Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapurana

Synopsis of the Eighteenth Session

Bhagavata Tritiya Skanda (Book Three)

Chapter 25 to 29 (The first Glance)

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Kardama Muni

He perceived the Lord, his own self, as present in all living beings, and all living in the Lord, his own self. 

In this way, Kardama, who had no desire and was free from malice, who was even-minded towards all, and who had developed devotion to the Lord, attained union with him. 

Saunaka said to Suta Dev

The Lord assumes by his own maya, a personality confirming to the will of his devotees. 

Kapila Muni to Ma Devhuti

Thought renunciation of the material object of sense, thought wisdom supplemented by dispassion, thought yoga (concentration of mind) and through devotion directed towards me, the man attains me, the self of all embodied soul. 

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Kardama Muni and Devhuti, the blessed divine couple who gave birth to the divine Kapila Dev, were no less than the Brahman themselves. Where Kardama Muni, went away to go on with his inward journey to unveil the Brahman within, Devhuti, stayed behind nurtured her dear son, devoid of all worldly desires. 

In due course when Kapila Muni was old enough, she shun her motherly attachment and taking him as her Guru, sat down at his feet, and requested him to help her remove the veil of Ignorance.

The preaching of Kapila Muni to Devhuti, is known as the ‘Shankya Philosophy’. 

Pls Note: This is not the Shankya Philosophy which is being preached today. In that they don’t believe in Ishvara. However, Kapila Muni, very much acknowledged the presence of That divine. 

We will try to understand his teaching in the beautiful question by his mother and his loving answers. Every time she asked and addressed him as Bhagvan and Guru, he replied by addressing her as Ma and Mata. 

True enough, even God is indebted to the Mother who nurtured him, no matter what there is no one greater than her. 

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Devhuti said;

My Lord, I am awfully sick of the craving for enjoyment of my wicked senses. It is because of my unremitting effort to gratify these craving that I have fallen into the deep abyss of ignorance. 

Please dispel my great delusion;

- The feeling of I-ness, with regard to this body and Mine-ness to all that is connected with it. 

- The true nature of Prakirti and Purusha

- How to attain liberation through the differentiation of matter and spirit

- The type of devotion to be developed

- The characteristics of Yoga

Kapila Muni;

Ma, in my opinion the only means to final beatitude is yoga in the form of contemplations on The supreme, That Divine.

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Mind - A friend or a foe/ Mind a friend AND a foe

1. Mind alone is responsible for bondage and emancipation of the soul. When attached to the object of sense it leads to bondage; when however, it develops the affinity to the supreme it brings liberation. 

2. When the mind goes beyond I-ness and My-ness, when it is cleaned from all its impurities in the form of vices, it develops indifference to duality and becomes equipoised.

3. Mind when equipped with True Knowledge, Dispassion and Devotion. The realisation that;

  1. Self is one without a second

  2. Undifferentiated 

  3. Self- effulgent

  4. Subtle 

  5. Indivisible 

  6. Unattached 

  7. Beyond Prakriti

A Beautiful analogy:

The Worldly Mind and the Spiritually Cultivated Mind can be compared to the muddy Ganga river during spring and its clear water during winter. 

- Lots of thoughts/Few thoughts

- Keeps changing/Does not change it stops at times

- Impure-anger envy lust/Pure thoughts 

- Can not give joy and creates disturbances/Gives peace and radiate peace and joy

- Destructive to self and other/Non-Destructive 

Attachment - Good or Bad/ Good AND Bad

1. When one is attached to the material world, it torments, but serves as an open door of liberation when directed towards the Saints (holy men).

2. Attachment to the Lord in the form of devotion, it is a divine knot, which cuts all other bondages.

Shankracharya said in Bhaj Govindam

Satsangatve Nissangatvam

Nissangatve Nirmohatvam

Nirmohatvam Nishchalattvam

Nishcalattvam Jiivanmuktih

From Satsang, comes non-attachment; from non-attachment comes freedom from delusion, which leads to self. From the knowledge of self comes liberation.

Pls Note: This will happen only when you don’t get stuck at any point. Not at the sangh, not at the Guru and not at the Lord. 

Example: To give up chocolate and Sugar, one may temporarily supplement it with Jaggery. But, the objective is to remove the sweet craving, be it sugar or Jaggery. 

Prakirti and Purusha

Inspite, of all the 25 tattvas being there, and trying there best to unite and awaken by their own power, they could not. They needed the presence of an inner controller. From the cosmic being to everything that we see is awakened by the inner controller.

Vivekanada - We are all That One Divine Spirit

Tattvagyan and A profound question:

Do you consider yourself to be the clay or do you consider yourself to be the vessel? If you consider yourself a vessel, you have had a birth, and it may break. It might be filled with anything, water, wine, etc. But, if you say you are the clay, there is no question of being filled with anything. It does not matter weather you are a vessel or smashed to pieces. You are Clay.

Tattvagyan and A beautiful Analogy:

There was this wave, who was very proud of himself, he was the biggest, the strongest. He talked to another wave and said see how strong I am. This little wave said, that is ok, but look ahead. The big wave cried, as it was about to die- It was about to hit the ocean.

This little wave was wise, he was a tattvagyani, he said, do you know who you are? You are the ocean. 

