‘Purpose of Life and Ways of Sadhana’ based on teachings of:
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Compiled by: Dr. M. Thirumaleshwar
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
1
Overview … • Sri Sathya Sai Baba says: • Basically, you are GOD only; to know this truth is the goal of life • Butter is there everywhere in milk, but to get it, you have to curdle it, churn it • Similarly, to realize God who is everywhere, there is necessity of ‘Sadhana’ (i.e. spiritual efforts) • Jnana (Knowledge), Bhakti (Devotion) and Karma (Action) are the three paths of Sadhana
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
2
What is the purpose of Life?
Our Life… • Life is momentary…. • Life is mechanical…. • Life is a repetition of events….
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
4
Sri Shankaracharya has said: • Day and night, morning and evening, the seasons… come again and again… • Time is ‘playing’.. Life is shortened.. • Still, the desires are not reduced!
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
5
For example...see the cycle: Seed-sprout-sapling-tree-fruits-seed
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
6
Similarly‌. Human life too.. Infant...
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
7
Similarly‌. Human life too.. child...play
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
8
Similarly‌. Human life too.. student...play, study..
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
9
Similarly…. Human life too.. Youth…work… money
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
10
Similarly…. Human life too.. Youth…love… marriage
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
11
Similarly…. Human life too.. family…work…exert… middle age
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
12
Similarly…. Human life too.. exert…retire…old age…
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
13
Similarly…. Human life too.. …old age …sickness…
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
14
Similarly…. Human life too.. …sickness…and… death..
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
15
Sri Shankaracharya has said:
• • • •
Just like the water drop of lotus leaf.. This life is unstable, indeed. Know that entire world is destroyed by.. Ego, sickness and sorrow.
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
16
Sri Shankaracharya has said: • • • •
Child … interested in play Youth …in sensual enjoyment Old man… in worry, anxiety But.. No one is interested in ‘Brahman’…
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
17
Sri Shankaracharya has said: • • • • •
Who is your wife…and, your son… Indeed, this ‘samsara’ is perplexing Who are you ..and.. from where did you come .. Think of these essentials, brother!
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
18
Swami has said.. Greatness of human birth.. • Of the 84,00,000 types of life-forms, human life is the greatest • Having got this human birth, due to the merit of many lives, if one does not redeem one-self .. he is really unfortunate
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
19
Swami has said.. Greatness of human birth.. • For all other life – forms, ego is the support; but, for humans, mind, intellect (buddhi), mind-stuff (chitta) and ego are the ‘instruments’. • Only Man has the possibility of transforming himself in to God, whereas other animals do not have this capacity. July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
20
Swami has said.. Goal of human birth.. • To ‘know one self’ is the purpose of human birth • ‘Realization of Brahman’ is the goal of human birth
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
21
Swami has said.. Goal of human birth.. • You have come from God and will be returning to God • Basically, you are GOD only; to know this truth is the goal of life
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
22
Swami has said.. Goal of human birth.. • Every one should find answers to following four questions: • who am I ? • from where did I come ? • where am I going to ?, and • how long I will be here ? • “Sadhana” (i.e. spiritual effort) is the way to get the answers to these questions. July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
23
Ways of ‘Sadhana’ (i.e. spiritual efforts).. • Bird’s eyeview..
