Sutras 58 to 66
Sutra 58
Anyasmaat saulabhyam
bhaktau.
The practice of bhakthi is easier than other paths (yogas).
Bhakthi is easier to practice than any
other way of approach to God. Karma, Upasana, and Jnana are the three other
paths. Karma yoga involves performance
of Vedic rites which can be performed only by qualified people specified in the
Vedas. Upasana yoga involves meditation
which requires one to have chitta suddhi and chitta ekagratha to practice
meditation in addition to retirement to a solitary place. Further Karma yoga and Upasana yoga by
themselves do not lead to the final goal of oneness with God. Only Jnana yoga, by itself, leads one to the
goal of oneness with God, but this requires sharp and subtle intellect, vast study,
and guidance of a qualified teacher for success in the path. But Bhakthi can be practised under all
conditions by all irrespective of age, caste and sex. Bhakthi involves direct
approach to God through love. As Swami
Chinmayananda said, “bhakti marga is the path of love, and love is something
every Jiva has, and the language of love is understood by everyone “. So
bhakthi is easier to practice as compared to other three paths.
Sutra 59
Pramaanantarasyanapekshatvaat
swayam pramaanatvaat.
Because it does not depend
on any other proof; it is self-evident.
Sutra 60
Shaantirupaat
paramanandarupaatcha.
(Also because, it is) of the nature
of peace and of the nature of supreme joy.
Love is its own proof; no other external evidence is needed
to prove it. Direct experience is the
primary and infallible means of love. Mother
loves the child. There is no need for her to give proof that she loves the
child. Withdrawing the love invested in worldly and material pursuits and
re-employing it in the infinite Grace of God is the path of bhakthi. That is why it is termed self-evident.
Expounding
the excellence of love, sage Narada says in Sutra 60 that where love is, there
peace is; and in course of time continued peace gives great bliss i.e. Paramananda. Bhakti starts out in the form of shanti (peace)
and ultimately leads to ultimate bliss of union with God. Honey gives sweetness to anyone who tastes it.
God returns the love of any bhaktha who loves him truly with sincerity and steadfastness
and God’s love is experienced by that bhaktha as Santhi (peace) and Paramananda
(supreme bliss).
Sutra 61
Lokahaanau chintaa na
kaarya; niveditaathmalokavedatvaat.
The Bhaktha should not worry about worldly
problems as he has surrendered himself and all his secular and sacred
activities (to God)
From
this Sutra sage Narada talks about the obstacles, the sadhana bhaktha faces in
his path to the goal of oneness with God in love and how to overcome them.
One important problem is the worry and anxiety
over the personal problems and worldly and spiritual matters. The bhaktha
should not worry over these problems.
Worrying over problems is different from planning. As a bhakta, he has
surrendered himself as well as his material and spiritual concerns to God and surrender is developed by constantly remembering that God is
doing everything and that one is His instrument only. As an instrument he only
acts and as an instrument he has no cause for worry. If this is consciously
kept in mind, then a bhaktha can safely face all the problems that he may
encounter in the world without worry or anxiety.
Sutra 62
Na tatsidhau
lokavyavahaaro heyaha, kintu phalatyaagaha tatsaadhanam cha karyameva.
Till such a bhakthi
(parama prema rupa) is developed, worldly activities are not to be given up,
but (only) the fruit of action; actions are indeed done as sadhana (practice
of bhakti).
So long as one is a sadhana bhaktha, he must continue the
dynamic life of activities fulfilling one’s duties and responsibilities as a
member of the family and society. The
activities must be continued renouncing the fruits and continually offering
everything to God. And he should be watchful especially for the fruit that
comes in the name of fame and name, as all good activities
attract name and fame, and that can be very addictive. Also, the bhaktha
must accept whatever result that comes as Iswara Prasada, without any raga or
dwesha.
Sutra 63
Stridhananaastikavairicharitram
na shravaniyam
Stories (or descriptions)
of women, wealth, atheists and of enemies should not be listened to.
What is being discussed in this Sutra is that certain types
of materials that will pollute one’s mind should not be listened to by one who
wants to advance in his sadhanas to reach the goal of parama prema
bhakthi. These are described as; women,
wealth, atheists, and enemies. Though these warnings are for all bhakthas, they
are especially for the Mukhyaa Bhaktas who are
nearing the goal of their sadhana. Listening leads to thoughts on the subject and
such thoughts act as a distraction, decreasing spirituality in the devotee.
Thoughts of women arouses passion; the thoughts of wealth generates greed;
thoughts and company of an atheist sows seeds of disbelief in God in the mind;
thoughts of enemy causes anger to rise in the mind. Passion, greed, anger, and dwindling belief
in God are all obstacles in the way of reaching the goal of parama prema
bhakthi. So, a keen, sincere bhaktha
should avoid at all costs all descriptions, and discussions on women, wealth, denial
of God and hostile people, always and only participate in satsangha besides his
prayerful spiritual activities.
Sutra 64
Abhimaana-dambha-adikam
tyaajyam
Pride, vanity, and such
other negative urges of the mind must be given up.
Sage Narada continues with the advice on how to grow in bhakthi developing the love for God. The negative urges that choke one’s spiritual growth like pride and vanity should be given up. These negative urges of mind should be given up by cultivating their opposites like humility, modesty, and simplicity.
Sutra 65
Tadaarpitaakhilaachaaraha
san kaamakrodhaabhimaanaadikam tasminneva karaneeyam
Having dedicated all activities to God the bhaktha should turn all his desire, anger, pride, etc., towards Him only.
Sage Narada advises divinisation of
all the negative emotions by the bhaktha seeking parama prema. It is mind’s nature to desire. When this
desire is for freedom from all bondages it does not bind the bhaktha. Also, the
desire for satsangha, the desire for mahapurushsraya are also non-binding
desires. So, entertaining such
non-binding desires only along with the desire for the love of God, a sadhana
bhaktha can keep his mind free from all binding desires. As for anger, instead of getting angry with
other people, the bhaktha can try to get angry with himself or God for his
inability to pursue his sadhana of loving God always. The same way the pride can be directed to God
by feeling proud to serve God with love as bhaktha. This way all negative emotions can be
transmuted and welded into bhakthi. In short, a bhaktha should sublimate every
one of his emotions and make them a sacred offering unto God.
Sutra 66
Trirupabhangapurvakam
nityadaasyanityakaantaabhajanaatmakam prema kaaryam premaiva kaaryam.
Love, consisting of
constant service, as in the case of a devoted servant or wife, that is free
from the three forms (given in Sutra 56) should be practiced; should alone be
practiced
The love
that is to be practiced is the love, as in the case of a devoted servant or
wife i.e. Daasya bhava, like that of Thiruthonda Nayanar or Kanta bhava, like
that of Andal, that transcends the tamasic bhakthi, rajasic bhakthi, and saatvic
bhakti (three forms) that was described in Sutra 56. The significance here is that the love must
be constant, nitya. There must be,
always, bhakthi in the heart. It is only this constant practice that can
transform a sadhana bhaktha into a sadhya bhaktha, attaining the goal of Para
Bhakthi. Sage Narada emphasises this practice of love through repetition of the
statement, “love should be practiced” with the addition of ‘alone’ at the end
of the Sutra.
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