June 2017 archive

Jun 27 2017

Datta maata 32: Guru’s tests are only aimed at uplifting the devotee

June 27, 2017

Tests (adversities) are for our betterment. Life is the confluence of the dualities like sheetha (cold)-ushna (heat), sukha (happiness)-dukha (sorrow), jaya (victory)-apajaya (defeat) and labha (profit)-alabha (loss). Many do not know this fact and they have a misconception that life is meant for happiness. But, when they are troubled by sorrow, they approach elders, who advise that all these are the tests of God and that one must pass in it. When we listen to such words, those in distress get a doubt – “Why should Gods and Guru have to test? We feel sometimes that they can instead give happiness even without doing so. As soon as we hear the word “test”, we remember Indra from the Puranas. We know from many stories that Indra tests all those who sit for penance. But, only few know that such tests are meant purely for the benefit of the seekers. Rest of the people does not understand the principles of Indra and instead disrespect him. To get rid of such misconceptions, we must observe the history of sage Vishwamitra.

While Vishwamitra was doing penance to become Brahmarshi, Indra sent Menaka as a part of the test. She enslaved the sage. She used to request the sage to take her to a different place each day and Vishwamitra, by utilizing his power of penance used to roam with her in the sky. He lost his power of penance in doing so.

One day, Menaka requested that she wanted to go to Himalayas along with the sage. He agreed to her but he could not fly any more. So, the sage understood that his energy got wasted and the power of his penance got diminished. He had no energy either to curse Menaka or to scold her. She left for Indra’s world because the sage was of no use to her. Vishwamitra continued his penance further.

This time Indra sent Rambha to test him. The sage cursed her to become like a rock. But, now Vishwamitra came under the control of anger. Earlier, he was under the control of desires (kāma) and now he became a slave to anger (krōdha). Once again, his power of penance that was accumulated since 1000 years got wasted.

The next time, while he was sitting for penance, he strongly determined that he must not come under the control of Arishadvargas (the six inner enemies) because he already had learnt lessons by wasting his penance for kāma and krōdha. He then became a Brahmarshi by doing penance for 1000 years continuously. The actual resolve of Indra was fulfilled. Had he not tested, Vishwamitra would not have brought the arishadvargas under his control. He would not have acquired such experience. It is God’s resolve to give experience, make the seeker go higher and higher and let him attain the permanent position. Even the Gurus have the same resolve with respect to their disciples. Hence, during the time of adversities, we must never scold God/Guru for the tests we are facing. Instead, we must try to pass on the tests.
Parikshā hitakārini – This means that the tests are for our betterment. We must not rebuke God or Guru for that.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-32-gurus-tests-are-only-aimed-at-uplifting-the-devotee/

Jun 27 2017

Datta maata: 31- Knowledge unaccompanied by humility leads to downfall

June 27, 2017

Knowledge always must go together with modesty. Everybody tells this. If a person is strongly humble at heart, then he will be respected even if there are some faults in pursuing the education. They will have such respect. Instead, if the heart is filled with pride and ego, then such persons will not be respected even if the education is totally perfect. It is of no use. It is just like a mango tree full of mangoes that do not fall down.

We have a very good example from Mahabharatha. During the days of their education, Arjuna and Ashwatthama had healthy competition between them. Both of them were learning about weapons. There was a powerful weapon named “Brahmasironamaka astra”. Ashwatthama requested Dronacharaya, their Guru, to teach them about the usage of the weapon. It is a superior weapon to Brahma astra. Hence, Dronacharya delayed teaching about it. Finally, one day, the Guru taught them the mantra for using the weapon. But, he did not tell them the process of retrieval of the weapon. A weapon will be successful if and only if one knows how to retrieve a weapon. Ashwatthama felt very bad.

