Sagar: Swamiji pranam! Swamiji in one of your recent answers you mentioned that Swami Dayanand ji got vairagya by seeing death,and also because of his past karmas. Swamiji would it be possible to know what actually is vairagya. What happens when one gets vairagya. swamiji I want to express couple of things when I listen to anything about Swami Dayanandji his life story and what he did for spreading the vedic knowledge I always have tears in my eyes exactly like when I listen to your Vedvani songs. Swamiji also following vedas does it generate deshbhakti? I am falling in love with my country more in more each day. Swamiji, please enlighten me on this subject.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you, my son. In first step, a person starts feeling that the human body is destructible and death is sure to come. So, he thinks that what is the aim of human body. He tries to know about death and birth and main motto of the life etc. Though this is not vairagya but such thinking is the first step to go forward to indulge in vairagya. Such person may return back to the illusion (attachments etc.) but if such person has firm decision to know above quoted matter then he makes contact with any learned acharya of Vedas and starts Vedic worship. Continued worship, for a long time, i.e., study of Vedas, name jaap, daily Yajyen/agnihotra and hard practice of Ashtang Yog, one day makes the devotee ascetic. Ascetic means-
Drishtanu shravik Vishyavitrishnsya Vashikaarsangya Vairaagyam (1/15)
(Drisht) already saw (Aanushravik) already heard (Vishya) scene/incidents/matters (vitrishnsya) without attachment/desires (vashikaarsangya) this controlled stage of Chitta (vairaagyam) is Asceticism.
The above sutra concludes that whatever we have seen or heard through the organs of eyes, ears, etc. about the materialistic articles has been determined through organs of eyes, ears, mind etc. These are called the seen/experienced articles or experienced matters.
But, as said in the sutra regarding the “Aanushravik Vishya”, this knowledge cannot be got without listening the preach from Rishi/Muni/Yogi/true saints or without studying Vedas/shastras/holy books through a spiritual master. This Aanushravik subject-matter pertains to the knowledge of future birth, final liberation, realization of permanent merriment beyond the pleasure experienced from organs regarding materialistic world, and perfect judgement of supernatural powers. These all are gained through the long practice of the authentic spiritual path, including practice of Ashtang Yoga. The materialistic activities and experience thereof by general human being and even by Rishi/Muni/Yogis also come in “Aanushravik Vishya” i.e. already seen and experienced worldly affairs both are neglected and become undesirous and even do not come under consideration in life again, then only this type of stage of Chitta is controlled asceticism – because at this stage an aspirant has controlled his worldly desires and the remembrance of all previous life, happenings, etc. It is very much clear that normally when we sit on meditation for worship, etc. then our Chitta starts remembering all the previous lives’ good or bad happenings.
But, more often, today’s saints say to sit on meditation and reciting Holy name of God. On the contrary, the traditional knowledge of yoga philosophy preached in the most ancient Vedas do not accept it. As briefed above, this traditional knowledge says about the determination of the authentic path first, and then to follow the same by its practice. Secondly, through the preach of Rishis/Munis/Vedas/shastras etc. an aspirant must remember that the whole world is destructible and both by practising yoga philosophy and listening preach as briefed above when he becomes a true ascetic then only the fruitful result is obtained.
Anushravik Vishya
We were studying sutra 1/15 regarding asceticism. Here Patanjali Rishi says that “Anushravik Vishya” are pertaining to those, which took place in the past in respect of life of ancient Rishis/Munis – the merriments of next birth mentioned in Vedas, the next top class birth, full with every assets and enjoyment, everlasting pleasure of final liberation and the perfection of Yoga’s achievement. Vyas Muni says when ascetic becomes un-desirous about this Vishyaya (subject matters) then this stage is called fully controlled asceticism of an aspirant. Let us learn about ‘Anushravik Vishaya’.
