Swami Krishnananda Shashtyabdapurti Mahotsava Commemoration Volume
A Souvenir released on Swami Krishnananda's 60th Birthday
SELECTIONS FROM SWAMI SIVANANDA
He is a Wonder to Me!
It is very rare to find such a Synthetic Yogi as Swami Krishnanandaji. One may be a Vedantin condemning Bhakti and Karma Yoga. But Swami Krishnanandaji is like myself; he is like Lord Krishna. Integral perfection can be had only when you combine service and devotion with Jnana. You can declare: "There is no world in the three periods of time." But if you find a sick man on the roadside, you must rush to relieve his suffering, giving up your meditation. That is the sign of a Jivanmukta. Externally he appears to be only a Karma Yogi; but he views the whole world within himself. Lord Jesus, Lord Buddha and Sri Sankaracharya—how much service they did! It is because Swami Krishnanandaji is also a Synthetic Yogi that I have got the greatest admiration for him.
He is very quick in his work. He has a vast and deep knowledge of Vedanta. It is all God's grace. It is not merely due to study in this birth. It is all due to Purva-Samskaras. His knowledge is a treasure for those aspirants who care to learn, study and imbibe the knowledge from him.
Krishnanandaji is a wonder to me! He has excelled me. He has excelled Sankara. He has excelled Dakshinamurthy. He came a few years ago. As usual, I asked him to stay in the Ashram. After six or seven days, he told me, "I know the Gita a little." I asked him to recite the Gita. And he recited a chapter of the Gita beautifully. Then, gradually... how he evolved and grew in knowledge and wisdom is a wonder to me!
Swami Krishnanandaji is a master of Western philosophy also. This is because of the intense thirst for knowledge that he has. He wants to compare Western philosophy with Indian philosophy. It was because he was proficient in both philosophies that he was of great help to Prof. Edwin A. Burtt of the Cornell University, when the latter was here. We should study Western philosophy also and find out the grandeur of that philosophy. Of course, Western philosophy cannot satisfy an absolute idealist like Krishnanandaji. People are stunned by his knowledge. With poor nutrition, ill-health, and many inconveniences, how Swami Krishnanandaji has done so much is a wonder; it is all due to God's grace. It is all due to his Purva-Samsakras. One lecture of his is quite sufficient to inspire and elevate you.
Not a single harsh word he has spoken. He never becomes angry. He never complains. I think there is none in this Ashram of his type. These are all divine attributes. He has more divine qualities than are mentioned in the Gita. Lord Krishna was in a hurry; therefore, He enumerated some major virtues only, and we have to add to them the virtues that Krishnanandaji possesses.
He is the proper man to go to the West. But if that is not to be, even his mere presence in the world is sufficient. His books are treasures for us. I am sending them all over the world. A man remaining in his own Kutir can send powerful thoughts that would stir the whole world. It is not necessary to go here and there, delivering lectures; it is not necessary even to write books. It is good that a great man remains in his own place; bees will come when the flowers bloom. Swami Krishnanandaji is silent dynamism.
THE GLORY OF OM
We know not anything about the nature of the Absolute except that It is. With all their kindness, the scriptures have tried to tell us all about creation, how it proceeded from the Absolute. They say: "Brahman was one and non-dual. It thought, 'I am one. May I become many'. That caused a vibration, eventually bringing in sound, and that sound was Om, whence are all other manifestations". Thus, sound is virtually the comprehensible basis for all creation. Brahman is incomprehensible in Its transcendent aspect. The nearest approach to It is only sound.
Para Brahman, that Eternal Highest Being, the abiding place of all that lives and moves, is beyond name and class. The Vedas have ventured to give a name to Him in order that man may recognise and call Him. A new-born child has no name, but on receiving one he will answer to it. Men who are troubled by the afflictions of this world run to the Deity for refuge and call Him by the name. When Brahman is invoked through the name, that which is hidden is revealed to the aspirant.
The word Om is the most appropriate name of Brahman or the Supreme Spirit. By its application, by its chanting, He becomes propitiated as men by the use of their favourite names. It is emblematic of Brahman, as images are of material objects. It is the symbol of Brahman. When you hear the sound "tree", you at once understand that it has a root, stem, branches, leaves, flowers and fruits. Similarly when you hear the Shabda or sound 'Om', it denotes Sat-Chit-Ananda Brahman—Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, Bliss Absolute.
Why is Om taken as the symbol of Brahman? Can we not have any word other than Om to represent Brahman? Om is a mysterious sacred syllable. Chant Om for one hour. Chant any other word also for one hour. You will yourself feel the difference. There is a real connectiom between Om, the symbol and Brahman, thing signified by the symbol Om.
