Jagat

Had a really great rainstorm last night, power and internet were down pretty much since last night. So that is why this took so long to load. I have been slowly building my daily schedule around this evening class. This slowly is moving towards a first night schedule, where I am most active in the late evening. I still got up early this morning, but it was the first time in several days. Anyway, the day is basically spent preparing for the class which I will now give at night. So hopefully I can get into an infallible rhythm at least for the duration of this work. Actually I am really quite excited by going a little more public with these videos. I know that there are two or three bhaktas now who are following regularly, so I appreciate that there are some out there who go for the esoteric bhakti philosophy of Jiva Goswami. This new section is primarily about bhagavat-sākśāṭkāra, which has now been equated to mukti. And so there is some vicāra to be done on the subject. You see ...

Anuccheda 340 The Sequence of Progress In Bhakti तदेवं साधनात्मिका भक्तिर्दर्शिता। तत्र सिद्धिक्रमश्च श्रीसूतोपदेशारम्भे "शुश्रूषोः श्रद्दधानस्य" (भा. १.२.१६) इत्यादिना दर्शितः। We have thus described the practice of devotion. The progressive stages of devotion leading to perfection have been shown in the beginning of Śrī Sūta's instructions in a series of verses beginning with this one: O learned ones, by visiting or dwelling in a holy place a person gets an opportunity to associate with great devotees and to render service to them. By such service a person awakens faith and an interest in hearing narrations about Bhagavān and thus develops a taste for such narrations. (SB 1.2.16) यथा च श्रीनारदवाक्ये "अहं पुरातीतभवेऽभवम्" (भा. १.५.२३) इत्यादौ। An example of how this development unfolds was seen in the case of Śrī Nārada, who described to Śrī Vyāsa the events of his previous life, beginning with this verse: O sage, in my former life during the previ...

An overview of the subjects covered in Anuccheda 7. 7.1 Two kinds of sākṣāṭkāra: Pureness of Heart is the First Qualification 7.2 Pureness of heart is not the only qualification 7.3 The senses must be imbued with the internal potency 7.4 The heart must be pure for the internal potency to manifest 7.5 Sākṣātkārābhāsa 7.6 Two kinds of mental impurity related to Bhagavān 7.7 The devotees' relation to material things 7.8 The Līlā-śakti sometimes creates difficult circumstances for the devotee 7.9 Sometimes a pure devotee appears to be overcome by Māyā 4 7.10 Kr̥ṣṇa's enemies are of two kinds. 5 7.11 Only pure souls can have a direct vision of Bhagavān, that is called mukti 6 sa tat-kara-sparśa-dhutākhilāśubhaḥ sapady abhivyakta-parātma-darśanaḥ tat-pāda-padmaṁ hṛdi nirvṛto dadhau hṛṣyat-tanuḥ klinna-hṛd-aśru-locanaḥ || [bhā.pu. 7.9.6] All the sins of Prahlāda were dispelled by the touch of Bhagavān’s hand, and the direct realization of the supreme Brahman was re...

Anuccheda 6 Direct Realization of Bhagavān Is the Real Puruṣārtha tathā— satyāśiṣo hi bhagavaṁs tava pāda-padmam āśīs tathānubhajataḥ puruṣārtha-mūrteḥ | apy evam arya bhagavān paripāti dīnān vāśreva vatsakam anugraha-kātaro’smān || [bhā.pu. 4.9.17] Similarly Dhruva spoke to Bhagavān: O Bhagavān, You are the embodiment of the ultimate goal. Compared with other boons, only Your feet are a true blessing for those who always worship them in that way. Yet, just as a cow that has recently calved nourishes and protects its calf, You foster even lowly devotees like us, being impatient to shower Your grace on them. (SB 4.9.17) ṭīkā ca—he bhagavan ! puruṣārthaḥ paramānandaḥ sa eva mūrtir yasya, tasya tava pāda-padmam āśiṣo rājyādeḥ sakāśāt satyā āśīḥ paramārtha-phalam | hi niścitam | kasya, tathā tena prakāreṇa tvam eva puruṣārtha ity evaṁ niṣkāmatayā anubhajataḥ | yadyapy evaṁ, tathāpi he arya ! he svāmin ! dīnān sakāmān apy asmān ity-ādikā | Svāmī also comments: "...

So part of my upcoming things to do is to learn India's two national songs, Rabindranath Tagore's national anthem, Bhārata bhāgya vidhātā. Like with most national anthems people only know the first verse. Rabindra's song has six verses. Same thing for Bankim Chandra bande mātaram. I have finally applied for Indian citizenship and so it seems to me that I should do this. In actual fact, I get tears in my eyes when I listen to these two songs. The patriotism in these videos with the waving flage and armies standing in the snow somewhere on the Pakistan border and all the rest of it don't mean all that much to me, nevertheless,I identify with India and feel I belong here. So I will stand for the national anthem and learn them both. As national anthems go, I like them much better than the militaristic jingoistic stuff that most (European) countries have. Once I have learned I will make a video. Bankim's song appears to be a mixture of Sanskrit and Bengali. There ...

