Practical Vedanta

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A Swami Sivananda story

 

VEDANTIC SADHANA: An intellectual friend who had

accompanied Sri Pindi Dassji, the manager of the

Kali-kamliwala Alms-House, had a desire to know about

things concerning the Self. Even as both of them

entered the hall, the Master welcomed them with his

natural hospitality and entertained them with fruit

and tea. He then enquired about their welfare.

 

" Swamiji, I wish to ask you some questions on the

spiritual side. May I? "

 

" Of course you are welcome. "

 

" I wish to know from you, Swamiji, how I can develop

Cosmic Consciousness. "

 

The Master looked at the questioner as if measuring

him with his eyes. After a couple of minutes came the

laconic reply, " Meditate on formulae like, 'I am not

the body, I am not the mind. I am the Absolute

Brahman. I am omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient.

I am of the nature of Satchidananda'. As these ideas

sink deeper and deeper into your mind, you will enjoy

Cosmic Consciousness. "

 

" In that case, Swamiji, how am I to be sure that I am

not merely hypnotising myself by means of these

auto-suggestions? That which is beyond the mind and

senses cannot be attained through the workings of the

mind. In that case even meditation becomes

impossible. "

 

" Yes, you are right. If you get into these arguments

you will come to an impossible state. Some sort of

autosuggestion is necessary in the beginning, till you

reach the stage of intuitive perception. These

formulae have been culled from the Upanishads, which

are the utterances of seers and are therefore eternal

verities. "

 

At this stage Sri Pindi Dassji interrupted and asked,

" Swamiji, how are we to ensure that this consciousness

is kept continuously? When we meditate

the consciousness is sometimes aroused, but when we

turn to our work it vanishes. "

 

" You have to go on with the practice. The development

of divine virtues is necessary. The mind does not like

to meditate on God. It always flows outside, but the

Yogi tries to take it to its own source. That is Yoga.

 

You have to cajole the mind and coax it to practise

meditation. Discrimination and dispassion are

necessary. Then you will acquire an intense desire for

liberation. Then and then alone will the mind long to

realise the Supreme. "

 

The visitor put another question, " Some philosophers

and Yogis say that the Atma is not attained through

all these practices, Swamiji. Their view

seems to be, as I said, that That which is beyond the

body, mind and intellect cannot be attained through

effort with these. "

 

" Quite true, that is what the Sruti also says. The

Sruti positively hints at the doctrine of Grace. God's

Grace is necessary, otherwise nothing is possible. "

 

Sri Pindi Dassji asked, " But how are we to deserve His

Grace, Swamiji? "

 

" Exactly! That is the point. You have to deserve the

Grace and invite it to descend on you. Therefore, all

these spiritual practices are prescribed. First

acquire the divine virtues, then do reading,

reflection and contemplation. Then you will have

Cosmic Consciousness. "

 

" That is a long, long process, Swamiji. We want a

shortcut, a royal road. "

 

" That short-cut and royal road is daily meditation.

Get up at 4a.m. This period is very favourable for

meditation. Meditate on Vedantic formulae. Try as far

as possible to keep up the thought of Brahman

throughout the day. You will get established in It

eventually. "

 

" I have read almost all the works of Rama Tirtha, "

said Sri Pindi Dassji, " and many other works on

philosophy, but you have very beautifully cleared

my difficulties as none others could. "

 

" Rama Tirtha was at first a Bhakta and later became a

Vedantin. I have heard that he used to dance on the

sands of Brahmapuri with tinklers around his ankles.

 

" There is no difference between Bhakti and Vedanta.

Bhakti eventually leads to the same realisation of

Cosmic Consciousness as Vedanta. Tulsidas, Kabir and

many other Para Bhaktas had that realisation.

 

" The mind wants something upon which to lean. That is

why Patanjali insisted that a Yogi should have Om as

his Mantra and meditate on its significance. Om is the

name of Brahman. Om is Satchidananda. Om is

omniscience and omnipotence. It is light, joy and

peace. Meditate on these ideas, then you will enjoy

Brahmic Consciousness. There is no doubt about

this. Behind all names and forms you will then

perceive the nameless and formless Brahman. "

 

 

 

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