Slokam 10

The ladies of Vraja are said to  try to weave a web of protection around Sri Krishna by singing the very hymns that comprise the Paramathma’s name and spell all auspicious things to this world.

The very Paramathma who protects and sustains the entire universe is now sought to be protected with hymns that extoll his supreme name, by those that He has created, protected and sustained.

The loop of Bhakthi originates and concludes at the very feet of the Paramathma. We are only a transient medium, but we assume the illusion of reality because of the invasion of the demonic forces.

In dropping this illusory identity,  it would help to adopt the teachings of Arunachala Shiva, Ramana Maharishi. 

Sri Ramana Maharishi suggests that when we chant a slokam,  turn inwards to the source of the slokam.  The false identity will disappear and the slokam will be conveyed directly from the source.  The Maharishi says that when we turn our consciousness and mind onto this identity, it will disappear.  Always turn inwards and look to the source of the thoughts.  The false identity will disappear. 

Replace this identity with the Paramathma.  Consider that all thoughts emerge from the Paramathma within,  that He is the motivator and perpetrator of all actions.  Consult Him mentally before acting.  Share joys and sorrows with Him. 

Once the perceived and the perceiver are both understood to be the Paramathma,  all conflict will disappear.

With a little bit of inner reflection, we can all understand that we have very little to do in shaping the events of this world, and even ourselves or our families.  What keeps us from complete surrender to the Paramathma is probably the tests that life will impose on us to assess the genuineness of this surrender.  So we become worried that we will fail the test.  Can we remain in a surrendered state when life begins to pile difficulties on us, one on top of the other? 

Let us nor delude ourselves into thinking that surrender is a one step simple process that will be hurdle free.  It is not enough to just acknowledge that the Paramathma is supreme.  Our commitment should not be subject to conditionality such as material prosperity or good health being pre-conditions to devotion. 

The purpose of setting out on the spiritual path is to rid ourselves of worldly attachments.  We cannot progress unless these attachments are discarded.  These attachments cannot be discarded, unless life teaches us its lessons of detachment. 

These lessons are delivered at different levels of severity.  It depends on how receptive we are to imbibing the teachings.  The teachings, ideally can be assimilated, from a study of the Ithihasas, Puranas, and the scriptures. It can be supplemented and strengthened by observation of the events of this world. If we do not learn sufficiently from either source,  then our own personal experience of life will begin to impart the lessons that we are deficient in. Learning from life’s direct experiences may be the hardest, because the impact of the experience may leave an indelible mark on our entire lives.

Learning from the scriptures, Ithihasas and Puranas would be effective, only if it is imparted by a Guru, who has attained elevated status.  Then it becomes a direct transfer of knowledge. Without the guidance of a Guru,  we will not be able to assimilate the knowledge as direct experiences that can transform our lives. So the Guru,  who has the complete experience of life will be able to inject the essence of the teachings, in a manner that will enable us to use them in our everyday lives.

A guru will enable us to sail through the turbulence of our lives by knowing and yet being spared of experiencing its harsh realities.

A guru’s teachings will be very effective when it is supplemented by parental and grand parental teachings, as well as the maintenance of a spiritual environment at home. All these factors will strengthen and reinforce each other.  When brought up in that environment,  we will navigate life by following the spiritual  guidance and be able to make very valuable contributions to mankind.

May we ever have the strength to maintain and nurture the cultural heritage that directs usto the pathway of attaining the Paramathma’s feet.