अथ श्रीभगवत्साक्सात्कारस्य मुक्तित्वमाह (भा. ७.६.१८)— ततो विदूरात् परिहृत्य दैत्या दैत्येषु सङ्गं विषयात्मकेषु। उपेत नारायणमादिदेवं स मुक्तसङ्गैरिषितोऽपवर्गः ॥ Now [after describing Brahman realization as mukti] the "realization of Bhagavān is mukti" is described. Śrī Prahlāda said: Therefore, O Daityas, shunning away the company of the Daityas from far, who have set their mind on the objects of the senses, take shelter of Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa, the prime deity. He is the liberation, desired by those who have become free from attachment. (SB 7.6.18) टीका च—"यस्मात् स एवापवर्ग इष्टः" इत्येषा। अत्र नारायणस्यापवर्गत्वं तत्साक्षात्कृतावेव पर्यवस्यति। तस्या एव संसारध्वंसपूर्वकपरमानन्दप्राप्तिरूपत्वात् तदस्तित्वमात्रत्वे तादृशत्वाभावाच्च ॥ Svāmī also comments, "Because He alone is the liberation sought after [i.e., take shelter of Him]." Here "Nārāyaṇa as liberation" happens only when one realizes Him directly, because only that (liberat...

This is the second last installment of Bhakti Sandarbha. Remember, these are not the final version that will be published and so I ask you to be judicious in your sharing and remember to give credit to Satyanarayana Dasa Babaji Maharaj when you do. Anuccheda 339 Keep Your Realizations Secret तत्र ते भक्तिमार्गाः दर्शिताः। अत्र च श्रीगुरोः श्रीभगवतो वा प्रसादलब्धं साधनसाध्यगतं स्वीयसर्वस्वभूतं यत् किमपि रहस्यं, तत्तु न कस्मैचित् प्रकाशनीयम्, The path of devotion has thus been outlined in this book. If by the mercy bestowed by one’s guru or Bhagavān, one has realized some confidential truth regarding the practice or the goal of devotion, and which has become one’s very existence, it should not be disclosed to anybody. यथाह (भा. ८.१७.२०)— नैतत् परस्मा आख्येयं पृष्टयापि कथञ्चन। सर्वं सम्पद्यते देवि देवगुह्यं सुसंवृतम्॥ सम्पद्यते फलदं भवति॥ As Śrī Viṣṇu told Aditi Devī: O goddess, never reveal this matter to anyone even if requested. All that is hidden to the go...

tasya evaṁ-lakṣaṇasya paramātma-rūpeṇa ātma-para-deheṣu ātmanaḥ pareṣām api deheṣu tat-tad-upādhi-bhedena pṛthak pṛthag iva sato’pi ekaṁ tadīyaṁ sva-svarūpaṁ tan-mayaṁ tad-ātmakaṁ yad vijñānaṁ tad-anubhavaḥ asāv eva paramārthaḥ | anāśitvāt sādhyatvāt sarva-vijñānāntarbhāvavattvāc ceti bhāvaḥ | ye tu dvaitinaḥ tat-tad-upādhi-dṛṣṭyā tasyāpi bhedaṁ manyante | tad-vijñānena sarva-vijñānāntarbhāvaṁ ca na manyante | te punar atathya-darśina eveti | Realization of That which has all the above characteristics as One, i.e., as situated in Its own essential being, even while present as the Supreme [or Higher] Self in one's own body as well as in those of others, despite seeming to be separate because of the differences in the adjuncts (upādhis [i.e., the bodies]), is the supreme goal because it is imperishable, achievable and contains all other experiences within it. But the dualists who think Him to be different on the basis of those adjuncts and do not accept that experience of Hi...

Anuccheda 338 Worship of Kṛṣṇa Along With Rādhā Is Supreme अथ गोकुलेऽपि श्रीमद्व्रजवधूसहितरासादिलीलात्मकस्य परमवैशिष्ट्यमाह (भा. १०.३३.३९)— विक्रीडितं व्रजवधूभिरिदं च विष्णोः श्रद्धान्वितो यः शृणुयादथ वर्णयेद्वा। भक्तिं परां भगवति परिलभ्य कामं हृद्रोगमाश्वपहिनोत्यचिरेण धीरः॥ And even as regards Kṛṣṇa in Gokula, the glory of Śrī Kṛṣṇa when He performs pastimes such as the rāsa-līlā along with the gopīs of Vraja is even greater still, as described by Śrī Śukadeva: A faithful person endowed with fortitude, who hears or relates this sport of Śrī Viṣṇu with the damsels of Vraja as well is blessed with supreme devotion to Bhagavān and is quickly freed from lust, the disease of the heart. (SB 10.33.39) चकारादन्यच्च। अथ इति वाथ। शृणुयाद्वा वर्णयेद्वा। उपलक्षणं चैतद्ध्यानादेः। परां यतः परा नान्या कुत्रचिद्विद्यते, तादृशीम्। हृद्रोगं कामादिकमपि शीघ्रमेव त्यजति। "As well" ( ca ) implies other pastimes as well. The word atha is used in the sense of “or,” whi...

