More Gems from the Devi Bhagavatam....

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Dear All,

 

Below are a few enlightening words from the Devi Bhagavatam on

the One Pervading Self.

 

Another topic the Devi Bhagavatam touches upon is that of bodily cleansing. It

states that if a person continually cleanses themselves externally, however if

this continual external cleansing does not also cleanse the heart and mind, then

this external cleansing is of no avail. It goes on to say that.... " It is the

mind that is the cause of bondage or freedom; and not the body " :

 

" O Son of my Guru! When this material world, the cause of all error according to

the Vedanta S'âstras, is simply an object of sight then how can this material

substance, an object of sight, be the source of bondage to the Âtman, the Self?

O Brâhman! Though the five material elements can be seen, their qualities or

Gunas can be known only by inference, so the self is to be inferred; it can

never be an object of sight; and also this self, known by inference, changeless

and without any impurity or stain can never be bound by the visible changeful

material thing. O Brâhman! This impure heart is the source of all pleasure and

pains; so when the heart becomes pure and quiet, all the things then become

fully pure, O Brâhmana!

 

38-41. If going often and often to all Tiraths and bathing there, do not make

one's heart pure and holy, then all one's troubles are taken in vain. O

Destroyer of enemies! It is the mind that is the cause of bondage or freedom;

and not the body, nor the Jivâtmâ (the embodied soul), nor the senses. The Self

or Âtman is always pure consciousness and is ever free so, truly speaking, it

can never be bound. Bondage and freedom reside on in the mind; so when the Mind

gets peace, the bondage of Samsâra is also at an end. He is an enemy, he is a

friend, he is neither an enemy nor friend, all these different thoughts reside

in the mind and arise out of duality; how can the ideas of differences exist,

when everything has become all one pervading self?

 

42-47. Jîva is Brahmâ; I am that Brahmâ and nothing else; there is nothing to be

discussed here. It is owing to the dualities that monism appears not clear and

differences between Jîva and Brahmâ arise. O Mahâbhâga! This difference is due

to Avidyâ and by which this difference vanishes, that is termed Vidyâ.

 

This difference between Vidyâ and Avidyâ ought to be always kept in view, by

those that are clever.

 

How can the pleasure from the cooling effect of the shadow, be felt, if the

heating effect of the rays of the Sun be not previously experienced? So how

Vidyâ is to be experienced if Avidyâ be not felt before? Sattva, Rajas and Tamo

Gunas reside naturally in things, made of Gunas; and the five principal elements

reside naturally in substances made up of elements; so the senses reside

naturally in their own forms, etc.; so how can there be any stain to the Âtman

which is unattached? Yet to teach humanity, the high souled persons preserve

always with greatest care the respect of the Vedas. If they do not do this,

then, O Sinless One! the ignorant persons would act lawlessly according to their

wishes, like the Chârvâkas; and Dharma will become extinct. When Dharma will

become extinct, the Varnâs'rama will gradually die out; so the well-wishers

should always follow the path of the Vedas.

 

(http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk01ch18.htm)

 

i have also come across some Words of Shri Mataji in Her book " The Mooladhara

Chakra " , where on Page 5, Line 9, Shri Mataji states:

 

" The best way to cleanse for Sahaja Yogis is to be pure in one's heart, to lead

a chaste life full of good thoughts and deeds " .

 

Shri Mataji did not say this was the ONLY way to cleanse, but She said it was

the BEST way to cleanse.

 

The Link for " The Mooladhara Chakra " can be found at:

(/message/4906)

 

Violet