BECOME 'I' - INTROVERT TO BECOME 'I' - OMNI PRESENT !

It Is 'Intellect' Instrumental In Imbuing 'I'-Consciousness In Introvert.

Endowment of this factor I - the Intellect differentiates and elevates the Human from other Beings of Creation. Thus this factor I is quite essential for realisation of life's purpose. People hear about so many instances of calling for high austere  measures like Japa (Chanting)  Tapa (Penance) renunciating from the world retreating into deep forests and caves of mountains. How many know that all these extremities are not at all necessary for realisation of life's purpose - Salvation. The most powerful instrument in one's hand, that is, one's Intellect helps in making 'Atma Anatma Vivechana', discreet discrimination between One and Only OneTruth, Parabrahma,Supreme Consciousness and the rest of illusory, transitory Srushti (Creation), Jagat; It guides one towards becoming Introvert. And then only starts the spiritual journey towards Salvation. So to say every thing about the Search for Salvation is 'Within'!

The sankeertana 'E Tapamulu Nela E Danamulu Nela' of Annamacharya throws light on the above mentioned aspects of spiritual strides.

'Why need various Tapas (penances);  Why need various Danas (charities); Serving the Almighty within would realise life's purpose.

'Subjugation of all senses in one's body equals body's attainment of divinity. Contemplating on 'So Hum' ( I Am that Atman) and turning one's vision from outwards towards inner realm (becoming introvert) would visualise all deities within self.

'Retention within of the outgoing breath is equal to acquirement of benefits of Tapas (penance). Gradual subsiding and merging of all thoughts within equals merging away all bondages of sinful deeds.

'After this achievement in spiritual progress  it is better to renunciate from the family matters of both pleasure and pain.  If lived like this one would be Liberated quite early within this span.  Thus the ultimate realisation of Salvation is by seeking refuge in the Almighty Within !'

'It is easier said than done' - this dictum may come into one's mind after going through this 'Easier' method towards Salvation by Annamancharya. But what is Salvation ! Realising that once all illusory being is merged into 'Within',  only One Truth remains, that is the blissful 'I' -  the Supreme Consciousness !

"E Tapamulu Nela E Danamulu Nela"

"So Hum -  I Am Atman" Contemplation

Om Shanti!

GRASS ROOTS OF DIVINITY

For those who are well aware of the purpose of life, the Almighty is only One !  By whatever name being addressed in different parts of this world or in other realms, only He is the ultimate Liberator.   A longest journey starts but with small steps only.  The highest spiritual knowledge - Atma Jnana and Brahma Jnana sought by the seekers requires prima facie certain basic precepts of conduct.

These basic aspects of divine life are detailed in the sankeertana, "Devu Dokkade Guri (aim) Telisina Variki" of Annamacharya....

'Restraining of Anger is better than a crore of Japas (sacred chantings); There is no superior Tapas (penance)  than abstaining from sinful deeds; Controlling of one's mind is equal to paying visits to all other Lokas (realms/planes).  Even if searched till the approach of night one can not find better modes than the above mentioned.

'There is no better pious person than the one who abstains from other women.  Renunciation from wants and desires is supreme compared to consuming Soma Rasa (an euphoriant of vedic period) during performance of Yajna.  One who maintains Silence equals an ascetic. There are no better means to Salvation than the above mentioned.

'Salvation is not found somewhere else.  there is no other path to Liberation than renunciation of both pleasures and pains.  There is  no better Yogic path to Liberation than putting an end to vacillation of mind.  This is the Supreme Knowledge of the Almighty.  Only the kind hearted wise ones can show such path of salvation.' ....

Inculcation of all the traits detailed above in one's enthusiastic initiation into the path of divine life and their steadfast adherence with unflinching devotion  through thick and thin (even in difficult times) would certainly yield the sole aim of realisation of the One and Only One Being - the Almighty Within. These are the unswerving steps towards Brahma Jnana - Divine Knowledge.!

"Devu Dokkade Guri Telisina Variki"

Stepping Stones to Salvation

Om Shanti!

SEEKING END WITHOUT MEANS

Means are as much important as the End itself.  It is not enough if we dream about the sublime goal of final Salvation. Wisdom lies in well thought out preparation for it.  Basically having such bent of mind, one has to show keen interest in the relevant scriptures, meet the sagely personalities of the contemporary period, ardently try for a suitable Sadguru for accepting as one's disciple and give 'Upadesa' for regular follow up, start living an austere life with unflinching devotion, practising to become as much as possible towards being introvert, and if possible pay a  visit or two to the holy shrines and holy rivers - 'Satsangama, for devotional bhajans and spiritual discourses;  Satgrandha Patthana, (For Intuitive Spiritual Awaakening) and Teertha Yatra', for the holy atmosphere reverberating with spiritual chants over centuries). All these form the proper well laid - by the seers of the yonder ages - staircase for climbing up to the terrace, that is, the final Salvation. 