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
24
Sadhana… Bird’s eyeview.. • • • • •
Purpose of Life ? Purpose of Sadhana? Necessity of Sadhana Who is fit for Sadhana? When should one start Sadhana? • Different ways of Sadhana… July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
25
Purpose of Life… Swami has said: • You have not come here to eat, sleep and spend time in ‘samsara’ (family life) • Leading a disciplined life, exhibit your ‘divinity’ • Knowing oneself is the purpose of this life • To find answers to the four essential questions, viz. who am I, whence am I, where am I going to, and how long I will be here… is the purpose of Sadhana
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
26
Purpose of Sadhana… Swami has said: • Sadhana is not for attaining God, but to attain destruction of ego • Sun’s rays fall on hills, rivers, trees etc, but only a clean mirror reflects these rays • Similarly, God who is everywhere is reflected only in a clean heart • And, purpose of Sadhana is to attain the cleanliness of heart July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
27
Necessity of Sadhana… • Butter is there everywhere in milk, but to get it, you have to curdle it, churn it • Similarly, to realize God who is everywhere, there is necessity of Sadhana
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
28
Necessity of Sadhana… • ‘Knowledge is enveloped in ignorance’… Githa … • One has to drink water by moving aside the moss covering the surface of water … and, this is Sadhana • Even though there is light everywhere, light will enter the room only when you open the door… this is Sadhana July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
29
Who is fit to do Sadhana? Swami has said: • Who is qualified to drink medicine? … every one who is sick is qualified • Similarly, every one who is suffering from the disease of ‘birth and death’ is qualified to do Sadhana
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
30
Attitude of doing Sadhana? • First teaching of Sai was: ‘To cross the difficult ocean of Samsara… worship mentally the holy feet of Sadguru..’ • And Sri Shankaracharya also has prayed: ‘In this ocean of Samsara, which is difficult to cross, oh God, mercifully help me to cross it and save me’ July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
31
When to start Sadhana? Swami has said: • Entire life of man should be a Sadhana • Any day is a ‘good day’ to start Sadhana • Start Sadhana when you are young; not when you get old • Start early, Drive slowly, Reach safely! July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
32
When to start Sadhana? Swami has said: • We learn walking, talking, riding etc by practising • Similarly, to be able to think of God at our last moment, we have to practise beforehand… from now on.. July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
33
Swami says... • Three methods of Sadhana: • Eagle–like • Monkey-like • Ant-like
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
34
Swami says... • Three methods: • 1. Eagle-like: • Eagle attacks its victim suddenly with great desire… and misses it… • And, fails to get it
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
35
Swami says... • Three methods: • 2. Monkey-like: • Jumps from one tree to another, tastes the fruit and throws it away
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
36
Swami says... • Three methods: • 3. Ant-like: • Slowly, steadily, moves towards its goal
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
37
Four stages of Sadhana… Swami says: • 1. Salokya .. • you are in His kingdom, surrendering to Him completely
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
38
Four stages of Sadhana… Swami says: • 2. Sameepya … • You are in God’s palace, as His servant • Now, you are near Him
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
39
Four stages of Sadhana… Swami says: • 3. Saroopya … • Now you are His relative… and are eligible to dress like Him
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
40
Four stages of Sadhana… Swami says: • 4. Sayujya… • Now you are His son… and are eligible to sit on the throne and be like Him
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
41
Three ways of Sadhana.. Swami says: • Jnana (Knowledge), Bhakti (Devotion) and Karma (Action) are the three paths • There should be a harmonious mix of these three paths • For ex: a piece of Barfi ( sweet) has: shape, weight and taste; if barfi is held in your hand, you have got all the three attributes of barfi • Similarly, Karma is the shape, Jnana is the weight and Bhakti is the taste…. let them all be together in a harmonius blend. July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
42
Three ways of Sadhana.. Swami says: • • • • • • • •
Three D’s: Discrimination Devotion Duty Three H’s: Head Heart Hands
July 19, 2016
• Jnana • Bhakti • Karma • Jnana • Bhakti • Karma
Holy Guru Poornima day
43
Overview.. • Overview of Jnana, Bhakti and Karma follows…..
