May 17, 2013
Community Across America
India Post 23
www.indiapost.com
Gyan increases Bhakti & Bhakti increases Gyan ity and hatred, and in the senseless killings that have taken place in the religious wars in Bhakti Yog involves developing immense history. The perpetrators of such violence love for the Lord. In such a state, the devo- apparently have a world view in which they tee develops an intense longing to see God, see people not subscribing to their beliefs as meet Him, and be with Him. Whatever one enemies, who can be killed without compuncdoes, the mind remains attached to God and tion. Unpleasant divides in this world are crethe thoughts flow towards Him, like the riv- ated when we fail to see the connection beers flow towards the ocean. Such love in tween God and His creation. the heart cleanses it of all impurities. However, this unity does not mean that With a pure heart, one begins to see God in we must neutralize all the diversities that exall living beings and in all things. As the ist. There is unity in diversity, and also dithoughts become sublime, the devotee expe- versity in the unity. That diversity is the exriences the unlimited Divine Bliss of God and pression of the greatness of God Himself, becomes fully satisfied. On liberation, the soul who creates innumerable species of life, and does not become God; it goes to His Divine innumerable varieties within each species. abode, and there in a Divine body, it eternally Is it possible to live without seeing the participates in the loving pastimes of God. diversity of creation? Imagine life without Q: Everyone says that Bhakti Yog is easy, categories. Can we say that we hate categowhile Gyan Yog is difficult. What is the ries, and so we do not distinguish between reason for this? shirts and trousers? Can we wear them in SM: Understand this by comparing a place of each other, and when people laugh baby kitten and a baby monkey. The kitten at our dress, tell them that we see this world is tiny in size and delicate in build. Yet if it is as one, and so do not categorize kinds of to be moved from one place to another, it clothes. Can a doctor tell the patient that he does not need to worry. Its mother holds the does not categorize, and so the patient should kitten with her mouth and carries it. On the take any medicine from the cabinet? other hand, the baby monkey is responsible Without accepting the diversity of life, it for holding its mother tight, while the mother is not possible to live. If we express our distaste for categorization beThis unity does not mean that we must neutween Gyan and Bhakti, we have tralize all the diversities that exist. There is in effect created unity in diversity, and also diversity in the a distinction between categounity. That diversity is the expression of the and nongreatness of God Himself, who creates innu- rized categorized. If there is abhormerable species of life, and innumerable rence for catvarieties within each species egories, then why see the difjumps from one branch of the tree to another. ference between categorized and non-catIn the above analogy, the path of Gyan egorized? Why find the need to criticize catYog is comparable to the mother monkey and egorization? its baby. It is based on self-effort. Since the Similarly, there are various paths leading premise is that the soul itself is the Ultimate to the goal of life. All these paths are maniSupreme Entity, there is no concept of sur- festations of the infinite variety created by render to God or dependence upon His God. We must definitely not create any illGrace. Hence, the aspirant strives on his or feeling or ill-will towards anyone. However, her own strength. we must clearly understand the pros and cons Bhakti Yog is comparable to the cat and its of each and then make an intelligent choice kitten. In Bhakti Yog, the aspirant learns to of the path we wish to follow. surrender to the Lord, and thus attracts His Gyan and Bhakti are both praiseworthy, but Grace. Through Grace, God assists and pro- it does not imply that there is no distinction tects the devotee. Thus, the path of Bhakti between them. We must clearly understand Yog becomes easy compared to Gyan Yog. the difference and the relationship between In Gyan Yog, the danger of pride is enor- them. Then we will be in a position to reach mous. The poor conditioned soul gets our ultimate destination of God-realization. trapped in the pride of being God. In com- Q: If the soul is a part of God, then why did parison, the path of Bhakti involves practic- such a great Saint such as Jagadguru ing humbleness before God, and hence the Shankaracharya say that the soul is God pitfall of pride becomes marginalized. Himself? Did he not understand the scripQ: Why should we distinguish between tures? Gyan Yog and Bhakti Yog as two different SM: When the Nitya Siddha paths? Such divisions in the name of reli- Mahapurushas, or Eternally liberated Saints gion are the cause of so much of strife in the descend upon this earth, they preach accordworld, and the fighting between religions. ing to Desh, Kaal and Patra (time, place and There is only one entity called Brahman in circumstance). The teacher may be D.Litt. but existence, so why don't we stop making dis- if he is teaching Grade One students, he will tinctions between different paths? explain simple mathematics: five minus three SM: We must definitely try to see the is equal to two. It does not mean that the wonderful form of God behind everything teacher only knows that much; it means that sentient and non-sentient. That is what both the students can only understand so much. Bhakti and Gyan teach us to do. The lack of Even before Shankaracharya, came Gautam this vision of unity is what leads to animos- Buddha. He was an Avatar of Lord Vishnu, Cont’d from page 20
and hence He is respected and worshipped by Hindus. But He did not accept the authority of the Vedas. This was because at that time people were misinterpreting the Vedas; they were doing animal sacrifices and justifying them by distorting the meaning of the Vedas. They were exceedingly inclined to rituals and neglecting the cleansing of the heart. So the Buddha thought that if he tried to convince them on the basis of the Vedas, they would insist that their own interpretation was right. So he decided to move the people away from the Vedas. He also focused on getting people detached from the world. When Shankaracharya came on this earth, a few hundred years after the Buddha, Buddhism had spread all over Bharatvarsh (India). In accordance with its philosophy, people believed in voidism, or the non-existence of the soul and God. In that atheistic environment, it was not possible to preach the glories of devotion to Shree Ram and Shree Krishna. So Shankaracharya accomplished the task of bringing the people back to the Vedas. To do this, he emphasized the formless, attributeless, all-pervading Brahman. However, he was a great devotee of the personal form of God himself, and wrote hundreds of verses in praise of the various Gods. The following conversation is from Shankaracharya's Prashnavali.
One of his disciples asked, "What should that soul who earnestly desires salvation do?" Shankaracharya replied, "He should break the bonds of material attachment and engage in devotion to God." Again, his disciple asked him, "What is that work which does not lead to repentance later." Shankaracharya immediately replied, "Only one who engages in devotion to Shree Krishna has no regrets later." In fact, Shankaracharya, the unrivalled propagator of Non-Dualism, advised his mother to practice Bhakti, and blessed her with a vision of Shree Krishna. Swami Mukundananda is a world renowned spiritual teacher from India, and is the senior disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj and founder of JK Yog. He has received his degrees in engineering from world renowned institutes in India, IIT and IIM. He has inspired people all over the world on the path of spirituality, holistic health, yoga, meditation, service to society and God realization. This year, Swamiji will be conducting weeklong programs in 30+ cities of USA from April onwards. For more information visit: http://www.jkyog.org/ or contact: secretary@jkyog.org To attend Swamiji's Yoga, Meditation and Spiritual Discourses in USA, see the schedule for your city:www.jkyog.org/2013