Life – A Divine Journey, primary subject at Mauritius Bhagavat Katha
To transform an expedition into a spiritually uplifting experience, a tour into a divine journey – this was the primary subject of the Shrimad Bhagavat Katha held in Mauritius at Tamassa Tatt, Bel Ombre, both by explanation and first-hand experience. The katha and tour was beautifully organised by Vaishvik Sanskruti Parivar from 23 May 2015 to 29 May 2015 and attended by devotees from around the globe.
Pujya Bhaishri’s main message of this entire Katha may be summed up as:
“Life is a Divine Journey wherein we are all tourists into this material world and have no possible claim of ownership or “mine-ness”, for we are all eternal residents only of Shri Hari’s abode. An abode, once attained to, from which there will be no return.
Yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama SBG 15.6
“Those who reach that supreme abode of mine never return to this material world.”
Just as we are relaxed, carefree and unattached from the facilities and trials of travel while enjoying / bearing them, knowing them to be temporary, so too should we conduct ourselves in our lives as eternal travellers.
Pujya Bhaishri expounded upon various simple keys to peace and joy by remaining in this “traveller’s mode” eternally.
While referring to the name of the resort (Tamassa), Pujya Bhaishri directed his listeners to experience journeying in the sacred company of Truth personified, Shri Ram. Just as the residents of Ayodhya left the world’s pleasures of their state when Shri Ram was exiled and preferred His company, so too should we follow in their footsteps to this River Tamassa mentioned in the Ram Charit Manas.
As travellers, we must focus the destination of our life’s journey to be Shri Hari’s abode to which we truly belong. This can be reached only in the guiding light of Ram, Truth, showering genuine affection and consideration for fellow travellers, as embodiments of Sita, affection, and Lakshman, surrender.
It is well-known that Shri Ram departed with Sita (embodiment of Love), Lakshman (embodiment of dedicated surrender) and a few alert others, while the public at large fell asleep. What is this sleep? The night and sleep of delusion and attachment.
This does not refer to physical sleep and this is one of many examples where the sacred texts are not to be taken merely at face value and a Spiritual Guide unveils the deeper meanings to light our path towards Truth.
As stated in the Bhagavad Gita, 2.69,
“ya nisa sarva-bhutanam, tasyam jagarti samyami
yasyam jagrati bhutani, sa nisa pasyato muneh”
What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage.
Pujya Bhaishri explained that while the world indulges their precious time in sensory pleasures, the wise do not.
Time is the singular priceless resource which can never be earned once more. Once given, it is forever gone, unlike wealth which one may earn multiple times over even after parting with. Thus, the highest sacrifice and donation is of your breath and time.
Those who remain in this world fully engaged and considering it to be a celebration of joy, remain connected to the embodiment of all joy (Sat-Chit-Anand ), Shri Krishna.
Along the way, places of rest are found. Dharmshala was the original term for place of stay for travellers, which meant, that place wherein one is given the teaching of right conduct.
Human beings are unique and considered not only the most developed and evolved species of life, but also the most aspirational form for liberation. While explaining the ten principal incarnations, Pujya Bhaishri highlighted the message of biological evolution in the Bhagavat, as noted by scholars.
He further stated that when asked “what next?” In this race for survival of the fittest, where Darwin has nothing further to offer, scientist Julian Huxley responded with psychosocial evolution as the next stage beyond biological and mechanical growth.
Truly, the message of the Bhagavat is this: the Lord Descends and appears in various forms from the basest to most sophisticate to show us by example what this evolutionary process is.
What this journey from Nar (Man) to Narayan (state of highest Truth) is, the development of our character, i.e., the combination of thoughts, emotions and actions, to such a level that our senses are purified of the contamination of wrong notions of “I” and “mine” so that we may experience nectar.
The thirst for nectar drives us all and the lack of it causes all the unrest we experience. Once obtained, this sweetness captivates us such that we pray to eternally. This can be our very own direct and individual experiences, advent of Shri Krishna.
Pujya Bhaishri explained in depth the experience of Krishna (Joy) in all three bodies we each bear:
- Gross physical body (Sthool, the sum of all senses as Gokul),
- Subtle body (made of thoughts and emotions, Mathura) and
- Causal body (Dwarka, source of our existence defined by our latent desires)
Once our senses are thus cleansed of material cravings by Bhagavat Katha, we may begin to experience Shri Krishna (the embodiment and amalgamation of all sweetness) firstly in our own Mathura (our subtle body, wherein joy emerges by the combination of Vasudev- a pure heart and Devaki- A divinely inclined mind).
What happens once we think and feel divinely inclined emotions? How does Shri Krishna escape the deathly clutches of Kansa (affection for the body)? By immediately bringing Lord Krishna into Gokul, i.e. into actions and within our physical world where we practice what we hear and think.
Once this happens, Shri Krishna Himself works to effortlessly clear the heart of such a spiritual aspirant progressively: destroying ignorance ( Putana); whirlwind of thoughts and actions (Trinavart); misplaced priorities of indulgences as greater than Him (Shakatasur); pretences (Bakasur); Sin, the sources of all sorrow (Aghasur); controlling the arrogance of our divine qualities (Brahma Vimochana Leela); sense control (Kaliya Naag) and eventually allowing us to experience the bliss of his flute, His call to Maha Raas (union).
From Gokul, Shri Krishna returned to Mathura where he replaced the ruler and established a reign of positivity over the mind and intellect. Thereafter He departs to Dwarka from where He often travels to accomplish His life’s mission of punishing the wicked and protecting and giving bliss to the devoted.
While explaining the joy the residents of Dwarka exhibit upon His return after battle of Kurukshetra and Grandsire Bhishma’s demise, Pujya Bhaishri implored his audience to imagine and experience Shri Krishna as their very breath. As one inhales, experience Shri Krishna as your life force returning home to Dwarka completing His mission and rise from within to greet Him as one. When exhaling, experience Shri Krishna as departing for a mission of selfless good in the world.
The Bhagavat comprises of 18,000 verses organised into 12 cantos and spoken as series of three conversations: Suta-Shaunak, Shukdev-Parikshit and Vidur-Maitreya, in response to six principal questions.
The response to all these questions is verily devotion to God and thus this scripture focuses on the greatness of devotion as the means and the goal through the characters and experiences of the Lord’s greatest devotees.
The Lord Himself appears in various forms as Brahma, Narad, Vyas and Shukdev to speak of the glory of his devotees and thus the Bhagavat sheds light on our true goal and path of life. Well received by the pious people of Mauritius, Principal Dignitary Guests to Mauritius Katha included: President of Mauritius: His Excellency Kailash Purryag High Commissioner of India to Mauritius: H.E. Anup Kumar Mudgal Minister of Environment: Hon. Jayeshwur Raj Dayal Various other lawmakers, prominent citizens, community leaders, and loving welcoming citizens of Mauritius attended the program.
Divine Bliss permeated the entire atmosphere and journey.
