== I SHOULD REMIND MYSELF ==
Namaskar,
Spirituality is the most important thing in human life. Baba speaks to
this ideal again and again. And here below, in excerpts from His
discourse, 'Matter and Spirit', Baba emphasizes that the path and
practice of sadhana is the main endeavour for any sadhaka. Here then is
our own personal reminder-- for each and every one of us-- for how we
are to move in this human life.
INTROVERSIAL FLOW OF MIND
Firstly, Baba tells us that we must goad the mind inwards and not fall
prey to materialistic tendencies.
Baba says, "Those who are incapable of stopping the extroversive
tendency of their organs are dull-witted, being constantly preoccupied
with external activities. As their objective is physical, their whole
mind cannot absorb itself in the supreme bliss of consciousness
(Caetanya Sama'dhi). As a result they constantly bemoan the threefold
causes of pleasure and pain, material, psychic and spiritual. So wise
people must direct their minds towards the Cosmic Entity. They must
withdraw their minds from objects that ensconce themselves in their own
characteristic self after introverting all their vrttis or desires. To
be ensconced in one’s characteristic self is the supreme attainment of a
unit being."
Baba says, "Those good and honest people who wish to realize the A'tman,
who wish to ensconce themselves in deathlessness, have to introvert
their organs and merge them in the subtler entity. Instead of allowing
the organs to be extroversive they have to be made introversive."
REALLY NATURAL?
Although easy to do, here Baba reveals how leading an extroverted life
is not our natural way. With a little bit of effort, we can easily
reverse this tendency towards a more subtle inner flow.
Baba says, "An object in the air comes hurtling down to earth and people
think that this is its natural movement. But is this true? Actually, it
is because of the earth’s gravitational pull that its movement is
earthward. If it goes beyond the earth’s gravitational pull, then
falling to the earth will not be its natural movement. Similarly, an
organ’s movement towards an external object may be natural to some, for
there exists in them both the psychic inspiration for enjoyment as well
as the attraction of the object. But if the psychic inspiration does not
indulge in yearning for the object, or if it views it with detachment,
then the motion will be reversed, in spite of the object’s attraction.
Of course in the initial efforts people have to struggle a little
against the crude attraction of objects, at least until they are
transformed by the force of their ideal. But eventually this reversal of
movement becomes natural."
PSYCHIC MOMENTUM BRINGS VICTORY
By concentrating the mind in sadhana, we can refine our being & overcome
the crude desire for material satisfaction and sensual desires.
Baba says, "Crude sensuous desires cannot identify themselves with
internal subtlety as easily and quickly as they can with crude external
objects; then too, the sams'ka'ras also to some extent stand in the way.
Nevertheless, in spite of all these impediments, sa'dhana', one’s
concentrated effort, finally wins the day, for practice and perseverance
conquer all obstacles."
Baba says, "For example, a man with a strong addiction to wine must
first force his mind against it in order to leave the habit. That is to
say, he has to propel his psychic urge in a different direction, and
free his sensuous desires from the attraction of his mental wine. But
if, in spite of his strenuous efforts, he comes in contact with the real
wine, then in most cases the attraction of the wine will overcome him,
due to the importance of his internal inspiration. That is why in the
initial state forceful efforts have to be made to change the previous
outlook towards external objects; but thereafter things gradually become
natural and normal. Those who steal can also say that stealing is their
natural occupation. Their minds are naturally attracted towards theft
and that is why they steal. The statement of the materialists that the
movement of the organs is always towards external objects is the same type."
WE ARE MIND-ORIENTED BEINGS
We are mind oriented brings and that mind can only be satisfied if we
channelise towards divinity. Following the all-too-familiar path of
animality will not bring mental contentment.
Baba says, "Humans are mind-predominant beings; this is their greatest
characteristic that distinguishes them from other mammals. If they are
allowed to read, sleep and eat around the clock, or given the
opportunity to read books, deliver speeches and indulge in song, dance
and frolics according to their whims, they feel physically satiated but
mentally unsatisfied. Their minds will wither prematurely like a
worm-eaten bud."
Baba says, "Those who believe that merely by appeasing their physical
hunger and providing the necessities for the preservation of their
existence, that they have acquired all that belongs to the human mind,
are very much mistaken."
Baba says, "Human beings have no experience of divinity, as in the past
they were under the spell of animality. And so their sense propensities
are from the very outset inclined towards familiar and well-known
animality, and they run after external objects. But having realized the
futility of animality through sa'dhana', the mind gradually moves
towards Consciousness. When the consciousness of their animal identity
leaves the mind, by the grace of Brahma, they then realize in the core
of their hearts the futility of the goal of their past lives and become
eager to reveal this to others."
Baba says, "The success of the sa'dhana' of human beings, who are a
blending of animality and divinity, lies in the reduction of their
animality and the unfolding of their divinity."
BABA'S WARNING
Here Baba issues a warning about what will happen to those who run &
chase after materialistic desires.
Baba says, "Those who do the sa'dhana' of desire, who knowingly direct
their propensities (vrttis) towards external objects become crude.
Because they fail to utilize the rein of their mind to keep the organs
under control, their minds gradually become crudified. Their condition
is then degraded to the level not merely of animals, but of matter – of
wood, stone, etc. Then with the last remnant of their subtle human mind
gradually becoming crude, they can no longer claim to be the glorious
humans. Thus the rs'i (sage) said that such people are truly torpid."
