AvadhootaDatta Peetham

Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha

Day 89, December 31

Jaya Guru Datta

Sri Ganesaya Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha

Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Sadgurubhyo Namaha

asato ma sadgamaya
tamaso ma jyotirgamaya
mrityor ma amrtam gamaya
Om Santissantissantihi

Please lead me from untruth to Truth, from darkness to light, from death to immortality. May there be peace.

Yoga Vasishtha Dhyana Slokas:
yatassarvāṇi bhūtāni pratibhānti sthitāni ca
yatraivōpaśamaṁ yānti tasmai satyātmanē namaḥ || 1
jñātā jñānaṁ tathā jñēyaṁ draṣṭādarśana dr̥śyabhūḥ
kartā hētuḥ kriyā yasmāt tasmai jñaptyātmanē namaḥ || 2
sphuranti sīkarā yasmāt ānanandasyāṁbarē vanau
sarvēṣām jīvanam tasmai brahmānandātmanē namaḥ || 3

Om santissantissantihi

Yesterday in Vasishtha's message on Daiva Nirakarana, he said: If you did not do too much karma in your past lives, it means that your karma will not attach itself to you in the form of traits and tendencies. So, there is no need to be concerned about it. Keep doing good deeds. Because of them all flaws will get voided. Whatever we sow, we reap, by way of our actions. Noble deeds not only give you ordinary benefits but will give you the true fulfillment of life. Hence, keep doing Satkarma - good actions until you attain enlightenment. Completely give up lethargy.

Just as washing cleans our body and our clothes, good deeds wash away the dirt from our minds. Therefore, keep doing good deeds continuously. Do such deeds as what the great souls perform, which will yield the greatest benefits to you. It will do you good. It will dispel sorrow also by canceling the bad effects of mistakes made in the past. This concludes this sarga.

Speaking about Adrishta, the topic of Karma of both types, what should be done, and what should be avoided has been clearly explained. Do not simply trust luck. You must be proactive in engaging in good karma and keep trying. This subject is followed by the topic called Jnanavatarana.

Sri Rama questions: Past lives' deeds take the form of our destiny is what I understand, and it can be compensated by the good deeds of the present lifetime. Discipline was referred to as Niyati, the consort of Time, in an earlier section. This reference to Time and his consort Discipline are all symbolic and are described in this manner only to make it easy for us to understand. Time is one. But Sastra follows certain techniques to explain subtle concepts, and describing them as male, female, as a family, and as children, is all one tradition to make tough subjects easy to grasp. Niyati is what will accrue to us in the future as the result of our past actions. Our future is unknown to us. How to control our future?

Vasishtha answers that in this section called Jnanavatarana. The one who understands that everything is Parabrahman and there is never anything that exists as separate from Parabrahman, will have no concerns about what may happen in the future. The reason is that when one identifies with the Parabrahman, future is also a part of Parabrahman, and it can do him no harm. Therefore, there is no need to fear the future. There is no need to fear that in the future you may fall into ignorance. Give up such a concern. You will overcome such a situation.

Vasishtha begins narrating his own story. He begins with Parabrahman. Then proceeds to describe the emergence of Narayana and from Him, the emergence of Brahma. This is followed by the creation of the world. In the world, there is sorrow and to remove it, the Almighty brings forth Jnana. In that context, Vasishtha mentions that he came into being. This is the topic of Jnanavatarana.

Today is the last day of 2014. Tomorrow we begin the New Year 2015. Here we were speaking of Time and Niyati. It is significant that we conclude this topic today and we begin the new topic of the emergence of spiritual knowledge tomorrow. It is nothing but Sadguru's grace.

Where the deeds of past life are insignificant and hence do not bind you, as mentioned in the example of a man randomly touching the rice saplings as we walks along the rice fields while traveling from village to another, the karma does not bind us strongly. We perform many such deeds thoughtlessly. Only those actions which we perform with a strong resolve turn into tendencies that stick to us. Other casual gestures do not turn into definite traits.