And how, in reality,  things happen to us in this worldly life as a matter of distraction in our earnest effort of spiritual journey. thus making us laughable ones, is described by Annamacharya in 'off the beaten track'  hilarious sounds, like 'A ha ha, O ho ho and I hi hi' in his sankeertana "Tapa Leka Meda  Lekka Dalachemu" (We seek to climb up terrace without staircase- steps). 

In this present spiritual path, just as I said about my oil paintings of Ravivarma et cetera, creativity has become boundless and the Almighty Within ordained for 'own tuning' for the first time of this Annamachaarya Sankeertana. I believe that you too will enjoy the effortless instant composing by Him !

'We hope to climb up the terrace without staircase ! We have thoughtless unbridled mind that seeks pain less (effort less) obtention of salvation. What a foolish and laughable proposition it is !

'Being ignorant of the proper knowledge and awareness about the right approach we are whiling away in the company of unqualified persons for salvation. Just as a fallen young woman treats every male of the town as her man. Does it better her life in any way ?  The result is that people laugh at her condition.

' we are becoming engrossed in painful living thinking that we are in comfortable position as in our eyes every body we encounter is a well wisher of us. Just as a muddleheaded one presumes the mirages as water ponds and wanders there relentlessly. How funny it is !

'We are enacting our lives as in  a stage show under false assumption of pleasures instead of finding refuge in the Almighty within. Just as toiling up and down the rugged terrain with the hope of realising the smoothness (illusory) of far off hills.'

Whatever is detailed above is only for a few reluctant novices trying to control themselves.  And I am sure that all serious seekers among you will not yield to  any sort of distractions whatsoever either by the earthly mortals or the deities of other realms. You have the Staircase  and you have the grit to reach the Terrace - Salvation !

"Tapa Leka Meda Lekka Dalachemu"

How To Reach Terrace Without Stair Case (Steps)! 

Om Shanti!

DON'T FLEE BUT BE STEADFAST !

Just it happened like that. Strange coincidence indeed. As I pondered over today's post about the role play of Mind (a fathom less subject matter) and finished recording of related audio at about 9.00 pm last night, just then I received a call from Swamiji of Amara Yoga Vikasa Kendra Ashram and we deliberated for more than half an hour  exclusively upon the 'Mind'.  The gist of it:  'Presence of Mind is 'Presence of  World;  Absence of Mind is Absence of World. The ultimate realisation is dissolution of Creation in the Creator and there is only one Being; that is Supreme Consciousness. In the Yogi's parlance, "Turiya Atita" state !'

Sadhana - committed and persistent  practice - with the help of tools like Shravana, Manana, Nidhidhyasana etc only can handle the most fluid elusive Mind. Once tamed, the Mind is one's best Friend, Philosopher and Guide and if let lose, it drags down into the abysmal depths of entanglements and ruin. (Already most of the readers are well aware of the sloka 'Uddare datma Atmanam..." of Gita mentioned in my earlier postings)  Knowing such importance of the role play of the Mind  plethora of hymns emanated from the poet savant Annmacharya. Highly adorable spiritual knowledge is being imparted by him in the present sankeertana, "Paarakumi O Manasa, Pantamu Viduvakumi O Manasa !"

'O Mind! Don't run away like the timid. Don't relax from your obstinacy and stubborn determination.  If you let it go you will face downfall. On the other hand if you come nearer to your cherished goal, you will be acclaimed for honours.

'O Mind! Don't let your thoughts linger after sensual pleasures of flesh. Otherwise you will become trapped in entanglements and be spoiled. Let it be known that youth and age are like 'kavadi kundalu' - pots in slings of the yoke on shoulder, oscillating in  nature.  Happenings of good and bad, gain and loss are all cyclic.  Time is not stable but fleeting. Hence O Mind! Turn to the Almighty within and you will realise that there is no better deed than this.

'O Mind! Don't while away your precious time in revelling about amusing happenings of the past.  Don't get disturbed and worried by whatever seen by the eyes and heard by the ears. O Mind!  Know that the lives of all beings on this earth are like wax and wane of the full moon, rise and fall, come and go in  cyclic pattern. It doesn't matter how long one stays on earth or in heaven. It is how much sublime one leads life that matters.

