Narada Bhakti Sutras

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Chapter 3 Summary

HARI AUM

Prostrations to all.

We have concluded the third chapter of Narada Bhakthi Sutras titled Bhakthi Saadhanaani. Let us today try to summarize the contents of the chapter so that we may be easily able to remember and implement at least some of these (if not all of these) in our day-to-day life so that it will lead us to the ultimate goal of eternal bliss.

Narada in this chapter was speaking about the various sadhanas in order to achieve the final goal of paraa bhakthi or merging into the ultimate reality of Lord. The sadhana has two aspects - positive and negative. Positive aspect is following of certain things which in turn will directly lead to the goal whereas negative aspects are those that have to refrain from as they will cause obstacles to the progress in the spiritual path towards the goal.

The positive aspects were mentioned by Narada as renouncing attachment to sense objects and through continuous uninterrupted supreme devotion to the Lord. Both of these were mentioned by Narada as being easy to achieve through the grace of God or through grace of Mahat sanga (association with wise people). Association with wise people is achieved only through the grace of God. Such association is great in that it is very tough to really achieve (though Mahatmas are many), beyond our apprehension and sure to lead us to the goal. Such association with Mahatmas should always be encouraged in the life of a seeker as this in itself will ensure the qualities essential in a seeker to achieve the goal of realization of the ultimate reality of Lord.

Satsanga is not merely association with Mahatmas but any talk about such Mahatmas or their works or their words is also association with them. Such words and talks will have the presence and grace of the Mahatma which in itself will ward off evil thoughts and encourage good thoughts in the mind thereby leading a seeker fast in the spiritual path.

Association with bad people or things should always be renounced as though they might seem to be small like waves or bubbles, they have the potential to become an ocean once properly cultivated. Here bad doesn't mean anything in particular but just those thoughts and those people who are posing as obstacles in the spiritual path even if they are our own parents or relatives or Guru. Any person or thing that is an obstacle to our progress is a bad thing which has to be renounced at all costs.

Why should dussanga or association with bad be renounced?

Because they will finally lead a person to destruction. Such dussanga will initially lead to kaama or desire to keep them with oneself. When such desire is not fulfilled, it will lead to anger. Anger will lead to delusion. Delusion will lead to destroying of intellect or discriminating capability. This will in turn lead to destruction of a person.

Since dussanga will lead to destruction of a person, a seeker should always be away from dussangas in all forms.

Finally Narada ends up this chapter by telling as to who will overcome the delusion of Maya. The qualities given were elaborate and easily used by a seeker to judge as to where he stands in the spiritual path. We will just enumerate here as detailed explanation has already been done.

1. He who renounces sanga
2. He who serves the Mahatmas by following his words into actions
3. He who is devoid of the notions of "I" and "mine" (commonly known in Vedanta as Ego).
4. He who stays in a secluded place contemplating on the Lord
5. He who gets rid of the roots of bondage with the world
6. He who goes beyond the three gunas of sattva, rajas and tamas
7. He who renounces both good and bad
8. He who renounces the craving for fruits of actions
9. He who renounces all actions by renouncing the doer-ship notion
10. He who becomes nirdvandva or gets rid of the dual notions of the mind
11. He who renounces even the Vedas
12. He who sticks on to unlimited attachment or devotion to the Lord alone

Such a seeker who possesses the aforementioned 12 qualities will overcome the delusion of Maya. Such a person will not only overcome the delusion of Maya but he will be instrumental in helping the people in the world to overcome the delusion of Maya by properly guiding them and making them realize the non-dual reality of Lord.

With this, we come to the end of this third chapter of Narada Bhakthi Sutras. We will continue with the next chapter from the next day.

Prostrations to all.
HARI AUM
Thanks
Hariram

Let a moment not pass by without remembering God

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