Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 01)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)

Translation of Excerpts from the Discourse on Vasant Panchami Day February 1981: "वासंती हूक, उमंग और उल्लास यदि आ जाए जीवन में"

Let us begin with a collective chanting of the Gayatri Mantra:
"Om Bhur Buvah Swah, Tatsaviturvarenyam, Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayat ||"

Sisters and Brothers,

"Vasant Panchami" (auspicious fifth day, of the month "Magha", of the Indian lunar Calendar) marks the emergence of Spring.

It is the day of enthusiasm, inspiration, inner illumination.

The advent of Spring sparks an awakening and exultation in Nature, in all living beings.

Such a Spring had brought about a sea-change in the life of Samarth Guru Ramdas (the noble Guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji) in his early youth.

"Can't I make a better use of my life?" - was what he was pondering over at that time.

There, his family was busy in preparations of his marriage, and here in some corner of the house, he began to see the consequences - wife, then children, then children of the children, their marriages and so on.

His awakened soul instantly warned - Is this what you are born for? Look at the dignity of your life; there could be another path, the path worthy of greatness! With this he began to realize the majestic value, the purpose of his life.

This was the moment of great transformation, quantum leap, in his life. Such was the force of this exaltation that he did not look back, and continued to rise higher and higher in his life. Nothing could stop him; he cast away the bridegroom's costumes from his body and ran away in search of the path of ultimate light.

So, what did this emotional splash of Spring do?

It transformed an ordinary boy, a teenager, into a great spiritual master, a saint, an immortal Guru.

Spring induces some kind of umang (inspiring enthusiasm and enchanting, enlightening emotional thrust) in every heart. Its nature and extent depends upon what we deserve.

The Practical Aspect of Dhyan Yoga (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 24)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2003/Nov_Dec/v1.PracticalAspectDhyan_Yoga_II) 

People often tell me - "Guruji, I can't engage my mind in devotional practices, it keeps jumping towards the worldly thoughts".

I ask them in reply - "Does your mind ever get occupied in something with interest and attention?"

Obviously, the answer comes out to be "No, not really".

This is because you have not bothered to train your mind to focus. You do not recognize the potentials of a focused mind. You should train your mind to be alert and attentive, and cultivate the tendency to enjoy the work at hand.

In devotional or spiritual practices, you should have the deep mental absorption that emanates through the heart, like that of a yogi. If you sincerely practice the dhyan yoga I have taught you, and learn to meditate upon light with deep fervor, I assure you that your mental concentration will improve significantly.

This depth of mental concentration, together with your noble sentiments employed in this dhyan yoga, will bless you with all that a great devotee of spirituality deserves.

I wish you all success.

The Practical Aspect of Dhyan Yoga (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 23)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2003/Nov_Dec/v1.PracticalAspectDhyan_Yoga_II) 

Any effort carried out with one-pointed absorption of your mind leads to grand success.

Friends! We should try cultivating keen interest and focused approach, as the scientists have towards their fields of research. In terms of basic education or training, there may not be any difference between a scientist and someone who has merely passed a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree - first degree in science education.

Who is a scientist?

The answer would be one who is fully engrossed in his research and dives deeper and deeper, like a submarine in the ocean, to discover/invent the pearls of knowledge.

Scientific achievements are the wonderful outcomes of rigorous mental concentration. This quality is essential for success in every walk of life. You need to apply it not only in your devotional practices but also in all the works you undertake.

The Practical Aspect of Dhyan Yoga (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 22)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2003/Nov_Dec/v1.PracticalAspectDhyan_Yoga_II)

This is the secret of success in all walks of life.

We do not accomplish anything significant, as our attention and interests are scattered in many directions. I ask you to control the agitation of your mind and focus it, as per the instructions, in the practice of dhyan yoga. Because of its wayward diversions, you are neither able to concentrate upon your studies nor to work for proper health; you are not able to do anything significant; there is always an instability, as well as scattering of your efforts.

This haphazard state of your mind should be controlled with the help of meditation along with the devotional practices of japa.

Your mind should be well organized and trained to imbibe the habit of "work while you work and play while you play".

Be that a worldly task or spiritual practices, whatever you do, should be done with full attentiveness. Deep mental concentration is a spiritual quality.

The Practical Aspect of Dhyan Yoga (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 21)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2003/Nov_Dec/v1.PracticalAspectDhyan_Yoga_II)

You must have heard about the glorious intrepidity and self-mastery of Arjuna in Mahabharat. He had perfected the art of focusing all his attention at the desired objective. This is why he was the only one who succeeded in piercing through the left eye of the rotating fish by his arrow, just by looking at its image in the water below, during the Swayamvara of Princess Draupadi.

Hundreds of princes and kings had come to participate in this difficult contest of qualifying to marry Draupadi. Guru Dronacharya asked one common question ... . When they stretched their bows and looked at the image of their target, he asked them "What do you see?" Someone replied - "The entire fish"; some said - "its head"; etc. As predicted by Dronacharya, none of them could hit any part of the fish.

Arjuna was the only one who saw nothing except the left eye of the fish. The Guru applauded his perfect mental concentration. Arjuna indeed hit the target and won Princess Draupadi’s hand.

The Practical Aspect of Dhyan Yoga (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 20)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2003/Nov_Dec/v1.PracticalAspectDhyan_Yoga_II)

The feeling of "Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya" should emerge from the depths of your emotions while concentrating on the glow of rising Sun in your heart.

It implies emancipation of the soul, the inner self from the darkness of ignorance into the eternal light of pure knowledge and divine love.

Deep and focused mental concentration is a major prerequisite for meditation.

If we focus our potentials and efforts in a constructive direction, we would achieve the goal of our life.

The Practical Aspect of Dhyan Yoga (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 19)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2003/Nov_Dec/v1.PracticalAspectDhyan_Yoga_II)

Bhakti-yoga aims at awakening of this divine sentiment; it means cultivation and expansion of compassion, kindness, altruism and love for sentient beings.

This is what is true service and true devotion of God. Many of you think that worshiping a deity, bending the head at its feet, beseeching and crying before it, ringing the bells in a shrine, distributing some alms, etc., is what serves the purpose of devotion.

Is this what you call "navadha bhakti" (highest yoga of devotion)?

No my child! This is only hypocrisy, mimicry and a caricature of devotion; it is far removed from real bhakti-yoga. It is self-deception.

Well! Then, how will you practice bhakti-yoga?

For this, you will have to understand its true meaning and adopt it with the help of the meditation on divine light.