5/20/14

Summer Camp Update - 2

The undying optimism and creative genius of Gurudev was evident in his 10.15 am Session on the 19th. It felt so because despite our defiance to his teachings, he was not tired and kept on working on himself to come up with new and novel ways of communicating the teachings of our Rishis, for our own good.

The adjective ‘creative genius’ is not enough to tell the readers about how painstakingly Gurudev, out of deep devotion to divinity and compassion to humanity, integrated the teachings of Maharishi Patanjali with the concept of LANGUAGE that he was sharing. The reader will, no doubt, be awestruck after reading the rest of the article in which Gurudev has achieved what has been stated above.

Gurudev said that the Sadhana Panchaka is not the Sadhana Panchaka of Sri Adi Shankaracharya but one that of Maharishi Patanjali. Maharishi did not present a work with the title Sadhana Panchaka but Gurudev has carved out 5 golden principles from amongst the various Sutras of Maharishi.

After enlightening the Parivara about the LANGUAGE per se, Gurudev gently introduced that Samadhi should be the LANGUAGE that we should develop and nurture. Gurudev firmly believed that in order to overcome the deficiencies of the LANGUAGE that we have at present, it is a must to introduce a new LANGUAGE which is Samadhi. Guruji had a word of caution though. He said that Siddhi is not the language for it will corrupt us and eventually will push us down into the ditch. If the language of Samdahi is not understood, then the Siddhi will destroy that person. Gurudev wanted all of us to make Samadhi the CENTRE of our being.

Why do we need Samadhi?

Gurudev simplified this concept by interpreting Samadhi as Harmony. Harmony is nothing but balancing, integrating. He gave the example of a watch to drive this point home.

Look at the watch. It has various components of different dimensions and size with totally unrelated functions. But it is the integration of these different components that make the watch to function, to be of utility.

In a similar fashion, for COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS to work and be of utility, it is necessary for the INDIVIDUAL CONSCIOUSNES to work in harmony even though they are different from each other at the individual level.

Gurudev wants us to develop and strengthen this LANGUAGE so that it reflects in all our actions, emotions, etc.

Our body is like our Nation viz., Federal in structure. It is a Corporation consisting of body, mind, intellect, etc., that have developed over many births due to a definite process. In the present form, they are disintegrated.

Unless we consciously make efforts to bring integration inside this CORPORATION, freedom cannot be achieved, which is the very purpose of a Jiva.

When you hate someone, trying to hurt someone, you don’t have freedom. On the other hand if you love a person unconditionally, selflessly, there is freedom. This is not a theory or philosophy but is very much pragmatic and can be verified by testing.

With this Gurudev has laid the framework that freedom is the purpose of life and harmony is the language to communicate. Well, in that case, from where to begin with? What is the practical approach then here?

Unlearning what we have learnt already is the practical and workable solution to this challenge. To unlearn Gurudev presents what is called SADHANA PANCHAKA.

Gurudev very beautifully clubbed the first two Sutras of Maharishi in the Sadhana Pada of Patanjali Yoga Shastra,

Atha Yogaanu Shasanam
Yogaha Chitta Vritti Nirodaha

and suggested it to be the first step in the process of unlearning.

Here one cannot miss the CREATIVE GENIUS of Gurudev on how he blended these two sutras with masterly delicacy.

ATHA YOGA ANUSHASANAM

ATHA means present. Atha is eternal. But our mind is the product of past and future. Because of this mind always stays in continuity and is not able to stay in the present. To make this happen, one has to follow in a disciplined way Yoga. This is what is meant when we say Yoga Anushasanam. Yuj is the root word for Yoga which means to unite, to harmonize.

At this point, Gurudev used the classroom as an example. He said that a listener should not take whatever I say into their mind and start analyzing and practicing it later. He said the practice should happen as my teaching touches your mind and not sometime later. That is living in ATHA, he proclaimed.

We are not able to be in ATHA because the language that we have created in the mind comes in the way. Moreover the LANGUAGE that we have at present is one that of continuity which is different and contrary to the one that we should have. This LANGUAGE occupies the space of ATHA. What do we need to do to vacate this LANGUAGE of continuity?

