P.J.
0
Nine Teachings from Nine Yogis: The Essence of Bhagavat Dharma
Long long ago, there ruled a king named Nimi who was renowned for performing big Vedic sacrifices. An additional benefit of such sacrifices was the company of wise and holy men who assembled during these events. The company of these holy men provided a valuable opportunity for satsang and for sadhakas to resolve their doubts and queries.
During one such sacrifice, nine spiritually charged men entered the sacrificial hall. As soon as he saw the saints, king Nimi got up and carrying some of the sacrificial fire, went forth to greet them. After the ceremonious welcome, he asked them to be seated comfortably. Seeing them conducive, the king, with folded hands, then asked them whether he could ask a few questions to satisfy his spiritual queries. On their approval, the king asked:
The First Question:
"Respected Saints! Please tell me what constitutes the highest good for human beings? How to achieve it? Indeed to gain even a few moments of satsang with exalted yogis like you is a great treasure. Also, we have heard a great deal about the ‘Bhagavat Dharma’- ‘The Dharma which pleases God', kindly inform us of the nature of this dharma and how we can follow it?"
To the king’s query, the first yogi replied: "The constant worship of the lotus feet of Bhagawan Krishna constitutes the highest good for humans and is the surest and safest means of ensuring protection from all fears. As for Bhagavad Dharma, it is the dharma spoken by God directly from his own mouth. The purpose of this dharma is that even simple, ignorant people can easily attain self-realization. The path of this dharma is so easy that even if one runs on it with his eyes closed he will not fall into the wrong way; i.e., one need not wait for too much knowledge before setting off on this path."
How to Constantly Be in Worship of God
"There are many popular stories about the birth and other lilas of God. One should listen to them. There are also prevalent many different names of God, each of which reminds us of His various qualities and lilas. One should leave all shame and constantly sing out these glorious names. The one who takes the pure vow of this devotion develops an ardent love for God, and the shoot of love sprouts forth from his heart. His heart melts with devotion. He understands that the five elements - akash, air, fire, water and earth, all are the body of God. Therefore, it is God Who is manifest in all forms. Realising this, whenever anything comes in front of him, whether it be living or non-living, he bows to them all with devotion, much as he does before God.
Like a person eating food finds himself gratified simultaneously in three ways with each morsel - satisfaction, nourishment and relief from hunger; similarly a bhakta, who has completely submitted himself to God, finds himself gratified simultaneously in three ways - love for God, realisation of God and vairagya (detatchment) towards everything other than God
Bhagavat Dharma: The Dharma Which Pleases God
"As for the Bhagavat Dharma, it merely means that whatever we do with our body, speech, mind, habit or ego, all such acts should be dedicated to God."
How to Dedicate Our Actions to God
We are all constantly taught by spiritual texts to offer or dedicate all our actions to God. However, the question remains as to how to practically carry out this injunction. Put in most simple terms, the nature of this dedication is as follows: Firstly we have to accept that everything is happening under the inspiration of God. This is our dedication: We are doing what He is making us do. Do not the actions performed by a servant following the instructions of his owner belong to his owner? When a soldier under a king wins a victory in battle, is it not said to be a victory of the king rather than of the soldier? Therefore, if we know that we are working under the instructions of God, then whatever we do is that of God. Therefore, offering of karma to God consists of two parts - first to see that it is God seated inside us Who is inspiring us to perform a particular karma and secondly to see that whatever results as the fruit of that karma will be enjoyed by God only.
Therefore, if we see the inspiration of God behind every karma and that whatever ensues as its fruit should go to God, if we understand these two things, then that karma has been offered to God. Now we will not be bound by that karma.
The Second Question:
The king, prompted by the first answer, now asked his second question: "Respected Yogi! Please describe to me the devotees of God who have attained the above mentioned qualities. What are the characteristics that distinguish them from ordinary people? How do they behave? How do they talk with others? What are their attributes which make them the beloved of God?
The Three Types of Devotees
The next of the nine yogis replied: "God is situated in every being equally. Therefore, the one who sees his own self as existing in all beings, and all beings as existing in himself, such a person belongs to the superior category of devotees.
"One who has affection towards God, friendly feelings towards His devotees, compassion for the ignorant and indifference towards those who have resentment towards God, such a person is in the medium category of devotees.
"The person who, believing God to be only in His idol, but not elsewhere, and so worships His idol with faith, but does not serve devotees of God or other creatures, such a person is an ordinary devotee."
Further Qualities of the Superior Bhakta
"Because his heart is so much absorbed in Bhagawan Vishnu, even though his sense objects receive their objects of enjoyment, the superior bhakta feels neither repulsion nor attraction towards any of these objects and looks upon the universe as the maya of Vishnu.
