After being in a state of continued peace, further opening of vast vistas and infinite treasures of divine knowledge opens up. The committed seeker and the earnest yogi is forever eager to drink the sweet nectar of spiritual wisdom and in consequence comes closer to blissful God. He/She is perpetually attracted like a magnet to come together with God. So it all begins with calmness and peace at a particular stage. Therefore peace is so essential to attain for a sadhak or rather we can say that it is a prequalification to realize God. So we first attain that divine peace within and after tasting the honey like peace, one will wish to prolong and hold that serene state as long as it is possible. For that reason all the obstructions, irritants and speedbreakers should be removed deliberately and consciously by weeding out those circumstances, events or changing one’s own basic habits. Once this is done, the yogi will stabilize and will be able to retain that stillness and calm mind thereafter.
Visualize a wall of a house that has not been cleaned and painted for very long. And another case in point where the wall is cleaned and painted and is all white in colour. It is spruced up, painted and cleaned at regular intervals by the caretaker. The clean white wall will absorb more sunlight as compared to the other one which does not get cleaned up at recurrent intervals.
A clean mind is a peaceful mind!
Hence a peaceful mind absorbs divinity effortlessly; it reflects light of God easily than putrid, sinful and morally impure heart and mind.
The consciousness of an individual soul comprises of his thoughts, deeds and sanskaras or the basic tendencies. The reflection of divinity in an individual self depends entirely on his type of consciousness. It depends what type of deeds the individual soul has done so far and what he thinks currently. The cleaner the consciousness, the more one imbibes divinity. As pointed out earlier in the previous post that God is love and peace, the cleaner the consciousness, the more one imbibes peace.
There are some aspirants who like to do their spiritual practices and sadhana all by themselves as they think that doing that much is enough for them. They do not go anywhere else but believe that their own efforts are enough for God realization. But many of us do not know that when we visit a holy place and pay our obeisance by going to samadhis or places lived and visited by the illumined masters or Atmagyani, they are still radiating heavenly vibrations and we are able to receive those highly charged spiritual vibrations which act as a catalyst for remarkable transformation in us.
When we visit a ‘live’ or spiritually charged place on earth, the saint or mahayogi even if not residing in his physical body currently, ignites a spark in us which does not allow us to return to obscurity again and secondly they give so much peace to us that we are able to refrain ourselves from doing wrongful deeds again. So this is one of the perfect ways to bring about peace and tranquility and also to hasten the mechanism for self transformation. One must visit holy places with devotion and reverence and humbly ask the holy Spirits residing there to give us peace, stability and tranquility of mind and also help us in our endeavors for transformation regularly. This is one way of acquiring stable peace of mind on our spiritual stepladder and to open new windows of sacred unfoldment on the path of realizing Self.
A reader has asked me the following question the other day:-
“Your previous article was amazing, it had all that a beginner needs to understand and start his/her journey with utmost faith and determination.
There is a shloka in the Bhagwad Gita about yogi: Chapter 2 Verse 69
Yaa Nisha Sarva bhootanaam Tasyam Jagarati Samyamee I
Yasyaam Jagrati Bhootani Saa Nishaa Pashyato Munehe II
That which is night to all beings, in that state, the God realized yogi is awake. Where all beings are awake in the ever changing, transient worldly happiness, that is the night for the seer, one who knows the Self.
If you could write something that explains the deeper meaning behind this and a beautiful example for the explanation is in Verses 70 and 71 about peace.”
Now let me attempt to explain the shloka in my own humble way, hope I do justice to this mighty job.!! Anyway, before I even attempt the explanation, I am already thinking of Krishna and Arjuna in the battle field with his white clothes holding his Gandiva bow and Devdutta conch shell! How fortunate Arjuna was to be taking the divine wisdom directly from none other than Lord Krishna. Oh! What a glorious sight it must have been at that moment!!
Anyhow, let’s now go back to our original thought regarding the shloka. But the initial important question is-
How should one read the holy book Bhagwad Gita?
First and foremost we must invoke the spirit of Lord Krishna and his chief disciple Arjuna, both.
Lord Krishna will impart the eternal knowledge of Self while the all pervading Spirit of Arjuna will teach us how to be an ideal disciple of the Spiritual Master and mentor. And how to balance one’s inner spiritual life with the outer physical and material world consisting of our family, relatives, society, profession and others areas; that is to say that the inner world and the outer world must meet and converge on a positive note. We need to learn to balance both for our happiness, emotional security and sustained peace of mind.
