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My Feeling About Prabhat Samgiita

To: am-global@earthlink.net From: J_deva@markwebmail.... Subject: My Feeling About Prabhat Samgiita Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:29:46 -0000 Baba "Vrindabanam parityajya pa'damemam na gaccha'mi..." (PS 4425) Purport: I (Baba) remain always in Vrindaban [1], in the hearts of devotees. I never take even one step away from Vrindaban. I always remain in the hearts of my devotees. I love them so much: Whenever I look, wherever I see, I always remember the brajabhava [2], My bhaktas. They are very dear to Me. They are always in my mind, always in my heart. I never forget them. Whatever the so-called great people say, whatever way jinanis criticise Me, whatever knowledgeable scholars philosophize, irrespective of the theories they preach about me, I always reside in bhavagokul [3], with my devotees. Those jinanis or religious preachers may say that I am in one tiirtha or another, in one holy book or another, or that I am in heaven or some holy land, but I remain always with my bhaktas, in the core of their heart. I always express Myself on the banks of the mental Yamuna [4], i.e. in the minds of My bhaktas, under the Kadamba and Tamala trees in that loving land of that mental Vrindaban, on the blue waters of the Yamuna river-- in the heart of devotees. I always express Myself fully in that beautiful place, in that divine land, in the hearts of devotees. I never take one step away from Vrindavan; I always remain in the heart of my devotees; I cannot leave. I love them so much. NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #4425: [1] Vrindaban: Vrnda'vanam' parityajya pa'damekam' na gaccha'mi Baba says, "This is not the terrestrial Vrindavana, but the Vrindavana of the devotee’s heart. In this Vrindavana, both the devotee and the Lord are there. They are playing the game of hide and seek – now He attracts the devotee, now He hides Himself. When the devotee rushes to Him, he discovers that the One who was attracting from behind the scenes was actually close at hand; and so he attains Him." (NKS; Disc 27) Baba says, "Vrinda'vana. The presence of Vrajagopa'la in Vrindavana is a symbolic expression of the Cosmic presence in the spiritual stratum. Normally that presence remains beyond the psychic periphery of unit beings. Vrindavana in this case does not represent the physical Vrindavana. It represents human sentimentality, the sweetest recesses of the human heart." "The subtlest, the most delicate, portion of the human mind is the controlling point of human cordiality. When the human mind is focused on that particular point, it starts to experience the Krs'n'aliila'. The human heart, which is Vrindavana, is the nucleus of all the warmth and sweetness of the human mind. Human beings are always eager to rush towards the mohanatattva [supreme attractive force] which lies covert in the inner Vrindavana. Parama Purus'a also enhances the degree of spiritual attraction and increases the jiivas’ desire to rush towards Him. Due to this intense spiritual attraction the mind refuses to entertain any other psychic object. One may try in vain to persuade the mind to desist from thinking of [Parama Purusa], but even then the mind will think of [Parama Purusa] and nothing else. Human beings at that stage lose their ordinary propensities and cling to their spiritual object alone. Thus microcosmic bearing is turned into Macrocosmic bearing. (NKS, 'Appendix') [2] Brajabhava: In various discourses and special meetings Baba explains that there are three phases or aspects to madhur bhava, i.e. that deeply loving ideation in dhyana. Those phases are: Braj Bhava, Gopi Bhava, & Radha Bhava. In the initial phase of braj bhava the aspirant is withdrawing his mind from all worldly objects and desires and goading all his psychic energy towards Parama Purusa. Hence the sadhaka is no longer enthralled with name, fame, money, post, power, position or other worldly things. The aspirant is instead trying to cultivate more and more spiritual longing: To accept Parama Purusa as their only Goal in life; to accept Him as their sole object of adoration. This is the spirit of brajbhava. From an etymological perspective the term 'Braj' means 'divine enjoyment' or 'spiritual charm'; and 'bhava' means 'ideation'. So Braj Bhava is the phase where the sadhaka experiences the sweetness of spiritual bliss and their only desire is to get Parama Purusa. There is no other longing. Gopibhava is the next higher phase where the sadhaka's only desire is to remember His sweet love and give Him pleasure. The aspirant is no longer concerned with their own pleasure. But in brajbhava the desire to get bliss is present, if not dominant. In braj bhava sadhakas do sadhana to get pleasure. Whereas in gopi bhava, the sadhaka's desire is to give Him pleasure, to serve Parama Purusa. Finally, in radha bhava, the sadhaka constantly thinks about Parama Purusa and forgets his own unit existence; the mind is fully focused on Parama Purusa, all the 24hrs. The sadhaka's mind is completely soaked in divine nectar. This is that highest devotional state. [3] Bhavagokul: Gokul is one physical place in Mathura district. And bhavagokul is the gokul of the mind. It represents the divine world: Where by the grace of Parama Purusa He remains always with His bhaktas; and the sadhakas always live ensconced in the bliss of Parama Purusa. [4] Yamuna: Here Baba reveals how the Yamuna river does not only refer to a physical river in India. In His Prabhat Samgiita, the Yamuna river represents that flow of mind where one is blessed to come in contact with Parama Purus'a, Baba. Baba says, "Just as there is a Yamuna River in the physical sphere, in the subtle psychic sphere also there is a certain flow which leads microcosms towards Parama Purus'a." (NKS, 'Appendix') Note: Generally, people cannot experience the sweetness of Parama Purusa as it is not easy going to that place internally where Parama Purusa expresses Himself; only when the mind reaches there in higher meditation, by His grace, only then can one see that Parama Purusa is there.