'O Mind! Don't get hooked by the sight of the amorous ladies and be embarrassed later.  Don't get cheated by the mischievous and wily conversations.  Don't  allow blemish of your esteemed status. O Mind! Know that even for all the gods in the higher realms the key for final liberation is same. It's turning towards the Almighty within.  With this thought be freed from wavering.'

How much beautifully tackled the fluid nature of the Mind  on one hand and at the same time highly optimistic approach of controlling it in the form of enthusiastic suggestions by Annamacharya. I ardently wish that all seekers will derive best benefit from such divine knowledge imparted in the form of his sankeertanas.

"Parakumi O Manasa, Pantamu Vidakumi O Manasa !"

'Kavadi Kundalu' (pots in slings of the yoke on shoulder)

Divine Persuit - 22.01.'16

Om Shanti!

'BEING' WITHIN ; SOUGHT WITHOUT !

Strange but true to hear about such laughable queer actions of the human beings. Let us hope  we are not of that kind when go through this oft-quoted  story of an old woman.

' An old woman in a village was searching for something on the ground outside of her hut. The passers by stopped for awhile and started to help in searching. Finding nothing lying on the ground they asked her about the thing she was searching for. She replied that she lost her needle. After vain efforts they again asked about the exact location  where she lost it. She coolly replied that she lost it inside the hut. Now the public were puzzled and asked her instead searching for the needle inside the hut why she was on the road. She replied without hesitation that since it was dark inside the hut she was searching for the needle under the light of the lamp post on the road!'

In addition to the above we have a story from Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa too....In the late night a villager went to his neighbour's house and knocked at the door. The neighbour opened the door  and asked what was the matter. The  first one said that since he had the habit of smoking cigar at odd times, he came to his house  for fire to lit his cigar. The second one exclaimed that, was it not strange to seek fire outside while  carrying lantern in his own hand all the way....

And now let us have another version of telling the same subject by Annamacharya in his characteristic devotional way.  The sankeertana is , " Vedaki Vedaki Choppu Lettuchunu Vicharinchitini Innallu".

'O Lord ! I made an intensive search  for your whereabouts  in various places and at last could find you very near to me on this hill of Tirumala.  Upon somebody's advice I searched for you at Tulasi gardens, in Lotus gardens, As some others advised me, I searched among your devotees singing in eulogy of you.

Some others directed me to the Solar plane (Surya loka). But can I afford to reach there? The list of suggestions is endless.  Their advises about your abode varied from one learned one to another -  Ksheerasagara (ocean of milk); Vaikunttham;  residence in the hearts of all;  this very world of his own creation; and in the pious places of yagnas.  O my Lord ! when I could find you here with your consort, Almelmanga where is the necessity for me any more for searching at distant places.'

Thus, all seers are clear about this truth that instead of making futile exercises of searching for the Almighty externally, it is wise to become introvert and find Him with steadfast devotion.This is the right path of realisation, of liberation.

"Vedaki Vedaki Choppu Lettuchunu Vicharinchitini Innallu"

'Searching outside for needle lost in the hut'

Om Shanti!

THE CONTENTED ONE

A seeker is always contented, balanced and unaffected by the  conditions of dualities and extremities. He only responds in a befitting manner in any given situation.  We  are dealing now and then how the seeds of salvation blossom in an ardent devotee since bhakti and jnana are obverse and reverse of the coin 'salvation'.

Recently we had come across the word ' Vaishnavite'.  And there is another such epithet namely 'Haridasu' denoting the ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. Immense pleasure they derive in hearing discourses as well as spreading more often in the lyrical form the magnificent stories of their deity, Vishnu. Singing of such devotional episodes of Hari becomes 'Harikatha' as a profession. How ever we must have broader understanding that who ever is a theist and has unflinching faith in the Almighty and worships as a true devotee can be treated as 'Haridasu'.  Thus all those seekers  who are on devotional path are 'Haridasu's from the point of view of Annmacharya.

As we discuss the supreme qualities of such devotees on the path of salvation. we come across another typical sankeertana about this subject, 'Atuvanti Vaduvo Haridasudu'.

' A true contented seeker, a man of deep devotion, Haridasu is one who overcomes worries. He regards equally the situations of praise and denounce. He is balanced in  both the situations of facing a killer or being invited for enthronement. He responds equally  when called for to taste the sugar or to taste the bitter neem (margosa). He shows no discrimination between relatives  and persons unrelated. He does perform actions as ordained but does not  expect any results out of them, whether good or bad. He is unaffected by either results of 'punya' (pious) or 'papa' (sinful)' in his devotional stride. Such contented devotee is in effect a liberated one,  on account of his refuge and total surrender to the Almighty within.'