Whatever occupies your mind strongly will affect your future lives. That is why people on their deathbed are asked if they have any final unfulfilled strong desires. The reason is that such a desire will be the cause of rebirth, for the purpose of satisfying that desire. It is important to chant the name of God at that time as one takes the last breath so as to avoid rebirth. That is why those around a dying person will be singing the names of God to draw the mind of the person from lingering desires to the thought of the Almighty.

Even a person who is a criminal and is going to be hanged, will be asked to name his last wish. Because, that will determine how he will be born in his next life. Remembering Guru, or God's name does not come easily at the time of death, unless one gets into the practice of chanting God's name constantly.

The pain of death is so intense, that one is mostly likely to forget to remember God at the last breath.

Vasishtha assures Sri Rama that every casual behavior does not become a tendency.

Vardhishya

Such random gestures do not solidify into traits. They are not to be concerned about. Stay calm and comfortable Rama, and keep doing good things.

Sandigdha

Due to practice do traits form? Do not entertain doubts. Even if your mind has doubts, still, continue doing good deeds. Give up your doubts. Due to good deeds good traits will develop. Why should one visit temples, pilgrim centers? Why should one give charities? Why should one follow austerities? They are all for cleansing the mind.

When the mind become pure, peace of mind is enjoyed. The strain, tension, and anxiety of earning ten million rupees is dissolved when you give away in charity even one rupee. Do not be worried about increasing your tendencies.
Even if you do not accrue any great benefit from your good deeds, be assured that at least you will not incur any sin whatsoever by doing something good. Whereas, if you do something bad, guilt will torment you endlessly. It will fill your heart with fear of future suffering caused by it.

Subhaasubha

When caught in a dilemma as to whether you should choose the good deed or the bad deed, which one should you choose? Often, the good deed does not promise any immediate visible profit, whereas, a bad deed will tempt you with immediate gain. In the world, 50% of the people are engaged in doing bad deeds, even though they do not wish to incur sin, and wish to accrue merit. Why is it so? What should one do in such an event?

Even while caught in a dilemma, even if the mind is pulled towards a sinful deed, still, do only what is right. Even if the expected good result is not forthcoming, and is not within sight, still, do only what is auspicious and good. Eventually the good result will come for your good deeds even though you may feel at the moment that despite all your good deeds, all you are experiencing is only unhappiness. There are many in this world who feel like this.

Just because immediate gain is not experienced, do not lose heart. God is witness to your good deeds. You certainly are not a loser for being and doing good. By your noble deeds, your faith in God increases. Your doubts about God will be dispelled. The story of Kuchela is a great example for this. Despite his dire poverty and despite receiving counsel from others to do what may be undesirable to overcome his dire situation, Kuchela steadfastly followed only the right path. He suffered a great deal. He used to be called Sudama - the well-dressed one. He became known as Kuchela - one whose attire was awful. He had no food to eat, no shelter for rest, and no proper clothes to wear. In spite of it, he gained great wealth in an instant. It is not a story. By Krishna's grace, as a result of his determined adherence to dharma as prescribed in the Vedas and scriptures, Kuchela's found the fulfillment of his life. Troubles are temporary. The true benefit of life should not be risked while caught in a dilemma.

Mahabharata, Bhagavatam, Ramayanam, and Bhagavad Gita dwell only on this subject. They all deal with doubts that torment people. For Arjuna, the warrior, the rightful action was to engage in war against the evil doers. That was his dharma. Doing dharma is the proper action. If one keeps remembering Guru and God, one receives proper guidance from within. It is while in a dilemmas that one requires the help of the divine to tread the path. Kartaveeryarjuna prayed to Lord Dattatreya that when he strays from the path of Dharma, he should be properly guided through good counsel to follow the right path. That was his prayer to Lord Datta. One must certainly read the book Datta Darshanam. It provides good guidance for leading a proper life.

