Bhagwat Session 6

Pls find enclosed the synopsis. It has been divided into 3 parts

- The Story

- The concept 

- The points to ponder ( Lets revisit the story in light of the concepts) 

Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapurana

Synopsis of the Sixth Session

Bhagavata Pratham Skanda (Book One)

Chapter 9 and 15

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A Grand Era comes to an end..

Story:

Shri Krishna takes Yudhishthira to Bhisma, to seek enlightenment and uplift his impending gloom. The sages from the 14 Lokas decent to listen to the knowledge that Bhisma was going to impart. With affection, he mentions that the pandavas had suffered injustice, and attributes all to the ‘Time Spirit’ and the will of providence. Later, when the time for his soul to depart from he body comes, he fixes his attention on the form of Krishna, which had lifted the Wheel and rushed towards Bhisma to attack him. Knowing him to be the Divine one, he drops his body.

Yudhisthira’s infatuation was driven away, but the light of wisdom shed by Bhisma. With the permission of Krishna and Dhrtarastra, Yudhisthira ruled over the kingdom with righteousness. Mother earth was freed of her burden and hence, the nature responded favourably. Living being had no worries of physical aliments or affliction of any kind. People of Hastinapura, through their eyes, itched him in the depth of their hearts. Restoring Dharma and Bliss, amidst the songs of glory for him and the blessed ‘Dwaraka waasis’, Krishna departed for Dwarka.

He journeyed though various cities, and people basked in the bliss of his sight. When he reached the outskirts of Dwaraka, he blew his Panchjanya Counch, to signal his return. Everyone left what there were doing and rushed to greet him, and he in turn greeted all of them as they so desired. His family, his 16000 odd wives, and children were overwhelmed to see him. Everyone had krishna to themselves. 

Yudhisthira performed a lot of Yagnas, his kingdom covered almost the entire earth and his glory reached even the heavens.Then came the joyous time of the birth of the only descendent of the Pandavas. At the most auspicious hour, Pariksit was born. At the right moment, enormous ‘Dana’ was made to everyone. The Brahmanas predicted his future, and his virtues. Yudhisthira performed 3 more Yagnas, to which Krishna was also invited. After spending some time with the Pandavas, he, along with Arjun returned to Dwaraka.

After completing his piligrimage, Vidhura, pandava’s uncle, returned to Hastinapura. Everyone was over joyed to see him, and he was satisfied to see the blossoming of their kingdom. When the time was right he guided Dhrtarastra toward his ultimate goal in life, ‘Prabhu Prapti’ and Gandhari followed. One day, all three silently left the kingdom, and journeyed towards the north. Narada, consoled the lamenting Yudhisthira. Dhrtarastra left his body, Gandhari followed and Vidhura with a mixed feeling of Joy and Grief, went again on pilgrimages of sacred places.

King Yudhisthira grew apprehensive at the sight of even omens and worried why Arjun had not returned, as it had been several months. While he was sharing his anxiety with the other brothers, Arjun returned, broken and beaten. He looked as if someone had robed his soul of all the lustre. On being, questioned, he finally responded and conveyed that, Krishna dropped the Yadava body and the yadava race has been exterminated. He felt as if Krishna has robbed him of all his velour. But, later, realised that it was never him, but the Lord who was acting threw him. Kunti, dropped her mortal body and merged with her Lord Shri Krisna. 

That very moment the age of Kali set in. Yudhisthira crowned Pariksit at Hastinapura and Vajra at Mathura. He, his brothers and Draupadi were completely set at rest, and resolved to ascend to the heavens. They all descended to abode of Krishna. Vidhura also fixed his mind on Krishna and casted of his body.

Thus, came to an end the glorious age of Krishna and his Pandavas. As Dwapar exited, Kaliyug enveloped the earth. In it’s shackles of darkness, it began to drown the light of The Self.