In the context of the seeker's qualities mentioned above,  we have here a popular story about the times of Alexander in India. He sends one of his military officials to seek and fetch a jnani. After a long search the official finds one yogi in a remote place. The official introduces himself and asks the yogi  to go along with him to see Alexander. The yogi refuses to obey him.  Then the official draws his sword and threatens, " I will kill you for disobeying His Majesty's orders". For this the yogi answers with a smile, " You can neither bind me nor kill me. I am deathless. I am Eternal Atman. Sun can not dry me up; Rain can not wet;  Wind can  not sway away; Fire can not burn me up. Tell this to your Majesty". Felt aghast with this answer, the official returns back....

In connection with the above anecdote I would like to say that as the seeker's consciousness deepens he loses all the attachment about his gross body - physical being with the experiencing of elated state of his eternal being. I mean it when I say that when there is hearty welcome and fondly caressing by the new parents in new environment which is going to be definitely highly spiritual on account of the sequel to the present acquirement,  I - 'the contented one' - am fully prepared for change of the cloaks!

"Atuvanti Vadu Vo Haridasudu"

"I Am Deathless, Eternal Soul !"

Om Shanti!

MINDFUL WALK - A THRILL

'See the nature - trees, flowers, grass grow in silence.  See the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence.We need silence to be able to touch souls'.

--- Mother Theresa

'Cool Breeze, Pleasant Atmosphere, Beautiful Scenery' - These are the mantra-like soft, soul soothing ripples from the gentle voice of our venerable Yogacharya entering into our ears like incessant flow of manna. The way of imparting of yoga by him is par excellence as it really requires extra ordinary stamina to be able to perform 'asanas' (physical nourishment) and deliver discourses (spiritual nourishment) simultaneously.  Hence I was complacent about the supreme package of 'Yoga Plus' of this outstanding mentor in many ways.

Some time ago an institution named SAAOL (Science And Art Of Living) held a medical check up camp at Krishna Kant Park and after going through my revelation of regular Yoga practice, advised that Yoga alone would not suffice for keeping away unforeseen health problems.  They said everybody should do both yoga and walking as supplementary exercises (not alternative to one another).

So recently I thought of the walking part of regular exercise advised by the SAAOL.  Of course, Krishna Kant Park has a vast stretch of earthen track for walking. But quite often than not it is over crowded. More over it is rather in my opinion 'conditioned walking on conditioned path with conditioned mind' confined to given track in a stereotype manner. I contemplated about hundred percent attention of my mind on walking only. I got the solution ! To try for simulation of village side foot track. I recollected my childhood summer holidays spending in villages.  I experienced walking on different terrains with rugged surfaces -  some part of earth soft some other part hard,  with lots of twists and turns glancing askance floral beauties and muddy pools. 

Lo, I got one such place for my heart fill.  In the image furnished below see  how I am enjoying 'mindful walking' with fully alert and aware about the earth to step on amidst a tree with three benches in the centre of the high rise mound, with ever changing course  and without beaten track and touching the  small plants with affectionate daily greeting "how are you my friends?". Amusing part of the course is to visit a deer with flower stalk in her mouth. To be frank, the thrill derived from this mindful walking can be doubled by going on barefoot - an intimate direct contact with the Mother Nature Earth.  'Barefoot Walking' is preferable because, among many benefits, one is,  the tiny granules of earth coming into direct contact with the foot have an 'acupressure' effect on the nerve endings at the bottom. And another, the prana essences of various minerals in earth activate our body when barefoot is in direct contact with earth !

This soulful walking is the guiding principle in my spiritual path too in day to day happenings to keep me always cool and blissful. In this connection  I wish to bring before you a good piece of saying from Thich Nhat Hanh, "When we are mindful deeply in touch with the present moment, our understanding of what is going on deepens and we begin to befriend with Acceptance, Joy, Peace and Love".  A condition-free mind is the condition for one's  blissful nature.

On this day of Sankranti Festival, I wish to share my voice in the form of a melodious Sankeertana from Annamacharya, "Kommalu Chudare Govindudu" (O Gopikas !  Behold the Lord Krishna) !

"Kommalu Chudare Govindudu"

Marking of Mindful Walk
Up and down of the mound

......amidst plants

Up and down of the mound

A deer with flower stalk in her mouth

Veneration of Mother Earth
- Barefoot walk amidst woods !

Up and down the Mound

Om Shanti!