In one of his finest manuscripts, Prasna Uttara Ratna Mãlika, Sri Ãdi Sankara elucidates on a variety of topics in a question-answer style. The cardinal principles to be followed in life for better living are stated in a very lucid and simple collection of 67 verses. One such verse runs as:
This translates roughly as:
What is the Kalpaka Vruksha that fulfils all wishes?
The teachings of the Guru.
This goes to say that the nectar of a Sadguru's teachings is capable of fulfiling all desires in life - both material and spiritual.
In this context, Sri Sri Swãmiji says that the Guru is even more powerful than a mere Kalpaka Vruksha. He quotes a small parable...
A man once prayed to God that he wanted to get all his wishes fulfilled. God pointed him to a Kalpaka Vruksha and granted his wish. Overjoyed, this man, stood under the divine tree and thought "How nice would it be if I had lots of riches". And yo! he got all the wealth in the world. This attitude kept on growing and soon he had all the comforts in the world. Suddenly a feeling of fear gripped him and he thought, "What if, now, a tiger came and attacked me ?!" Alas, it was a Kalpaka Vruksha, so invariably, a tiger came and had a feast on him! Well, but a Guru is far better. He grants all your benign wishes; those that could take you towards peace and happiness, and he prevents you from even desiring anything bad!
Interestingly, Guruji adds,
Usually, there are nine ‘grahãs’ (planets) in a horoscope. Are there not? But, there is one more ‘graha’, the tenth, which can make all these nine ‘grahas’ sit quietly, like a snake shut up in a box, ripped off their power to carry out their work. And that is Guru’s ‘krupa’ (grace). All the planets of the horoscope on which Gurudev’s grace falls become powerless.
Guruji goes a step further, to say that the very 'sãnnidhya' of a Guru is sufficient, leave alone his teachings. He says that one can experience divine positive vibrations in the abode of the Guru, even in the samãdhis of those Jivan Muktãs, who have discarded their mortal coils. A few examples are adhishtãnams of Sri Bodhendra of Govindapuram near Thiruvidaimarudhur, Paramãcharya Sri Kãnchi Maha Periava His Holiness Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal, Sri Rãghavendra Theertha of Mantrãlayam, Bhagawãn Ramana Maharshi and Sri Yogi Rãmsuratkumãr of Tiruvannãmalai.
He clarifies a devotee's misgivings, as follows (courtesy: www.madhuramurali.org)
It is said that Jivan Muktãs do not have any Will ('sankalpa') of their own. But, at the same time, it is also said that even worldly prayers made in their presence get fulfilled. How do they get fulfilled?
Sri Sri Swamiji:
All 'devatãs' always reside around the Jivan Mukta. They wish to serve that Jnãni, a Jivan Mukta, in some way or the other. The prayers of the devotees are fulfilled by these 'devatãs'.
"I need to go to Tiruvannãmalai. I look at a sign board on the highway with an arrow saying 'Tiruvannãmalai : xx Km'. Does the sign board take you to your destination? No! It is just an indication. Wouldn't it be foolish to just keep looking at the sign boards and expecting them to take us to our final destination?"
says His Holiness, in one of His discourses on Ramana Maharshi's Aksharamana Mãlai. It just but amounts to say that the scriptures and other writings are just like the sign boards, which show you the direction. But you have to put your own effort to get to the destination.
I am forced to think, well, how about a map, or even better, a 'GPS' when I drive? You really don't have to put in much thinking and effort. Just provide gas and control your brakes properly, and blindly follow what the map or GPS has to say. You are definitely there.
Isn't it easy?
I fall flat thinking of the easiest - Take a cab or a bus!!! You don't need to follow the sign boards, maps or GPS, don't even need to know to drive, though the driver is an expert at all of these. All you need is confidence!!! Just believe that you are in safe hands - a safe driver, who has already been to the destination, who is very confident of the route and can drive you safely, and land you up in time. Anybody would obviously opt for this option, given a choice.
If it is so obvious in material life, why is that one is so reluctant to choose a driver in the journey of spiritual quest - a Guru?
But beware!! One needs to exercise utmost caution to select a Uttama Guru. With a reckless and half-baked driver, we end up not only getting astray in our journey but also falling into deep, diabolical drains for life!
Is it as profound as it seems?
Not really. The scriptures call it by different names - Sharanãgati, Prapatti, etc. All of them signify a simple concept - Surrender. Confide in Him, and He will take us ahead.
There was an interesting point I came across this evening, in one of our spirituality related discussions. If God is all-loving and created every one equal and in His own image, then why is that only some are happy and others are not? Why is there so much disparity and inequality in His showering of blessings? Why is there so much happiness at one end and so much sorrow and suffering at the other end?
Later, what I am made to realize - "God does indeed shower His grace equally on all the creatures on earth!". I learn that Sri Rãmakrishna Paramahamsa paints a very lively and vivid imagery to clarify-
"We are sailing the seas in a ship. God's grace is like the mild breeze that is constantly blowing over the seas. Of what use is the breeze if we donot hoist our masts to trap the breeze to steer the ship?"
Understandably, those who hoist the masts are happy and those who ignore the breeze, meet with despair.
There is another equally interesting simili I was told today...
"We are like the small plants and animals that get washed away along with the flow of water in the river. We experience happiness and enjoyment when the flow is gentle, and sorrow - when we hit against small rocks on our path. How nice would it be to just stand on the shores and enjoy the river, instead of ourselves being a part of the stream?"
Now, I ponder...
Well, it would definitely be! But we are already flowing. We know that the shore is our goal, not the stream, and yet the stream is so forceful to take us along its path. Who is going to take us ashore, or atleast guide us to the river banks? So we are definitely in agreement that someone needs to pull us ashore, aren't we? Yes, all of us indeed need a 'Guru'. Here, I remember, my Gurunatha makes an interesting observation - "How can one, who himself is flowing, help us out? Shouldn't he be someone who is already on the banks?". Umpteen examples does He give, in the course of His musings on Guru Lakshana...
I couldn't help admiring at the vastness of our Dharma. Very long before it got its name from the river Indus, this dharma had come down to earth. It seems that the date of its origin still remains to be indeterminate and hence has called 'Sanathana'. Guruji often says that the reason that it still holds sway over masses is because of its benevolence and flexibility.
"Sri Ãdi Sankara propounded the Advaita Philosophy, Sri Madhvãchãrya was a harbinger of Dwaita school and Sri Rãmãnujãchãrya established the Visishtãdwaita school of thought. Does it mean that the whole religion is a puddle of confusion? No it just means that all of them, and much more is contained in it.
A fisherman takes to the sea and exclaims that the sea is full of fishes. A diver ventures and comes out claiming that the ocean is filled with corals. The fact is that the ocean contains all of these and much more."
How true are His words!! My sister often remarks that your thoughts don't reflect on anybody else, but yourself.
If you contend that a person is wise, then that is your perception of wisdom. If you think someone is stupid, that reflects on your comprehension of stupidity.
It is the limitation of the subject and not of the object of comprehension.
