That is Full; This is Full; When Full is taken from the Full, Full remains - this is the Upanishadic axiom! The Divine is Full; Creation is Full; even when Creation happened and the Cosmos appeared to be produced from the Divine, there was no diminuition In the Fullness of the Full. Fullness is the attribute, the nature of the Supreme. It cannot' be diminished by the process of creation of the Cosmos. Why is creation also called the Full? Because, it came from the Full.
You go to the bazaar to purchase a kilogramme of jaggery. The keeper of the shop brings from his store a big lump, and he slices off a portion, weighing about a kg; he then weighs lt and gives us, in return for the price amount, one kg. of Jaggery. We sample a piece from the big lump and we expect the portion to behave as sweetly as the original lump. We go home and take a little to prepare the sweet drink called paanakam. The paanakam is sweet; the kg of jaggery and the mother lump - all are equally sweet. Fullness is the quality of the Divine; it is found in part or portion or in half or whole. Quantity is not the criterion; quality is In the visible world that has been taken from the substance of the Divine, this quality is found equally full. We shall not consider the world as anything less than God.
God is in the world, in and through everything
Of course, there are scholars who proclaim that the world is a hollow zero, that it has no latent or potent strength, being but a dream and a delusion. This is a sign of the blindness of Ignorance. God is very much in the world, in and through every thing in it, with no exception. In the Geeta the Lord announces, "I am human among living beings, the cow among animals, the lion among beasts, the cobra among snakes, the eagle among birds, Prahlaada among Rakshasas. No item is discarded as not worthy of God. There is no body that He does not activate, no Form that He does not reside in. He is fragrance, brilliance, sweetness and taste, intelligence, valour, austerity, fame, contentment - an desirable and even undesirable things and qualities. One can acquire unalloyed bliss only by knowing this universal all inclusive glory of the Lord.
There are four stages in securing the Grace of the Lord, by this means:
(1) Attaching the mind to God
(2) Loving tile Form of God to which the mind has been attached
(3) Installing that Form in the heart and
(4) Dedicating all that one has and does to the Form so installed.
You have a great example of one who successfully travelled through these stages and realised the Goal of Life, in the Mahabharata, namely Ekalavya. Though Dronachaarya refused to accept him as his pupil, Ekalavya attached himself mentally to him as Guru (preceptor); he Installed him in his heart; and finally, he offered at his feet all the skills and fame that he had won through the grace of Dronachaarya!
The Three Grades of Intelligence
It has become a routine affair - this observance of the Festival of Guru Poornima. This day, the Guru is adored, and Gods are worshiped, praised and propitiated by song and feasting. But, are these enough, let Me ask. The observance can yield fruit, only when the deeper significance of the Day is grasped and meditated upon. Gum is the person who destroys the darkness of Ignorance by his own illumination. Most Gums have only feeble, borrowed light; the removal of darkness has to be complete, with no trace of lurking shadow. Like the Full Moon that happens every year on this Day, the mind of man has to be charmly fair, cool and full. This gift of Light can come only from God, for, he is self-illumined; He Is the source of Light for all planets and stars, as well as for all beings.
In Vedantic vocabulary, Chit and A-chit are two terms set against each other, comprehending between themselves, the Created Universe. Chit means 'Intelligent' and A-chit means 'non-Intelligent'. There are no two opposites like this. There are grades, slowly passing from one to the other, from the less intelligent to the fully intelligent. In fact, there are three grades, not two!
The first is: Shuddha Tattva, the second is: Mishra Tattva and the third is: Vasana Tattva.
(1) The Shuddha Tattva is what Christ referred to as the Kingdom of God. It is far beyond the reach of Mind, it is the realm of pure equanimity.
(2) Mishra Tattva is this earthly kingdom, alternating between repose and activity, sloth and adventure, Thamas and Rajas. While the first is spoken of as the Nithya Vibhuti (the ever-lasting Glory of the Divine), this the second is spoken of as Leela Vibhuti (the scene of the ever-changing ever-fresh sport of God).
(3)This is the region of inactivity, ignorance and inertia, the Tamo Guna.
The Vedantic point of view
The Universe is the Field where God sports. Be aware of this fact, every moment of consciousness, and there is nothing more you need for a happy existence. For, you will then contact God in every thing through every thought at every place and at every moment. His Leela is evident in the smallest flower and the most distant star. The joy that you can derive from the contemplation of these proofs of providence is indescribable. Krishna has said in the Geeta that He is ever by the side of the joyous being. Be joyful yourself and make others too share in that joy. To limit oneself and be happy while self-centred, is bad.
The third stage is called Vasana Tattva. This is where your narrow selfish will takes charge of you, and enslaves you. Vasana is the ingrained force of aeons of enslavement to the senses. You have to overpower its subtle impact and liberate your will from Its hold.
Cultivate the attitude of un-attachment, of indifference, of bypassing the urges, through prayer and systematic practice. This will lead you to Dharma (Righteous behaviour) and Truth; you are then entitled to the Dharma Stambha, or Satya sthambha (the Pillar of Righteousness or Truth). This is also referred to as the Vedanta point of view. Vedanta does not mean, running away from home and the company of men and escaping into the solitude of the jungle. (Home is certain to haunt you, wherever you may take refuge). It implies recognition of all this (the idam) as Divinely Poornam (full). and dedication of all thoughts, words and deeds to the Divine. When you have the Vedantic Vision, the place where you are will thereby be Kailaas for you.