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
44
Jnana yoga.. It is said that.. • Adwaitha darshanam Jnanam.. • Eashavasyamidam sarvam … • Vishwam Vishnumayam… • Sarvam khalvidam Brahma … • Antharbahischa tat sarvam vyapya Narayana sthithaha.. July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
45
Jnana yoga.. It is said that.. • • • • •
Seeing Unity is Jnana.. ‘All this’ is pervaded by Eashwara (i.e. God) Whole universe is pervaded by Vishnu (i.e. God) All this is verily Brahman In this world, whatever is seen or heard… Narayana pervades all this from inside as well as outside
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
46
Jnana yoga.. • In front and back, left and right, up and down, inside and outside …all He and He only • In all movable and immovable beings, in various names and forms…what shines as the light of self is God’s light only • When one sees equality in all beings … such a one is a Jnani
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
47
Jnana yoga.. Swami says: • Darkness does not disappear if you throw a stone at it.. It goes away only when you light a lamp • Similarly, darkness of Ignorance leaves the heart when the lamp of Knowledge is lit • ‘Pancha kosas’ or, five shields cover the Atma and prevent the light from spreading out… these five shields should be purified July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
48
Five shields … and their purification… • ‘Physical’ shield .. body.. purified by pure food • ‘Prana’ (breath) shield … purified by calm, regular breathing • ‘Mind’ shield… purified by holy thoughts • ‘Knowledge’ shield … purified by meditation on Truth • ‘Shield of Bliss’ … purified by bliss of God realization July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
49
Jnana yoga.. Swami says: • • • • • • • • •
Seeing Oneness everywhere is Jnana Rain drops are many, but water is ONE Rivers are many, but ocean is ONE Nations are many, but earth is ONE Jewels are many, but gold is ONE Flowers are many, but worship is ONE Cows are many, but milk is ONE Religions are many, but God is ONE Life forms are many, but Life is ONE
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
50
Jnana yoga.. Swami says: • An orange has a name and form; when it is squeezed to get the juice, its name and form disappear…i.e. the fruit disappears, but its taste only remains. • Sweetness, perfume and essence have only to be experienced, and, can not be explained
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
51
Bhakti yoga.. Swami says: • Sign of Bhakti: Supreme love on God • Wetness of ground is the sign of rain, and peace of mind is the sign of Bhakti • Real devotee is peaceful and filled with bliss in all circumstances .. honordishonor, profit-loss, love-hate July 19, 2016 Holy Guru Poornima day ..
52
Bhakti yoga.. Swami says: • Two types of Bhakti.. ‘Saguna’ (with form) and ‘Nirguna’ (without form) • These two are like left and right foot; both are not on ground at the same time when you walk • Lakshmana is example of ‘Saguna devotee’; Bharata’s devotion was of Nirguna type • Still, Bharata asked for Rama’s ‘paduka’ (i.e. sandals); i.e. Nirguna also desires Saguna! July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
53
Bhakti yoga.. Swami says: • When sun is straight over the head, no shadow is seen; • And, when faith is firm in the mind, shadow of doubt will not exist!
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
54
Bhakti yoga.. Swami says: • Nine types of devotion: Type
Example
Shravanam (listening)
King Parikshith
Keerthanam (singing)
Sage Narada
Smaranam (remembering)
Prahlada
Vandanam (saluting)
Akrura
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
55
Bhakti yoga.. Swami says: • Nine types of devotion … contd.. Type
Example
Padasevanam (worhip Lord’s feet)
Goddess Kakshmi
Archanam (worship)
King Puru
Daasyam (service)
Hanuman
Sakhyam (friendship)
Arjuna
Atma-nivedanam (surrender)
King Bali
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
56
Jnana and Bhakti.. • Ice floating on water melts silently in to water; similarly, by constant contact with God, the ego is destroyed silently …. this is the road of Bhakti • By contact with fire, camphor is completely burnt out; similarly, by the fire of Jnana the ego is completely destroyed … this is the road of Jnana July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
57
Jnana and Bhakti.. • Nature .. is like a net • There two ways to escape.. • 1. Become small… very small.. so that you can pass through the tiny openings in the net .. This is the road of Bhakti • 2. Become very large.. then, you can break through the net.. This is the road of Jnana July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
58
Karma yoga.. Swami says: • Whether he is aware of it or not, one is always busy doing some work or other.. • When these works are done with an attitude of surrender, it becomes ‘Nishkama karma’ (i.e. desire-less action)
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
59
Karma yoga.. Swami says: • The time, space, cause, instrument, intelligence, skill, opportunity, luck… all these required to perform the work are given by Him only… then, why do you think that you are the ‘doer’? • Work like a clock… it shows correct time to all … it has no ‘love’ or ‘hate’ towards anyone!
July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
60
Karma yoga.. Swami says: • • • •
Birth is by Karma, Living is by Karma, Death is by Karma. Karma is the cause for joy and sorrow, • Really, for man Karma is God. July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
61
Purpose of Life and Ways of Sadhana Lovingly offered at the Lotus Feet of
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba by M. Thirumaleshwar July 19, 2016
Holy Guru Poornima day
62