verse

One who keeps doing only good deeds will never suffer from bad consequences. That is why, like a householder saves daily for the provisions required for his family's survival, one must save up the store of merits either for immediate enjoyments, or to be used for attaining moksha - liberation.
Good deeds will never yield bad results. One can thus live in comfort and peace without any fear.

verse

The experience that we reap what we sow, is common to a child and an aged person. It is a universal experience. A sweet dish is sweet to everyone. A spicy food tastes spicy hot to everyone. Whatever action you perform, the corresponding result you will experience. Therefore, Sri Rama, only perform good deeds.

Subha

If you wish for good things, do only good deeds. Your Satva Guna will increase. Your life will be fulfilled. It will require deliberate effort. One feels reluctant to even take a bath or brush one's teeth, but always feels ready to eat and drink.

A story is told of Karna. He was holding a gold vessel in his left hand and was applying oil to his hair with his right hand. At that time to test him, Krishna and Arjuna approached him in disguise and asked for alms. Karna at once gave them charity with his left hand. Arjuna protested that Karna was being disrespectful by giving charity with his left hand. Krishna corrected him. He said that Karna did absolutely the right thing. Who knows how the mindset may change in an instant, if he stopped to switch hands? That is why, when the intention comes to the mind to perform a good deed, the action must be performed at once, without any delay. Such an action will certainly give a good result.

Deliberate effort is required to do something good. Bad things get done effortlessly.

verse

Like horses, the sense organs are drawn powerfully towards objects of the world. But the mind has to control them and engage only doing good, unselfish actions.

Here the name Bhavabhuti is reminded to us. It is one of the names of Siva. Satkarma earns the grace of Lord Siva. Siva observes the troubles endured by the individual. He grants the greatest gift, which is Jnana. People tend to complain about God that they did not receive this or that worldly benefit. But God, in His infinite compassion, gives this greatest and the rarest gift.

When and for how long should one perform good deeds? When Guru suggests that one should do a deeksha for 40 days, at once a protest is heard. He may reduce it to a week, or even a day and still the disciple will ask if doing for one hour instead would suffice. Such is the mentality of people.
Vasishtha is therefore specifying about the duration.

verse

Until the mind is properly analyzed and understood, one should strive. One, who knows the workings of his own mind, will easily be able to read the minds of others. If your own mind runs without control, you will not be able to know the minds of others.

Until you get enlightened, you must perform good deeds with deliberate effort. Once one gets enlightened, the bondage of karma releases one automatically, the way a dried palm frond falls from the tree to the ground. This is the example given by Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

One will realize when enlightenment occurs. No one else needs to inform one of that occurrence. Shuka Avadhoota became a Jnani. Until such a state is reached, lifelong performance of good deeds has to take place as per the words of Guru, Scriptures, and established works.

verse

In the Anaghashtami Vratam, we keep the sons of the Datta and Anagha, the eight siddhis all around them. The last of them is Kamavasayita/end of all desires. He is also invoked in the ritual. Anima, Mahima, and others are great siddhis, no doubt. Desiring to do things to benefit the world is also a siddhi. But to reach the end of all desires is the final siddhi. By continually doing good deeds, as clothes get washed clean by the use of a detergent and if further treatment is required, as they are subjected to washing in boiling hot water, even oil stains get removed.
The mind, likewise, must get ripe with good deeds until the mind becomes absolutely pure. Once that state is reached, the pure divinity of God will be reflected in the heart which becomes like a spotless mirror.

At such a stage, even the performance of good deeds becomes unnecessary. There is no further obligation to do good deeds. It is the stage of an Avadhoota. Samvartaka is the son of Brihaspati. He is an Avadhoota. He wanders about freely, with no obligations whatsoever. He does not bathe, eat, sleep, or talk. It is a great state to be reached.

