Acharya Vasudhaji will deliver a talk on ”Ancient wisdom, modern application” based on the essential teachings of Adi Shankara.

Avail of this opportunity to know and understand one of the most influential thinkers the world has seen in the field of Advaita Vedanta. The existence of the Vedas and ‘Vaidik Dharma’ in India today, is due to Adi Shankaracharya, who is considered “The Revivalist”. But do the teachings have any relevance today ? Is it of any significance to know them ? How does it contribute in resolving modern day issues ?

Come. Let us meet and explore to find out more on these lines with our Acharya.

Gratitude to the Guru

नमस्तस्मै सदैकस्मै कस्मैचिन्महस्मै नमः |
यदेत द्विश्वरुपेन राजते गुरुराजते ||

"Salutations to you O Prince among Teachers, who are indefinable greatness, who are ever the same, who manifest as this entire universe. To you my salutations."

That one infinite Reality which is the same everywhere, which has come in the form of the Guru, to that my 'namaskaras'. O teacher, who revel in the form of the Vishvarupa, my prostrations. These are words of adoration, expressions of a students' gratitude to the Teacher who has initiated her into the science of Reality.

Shri Dakshinamurthy

चित्रं वटतरोर्मुले वृद्धशिष्या गुरुर्युवा | 

गुरोस्तु मौनं व्याख्यानं शिष्यास्तु छिन्नसंशयाः ||

Chitram vatatharormule vruddhashishyaa gururyuvaah | 

Gurostu maunam  vyaakhyanam shishyaastu chinnasamshayah ||

Behold under the Banyan are seated the aged disciples around and about their youthful teacher. It is wondrous indeed: the teacher instructs through silence, which in itself removes all the doubts arising in the disciples minds.

Shri Dakshinamurthy is a form of Lord Shiva. He teaches in silence (and yet) the students are freed from all doubts (about the Truth). Teaching imparted in Silence has traditiionally been regarded as the best method to reveal the truth of Atman (The Self) which is all pervading Reality.

Maharshi Veda Vyasa

Maharshi Veda Vyasa (Krishna Dvaipayana) was born to Parashara Rishi and Satyavathi Devi at the end of the Dwapara Yuga and his birth is said to be with the blessings of Lord Shiva. He studied the Shastras under sages Sanaka and others. The Puranas say he received initiation at the hands of his twenty-first Guru, Sage Vasudeva.

He systematically compiled the Vedas under four distinct categories thus making them easily accessible. He also wrote the Brahma Sutras, for our quick and easy understanding of the ‘Shrutis’ (Upanishads). He wrote the Mahabharata, the eighteen Puranas and established the system of teaching them through Upakhyanas or discourses. Vyasa’s last work was the Bhagavata Purana which he wrote under the instigation of Devarshi Narada.

The Brahma Sutras or Vedanta Sutras (as they deal with Vedanta only) are divided into four chapters and each of these into four sub-sections. It is interesting to note that they all begin and end with sutras (aphorisms) which when read together mean, “The inquiry into the real nature of Brahman has no return.” It means going that way one reaches Immortality and no more returns to the world.

Vyasa is considered  a ‘Chiranjivi’, one who still lives and guides seekers and students of the Vedas. His Life is an example of one incarnated for the spreading of spiritual knowledge alone. His works inspires the students of Vedanta even to this day. He continues to live for the welfare of the world.

Bhaja Govindam!

गुरुचरनांबुजनिर्भरभक्तः
संसारादचिराद्भव  मुक्तः|

सेन्द्रियमानसनियमादेवं
द्रक्ष्यसि  निजहृदयस्थं  देवं  || (भज  गोविन्दं)

Gurucharanaambujanirbharabhaktah, samsaaradachiraadbhava muktah | Sendriyamaanasaniyamaadevam, drakshyasi nija hrudayastham devam || Bhaja govindam ||

Cherishing your Guru’s lotus feet, you free yourself from the enslavement of the world soon (without delay), with the disciplining of sense organs and mind, come to see the Lord that dwells within your heart.

