Welcome to the 2016 Saraswati Puja issue of e-Sanai

by Sri Sandip Dasgupta

Welcome to the Saraswati Puja issue of e-Sanai.  Our Master, Sri Sri Babathakur had assumed his current body on this auspicious day.  Hence, in this article, I am going to dwell a bit on His own words, delivered during a question and answer session* for devotees present at the Kali Bari in Chittaranjan Park, New Delhi.

An eager member of the audience asked our Master to elaborate on who a Guru is.  Master began with the story of a pregnant tiger that had given birth to a cub prematurely.  The tigress died soon after, leaving the young cub to join a flock of sheep.  The cub got raised as a sheep – it hence behaved like a sheep and even “baah”-ed like a sheep!  It was completely unaware that it was a tiger’s cub!

One fine day, another tiger noticed this anomaly and decided to do something about it.  However the tiger was in a quandary.  If he attacked the flock, the tiger cub would also run away.  So he waited patiently for a moment when the flock was away from the tiger cub.  Then the tiger grabbed the cub by the shoulder and took him to a pond – where he showed him the reflection of both their bodies (and the similarities between them).  He further explained to the cub that his true nature was that of a tiger, and not that of a sheep!

Sri Sri Babathakur then mentioned that some people might think it was wrong for the tiger to have converted the cub from a sheep to a tiger.  But our Master beautifully explained that this is precisely the role a Sadguru plays – that of acquainting us with our real nature.  In this instance, the tiger explained the real nature of the cub to the cub.  Our Master went on to mention that He has also been explaining to each and every one of us that there is a “Real-I” inside each one of us – and this is indeed the “Science of Oneness”.

Further in His answer, He likened the Sadguru to a doctor. The Master enumerated on how a doctor functions.   A doctor asks patients to describe their own symptoms and then prescribes some medicines (and gives some advice) to the patients.  He went on to say that the Sadguru similarly reminds us of our own true nature.

Sri Sri Babathakur has on multiple occasions explained to us that Ajnana (Ignorance) is part of Jnana (Knowledge) itself!  In fact, ignorance is part of the spectrum of Knowledge – it is just at the other end of the spectrum.  He has asserted that we all have come to this world with a birthright of realizing our own True Self.

On this very auspicious day, can we all pledge to open the windows of our hearts and let the light of Self-Knowledge enter our hearts – and reveal the True Nature of each and every one of us!

Joy Babathakur! Joy Babathakur! Joy Babathakur!

*The original content of this lecture can be found in the CD entitled “Proshno O Uttar (Questions and Answers)” published by Saccidananda Society.

Struggle in the Relative....Solution in the Reality

 

by P.C. Lahiri

A well known media personality was seriously ill, battling terminal cancer in its last stage.  Many people, including some eminent personalities had come to the hospital to be with the distressed family.  I was observing and listening to the proceedings from a slight distance.  People arriving would offer words of consolation words to the family members and hug them, a few even shedding tears in the process of doing so.  Within a few minutes however, they would begin scanning the gathering for known faces of interest, making their way slowly through the crowd to reach them.  The whole scene consisted of many small huddles of a few people each, and a comparatively larger group assembled around the distressed family.  People around the family inquired how this could have all happened so suddenly.  After all wasn’t it just the other day that the patient was joyfully participating in a social gathering!  Oh my God, strange are His ways; why him? He’s such a helpful and lively guy; please have faith in God and He will take care; so on and so forth.  In the smaller huddles, discussions would start off with remarks about the patient, but in no time, switch to a topic of common interest― be it politics, business, office, economics, criticism of the general state of affairs prevailing in the country, family issues, ornaments/sarees/fashion and what not.  A few visitors would move from huddle to huddle, finally settling in that gathering where they could establish their knowledge and authority to boost their ego or gain some benefit.  This picture could be endlessly painted, however the idea here is not to degrade or criticize somebody, but to appreciate and accept the real state of our mind and its consequent behavior.  I myself have been a part and parcel of such huddles on numerous occasions, i.e. until my eye-opening association with the Master (Prajnanpurush Sri Sri Babathakur).