Now we turn to the meaning of the verse-
This verse indeed is very tricky yet interesting because of the analogy of a learned man, the seer with day and the ignorant with night and how contrast they are; yet there is no contradiction in the mind of the seer. The beginners do get baffled by this intriguing example which is also the case of the instance of an inverted Banyan Tree in chapter 15 verse 1. The Banyan Tree is a simile and a comparison of spiritual ignorance of the masses of the world with that of the ancient tree. There is a post on this shloka- Expand your consciousness-I where the verse is explained in the last portion.
Please know that there are two types of men in this world- Those who are aware and awakened in Atman and those who are not, categorized as gyani and agyani- knower and ignorant respectively. Nearly everyone in this world is ignorant in spiritual awareness barring a few handfuls.
The gyani or knower as the word suggests means one who knows, one who has spiritual knowledge, lives in divine illumination and light irrespective of day or night. Inside him there is brightness of wisdom, wakefulness and the light of God kindling and in this way he always lives in day and light. His senses and mind are in control and all his actions are performed with divine inspiration and wisdom. He views the Cosmic Universe as a manifestation of God’s creation and knows that he is not a doer and hence does not claim any credit for any good actions that he performs.
Whereas all the other people called the agyani or ignorant live in darkness or night without any wisdom and light doing all sorts of sinful, immoral and senseless activities throughout their lives. These two types of people are contrary in nature like day and night. So while the agyani lives in darkness, the gyani resides in light of God. The gyani never ‘sleeps’ and the agyani is in night because of darkness of ignorance inside him. The ever changing, transitory worldly happiness is night for the yogi while the agyani runs after worldly fleeting happiness. The gyani finds happiness in discovering the revelations of God’s blissful nature and finds it priceless. The agyani on the other hand has no idea that all the other luring, short-term sensual happiness will turn into misery and lingering sorrows. Knowing so, the gyani discards the fleeting, illusory happiness and attains lasting happiness, joy and peace which is permeated in Divine Communion!!
These two types of wise and ignorant are men that are poles apart.
Nevertheless, the gyani does not get perturbed by all this because he knows that wondrous God is arduous to perceive and attain while achieving senseless and incongruous goals are a lot easier to accomplish. The gyani practices yoga, stability of mind, spends his time and breath in unselfish actions called nishkaam karma while the ignorant spends his whole life indulging in and running after insubstantial and earthly things because of greed and desire and also seeks corporeal pleasures. Besides this, he does not have complete faith in God. Such people are in an unconscious state; they are in ‘sleep’ or darkness. So while the whole world sleeps in darkness of ignorance, the gyani is persistently awake with the flame of divine illumination which illuminates his life, mind, thoughts and deeds.
The ignorant lives only for himself sustaining on his little self and complex desires thus creating a long chain of future reincarnations while the knower performs all his deeds to delight God and his spiritual teachers and in turn remains in ecstasy. Strangely, outwardly both the knower and the ignorant look the same but it is their consciousness, type of thinking and actions which sets them apart.
Though the gyani sees that most of the people are far from being wise, unselfish and caring; he is calm and maintains his composure because he has already realized that this is maya and people will remain in delusion as long as they do not intend breaking that veil of ignorance with their own wish and intent.
Hence the last verses 70 & 71
Aapuryamananchalpratishtham samudramapam: pravishanti yadvat I
Tadvatkama yam pravishanti sarve sa shantimaproti na kamkami II
As the waters of different rivers enter the ocean; which though full on all sides remains undisturbed, likewise he in whom all enjoyments merge themselves attains peace; not he who hankers after such enjoyments.
The ecstatic yogi after experiencing God in him becomes like an ocean where all types of waters trickle and pour in him yet he does not become overwhelmed. Like the ocean, he too assimilates everything silently because of his deep wisdom and unyielding peace of mind.
He acknowledges that this sansara will remain in a steady flow, in influx of constant changes, people will come and go, there will deaths and births, happiness and sorrow will take turns, there will be loss and gain in his life but he is Atman, the unchanging Spirit, the source of all illumination, peace and ecstasy and he is That!
And the last verse says:
Vihaya kamanya: sarvanpumamshrchrati nispriha I
Nirmamo nirhankar sa shantimadhigachati II
He, who has given up all desires and moves free from attachment, egoism and thirst for enjoyment attains peace.
