The Scripture Of The Yogis – Part 8

I. Renunciation

But those who, carping at this, My teaching, practise it not, – know them deluded in all knowledge, as senseless men doomed to destruction.

They destroy themselves and go down into the endless abyss. It is the endless because there is no end to the cycle of birth and rebirth. It can go on  indefinitely unless you follow the quest which lead out of it. Can you think of a time when your births started? In the same manner you cannot think of an end to them, Buddha saw this awful hell infinite birth and rebirth and sought a way out. Hence it can only be done by following this quest by eliminating all false ideas, by right action, by meditation. That is the way which is taught to the disciple, the practise which leads him to a point where he rises to freedom.

Now we come to the quest of spiritual knowledge and the teacher says:

I taught this imperishable yoga…handed down thus in succession, the King-sages learnt this. This yoga, by long lapse of time, has been lost here, O Disciple

Why was it that this path of esoteric knowledge had to be taught to man from the beginning of time? Because the ultimate truth about life is so subtle and transcends the imagination of man to such an extent that without divine revelation one could never discover it. It was first given to man as a revelation from the highest embodied being then existent on this planet. At the time this high knowledge was imparted thousands of years ago, as mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, the knowledge had long been lost and had to brought back. Is it any wonder today even in India the high esoteric wisdom has largely sunk into oblivion and obscurity.

That same ancient yoga has been today taught to thee by Me, seeing that thou art My devotee and friend; for, this is the Supreme Secret…Whenever there is a decay of spirituality, O Disciple, and an ascendy of irreligion, then I manifest myself.

A promise is made here that High Beings have pledged themselves to watch over mankind, and that they will save mankind, in the only truest sense of salvation, in critical moments of history. If no leader arises amongst men themselves to help them, the gods will come down into mortal flesh and give humanity what it must have. Such times come whenever there is a degeneration of spiritual understanding, because the lamp of divine truth must be kept alight in the world. When this truth lapses from human knowledge, it must be brought back by the gods, who incarnate in order to relight the lamp amongst the masses of mankind.

For the protection of the good, for the destruction of evil doers for the firm establishment of spiritual living. I am born in every age.

Every time humanity sinks down to the last depth of spiritual ignorance and there is decay in true religion, then there happens the rebirth of an adept or even god who undertakes a public mission of spiritual service. Peculiarly, at such a time there is a reincarnation in great numbers of those who are plunged  in deep spiritual ignorance, who are filled with hatred, envy, greed and lust. These reincarnated beings contribute largely to the darkness of the age. At this time destiny takes a hand in their spiritual education, and they are reborn in such a period to be given their deepest lesson. They are finally destroyed physically by great natural catastrophes, such as floods and especially by war. At such times their destruction by violent death is the appropriate education which is necessary for their spiritual development.

To Be Continued…..

The Scripture Of The Yogis – Part 7

I. Renunciation

Those deluded by the energies of Nature are attached to the functions of energies. He who knows the All should not unsettle the unwise who know not the All

Right attitude results only after  trail of spiritual practises. It is of instrumentality rather than doership, the sense that the Overself is doing all works in you, is acting, speaking, and working through you. When you contact Divine intelligence  and permit it to operate freely through you, it will guide you, and guide rightly; it will help wisely. It may even lead you to desert some relative good for solid good. And you do arrive at the highest state of Karma-Yoga. You realize that when you are acting, it is simple Nature acting and finding focus through you.

Renouncing all actions in Me, with thy thought resting on the Self, being free from hope, free from selfishness, devoid of fear, do thou fight.

When you come to the realization that it is really Nature expressing itself through you, then you renounce your actions inwardly. You turn to the witness self, letting nature take care of the results. You reach a final stage where you can watch yourself playing it’s part in the world, without anticipation, without expectation. No more are you concerned with the burdens of the future. That is Nature’s concern. You set the example and others will imitate you and be benefited by this. By practising this with faith, you can be liberated from actions and destiny. It will free you from the cycle of births and deaths.

If you devotedly fulfil the earlier stages of this practise there will come a time when the power of spirit will bring you face to face with the hidden eternal witness. Then you will be liberated from the power of destiny. But even as soon as a partial degree of spiritual illumination has been gained, there need be no conflict with this and worldly activities.

