== KNOWN AND UNKNOWN LOVE ==
Namaskar,
Some people may think that only tried and true bhaktas have love for
Parama Purusa - but it is not like that. According to Baba, everyone has
love for Parama Purusa - only some realise it and some not.
Those who realise their longing for the Divine chase after Him; those
who don't realise it chase after mundane allurements in hopes of
satisfying their unknown urge for the Divine.
IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW
For our own knowledge and awareness as well as for AM pracara
activities, we should actively understand the difference - as well as
the relationship - between a'sakti (mundane attraction) and bhakti
(divine love).
By this way, we can help others steer their course towards the Supreme,
by His grace. Because ultimately, all are seeking Him.
A'SAKTI VS. BHAKTI
In clear language, Baba lays down the difference between a'sakti and
bhakti.
Baba says, "In philosophical terms the attraction for finite objects is
called a'sakti and the attraction for the infinite is bhakti." (SS-1)
Baba says, "Your attraction to the Supreme is called devotion [bhakti],
whereas attraction to any finite objectivity is called a'sakti.
Attraction to friends is a'sakti, attraction to God is bhakti. In the
case of a'sakti the object is limited, in the case of bhakti it is
unlimited." (SS-24)
Running after the mundane or limited is a'sakti and running after the
Divine is bhakti.
But even then there is a link between the two as Baba Himself says that
a'sakti is nothing but misplaced or misdirected devotion. Please
continue reading.
THOSE ON THE PATH OF A'SAKTI
ARE CHASING AFTER THE DIVINE
Here Baba points out how all have love for Him - all long for Parama
Purusa.
Baba says, "Knowingly or unknowingly everyone is moving around Him.
Everyone is bound to move, otherwise they will lose their permanent
shelter, they will dissociate from their permanent nucleus. This
movement is a natural propensity born out of love for Parama Purus'a.
Love for the Supreme is a natural propensity." (NKS)
So even those on the path of a'sakti, i.e. those running after mundane
allurements, have an inner hidden urge for Him.
Some may have trouble believing how this is so - but by the following
analogy it will all become quite clear.
BABY EXAMPLE: EATING PENS AND PAPER
We all know that babies are prone to putting all kinds of things in
their mouth: dirt, stones, pens, plastic, etc. Whatever they can get
their hands on, they will stick in their mouth. Is it because they like
that object? No. It is because they are in search of something. They are
in search of food. And the proof is that when the baby chews on that
paper it will cry, spit out the paper, and throw it away. Only when it
gets food will it be satisfied.
Naive people may think the the baby likes to eat pens and shoelaces etc,
as again it will reach for one of those things, but that is of course
not true. When that baby does get some proper food, then it will not
grab after all those other things - then it will not try and put plastic
and paper into its mouth.
Here the whole point is that the baby wants food but due to its own
unawareness it puts so many other things in its mouth.
Similarly, all jiivas desire Parama Purusa. He is the desired Entity of
everyone. But those who do not realise that they desire Him try to
satisfy their longing with so many mundane things. They may chase after
the opposite sex, or money, or name and fame, or so many things - all in
hopes of satisfying their innate yet unknown longing for Parama Purusa.
Invariably, a person tires of those worldly things - or even suffers
backlash from them. Their wife may beat them; their job may make them
stressed out; liquor and drugs will make them sick. All kinds of adverse
reactions will happen, sooner or later.
And in due course- either in this life or the next - they are bound to
understand those mundane things cannot permanently satisfy their inner
quench for the Supreme. Then they will come more directly onto the path
of devotion.
Till that time, they will continue to struggle with a'sakti, wrongly
thinking that this is where their happiness lies.
ALL DESIRE THE SUPREME
Here is another of Baba's divine teachings that guides us how everyone
is in search of the Divine and it is only the Divine that can satisfy
that the unlimited desires of the jiivatma.
2-5. Tasminnupalabdhe parama' trs'n'a'nivrttih.
Purport: There is in the living being a thirst for limitlessness. It is
not possible for limited objects to quench one’s thirst. Brahma is the
only limitless entity, and so establishment in Brahma’s bearing alone
puts an end to all thirsts or cravings. (A'nanda Sutram)
Those on the path of a'sakti may get temporary pleasure from crude
allurements like the opposite sex and shiny cars etc, but such mundane
allurements cannot satisfy them for long. Soon again, they will be on
the lookout for something else to satisfy them.
Until, by His grace, they come onto the path of bhakti and attain Him.
Then their desire for the limitless will be satisfied.
All along however, it is their desire and love for the Supreme that
keeps them in the hunt. If they really only wanted a sports car then
that sports car would satisfy them forever and ever. But that never
happens - one day they tire of that car, toss it aside, and look for a
new car or something else to satisfy their longing.
But what human beings desire, of course, is unlimited bliss, or Divine
Love.
Just people embark on the path of a'sakti in order to quench their
desire, as they are unaware that their true longing is for Parama
Purusa, not mundane things.
WHY WORLDLY THINGS ARE ALLURING
Why is then that even though everyone's innate desire is for the Divine,
worldly attractions are quite alluring. The first reason is because
those things are, after all, part of God's creation so they have some
temporary charm. Secondly, chasing after mundane things is easy to do.
And thirdly, in their ignorance, people think those things will satisfy
them.
They think, "I will be happy once I get a Mercedes-Benz", or they think,
"I will be satisfied when I get a bigger house or a higher post" etc.
But none of those things can satisfy them for long.
They think it will give them bliss but all too often those things just
give them heart-ache and pain. Because their real longing is for the
Supreme - that is what is urging them on in their search.
UNKNOWN LOVE FOR THE DIVINE
STARTS IN ANIMAL LIFE
Even though many humans are on the path of a'sakti, it is their longing
for the Divine that is the driving force in their hunt for happiness.
And it is not just humans but developed animals also that have such an
urge.
Monkeys, dogs, elephants and others also have an unknown urge for Parama
Purusa. A dog's desire to please his master is the seed form of love for
Parama Purusa. Same is true for a monkey's desire to please his trainer.
Such animals are just on the cusp of human life and certainly they will
attain that in their next birth.
ONLY PARAMA PURUSA CAN QUENCH HUMAN LONGING
Because only the beginningless and endless Parama Brahma is infinite,
only He can satisfy all human longing.
Baba says, "Brahma is the only limitless entity, and so establishment in
Brahma’s bearing alone puts an end to all thirsts or cravings." (Ananda
Sutram)
Once human beings understand that they are in love with Parama Purusa,
then they will chase after Him. It is then that they realise that their
travels on the path of a'sakti are fruitless and they have to properly
direct their devotion for Parama Purusa.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace, all love Him. This fact must be made common to all then
it will be easy to goad everyone toward that Divine Entity. We should
help everyone realise that they have innate love for Parama Purusa.
This is a great service as it will spare those on the path
of a'sakti so much trouble and torment. Because those worldly
things can never satisfy their innate longing for the Divine.
As sadhakas, in our pracara, we must help everyone to maximally utilise
their human life. The cycle of birth and death is endless. Only those
who develop samvit (spiritual awakening) can truly set their course
toward the Divine, and attain Him by His grace. We should do this in our
own lives and guide others as well. That is Baba's order.
Baba says, "...It is the bounden duty to bring all to the path of bliss.
Verily is this a part and parcel of sadhana - to lead others along the
path of righteousness." (Supreme Command)
Namaskar,
Karma Rasa
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