A humble tribute to a Mahatma

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr. Yadu,

 

What you say makes sense to me. I will pass this on to HS as well.

 

One modern example to illustrate your point is Bhagavan Ramana. Because

Sri Ramana's Realization was spontaneous and direct and outside the

accepted traditions, the sage spoke in a simple way that was easy to

understand for those who had the spiritual maturity. On the other hand,

as Sri Ramana gradually was exposed to different teachings of the

Advaitic scriptures, and especially to the works of Sri Shankra, he was

easily able to understand what they were saying and also explain these

to others. Sri Ramana said that when he read these things in the

beginning he realized they were describing his experience!

 

Sri Ramana became very learned in the Advaitic literature through

association with devotees like Ganapati Muni who gathered around him.

Many of Sri Ramana's devotees were some of the best vedic scholars of

that era. Sri Ramana's Realization came prior to his exposure to

traditional works of Advaita Vedanta. However, as fate would have it, he

became quite well versed in the Shankra tradition. Sri Ramana's pure

teaching, although free flowing and independent, is consistent with the

Upanishads. As the devotees of Sri Ramana know, the sage was quite fond

of Vivekachudamani and made a translation of it in Tamil. A beautiful

English translation of Vivekachudamani can be found in his "Collected

Works" a small book which records what Sri Ramana wrote in his life time.

 

Coming back to the notion of Samadhi, when one goes into meditation with

a sankalpa, the samadhi is likely to be Sabij or Savikalpa Samadhi. The

bija may be a mantra, yantra, breath, light, sound or some other object

of concentration. The bija is really a proxy for the mind or

individuality. As long as the mind is present in even in its most subtle

witness form, the Samadhi is Savikalpa. Lower types of Sabij or

Savikalpa Samadhis will also end as that.

 

Even higher forms of Savikalpa Samadhi will end up as Savikalpa only.

The experiences of visions, celestial heavens, divine sounds are all in

the realm of Savikalpa Samadhi. However, as a person practices, and his

longing to know God becomes desperate, the Grace of the Guru acting

through the Shakti can lead to Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

 

Nirvikalpa Samadhi is difficult to obtain without Grace because left to

its own effort and devices, the mind will find the most ingenious ways

to stay alive. Even for an advanced yogic adept, a horrific terror may

be felt prior to Nirvikalpa Samadhi at the prospect of losing mind and

identity in the Self. The terror is due to latent accumulated tendencies

and vasanas. This is why Nirvikalpa Samadhi does not always lead

immediately to Sahaj Samadhi. Nirvikalpa Samadhi means that the mind

must be absorbed in the Heart. Essentially, it must give up its will and

effort and the entire movement that gives it life. Due to the root

instinct for survival, a mind cannot will itself through sankalpa to be

absorbed in the Self. The mere act of willing by the mind assures its

survival!

 

Therefore, at the right moment, Grace is needed for the mind to

surrender to the Lord with the attitude, "not my will but Thine and here

is my life to do as Thou will.". Then if by Grace, Shakti as the Mother

embraces the baby (the mind), comforts it, and keeps it free from fear

in order to merge in the Heart, the Self, Nirvikalpa Samadhi ensues and

the Self is directly realized as one's own Self, the core of Being. Pure

Sat and Pure Ananda. Eternal and Whole. The Beloved for whom we long and

to whom we offered everything, once He accepts, turns out to be our very

own Self.

 

Love to all

Harsha

 

 

 

 

 

ymoharir wrote:

>

> advaitin <advaitin%40>,

> Harsha wrote:

> >

> > Dr Yadu-ji: Your questions are answered below.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr. Yadu-ji:

 

You are absolutely right that Sankalpa is needed in order to move

forward on the spiritual path. To focus the mind, to aim the mind

towards a goal with energy to achieve the objective is the underlying

methodology of yoga. Sankalpa provides the fuel that propels the rocket

(the individual) out of orbit away from the pull of gravity (vasanas).

 

Sankalpa is needed and is essential. However, after one has reached a

certain state, one reflects and meditates on the mahavakyas and based on

the authority of the scriptures and words of the Guru gains the firm

conviction that I Myself am That. In the very highest stages of Sabij

samadhi, attachment to Sankalpa can become a hindrance as it is a proxy

for the remaining separate individuality and identity of the soul.

Therefore, in the end all Sankalpas and mind which is their source is

surrendered to the Lord of the Heart. Without surrendering the essential

Sankalpa of the "I" thought on which all Sankalpas depend, one does not

gain Nirvikalpa samadhi. Complete surrender of the "I" thought, the mind

it self, needs Grace.

 

All goals achieved and all realizations via strong Sanklapa that fall

short of Self-Realization are transient.

 

The other thing that you state is true. Our sages always say things

which are in a context and the context can only be properly understood

by devotees who are intimately familiar with the teachings. This can be

seen in the case of Sri Ramana whose teaching is perfectly clear but who

at times appeared to say contradictory things and give different advice

to different people. It is due to the context. Great sages never worry

about how they appear to others but only try to be helpful at the moment

in time.

 

Love to all

Harsha

 

 

 

 

 

ymoharir wrote:

>

> Namaste Harsha-Ji:

>

> I just would like to make it clear that the purpose of my post was to

> share my understanding because that made sense to me and get the feed

> back for the learned members on this esteem list.

>

> What our ancestors said absolutely makes sense, provided we can

> understand the context in which they said so. When we cannot

> understand it often we drag maayaa into it, when is not even

> necessary to enhance and crystallize the term "sa-biijaa" and it's

> significance.

>

> Now let me share, one more point in relation to in the significance

> of "sa-biija".

>

> As i had mentioned in my previous post that it is the sa~Nkalpa or

> the target. Just imagine if any saadhaka can make any progress on

> his/her chosen path if they do not have a clear idea of the target?

> Therefore, in every saadhanaa or ritual one has to utter a sa~Nlapka

> before proceeding with the ritual.

>

> I

>