It may seem unspiritual, unjust  or materialistic in the critical eye of others, yet it cannot be judged by appearances alone.  A man may take part in a war, fight, and slay, and yet be living by a diviner light than that of mankind. The main difference between him and the other soldiers of the same army will be one of motive. He fights impersonally, feeling neither hatred nor ill will of any kind  against the enemy, understanding that life no less demands good sense than it demands good will, and knowing that he is performing  a duty ordained by destiny and the social structure  of which he forms part in defending his country.

Another man on the contrary, who may have attained an equally substantial degree of illumination, may refuse to fight and will then be prepared to bear the penalties of the state. Here again the varying destiny of man and the symbolic relationship in which he stands to his own society may neccessate such a defection from social duty. Everything depends upon the particular circumstances of the case.

The truth is that what really matters is to surrender one’s ego to the bidding and will of the Overself, and then to carry out that bidding. If the Overself sends one into the haunts of social outcasts, one must be prepared unhesitatingly to go. And if the Overself sends one into the ranks of idlers and delinquents, one must be prepared to go, and if the Overself places on in the harsh atmosphere  of a soul less business or noisy factory, one must follow it’s bidding. There will always be some lesson to be learned, or some service to be rendered, or some working out of destiny, wherever one is sent.

Finally, if the Overself declares all these activities to be a waste of time, then one must move unhesitatingly out of one’s environment, sacrifice the world, and retire into spiritual retreat whether it be in some secluded rural spot or a monastery.

The Scripture Of The Yogis – Part 6

I. Renunciation

The disciple asks:

If it be thought by Thee that knowledge is superior to action, O Teacher, why then dost Thou direct me to this terrible action?

He want to know why, if understanding truth is so necessary, he should be asked to plunge into activity and he is still confused.

The teacher replies:

In this world a twofold path was taught be me at first, that of devotion to knowledge and that of devotion to action.

Since one cannot escape activity, whether it be physical or mental. It follows that there is a path for the man of action and another path for the man of thought. The teacher then describes the path of action. He stresses the performance of duty and repayment of debt which one owes to nature.

The real problem for the spiritual aspirant is how to render efficient service and give himself up to his work in this temporary world and yet remain loyal to his inner call. The blissfulness of introspection may tempt him more and more to desert externals, but excessive introspection is only needed in those whom destiny and duty have flung them out of the world into monasteries and ashrams or retreats.

Later, the teacher talks about sacrifice, but it is a different kind of sacrifice. It is a sacrifice of service . You must serve because it is right to serve, act because it is right to act, then sacrifice the results of your actions to destiny. This means you do not act for the reward you receive for the work.  Do your work, perform your duty , not only for your personal need but also with the idea of service . Do not concentrate only on results and personal benefits, but also work impersonally. This is practising a path of yoga , because it tends to curb desires and selfishness and helps to free one from bondage to the senses.

The path is appropriate for one who lives and works in the modern era. It is my personal belief that ancient wisdom must unite with modern science. The mystic of today should be prepared to ride  in an aeroplane; he should carry the scared within his heart, whilst  the press, noise and crowded metropolitan streets throb around him. Then one has to realize that if you have been put into the struggle and strife of modern existence in a western city, that is just where God wishes you to be for something to be learned, some lesson which may provide you with opposition, an opposition that has to be overcome, and that through the strife and effort of overcoming it you will learn the lesson you need.

In that path one learns the meaning of duty and sacrifice. But what does sacrifice really mean? Nothing, except the results of action, and that is done mentally. Do your work in the world – perform your duty, but do not make your happiness depend upon personal results from your actions. Act in such a manner to set a good example for others, thus becoming the teacher of the highest order. By your setting an unselfish standard of action and thinking of the effect of your actions, they will imitate you, and you will teach by lifting others up.

To Be Continued…..

The Scripture Of The Yogis – Part 5

I. Renunciation

He attains peace, into whom all desires enter as water enters the ocean, which filled from all sides, remains unaltered; but he who desires objects.

That is the state of the true yogi. However to attain peace, thoughts must flow into the mind without disturbing you. To hate is to be disturbed by the strong thoughts of the person you are hating. To live excitedly is also disturbing, and therefore you can’t expect peace. We have to learn to follow the middle way. Peace can only be found by guarding and controlling the mind.

What is night to all beings, therein the self controlled one who is awake. Where all beings are awake, that is the night of the sage who sees.