In the normal course, most of us do not get the opportunity to read or listen to a scientific analysis of the world drama starting with the gross outer nature which is there for our use - not haphazard use, but ‘right use’.  Very rarely do we get the privilege of either listening or reading about the ‘science of right use’. We have been so fortunate in not only being able to listen and read, but also to having received a live demonstration of ‘right use’ through an exemplary life (the Master’s) in this mundane world. This is extremely rare.  So let us ‘accept’ it wholeheartedly with clear understanding; then make conscious and serious efforts to ‘adjust’ our lifestyle accordingly; and finally ‘accommodate’ it totally in our day-to-day lives.  Once the accommodation is complete and perfect in life without any reservation whatsoever, the ‘Absolute’ shall reveal from within of its own accord. This formula of ‘Fourfold A’ (accept-adjust-accommodate-Absolute) has been narrated by the Master as It was revealed to Him.

 Behind the gross outer nature is the subtle inner nature consisting of our mind, intellect, ego and mind-stuff (antahkarana) which is the immediate source of the behavior alluded to in the first paragraph.  The inner nature is the immediate experiencer and user of the outer nature.  Common people relate to the happenings in the outer nature, totally guided by their inner nature.  As is the training and refinement of the mind-intellect-ego, so is the behavior of the common person.  Now most of the visitors had gone to the hospital conditioned by the customary practice of sympathizing with the family and, if possible, with the patient.  Very few were true friends, who through the use of right words and deeds, were there to help family members rediscover their lost confidence and inner strength. Therefore, as soon as the formality of the visit was over, most visitors drifted to groups of interest from where the expectation was to achieve something worthwhile due to the presence of some powerful people including politicians and businessmen.  We tend to criticize or degrade others for such behavior without realizing that we ourselves are doing the same and sailing in the same boat. Staying in glass houses, we throw stones at other houses. This is the general scenario in all spheres of life, almost without exception. We lack proper training of our subtle inner nature.

That being the case, the important thing here is to understand that we shall not be able to refine our mind to rightly educate ourselves by following the best of training or education provided at the level of gross outer or subtle inner nature anywhere in the world.  By remaining in the orbit of inner and outer play, one cannot get rid of their demerits as they are the product of the ever changing reflected consciousness (cidabhas). We have to receive the guidance of a teacher who is established in the subtler central nature, our Godly nature or nature of Pure Consciousness. This perfectly equanimous and supreme nature is already within us; however since we are unaware of it, a Master who has direct experience of the same and is unified and identified with it, is needed to reveal it to us through His words and deeds. The training is basically centered on turning the mind inward rather than its existing strong outward inclination. As the training proceeds, the trainee realizes that his/her stability, balance, inner peace and bliss are on the rise without any change in outer circumstances. The day-to-day worldly life is going on in a much better fashion without leaving tension and anxiety as its invariable by-product. Without discarding or even neglecting any rightful duty and responsibility of life, one is able to find more time and be at ease with the surroundings.

Behind this subtler central nature lies our subtlemost transcendental nature which is supremely perfect and beyond all duality or many-ness. Both the central and the transcendental nature are perfect and very similar to each other; however there are some extremely subtle differences realized only by supremely perfect Souls with Self-Conscious Awareness (Swanubhuti). We came to know about them only when revealed by the Master. Any discussions at our level on the differences between the two shall be purely academic and perhaps ego-inflating. Master being Supreme Wisdom incarnate, whose appearance in the mortal plane was for a ‘missionless mission’ (a unique unprecedented coinage), revealed everything from the state of Absolute Perfection for one and all, without any discrimination whatsoever. The inherent nature and beauty of this revelation is that it has nothing to do with pairs of opposites like true-false, right-wrong, good-bad, past-present, this & that; in any form as is prevalent in the universal manifestation including the world of celestial beings that are there to help only the qualified/deserving and not the un-deserving/un-qualified. The very cause of appearance of the world phenomenon is the spontaneous appearance of Divine Will in the Supreme Divine Being (Saccidananda Satta) to become many from the state of Its perfect Oneness, and to play with Itself in innumerable ways, only for the sake of Supreme Bliss. As the Divine Will gradually descended from that subtlemost transcendental state of supreme Oneness to subtler central state to subtle inner state and finally to the gross outer state to appear as the universal outer nature, many-ness appeared.  Play cannot happen unless there are at least two, if not many.  This many-ness is only an appearance like a magician’s magical game which appears as real till the secret is revealed, or like a dream which appears as real as long as it lasts, or like a mirage or a rope appearing as a snake in insufficient light. Due to insufficient light of knowledge, we the embodied beings, consider the world phenomenon as real and get falsely identified with our bodies and outer nature.  So we gather knowledge from the outer world through innumerable means, churn it in our reflected unreal inner nature to draw conclusions which are termed as “my opinion/idea” and which serve as the basis of our actions/behaviors. The whole game of innumerable appearances all over the universe is immersed in the play of nature mainly at the gross level and a little at the subtle level. The subtler and the subtlemost states which are very much there within all of us is not even thought about, what to talk of realizing our unity and identity with them.

This explains to a reasonable extent the happenings at the hospital and for that matter, the happenings taking place anywhere and everywhere.  Instead of criticizing and strengthening our lower nature, we can learn our lessons from the variable and contradictory outer nature to gradually elevate ourselves to be more in tune with our higher nature - which is wider and more refined.  If our mind-intellect-ego is more in sync with our higher nature, then it will reflect in our behavior.  For example, in the aforementioned hospital scenario, a person with refined understanding, by the right use of his time and education, would not only empower and strengthen the family to go through the rough patch smoothly and properly, but also draw the attention of visitors towards that area of peace and bliss that is little known or unknown to them. He would be able to do that easily without imposing himself, just like a universal friend who has no self-interest and has nothing to prove to anyone. The training that he is receiving or has received will spontaneously prompt him from within to move on in every sphere of life with ease and with minimal sense of distinction. Out of the hospital when he is into his normal routine, he will be the same. Reader friends, isn’t this nature very attractive?  Don’t we get inspired by his simplicity, humility and easiness? It is not that he won’t be successful in the present day world. On the contrary, he will not only be successful, but also be an example for many others.  It is a different matter as to how he goes about his success. His ways would be different from the common people, not because he wants it that way but simply because he has become that way.  Without any extra conscious effort, he can be easy, simple and humble. This can happen with any one of us as we have the Bible of perfection from our Master― ‘the Science of Oneness’.  Let us resolve to make serious efforts to accept, adjust and accommodate it in life to the best of our ability. With an earnest desire from within, if we go forward to imbibe the Science, help and support shall pour in from all around. How? Because the whole world phenomenon is designed and executed that way by the Absolute Divine Being (our True Nature) who is experiencing His own divine glory by becoming many and playing with Himself, for Himself and in Himself alone. We have simply forgotten this ‘sportful dramatic sameside game of Self-Consciousness (our very True Nature)’. Earnest desire supported by devotion and dedication paves the way for regaining the lost paradise within.

Submitted at the lotus feet of the Master

Noisy Silence

 

by Smt. Susmita Devi

Noisy Silence is not a contradiction

Noisy Silence carries internal implications

Noisy Silence the thrill and joy of the Self heard

Noisy Silence prompts Inspiration, Creativity and Premonition

Noisy Silence is the fruit of a purposeful silent mind.

 

Fasting for the body is commonly accepted

Fasting mind into Silence is the subtler approach

Fasting mind leads to peace and joy out of the blue

Fasting mind perceives Knowledge veiled by words

Fasting mind substantiates the path to the Self.

Words said in anger and of frustration

Words expressing profound thoughts

Words thoughtlessly pour out - along with malignant chat

Words of praise, rebuke or kindness

Words by the millions have I uttered

Words, the outcome of mind’s incessant rant



Sacred Sounds of Hinduism

by Sri Ajit Halder

Any person when visiting a Hindu temple while a puja is in progress, will listen to an array of sacred sounds such as those originating from priests chanting mantras, worshipers praying, devotees reciting hymns or singing devotional songs.  The worship in a temple is often permeated by a range of holy sounds generated by the beating of drums, ringing of bells, striking of gongs and cymbals, and the blowing of conchs and flutes. Puja of a Hindu deity is always associated with sacred sounds of various kinds, and this pleasant hearing sensation adds an audible or sonic dimension to the ritual.

Sound or music in the present context is something more than just an experience of gaining a quantum of listening pleasure.  To a Hindu, sound and music are considered to play the role as a potential medium to achieve a deeper unity with both the inner self and the supreme self, Jeevatma with Paramatma.

It is important to remember that correct chanting of mantras with the right modulation of loudness, intonation and diction is a requisite to gain the maximum religious benefit from the utterance of holy words.  This note on the characteristic features of sound should motivate readers to recite the mantra in the appropriate melodious manner.

Sound is a kind of vibration which travels through a physical medium like air, water and metal and is sensed by the ear.  Sound is generated by speech, music and others like a dialogue that we hear in a drama, in a video recording uploaded and projected on the screen of a computer, or a film being shown on the large screen in a cinema hall.  We can vary the volume of sound per our taste using electronic means.  Some sounds are loud or soft to hear, others may be shrill or hoarse.  So we note the two aspects of sound: (1) fine or coarse - that depends on frequency and (2) loud or soft - which depends on the intensity of vibration.  These features are very much noticeable in music.  The quality of sacred sound heard through chanting of mantras or singing of hymns depends on a right balance of pitch and loudness.

Of the variety of sounds in Hinduism, the one sound that is omnipresent in all mantra recitals is the sound of OM which is a sound produced by the utterances of three letters – A, U and M in the order they are shown here.  OM is the vibration sound of the cosmos.  Most Hindu mantras start with the word AUM, because AUM is the primordial vibration of consciousness, the Brahman, which created the universe.  The other words in the mantra are prayer(s) to the deity being worshiped to seek His/Her blessings.  AUM in itself is a complete mantra.  The chanting of AUM is sacred, and brings peace, happiness and spiritual enlightenment.  It is truly called the MAHA MANTRA.  OM (often written as AUM) is both a visual symbol and a sacred sound or mantra which can be both heard or chanted.  It is the sacred word and sacred symbol of the Hindu religion.

Manduka Upanishad says – ‘AUM stands for supreme Reality, It is a symbol for what was, what is and what will be and so it is eternal and has been in existence from the instant of the creation of the universe..’ 

Following the narrative on OM, it should be pointed out that there are other mantras of spiritual significance and a discussion on the characteristics of a mantra will be in order here.

A mantra is a thought manifest in a sacred utterance that possesses profound spiritual significance.  Moreover a mantra is a pure sound vibration for delivering the mind from the material and the mundane to spiritual consciousness.  It is understood that by chanting japa and by hearing the holy sounds of mantra, one can elevate himself to the platform of spiritual realization. The energy in the sound vibration of the mantra prepares and opens one’s consciousness to higher levels of reality.  This may be called the process of Mantra-Yoga.  Chanting the names of God i.e. remembering the different attributes of God brings a devotee in direct contact with God. The Gayatri Mantra may be cited as a good example.

Each mantra has a presiding deity over it who is supposed to bestow the results of the chanting of mantras (mantra phala).  Mantra such as the seed mantra (bija mantra) - uttered into the ear of a devotee by a Deekkha Guru during the initiation ceremony - has to be repeated regularly by the devotee every prayer session.

Before closing this narrative on mantra, we wish to draw attention to two mantras that are specially recommended in the Vedic literature.  One is Omkara or OM mantra which has already been elaborated upon in a previous paragraph, and the other is: ‘Hare Krishna Hare Ram’ mantra adopted by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON).  ISKON is to be credited for popularizing the chanting of the sacred sound ‘Hare Krishna Hare Ram’ and bringing celestial joy to those participating in community singing of this sacred mantra.

No discussion on sacred sound will be complete without making a reference to the holy words uttered by Sri Sri Babathakur in his many religious discourses.  Groups of devotees of the Prajnanpurush who attended His religious discussions are fortunate enough to listen to the message, illuminating and issuing out directly from the Master’s Lotus Lips.  There are a huge number of other devotees who were not so lucky and could not attend the satsanga with the Divine Master. Thanks to the development of technology, these devotees can now hear the sacred words spoken by Sri Sri Babathakur that have been recorded on CDs.  What is more, those once deprived devotees can now watch the telecast of the Divine Master, experience his virtual presence among them, and listen to the Master delivering the sermon on the television screen with enjoyment.

In conclusion, we stress that the Sacred Sounds generated when holy words are spoken have been with the Hindus from the time of the Vedas. The Vedas are given the designations of ‘shruti’, meaning having been heard and discerned by the sages (rishis).  The origins of the Vedic texts are oral, i.e. words were spoken by the sages and heard and remembered by their disciples.  These words were then passed down through strict oral traditions for generations before being committed to the page to become a written record. .We notice the per-eminence of sound (deemed to be sacred because of its association with the holy Vedas) as exemplified through its role in creation “By His (Bramhan’s) utterance the Universe came into being.” from the Brihad Aranyak Upanisad (1.2.4).  Even more significant is the personification of the goddess Vak, the goddess of speech, in the Rig Veda.  Devi Vak is viewed as a female potency who sustains the power of Vedic mantras.  The Sacred Sounds heard in temples and uttered by worshipers have been spiritually benefiting the Hindus through the ages.