacharya for our liberation after being disillusioned from the ephemeral worldly objects, is in the keertana, "Edi Tuda, Dini Kedi Modalu" ( where is the beginning  and where is the end for this Almighty's Illusion)....

'No beginning and no end  for the lamentations of this existence.  Various vocations undertaken, various masters served, pride, woe, pity, passion, bondages as if owned  exclusively by him only, by passing through various pleasures and pains of this world.  But he is not aware of the fact that he is unattached Individual Soul and no material world happenings would affect the Eternal that is himself. This is the work of Illusion cast by the Almighty. So, it is difficult  for one to come out the maze unless becoming aware of what is Eternal Truth and one takes refuge in the Almighty in total surrender....

'The Almighty's Illusion is all encompassing of the  'Being' sprawling out its roots ensnaring the individual with bondages. Where is the beginning and where is the end to this Illusion ? Is it in one's comprehension at all?

'How many woes, worries, pleasures and pains, contemplations to the 'being'.  The wailing is not limited to one but seizes all the beings, pervading through ages.

'Various jobs, posts , followers, desires, passions, some boosting up one's spirits, some others sagging down, all are unending throughout this existence. They are countless and beyond one's comprehension.

'For how many woes shall one lament? For how many pleasures one shall feel elated.  For how many one shall aspire about ?  All these are the part of Illusion of the Almighty. Only proper  knowledge about this shall give respite to one and get liberated  from the Illusion by way of becoming refuge in the Almighty and exist with the sense of 'Total Surrender".

My message is very very clear like writing on the wall. Enjoy the fruits of Total Surrender like the 'pleasant coolness of the Full Moon' within you !

 Edi Tuda, Dini Kedi Modalu

'Return of the Fly'

Om Shanti!

A SILVER LINING FOR DIE HARDS

Mana eva manushyanam karanam bandha mokshayah.

bandhaya vishaya sango, muktya nirvishayam manah ||

(Mind is the cause of bondage and mind is the cause of liberation.  Mind absorbed in sense objects is the cause of bondage and mind detached from the sense objects is the cause of liberation)

The human mind is like a knife serving in two ways, to cut vegetables in kitchen, or to cut throats by the malevolent elements in the society. How to realise the true purpose for which it is being enshrined in the human body by the Almighty?  Here one has to consider how one's mind is being conditioned from the childhood. The parental care, their interest in the child in inculcating good thoughts, good habits, moral and ethical based story-telling, taking to places of worship and satsangs are all healthy 

gestures, sowing the seeds of a noble character that sees flowering of a venerable personality in later life.

I am thankful to my parents for providing me such idealistic environment in my childhood.  My father, (pencil sketch in 'arenart'), was a public servant of the rank of Deputy Collector. He was versant in Urdu, as of official necessity, to read land documents. None the less  he was very much spiritual. We had regular magazines from Divine Life Society, Rishikesh.  He was such an admirer that, I have faint remembrance of some yogies from north India being invited by my father as guests. It seems their blessings latent in me then - like a bamboo seed - are on the path of fruition now.

My thoughts shared above have specific purpose of understanding the less fortunate ones in this world who could not be brought up in  an healthy environment with proper monitoring by the parents

and gurus from the childhood.  Such people become slaves of their own mind, which leads them astray to many vices in this society.  How much difficult  it is to extricate ourselves from such entanglements in  the worldly matters, is narrated as a matter of caution  by the savant Annamayya 

in the language of metaphors. The keertana is, "Bharamaina Vepamanu Palu Posi Penchinanu".

'Bitterness' is the natural attribute of the neem (margosa) tree.  Even if it is nourished by (sweet) milk regularly, can it change its quality?  Can it transform from bitterness to sweetness?  If a dog's tail is straightened and tied to a stick, does it change it's quality? Does the curved tail become straight?

'The mortal body tends towards flesh pleasures. What is the use of better advice given to them, when they turn deaf ear. They revel in being entangled in the lurch. Let alone with any piece of good counselling to them.

'If a sharp-edged axe is immersed in water and left in a corner, does it become softened (flexible) and lose its sharp cutting down qualities, over a period of time?

