Vedas and Adi Sankara - Part 5

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Dear All, Some thoughts to ponder over Regards, aavesh Dear Members, The aim of discourses is only to instill interest in these spiritual matters. With the birth of interest in these one enjoys it thoroughly. Thus, theseare not matters that can be forced on anyone. Such is our religion. It has shown innumerable paths ('mãrgãs'). Following set religious practices ('Karmanushtãnãs')are advised for one's own benefit. Even if these are done as habit

('anushtãnams') they bear fruit ('phalan'). Even if one's mind is not in it one cando them; one should do them. One cannot say that he did not perform the rites for the dead parents ('Shraddha') because he had no inclination to do it.Evenif done as a rule it is beneficial to the extent of involvement. Several Vedas, several smritis, several paths, several kinds of worship ('upãsanãs') exist in our religion. If we take up Devi 'upãsana' various types ofworship are found; it is the same with Vishnu upãsana, too. Such is our religion with countless branches. How is an Avatãra Purusha in such a religion?He seeks (refuge in) a Guru! Lord Rama sought Vasishta as his Guru. Lord Krishna sought ('ãshriyikaradu') Sandeepani as his Guru. What is the work of the Guru? Why do people seek/followa Guru? What does the Guru counsel? He

will advice, "Say Rama!" or "Say Krishna!" or "Do Atma Vichãra". Guru offers some advice. Won't He? We already knowwhatever the Guru advocates. The books say that one should chant Rama or Krishna; if we read Sri Ramana's Books we learn how Atma Vichãra has to be done.How to perform Nãma japa or dhyãna or Vedanta vichãra or even how to do yoga, are all written in books. Everything is written in the books. Some peopleare intelligent enough to comprehend the writings in the book and perform whatever has been advocated in them – dhyãna or Nãma Japa. Some can do croresof Rama Nãma japa or any other Name of the Lord. They possess such competence. Anything can be practiced on their own. Then what is the part of the Guruhere? Well! While speaking on 'the part of the Guru' - 'You do crores of Nãma japa, or do 'ãsanas', pranayama, or with difficulty do vedant vichãra. Youdo some sadhana,don't you? What happens when you perform these sadhanas without the

guidance of a Guru? Due to sadhana one gains a lot of supernaturaltalents/faculties ('siddhis'). Even Hiranyakashipu performed tapas. We read both Hiranyakashipu and Dhruva performing tapas. Both achieve the darshan ofthe Lord they had prayed to. Hiranyakashipu receives the darshan of Lord Brahma and Dhruva of Lord Vishnu. Lord Brahma says, "I am happy with your tapas." Both of them perform tapas but the difference lies in the fact that Hiranyakashipu had no Guru. Whereas,we find in Dhruva's charitra that Narada was his Guru. One gains 'tapas siddhis' due to tapas. What happens when you do intense tapas? You gain tapas siddhis!You will able to produce any object. You gain far off vision ('doora drishti'). You can see, feel, hear and know what is happening in far off places. Whathappens then? When you start showing such miracles the world believes your claim to be God! Why and how? Because

your supernatural faculties ('prabhãva')are such. You possess the glory of seeing, hearing, learning everything that occurs in a far off place, produce articles, etc. You can claim to be Goddue to such glory and even thousands or crores of people may follow you and address you as God but you will never attain 'Jnãna'. You may possess supernaturalfaculties ('prabhãva') but one does not attain jnãna through 'prabhãva'. Anyone can attain 'prabhãva' through tapas. One can tenaciously do tapas and attainsuch 'prabhãvas'. Did not Hiranyakashipu perform such tapas and attain 'prabhãva'? One can do crores of Japas,crores of 'pranayama'. What happens to suchpeople? They earn wonderful 'prabhãvas'! Because of this people will believe anything and everything that he says. He will claim, "I am the avatãr of Rama;I am the avatãr of Krishna" and people will also believe and follow him. They go behind him because he is of some use! But does he possess Jnãna? His

egohas not been destroyed. The Maya has not spared him but bound him tightly. This fellow knows this very well deepwithin. He is fully aware that he has been caught in the web of Maya. But if he had gone in this path with the help of a Guru, the Guru would have destroyedhis ego. Whether he earns 'prabhãva' or not he will surely attain Jnãna! Certainly! Thus having attained Jnãna he will be in deep 'Ãnanda' seeing Bhagavãn/Atmainside -'sugak kadal ponga solunarvu adanga' (Sri Ramana Maharishi's Aksharamanamãlai)- deep joy - bliss. Once this has been earned nothing will matter to him; whether anyone respects him or not in this world. A Jnãni will have no such thought at all. If hedid then he is not a jnãni. After all when we do not like coming out of 'sushupti' that our sleep state is then how will the Jnãni feel like coming outof Brahmãnanda? If someone tries to wake us up from our

sleep we wish to only get back to sleep. Then for one who is in and enjoying Bhagavãn it is verydifficult to come to the physical plane of this world and perform any work. It is an impossible task. One may find the behaviour of a Mahan very contradictory. Why? This is because for one who is ever in Brahmananda it is impossible to do any work in theouter world. They are in such a state ('avasthai'). They experience a sort of trance within.Bhagavan Ramana even in his young age used to walk with thehelp of a walking stick. His body would be shaking. When questioned about this Bhagavãn explained, "It is akin to an elephant having entered a hut!" Thebody is unable to take the full strain of 'Brahmãnubhava'. " !!! Will Continue !!! Regards

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare HareHare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare---------------------If you have any questions or doubts concerning Spirituality, Mental peace or problems in life or about dharma, please write to us by clicking here:http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/askquestion.php His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji personally answers these questions for you and suggests prayers. You are managing the group through

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