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.

Sanctity of conscience is essential all the time,
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.

ranadesuresh@gmail.com

 - SWAMI  SWAROOPANAND (PAWAS)-A COSMIC CITIZEN. (5)

In June, we witnessed, natures fury in Uttarakhand. By now all of us also know, that, it is as much a man made catastrophe as rage of the Sky God. The worst thing is we do not seem to learn from our past mistakes. Crores of rupees are being / and will be spent in rescue / relief operations; irreparable loss of thousands of lives apart. We have invited this calamity by circumventing / changing / subverting the rules to satisfy our individual greed, with total disregard to the environment / ecology. The colossal rescue / relief operations, undertaken by the Defence and Paramilitary personnel is astounding. For them service before self is their motto, which is, imbibed / ingrained in them right from the training. Further, they live up to the oath they take at the time of passing out. Being an Ex Army / Paramilitary Officer, I feel proud of them. Armed Forces are truly secular and consider themselves to be belonging to one family.This generates camaraderie and fellow feeling.                                                                                                                                      I feel, declining joint family system, in the society, has adversely hit, " वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम ",(Global Family ) teaching of our scriptures, which till recently, was an essential character of our Indian culture. Joint family system, to my mind, provides a window to foster, the tendency of " वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम ". Nuclear families have given rise to old age homes, creche, day care centers etc. One may argue that it is the need of the hour / changing times. It no doubt may be so, but it certainly  is affecting, EI /EQ, of the society adversely. Proper blending / fusion of IQ and EI is a key to success in life. Daniel Goleman’s  book  “ Emotional Intelligence”, published in 1995, underlines the importance of EI. The disadvantages of nuclear family are closely akin to “ Only Child Syndrome ”, or what is popularly perceived as “ Little Emperor Syndrome”, in China. It causes behavioral problems, like individuals being temperamental, demanding and utterly self absorbed / centered.                                                                                                        As against this, come Ashadh, a month in Hindu calendar, which generally falls in July, and we in witness a congregation of approx five lac Warkaris ( Pilgrims), throng from all directions at Alandi or Dehu, to proceed to Pandharpur. It is an incredibly unique feat as they march radiating joy & happiness, chanting Dnyanoba -Tukaram all the way long. They brave the vagaries of weather, be it scorching sun or downpour, cats & dogs. One can see and feel a flow of positive mass energy, where unconditional love is exchanged, between all participants, known or unknown, calling each other MAULEE, (Mother). The term used for Crown Saint Dnyaneshwar, by his contemporary saints, centuries ago. This term has run through generations now. Paradoxically, Saint Dnyaneshwar happens to be the youngest saint ever known, probably world over, who has contributed so richly to divine literature in Marathi, and now translated in many languages of the world. His SANJEEVAN SAMADHI at ALANDI should be added under the list of WONDERS OF THE WORLD.  The WARI gathers mass with each advancing step they take in the direction of Pandharpur, where it culminates, number swelling close to approx ten lacs. One only returns, fully charged for next 365 days, with a resolve to return next year. Two Palkhis, one from Kolhapur and the other from Taratgaon, of Swami Swaroopanand’s devotees also join Pandharpur Wari.                                                                                                 If each one of us decides to replace “ I ”, by “ WE ”, “ILLNESS” of the society, will automatically change to “WELLNESS”.                                                                                    Having shed his identity related " I ", Swamijee's " I " , merged with INFINITY. Not confined to his bodily frame, Swamijee's " I " embraced the COSMOS.                                  “ स्वामी म्हणे व्हावें विश्वाचें कल्याण। तेणें समाधान मज होय॥ सं.गाथा२०७/५॥” (Swamijee says well being of the Universe, makes him happy.)                                            We have read Abhang numbers-199, 74,186, and 109 from Swamijee's Sanjeevani Gatha, in the preceding four posts. I feel that empiricism radiating from Swamijee’s writing may have appealed to the readers. The sublimity of  Swamijee's thoughts and clarity of his vision with regard to the entire world being the manifestation of one source, at least can’t escape readers attention.                                                                                                                                                                    In the first article, I mentioned, that, post quantum theory the scientific community has also come to terms with the theory of the World being an undivided whole.Scientific Discoveries based on, research and experiments took a quantum leap in almost all fields, in twentieth century. Post quantum mechanics, the Cartesian divide between mind and matter, started in the seventeenth century, after the famous pronouncement, "Cogito ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am ) by Rene Descartes, is fast diminishing now. Einstein was searching for string theory, that will not only reconcile General Relativity but Science & Bible as well, to Quantum Mechanics. Lot of water has flown under the bridge, since then. Science & Philosophy have moved closer. Acceptance of the fact that science and philosophy are complementary to each other is gaining ground.                                                                                                                                              