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Jun 27 2017
Datta maata 34: It is not difficult to lead a righteous life
We must live according to dharma. Everybody tells this. Tadātmānam srujāmyahaṁ! When dharma (righteousness) has no value and instead adharma (unrighteousness) rules the world, then the Lord himself will incarnate. This is his oath. God incarnates in the form of mahatmas. He may not come directly. Out of such incarnations, the Guru of Sikhs – Guru Nanak is also very prominent. He always preached about truthfulness. He taught that one must follow Dharma, adhere to truth and must not rob others. Thousands of people used to gather to listen to his preaching. A burglar named Bhumya also was one among them.
One day, that burglar invited Guru Nanak to his home for food. Guru nanak asked him about the job he does and preached him to only tell the truth. Bhumya told that he robs people and survives. Listening to this, Guru Nanak told him that many people may live easily and happily by telling lies, stealing and deceiving others. Such people say that following the path of truth and dharma is very difficult. It is wrong. By following truth, one can get the grace of God and enjoy the bliss of heaven right here on this Earth. For this, Guru Nanak had some condition. Bhumya agreed. Guru Nanak told Bhumya to speak only truth and not to harm those who helped in the past and also told him to show gratitude. If you do so, you can get the bliss of heaven right here. Having such gratitude is very difficult. Many do not have that gratitude towards others. This is the preaching of Guru Nanak. Bhumya promised him and left away.
The bad habits do not leave us so easily. The next day itself, Bhumya got an opportunity to rob the king’s house. He entered the palace out of great difficulty. He wrapped up all the valuable ornaments of the palace. Bhumya was very hungry too. So, he went to kitchen and sat there to eat away all the dishes over there. Meanwhile, he remembered the words of Guru Nanak – “Do not deceive those who offered you food”. He immediately left all the ornaments there itself, stopped eating midway and left the palace.
The next day, Bhumya went to the king’s court and regretted for the mistake he had committed. The king liked Bhumya’s behavior. The king immediately gave him a good job there. By recollecting the words of Guru Nanak, Bhumya lived happily. How beautiful it is to lead life according to dharma! Here, the devotion on Guru and the promise given to him brought so much of transformation. If there was no promise made to the Guru, his preaching cannot be understood. Bhumya accepted his mistake. He left away all that he wrapped to steal away. He did not even eat food. This was because of the Guru’s words that one must not deceive those who feed. If one can follow the principles contained in Guru’s words, even a cruel person can reach the divine state. This story of Bhumya is a very good example. We understand through this story that it is not difficult to lead a dharmic (righteous) life. Many people have a wrong notion that leading a non-dharmic life will give happiness. But, it is totally wrong. Bhumya’s story reminds us that adhering to dharma is very easy.
Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!
Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-34-living-righteously-is-not-as-difficult-as-it-appears/
Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-33-personal-efforts-and-gods-grace-are-equally-important-for-success-in-any-field/
Jun 27 2017
Datta maata 32: Guru’s tests are only aimed at uplifting the devotee
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
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
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/
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