Rishis and sages of yore who have attained Self-realisation have experienced the mysterious effects of repetition or chanting of Om. They having made long researches and experiments on Om and its vibrations, meditated on OM for a considerable period and have then given to the world Om as the right symbol of Brahman. This is not a hocus-pocus work or a juggler's trick. This is authoritative assertion of the seers. Om served as a beaconlight or light-house or a safe boat for them when they sailed in the turbulent and deep unnavigable waters of this ocean of Samsara. Through Om they ascended safely to the summit of the hill of Nirvikalpa Samadhi, the knowledge of the Self, Brahma Jnana. You can safely rely on their teachings.
The vibration produced by chanting Om in the physical universe corresponds to the original vibration that first arose at the time of creation. The creation itself is set in motion by the vibration of Om. Thus, Om is the womb for everything. This world has come out of Om, exists in Om and dissolves in Om during the cosmic dissolution.
You will find in the Bible: “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God.” This is Om or the word of power.
'Amen' is used by Christians at the end of their prayers. 'Amen' is used very frequently in the sacred Bible. Muslims use the word 'Ahmeen' during prayer. 'Amen' and 'Ahmeen' are all modifications of Om only. Om is common symbol. It represents all the symbols of God, all symbols of religions, all cults and schools. Just as a large-hearted spiritual man who is of catholic, liberal nature without prejudice of any sort, represents all and becomes the supreme head of conference of world religions, so also the common symbol Om, the basis of all sounds and all languages, represents all names and becomes the head of all names of God.
Om is the basis or matrix of all sounds. Om is the cosmic sound. All languages and sounds come out of Om. The essence of the four Vedas is Om only. Om consists of three letters, A, U and M. A, U and M cover the whole range of sound vibrations. 'A' starts from the root of the tongue, 'U' proceeds from the middle and 'M' comes from the end by closing the lips. He who chants or repeats Om really repeats the sacred books of the whole world. Om is the source or the womb for all religions and scriptures of different parts of the world.
Om is the greatest of all Mantras. It directly bestows liberation. All Mantras begin with Om. Every hymn begins with Om. The Gayatri begins with Om. The oblations that are offered to the various Gods are preceded by the chanting of Om. Om is everything. Om is your real name. It represents all. It is the basis of your life, thought and intelligence.
All triplets are represented by the three letters Om – triplets such as Brahma-Vishnu-Siva, past-present-future, birth-life-death, waking-dream-deep sleep, Father-Son-Holy Ghost, Rajas-Sattva-Tamas and body-mind-soul.
There is a mysterious inscrutable force in Om. This force tears the veils, destroys desires, cravings and egoism and takes the aspirant to Brahman. It raises the Brahmakara Vritti from the Sattvic mind, annihilates the Ajnana and helps the meditator to rest in his own Sat-chit-Ananda Svarupa.
The Japa of Om has a tremendous influence on the mind. The pronunciation of the sacred word Om is one which has engaged the attention of all Europeans devoted to Eastern studies. The vibrations set up by the word are so powerful that, if persisted in, they would bring the largest building to the ground. This seems difficult to believe until one has tried to practise, but once having tried it, one can easily understand how the above statement may be perfectly true and correct. I have tested the power of the vibrations and can quite believe that the effect would be as stated. Pronounced as spelt, it will have a certain effect upon the student, but pronounced in its correct method, it arouses and transforms every atom in his physical body, setting up new vibrations and conditions and awakening the sleeping power of the body.
Chant Om for five minutes with Bhav and understanding as soon as you sit for meditation. Learn its meaning. The sound should start from the navel and end at the crown of the head. The mysterious vibration produced by the chanting of Om will shut out all worldly thoughts, destroy tossing of the mind, produce one-pointedness of mind and harmony in the various sheaths, and put the mind in tune with the Infinite.
Those who chant Om will have a powerful, sweet voice. One-pointedness of mind comes quickly by chanting Om. Chant Om on a moonlit night. Chant Om when you walk along the seaside or the bank of a river. You can sing Om in a beautiful way also. The rhythmic pronunciation of Om makes the mind serene and one-pointed and induces the spiritual qualifications which ensure Self-realisation.
Have the picture of Om in front of you in your meditation room. Concentrate on this picture. Do Tratak also with open eyes, steady gazing without winking till tears flow profusely. Associate the ideas of infinity, eternity and immortality when you think of Om.
