Bhaja Govindam- a roadmap for liberation

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!!! HARI AUM !!!

 

A good article by Shree M.P.Bhattathiri

 

Hope it enlightens

 

Narayana Narayana Narayana

 

Regards

 

Balagopal

 

The great sage Shankara (in the famous Bhajagovindam)

wrote:

satsangatve nissangatvam nissangatve nirmohatvam |

nirmohatve nishchalatatvam nishchalatattvam

jiivanmuktiH ||

 

In a state of satsanga, good company, (comes)

non-attachment; in non-attachment, a state beyond

confusion; in truth beyond confusion, motionlessness;

in motionlessness, living freedom.

 

The verse could be used as a model of the necessary

conditions for making the shift from being at the

effect of language to being at the source of it. It

all begins with satsanga, good company. The best

example of this that I know of is a group of people

who have come together to learn Sanskrit. It seems

that on some level, perhaps unconsciously, a person

who has decided to learn Sanskrit, has decided in some

way to use this sacred language for that which it was

designed -- to be free.

 

It is remarkably easy for such a group of people to

change their relation to language, to put themselves

at the source of language and then select and use

language in a way that gives them access to Sanskrit,

with ease and enjoyment. Without the mutual agreement

of the group, satsanga, good company, it would be

highly unlikely that the shift could ever take place.

We grew up in a world where a mistake was a bad thing,

enough so that most people would not risk making one.

This led to massive withdrawal. Though people remained

in a group, they were not really part of the group. In

truth, fear dominated nearly all groups. Natural unity

was shattered. The satsanga was lost. Groups were

ineffective. Alone, individuals were powerless.

Everyone was hopelessly at the effect of the language

of right/wrong and smart/stupid. In effect, a " group "

could have been defined as a " body of people which has

come together to determine who is worthy and who is

unworthy. " Fortunately, the Sanskrit language has

given us the word " satsanga " , which could be defined

as " a body of people who have come together (sanga) to

ascertain reality (sat). " The fundamental agreement of

such a group, such as the one which has come together

to learn Sanskrit, is that " I " am prior to language.

 

I use language to direct my attention to a full

appreciation of the beautiful sounds of the Sanskrit

language, their harmonies and their organization, as

well as the truths expressed through the language. The

language that makes this possible is the language of

yoga, another gift of Sanskrit. The satsanga agrees

upon abhyaasa the selecting and sustained attention

upon a single focal point, for example, listening to

the sounds of the Sanskrit language. It's also agreed

that there's nothing " wrong " with being off the point.

Becoming aware that I am off point, without satsanga

-- I might worry about what I missed that others got,

I might worry about being left behind -- " others are

succeeding where I fail. "

 

But in satsanga where the language of yoga has been

agreed upon, there is vairaagya or non-attachment,

" the full awareness of my own mastery to not-attach

myself to habitual experience and simply return to the

point, and even acknowledge 'I missed something --

could it be repeated?' " . For the satsanga, if anyone

missed anything, it's an opportunity for it to be

reviewed and clarified and enjoyed again by everyone.

It sounds too good to be true. Yet it happens exactly

this way by shifting our relationship to language.

This would not be possible without satsanga.

 

In the state of satsanga (satsangatve) comes

non-attachment (nissangatvam). There is no more

attachment to being right, and concurrently the fear

of being wrong. The real satisfaction derived from the

wholeness of group unity, the much greater capacity of

the group to focus together, enjoy sound together,

appreciate the beauty of Sanskrit together, all make

the prior condition of being at the effect of words

such as right/wrong or smart /stupid or

success/failure seem totally irrelevant. Through

satsanga, there's a complete shift in our relation to

language -- we see through the prison walls.

 

In non-attachment (nissangatve), there comes a state

beyond confusion (nirmohatvam). I'm no longer holding

myself back because of the fear of consequences. I am

feeling my oneness with the group. It's safe to put

myself into it. There is no conflict over wanting

acceptance, while fearing rejection. My confusion over

whether to participate or not - will I be rejected if

I do it wrong or isolated if I do it right -- is gone.

The illusion, and the confusion (moha) of being

separate from others dissolves. The truth that we are

one emerges. When we move as one, we go beyond success

and failure and access our natural ability to

perfectly reflect whatever we perceive -- samadhi.

 

In the state beyond confusion (nirmohatve), is

motionlessness (nishcalitatvam). This happens in the

Sanskrit satsanga. In the absence of striving to be

better, fearing getting worse, the old language that

raced through our mind stops. The mind becomes still,

sensitive. A state of listening is present, samÙdhi,

in which we feel the nuances of Sanskrit, its power,

and the subtle way it resonates in the heart of our

being, like ancient and eternal music. There's no more

struggle to learn, to gain and accumulate knowledge.

The words of Sanskrit, through their sound vibration

are like waves of pure energy, which we enjoy as if

watching a performance taking place inside us -- while

their meanings describe our own fathomless perfection,

as the seer of all, ancient, eternal.

 

In motionlessness (nishcalitatve), living freedom

(jiivanmukti), The prison walls, even the memory that

they were ever there, has dissolved. From beginning to

end, from the first attempt to learn Sanskrit to the

direct experience of the meaning of its ancient words

of truth and power, Sanskrit generates and establishes

an entirely different relationship with language. It's

the proper relationship, the true one, establishing

our real unity, freedom from the bondage of the past

illusions. It keeps us savoring the timeless enjoyment

of the universe of sound, and a perfect creation.

 

 

 

 

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