Sri Krishna was of their age. Ashwatthama got to know that he had obtained the Sudarshana chakra (wheel) and he felt very surprised to know this. He approached Krishna and expressed his happiness for him that he had obtained the Sudarshana chakra. He then told that he too had obtained the most powerful Brahmasironamaka astra and expressed his wish to exchange the weapons. Sri Krishna could easily sense the pride and jealousy in the heart of Ashwatthma. But, he acted as though he does not know anything. Krishna told that he cannot bear the power of Ashwatthama’s weapon but granted permission to Ashwatthma to take the Sudarshana chakra. Ashwatthama was very happy and he tried to touch Sudarshana chakra. As soon as he touched it, his body started to burn because of the divine power embedded in it. He left the weapon because of the fear of death. Dronacharaya observed the difference between Arjuna and Ashwatthama and hence he gave the mantra to retrieve the weapon only to Arjuna. Dronacharya did not give the mantra to Ashwatthama even though he is his own son.

During the Mahabharata war, Ashwatthama used this weapon against the rules prescribed by scriptures and hence he had to suffer the curses of Sri Krishna and sage Vyasa. Hence, if there is any root of pride or ego in the heart of a person, it will only cause ruin even if the education he pursues is highly superior. With the grace of Datta Sadguru, may you all get the quality of modesty along with education! I also pray Goddess kanyaka parameshwari.

Jai Guru Datta!

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-31-knowledge-unaccompanied-by-humility-leads-towards-downfall/

Jun 26 2017

Datta maata 30: The seven steps in bhakti

June 26, 2017

Indians follow the path of devotion to enhance the power of concentration. There are many in this country who achieved super natural powers through the way of devotion. Devotion is a tool but we also need the technical skills to utilize devotion. You must pray God to the fullest of your capacity to make your mind contemplate on him. Then, all the powers will come to you. This is the first thing that we must ask God. We must ask him to bestow upon us, the virtue of praying him. This is the true secret. Later, we can ask for our desires.

There are certain steps to make your internal energies flourish. Observe this carefully. The first condition is that you must possess devotion. That devotion must be transformed into concentration. Once again, that concentration must be focused to contemplate on God. Further, you must know that the ability to contemplate will increase only with the grace of God. You must be immersed deep in meditation by praying God to bestow you with the power to meditate. At any stage, you must not utilize your power of meditation or prayers for the sake of any energy or energies. You must be very careful. You must also recognize that the Lord whom you pray is the highest of all gods and that he is limitless, infinite and incomparable Paramatma. This is the inner meaning. This is a very big subject. We can talk about it later.

If we can ascend each of the above mentioned steps, all the energies in this creation will surrender to you. By contemplating on the limitless Lord, you will become a part of the Lord himself. May you practice the above steps with the grace of Lord Datta.
The first step is devotion. It is not that you will achieve everything by a single mantra. Devotion implies that you must offer everything. Here, you must believe that the mind, intellect, body, senses and the feelings that come to you belong to God. This is how you must surrender yourself. That devotion must get transformed into concentration. You must not say so aloud time and again. By cultivating such feelings, you must attain deep concentration. Such concentration must again be diverted towards God’s contemplation and nothing else. Many people sit for meditation and recollect the past. That cannot be called meditation. Many others sit for 3-4 hours. They get such concentration. But, it is not meant to think about business or senses. It must be utilized only for contemplating upon God. Let us discuss later in detail.

If you meet so many conditions, only then you are successful in crossing the seven steps – sapta giri/sapta swara (the seven musical notes)/chakras(kundalini shakthi).

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-30-the-seven-steps-in-bhakti/

Jun 19 2017

Datta maata 29: The three criteria for entering spiritual field

June 19, 2017

In good magazines, there are many advertisements about jobs. In that, the prerequisites of the post are mentioned. Generally, a part/page of the newspaper is allotted for this. A person who wants to pursue a job opens that page first. Each and everybody likes to see whatever they want to – like movies, politics, ads, jobs etc.