Neophytes in the path of Jnana Yoga should do gazing on Om with open eyes in the beginning for about three months. Then they should visualise Om with closed eyes. Visualisation of Om is the calling up of a clear mental image of Om by closing the eyes. They should repeat Om mentally with Bhava and meaning, and make the ears hear the sound also so that they may not run outside to hear other sounds.
Meditate on Om. Retire into your meditation chamber. Sit on Padma, Siddha or Sukha Asana. Close the eyes. Relax the muscles and nerves completely. Concentrate the gaze on Trikuti, the space between the two eyebrows. Silence the objective or conscious mind. Repeat Om mentally with Brahma Bhavana.
This Bhavana is a sine qua non. You will have to repeat Om with the Bhava or feeling that you are the infinite, all-pervading, pure intelligence. Mere gramophone repetition or parrot-like repetition of Om will not bring out the desired result.
When you think of Om, you will have to think of Brahman: the thing signified by the symbol. Association with Om is to become one with the thing signified. Try to identify yourself with the all-blissful Self when you meditate on Om.
Keep the meaning of Om always at heart. Feel Om. Feel that you are the all-pervading, infinite Light. Feel that you are the pure, perfect, all-knowing, eternal free Brahman. Feel you are absolute Consciousness. Feel that you are the infinite unchanging existence. Every atom, every molecule, every nerve, vein and artery should powerfully vibrate with these ideas. Lip repetition of Om will not produce much benefit. It should be through the heart, head and soul. Your whole soul should feel you are the subtle, all-pervading intelligence. This feeling should be kept up all the twenty-four hours.
What a Spiritual Seeker's Attitude towards Sex should Be
When you are in the company of ladies, try to identify yourself with the sexless, all-pervading soul. Constantly make the endeavour. The sex-idea will gradually vanish, and with it, the attraction and lust also.
You should entertain the mother-Bhav or Isvari-Bhav or Atma-Bhav towards women. Sister Bhav will not suffice. You may fail. Ladies also should entertain Pitha-Bhav or Isvar-Bhav or Atma-Bhav towards males. Enquire, "Who am I?" There is no lust in the sexless Atma.
The cultivation of the Bhav is very difficult. You may fail to develop the Bhav that all women are your mothers and sisters hundred and one times. It does not matter. Stick to your practice tenaciously. You are bound to succeed eventually. You will have to destroy the old mind and build a new mind. But you will have to do it if you want to attain immortality and eternal bliss. You will surely succeed if you are fiery in your resolve and if you have an iron determination. The Bhav will gradually manifest by constant practice. You will be soon established in that Bhav. Now you are safe.
The mind will again try to do some mischief inwardly. It is very diplomatic. It is very difficult to find out its ways and secret underground operations. It demands a subtle intellect, and by repeated introspection and vigilant watch, you can succeed in fighting it out. Whenever the men image of a lady crops up in your mind with evil thoughts, repeat mentally, "Om Durga Devyai Namah" and do mental prostrations. Gradually, old evil thoughts will die. Whenever you see any lady, entertain this Bhav and repeat mentally this Mantra. Your Drishti or look will become chaste. All ladies are manifestations of the World Mother. Destroy the idea that a woman is an object of enjoyment and substitute the idea that she is an object of worship and a manifestation of Mother Durga Kali. I wish you should practise the same Sadhana with your wife also. Make mental prostrations and repeat the same Mantra mentally. You must give up the idea of wife. It is high time now. Then you have quick progress in spirituality.
Try to understand the riddle of life and the riddle of the universe. Acquire Viveka. Take recourse to Satsanga. Enquire into the nature of the Atman. Study Yoga-Vasishtha and the Upanishads. Then you will have a comprehensive understanding of the innumerable problems of life.
Withdraw the mind from the worldly objects. Purify your mind through meditation on God. Thus be you happy, free from all sorrow and full of bliss.
Meaning of Vairagya
Vairagya does not mean abandoning social duties and responsibilities of life. It does not mean detachment from the world. It does not mean a life in the solitary caves of the Himalayas or in the crematorium. It does not mean living on neem leaves, cow's urine and dung. It does not mean wearing of matted hair and a Kamandal made of fence-gourd or coconut shell in the hand. It does not mean shaving of head and throwing of one's clothes. Vairagya is mental detachment from all connections of the world. A man may remain in the world and discharge all the duties of his order and stage of life with detachment. He may be a householder. What if? He may live with family and children. But, at the same time, he may have perfect mental detachment from everything. He can do his spiritual Sadhana. That man who has perfect mental detachment while remaining in the world is a hero indeed. He is much better than the sadhu living in the cave of the Himalayas, because the former has to face innumerable temptations at every moment of his life. Wherever a man may go, he carries with him his fickle, restless mind, is the Vasanas and Samskaras. Even if he lives in solitude in the Himalayas, still he is the same worldly man if he is engaged in building castles in the air and in thinking of the objects of the world. In that sense, even the cave becomes a big city for him. If the mind remains quiet, if it is free from attachments, one can be a perfect Vairagi even while living in a mansion in the busiest part of a city like Calcutta. Such a mansion will be converted into a dense forest by him.
