The nectar of Guru-Parampara served on Guru-poonam Maha-parva
– Pujya Bapuji
(Guru-poornima Maha-parva: 5th July)
Guru-Poonam means the great Poonam – the great Full Moon Day. The digit of the moon increases day by day from the first lunar day to the second, and so on. When the phase of the moon shows the moon as a complete circle, it is referred to as Poonam. Similarly, when the digits of the moon of our mind increase, and when it is totally inclined towards devotion and worship to Perfect God, the goal of our life is accomplished.
Guru-Poonam is also referred to as Vyasa-Poonam. The term ‘Vyasa’ means the person who gathers and concentrates the scattered rays of our mind and organises our beliefs. Another interpretation of it is – Given the fact that a layman might not be able to understand the philosophy of Brahman (absolute reality) etc.; so the Self-realised men whose speech and teachings can explain it to him through detailed stories, history and parables in order to lead his mind to the realization of Supreme Brahman, Supreme Self, to eradicate egoism, aversion and selfishness from his life
by replacing egoism with egoless-ness (freedom from egoism), aversion with the cultivation of virtues of forgiveness and humility in his life, selfishness with the Yoga of desireless action, narrow-mindedness
with generosity, are called Vyasa.
Purpose of observing Guru-Poornima
Man is born crying, dies crying, and cries even when he shouldn’t be crying. However, the Knowledge of the Self is something that enthrones a person on such a lofty seat that he can smile with peace and cheerfulness even in times of sorrow and suffering. This Brahma-Vidya (science of Brahman) is such that it teaches you to keep smiling in times of sorrow and suffering, it teaches fortitude, courage, and Self-love, and the art of beholding one in all. Guru-Poornima is the day to express gratitude to the great men, the rishis (seers and sages), who made arrangements to deliver this Brahma Vidya to each and every heart. Even after performing worship of any number of deities, there is a deity left, yet to be worshipped; however, after performing the worship of Brahamavetta Rishis (Self-realized sages) none is left to be worshipped. Similarly, even after finishing all sorts of tasks of the world, some tasks are left unfinished – that remain pending for centuries; however, those, who have diligently accomplished the most important task (of attaining the Supreme-Self) as told by Brahmavetta Guru, are not left with any task – they have accomplished all their tasks thereby. ‘Guru’ means great... those, who remain steadfast and unaffected in ordinary circumstances of sorrow and suffering; who elevate themselves, and wish the same for neighbours. The festival of Guru- Poornima shows us the path to awaken dormant powers within, and teaches the art of leading our lives with the perspective of Self-inquiry while removing thoughts of weakness, hate and unrest.
India has preserved this tradition
Earlier, the festival of Guru-Poornima was observed not just in India, but across the globe; however, there came an unfortunate phase when other countries lost track of the knowledge of Guru-Poornima, and of the tradition of drinking and serving the nectar of Guru-Parampara. But India
is the country which has preserved this tradition, and therefore, on every Guru-Poonam, hundreds of thousands of sons of India perform worship of Guru, get guidance from Him and become virtuous souls.
This festival, that elevates man from petty existence to the state of Guru; establishes him from movable existence to the Immovable Self; and correcting the Jiva’s mistake of having a sense of ‘I-ness’ in the mortal body, awakens him to his auspicious nature (Divine Consciousness) – is the holy festival of Guru-Poornima. As long as the tradition of serving the nectar of holy words of Bhagavan Vyasa – the Self-realized one is living, O man! Do not be disappointed or dismayed, and don’t get frightened either; there is infinite potential and power hidden within you. O man! O my dear friend! Don’t be nervous if you do not possess much wealth or education; if you don’t have a beautiful body it is not at all necessary; don’t worry if you do not have friends and family, however, if you just possess mere faith & devotion, it is more than enough. The fact that your heart loves God and your heart is decorated with the words of saints – is verily your eligibility. You are interested in meditation, and have a passion for Guru-Mantra – this is your eligibility. It is your supreme eligibility that you are feeling blessed to sip the nectar of Brahma-Vidya. And even if you don’t see any eligibility or qualification within you, don’t be worried; just make up your mind to attain the Supreme Self, regardless of your state or eligibility, and you will be accepted right away.
The Priceless Gift of Sadhana that lets you overcome all your Desires
Once you make up your mind to be nirvasanik (free of desires associated with mental impressions), you will automatically become eligible for a yoga called – ‘Rajadhiraj Yoga’. All you need to do in this yoga practice is – perform Pranayamas while performing Tribandha – the three yogic locks. [Note: Tribandha means all the three bandhas, viz. moola bandha (root-lock), uddiyana bandha (navel-lock) and jalandhara bandha (chin-lock) performed together]. Now sit while performing moola bandha¹, and make sure that the tip of your tongue touches the palate. Then sit in Jnana mudra² and count your breath – a single complete act of breathing – in and out (with each inhalation, chant ‘AUM’, and count ‘1’ with successive exhalation… then chant ‘ananda’ (or bliss) with the following inhalation, and count ‘2’ with successive exhalation…); and keep gazing at the image of your Guru, Swastika, or AUM; if the mind starts to wander hither & thither, perform an elongated chant of AUM as A…U….M… If the period of this sadhana is increased up to half an hour, it will prove to be extremely beneficial. As people don’t perform such practices usually in regular satsangas, they are instructed to start practicing this for 6 minutes. Otherwise, from 6 minutes, the practice should be extended to 8 minutes…then half an hour to one hour. This should be followed by regular reading of the book – ‘Ishwar ki Or’, and the first part of – ‘Shri Yoga Vasishtha Maharamayana’. AUM… AUM… AUM…. Then cultivate such a habit. Do japa in a whisper. – ‘AUM… Hari is all-pervading, Vasudevaha Sarvam… (Meaning, All this is Vasudeva – the Innermost Self)’ With such practice, one will become nirvasanik quickly.
AUM AUM AUM… Repeat the mantra verbally with love, then in a whisper, then in the throat, and then in the heart. However, if you can’t continue the japa for a long time in your heart, then what should you do? Take a deep breath in, and perform an elongated chant of AUM as A… U… M… This feels like quite a simple practice, but it will lead one to the thoughtless state, the Antaryamin state in the gap between ‘A’ and ‘M’.
Higher intelligence establishes one in the Supreme Self. Petty food makes the intellect lowly, thereby developing attraction for petty things. Hence, the diet should be good (as in, the food should be sattvic, simple, easily digestible, and rightful), the scriptures and the company that one takes recourse to should be good (spiritually elevating); having all this, as well as having high goals leads one to realising and attaining God, it’s as simple as that! All creatures follow the dictates of their mind – but how much pleasure do they get? Where our real good lies – is something that we get to know from our Guru, and the scriptures; and ultimately, we are the ones to benefit greatly. This is the sadhana that I recommend for you. All that you are supposed to do now is – start practicing it earnestly; that’s it!
1. The root-lock – a posture where the body from the anus to the navel is contracted and lifted up and towards the spine. 2. A meditative gesture called the Gesture of Intuitive Knowledge or Wisdom by touching the tips of the thumb and the index together, forming a circle, with the other three fingers gently straightened out.