Here, Gurudev merges the second Sutra Chitta Vritti Nirodaha. He says that Chitta Vritti Nirodaha means slowing down the speed of the reactions from the Chitta. He asks, ‘Can you stop relying on the reactions from the Chitta and respond to the situation?’ In other words, he says this is the best way to vacate the LANGUAGE of continuity which prevents us from staying in ATHA.

Gurudev gave the example of servant opening the door. Suppose you are in your house and the door bell rings. Your servant goes and opens the door, and let the person in. This way, if your servant keeps on pumping people inside your house, where will be the space for you to stay? In the same manner the reactions are your servant and you are the Master. If your reactions pump in lots of things and crowd the chitta, there won’t be any space left for you to stay.

Gurudev said that Maharishi has not given the description of how our true self will look like. He has left it to be experienced by oneself DIRECTLY. Imagine, at the physical level, if you want to know how you look, you need a mirror to reflect your image. In the same way, if you want to know the REAL SELF of yours, you need a reflecting surface within you and that surface is your chitta. Just as a smudged, cracked or convex or conclave mirror cannot give a true reflection, a disintegrated chitta cannot project your true self.

Gurudev very briefly touched upon Abhyasa and Vairagya and concluded the Session. Gurudev said that when you take a stand, staying put with that, come whatever may, is Abhyasa. And, when you give up all that which disturbs you, diverts you to stay in the position that you have taken, i.e., Abhyasa, is Vairagya.


Jyothi Ma Session:

After a cup of hot tea with the gentle fragrance of cardamom and ginger, the Parivara assembled in the Dining Hall for Jyoti Madam’s Session at 4.30 pm. Suddenly the climate became very cloudy raising the hopes of respite from the day’s heat with good, evening showers. In this backdrop, Jyoti Madam started addressing the Parivara.

Sadhana Sangama: Summer Camp 2014
Madam originally wanted to share Durga Sapthasati as Sadhana but ended up discussing  what Sadhana is all about.

She made an opening remark with the analogy of Prana. Just as we are not conscious of our Prana, we are not aware that Sadhana is in us.

Madam’s compassion was no less as to that of Gurudev’s when she devoted the entire session to give a base about Sadhana.

Sadhana Sangama: Summer Camp 2014

Inherent characteristic of the mind is to measure. It is comfortable in time-space-causation combination and asks questions.

When a disciple who is in the grip of such a Chitta meets the Guru, the chitta throws a lots of question such as how does Sadhana begin, how it progresses and how does it end? If at all it ends, then how do we comprehend that ending?

At this juncture, the Ducks which were passing by the dining hall with its long and altered ‘quack’ing appeared to be laughing at the inquisitive ignorance of the chitta.

Madam continued that Guru is needed to help you to travel in the path of Sadhana without conflicts and confusion. She also revealed that by dropping everything one can obtain the Grace of Guru. She said that this is the greatest Sadhana that one can do and one has to do.

Jyoti Madam wanted to end the monologue and hence engaged the audience with the question what is Sadhana and was evoking a response from them. Many responded with their own understanding of what Sadhana is and Madam was helping everyone present with her reply why that perception cannot be construed as Sadhana. This way she was preparing the ground and aroused the curiosity of the listeners to know what Sadhana is ultimately about.

Sadhana Sangama: Summer Camp 2014

She structured her point of view by very briefly touching upon the nature of mind which always quantifies and qualifies and is interested in the end result and that Spiritual Masters are the greatest short cut to achieve the goal of Sadhana and to remain in constant awareness about the goal that we have set for ourselves is Sadhana.

A fine breeze set in at this point and was caressing all of us giving us the soothing effect symbolizing the touch of Grace through the words of Madam and the Parivara marched towards the kitchen to quell the appetite of stomach by filling it with hot cup of tea and Murmure (puffed rice mixed with roasted groundnuts with the proper mixture of salt, chilli powder and turmeric powder).

- A Report by a 'Sadhaka'

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