The HST ( Hubble Space Telescope )sent into the orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990, has undoubtedly proved, that, the Universe is undergoing dynamic expansion.                       Here i would like to quote a verse from Bh. Geeta, and Saint Dnyaneshwar’s commentary on it from his famous magnum opus “ Dnyaneshwari ”.                                                                                                                                        “मया ततमिदं सर्वं जगद्व्यक्तमूर्तिना।मत्स्थानि सर्वभूतानि न चाहं तेष्ववस्थितः” ॥ गी. ४ / ९ ॥  ( The entire world is pervaded by Me in My unmanifest form; all beings do exist in Me, but not the vice-versa.)                                                                        “ माझेया विस्तारलेपणा नावें । हें जगचि नोहे आघवें । जैसें दूध मुरालें स्वभावें । तरि तेंचि दहीं ॥ कां बीजचि जाहलें तरु । अथवा भांगारचि अळंकारु । तैसा मज एकाचा विस्तारू । तें हें जग ॥ हें अव्यक्तपणें थिजलें । तेंचि मग विश्वाकारे वोथिजलें । तैसे अमूर्तमूर्ति मियां विस्तारलें । त्रैलोक्य जाणें ॥  ज्ञा. ९ /६४/६५/६६॥ ”                    (The whole universe, as you see it, is expansion of my being. Just as when the milk coagulates, it turns into curds. The seed is transformed into the tree or the gold into ornaments, the same way,  the whole universe is nothing but My expanse.)          Here, we must keep in mind that, the verse from Geeta, which is purportedly a dialogue between the Lord and Arjuna as well as commentary of Saint Dnyaneshwar thereof, are spontaneous and extempore. Moreover, in theverse from Geeta the narrator is Lord Krisna and in Dnyaneshwari, the narrator is the  incarnation of Lord Vishnu (" ज्ञानेशो भगवान विष्णुः")                                                                                                                   Their narration is statement of a transcendent understanding of a unified ( fundamental ) reality, which for them is a premise, and not a perception.                            We perceive the world based on our own understanding of various scientific,visual and / or scriptural inputs.                                                                                                                  Being, an exponent of Geeta and Dnyaneshwari, Swamiji firmly believed, in the philosophy of non duality, and experienced it as well. Verse number 91 from S. Gatha, is yet another example of such a transcendental experience where he says--                  - "स्वछंद निर्मल वाहतो निर्झर । आम्हां साक्षात्कार गोविंदाचा ॥१॥                             करी गुंजारव पंकजीं भ्रमर । आम्हासी गजर हरि-नामाचा ॥२॥                               उद्यानीं कोकिळ गातसे संगीत । आम्हां हरि-गीत आवडे तें ॥ ३॥                              अखंड गंभीर गर्जतो सागर।आम्हां सोsहं-स्वर स्वामी म्हणे ॥ ४॥ सं. गाथा९१॥”                                                                                                                                               ( I sense Lord (Govinda) in the flow of pristine spring water. Buzzing of a large black bee around the flower sounds like chanting of Lord’s ( Shiva) name. Cuckoo's cry in the garden sounds like a prayer to Lord (Shiva). The ceaseless rumble of the ocean sounds “Soham” to me says Swami )                                                                                            A stanza from his another verse, explains the reason behind such an experience---" भक्ताचे अंतरीं सांवळा श्रीहरी । सुखें वास करी सर्वकाळ ॥ १॥                           म्हणोनी तयासी विश्व हरी-रूप । झालें आपेंआप अखंडित ॥ 2 ॥ सं. गाथा -१॥"               ( Swamijee says, the Lord ( Hari ) dwells in the heart of the devotee forever, therefore, whatever he sees / hears is the manifestation of the Lord ( Hari ).                                         Lot of research has now been done on human consciousness, by internationally renowned scientists / neuroscientists, like Roger Penrose, Dr. Karl Pribram, as well as Professor Subhash Kak who are equivocal in concluding that it aligns Vedic         wisdom. (“ The Fundamental reality ”, being“The unbroken whole”). Most  of them agree, that brain enfolds within its finest levels a QUANTUM COHERENT  STATE.    In one of his popular verse of Saint Tukaram says--                                     “ वृक्ष वल्ली आम्हां सोयरीं वनचरें । पक्षी ही सुस्वरें आळविती ॥१॥तु. गाथा२४७१” (The trees, creepers and wildlife are my friends, birds are singing melodious tunes).                                 Swamijee in his letter written on 8/12/1952 says that the enlightened persons state from their experience, that, irrespective of the fact, that, matter (including inanimate objects) and energy / spirit may be mutually transformable, they are all part and parcel of that single fundamental reality.                                                “ चैतन्यातून जडाची उत्पत्ति । कीं जडांतून चैतन्य संभूति । जडाsजडि एकचि आत्मस्थिति। स्वानुभव सांगती साधुसंत ॥ स्व. प. मं.४६/१६॥                                  Saints like Sant Dnyaneshwar, Samarth Ramdas, Jagadguru Sant Tukaram, Maharshi Aurobindo, Gurudev Ranade and many of their likes who are enlightened are the living examples of quantum coherence. Swamiji was one such Cosmic  Citizen, who sensed divine energy / power in the row of flowers, in trees and creepers and could resonate with the symphony of the nature. He says--