The big wave looked within, it was indeed the ocean. With joy it embraced the shore, knowing that it cannot be destroyed.

Shri Bhagvana Raman Maharishi and his story of enlightenment (Documentary attached) - Constant Self inquiry and Attention within 

Reason now:

During a marriage there was one person who no one knew. Each party thought it was from the other side. The brides side people thought he was from the bridegrooms side and vica versa. Later they found he was from neither. 

In the same way, watch the drama and your agitation, the constant fits that are being thrown, observe and Question. 

- Who is getting agitated? 

- I right

- Who is this I?

- Is this I me or the mind?

- But, this I is causing the mind to be agitated and there is something that knows this.

- Who is this? 

- Is this the real I?

- If yes, what/who is that I?

- Is that I the ego

- This deeper witness knows if the ego is at play, he know it is wrong.

- Chase it, chase it - Till it disappears.

- What remains then is you the Divine Self - The Drista - The inner controller - Me

How to attain liberation through the differentiation of Matter and Spirit

Does the sun, get affected by the attributes of the water, when its reflection is seen it?

Just in the same way, thought the spirit is in the material body, yet it is unaffected by all it’s dualities. But, when it attaches it self with the body, it begins to feel the pains and joys, the pinch of doership and the trap of the gunas. When in reality it is just a Drishta.

Here again, the story of Raja Janak and his Dreams come forth. Who is the one watching? Who is the one constant, during the dream, the deep sleep and walking state? 

That who is able to go beyond these three states is in the state of Turiya - Bliss. He is able to see his true self. He is able to see that same true self in everyone and everyone in himself.

How to stay established in this state? 

Now, take a mango for example, during this season. Now Suppose, if a mango falls down, and you have just about had a bite. You would be tempted to pick it, wash it and eat it. 

But, now if you have eaten it till not a single drop of juice remains on the seed, and have licked the skin clean also. Will you be tempted to retain it.

Imagine the stick that is used to kindle the fire, is it not absorbed by the fires totally??

Immerse yourself Devotion and Yoga - the meditation of the self - ones one is awakened the delusion does not stay.

Devotion

A mind fixed on Me through the intense practice of devotion and steadied thereby - This is the only means.

The Four types of Devotion 

1. Tamasik Bhakti - A man who is given up to anger and views me as distinct to himself, and who practices devotion to me with a mind full of violence, hypocrisy and jealousy.

2. Rajasik Bhakti (Lower Rajasik Bhakti is praying to make the Devtas favarouble to us - Note: There is a difference between that divine and the devtas) - He who worships me through an image, distinct from himself with a view to acquire object of sense, fame and power.

3. Sattvik Bhakti - He who adores me as distinct to himself, aiming at eradication of his sins or with an intention of offering his action to the supreme or again with a feeling that it his duty to worship me.

The most divine form of Bhakti is even beyond Sattvik Bhakti it is Gunateet Bhakti

4. Gunateet Bhakti (Mira ki Bhakti, Gopiyo ki Bhakti) - Where the difference between me and Lord disappears. When he hears the qualities of the Lord, thoughts flow effortlessly towards him, just as the water of the river pours itself into the sea. No further cause is needed, for them to get engrossed in the thoughts about the Lord. The Lord is always seated in their heart and is won over by such love and devotion. 

Gunateet Bhakti Story 1: My mother had come to render moral support to me when I was studying in IIM-Lucknow. When after my exams were over, she was leaving. She was at the station waiting for her train all alone. Her purse which contained all her jewellery fell down on the track and the train was about to start. 

She looked around, a true bhakth of Hanuman, whose heart is his abode. She did not know what to do, her luggage was in and her purse was down. Suddenly out of no where a cooli came, he jumped down picked up the purse, handed it over to mummy. Gave her a hand, made her climb the train. The train that very moment started to move.

When she looked at him, he said Ram Ram. My mother had tears in her eyes. She said in her heart, mere Hanuman.

Gunateet Bhakti Story 2: Ones Sudama fell into the well, and he started shouting Krishna Krishna Krishna. Suddenly out of nowhere, came a little cowherd boy. He pulled Sudama out and was about to run away. When Sudama held his hand tight and said. You are my Krishna, you are my Krishna. The boy said no I am just a boy. He being much stronger escaped the grip of Sudama’s hand and ran away. 

Sudama with tears filled in his eyes shouted, Krishna, I weak that is why you are running aways from me. But I will consider you strong only when are able to escape from heart.

Haath chuda kar jaath ho nibal jan kar mohe,

Hirdaya se jo jaao tau, sabal mai janu tohe.

The Essence of Bhakti is Universal Love. Kapildevji says;

I have made the bodies of all creatures my Temples, and I am seated therein as the Atman. So, when someone insults another - Forgetting that I am seated in the heart of that person - and then makes a great display of ritualistic worship, it is mere mockery.

If the man has hatred for someone, he hates Me, as I am seated in the heart of all. When he thinks he is great and special, and shows partiality for some and prejudice against others, he can never attain peace.

Hanumanji’s when Ramji asked him who am I to you;

- When I am in this world, engaged in all its activities, I am your servant and you are My Lord.

- When I gather myself and start moving inwards, I am a part of you.

- When the outer world disappears, and I am totally established in the self. I am you and only you remains.

Jai Shri Krishna 🙏

Jai Hanuman 🙏