"This world constitutes of birth and death, hunger and thirst, fear and desire. These constantly torment and exhaust us. However, the superior devotee, who constantly keeps God in his remembrance, is neither deluded nor defeated by them.
"The devotee who is not affected at all by superiority complex on account of his high birth, actions or caste, is the one who is the beloved of God. He who does not entertain the notion of ‘mine' and ‘another’s’ in respect of his property, or even his own body, sees God equally in everything, is not agitated by any happening or incident, he is the one who is loved by God."
The Third Question:
The king asked: "You say that this world is a result of Vishnu maya. Please enlighten us on the nature of this maya, which deludes even the most powerful of creatures?"
The third yogi replied: "O King! The nature of Bhagawan’s maya is indescribable. It can only be gauged through its effects. Maya is the shakti through which God creates this world. (Why does He create the world?) So that the various beings can enjoy the different objects and also for the liberation of the embodied souls (jivas).
The Fourth Question:
"Getting beyond Bhagawan’s maya is extremely difficult for those who have not controlled their minds. Please tell me how those ignorant people, who still identify themselves with their bodies, can go beyond Bhagawan’s maya easily? "
The fourth yogi said: "A worldly person is ever caught in the binds of man-woman relationship etc. Such a person works hard to obtain sukha and keep away dukha. The first step for the person who wants to go beyond Bhagawan’s maya is to think about how his efforts often lead to opposite fruits than that he had set out to obtain. He gets dukha instead of sukha and all his efforts, instead of reducing dukha, only increase it day by day.
"However, it is extremely difficult to cross over this maya on one’s own. For this, one should take refuge with a guru who has realised the essence of the Vedas. The adept should serve the guru sincerely, and learn from the latter the means of obtaining Bhagavat Dharma. He should keep faith in the Vedic scriptures, but never denigrate the scriptures of others. He should purify his mind by pranayama, his speech through silence and karma by non-attachment. In addition, he should listen to the delightful stories of God and cultivate the company of bhaktas and find joy in mutual discussion with them on the various qualities of God.
"Thus learning the ways of Bhagavat Dharma, the bhakta gains through them the ways of loving devotion towards Bhagawan Narayana and easily crosses over maya which is otherwise very difficult to transcend."
TO BE CONTINUED
The story of the nine yogis occurs in detail in the Shrimad Bhagavatam, canto 11, chapters 2-5. Nine Teachings from Nine Yogis: The Essence of Bhagavat Dharma
Long long ago, there ruled a king named Nimi who was renowned for performing big Vedic sacrifices. An additional benefit of such sacrifices was the company of wise and holy men who assembled during these events. The company of these holy men provided a valuable opportunity for satsang and for sadhakas to resolve their doubts and queries.
During one such sacrifice, nine spiritually charged men entered the sacrificial hall. As soon as he saw the saints, king Nimi got up and carrying some of the sacrificial fire, went forth to greet them. After the ceremonious welcome, he asked them to be seated comfortably. Seeing them conducive, the king, with folded hands, then asked them whether he could ask a few questions to satisfy his spiritual queries. On their approval, the king asked:
The First Question:
"Respected Saints! Please tell me what constitutes the highest good for human beings? How to achieve it? Indeed to gain even a few moments of satsang with exalted yogis like you is a great treasure. Also, we have heard a great deal about the ‘Bhagavat Dharma’- ‘The Dharma which pleases God', kindly inform us of the nature of this dharma and how we can follow it?"
To the king’s query, the first yogi replied: "The constant worship of the lotus feet of Bhagawan Krishna constitutes the highest good for humans and is the surest and safest means of ensuring protection from all fears. As for Bhagavad Dharma, it is the dharma spoken by God directly from his own mouth. The purpose of this dharma is that even simple, ignorant people can easily attain self-realization. The path of this dharma is so easy that even if one runs on it with his eyes closed he will not fall into the wrong way; i.e., one need not wait for too much knowledge before setting off on this path."
How to Constantly Be in Worship of God
"There are many popular stories about the birth and other lilas of God. One should listen to them. There are also prevalent many different names of God, each of which reminds us of His various qualities and lilas. One should leave all shame and constantly sing out these glorious names. The one who takes the pure vow of this devotion develops an ardent love for God, and the shoot of love sprouts forth from his heart. His heart melts with devotion. He understands that the five elements - akash, air, fire, water and earth, all are the body of God. Therefore, it is God Who is manifest in all forms. Realising this, whenever anything comes in front of him, whether it be living or non-living, he bows to them all with devotion, much as he does before God.
