Sri Guru Gita – 16 July 2014 – Episode 206

Jaya Guru Datta. Episode summary:

Jaya Guru Datta.
So far, we discussed that Sananda would carry out the Guru’s tasks with a lot of dedication. He would understand the Guru’s mind and act accordingly. Not everyone can do this. Some people do the work before the Guru even asks them to. Some do the work after the Guru asks them to. Some do not do the work even after the Guru asks them to. Examine for yourself which category you belong to. The first category is where one understands the Guru Principle, understands the Guru’s mind and briskly gets the tasks done. Alright, there is the second class of people who do the work after being asked to…let’s at least belong here. We don’t want the third class, which is to not do the work even after being told by the Guru. There are demons walking amongst us, there are humans walking amongst us and there are people with godly nature walking amongst us. Which one of these are you?

Doing without even being asked to – understanding what needs to be done and getting down to doing it immediately thinking, “this might be it, let me do it” is associated with godly nature. Doing after you are being asked to is human nature. Procrastinating to tomorrow after being asked to do it is demonic nature. Which nature you will associate with, which nature you associated with so far, when you will next get admission, I don’t know, but you should be careful. With a lot of concentration and with humility and obedience, Sananda would practice the knowledge taught by the Guru. It was enough for Sananda to be taught once, because he had great concentration. Only when one has concentration, humility and obedience will the knowledge be absorbed completely by the seeker, otherwise it will not.

We discussed that Sananda gradually became one of Sankara’s most loved disciples. We discussed that Sankara would lovingly call him “Sananda”. Sankara noticed other disciples wondering what the reasons were for Sananda to become such a beloved disciple. “There seems to be some secret, that is why our Guru is keeping Sananda so close to him”. Such thinking is normal among humans, those disciples were after all human. So, like this, a doubt arose in their mind that led to such discussions. Guru Sankara noticed this. “The disciples have this bad habit, let me teach them a lesson” he thought. He planned to show them Sananda’s devotion. He wanted to show them what real devotion to the Guru meant.

One day, Sankara who went to the banks of river Ganga with his disciples called Sananda who was on the other side of the river saying, “Son, Sananda, come over to this side quickly”. Sankara called Sananda on purpose. The Guru called on the disciple was on the other side and asked him to quickly come over to this side. How would we have responded? Would we say, “I don’t know how to swim, Swamy”? Would someone say, “I don’t have a boat, Swamy”. Would yet another person say, “I don’t have the power to come over to that side, Swamy. Why are you calling me?” It’s very well possible. There are many among you, yes?

But, look what Sananda’s devotion prompted him to do. Sananda to whom there was no thought other than the Guru’s command, quickly walked over water to the other side of the river. This is not mesmerism or magic or the power of penance. It is purely devotion to the Guru. There are many who say, “I am very devoted. I think of him day and night. Who do you think the Guru is! I’m always chanting Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu Gurudevo Maheshwaraha. I am always thinking of the Guru” while they have a lot of desires in their heart. Sananda’s case was not like that.

First, he already let go of all attachments in the world. Secondly, he learned all forms of knowledge. Third, he served his Guru with singled-minded concentration. Fourth, he had acquired good karma all his life. Fifth, he had an abundance of Guru’s grace. See for yourself if you have all these. Sananda walked over the water and reached the other shore. Every step that Sananda took on water, lotuses bloomed to prevent him from sinking into the water. Everywhere he stepped, lotuses bloomed. Everybody was awestruck. Seeing his devotion, all other disciples – who usually think about food, about their next meals – were surprised. When Sananda walked, lotuses bloomed. When we walk, calluses grow on our feet. We don’t even walk without footwear. Amazed at his devotion, the other disciples offered him their respects. Since then, the name Padmapada (Padma = lotus; Pada=feet) became famous. Did you see the devotion to Guru?

Jaya Guru Datta.