== GURU SAKASH BECOMING A RITUAL ==
Namaskar,
Ours is the path of true spirituality, but, little by little, it seems
that-- in some cases-- one of our dharmic practices is turning into a
mere ritual.
As we know, our Guru sakash sadhana has a distinct method, so merely
reciting the Guru sakash shloka, "Pratah sirasi...", over and over again
is not going to bear any fruit. That is not the way to do Guru Sakash;
yet unfortunately, some are succumbing to this ritualistic approach. And
it was displayed in this dogmatic way in one of our AM movies as well.
So we should be vigilant. Of course not everyone is doing it like this,
but a few are-- and if we are not careful this will spread.
NOT AN UNCOMMON PHENOMENON
Falling into ritualism is not at all uncommon. This has happened to all
the major religions. The Christians just recite their prayer 'Our Father
who art in Heaven...', the Jews chant lines from the Torah, the Muslims
just repeat their namaz; and the Hindus and Buddhists recite a few
verses and then bow their head in front of an idol etc.
So the present day practice of all the religions are 100% ritualistic.
Because that is the easy way to go. One can merely mechanically repeat
the required lines and haphazardly pay salutations to their chosen
deity, and voila, finished-- everything is done.
In such cases, there is little or no attempt towards realisation or
enhancing the quality of mind; there is no dynamism. Just it is a static
practice where in a few moments one recites their chosen verse.
It is so easy for undeveloped or common people to fall into such
dogmas-- and they do not question it either. They get praised by their
church or temple for participating in those external rituals and that is
all. In His discourse, 'Ism and Human Progress', Baba vividly describes
this phenomenon.
OUR WAY IS DIFFERENT
For Ananda Margiis things are different. We have a clear-cut spiritual
ideal where rationality not ritualism guide us along. And so long as we
adhere to AM teachings then we will remain true to the path of
spirituality. That is why we should all deeply evaluate the way we
practice Guru Sakash as well as how it should be practiced.
THE POINT OF GURU SAKASH
We must bear in mind that our Guru Sakash shloka, "Pratah sirasi...", is
not like our Ista mantra. it is not meant to be repeated again and
again. Rather, we are to merely follow what the mantra says to do.
"In the morning...you have to meditate on the Guru who is dvinetra
[endowed with two eyes] and dvibhuja [endowed with two hands]. In what
posture is this Guru endowed with two eyes and two hands? In vara'bhaya
mudra [the gesture imparting fearlessness and bestowing grace]. He is
your well-wisher and your benefactor. Whatever words you use mentally to
address the Guru at the time of dhya'na or Guru dhya'na, should also be
used at the time of this Guru dhya'na. You should always address the
Guru for an extended period. This is Gurusaka'sha." (YP)
So in His above directive Baba gives us many instructions regarding Guru
Sakash:
1) Practice in the morning upon waking;
2) Meditate on the Guru;
3) Visualise His form with two eyes and two hands;
4) See His varabhaya mudra;
5) Call Him using the dhyana mantra;
6) Practice for as long as possible.
Thus, the shloka about Guru Sakash contains several key points for
adhering to the practice of Guru Sakash. And nowhere in that shloka does
it say to repeat the shloka itself over and over again. That is not the
practice of Guru Sakash. Rather we are to visualise Him in varabhaya
mudra and then call Him using our dhyana mantra.
MUST NOT JUST RECITE THE MANTRA
So if anyone is just reciting the Guru Sakash shloka over and over
again-- but not following what the shloka says to do-- then they have
merely fallen into ritualism. Of course most margiis are doing it
properly but some have fallen into this ritualistic pattern of just
reciting the shloka 5 or 6 times and then getting up and attending to
natural call etc.
And tragically, the AM pracara movie, 'Kiirtan Mahima', projects this
same dogmatic message. This film propagated this myth that repeating the
shloka entails the whole of our Guru Sakash practice. So the error in
this film needs to be addressed.
ONE OTHER ISSUE
The other issue involved here is that our Guru sakash shloka is printed
differently in our various scriptures. In Yoga Psychology (1994) it is
printed one way; and in Shabda Cayanika (1990) it is printed a different
way. In that case, if really we were just to recite the shloka when
doing Guru Sakash, then which version of the shloka should one choose.
That is another problem. And even worse, all the major religions have
experienced huge feuds over such issues. If we fall prey to the
ritualistic approach when "doing Guru sakash" then we are heading down
the same road as those religions-- arguing over the validity of passages
etc.
OUR RATIONAL APPROACH IS THE ONLY WAY
So the only way is to follow the path of rationality and do Guru Sakash
according to Baba's teachings. That means seeing Him in varabhaya mudra
and then calling Him using our dhyana mantra.
And verily many margiis are doing it in this way and they are deriving
huge benefit. Because when one feels His divine vibration in their Guru
Sakash practice then that makes the entire day blissful. So we should be
strict in Guru Sakash and maintain the practice for as long as possible.
And if morning duty calls, then directly after we should again continue
our Guru Sakash. One acarya told me about this and I have found it to be
a big boon in my spiritual life, by Baba's grace.
So we should all take advantage of this wonderful practice of Guru
Sakash and use our dhyana mantra to call Him again and again.
Of course, if one wishes, at the beginning one may repeat the Guru
Sakash shloka one time, as that will remind oneself about what to do.
But to go on repeating that shloka again and again thinking that is the
main practice is just ritualistic dogma-- nothing more.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace He has given us all the practices, including Guru
Sakash, to lead a truly spiritual and dynamic life on this earth. By
this way we may goad our minds to the culminating point of human
existence-- life divine.
Baba says, "Now, there is a regulating point or pra'n'akendra for each
of the innumerable nerve cells in the brain. Over and above these many
pra'n'akendras or regulating points of the brain, there is one
regulating point which controls the many pra'n'akendras. This point
resembles, to some extent, the tip of a blade of kusha [a type of
grass]. In this point is the Guru cakra. From this point human beings
receive a thousand and one kinds of inspiration and propulsion. The
humanity of human beings...depend on this point. In this point is
ensconced the Guru, Parama Guru, Para'para Guru, Paramesti Guru. It is
the loftiest point for the purposes of meditation and contemplation. It
is at this point that the meditation on Guru has to be undertaken." (YP)
Namaskar,
Pradiip
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