So dear readers, we began with why is it so essential to have peace as seekers and we have ended up by knowing that by giving up all the attachments, egoism, self-indulgence and thirsting for worldly desires brings us lasting peace; that state of a seer which can be compared to an ocean which does not get disturbed by all the activities that are carried out in and around it.
That’s why in the previous verses in second chapter, Lord Krishna first enlightens Arjuna about indestructibility of Atman, the Self and then goes on to advocate him to cross over from his current wavering state to equanimity by discarding dualities present in this world after which the mind becomes steady. Once the mind is in constant equilibrium for an extensive time period; he connects to God, our Atman, the state of perfect equanimity and unending peace…
Shri Krishna Govind Hare Murare Hey Nath Narayan Vasudevaya……..
(First image- rear view of samadhi mandir of Swami Nityanand, Ganeshpuri and
Last image contributed by Nishith)
Dear Sarika Aunty,
There are moments when it is really tough not to get swept away by worldly matters and probably they are the litmus tests of our integrity and dedication in attainment of Divine Peace. This article clearly demarcates the reality in our daily lives, the dichotomy of our being – I found this article very close to practicality.
A little deed, howsoever small it may be, which doesn’t align with the path of divine knowledge and realisation is equivalent to taking hundred step backwards for a single step forward. So much in control should be our senses every millisecond of our lives to not to come in the vicious loop of worldliness. And this article made me realise so many more vital and virtuous facts which I couldn’t have comprehended myself. Thanks so much once again. May peace and joy be with you always
Best Regards,
Deepanjan
Dear Deepanjan,
-There will be traps and ambushes laid on your path off and on.
-There is gyan-knowledge and agyan- ignorance both always, side by side in this world . Choose knowledge and always remain careful and alert.
-When you face a test, ignite the spiritual knowledge which is in you.
-And then live with that wisdom and knowledge.
Sarika Aunty.
Namaste Sarikaji,
Meditation is the key and there is a definite tranquility that follows. I have experienced that exuberant joy. Holding on the tranquility is another thing. When I see what is going on around the world with too many negative issues to mention, I lose my peace and start questioning things and start walking on the shaky ground. Well we have the karma theory justifying the ills but is it just when we see men, women, and little children suffer in horrific and ghastly ways? To quote words from your post, “Krishna first enlightens Arjuna about indestructibility of the Atman, the Self, and then goes to advocate him to CROSS OVER FROM HIS WAVERING STATE TO EQUANIMITY BY DISCARDING DUALITIES PRESENT IN THE WORLD after which the mind becomes steady.”
Wasn’t this the question that Arjuna posed to Krishna when they were standing in the battlefield? I read and see such horrific scenes all around the world and it is like standing in the battlefield every day. Krishna tells Arjuna of non attachment and dispassion and the indestructibility of the Atman. In theory this makes sense but personally how do I apply this principal when I see what I see today and hear what I hear today? Just as Arjuna questions Krishna, “how can I fight my own kith and kin?” I would appreciate it if you can please make me understand.
Thanks.
Meena
Sadhak ki teen avastha hoti hai- virakti, sangati, sadgati
Virakti mei mana dukhi hota hai
Sangati mei mana guru ki atma se judta hai aur
Sadgati avastha mei mana vishram karta hai.
Sansar mei dukh aur sukh dono hote hai, yeh maya hai parantu
Brahma mei pooran shanti hai.
Isliye bahar se mana hatakar guru mei lao
Jisse tumhari sadgati ho jaye.
There are 3 stages of a seeker-detachment, conjunction and sanctimonious exit from this world.
During the state of detachment or virakti, the manas or mind of the seeker is sorrowful when she/he sees so much sorrow in the world.
Next comes the constant uniting termed as conjunction or sangati here when the seeker turns his mind inwards completely after the spell of grief because of which the mind becomes calm and pious and the exit of the soul from this world is free from all grief and sorrow. It is called sadgati, sat plus gati that is- the pathway from the present world to the next world is beautiful and sorrow free for such a person.
These are the words of the divine guru and they speak from their experience because they know that the dualities of sorrow and happiness are always there in this world but we must seek Brahma, a state of non duality and complete peace. Repeat Om shanti, shanti shanti Om….
