Secrets of Spiritual Sadhana-7 [Sadhana Karu Pyare]

Sadhana Karu Pyare is a unique philosophical compilation set in 54 lines and arranged in the form of couplets (dohas). In these lines, Shree Maharajji has summarized the entire philosophy of the knowledge of God and Guru (Philosophy of Divine Love). Swamiji explained the complete set of 54 lines at the Puri Sadhana Shivir in 2008, which we will reproduce in this series. 

This is the next line of "Sadhana Karu Pyare" series.

naam guṇ līlādi kīrtan sāth meṁ karu pyāre

dhyān hī hai sādhanā kā prāṇ jīvan pyāre

dhyān binu sab sādhanāhai prāṇbinu tanu pyāre

In the preceding lines, Shree Kripaluji Maharaj has explained about meditating on God and the importance of applying our mind.  He repeats this message again in the new verse.  Why is that?  From a historical and literary perspective, the repetition of a particular phrase or word of advice is considered a flaw.

But a God-realized Saint does not give much importance to rules of literature.  He gives prime importance to the upliftment of individual souls.  That is why Shree Maharajji has repeated this line for the benefit of the sadhaks.  Because, he knows that once said, people will not listen to it carefully.  If it is repeated again and again, the message will penetrate the mind slowly and gradually.  He knows very well that all individual souls are under the influence of maya, and nobody is like Arjun, who heard to Shree Krishna's advice just once and said:

naṣhṭo mohaḥ smṛitirlabdhvā

"My ignorance has been destroyed, and with Your Grace, I have gained true knowledge." So, a Guru repeats the advice again and again.  When you are in Mangarh for the sadhana program, you will always hear Shree Maharajji saying - 'Practice Roop-dhyan'. He knows that all devotees will listen to the Guru. Yet, they soon forget and Maharajji reminds them constantly.  The sadhak forgets the message and Shree Maharajji reminds him again.  The Guru never gets tired or sad that his words are not being followed even though he is repeating it.  He is ready to repeat the advice a thousand times. 

We have to remember that Shree Maharajji's philosophy is a few notches higher than the philosophies of other saints.  At the same time, it does not mean these saints are wrong. They revealed and preached their philosophy according to the time, situation and circumstances surrounding them.  All the spiritual masters have mentioned about the need for meditation or dhyan.

Let us hear what saints have to say. "Just chant and remember the name of God".

sāṁketyaṁ parihāsyaṁ vā stobhaṁhelanamevavā vaikunṭhanāmagrahaṇaṁ śheṣhāgaharaṁviduḥ

The Bhagawat says: "Chant God's name unintentionally, or in humor or chant His name in anger. Just chant the name of God and its benefits will surely reach you".

Adi Jagadguru Shankaracharya, the premier acharya of the path of knowledge, gyan marg, says in his commentary on Vishu Sahasranam,

śhraddhā bhaktyorbhāvopi bhagavannām saṁkīrtan samastaṁ duritaṁ nāśhayati ityuktaṁ

"Just chant the name of God without any faith or devotion".

Tulsidaas has also said:

bhāv kubhāv anakh ālassahu

nām japat maṅgal diśhi daśhahuṁ

"Remember the name of God with feelings or without any feelings, yet, you will be blessed in every possible way".  Surprisingly, nobody has questioned these words saying, "We have chanted the name of God, but why have we not received any benefit?" For instance, Aristotle, the noted Greek philosopher from 300 BC, wrote that men have more teeth than women.  This statement was not verified for a thousand years. His words were accepted as the truth.  It was later discovered that Aristotle had committed a blunder.

In the same vein, Kripaluji Maharaj questions, "You have been chanting your friend Ramgopal's name, but you have not become a God-realized person!"

Some saints use the example of Ajamil.  They say, "He attained Divine abode by chanting 'Narayan', his son's name.  You should also chant the name of God and reach Him."  Saints also use another example - that of Saint Valmiki or Ratnakar as he was known before he became a saint.  He never chanted 'Ram Ram' as he could only say 'Mara Mara'.

ulṭā nām japat jag jānā 

vālmīki bhaye brahma samānā

Now, if someone could attain God by merely saying 'Mara Mara', then what about the one who says 'Ram Ram'?

Using these two real life examples, many saints have preached that one should chant the name of God at all times.  Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj clarifies the real motive behind this message. Saints advise us to chant the name of God (with or without feelings), so that sadhaks can earnestly begin their spiritual journey in some form or the other.  It is like planting a seed.  If a Guru strictly instructs a beginner to apply his mind first and then chant the name of God, the aspirant may not be able to do so.  He may even discontinue his spiritual quest since his mind is not tuned towards God fully.  Hence, to encourage and protect the sadhak's aspirations, saints advise to start chanting irrespective of the feelings inside.

Another example we can consider is when parents bring their child to pay respects to a saint. They say "Son, bow down and prostrate in front of Swamiji." The child starts to wonder, "Who is this Swamiji and why should I do pranaam?" The youngster does not understand the importance of this act and refuses.  The parent forces the child to bow down and offer pranaams, against his wishes.  When the child grows older, he will understand the significance and meaning of offering pranaam to a Swami.  Hence, in the preliminary stages, physical action is taught, and its importance is learnt with the passage of time.

Similarly, saints have taught and encouraged people to practice bhajans with the earnest hope that they will progress to the next level.  The secret behind this is revealed by Kripaluji Maharaj.  He clarifies that, when Ajamil's example is used by saints, it does not mean that he just chanted 'Narayan' and attained Divine abode.

Before he became a saint, Ajamil was a highly capable personality. But he had strayed from his path of sadhana and turned away from God.  He later realized his mistakes and practiced bhakti in Haridwar (holy town in North India) for a year.

gaṅgādvār mupeyāya tyaktasarvānubandhan

It is only after practicing devotion with complete absorption of the mind in God that he became a God-realized Saint.  He did not reach his goal merely by chanting 'Narayan'.

Shree Maharajji again clarifies the essence of the message given by saints when they refer to Saint Valmiki or Ratnakar.  He chanted 'Mara Mara' because he was instructed by his Guru, Saint Narad who is the primordial acharya of bhakti. Naradji told him to chant 'Mara Mara' till he returns.  Ratnakar surrendered his mind and intellect to his Guru, and did exactly as his Guru wished.  He never questioned, "Guruji, when will you come back? What if you never return and I keep repeating 'Mara Mara'? When will I have the vision of God?" No.  He never questioned his Guru.  He had complete faith in his Guru's words and surrendered his mind to him.

Thousands of years passed; termites built a mound over his body.  He was completely covered in it and hence he got the name Valmiki, which means 'termite' in Sanskrit. With the Grace of his Guru, Ratnakar had a vision of God and became a God-realized Saint whom we all recognize by the name Valmiki.  So, it is our misunderstanding that by just saying 'Mara Mara', one can attain God.  

The simple truth is that, wherever we attach our mind, we will attain that object. Jad Bharat, a paramahans, was reborn as a deer in his next life because of his deep affection for a fawn in his ashram.  It is a false assumption that we could loath our lives away, and at the time of death, just chant 'Ram Ram' to attain God's Divine abode.  The main question is - Did we chant God's name with our mind involved in it? Did we remember God in our heart and feel His presence?  This is the reason Shree Kripaluji Maharaj lays emphasis on meditating with the mind, and reminds us that the very life and essence of sadhana is 'Roop-dhyan'

.... To be Continued

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