It is not easily attained. It is the pinnacle of the Sanyasa state. How to attain this state that even transcends karma - action? At such a state, no vasana remains. No tendencies are left. To remove bad odor, sometimes an incense is burned. Sometimes the fragrance of the incense makes you sneeze. In the spiritual context, all vasanas - tendencies should be given up.

This janma - lifetime came to us because of our having acquired great merit and good samskaras - tendencies due to past good deeds. That is why we are here in the ashram and we have a Sadguru. But the next step is to try to avoid getting reborn. To achieve that Satkarma must be performed nonstop. With no type of mental disturbance, one should carry on one's functions.

Subhagam

The last verse in the section is here. This type of auspicious action will wash away all tendencies and will God's grace. It will lead to a state which is free from all wavering, where is there is no sorrow, no excitement, no joy, no disturbance of the mind whatsoever. That is the ultimate state to be reached. That should be reached, without even the desire to reach such a state. Even after reaching that level, Sri Rama, continue your sadhana to obtain Jnana. Then you will be liberated.

This concludes this topic. Effort, sadhana, luck, karma, all these topics have been dealt with so far. Past merit should be increased by continued good karma. Past demerit should be voided or canceled with good karma performed in the present lifetime. What appears as luck is nothing but the experience of good or bad results based on our own good or bad past deeds.

This is called Daiva Nirakarana. In this context, many other pointers have been given to us. There are two currents that affect our lives. When the current is strong one the negative side and we get pulled towards it, and are caught in a dilemma, what should be our course of action is explained clearly. Sri Rama's question was mentioned and an answer was given. In the end it was said that the performance of good deeds will eventually lead one to liberation.

What was the need for this long explanation? In the Vairagya Prakarana, Sri Rama spoke at length about luck and fate. He implied that unless one is lucky, one cannot achieve anything. He did not speak out of ignorance. He merely aired our views for our benefit, so that Vasishtha could give proper answers to dispel our misunderstanding of the subject.

The next topic is Jnanavataranam. It will be commenced on January 2. Today is the 31st of December. Time flies. While living in the ashram, one does not realize the passage of time. Just the other day we celebrated Sivaratri, then it was Sri Jayalakshmi Mata's Aradhana, then it was Sri Swamiji's Birthday Celebrations, then the Chaturmasya austerity, followed by Navaratri, and Datta Jayanti. We are at the end of the year. This is all we see. Time passes peacefully and comfortably in the company of Sadguru. I pray that all of you should always enjoy the grace of Sadguru.

Sadhana itself is grace/luck.

One significant coincidence is that this year Vaikuntha Ekadasi is on the same day as New Year's Day. Sri Swamiji was very reluctant to leave at this time. He wished to give darshan to the thousands of devotees who would be here tomorrow. But He went to Vijayawada to give darshan there where thousands of devotees are expected as well. He has to see them also, since they all cannot come here.

2015 is a good number as per numerology. I pray to Lord Sri Datta Venkateshwara that everyone should be healthy, happy, prosperous, and also successful in attaining spiritual wisdom.

I wish all the Yoga Sangeeta viewers a Happy New Year. I give my greetings in advance. Tomorrow morning at 4:30 AM we will go for darshan of Sri Datta Venkateshwara. It is very important to have darshan of the Lord early in the morning. Please definitely chant Sri Vishnu Sahasranama tomorrow. It is Ekadasi. It is very special. If you can, apply some sesame oil to your hair and wash your hair/take an oil bath. This is called Shat-tila Ekadasi. At least six sesame seeds worth of charity should be given, it is said. Please pray to Lord Vishnu for Universal welfare and prosperity. Many calamities we have witnessed this year. We have especially seen airline disasters, natural catastrophes, and terrorist attacks. Let us pray to Sadguru that the world should be free from all such troubles, and free from old and new diseases, and should enjoy good health, happiness, and prosperity in this New Year.

Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta

Om Santissantissantihi

Harihi Om Tatsat