Like a person eating food finds himself gratified simultaneously in three ways with each morsel - satisfaction, nourishment and relief from hunger; similarly a bhakta, who has completely submitted himself to God, finds himself gratified simultaneously in three ways - love for God, realisation of God and vairagya (detatchment) towards everything other than God
Bhagavat Dharma: The Dharma Which Pleases God
"As for the Bhagavat Dharma, it merely means that whatever we do with our body, speech, mind, habit or ego, all such acts should be dedicated to God."
How to Dedicate Our Actions to God
We are all constantly taught by spiritual texts to offer or dedicate all our actions to God. However, the question remains as to how to practically carry out this injunction. Put in most simple terms, the nature of this dedication is as follows: Firstly we have to accept that everything is happening under the inspiration of God. This is our dedication: We are doing what He is making us do. Do not the actions performed by a servant following the instructions of his owner belong to his owner? When a soldier under a king wins a victory in battle, is it not said to be a victory of the king rather than of the soldier? Therefore, if we know that we are working under the instructions of God, then whatever we do is that of God. Therefore, offering of karma to God consists of two parts - first to see that it is God seated inside us Who is inspiring us to perform a particular karma and secondly to see that whatever results as the fruit of that karma will be enjoyed by God only.
Therefore, if we see the inspiration of God behind every karma and that whatever ensues as its fruit should go to God, if we understand these two things, then that karma has been offered to God. Now we will not be bound by that karma.
The Second Question:
The king, prompted by the first answer, now asked his second question: "Respected Yogi! Please describe to me the devotees of God who have attained the above mentioned qualities. What are the characteristics that distinguish them from ordinary people? How do they behave? How do they talk with others? What are their attributes which make them the beloved of God?
The Three Types of Devotees
The next of the nine yogis replied: "God is situated in every being equally. Therefore, the one who sees his own self as existing in all beings, and all beings as existing in himself, such a person belongs to the superior category of devotees.
"One who has affection towards God, friendly feelings towards His devotees, compassion for the ignorant and indifference towards those who have resentment towards God, such a person is in the medium category of devotees.
"The person who, believing God to be only in His idol, but not elsewhere, and so worships His idol with faith, but does not serve devotees of God or other creatures, such a person is an ordinary devotee."
Further Qualities of the Superior Bhakta
"Because his heart is so much absorbed in Bhagawan Vishnu, even though his sense objects receive their objects of enjoyment, the superior bhakta feels neither repulsion nor attraction towards any of these objects and looks upon the universe as the maya of Vishnu.
"This world constitutes of birth and death, hunger and thirst, fear and desire. These constantly torment and exhaust us. However, the superior devotee, who constantly keeps God in his remembrance, is neither deluded nor defeated by them.
"The devotee who is not affected at all by superiority complex on account of his high birth, actions or caste, is the one who is the beloved of God. He who does not entertain the notion of ‘mine' and ‘another’s’ in respect of his property, or even his own body, sees God equally in everything, is not agitated by any happening or incident, he is the one who is loved by God."
The Third Question:
The king asked: "You say that this world is a result of Vishnu maya. Please enlighten us on the nature of this maya, which deludes even the most powerful of creatures?"
The third yogi replied: "O King! The nature of Bhagawan’s maya is indescribable. It can only be gauged through its effects. Maya is the shakti through which God creates this world. (Why does He create the world?) So that the various beings can enjoy the different objects and also for the liberation of the embodied souls (jivas).
The Fourth Question:
"Getting beyond Bhagawan’s maya is extremely difficult for those who have not controlled their minds. Please tell me how those ignorant people, who still identify themselves with their bodies, can go beyond Bhagawan’s maya easily? "
The fourth yogi said: "A worldly person is ever caught in the binds of man-woman relationship etc. Such a person works hard to obtain sukha and keep away dukha. The first step for the person who wants to go beyond Bhagawan’s maya is to think about how his efforts often lead to opposite fruits than that he had set out to obtain. He gets dukha instead of sukha and all his efforts, instead of reducing dukha, only increase it day by day.
"However, it is extremely difficult to cross over this maya on one’s own. For this, one should take refuge with a guru who has realised the essence of the Vedas. The adept should serve the guru sincerely, and learn from the latter the means of obtaining Bhagavat Dharma. He should keep faith in the Vedic scriptures, but never denigrate the scriptures of others. He should purify his mind by pranayama, his speech through silence and karma by non-attachment. In addition, he should listen to the delightful stories of God and cultivate the company of bhaktas and find joy in mutual discussion with them on the various qualities of God.
"Thus learning the ways of Bhagavat Dharma, the bhakta gains through them the ways of loving devotion towards Bhagawan Narayana and easily crosses over maya which is otherwise very difficult to transcend."
TO BE CONTINUED
The story of the nine yogis occurs in detail in the Shrimad Bhagavatam, canto 11, chapters 2-5. Nine Teachings from Nine Yogis: The Essence of Bhagavat Dharma