“ सुमन-तति  द्रुम-लता डोलती ध्याती सोsहं सोsहम ।                                                  मी हि तयांसंगतीं  नाचतो गातो सोsहं सोsहम ॥ अ. धारा-१५१॥ ”

To conclude, I am quoting below random excerpts from “ SAVITRI ”, which is the supreme revelation of Maharshi Aurobindo’s vision. “ An ardent hunt of soul looking for soul. A seeking and finding as of Gods. There Matter is the Spirit’s firm density.  The Spirit  shall look out through Matter’s gaze. And Matter shall reveal the Spirits face. Then man and superman shall be at one. And all the earth become a single life.  To the discovery of a greater self. And the far gleam of an eternal life. This world is a beginning and a base where life and mind erect their structured dreams. An unborn power must build reality. A deathbound littleness is not all we are. Immortal our forgotten vastnesses. Await discovery in our summit selves. Unmeasured breadth and depth of being are ours. Akin to the ineffable secrecy. Mystic, eternal in unrealised time. Neighbours of heaven are natures altitudes. Almighty powers are shut in Natures cells. Ascend from nature to divinity’s heights.”                                 ranadesuresh@gmail.com

SWAMI  SWAROOPANAND (PAWAS)-A COSMIC CITIZEN. (4) 

Nowadays you open a newspaper, or put the TV on, and all you see is news about scams, crime, corruption, suicides by farmers as well as by affluent due to despondency. There is a noticeable spurt in divorce cases / live in relationships. Now, to top it all there is this sleazy IPL spot fixing which is getting murkier with each passing day. This to my mind is happening primarily due to our brazen attempt to ape Western culture, giving rise to consumerism, causing disparities. This is fuelling propensity for unaccounted easy money, to meet demands beyond means.  The prevailing situation reminds me of Swamijee’s  words-

“यंत्र -युगें घोर माजला आकांत।बळावला प्रांत दुर्जनांचा॥२३०/१ ॥

लोभ अहंकार वाढती अपार । नीति-धर्मा थार नुरे कोठें ॥२३०/३ ॥

पाशवी संस्कार घालिती ते पिंगा।गुप्त झाली गंगा मानव्याची॥२३०/४

बाह्य सुखालागी धांवतो हा जीव । यंत्र -युगें हांव वाढविली   ॥२२९/१॥

अंतरींच्या सुखा होउनी पारखा । दुखाःचिया नरकामाजीं पडे॥२२९/२॥

(Swamiji says- Industrialisation / advent of Science, is causing anarchy due to misuse of inventions for greed of power & ego. Morals have been thrown to the winds. Human values have gone to dogs and bestial spell has cast all round. Human beings are out to seek skin deep joy through novel devices, which has made their lives miserable, ruining inner happiness).                                           
Research oriented phenomenal progress in all technological, medical, and nuclear fields, in the present era, their fall out and apprehension of its possible misuse has brought us on the brink of a similar situationagain.                                                    Swamijee was not averse to research to make life easier which can be seen from his words of wisdom, that are relevant even today. He says—

