== EXPRESSING LOVE & FRUSTRATION TO PARAMA PURUSA ==
Namaskar,
The main aim of any sadhaka is to love and please Parama Purusa. That is
the only way to get Him-- with the love of devotion, not via the
knowledge of jinana, or the action of karma. Only with love can we grasp
and hold Him as our own. This fact Baba has revealed in countless
discourses.
Baba says, "A genuine spiritualist will have to establish a relation of
love with Parama Purus'a. Those who remain oblivious to this truth
become unsuccessful in their mission." (SS-11, 'The Path of Salvation')
Hence, love is an essential aspect of our spiritual lives. But how is it
that one is to develop this love? Sometimes it can seem so elusive.
OUR PROCESS FOR CULTIVATING LOVE FOR HIM
We have to remember that sadhana does not mean samadhi, or automatically
falling into an unending river of love for Him. Rather, sadhana means
'effort'. And ultimately it is the effort, i.e. a concerted effort, of
creating a devotional link-- a bond of love-- with Parama Purusa.
And our sadhana system includes not just the practice of meditation, but
kiirtan and bhajans as well. All three are required.
Baba says, "Do meditation, do kiirtan and bhajan sincerely." (15 October
1979 morning, Nagpur)
So all three-- sadhana, kiirtan, and bhajans-- are essential in
developing that special, devotional link with Parama Purusa. And this
letter discusses how bhajans play a unique and irreplaceable role in
this process.
THE BEAUTY OF OUR BHAJAN PRACTICE
The beauty of our bhajan practice is that it is a time when we can
openly express our feelings towards Parama Purusa. Kiirtan is chiefly
about singing His glory over and over again; and sadhana is done in
complete silence. So it is only with our bhajan practice that we can
verbally express our inner feelings to Parama Purusa. And that gives a
huge lift to the sadhaka.
For example, if one is in a strange place and does not know anyone, then
they cannot express their hopes and despairs, their joys and sorrows,
their success and failures. And that creates a big burden on that
person. Whereas if one is among friends, or better yet with a close
companion, then they can easily share all that they are feeling. And
that sharing of their inner thoughts allows one to feel light and
buoyant. It has a renewing effect on one's soul-- on one's being.
That is the very unique & essential aspect of our bhajan practice. It
allows the sadhaka to clear their mind and heart of all their emotions.
Because in singing bhajans, there is a tremendous scope to express the
full range of human feelings and sentiments.
Verily Baba has bestowed upon us the world of Prabhat Samgiita for this
very purpose-- to express the full range of feelings felt by the
sadhaka: The pain of separation, the joy of finding Parama Purusa, the
frustration of not getting Him, the struggle of dealing with this
mundane world, the bliss of His arrival, and so much more.
All of the above and countless other human feelings and emotions are
clearly expressed in our bhajans of Prabhat Samgiita. Such a range of
expression is not found in kiirtan, nor is it so easy to do in sadhana,
because human beings like to express their feelings orally. And that is
the true gift of our bhajan practice. Nowhere else in our sadhana system
is this found.
In a phrase then, our bhajan practice allows us to clear our heart and
mind of so many bottled-up thoughts & feelings. It is a release of our
inner emotions which invariably brings renewal & levity, and ultimately
love for Parama Purusa.
SELECTING THE RIGHT BHAJAN
Thus when selecting a bhajan we should choose the right song for the
right reason. We should not pick a Prabhat Samgiita based on the tune or
the melody or the quality of the the singer's voice. Because for us, for
sadhakas, Prabhat Samgiita is not about musical expression. It is about
the expression of our own feelings.
If we are feeling forlorn and far from Parama Purusa, then singing a
song about the joys of attaining Him will not satisfy one's emotional
needs. Just as, if one has been waiting for their spouse to pick them up
at the train station for 5 hours, then that is not the time to say,
'Thank you so much for coming'. Rather one will openly exclaim, 'Where
were you? Why did it take you so long? Why are you so late? I have been
waiting forever, I was so worried etc'. Only after saying this several
times to their spouse will that person get some relief. And that
expression brings closeness as well.
Similarly, we should always select a Prabhat Samgiita-- a bhajan-- that
properly corresponds to our feeling at that very time. So we should all
familiarise ourselves with a wide range of Prabhat Samgiitas so we
readily have a song available to express our inner feeling, whether it
be a feeling of frustration, love, anxiety, closeness, melancholy, or joy.
Because only by singing the right song will our heart feel light-- only
then will our mind move in the right direction.
HE ONLY LISTENS FOR THE FEELING OF THE HEART
At the same time we should bear in mind that Baba does not judge us on
our singing talent or instrumental techniques. Those are meaningless to
Him. He only looks inside the heart for sincerity. So none should feel
shy or distraught that they do not have musical talent; nor should one
become so vain about their musical gifts. Because in the eyes of Parama
Purusa, He is only concerned with the heart-felt feeling of the bhakta.
If that is expressed in our bhajan singing, then everything is expressed
and the goal in singing is attained. Then and only then does that bhajan
practice have value. Thus there is no place for shyness or arrogance in
singing bhajans.
BHAJANS ARE A BOON IN SPIRITUAL LIFE
So our bhajans hold a special place in our sadhana practice. They allow
for the expression of our inner feelings and that invariably helps
cultivate a feeling of closeness and love for Parama Purusa. If we do
not express ourselves, then naturally a relationship will dry up. That
is the way it happens in our worldly dealings and the same applies to
our spiritual life as well. Thus bhajans play a great role in our
development as sadhakas. It is our personal time to draw ourselves
nearer to Him-- because we are not singing our bhajans for anyone else.
We are singing for Baba and to express our feelings to Him. And by His
grace, He always listens.
BABA'S BLESSING
As important as kiirtan and sadhana are, we must never lose sight of the
great importance of singing bhajans as a way to draw ourselves closer to
Him and lighten our burden of life by expressing our inner thoughts and
feelings.
Baba says, "Do meditation, do kiirtan and bhajan sincerely and together
with that, render maximum social service. This is the supreme ideology
for an ideal human being." (15 October 1979 morning, Nagpur)
Namaskar,
Sudhakar
