SWAMI SWAROOPANAND ( PAWAS ) ON MIND CONTROL (1)
Every year, Swami Swaroopanand’s birth anniversary is celebrated, at Pawas ( Dist- Ratnagiri )on Margashirsh Vadya Dwadashi , the twelfth lunar day (Tithi) of the Krishna (Dark) fortnight of Margashirsh lunar month, as per Hindu calendar. In the year 2013 Margashirsh Vadya Dwadashi, falls twice. First was on 09th Jan, when Swamijee's 110th birth anniversary was celebrated and second time it is on 29 Dec, when Swamijee's 111th birth anniversary is being celebrated. I feel happy to upload this article on this most auspicious, special occasion.
From time immemorial, the sages and saints world over have univocally said that mastery over one's mind is the key to get lasting peace, and eventually attain Self-RealisationI. In Maharashtra we have a battery of philosopher saints, who have made rich contribution to Marathi literature. They include Sant Dnyaneshwar, Samarth Ramdas, Sant Tukaram etc.
समर्थ रामदासांचे २०५ ख्यातिनाम “मनाचे श्लोक”, जणु या विषयावरचे पाठयपुस्तक.
जसे ---" प्रभाते मनी राम चिंतीत जावा I पुढे वैखरी राम आधी वदावा ।"
Think of Lord Ram at dawn, followed by chanting "Ram Naam"
किंवा जगद्गुरू तुकारामांचा प्रसिद्ध अभंग
" मन करा रे प्रसन्न । सर्व सिद्धीचे कारण I "
Being happy is the secret of total accomplishment.
Sant Dnyaneshwar’s analytical approach of “Mind” and his advice on “Mastery over Mind” is just mind blowing, and holistic. It may not be an exaggeration, if we say that his literature is the fountainhead, for Mahaarashtrian saints, on this subject. They don’t seem to have subscribed to the “Cartesian divide”, between mind and matter, and have treated the matter of body-mind-intellect and ego holisticly.
In this context, let us read Swami Swaroopanand's few Abhangs from Sanjeevani Gatha, to know his views. To begin with let us read verse 136, where he says—
निरोगी निर्मळ असावे शरीर । जाण ते मंदिर देवाजीचे ।। १ ।।
मन बुद्धि शुद्ध असों देई नित्य । तें पूजा-साहित्य देवाजीचें ।। २ ।।
सर्वकाळ चित्त ठेवावें पवित्र । तें चि पूजा-पात्र देवाजीचें ।। ३।।
सोSहं भावें जीव पूजी नारायणा । सांडुनी मी पणा स्वामी म्हणे ।। ४।।सं.गाथा १३६।।
Keep fit / healthy and clean as your body is the temple of the Almighty.
Keep your mind and intellect always pure and pristine,
as these are the means of worshiping God.
as these are the means of worshiping God.
Sanctity of conscience is essential all the time,
being akin to the altar plate for worshiping the Supreme.
being akin to the altar plate for worshiping the Supreme.
Swami says, pray Lord Narayana with the conviction that you are a part and parcel of that Sovereign being, “I AM THAT”,--“ सो ऽहम्,” discarding illusionary individual identity.
In this verse Swamijee has compared the human body with temple, mind & intellect with means and heart with prayer plate of worship, The metaphor Swamijee has used in this verse has the impact of sublimating the human body and its faculties.
The moment we consider our body as temple we will automatically endeavour to keep it clean and healthy. When we think that our mind and intellect are our means of worship, we will refrain from wrong doing or ugly thoughts. Swamijee's opening line of the verse reminds us of a well known proverb-" Healthy body carries a healthy mind "
This is a pilgrimage inwards, towards the Source, by any human being, with the ultimate aim of uniting with the formless Infinite, by an limited individual to be one with the formless, nameless, limitless and non-dual Eternity, which is his destination.
I am reminded of an Abhang from a reformist saint, Sant Eknath who says-
" काया ही पंढरी, आत्मा हा विट्ठल ".
This body is Pandhari (Pandharpur) and the soul is Lord Vithhal.
He too advises to undertake this journey within as the Lord dwells in your heart.
Maharshi Aurobindo in “SAVITRI” says-
Something they have done, something they have been, they live.
There Matter is soul’s result, and not its cause.
In a contrary balance to earth’s truth of things
The gross weighs less, the subtle counts for more ;
On inner values hangs the outer plan.”
As forms they came of the formless Infinite,
As names lived of a nameless Eternity.”
Concluding stanza of Swamijee's Abhang (ballad) is always the pinnacle of the verse. In this verse also Swamijee concludes saying, " Pray Lord Narayana, discarding illusionary individual identity, with the conviction of you being the part and parcel of that Sovereign being,
“I AM THAT”, -“- सोऽहम्”.
Madhav Ranade.