== MY FEELING ABOUT PRABHAT SAMGIITA ==
Namaskar, In this time of celebration of Prabhat Samgiita, I wish to share a few of my own recollections and personal experiences with Prabhat Samgiita. All are aware that Prabhat Samgiita is Baba's divine gift to help sadhakas develop a closer link with Him. Through His songs, we learn new ways of calling Him and communicating our inner feelings to Him. For His devotional compositions of Prabhat Samgiita express the many ways a bhakta yearns for Parama Purusa. So truly speaking, Prabhat Samgiita is a gleaming treasure that illumines the pathway for sadhakas to make that inner connection with Baba. All in our Marga have realised this truth in various ways, in their own relation with Him. Even then I must confess that there are some, if not many, days that the entire essence of Prabhat Samgiita totally eludes me-- totally escapes me. Here then is a short sharing of some of my experiences and I would greatly appreciate hearing yours as well.
PRACTICAL VS THEORETICAL UNDERSTANDING
By Baba's grace, there are some days when each and every word and expression of Prabhat Samgiita resonates in the deep core of my heart. When the phrase, 'Tumi esecho', resounds, then I really feel that Baba has come close. By His grace, I feel His vibration overflowing throughout my whole being and my mind drifts effortlessly in His flow. And in that state, when I sing, tears of devotion gently roll down my cheeks and I feel so fortunate to dance tenderly in His bliss. This sweet experience happens on my best days-- all due to His grace. When I explained this to one Dada while I was in Ananda Nagar, then he said that this is the practical understanding or practical realisation of Prabhat Samgiita. When the song actually reflects one's devotional state of mind and one feels that what is being described in the song is a reflection of one's own sadhana or devotional longing. Dadaji told me that this type of experience is exclusively Baba's grace and comes on those special occasions due to one's genuine love for Parama Purusa. When that Dada told me this then I felt especially blessed and fortunate. And now I can understand how really those blissful occasions were all due to Baba's grace, because there are many, many times when I listen to or sing Prabhat Samgiita and the whole song feels quite abstract and theoretical. Unfortunately, all too often, when I listen to Prabhat Samgiita, it is merely an intellectual exercise. That is to say I can understand what the song is saying-- in a detached sort of way, but I do not feel the essence of the song inside my heart. The song does not feel like an extension of my own sadhana; just it becomes something that is outside me. Many times whens I listen to Prabhat Samgiita or sing Prabhat Samgiita, this is my experience. And that same revered Dadaji explained to me that on such occasions my understanding of Prabhat Samgiita is merely theoretical. And he said this is not due to the way the song is sung, just it is a consequence of my own mental state. Dadaji explained that the mind goes up and down. When it is up then one is more apt to realise the true essence of Prabhat Samgiita and when the mind is down-- less devotional and more dry-- then one is left with mere theoretical understanding Prabhat Samgiita. And one step further down is when I do not like to even listen to Prabhat Samgiita. This also happens. It occurs when my mind is unable to make any link at all with the song and the whole thing seems like a distant galaxy, totally out of reach and not at all related with me. It is then that I understand just how out of the flow I really am. Dadaji told the only way to overcome these latter two states is to do more sadhana and ask Baba for His grace. That is the only recall in such circumstances. And if we are sincere then by His grace the cultivation of devotional love will again be aroused in the heart and mind, in which case one will continue to experience the joys and bliss of practically understanding Prabhat Samgiita. Then Prabhat Samgiita will be real. But for that to happen sadhana and devotional longing are needed. That is what Dada explained. In my experiences since, I have found Dadaji's guideline to be completely accurate. When Prabhat Samgiita feels like a sweet extension of sadhana-- ie when I have practical understanding of Prabhat Samgiita-- it is because, by Baba's grace, my mind is in a devotional flow. And when Prabhat Samgiita is a mere theoretical concept or totally out of reach, it is because my mind feels dry and out of the sadhana flow.
