Lord Krishna talks about the importance of Satsanga or the company of holy people
in the spiritual cause and spiritual growth. Thereafter he defined who is a Satpurusha so that we can identify and
associate with a Satpurusha. He told 30 virtues of a Satpurusha. When we have
association with such people who value 30 virtues, unknowingly we will also
develop all 30 virtues because of our association with them. He has talked all
these virtues up to 33rd verse. From 34th verse he talked
about improving our devotion towards the lord. Bhakthi is an important discipline. Five topics of Bhakthi are
described in Bhagavad Gita. They are Karma yoga, Upasana yoga, Gnana yoga,
Bhakthi and Values. They are very important virtues. Every sloka/verse of
Bhagavad Gita/ Uddhava Gita can be connected to one of the virtue topics. Gnana yoga is pursuit of Self knowledge as
it gives liberation and others are supportive in nature. Bhakthi, Values,
Karma yoga and Upasana yoga prepares the mind. The medicine is Atma gnanam. We
can consume this medicine only by doing Shravanam, Mananam and Nidhithyasanam.
In all devotional exercises Karma, Upasana and Gnana yoga will be involved. The
atmosphere is one that of devotion to God which will get converted into
devotion to Scriptures which in turn will give me Knowledge. Eswara Bhakthi
will get converted into Sastra Bhakthi. By the time we come to Gnana, eswara
teaching will be like eswara himself. Scriptures
are words of eswara enlightened about our own real nature. At the grossest
level is karma yoga in which Bhagavan is invoked in various idols (verse no 34);
Symbols of God like the deity in the temple or the photo in your pooja room. Daily
cleaning the pooja room is necessary. Krishna says may you develop reverence
towards my devotees also. One who has converted his body into a temple is a
true devotee. He decorates the body with vibhudhi, kumkum and chandanam make it
a temple of god. The Jivatma inside is none other than god. Mahavakyam starts
there itself. A devotee who is constantly worshipping the lord is invoking the
lord in the temple of his body. In Vaishnava devotees are called Alwars. By
immersing in the devotion or in the thought of the lord Alwars are respected as
much as bhagavan himself.
TDS is a
worry replacement skill. TDS can be described as thought displacement skill. Sometimes certain
thoughts like fear, worry take charge of my mind and I am not able to push them
out. Mind becomes my own master. I am not able to control my mind. Krishna
says, may you practice Upasana yoga.
Thinking of lord at regular intervals our mind will bring the lord personified
which will displace my other thoughts. When
Rama comes into my mind Kama goes away. May I spend some time daily keeping
the lord in my mind for a length of time. After I do this repeatedly I will be
able to see a sea change in myself for sure. Whatever you acquire in life may
you dedicate it to the lord. Never gain ownership of anything. All your worry
is on objects and people in the world. Whenever we have got a fencing (of
certain areas and certain people) it indicates a dangerous Samsara. Mamakara is
a serious problem. Practice by saying,”I
use everything. I am not the owner of anything. Bhagavan is the owner and has
given me things for my use. He can take away anything from me without giving
advance notice to me”. That is the way we have to prepare our mind. I
should know that I am a tenant in my own house which is Bhagavan’s temple. I
should convert my house into a temple. I should dedicate everything to the lord
who is my survivor. I should place myself for the service of the lord by going
to temple and doing service. All forms of social service are also a part of
devotional exercise.
Be blissful
S.Sekar
Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com