Some Concepts - 

For those who really want to understand, Hearing, Reading and after that Manan is essential. Moreover, as we Journey deeper into Shrimad Bhagvata Mahapuran, more clarity will come.

‘Start walking keep walking the path will reveal itself.’

‘As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.’ Rumi

‘Although the road is never ending take a step and keep walking, do not look fearfully into the distance..

On this path let the heart be your guide for the body is hesitant and full of fear.’ Rumi

Karma Bandan

‘Does Karma really exist? 

I know that you can say, "No it doesn't." 

But, as long as you believe that you are a body and mind, 

as long as you feel the world to be real, you cannot fool yourself. Do not lie to yourself. 

If the world perturbs you, if people bother you, if things annoy you, if you are reacting to conditions this means that you believe you are a body going through these experiences. 

And as long as you are going through experiences you are in karma. You are experiencing the karma that put you here as a body. 

It is only when you have realised the self that there is no karma.

Therefore do not go around telling people that there is no karma, it will give them license to do anything they like. 

Feeling there is no retribution, there is no effect for their deeds. This is not true as long as you believe you are a body. For there are laws of the universe that respond to your actions. Karma means action. And as long as you believe you are the doer, you will have to experience the results of the karma.

So in this particular life you are experiencing the results of not only the karma of this experience but of previous lives. 

Previous lives also come into effect whenever you believe you are the body. 

There are only two ways to destroy the karma.

- One is to inquire, "To whom the karma comes? Who is experiencing this karma?"

- The other way is to surrender completely to God. Totally surrender your life to God. God is within you as you. You therefore surrender everything to the self. Thy will be done. You begin to see that as long as you have God to surrender to, you need not worry, you need not fear. Everything will be alright.’

-Robert Adams - T123 - Does Karma Really Exist? -

26th January, 1992

Mukti 

‘What is Mukti or Moksha? 

Mukti or Moksha means Freedom, that all souls desire for. In other words, freedom from sorrow and miseries.’

It is not that Enlightenment (Mukti) happens after suffering and misery. Rather, after enlightenment, no matter what, you don’t feel suffering and misery.

Note: It takes less then the a blink of an eye, to break the shackles of Karma and attain Mukti.

Why God does not grant us Mukti right now? Why God does not help?

Point 1: 

The Lord and The Self - Just One

‘In the nature of their being, God and individual souls are one and the same. They differ only on account of the attributes that are ascribed to them. To know oneself without attributes is to know God, since God shines as the Self. 

The eternal, unbroken, natural state of abiding 

in the Self is Gyana. To abide in the Self you must love the 

Self. Since God is verily the Self, love of the Self is love of 

God; and that is Bhakti.’

Maharshi’s Gospel

Point 2: 

‘No gardener can make even one flower. The flower must come from the plant. The gardener can shake up the #roots a little, feed it properly, water it, protect it from animals, expose it to the sun, or put it in the shade when necessary. Thus, outside service can be done, but the flower cannot come from the gardener.

In the same way, the textbooks, the #masters, and the #rishis are all gardeners. The flower of #knowledge must come from you. In the light of knowledge all doubts end.’

Chinmaya Gurudev

What is preventing us from Mukti at this very moment? 

‘Step 1:

Actions create Sanskaars (tendencies or habits) and Sanskaars determine Limits of potential of soul. The catch is that the moment you conduct an action, it creates a Sanskaar. Sanskaar implies that the probability of you conducting the same action in similar situation increases. Thus, if you do wrong acts – like cheating, hating etc – the probability of you doing the same again and again increases. This reduces the limits of your potentials and hence you have reduced knowledge resulting in reduced bliss. Thus you get a step away from Mukti.

 

But when you do good acts – like compassion, analysing and accepting only truth, high character etc – the probability of you doing more of such good acts also increases. This leads to greater potential of seeking knowledge and hence bliss. Thus you get a step closer to Mukti.

 

Step 2:

Now EACH AND EVERY ACTION (including thoughts and feelings) count in this process. Also remember that even if you do something even once, its probability of happening again and making you dumber or intelligent increases.