When Leela entices God, it takes eight forms
The Sun cannot illumine God; God is the source of the illumination of the Sun. The waves can say they belong to the Sea; but, they cannot claim the Sea belongs to them. The individual can say, "I am Yours" to God; he cannot say, "You are. mine" to God. God is the support; you are the supported. The Nitya-Vibhuti is the support of the Leela Vibhuti; the Sea is the base on which waves happen. When Leela entices God, it takes eight forms: Shuddha Brahmamayi (the absolutely Pure), Chara-charamayi (the moving and the non-Moving), Jyotirmayi (the Luminous), Vaangmayi (the Vocal), Nityanandamayi (the ever-blissfull, Paratparamayi (transcending this world and the next) Mayamayi (enrapturing by its delusive charm) and Shrimayi (resplendent with wealth). The attributeless God assumes the Mind, the Intelli- gence and the Ego, and the magnificent Leela is inaugurated!
The experiences of the waking stage are laid aside when dreams start; dream experiences disappear when sleep supervenes. Being too Is lost in becoming. Christ said, "Life is lost In dreams." But, whatever is experienced in any of these three stages, they happen on the basic Truth, that is, God - just as, all the fear and anxiety, the activity to beat and kill the serpent, is based on the rope that was ignorantly mistaken for a snake.
Let your Love enfold all things and all beings
So, man must endeavour to escape from this delusion and reach the state of fully Illumined wisdom. The best spiritual discipline that can help him to do so is Love. Foster the tiny seed of Love that clings to 'me' and 'mine', let it sprout into Love for the group around you, and grow into Love for all mankind, and spread out its branches over animals, birds and those that creep and crawl, and let the Love enfold all things and beings in all the worlds. Proceed from less Love to more Love, narrow Love to expanded Love. The statement, "From untruth to Truth" is not correct. The progress Is always from the lesser Truth to Truth which is God.
This is a story about the Gods. It deals with the greed of men. It was a fine day in Heaven; Sriman Narayana and His Consort Lakshmi were talking away the hours, when Narada, the wandering minstrel, entered and attracted their attention. Narayana asked Narada whether the denizens of the Earth were happy. Narada replied that since they worshipped Him and won His Grace, men everywhere were quite happy and prosperous. At this, Lakshmi (who was the Goddess of Wealth) was afflicted with Jealousy and anger for, Her share in conferring happiness on man was not acknowledged. She challenged Narada to prove that Naaraayana was more adored than Herself down on earth.
Goddess Lakshmi accepts a challenge
Narayana accepted the challenge. Donning ochre robes, He transformed Himself into a monk and went down amongst the villages and towns, preaching the Path. Thousands flocked at these meetings and listened to the enchanting oratory. They followed Him from place to place and adored Him with effusive enthusiasm. He was being carried along on a huge wave of devotion and adulation.
Lakshmi saw this and could not contain herself: She was overwhelmed by envy. So, she too donned the Sanyaasi (ascetic person)robe and came down to the very region which Narayana had conquered for Himself. The people were drawn towards Her by the effulgence of Her presence, many came away from the meetings addressed by Narayana to bask in Her Presence. A few invited Her to their homes for dinner. She agreed but, declared that it was a vow she had Undertaken, not to eat out of plates other than her own. She said, she would bring Her own plate, cup, drinking vessel etc. The host was only too glad to comply with Her request, for, that helped him to overcome one bother among many!
Lakshmi took with Her when She went to the houses of Her hosts, a plate of gold, a cup and a water-vessel, all three of gold! The host admired and adored Her the more for this display of pomp and wealth. But, he was astounded and delighted, when, after dinner, Lakshmi said that she was leaving the plate etc., at the host's home, since that too was part of her vow! When the news spread that it was highly profitable to Invite Lakshmi to Dinner and to adore Her, there was a huge clamour for Her Grace and millions deserted Narayana's Discourses and hovered around the Giver of Gold. People prayed to Narayana to go back to whence He came, for, they had no time to receive Him or listen to Him. Lakshmi was monopolising their attention! So, Lakshmi came back to Heaven, to meet Narayana who was already there. She asked Naaradha, "Who is being worshiped more, Narayana or Lakshmi?"
Righteous activity is prompted by Truth
Narada replied with another question: "Whom are You worshiping, please?" Lakshmi answered, "Why? I worship Narayana." Then, said Narada, "Know that it is Narayana's Grace that is helping you to bestow those gifts of gold, which make men worship you." Lakshmi's pride was humbled; but, man's foolishness continues. He worships Vasudeva (mere earthy riches), not Vasudeva (indwelling divinity), Lakshmi, not Narayana!
Righteous activity is prompted by Truth. Truth is the basic teaching of all Faiths. Also, Morality and Love. These three have come to establish. This day is Guru Poornima. The morning I laid the Foundation for the Pillar of Truth, which supports and sustains the twin virtues of Love and Morality. In the Vedic Rite of sanctifying the spot where the Pillar will be erected, you must have noticed that nine different grains that grow on the earth and nine precious gems that are got from under the earth were used. These represent the Nine forms of Bhakti (devotion), the Nine stages in man's journey to God, the Nav Vidha Bhakti. Of these, the most vital is Seva (selfless service) to fellow-beings. I exhort you to dedicate yourselves fully to this task and live in the full cognisance of this primary duty to your own self-service.
Source: Divine Discourse on July 23, 1975 on the occasion of Guru Poornima at Prasanthi Nilayam
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