“night” means the phenomenal world around you. The sage sees through it’s illusion be he is spiritually awake, but others are spiritually asleep. They are deceived by its appearance of solidity. What is that which seems night to all beings? It is the transcendental Overself. The sage dwells in that life, which is divine. One who enters it is neither bound to be an ascetic or a man of the world. The sage is an enigma to other  because he knows that all invisible life and embodied life are the same to him. He is centred on the divine, and as destiny brings the panorama of life before him he understands and accepts it, but remains himself unaltered, because he has attained the condition of inner peace. The ascetic and the would be yogi try to banish all thoughts, but the sage is not trying to do anything. He understands and accepts all thoughts, but he is not at their mercy, for he realized what they really are and controls them effortlessly.

To Be Continued….

The Scripture Of The Yogis – Part 4

I. Renunciation 

The disciple then asks:

What, O Teacher, is the description of one of steady mind, who is in constant contemplation? How does one of steady mind, speak, how sit, how move?

To put the matter plainly this question simply means What is a true yogi like?

The teacher replies:

When a man, satisfied in the Self alone by himself, completely casts off all desires of the mind, then he is said to of steady mind.

Desires, feelings and wishes in the end are nothing but thoughts. To want something is desire. A passion is simply thought, which is held more strongly and intensely than any other thought. Before a desire is formed in your mind, you must think of it. When it appears in your thought, you still think of it. Desires are part of your stream of thoughts. To get rid of the desire you must eventually get rid of that thought. It follows that to live in a condition where thoughts are reduced, means the will to attain peace. Peace is the absence of thoughts and desires. Then only will you have attained the state of the successful yogi who has found the inner self. Once you have achieved this you may have thoughts running through your mind, but they will be unable to disturb your inner peace.

He whose heart is not distressed in calamities, from whom all longing for pleasures has departed, who is free from attachment, fear, and wrath, he is called a sage, a man steady of mind.

Since we are on this Earth we cannot sieve off the troubles of the material life. We can, however change our reaction to these troubles. Defeat in Business will merely amuse one man, but completely beat another. The first person may continue battling for his Business, the second may commit suicide. We  must understand that troubles are unavoidable because they come as a results of what we may have done in former births. But we can accept them with peace and equanimity by controlling our reactions to them. In this regard, however, the teacher points out that if you wish to control the pain, you must also control your reaction to their opposites. Pleasure and bad fortune, pain and good fortune are opposite ends of the same stick. So you must learn to inwardly give up the good things of life. If you are to do this it will follow that when you are suddenly left a large financial fortune, your mind will not be excites beyond control, but will remain calm. Be like the actor on stage, who although playing his part to perfection, remembers who he is all the time. You are inwardly Divine. Be that.

To Be Continued…..

The Scripture Of The Yogis – Part 3

I. Renunciation 

Thy concern is with action alone, never with results. Let not the fruit of action be thy motive, nor let thy attachment be for inaction. Steadfast in devotion do thy works, O disciple, casting off attachment, being the same in success or failure.

Never lose your sense of proportion and assume that your actions are going to make any difference to the witness, the Overself, which always remains unaffected. Destiny has given you a part to play. Play your part, do your duty, even as others have their duties. Whether you are a cashier or  manual labourer in a factory, do what your places calls for at the time. Do not make the mistake that you are to do it for all time. That is entireley different. What is right  for you this year may be wrong for you next year.

Krishna did not give his teachings to Arjun, both on yoga and truth in the stir and  turmoil of the battlefield, precisely, where action was needed. Why did he not instruct his disciple in a hermitage?  Holy men may rack their brains for an answer – the fact remains. Life is all-comprehensive and has plenty of room for action and reflection. Neither is holier than the other.

You cannot be deluded by the illusion of life provided you remember who you are. When you remember that your are the divine self then you can act with understanding. You must be able to plunge into the midst of activity in the market-place or at work, and yet be detached from the results of your actions.

Wherever you are you must keep to the sacred quest. You do your work as matter of duty, but you are not so bound up with it, or searching for success, that the world would come to an end should you fail. Success must not be-all things and persons, is a lesson which all of us have to learn sooner or later. Try to cut loose the desire bonds. They are inside of you, and if you can cut them loose, it does not matter what is happening outside.

When you understand this you simply do what you have to do – let it be the best and utmost of what life demands of you – and then let the results take care of itself, not because you do not care, but because you know that a cosmic power is taking care of them. The results are in the hands of the Overself and destiny. Do not run away and refuse to act. Also neither go to the other extreme  and plunge into activity with greed and desire as the only motive for your actions. Have the higher ones as well.

Act and then observe the results of your actions. You must act and move in the external world, but your inner self must be the unseen axis – calm, still and quiet.

To Be Continued……