“ साधाया कल्याण नाना शोध जाण । लाविती विज्ञान शास्त्रवेत्ते ।

अंतरीं  सद्भाव असेल जागृत । तरी यंत्रें हित स्वामी म्हणे ॥” ८१/३-४॥

 ( He says, scientists undertake research for the welfare /  well being of mankind. These can make the world a better place provided intentions of its users are good and they stick to these honestly.)
Equally important is his warning contained in “Amritdhara” Sakis- 77,78 & 79 of which, i am quoting only one, to avoid post being lengthy. He says-
“ समानता मानव-धर्माचा नसेल भक्कम पाया । तरी इमारत यंत्र -युगाची उठेल मनुजा खाया ॥”  अ. धारा / ७७ ॥
(He says- If equality is not  the unshakable cornerstone; edifice of industrialisation, will prove to be devil for the mankind)
Looking at the period when he wrote these verses, and the recent bloodbath at Bastar by Maoist Naxals, Swamiji’s words, sound prophetic. It is also a grim reminder of the fact, that, there is no letup in Red terror.
However, we should not feel disappointed / gloomy about the future. Ways of God Almighty are inscrutable. He ensures checks and balances in everything & everywhere. We got to look around and spread the good word. Responsibility for  this lies more on electronic and print media,as well as on cinema and theatre.
There are a number of examples of group amelioration where villages like Ralegan Siddhi, Hivre Bazar, and more such villages in Maharashtra have become the seeds of hope  and emerged as role models.
I will specifically refer to Hiware Bazar, as a case study was undertaken by Dr. Kailas N Bavale, who presented his research paper during 2nd International Conference on Management at Malaysia held on 11 & 12 June 2012 and is available for anyone to read on the internet. This entire paper is worth reading / studying. Table 2 on page 8 is most important which contains total of 19 resolutions passed between 1989 to 2009 by the Gram Panchayat ( Village Council ). Resolution numbers 7, and 19 which are  “ Implement Saint Gadgebaba” and “ No family of the village will be below poverty line and landless” respectively caught my attention.
The link to this is:-www.intrnationalconference.com.my/proceeding/2nd_icm2012
 On individual front, we have examples of persons like Sh. Anna Hazare, Dr Abhay Bang, Dr. Mrs Rani Bang, Smt Sindhutai Sakpal and Amte family, who are epitome of asceticism, where three generations have set an example of service to humanity.
This happens when a person thinks beyond himself / his bodily existence, has broadened his vision / outlook, has widened his horizons and thoughts.
In the concluding line of Sanjeevani Gatha verse number 186  which we discussed in the previous post,  Swamiji says—
 “स्वामी म्हणे झालो मी चि चराचर। नांदतो  साचार एकला चि”|                 
These lines may sound far fetched or unrealistic, but truly speaking , this is being Cosmic. This is mysticism / direct experience of God. ( अपरोक्ष अनुभव). An evolved, self realised individual ( व्यक्ती - सूक्ष्म- Microcosm ) like Swamiji, who has merged with Cosmos, turns  Macrocosmic( व्यापक- चराचर).  It is his experience, that becomes vocal then
(स्वामी म्हणे झालो मी चि चराचर।) He therefore states ( नांदतो  साचार एकला चि | ).                       
These lines are empirical and should not be dismissed as a fantasy, or a poetic conjecture.                       
Microcosm and macrocosm is an ancient Greek Neo Platonic schema of seeing the same patterns reproduced in all levels of the cosmos ( जे पिंडी तें ब्रम्हांडी). Socrates talks about "आत्मा”, and so does his disciple Plato. Plotinus was an Egyptian philosopher and saw material things and ideal forms as divine creations. This thought is known as the emanation theory, and is closest to our non-duality concept.
The idea is to see beyond the barriers that separate you from everything else, as reality emanates from the Supreme / Divine being, and individuality are essentially seen as an illusion.                                                                                         
In verse number 109 of the same book, Swamijee  says –