I have a feeling this wisdom here should help many people who come on this blog so pasting it again here “There are some aspirants who like to do their spiritual practices and sadhana all by themselves as they think that doing that much is enough for them. They do not go anywhere else but believe that their own efforts are enough for God realization. But many of us do not know that when we visit a holy place and pay our obeisance by going to samadhis or places lived and visited by the illumined masters or Atmagyani, they are still radiating heavenly vibrations and we are able to receive those highly charged spiritual vibrations which act as a catalyst for remarkable transformation in us.
When we visit a ‘live’ or spiritually charged place on earth, the saint or mahayogi even if not residing in his physical body currently, ignites a spark in us which does not allow us to return to obscurity again and secondly they give so much peace to us that we are able to refrain ourselves from doing wrongful deeds again. So this is one of the perfect ways to bring about peace and tranquility and also to hasten the mechanism for self transformation. One must visit holy places with devotion and reverence and humbly ask the holy Spirits residing there to give us peace, stability and tranquility of mind and also help us in our endeavors for transformation regularly. This is one way of acquiring stable peace of mind on our spiritual stepladder and to open new windows of sacred unfoldment on the path of realizing Self.”
Also love that pink flowers and the golden light pictures.
Sarikaji, i am saving quotes i like and resonate with, in a word document online.
Ma,
As you conclude the post by writing these lines that “we have ended up by knowing that by giving up all the attachments, egoism, self-indulgence and thirsting for worldly desires brings us lasting peace; that state of a seer which can be compared to an ocean which does not get disturbed by all the activities that are carried out in and around it.”- I must say that it would be a state of perfect bliss.
“Once the mind is in constant equilibrium for an extensive time period; he connects to God, our Atman, the state of perfect equanimity and unending peace…” – Here when you refer “constant equilibrium for an extensive time period” can we achieve this in a present lifetime or our past karmas play a role and act as a way of obstruction? Does attaining equanimity is equal to finding God and be at his feet forever?
The two categories which you have explained in detail thats about “gyani” and “agyani” , can a householder or people of todays society ever become gyani because at some point of time shuffling of emotions take place and constant efforts to remain calm evaporates like ashes till the next period of bliss arrives? Soul knows everything then why does veil of maya creates a greater impact ?
Dear Garima, replying to all your questions on eby one.
Q-“Once the mind is in constant equilibrium for an extensive time period; he connects to God, our Atman, the state of perfect equanimity and unending peace…” – Here when you refer “constant equilibrium for an extensive time period” can we achieve this in a present lifetime or our past karmas play a role and act as a way of obstruction? Does attaining equanimity is equal to finding God and be at his feet forever?
A- What I have described in this post is a state of mind of a yogi who has realised God in her or his heart and mind. And what is his/her state of mind just before being perfect in an static state? -there is enduring peace. The peace is enduring because the impact of sanchit karmas are wiped out. Unless the past dues are paid off, this state does not come. But a state can be achieved where the seeker is more stable than before, is less restless and depressed and can leave most of the things for God to respond.The state of highest Consciousness can be achieved in one life provided the aspirant is determined to face everything in life and if the sanchit or acccumulated karmas are limited. I suggest you read “Why is Atman difficult to know? The details are there. Because of the intricacies which Mandira has mentioned, it becomes dificult. Sometimes the tide of karmic pattern is very tough and can beseige the seeker or sadhak. But the good part is nothing goes to waste. If someone cannot make it this time, everything adds up and gets accumulated. In the final run in some life, everything adds up and it finallly becomes easy for somone to dry up all the seeds of past karmas. Hope this explanation has not tired your mind as I have more to explain…..Equanimity of mind has different levels and cannot be equated with God Realization. There are degrees of stability of mind. The more depth the yogi gets, the more durable the state of peace of mind and equanimity. However, whereevr we stand today, we must begin from there and improve our stat eof mind by being more relaxed, composed and free of worrries.It comes with pracctice when we get more confidence and faith in God.
Q-The two categories which you have explained in detail thats about “gyani” and “agyani” , can a householder or people of todays society ever become gyani because at some point of time shuffling of emotions take place and constant efforts to remain calm evaporates like ashes till the next period of bliss arrives? Soul knows everything then why does veil of maya creates a greater impact ?