'Mind is accustomed to indulging in 'Pancha Maha Patakas' (The five great sins are, killing of a brahmin, intoxicants, theft of gold, adultery with guru's wife, lastly befriending with those, indulging in the said four) and became entrapped in them. How much relentlessly persuaded, the mind is not coming on to the right path.

'If a scorpion is brought, wrapped in a cloth and kept in our lap  with affection, does it stop stinging thus cause untold pain and misery?

'The best way is to awaken and surrender our egos to the Almighty within, the path to mukti, liberation!'

'A silver lining in the dark cloud' ! Such  is the magnanimity of messages from noble souls like Annamacharya passed down to us with concern for our betterment and realisation !

"Bharamaina Vepa Manu Palu Posi Penchi Nanu"

The NeemTree

Om Shanti!                                                                                                                                               

WADING THROUGH 'MUD'

Can we avoid 'mud' ?  Yes, a million dollar question certainly for a serious spiritual seeker, if not for others.  Before venturing to answer, one seeks some more details about the conditions prevailing. As we know;  for a potter, brick maker, farmer in the field, miners and men of some such vocations, the coexistence with mud is inevitable. They accept it as their daily bread earning environment. Their stance towards 'mud'  as a 'part and parcel of their life', shall be our enlightening knowledge.

We, the mortals, being composed of Five Elements, came in to this world with pure mind.  Our journey begins with the slow creeping in of 'trigunas' (three attributes namely, Satvaguna, Rajoguna and Tamoguna) affecting and polluting the otherwise prestine pure mind.  Our virtues  and vices are imbibed from the environment we grow in. If our virtues lead to pleasant and peaceful living, our vice drag down into 'muddy' conditions which offer semblance of paradise, to the Fallen. 

We owe  much for our seers who gave knowledge about this 'mud' - The entanglement of bondages

arising from hopes, desires, aspirations fraught with resultant untold grief. Trace it to get the roots ! It is after all the tricky mind, which in its turn being ordained (manipulated) by the Almighty residing within.  Thus we have knowledge about root cause of our role play and  we shall get benefited from

the savant, Annmacharya for the 'remedy' for safe play in our stage show. He has shown how to break the seemingly perpetual vicious cycle of births.

The  tatva jnana (spiritual knowledge) loaded keertana by Annamacharya "Kadu Nadusu Chora Nela. Kallu Kaduga Nela" amply exemplifies about the prelude passages above.  The content  of his message is explained in the following paras.

‘The Almighty Himself is residing in the form of Soul (Consciousness) in all of us.  Being encompassed by the attachments of the worldly bondages, we are carried away in the ocean of recycling births and deaths. We are stuck up in the ‘mud’.  As the attachments are growing one after another, the mind is being engrossed with acts of sin thus forgetting about the Almighty residing within.  Fallen we are though, we ourselves only- by individual efforts, have to search for Him and realise. Till then no respite from these difficulties, indulgences and woes.  Noble souls like our sages and savants have shown the path to Supreme Knowledge. And if we are still not benefiting from them, that must be a pity!

‘Being well aware of the place, why one should walk in to the mud. And waste lot of time and energy in washing away to get rid of the stuck up mud on the legs. Similarly, is it wise to commit unwarranted actions which are throwing us into vast ocean of births.

‘The main reason for committing sins is one’s attachments only.  The reason for these attachments is aspirations cropping up from the unending desires.  And for all these, the root cause is entanglement on account of maligned bondages.

‘Endless bondages are resulting in untold grief. The grief and woes are turning out in to arrogance. For all these happenings the root cause again is, no one else but the tricky Mind.

‘Who is behind all the divergences of the Mind?   It is the Doer, the Almighty within. It is by one’s own individual efforts only He can be known.  It is only possible by meditating on Him and taking refuge in Him. Again for such happening in our lives His Grace is essential.  Else the vast ocean of births becomes inevitable'......

A great relief indeed in coming to know about such remedy passed on to us by noble souls.  Let us become enthusiastic about implementing the steps suggested for our liberation.

"Kadu Nadusu Chora Nela, Kalu Kaduga Nela"

'Wading Through Mud' (26.11.2015)

Om Shanti!