“ नांदतो एकला विश्वीं माझा मीच । मज उंच नीच नाही कोणी ।।१।।                   

विश्वीं नाही दुजे ह्यास्तव सहजें । मत्सर नुपजे चित्तामाजी ।।२।।
सांडोनिया मज गेले काम क्रोध । होतां निज बोध अंतर्यामीं ।।३।।

स्वामी म्हणे मन जाहलें तल्लीन । आतां नारायण अंतर्बाह्य।।४।” सं. गाथा/१०९ ॥

(Being  the sole occupant of the World, superiority / inferiority complex ceases to exist for me. My heart breeds no jealousy being alone. Consequent upon this (self) realisation passion and anger have vanished . Filled by Narayan ( Lord VISHNU / The SUPREME ) inside-out i am in ecstasy.”)
We think differently, because from the time we get up in the morning, all our activities / transactions are physical / body related. Our cognitive development is universal. We are, therefore, conditioned to connect every aspect / activity of human life to our bodies including phenomena of birth or death,  which in reality is merely an emergence from / merger in the unbroken /undivided whole, “आत्मरूप / (चैतन्य)”.  Being blessed with a human form our aim should be to manifest this divinity within. Swami Vivekanandaji says-  “ Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity within, by controlling nature external and internal.”
In our daily life we experience that human body is perishable, but we conveniently turn blind eye to this irreversible fact of our lives and behave as if we are immortal. India  lost a number of its celebrities, in the year 2012.   They were all very renowned / internationally acclaimed legendary figures. None of us can forget them for years to come.They include-- Rajesh Khanna, Dev Anand, B R Chopra, Balasahib Thakare, Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar, Jagajit Singh and more.
Most of us would have also seen funeral procession of some of them on TVs. We see that the body / form  which  we recognised as “ Rajesh Khanna”  “ Dev Anand ” and so on so forth is lying there right in front of our eyes, still we would all say he is no more. What is missing from the mortal remains is the "आत्मरूप (चैतन्य)".
 We have similar experience in our day to day lives, when someone in the family or neighbourhood dies. However, it is only the realised /evolved who come to grips with the fact, that, the real “self ” is not our body / form, but  the all pervasive, omnipotent, indestructible / immortal  “आत्मरूप / (चैतन्य)”. It is for this reason that we need a Sadguru, who can change our mindset.
Swamijee conveys this fact in “Amritdhara” poetically but succinctly as under
'मी मी' म्हणसी परी जाणसी काय खरा 'मी' कोण। असे  ' काय '  मी  'मन ' ' बुद्धी ' वा  ' प्राण ' ? पहा निरखोन ।।  प्राण बुद्धि मन काया माझी परि मी त्यांचा नाही । तीं हि नव्हती माझी कैसें लीला कौतुक पाही !।। गूढ न कांहीं येथ सर्वथा अर्थ उघड वाक्याचा । जाण चराचरिं भरुनि राहिलों मीच एकला साचा

।।अ.धा. ११२-११३-११४।।

(We keep using  the vowel “ I ” often, but do we really know who “ I ” am?  If we analyse logically, we will realise, that, though we keep saying my body, my mind, my intellect , “ I ” am none of these. In the concluding Sakee Swamiji says it is not at all enigmatic but crystal clear that  the “ Real Self ” is  the all pervading , omnipresent, “आत्मरूप / (चैतन्य)”.  The word “ वाक्याचा ” here,  means,  “  महावाक्याचा ”.  Swamiji lived the experience of
“जाण चराचरिं भरुनि राहिलों मीच एकला साचा ”. His " I " extended to the Universe, Canvas of his " I " expanded to the Cosmos, hence this Cosmic citizen states “नांदतो एकला विश्वीं माझा मीच। मज उंच नीच नाही कोणी” 
Suresh Ranade - ranadesuresh@gmail.com

SWAMI  SWAROOPANAND (PAWAS)- 
A COSMIC CITIZEN.  (3)

 I feel especially happy today while uploading this post as this day marks 110th birth anniversary of my Sadguru Swami Swaroopanandjee. He was born on Margashirsh Vadya Dwadashi at Pawas on 15th Dec 1903.     

 This is the third post  under  this title. 