The Precious Jewel
God is the one doctor for all sickness. Rely on Him alone. The Names of God are the most potent, unfailing tonics, sure panaceas, well-tried elixirs, sovereign specifics for all ills.
The precious jewel of the Lord's Name is forgotten for the sake of the broken glasspieces of sensual enjoyment. Is this not lamentable and deplorable?
God's Name is the greatest treasure. Accumulate the wealth of Divine Name. Recite the Lord's Name with feeling of devotion.
Spotlight on Religion
Religion is the relationship between the mental principles—God, world and the individual.
Religion is not a denial of life. It is of life. It is life eternal.
Religion is practical philosophy. Philosophy is theoretical religion.
Philosophy is for ever searching, inquiring, questioning. Religion is sensing, realising, experiencing.
Unconscious movement is called natural evolution. Conscious evolution is Yoga or the practice of religion.
One religion is as good as another. One path to the Supreme is as good as any other road or path.
Cows have different colours, but the colour of milk is one. There are different kinds of roses, but the scent is one.
The same type of jacket cannot suit all people. Individual temperaments and traditional backgrounds differ. Hence the need of different religions.
Diversity is the order of creation. Religion is no exception to it.
Sons and daughters of the Koran and the Granth Saheb! Children of the Avesta and the Vedas! Blessed votaries of the Buddha and the Christ! Be you all as one.
Religion is better understood when it is more and more practised.
Many preach Buddhism, but no one gives up the desires and Himsa. Many preach Christianity, but no one practises love and forgiveness. Many preach Islam, but no one recognises the brotherhood of man. Many preach Hinduism, but no one realises the Divinity in all.
Hence, the world is wicked, not for want of truth nor on account of religions. But, alas! it is wicked for the lack of true followers of these ideals and religions.
Let religion create saints and Yogis rather than Mandirs, Masjids and churches.
He who is able to clear your doubts, he was sympathetic in your Sadhana, he who does not disturb your beliefs but helps you on from where you are, he in whose very presence you feel spiritually elevated – he is your Guru.
Listen to all, but follow one. Respect all, but A Door one. Gather knowledge from all, but adopt the teachings of one Master. Then you will have rapid spiritual progress.
Self-surrender is not the surrender of one's duties; it is the surrender of oneself. The self is the little self that plays a very powerful and dangerous part in our life. The name given to it is ego. It is a Latin word which means I.
Tell me, friends, how long will you be a slave to the fleeting things of the world? How long are you going to repeat the same sensual enjoyments? How long do you wish to worship mammon and woman? When will you find time to meditate on the Lord and to do virtuous deeds? Think and reflect.
DO IT NOW
A man loses his father. On the following day, he loses his son also. Yet, he is foolish enough to think that he will live for ever (when the persons who came before and after him have died) and postpones Sadhana.
Do not waste your precious hours. It is enough that you have wasted so many years in idle gossiping. Enough, enough of the troubles you had all these days in satisfying your senses.
Be sincere and start doing Sadhana from this moment. Do not say, 'From tomorrow, I will be regular". That "tomorrow" will never come.
Do not postpone doing good deeds, for there is no certainty of life. What you propose to do tomorrow, do that today; what you propose to do today, do this very instant.
BACK TO THE DIVINE FLAME!
Sparks of the Divine Flame! Back to the Divine Flame! Be one with the Divine Flame.
You must have Atma-Swarajya; you must become an Atma-Samrat. That is real impendence.
Your only duty is God-realisation. All other duties should only serve as a means to this final goal.
Do not surrender yourself to the scientists. They are not able to explain anything.
Real living is not self-indulgence, but self-expression.
Secular experiences are partial, while spiritual experience is the experience-whole.
Destroy Avidya. You will understand the 'why' of this universe.
Before you attempt to solve the secrets of the universe without, master the universe within.
You need neither art nor science, neither study nor erudition for God-realisation, but faith, purity and devotion.
If you serve God with a fraction of the zeal with which you serve Mammon or your wife and children, you will certainly realise God within a very short period.