I split this recording in two as I noticed a few need editorial changes that needed to be made. I will include them 5.10 Jaḍa Bharata Establishes the Paramārtha tad evaṁ pūrva-pakṣān niṣidhya uttara-pakṣaṁ sthāpayitum upakrāntam ekena— In this way after refuting all the opposing views, Jaḍa Bharata prepares to establish the conclusive view with the following verse: tasmāt śreyāṁsy aśeṣāṇi nṛpaitāni na saṁśayaḥ | paramārthas tu bhūpāla saṅkṣepāc chrūyatāṁ mama || [vi.pu. 2.14.28] iti | There is undoubtedly no end to all these auspicious things [but they are not the ultimate goal]. Now hear from me in brief what is the ultimate goal, O King. (VP 2.14.28) śreyāṁsi paramārtha-sādhanāni | paramārtha-nirdeśas trayeṇoktaḥ— "These auspicious things" ( śreyāṁsi ) means those processes that lead to the ultimate goal. He gives an indication of the ultimate goal in the following three verses:: eko vyāpī samaḥ śuddho nirguṇaḥ prakṛteḥ paraḥ | janma-vṛddhy-ādi-r...

Somebody got to use their zombie art on this one. We are approaching the final anucchedas of the Bhakti Sandarbha here. Remember, these postings are NOT the final draft and were posted as a psychological stratagem for me to get the work finished by giving me the illusion of getting some personal public recognition and glory. Alas, how weak is my spiritual will! But at least it got done. Now we are doing the same thing with the Priti Sandarbha videos. I will only get a small fraction of the spiritual benefit of the work I do. Nevertheless, better it gets done. I only wish, as I reread these translations yet again, how glad I am that someone else is there to clean up after me. Anuccheda 335 A Pure Devotee Desires Only Service पुनरेवमेव श्रीमदुद्धवोऽपि प्रार्थितवान् (भा. ११.२९.४०)— नमोऽस्तु ते महायोगिन् प्रपन्नमनुशाधि माम्। यथा त्वच्चरणाम्भोजे रतिः स्यादनपायिनी॥ Further, Śrīman Uddhava also petitioned Bhagavān in the very same manner: Salutations to You, O Supreme Master of...

5.9 Is Union of the Individual Soul with the Supreme Soul the Paramārtha? ननु जीवात्मपरमात्मनोरेकत्रस्थितिभावनयात्यन्तसंयोगे प्रादुर्भूते सति तस्यापि सर्वात्मता स्यात्, तदभेदापत्तेः। स च योगो न विनश्वरः, ज्ञानानन्तरसिद्धत्वात्। तस्मात् तयोर्योग एव परमार्थो भवतु। तत्रोक्तमेकेन (वि.पु. २.१४.२७) — Let us then consider the following: By meditating on the jīva and the Paramātmā being situated in the same place, an absolute union between the two manifests. As a result, the jīva would also become the self of all, due to its having become non-different from the Paramātmā. Such a union (yoga) would be imperishable since it is achieved after attaining knowledge (jñāna). So let the union of these two be taken as the ultimate goal. Jaḍa Bharata responds to this proposal in one verse: परमात्मात्मनोर्योगः परमार्थ इतीष्यते। मिथ्यैतदन्यद् द्रव्यं हि नैति तद्द्रव्यतां यतः ॥ इति। If you think that the union of the ātmā with the Paramātmā is the ultimate goal, then this too is false ...

Here conclude the teachings from Uddhava-saṁvāda. . I find it rather interesting that after all that rāgānigā talk he returns to something as weak sounding as engaging in one's dharmic duties in consciousness of Him. It reminds me of the inquiry I made into āropa-siddhā bhakti way back in the early days of this blog. [Āropa-siddhā was discussed in Bhakti Sandarbha posts from 217 to 225 (five posts in all). You can see those early posts here: Ahangrahopasana III and IV . I have yet to find a devotee who understands these articles. Anuccheda 333 Dharma Offered to Kṛṣṇa Brings Perfection अथ तामेव कैमुत्येनाप्याह (भा. ११.२९.२१)— यो यो मयि परे धर्मः कल्प्यते निष्फलाय चेत्। तत्रायासोऽनिरर्थः स्याद्भयादेरिव सत्तम॥ Bhagavān expressed this superiority of His own worship by the a fortiori or kaimutya principle: O pious Uddhava, whatever dharma is offered to Me, the Supreme, if it is done without fruitive purpose, then the effort undertaken never goes in vain, just as was seen...