 In the previous blog- post of Sep 20, we talked about the term “आत्मरूप”. 

 In the concluding paras i mentioned about  “Swaroop Patra Manjusha” and  three  letters ( 63,64 & 65) from that compilation. 

 In each one of these Swamijee writes about “साक्षित्व ”, besides his advice on,  “ सो s हं ", SOHAM   (" सः  अहं ", “I am that"),  breathing based meditation  technique. 

 “साक्षित्व ”, is another key word in the process of self realisation. Gurudev R.D Ranade always said“Self realisation, is a process and not an event ”. 

 “ साक्षित्व ”, simply speaking means,  being mindful / a witness, in whatever one does. Remaining consciously aware about your each action. Looking at all your activities dispassionately, in a detached way, as a third person. This way, slowly and gradually, one learns not to take credit for his achievements nor blame someone else for his failures. Ego is like cataract causing vision problems by clouding  the lens in your eye. The only way to have a clear picture is to remove it.  The central  idea of most of the meditation techniques including Vipassana is, to imbibe “साक्षित्व ”, One can achieve it by,  regular practice of , “  सो s हं साधना  ”.  However, it must be remembered, that,“ सो s हं -  साधना  ” should not be taken as  an ultimate goal. It is a ladder to attain  " अद्वैत " ( Non duality). 

“Amritdhara”, which is a compilation of 162 Sakees, by  Swamijee, is a chronology of the process of  his self realisation / enlightenment from that of a seeker. The following Sakees are very illustrious in this regard---

“सो s हं  तेंही अस्तवले ते नाही भोगिले माते | सो s हं- दर्शन अनुभविले ते लिहूनी ठेविले येथे ||” 

( I have gone past “सो s हं”. I have only narrated my experiences during meditation)  

“अद्वय-भक्ति  येता हातीं सरली यातायाती | बुडतां अमृतीं मरण तरी का संभवेल कल्पांतीं” || 

(Non-duality experience gets you rid of the concept of birth/death.Hence no death)  

“मी-तूपण अस्तवले आलें साधनेस पूर्णत्व | कणकणIत कोंदले एकले एक नित्य सत्तत्त्व ||             ( अ.धा.१५५.१५७.१६०). 

( It is the end of duality, of HE and I, as everywhere it is only, “ आत्मतत्व”/ “आत्मरूप”.

“  सो s हं   साधना  ” SOHAM should be used like a pole in the pole vault to catapult oneself, in this case beyond the level of sensory organs, after which the pole is abandoned. Here, going beyond  the level of “सो s हं  साधना”  for merger in Universal consciousness.  This going beyond is qualitative and not quantitative. It is a journey from " अहं ब्रम्हास्मि” to " सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्म ", as explained by  Lord Krishna  to Arjuna in the following verse of Geeta-----         

" बहूनां जन्मनामन्ते ज्ञानवान मां प्रपद्यते |वासुदेवः सर्वं इति स महात्मा सुदुर्लभः ||

 गी ७/१९ " 

 ( After a number of births {manifestation in human form } an evolved person merges in / attains ME ( God), because he sees Vasudev ( God ) in everything /and everything in God ).  

When “I”,“अहं” is eliminated  from “ सो s हं ”, subject- object split vanishes and what remains is only “ सः ” (Vasudev / The Supreme.)

In the backdrop of this let us analyse verse number 186 from Sanjeevani Gatha, where Swamijee says-

“ दीन मी अभागी होउनी भिकारी । कैसा दारोदारी हिंडतसे ।। १।। 

मी चि भाग्यवंत होउनी सधन । वाटीतसे अन्न याचकांते ।।२।। 

मी चि नर- नारी संन्यासी संसारी । नाना वेषधारी । मी चि एक ।।३।। 

 स्वामी म्हणे झालो मी चि चराचर । नांदतो  साचार  एकलाचि ।। ४।।” सं. गा. १८६   

( Swamijee says he sees himself in the downtrodden beggar going from door to door , as also in the rich distributing food to the needy. He sees himself in a sage,  a family man, a male, a female. Swami says in different garb it is only he, {in the ATMAROOP form } who is all pervading. )

What Swamijee has written in the ballad above is not fiction, nor an imagination expressed through poetic version. It is a spontaneous flow of an intense experience.This literally is an audience of the Supreme in "अनंत वेषे, अनंत रूपे". ( In infinite attire and looks ). 