People will mock at you; be silent. People will insult you; be silent. People will spread evil rumours about you; be silent. Stick to the spiritual path. Do not swerve.
Have intimate connection with none but God. Mix little with others.
If you really want God and God alone, kick this world mercilessly.
The company of worldly-minded people is as dangerous, if not more, as the company of a woman to an aspirant.
To serve God and Mammon at the same time is impossible.
You cannot enjoy the bliss of the Self and the sensual pleasure in one and the same time. You cannot have light and darkness at the same time.
God first, world next, if at all you want the world.
Divine life is not a rejection of life and its activities, but a transformation of it into the divine.
A life in the physical plane is a definite preparation for the Brahman.
You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give. Always give, give, give. This is the secret of abundance and divine life.
Success in life cannot be calculated by bank balance, landed property and bungalows, but by virtuous actions and God-realisation which bring supreme satisfaction.
Never fall a victim to fruitless regret. Today is the best day. Today is the day of your new birth. Start Sadhana now.
Kindly do not delay. The spiritual seed must be sown in you now, when you are young. You must offer a beautiful flower, a pure mind, to the Lord—not a rotton, tainted mind later on.
Spiritual discipline is not military discipline. It is not merely submit to rules. It is essentially self-discipline.
Perfection does not mean a change of time, place and circumstance. It is rising above them all.
If you want to get microscope lens, you will have to grind, grind and grind. If you want to realise that infinite Brahman, you will have to practice, practise and practise; you will have to free yourself from pettiness.
To earn Rs. 100, to become a head clerk, you have to study for fifteen years and work for ten years. What is the nature of your goal? It is immortality. To attain this, should you not strive hard?
Those who desire to grow in morality and spirituality, those who wish to evolve rapidly must keep a daily record of their actions.
If you can record your actions every hour, your growth will be very rapid.
Subject yourself to keen self-analysis everyday without fail. Oust all sentiment in this process. Become an intelligent, serious and earnest self-C.I.D.
What one man has achieved can also be achieved by another. This is an immutable law of nature.
An optimist sees an opportunity in every difficulty; a pessimist sees a difficulty in every opportunity.
If I ought, I can. Be of strong will and good cheer.
Try to become a versatile genius.
If you develop one important virtue, all other virtues will cling to you. Develop that virtue in which you are hopelessly lacking.
The sublime wisdom of Sri Sankara and the supreme compassion of Lord Buddha should shine in your daily life.
Be softer than butter, where kindness is concerned; be harder than steel, where principles are at stake.
Strengthen the body and then do spiritual Sadhana.
Bodily mortification alone cannot lead to Enlightenment without the calming of the passions and discipline of the mind.
Just as striking at an ant-hill will not destroy the snake within, so also, no amount of bodily torture can kill the mind within.
Conquer the mind and then conquer the entire universe with your spirituality and divine force.
Reform yourself first through prayer, meditation and cultivation of divine virtues and then preach or try to reform the society or the community.
There is no knowledge without meditation. An aspirant churns his own soul. Truth becomes manifest.
Imitate not. Be original. Meditate. Bring out your own Upanishad and Gita from the heart.
In your meditation, you must not seek anything. You already possess everything. You must know and realise it.
Look into your heart. Find out what special talent God has given you. Develop it and use it for the good of others.
Vigilant among the careless, awake among the sleepers, restrained among the indulgent, reflective among the thoughtless, the wise aspirant boldly marches forward, reaches the goal now and attains immortality and eternal bliss.
Will your son or daughter or friend or relative help you when you are about to die? Will they accompany you to share your mysteries? Have you got one sincere and selfish friend in all this world? Are all selfish! There is no pure love; but that Lord, your real Friend of friends, Father of fathers, who dwells in your heart, will never for sake you, though you may forget him. Adore Him in silence, that God of gods, that Divinity of divinities, the Highest of the high!
There are Pundits or learned men who will have whole scriptures on their lips; but, they will not go down their throats.
Teacher, teach thyself first. Physician, heal thyself first. Lecturer, lecture to thyself first. Reformer, reform thyself first.
Wherever there is movement, wherever there is manifestation of life, the two opposed forces, the pairs of opposites, do exist. Some ignorant men desire to get rid of the unpleasant experiences and to keep only the pleasant ones. This is the height of folly. Can there be light alone without darkness, roses alone without thorns, gain alone without loss, success alone without failure, victory alone without defeat, pleasure alone without pain? This is absolutely impossible on a relative plane. The eternal laws of nature cannot be altered. A wise man who rightly understands them and moves in close cooperation with them can be happy, not others.