 

Step 3:

A typical being keeps oscillating between good and bad deeds every moment, going few steps back and few steps forth like a drunkard, resulting in the delay in Mukti.

 

Step 4:

But a yogi uses his will-power to refuse to conduct bad actions and proactively conducts noble actions. This gradually weakens the Sanskaars of old bad actions and replaces them with good Sanskaars. Gradually the seeds of all bad sanskaars are destroyed by a yogi. This results in a situation that bad actions are not repeated under any circumstance by the yogi. He thus has burnt the seeds of bad Sanskaars (dagdhbeej) or has got free of the trap of bad Sanskaars forcing bad actions. He moves straight towards Mukti.

 

This process of destruction of seeds of sanskaars demands constant practice with full enthusiasm, confidence and faith on Ishwar for a period of time.’

Taken from Hindu and Sanatan Dharma

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To succeed, you must have tremendous perseverance, tremendous will. “I will drink the ocean”, says the persevering soul; “at my will mountains will crumble up”. Have that sort of energy, that sort of will; work hard, and you will reach the goal. Swami Vivekananda 

Many a time, I have heard people say that don’t mix the two. But, it is important, that knowing the ‘Subtle’ nature of the Self, one acts in the ‘Gross’ material world. Just like, instead of balancing between the spiritual and the material world. One needs to make a strong spiritual base and on it build ones material world.

Hence, will make an attempt to talk about Krishna as the Self (Inner realm - That is One without names and forms) and Divine Individual/God (Outer Realm - The two with names and form).

Points to Ponder

Samaya - Time / Niyati 

"Hon har Bhavi Prabal, 

bilakhi kahe muni naath

Hani laabh, jeevan maran, 

yaash aapyash vidhi haath."

No matter what you do, Time/Samay defines lose and gain, death and life, fame and defame. These are not in our hand, it is all in the hand of providence.

But, work as if there is no one but you, and surrender as if there is no one but God. 

There are two elements 

1. Controllable - which you have control over

2. Uncontrollable - which you do not have control over 

The Pandavas teach us 

- How to focus on the controllable and give your very best

- How to graciously embrace the unfavourable times. Become better thought adversities and not bitter.

Inspite, of all the hardship caused by Dhrtharastra, their respect for him, and their responsibility towards him did not change. They understood that it is just the work of providence. 

In the time of trouble they never deviated from their true Dharma, that is Love and Bliss. They never lost faith in and sight of Krishna. 

Prabhu/Bhisma ki Pratigya - Pleage

‘Apna Vachan tod 

bhakt ka pran nibhau’

‘Breaking his own vow, not to take up arms during the Mahabharata war, to fulfil and exalt my vow of compelling him to take up arms, Krishna jumped down and taking a wheel rushed towards me.’

Outer Realm

Various ways to look at it;

- God/Elevated souls are so compassionate that they are willing so sacrifice their own glory, for the sake of the upliftment of other.

- Is it possible to ensure that milk does not mix in water, but the same milk when becomes butter, floats on water. Krishna so established in the Self, who has moved far beyond Karma, knowing that his breaking the vow will not make a difference to him, as it was a selfless act. But, if Bhisma breaks his vow, he will have to bear the repurcussions. 

Inner Realm

Our all knowing True Self, is very powerful. Can it not shine so bright that the layers covering it disappear. However, it allows for the cleansing to happen voluntary, gradually as and when one is ready from outside. 

In the process of cleaning, through the knowledge that is coming from outside, starts happening from within as well, when the knowledge for insides starts cutting the layers and the True Self is revealed 

Power of a true devotee - Vidhur 

We see that, Krishna declined to be with Duryodhana who welcomed him with all his riches, instead went on to the humble dwell of Vidhur.

‘Duryodhan ka Meva Tyagyo,

Saag Vidhur ghar khai’.

Outer Realm

God might not give all the riches of the world to a pure person, but he sure gives himself to a person pure in heart.