A-The yo-yo state of losing to the current situation and sometimes winning it is a state of mind when there is turbulence inside. Calm that mind first. Know that you are child of God and that God is watching you. Speak the right words and do the right actions. Leave the rest to God, whatever happens. Have patience and seek God’s advice in silence. You will do everything right and the best remedy -maintain silence. So many of our problems can be mitigated if we remain silent and calm….Have patience, endless so that the wheel of time changes and you are in more control……
Our soul knows everything but th eimpact is of the antahakaran or inner core being sullied by the layers of karmafal or fruits of actions. They act as hindrance. Recall the metaphor of a white and clean wall recceiving more sunlight than the dusty one…… Read on and come back to me if there is something to say.
Take care
Ma
Ma,
I get the hang of it and understood my further course of action.
I felt drawn towards this post today and the below para really resonates with me. It’s fantastic, the truth, I just cant stop
reading it again and again.
” The gyani or knower as the word suggests means one who knows, one who has spiritual knowledge, lives in divine illumination and light irrespective of day or night. Inside him there is brightness of wisdom, wakefulness and the light of God kindling and in this way he always lives in day and light. His senses and mind are in control and all his actions are performed with divine inspiration and wisdom. He views the Cosmic Universe as a manifestation of God’s creation and knows that he is not a doer and hence does not claim any credit for any good actions that he performs.
The agyani lives in darkness, the gyani resides in light of God. The gyani never ‘sleeps’ and the agyani is in night because of darkness of ignorance inside him. The ever changing, transitory worldly happiness is night for the yogi while the agyani runs after worldly fleeting happiness. The gyani finds happiness in discovering the revelations of God’s blissful nature and finds it priceless. The agyani on the other hand has no idea that all the other luring, short-term sensual happiness will turn into misery and lingering sorrows. Knowing so, the gyani discards the fleeting, illusory happiness and attains lasting happiness, joy and peace which is permeated in Divine Communion!! Strangely, outwardly both the knower and the ignorant look the same but it is their consciousness, type of thinking and actions which sets them apart.
He acknowledges that this sansara will remain in a steady flow, in influx of constant changes, people will come and go, there will be deaths and births, happiness and sorrow will take turns, there will be loss and gain in his life but he is Atman, the unchanging Spirit, the source of all illumination, peace and ecstasy and he is That! ”
Shri Mahavatar Babaji is full of satchitananda and we are all being lead to this state as we read/implement from this sacred blog.
I offer a zillion flowers at the feet of Shri Babaji, Bhagwan Nityananda, Shirdi Sai Baba and all the great sages of the past, present and future <3
May God and the divine Spirits of all the saints be with you Shahid. May you reach the state of complete equanimity, harmony and peace wherever you are…..
Ohm namo bhagavade vasudevaya.
Pranam to lrod krishna and arjuna, ma.
beautiful and sacred post, thanks ma for explaining the verses.
I really liked this paragraph,
“He acknowledges that this sansara will remain in a steady flow, in influx of constant changes, people will come and go, there will deaths and births, happiness and sorrow will take turns, there will be loss and gain in his life but he is Atman, the unchanging Spirit, the source of all illumination, peace and ecstasy and he is That!”
“A clean mind is a peaceful mind!”
That highest Bliss exists in one’s own Self. It is calm, identical with liberation, indescribable, and unborn. Since It is one with the unborn knowable (Brahman), the knowers of Brahman speak of It as the Omniscient. No Jiva (individual), whichsoever, is born. It has no cause (of birth). This is the highest Truth where nothing is born whatsoever. — Verse 3.47-48, Mandukya Karika
Thanks for the knowledge you giving to us ma, expaling very detaily and very clearly in the perfect way.
Hare krishna.
with love,
Midhun Pk
” The reflection of divinity in an individual self depends entirely on his type of consciousness. It depends what type of deeds the individual soul has done so far and what he thinks currently. The cleaner the consciousness, the more one imbibes divinity. As pointed out earlier in the previous post that God is love and peace, the cleaner the consciousness, the more one imbibes peace. ”
Thank you mom and masters for this blog. It gives such peace of mind in disturbing/chaotic situations.
” When we visit a ‘live’ or spiritually charged place on earth, the saint or mahayogi even if not residing in his physical body currently, ignites a spark in us which does not allow us to return to obscurity again and secondly they give so much peace to us that we are able to refrain ourselves from doing wrongful deeds again. So this is one of the perfect ways to bring about peace and tranquility and also to hasten the mechanism for self transformation. One must visit holy places with devotion and reverence and humbly ask the holy Spirits residing there to give us peace, stability and tranquility of mind and also help us in our endeavors for transformation regularly. ” <3