MOTHER BABY EXAMPLE
A sadhaka's understanding of Prabhat Samgiita can be thought of this way. When a child is young the that infant longs to always be held in the mother's arms and be tightly embraced. The child dreams day and night of mother's closeness and seemingly never tires of mothers love and affection. Rather the baby always wants to be held and caressed by its mother. Yet 10 or 12 years later, that same child will hardly want its mother to come close. The child no longer wishes to be cradled in its mother's lap. Rather that boy now wants to run free and wander in the world. The child does not wish to sit at home in mother's arms anymore. Hence, the child is the same child and the mother is the same mother yet the relation is totally different-- all because the child's mind has changed. Same then is the case with Prabhat Samgiita. The bhakta may listen to the same song sung by the same singer one day and the sadhaka may feel devotionally ensconced in the flow of Prabhat Samgiita; and, other days that same sadhaka may listen to the same song sung by the same singer and not feel any attraction at all. What has changed? Not the Prabhat Samgiita, not the musician, and still it is the same bhakta. So the only thing different in the formula is the devotional state of the sadhaka. Just like in the above example of the child, the bhakta's mind has changed and that alone accounts for one's interest and connection with Prabhat Samgiita.
DHYANA: THE KEY INGREDIENT
In a word then, we can say that the whole essence of Prabhat Samgiita is based on one's dhyana, one's inner mental flow. Because dhyana is that unique lesson of sadhana where the bhakta make that very personal link with Baba. When dhyana is dry then one my feel fearful of Baba or even worse, disinterested. And in that case surely one will think that Prabhat Samgiita is just one fairy tale type of song. Whereas when one is in a good flow of dhyana then the time will pass in sadhana as one yearns to go closer and closer in Him and delve deeper into His bliss. And in that circumstance, in that mental state, Prabhat Samgiita will feel like a melodious expression of one's own heart feeling. So to deepen one's link with Prabhat Samgiita means deepening one's sadhana. The two are inextricably interlinked. Because both Prabhat Samgiita and dhyana are based on having subtle devotional feelings for Him-- love for Him. Without that love, one cannot do dhyana and one will find Prabhat Samgiita to be nothing but a bore. That is why Dadaji would tell me again and again that if one wishes to experience that golden world of Prabhat Samgiita then devotional love must be there, and that intimate devotional love is a result of one's efforts in dhyana and asking for His grace. Hence Dadaji's maxim, 'Dhyana is the pre-requisite of Prabhat Samgiita'.
BEST WAY OF LEARNING PRABHAT SAMGIITA: WORD BY WORD
Before concluding my letter, the only other point I wanted to touch on was how to go about learning Prabhat Samgiita. Because without knowing the song, then how is one going to make a link; it would be the same as doing sadhana without knowing the meaning of one's mantra. In that case it is basically futile. So learning the meaning of the Prabhat Samgiita is essential. As an overseas margii, this has been quite a challenge but fortunately, by Baba's grace, many have given me some excellent guidance along the way. And certainly the most significant aspect is developing a word by word understanding of each line of the song. That way one will have pointed understanding of the song and be able to link with the inner spirit of the song. Without word by word understanding, the song remains mostly an unsolved mystery. So when approaching any song, try and get a word by word translation, and then listen to the song again and again until the understanding of each word and each line is clear in the mind. Once this occurs, then one will be be easily able to apply one's devotional faculty and immerse in the real spirit of the Prabhat Samgiita. These then are some of my experiences which I wanted to share with all my margii brothers and sisters. It is so nice to be part of this devotional family-- dedicated to Baba & His mission.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace, on this memorable anniversary of Prabhat Samgiita, we are all most fortunate have a Sadguru who has given the pathway for coming closer and closer to Him in a personal way through the world of songs. That is truly His unfathomable grace. Baba says, "One feels kinship to those with whom there is a relation of mutual love and affection, a relation of close intimacy. Where there is lack of intimacy, we call a person as Mr. X, Mrs. Y, etc.; but where there is a feeling of intimacy, the relationship of brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, etc. grows. Obviously where there is no close intimacy between human beings and the Impersonal Entity, no kinship can grow at all...Human beings want a personal God who will understand their joys and sorrows, who will have love for them, and to whom they can express love and feel kinship...They want an Entity who will sympathize with them cent per cent in their prosperity and adversity alike... He [Parama Purusa] is the eternal companion of unit beings in their joys and sorrows – not a God in the distant sky but an understanding Lord in the house where they dwell." (SS-11) Namaskar, Jiivendra
************************************** Baba says, "Da'd'imba [Pomegranate]. Its bark, roots, and fruits are all very good medicines for all kinds of female diseases. In a'yurvaedic schools of medicine, as practiced both in India and China, these qualities of da'dimba are recognized." (NSS, '95, p.121) **************************************

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