Yoga Vasishtha on Devotion - Sadanandaji

[Guest guest]

Nameste!

 

In a very brief couple of verses in Sri Sankara's THE CREST JEWEL OF

WISDOM, the same ideas are expressed.

 

Verse 6 "People may quote the scriptures, make sacrifices to the

gods, perform actions and pay homage to the deities, but there is no

liberation without recognizing the oneness of one's own true being--

not even in the lifetime of a hundred Brahmas (countless millions of

years)." [Translation by John Richards]

 

Verses 7 and 8 continue the thought.

 

This may be useful.

 

lotusaware

 

advaitin, kuntimaddi sadananda

<kuntimaddisada> wrote:

> I would like to get hold of those sloka-s from Yoga VashisshTa.

>

> Hari OM!

> Sadananda

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "lotusaware" <lotusaware> wrote:

> In a very brief couple of verses in Sri Sankara's THE CREST JEWEL

OF

> WISDOM, the same ideas are expressed.

>

> Verse 6 "People may quote the scriptures, make sacrifices to the

> gods, perform actions and pay homage to the deities, but there is

no

> liberation without recognizing the oneness of one's own true being--

> not even in the lifetime of a hundred Brahmas (countless millions

of

> years)." [Translation by John Richards]

 

Namaste,

 

One of my favorite verses is Gita 9:15.

 

Gita Satsangh, Chapter 9, verses 11-15, had these insightful

comments, for which we have to be thankful to Nairji.

 

Swami Chinmayanandaji (in the Files section) also has a long

commentary on 9:15.

 

Message 15238

"Madathil Rajendran Nair" <madathilnair

Sat Nov 16, 2002 4:35 am

Re: Gita Satsangh: Chapter 9 - Verses 11 to 15

 

"

This post comprises my personal ruminations on BG 9: 11 – 15 strictly

within the advaitic format. If it is of any help to anybody, I will

be more than happy. If I have erred in grammar and misunderstood the

actual import of the words, kindly bear with me.

 

Advaitically, the world of multiplicity as a separate entity outside

us is an error in our understanding. The diversity is nothing but

infinite permutations and combinations of the three gunas in varying

degrees.

 

The spectrum of this diversity is the theme of BG 9 : 11 – 15.

 

At the bottom are the deluded who take this world for real, run after

it and come to great grief. All their efforts are centred around

gratifying the body (mind, intellect and ego implied) which they

think they really are. They have no time to pause, think and

perceive that it is after all Consciousness, their real nature, that

enables creation to be. Thus, all their desires, actions and

understanding are ridden with delusion. There isn't a speck of

light or divinity there. Only thick, impenetrable delusion. They

are the "farthest" from Consciousness, therefore. (9:11 – 12).

 

As opposed to them are the great ones who discriminate and understand

the source of all beings as Consciousness and devotes themselves

fully to IT. They are not distracted by the multiplicity of creation.

Their nature therefore is divine. Their life is a song devoted to

Consciousness and total, undivided, determined surrender to it

through all actions. They are, thus ever attached to Consciousness.

(9:13-14).

 

An understanding of 9:15 will not be complete without defining

jnAnayajna. What is jnAnayajna? I think the key to its definition is

in the second line. Consciousness appears to be vishvatomukham –

projecting in infinite directions as the created universe(s). Those

who see through the game discern the single source (unity -ekatwa) of

creation, acknowledge the divinity in each distinct object perceived

(pRiThaktwa) and in the manifold (bahudhA) totality. This discernment

is a knowledge, is knowing something, and, therefore, involves

duality. That sense of duality needs to be sacrificed at the altar

of Consciousness for true `realization without the need for anything

to be realized' to take place. That sacrifice is jnAnayajna through

which they verily become Consciousness. (9:13-14)."

 

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder