Guru Gita Discourse- Sixteen

Ajnaana-moola-haranam Janma-karma-nivaarakam
Jnaana-vyraagya-sidhyartham Guru-paadodakam Pibet

For the attainment of knowledge and detachment, one should drink the ‘paada teertham’ of Guru which destroys the root of ignorance and annihilates the causation of rebirths.

Why our soul struggles in this finite world of fleeting joys and experiences? There are biological reasons, phycholocial reasons as well as spiritual reasons. Ultimately, everything comes down to the end-riddle, life itself and its purpose. Knowledge and detachment in spiritual terms denote finding the true dharmic meaning to life. In Hindu spiritual tradition, detachment denotes to a concept of self-abnegation or renunciation of worldly pleasures and attachment. Once the truth of Soul is perceived, the call of the inner Self becomes louder and louder. Such spiritually roused souls become detached and leave their homes, dear and near ones to seek the path of self realization.

But what happens to such spiritual aspirants; very few in the human society think about them. They - may not all of them - wander and wander inside the barbed compounds of the devas, yogis and sages whose lessons in self realization are said to be nowhere near completion. And who knows whether that upper region is segmented according to the caste and regional tags; down here they had such compartments. Therefore, we may have reasonable doubt about the souls of such spiritual aspirants. Those who have spiritual vision confirm the doubt for us that such souls are sadly not liberated from the root of ignorance; not attained freedom from births and deaths. Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru cautions the spiritual seekers;

We have come to this world after many births. We have very little time in this world. What can we learn during this short span of time? The wealth of knowledge acquired through the ages is so voluminous that we are unable to understand even a fraction of it... Therefore, what we can learn is about Kali Yuga Dharma. Kali Yuga Dharma is not based on caste or religion. It is based on the innate goodness of humanity.

Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru guides the spiritual seekers of this age to the freshness of Truth and a new vision about the ashram concept, when He said;

While learning staying in the ashram, we, with our wisdom, sacrifice, sufferings and actions are compensating for the lapses in our homes and the society. This is the knowledge we gain from the Ashram. This is not Sanyasa (renunciation). Those who come to the Ashram and stay here do not adopt Sanyasa. They are coming here to learn with their lives. That was what ancient kings had done. Even Lord Krishna studied in an Ashram. Ashram is such a great institution. The basic duty of every Ashram is to give away love, respect and humility for the good of the world. This is the real education which we gain from the Ashram’.

One need not renounce the world and wander about aimlessly for god realization or to gain freedom from ignorance. Surrender at the lotus feet of the all knowing Supreme Guru and serve Him.

Guru Gita Discourse- Fifteen

Soshanam Paapa-pankasya Deepanam Jnaana-tejasah
Guroh Paadodakam Samyak Samsaaraarnava-taarakam

The water rendered holy by the contact with the feet of the Guru (paada teertham) eliminates the dirt of sin and kindles the light of knowing. It takes us across the ocean of worldly existence.

Our soul actually is in the nature of pure consciousness without any dirt and inalienably connected to the eternal source of creation - God. However, the pure nature of soul is realized only at the end of a long process of spiritual evolution. The journey of the soul from a microbial state to the highest spiritual expansion involves innumerable births and deaths through a variety of life forms including plant and animal life. Human birth is the coveted fulfillment in such a long chain of evolution. In this journey soul gets tainted succumbing to various temptations of the senses and ego. These karmic imprints, good and bad, thus drag the soul through endless misery in the world. The merciful Guru only is the savior here. Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru while speaking about the greatness of the concept of Guru said the following.

“It is said that Guru is the personification of all Dharma -‘Guru Sakala Dharmatma’. Whichsoever births we have undergone, knowing the vices and virtues (acquired) in those incarnations, one should surrender all that in Guru. Guru gives ‘experience’ and crushes the karma in that experiential truth. Our soul has become dirtied in the passage of several births. Let us so consider that we are indeed good, virtuous. However, if you do not honor anyone, would you become virtuous? Entangled in one or other things, our mind gets stagnated in all that. How can you redeem such a muddled mind? We take birth, live and die like this ceaselessly. Only after millions of years, a soul gets guidance of a Guru. Man has a duty to evolve through the states of celestials (deva or devi), a rishi, sage, a seer and Muktha (liberated one). Guru is the guiding light, the witness of this (process). That is how Guru becomes ‘Sakala Dharmatma’- in whom exists all dharma. All celestials (gods & goddesses), Rishi and Sanyasi merge in the radiance of Guru”

Mukundan

Guru Gita Discourse Fourteen

Sarva-teerthaavagaahasya Sampraapnoti Phalam Narah
Guroh Paadodakam Peethvaa Sesham Sirasi Dhaarayan

The one who drinks the water with which the feet of the Guru is washed (thus made holy) and puts it on his head, earns the merit that accrues from the dip in all the holy waters.

Why the feet of Guru are considered so holy? Feet are the support of a being. That which supports a being or thing, can be considered as feet, its support. The plants have roots as their feet. We are supported by our feet. But what do we have as support for our feet? It indeed is the earth. And what does earth has as its support? The earth is supported by waters of the ocean. What has water as its support? It is fire, for waters are produced by the warmth of the sun. And what is the support of fire? It is air, because without air, there can be no fire. And what is the support of air? It is space, because without space, air cannot have mobility. Then what has space as its support? It is self consciousness. Ego is a product of self consciousness. Only through self consciousness, the elemental world is perceived. This individualized consciousness is known as Jeeva, the soul. What has soul as its support? It is the gross consciousness, because a part cannot exist without a whole. Just like fire has its root in the sun, the individual consciousness has its root in the Supreme Consciousness. That Supreme Consciousness is Guru, the personalized self manifestation of Brahman, the attributeless God, without name and form. So now we know what the concept of Guru is and why his feet are our sacred support and the ‘paadateertham’ ambrosia for the soul.

However, the important question is how to recognize the Supreme Guru when he appears in human form. A Supreme Guru takes birth with the mission for an epochal change according to a scheme of cosmic evolution. Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru revealed that only four such Gurus manifest in a yuga (aeon) consisting of lakhs of years. There will be a fifth Guru in between the end and beginning of a yuga. Sri Krishna was such a Guru, who came at the end of Dwapara Yuga and the beginning of Kaliyuga. We are living in Kaliyuga, which has duration of 4, 32,000 years. It is said that Kaliyuga commenced more than 5200 years back approx. after the death of Sri Krishna. Since the beginning of Kaliyuga, several sages and prophets have prophesied the birth of a Supreme Soul for the epochal change expected of Kaliyuga. We can see that the dharma and karma being observed today, particularly in reference to India, belongs to or is an appendage of an obsolete yuga, i.e. Dwapara Yuga and even dating back to Treta Yuga. When yuga dharma is not observed as willed by God, human civilization stagnates. Let humanity be led to the Supreme Guru, whose exposition of Yuga Dharma is exceedingly enlightening and a panacea for all the ills in the world.

Mukundan

Guru Gita Discourse Thirteen

Gurucharanam Saranam

Dehii Brahma Bhavet Yasmaat Tvat-kripaartham Vadaami Tat
Sarva-paapa-visudhaatma Srii-guroh Paada-sevanaat

I shall tell you for the sake of that kindness which makes a soul evolve into godhead. It is through service at the feet of the Guru that the soul frees itself from all sins and becomes purified.

The soul evolves into godhead. It is the fundamental scheme enshrined in the cosmic phenomenon. The soul exists, that we become aware of it through the consciousness of our own being, feelings, thoughts and actions. That the soul desires happiness and detests sorrow, we know. That the soul enjoys pleasures, yet it is dissatisfied, we know. Pleasure is the feelings derived through the five sense organs and ego while happiness is the state of enduring contentment emanating from the observance of dharma. And what is Dharma? Dharma is that very quality of our soul, which makes us aware of truth inherent in every substance, every being, every phenomenon and every situation. It is by this sense of dharma, we become aware of god, truth, love and kindness. It is again due to dharma we become aware of the need to evolve into highest perfection that is Godliness.

Now the question arises why some people become aware of dharma while some not. Here comes the boredom of sin and ignorance. Sin arises out of ignorance of dharma. Those who know dharma also commit sin sometime. That is due to another factor called vasana or the polluted karmic tendency (karmagati) in the soul. Those who have no bad karmagati may also commit sin due to the promptings of the ancestral souls through genetic or zodiacal channels or due to the spiritual debts and binding with the gods, spirits or masters they have worshipped. Therefore, we find that the problem of sin and ignorance is complex and cannot be resolved just by sermons. It cannot be rectified by erudition, knowledge or religious rituals either. The soul becomes conscious of dharma only through contact with the epitome of dharma, the Guru. Fire is born out of friction between two heat producing substance. Similarly when the aspiring soul of disciple comes into contact with Guru, the repository of dharma and spiritual realization, ignorance is dispelled and the flame of dharma and knowledge is kindled in the disciple. Therefore get in contact with Guru and serve him. This is the way of soul purification.

Mukundan

Guru Gita Discourse Twelve

Gurucharanam Saranam

Yadamghri-kamala-dwandwam Dwandwa-taapa-nivaarakam
Taarakam Bhava-sindhoscha Tam Gurum Pranamaamyaham

I salute that Guru, the pair of whose lotus feet remove the suffering owing to the consciousness of binaries and take us across the ocean of worldly life.

Suffering is the mental agony and agitation arising out of the dualities in life. Absence of food is the cause of suffering for a hungry man. When food is availed, the suffering ends but only to reappear. This is the truth of all sensory joys and pleasures. Like night follows day, sorrow follows all pleasures derived out of the mind body mechanism. So long as we are unable to transcend the contradictory experiences arising out from the interplay of sensory perceptions, human relations and aspirations in life, we would not savor peace of mind and experience tranquility of the Self. The way to tranquility is to fix our mind on the neutral point between sorrow and pleasure. What is that neutral point in us? It is the ever lasting consciousness in us concentrating on which one attains peace. Spirituality is this knowing of the self and nurturing it.

Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru affirmed that every soul is born subject to the cosmic rules and regulations. Life takes birth under 12 constellations, 27 stars and 9 planets in the solar system carrying unique spiritual rays that affect human life and character. This cosmic regulation is not a random arrangement but is decided by the karmic qualities and evolutionary status of the soul. Then there are the strong karmic, spiritual and ancestral bonds and debts the soul is tied with from previous lives. A Guru of transcendental experience knows the soul of the disciple. By the sword of his grace, he cuts these bonds and lifts the disciple to transcendental bliss. Through the service to Guru, the soul gets gradually purified of all impurities and inimical influences. Only then, the disciple can hope to reach the realm of spiritual experience. Therefore, in the three worlds, only the lotus feet of Guru, who is knowledge manifest, can remove the pangs of suffering and limitation of the soul.

Worldly life is compared to an ocean because of its impenetrable depth, unpredictable currents, and dangerous threats. It is perennial, riddle-some and difficult for one to swim over to the other end of this ocean called life. But the Guru of transcendental vision enables the inquisitive and enthusiastic disciple to cross over this difficult ocean. The peace and tranquility of the spirit definitely lies beyond the turbulent waters of life.

Guru Gita Discourse Eleven

Gurucharanam Saranam

Goodda-avidya Jagan-maayaa Dehamajnaana-sambhavam
Vijnaanam Yat Prasaadena Guru-sabdena Kathyate

Ignorance is not easily perceivable. The world is illusory. The physical body is caused to be born from this ignorance. That benevolence which results in knowledge (that cuts asunder this ignorance) is expressed by the word Guru.

Here ‘Avidya’ – the ignorance causing delusory perception of the material world is said to be a riddle. The argument is in line with Vedantic perception of God and the Universe. Vedanta advocates that only God exists in reality, the world phenomenon being a mirage, a delusory perception. It could be so for a realized soul. But for all other practical purposes and for unrealized souls the physical world is very much a reality and is the very medium by which the highest Truth is known. Though it has been mentioned that the world is ‘maaya’ – an illusion, it only means that it is a phenomenon to be transcended. However, one should not deny its existence as merely illusion. Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru did not agree with the popular interpretation of ‘maaya’. The world phenomenon is for real and has a scientific basis of its own based on the karmic and evolutionary principles of the soul, the jeeva. Only on transcending the karmic bonds and evolutionary spiritual layers, by understanding and observing right dharma and karma according to the wheel of cosmic time, the individual soul would get rid of delusion and realize its imperishable nature.

To wish away the world of karma and evolution as maaya is a self deluding philosophical discourse. The soul is bound to the physical body so long as the karmic seed is present. The release from the physical limitations is possible only by transcending certain spiritual planes. Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru speaks of ten such spiritual skies such as the plane of human beings, of Pitrus (ancestors), of Devas, of Rishis etc. From the third to sixth stages of soul transformation, it is the plane of celestial beings and Trimurthis, the trinity in Hinduism. It is said that there are billions of souls in these spiritual skies, several times more the population of the human world. Once the spiritual plane of Trimurthis (devi-devas), is transcended the soul assumes the form of light, losing its characteristics of name and form. This happens at the seventh stage of spiritual transformation.

According to Guru, after the seventh stage also, there are some more spiritual planes before the soul succeeds to merge with the Brahman, the Supreme Universal Support. No soul can transcend these spiritual planes without the help of a Guru, who has himself transcended these spiritual planes. And at every step of spiritual transformation, there are unimaginable impediments and resistance from the souls already inhabiting these spiritual skies. Only through the grace of Guru, this spiritual wisdom could be realized by an aspirant. This is the truth and significance of Guru.

Mukundan

Gurugita Discouse Ten

Gurucharanam Saranam

Guru-budhyaatmano Naanyat Satyam Satyam Varaanane!
Tallaabhaarttham Prayatnastu Karthavyascha Maneeshibhih

According to the wisdom of Guru, there is nothing separate from the Soul. This verily is the truth, O beautiful one! Intelligent men should strive for its attainment as it is their duty.

Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru said, ‘What is it called as God? It is an actualization (karma) that evolves out of the interplay of five sheaths (panchakosa) and five senses in synchronization with the solitary Consciousness (jeevatma) and Supreme Consciousnesses (paramatma)’.

Everything is perceived or experienced through our consciousness, the ‘soul’. If there were no consciousness (soul), there would be only blankness. We cannot even know that we exist. That is why it is said that there is nothing separate from the soul. Only in the soul, in that consciousness screen we perceive and experience life and the universe. This existential awareness is the truth and veracity behind spirituality. By knowing our nature as pure consciousness we come to know of its eternal imperishable support, the Supreme Consciousness or God. Our physical bodies are like houses in which inhabits the blissful soul encased in astral layers or zones viz. the Intelligence zone (vijnanamaya kosa), Mind zone (Manomaya kosa), the zone of functional energies (pranamaya kosa) and finally the karmic body made of food (annamayakosa). The microbial soul is constantly throbbing to expand by transcending the limitations of astral encasements in order to find its peace in the unconditioned blissful Consciousness.

Though the Supreme Truth is without name and form, we can have its meaningful cognition through the medium of the Universal Soul, which acts as its qualitative empirical experience (Saguna Brahman). This Universal Soul is verily the Guru Consciousness. Being the first born of the formless Truth, it is known as Aadi Guru – the Primal Guru from whom have emerged both the blue print and the building blocks of the universe. This is the wisdom of the seers of Sanatana Dharma.

According to the astral plan of Adi Guru the Creation is ordained. First the Saptarshis (the seven primary Rishis) were born and through their contemplation 12 constellations, 27 stars and 9 planets also get created. From the interpenetration and interplay of these divine energies, a replica of the soul is created in the waters of the earth with the warmth of the sun and the cool rays of the moon. In the Upanishads the Sun is compared to the soul of man and the moon his mind. We may know that the soul qualities of man are thus reflective of and related to the constellations, stars and planets. Along with the cosmos, creation of other astral substances such as time, space and locations also took place.

The soul requires space around it to breath and to expand, hence the creation of the planetary system, revolving under which through many births, through many life forms, learning and self-evolving, the soul attains dissolution in the Absolute Truth transcending all spiritual planes. This happens under the auspices of Manus (primal human ancestors or spiritual authorities) according to an astral calendar. Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru taught us that the guru-disciple bond is the elucidation of this cosmic truth. In his discourse to Parvati, Lord Siva informs that all intelligent people should be orienting life to this divine truth as it is the very meaning of life.

Mukundan