Similarly, what is the actual eligibility criterion to live in this world? Let us now know about the eligibility required for the worldly and spiritual lives. In this eon of Kali (Kaliyuga), for man to live happily, he must possess intelligence and knowledge. Sometimes, we may need to praise others only to satisfy them even if they are unfit. We cannot help it. Few people approach big Gurus to achieve success in the spiritual field. They may go to them either for fame or to satisfy their selfish motives, but they will not progress in that just because they have approached a big Guru. Having kindness, patience and a steadfast mind are the mandatory virtues in the worldly life. By possessing these qualities, one must search for a Guru otherwise; it is of no use at all. This means that we must be kind at least externally. In spite of listening to others, one must have a deep concentration on one’s goal. Remember that even if you have hatred in your mind, you must be very soft and patient externally. Else, you cannot sustain in this worldly life. Remember this! By being so, you can prosper and thrive. But in the spiritual field, for a seeker to progress ahead, he must necessarily possess the virtues like vairagya (dispassion), disposition and jnana (knowledge). Let us understand about these three qualities.

The first is vairagya. It is to understand that the worldly life is temporary. One who does not learn this has no entry into the spiritual field. This is the basic eligibility.

Secondly, we have disposition. Giving up deception in the worldly life indicates good disposition. Only then it is possible for us to attain vairagya.

The third is vijnana (knowledge). The spiritual field has more importance for jnana than in the worldly fields. In the worldly life, it is enough for the deeds to be pure. But, in the spiritual life, one’s thoughts also must be very neat and clean.

These are the main qualities that decide the eligibility into spiritual field. Basing on these, we can examine ourselves whether we have entered the spiritual field or not. We may also know whether we have progressed in spirituality or not in case we have entered. Hence, you yourself must check whether you have such eligibility in you or not. I pray Lord Datta to bestow his grace on you in this effort. Our inner self must be checked like a computer time and again about our growth with respect to our patience and disposition. These two are the tests for you. If we behave as per the eligibility mentioned for the spiritual and worldly lives, then alone we succeed.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-29-the-three-criteria-for-entering-spiritual-field/

Jun 19 2017

Datta maata 28: Understand that friendships are temporary

June 19, 2017

In the book, ‘Datta darshanam’, there is a story about Bhadrasheela, who was the son of a sage. He had the memory of his previous birth. Since his childhood, that child used to stay alone. He never played with children of his age. If he was called upon by somebody, he would cry by uttering ‘Sri hari! Sri hari!’It was very strange for the people around. However, the reason for not playing with other children was not lack of interest but it was because he knew his previous birth. Hence, he disliked mingling with anybody.

Coming to the story of normal human beings – Our minds are always attracted towards the friendship of some or the other because of our existence in a society. We never like to be alone. Why do we befriend others? Why Bhadrasheela did not befriend anybody? The reason is that we do not know about our previous births. As soon as we are born, we see a world and consider this world to be everything because we do not know anything else. As we grow up in this life, we have many necessities. To fulfill those, we show affection towards few for our own selfishness. We love some others even if that is not required. This is our state of confusion.

Bhadrasheela not only knew about this world but also had the memory of his previous birth. He knew very well about the impacts of selfishness in his previous birth. Because he had abundant experiences, he understood that there are no benefits with such friendships. As a result, he never developed any special affection towards any individual.

A child travelling in a train befriends the neighbors. This is the train friendship. The depth of the friendship is so much that he cannot leave his friend even after the journey ends. The elders however know that such friendships are of no use and hence they simply pass time by chit chatting with the neighbors but they do not develop any deep friendship. The situation of Bhadrasheela is analogous to the friendships of the elders during journey. He had the knowledge of witnessing the journey of the soul from one body to another. Hence, he never developed any affection or love on anybody. Even though, we do not have the memory of our previous birth like Bhadrasheela, we have the faith on the scriptures that tell us that there are previous births. As this faith builds up in us, we too acquire the mental state that Bhadrasheela had. Just like we travel from one place to another, we travel from one body to another.

In this journey, none of your relatives, friends or passersby shares your sins or merits. That is not at all possible. You are always alone. Hence, you must live with detachment by doing your duty and putting in efforts to reach God. You must remember this very well.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-28-like-bhadrasheela-we-should-understand-that-friendships-are-temporary/