Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on Shankara et al (part 4)

[Guest guest]

(Preface to MMY's translation of BhagavadGita Chapter's 1-6 continued)

 

In our review of the rise and fall of Truth, we must not lose sight of the great

impact that Shankara produced on Indian life. It was the perfection of his

presentation that caused Shankara's teaching to be accepted as the core of Vedic

Wisdom and placed it at the centre of Indian culture. It became so inseparable

from the Indian way of life that when, in course of time, this teaching lost its

universal character and came to be interpreted as for the recluse order alone,

the whole basis of Indian culture also began to be considered in terms of the

recluse way of life, founded on renunciation and detachment.

 

When this detached view of life became accepted as the basis of Vedic Wisdom,

the wholeness of life and fulfilment was lost. This error of understanding has

dominated Indian culture for centuries and has turned the principle of life

upside down. Life on the basis of detachment! This is a complete distortion of

Indian philosophy. It has not only destroyed the path of realization but has led

the seekers of Truth continuously astray. Indeed it has left them without the

possibility of ever finding the goal.

 

Not only was the path to enlightenment lost, but the entire art of living

disappeared in the clouds of ignorance which obscured every phase of life. Even

religion became blind to itself. Instead of directly helping people to gain God

Consciousness and act rightly on that basis, religious preachers began to teach

that right action is in itself a way to purification and thereby to God

Consciousness.

 

Without Being, confusion of cause and effect invaded every field of

understanding. It captured even the most practical field of the philosophy of

Yoga. Karma Yoga (attainment of Union by way of action) began to be understood

as based on Karma (action), whereas its basis is Yoga, Union, Transcendental

Consciousness. The founder of the Yoga philosophy, Patanjali, was himself

misinterpreted and the order of stages on his eightfold path reversed. The

practice of Yoga was understood to start with Yama, Niyama, and so on (the

secular virtues), whereas in reality it should begin with Samadhi. Samadhi

cannot be gained by the practice of Yama, Niyama, and so on. Proficiency in the

virtues can only be gained by repeated experiences of Samadhi. It was because

the effect was mistaken for the cause that this great philosophy of life became

distorted and the path to Samadhi was blocked.

 

With the loss of insight into Yoga, the other five classical systems of Indian

philosophy lost their power. They remained on the theoretical level of

knowledge, for it is through Yoga alone that knowledge steps into practical

life.

 

Thus we find that all fields of religion and philosophy have been misunderstood

and wrongly interpreted for many centuries past. This has blocked the path to

the fullest development of heart and mind, so precisely revived by Shankara.

 

Interpretations of the Bhagavad-Gita and other Indian scriptures are now so full

of the idea of renunciation that they are regarded with distrust by practical

men in every part of the world. Many Western universities hesitate to teach

Indian philosophy for this reason. The responsibility for this loss of Truth to

the whole world lies with the interpretations of Shankara's teaching; missing

the essence of his wisdom, they have bean unable to save the world from falling

ever deeper into ignorance and suffering.

 

This age has, however, been fortunate. It has witnessed the living example of a

man inspired by Vedic Wisdom in its wholeness and thus able to revive the

philosophy of the integrated life in all its truth and fullness. His Divinity

Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, the inspiration and guiding light of this

commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita, adorned the seat of the Shankaracharya of the

North [Jyotir Math] and, glowing in divine radiance, embodied in himself the

head and heart of Shankara. He expounded the Truth in Its all-embracing nature.

His quiet words, coming from the unbounded love of his heart, pierced the hearts

of all who heard him and brought enlightenment to their minds. His message was

the message of fullness of heart and mind. He moved as the living embodiment of

Truth and was addressed as Vedanta Incarnate by that great Indian philosopher,

now President of India, Dr Radhakrishnan.

 

It was the concern of Guru Deva, His Divinity Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, to

enlighten all men everywhere that resulted in the foundation of the world-wide

Spiritual Regeneration Movement [now the TM movement] in I958, five years after

his departure from us.

 

India is a country where Truth matters most and Indians are a people to whom God

matters most. Indian soil has witnessed many times the revival of life's true

philosophy. The people of India have never hesitated to return once more to the

right path whenever it was convincingly pointed out to them that their way of

life had taken a wrong course. This receptiveness to Truth of the Indian people

has always been a source of inspiration and a signal of hope to all movements

aiming at the revival of true life and living.

 

May the present commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita produce the desired effect in

response to the historical necessity of today.

 

The purpose of this commentary is to restore the fundamental truths of the

Bhagavad-Gita and thus restore the significance of its teaching. If this

teaching is followed, effectiveness in life will be achieved, men will be

fulfilled on all levels and the historical need of the age will be fulfilled

also.

 

MAHARISHI MAHESH YOGI

The Old Manor, Aldbourne,

Wiltshire, England

12 January 1965