Baba says, "Actually, such snobbish, pedantic, materialist sa'dhakas are
far inferior to animals like asses, etc. They repeatedly face rebirth
and continually bind themselves to the chain of slavery; they can never
attain the ultimate liberation. As a result of their crude thoughts,
they take the form of animals or straw, trees, etc. Through the
centripetal action of introversive prakrti, they regain human bodies,
but they again become involved in crude activities and attain sub-human
bodies. Thus they fall repeatedly into the eddies of life and death;
repeatedly they are caught in the dreadful pit of death. They remain
only half-alive, fearing death every moment of their existence. This
becomes their destiny. Truly speaking, such beasts in human form are
lower than animals."
Baba says, "Those beasts in human form neglect their inherent higher
endowments and are thus lower than beasts, for those who abuse what they
possess are even lower than those who do not even possess it."
PROPER USE OF PSYCHIC POTENTIALITY
Our only way then is that of sadhana-- to move towards that subtle realm
of life.
Baba says, "Therefore human beings must clearly understand their true
responsibilities and act accordingly. They must proceed towards
perfection by making proper use of their mental endowments and resources."
Baba says, "In order to convey the call of the Great to one’s heart,
one’s every physical and mental expression has to be directed slowly and
gradually with all one’s sweetness and devotion, to one’s inner being."
Baba says, "Prior to your birth your affectionate mother belonged to an
unseen world as far as you were concerned. Today you have come in
contact with her, you have known her as your mother. What a sweet and
affectionate relationship of reverence and devotion has developed
between you two. Then again some day you may be deprived of this
opportunity of moving together – either you will die or she will. In
that event one will become a being of the unseen world."
Baba says, "Now, during this short period, will it be wise to regard
anything as mine or to regard myself as belonging to something else? The
unstable (adhruva) world is only meant for observing and for
understanding, not for lasting enjoyment. That is why wise people do not
waste their time on unstable things; they worship only the eternal – the
dhruva."
Baba says, "Of course, the body does undergo some change due to the
crudity or subtlety of mind. For example, the nerves of a person with a
criminal bent of mind become strong and his or her hair becomes thick
and stiff. As a result, neither the body nor the mind is greatly
affected by the shocks and blows, the criminal will surely endure. The
person inclined towards consciousness, however, becomes physically and
mentally soft. As such a person’s skin and body are relatively thin and
soft, the receptivity of the body and mind increases and the
comprehension and sensitivity of the mind are considerably enhanced.
These phenomena fall within the scope of physiology and psychology."
WORDS ALONE ARE NOT ENOUGH
PRACTICE & EFFORT ARE NEEDED
Baba says, "The Yama said, “Nacike'a', you are that Iisha'na.” But
merely saying that you are Iisha'na is of no avail. If anyone calls you
a millionaire, merely hearing this does not actually make you the owner
of a million rupees. So simply uttering the word “millionaire” is not
enough. You must be in a position to receive recognition as a
millionaire. Merely boasting with an inflated chest that “I am
Iisha'na'” or “I am Brahma” does not mean that one has attained the
state of Brahma. You must have heard the story of the Vedantist jackal.
Listening to the discourses of the panditas (erudite scholars), the
jackal too started preaching in his own society that he was not a jackal
but the living Brahma, to be adored and revered by all. The state of
those who having read a few pages of a book, dream of salvation without
doing any sa'dhana', is similar to that of the Vedantist jackal.
Actually mere talk is of no avail; establishing oneself in consciousness
is what is important. To think oneself an MA is useless. Only after
striving hard and passing the MA exam does the sense of being an MA
become established in the mind, and will the talk of being an MA be
justified."
PARAMA PURUSA IS WITH YOU
By Baba's grace He is always with us-- calling us. We must then make
that great effort and respond to His call and not waste our life in
material pursuits.
Baba says, "He certainly abides in you, watching your every act. He is
very near you. Just as the shadow remains attached to the sun’s ray,
similarly He keeps Himself in closest contact with your entity.
“Cha'yata pao brahmavido vadanti”, i.e., the knowers of Brahma say that
He remains with the unit entities, just as the shadow remains with the
sun’s ray. One who is carefully introspective by dint of sa'dhana'
(intuitional practice) certainly attains Him, and attaining that eternal
sea of bliss, enjoys everlasting happiness. Eating a rossogolla, a
delicious sweet, you become happy; but no matter how great a stock of
rossogollas you have, some day it will be exhausted, won’t it? To attain
lasting happiness from rossogollas, you need an unlimited number of
them, but this is not possible, for nothing in this evolved world is
limitless. Only He is unlimited, so it is only by attaining Him that
unlimited happiness can be attained. No matter how much you enjoy Him,
He can never be exhausted. Those who crave for unit objects to attain
happiness, can never attain unlimited happiness – never."
Baba says, "Shunning all inferiority complexes, move on the path of
sa'dhana'. The only purpose of your being a human being is to do
sa'dhana'. The life of one who does not do it passes in vain like a tree
struck by lightning."
Krs'n'a bhajiba'r tare sam'sa're a'inu.
Miche ma'ya'-baddha haye vrks'a-sama haenu.
[To worship Krs'n'a to earth had I come
Overcome by Ma'ya', like a tree I become.]
Baba says, "That is why I say, Do not waste your time. Make proper use
of your energy while there is still time. Know and understand your
characteristic self, lest you should bewail"
Brtha' janma gouna'yalun hena Prabhu na' bhajalun' khoya'lun soha
gun'anidhi;
Hama'r karama manda na' milala eka bunda premasindhu rasak avadhi.
"Let not your life go in vain. Make proper use of your intelligence and
intellect. Transform yourself from human to divine, and offer that
sa'dhana'-earned divinity as an oblation to the eternal bearing of the
Supreme Purus'a."
Namaskar,
Satiish