 " जेथें जेथें माझें  ।  हिंडेल हे मन  ।  तुझेचि दर्शन ।  तेथे होवो ।।

 तुजविण देवा । न दुजी वासना । शिवो माझ्या मना । कदा  काळीं  ।। "

सं.गा. २४६/ १ - २

 (Here Swamijee says, wherever my mind wanders let me have only your audience. Oh God let no other passion except you ever cross my mind.)

In his commentary on verse number 19 from 7th chapter of Bh. Geeta quoted  ibid, in one of the Ovis Saint Dnyaneshwar says--

हे समस्तही श्री वासुदेव । ऐसा प्रतीती रसाचा वोतला भाव । 

म्हणोनि भक्तामाजी राव । अणि ज्ञानिया तोचि  ।। ज्ञा. ७ / १३६      

( He who perceives /experiences everything to be Vasudeva ( Atmaroop) overwhelmingly, is the realised soul as well as a devotee par excellence. ) Swamijee being such realised / evolved soul says--

                         

एक वासुदेव नांदे चराचरी । त्याविण  दुसरी वस्तू नाही ।। 

वासुदेव येथे वासुदेव तेथे । व्यापितो सर्वांते वासुदेव  ।। सं . गा. १५१ / १ - २।।

वासुदेवाविण विश्वी नाही दुजे। नांदतो सहजे एकलाचि  ।। 

अणुअणूतून राहिला भरून । सकळ संपूर्ण वासुदेव  ।।सं.गा. १४८ /२ -३                           

He saw Vasudeva ( personification of Atmaroop) in everything, including himself, and everything in Vasudeva. 

It is well known, that, Dnyaneshwari, a commentary on Bh. Geeta’s 700 verses by Sant Dnyaneshwar runs in 9033 Ovis in olden day  Marathi of 12th century. By far this is the best commentary on Bh.Geeta. It has been translated in over 15 languages, including few foreign languages. Swamijee transformed it in 16,061 Abhangs in two volumes, which is easily discernible to a present day Marathi reader. The best thing is though he changed the meter of this magnum opus, it has been equally  perspicuous as that of the “Dnyaneshwari”, as he has not disturbed the spirit, contents, as well as the texture of the original work.

Swamijee has unfolded before us the road map of eternal happiness & peace through his abundant and rich literature. Today he may not be amongst us bodily but his energy form (" चैतन्यरूप") continues to be the ruder and guiding force for hundreds of his disciples and followers like me till date.

The following verses from Swamijee’s Abhang Dnyaneshwari, appear to be describing his persona-- 

तैसे त्याचे चित्त । काय सांगूं  फार । देखे चराचर । मद्रूप चि  ।।  

मजपासोनियां  । किटकापर्यंत । एक भगवंत । दुजें नाहीं ।।

तत्क्षणीं  मी विश्व --। रूप भगवंत । आकळें निभ्रांत । तयालागीं ।।

ऐसें होता ज्ञान । मग आपोआप । माझें विश्वरूप । दिसे तया ।। 

अ.ज्ञा. ११/१३७२-७५।।

तैसे जेणे मज । जाणोनी तत्वतां  । सांडिली सर्वथा  । भेद - बुद्धि ।। 

आपणासकट । सर्व हि ते मीच । जाणोनि हे साच । म्हणे जो का ।। 

स्वयंसिद्ध सत--चित ।आनंद --निधान । सर्वत्र  संपूर्ण । मी च एक ।। 

तयालागीं  ज्ञान । झालें सर्व कांहीं  । ऐसे बोलणेहि  । तोकडेच ।।

की  तो ब्रह्मरूप । जाहला म्हणोन । तया द्वैतभान  । नाही कोठे ।। 

अ. ज्ञा. १५/१०११-१०१५ ।।  

( In short  it describes a person who has transcended duality and has turned Cosmic heart and soul (“ जीव ब्रम्हैक्य योग”)  

Swamijee was a living example of  such a state therefore he says ---                                                                           

            “  स्वामी म्हणे झालो मी चि चराचर । नांदतो  साचार  एकलाचि ।।”

सं. गा. १८६ /४  ||