Inner Realm

It is the layers of vices that prevent us from seeing the True Self. When the cleaning is complete the self reveal itself. 

Such a realised soul, has the power to purify the purifying pilgrimages also. He is that trunk that not only crosses the ocean of mundane existence, but also takes others across with him.

The decline of the Yadavas - Krishna was a Yadava 

Outer Realm

How many actually recognised Krishna as God?

- Did his 16000 odd wives know Krishna’s divine natuer?

- Did Kauravas know Krishan’s divine nature? Would Duryodhana not have chosen Krishna over his army if he did?

- Did Arjun actually know Krishna’s divine form till he got the Gita Gyan?

Just because someone is physically close, does not mean you know person. In Mahabharat, the end of those who truly knew Krishna , as opposed to those who did not is very evident. The Rise of those who did and the demise of those who did not. 

Inner Realm

The Journey of life of those, who are in touch with the inner True Self, is very different from those who just associate oneself with the body.

There are two ways to look at this situation;

1. When the soul reveals itself, in the light of true knowledge, all the vices get dissolved. So, if we take Krishna to be knowledge, Yadavas and Kauravas to be vices, there extermination was natural.

2. We all are nothing but the ‘Satchitanad Swaroop’, infinite everlasting bliss. Inspite of that we feel bouts of sorrow, agony, anguish to name a few. The reason being, though we are, we don’t know. We spend a life time in search of happiness, when we ourselves are an ocean of Bliss. 

‘Pani mai raine payasi,

more suun suun aaye haasi.’

It makes me laugh to think, that one is thirty inspite of living in water.

Only the plant can make the flower blossom, other can support, but the flower has to blossom from within.

Mukti at the Battle field

Outer Realm

How great is a being, who gets the dharshan of Krishna, before the soul drops the body. How great must have been his or her past karmas, that lord himself came to take him. 

We are able to see only the limited present, and unable to see the adi, madhya and anth, that is, past present and future. 

Who are we to judge, if someone is deserving of what he/she is getting? How much information do we have to make such a judgment?

Inner Realm

It takes less then a blink of an eye, to break the shackles of Karma and attain Mukti. It is that moment when the true Knowledge dawns. When we say they got mukti, it simply means that the True Self was finally realised.

Nature Responds and Revolts 

To understand the functioning of the nature, let us understand the functioning of our body. 

Lately, we have realised that depression, gloom, extreme anger, anxiety to name a few can have adverse effect on our health. Positive emotions, like Joy, happiness, companionship to name a few have healing effect on our body. There is the uproar about ‘Placebo Effect’ and this has had amazing result.

In fact, the effect of different intangible emotions, has a tangible impact on the organs and the body as a whole. 

This analogy of the body can be extended to the earth, galaxy, universe etc. If the people on earth predominantly exhibit a certain kind of emotion, it reacts. If the emotion is of contentment, and majority of the people are virtues the earth is contented and shows this through the abundance in produce, through the balanced cycle of climate etc. On the contrary, when everyone is predominately vicious, the cycle of the earth gets imbalanced, and there are repeated droughts, calamities etc.

The texture of your thought not only governs your body, but also the Earth and beyond, and the texture of the Earth at large, governs the individual thoughts. 

Let go 

Outer Realm

‘Aaya hai so jaega,

Raja rangk fakir’

Khali hum haath aaye hai, 

Khali haath chaejaenge,

Kuch bhi na hum laaye the,

Kuch bhi na lejaenge

Maati se utthe aur,

Maati mai miljaenge.

 

There is no bigger reality than the above. Nothing that we see around is ours, then why do we hold on so tightly to something that was never ours. This does not mean we don’t act, but this means we indulge in ‘Selfless Action without Doership, with total surrender’.

Inner Realm 

‘Das kabir nai aise audhi,

jyo ki tyo dhar dini chadariya’ 

Das Kabir, come acted in the word,...