Saint Augustine beautifully defines ‘Faith’ as, “Faith is to believe what you do not see and the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” This faith and devotion to the Guru is necessary, as what the Guru says we may not immediately apprehend. With faith, that secret power of the mind to hold on to what we believe, we come to experience that fulfillment which the Guru indicates.

Hence, Shankaracharya, in this verse, addressing seekers urges them to keep up their faith in the Guru and come to be liberated from ‘samsara’ or the bondage of limitedness, sense of lacking and unfulfilled. This liberation is not in some time far away, but here and now, through the discipline of senses and the mind. A blessing by the champion of Advaita is indicated here, as He says, “May you come to experience the Lord that dwells in your heart.”

Disciplining the mind is required as we need to maneuver the flow of thoughts easily and be able to shift our attention from the ever changing world of names and forms, to that constant, ever lasting Self within us, we come to the realization/seeing of that Divinity/Lord.

Of spiritual gurus and seekers: real and fake - part II

Shankara enumerates in ”Vivekachoodamani”, the kind of thirsty questions that would arise in the mind of a seeker of spiritual knowledge:

को  नाम  बन्धः  कथमेष आगतः  कथं  प्रतिष्टास्य  कथं  विमोक्षः |

कोसावनात्मा  परमः  क  आत्मा  तयोर्विवेकः  कथमेतदुच्यतां  || ४९  ||

Ko naam bandhah kathmesh aagathah katham pratishtaasya katham vimokshah |

Kosaavanaatmaa paramah ka atma tayorvivekah kathametaduchyataam || 49 ||

What is this bondage/misery? How has it come about? Is there a way out completely? Who is the Supreme Self? How do we discriminate between self and not-self?

These questions give us an inkling to the type of questions to be put forth to a spiritual guru and the spirit in which we approach the master. They arise from the seeker’s observations on life. They demand explanations for the sense of limitation, helplessness and confusion that one experiences from time to time. Or they may come about from a serious curiosity in knowing the truth behind all happenings of the world, within and without.

A genuine spiritual master living absorbed in the Self, does not shower a greater share of his grace upon people of his choice nor can he withhold his grace from some others. He lives in joyous perfection, cheer and bliss and it depends upon the seekers who approach him to take a greater or lesser share of it. He does not direct one’s attention to himself and expect absolute obedience or utter admiration. Instead he helps one to appreciate and admire the true inner self.

The guru living in perfection, gives out knowledge in terms of his own intimate experience and its up to the seekers to get as much benefit as they can. An ocean does not ban anyone from carrying water from it nor on the quantity. The limitations are the limitations of the containers we carry with us. Just as the sun doesn't decide to light up house to house or room to room but its the walls that restrict the entry of sunlight into the house.

Of spiritual gurus and seekers: real and fake - part I

”There are more fake gurus and false teachers in this world than the number of stars in the visible universe,” says a Sufi Master. ”Don't confuse power-driven, self-centered people with true mentors. True mentors are as transparent as glass.” 

If a seeker demands cheap, easy, effortless methods for highest gains then he sure becomes an easy prey for these self appointed ‘Gurus’. These unscrupulous gurus offer grace and glory of  curative strength, failure-proof talismans, even ‘God’s own vermillion’ all for a reasonable rate, of course, to the unsuspecting, desperate seekers. For one who wants instant and immense gains without any investment then to become such an unscrupulous guru is seen as the easiest way.

This may also happen because many a person approaches a guru for every reason other than queries on spirituality. A spiritual guru is expected to have answers for financial, property, legal or marital issues. It is common sense that such issues need to be addressed by lawyers, counselors, financial advisers and so on, though a genuine guru may also offer advice on these. Even though one or all of these constitute our life experiences, one must approach a spiritual guru for better understanding of life and for spiritual evolution.