Our ancient Munis like Vyas, Agastya, Atri, Shringi, etc. attained the stage of ‘Asampragyat Samadhi’. Those Rishis were worshipped by the then kings, queens, their daughters, sons and even by the public. Rishis like Gargi, Yagyavalka, Shatananda and Vamdev, etc. used to live in the palace also. Yagyavalka Rishi had two wives and so many Rishis had even more. So, the knowledge being given in the sutra is that if the aspirant or a saint of the present time starts quoting the said reference of the Rishis, Munis with the intention that they should also get the merriment in the same manner of the ancient Rishis then this thinking comes under ‘Anushravik Vishya’ and so-called saints/aspirants of the present time are wasting their lives and life of the public, being arrogant.
We should also know here that in addition a present saint or aspirant are comparing themselves with the ancient Rishis, who were having the complete knowledge of four Vedas and yoga philosophy in experience, whereas the present saints/aspirants are very few who are so. In this asceticism, the materialistic merriment is also included. So, according to this sutra, no saints or aspirants must collect the materialistic articles to become a true yogi.
Tata Parmam Purushkhya Ter Gun Vaitrishnayam (1/16)
(Tata) that (Param) is the highest asceticism which comes (Purushkhyatehe) after realizing the knowledge of God and the aspirant (Gunvaitrishnayam) becomes un-desirous of the qualities of Prakriti.
Meaning: When the aspirant becomes ascetic, mentioned in the sutra 1/15 and practises Ashtang Yoga, studies holy books like Ved, shastras, does auspicious deeds with full faith and without disturbances and break, then he gets the full knowledge about the Almighty God. Due to this effect of realizing Almighty God, he is detached with the qualities of Prakriti (i.e. Rajo, Tamo, Sato qualities). In the Yoga Shastra, this is called Parvairagya i.e. the highest stage of asceticism. Here a story of Mahabharat is quoted:
There was a king named Nahush. Once he prayed to Rishi Chayvan to pay him visit to his palace. The king served the Rishi at his level best but still the king could not make the Rishi happy. Even once the Rishi Chayvan left the palace without telling anybody else, for his Ashram. In the morning when the king and the queen came to know about the Rishi, they both followed the path to the Rishi’s Ashram. After a long distance they saw a very beautiful palace, with all assets and all materialistic merriment, including sensuality, etc. For a second, king and queen were astonished but after looking at every article of the palace and leaving it, they reached Rishi Chayvan’s Ashram. They bowed on the feet of Rishi and prayed to him to become happy with them and to shower his blessings.
When the Rishi pleased and showered blessings on them, then in a pleasant mood, the queen requested with folded hands to Rishi to tell about the enchanted palace in the jungle. Chayvan Rishi smiled and told that the enchanted palace was made by him with Yogic illusion for the king and his queen. Chayvan Rishi further added that he (Chavyan Rishi) thought that both, the king and his queen, will become entangled in the illusion of materialistic attractive articles and thus king and queen will be ruined. But Chayvan Rishi was surprised that neither king nor queen was entangled with the enchanted palace.
After all, Rishi had to bless king and the queen both. King requested the Rishi to elevate his family from Kshatriya to Brahmin kul. But in return the Rishi blessed that the king and his son will not be Brahmins, but his grandson will first become Rajrishi and thereafter he will be turned as a Brahmin. And everybody knows that Rishi Vishwamitra was born in Kshatriya family and was a king. After sometime, he left for jungle, did the highest Ashtang Yoga practice, studied Vedas and became a Rishi. So, this all was possible only due to asceticism of Rishi Vishwamitra’s forefathers. Here Vyas Muni comments on this sutra are that whatever we see or hear if we feel the faults/sins/damage about listening and hearing then we will be an ascetic. Actually what happens that the scene we see, and the talk we listen, gives us enjoyment of materialistic world and we always are indulged through eye, ear, skin, nose and tongue to see, listen, feel, smell and taste about the worldly affairs. Due to lack of Vedic preach or practice of Yoga philosophy, we do not realize the bad effects of all these listening and hearing and that is why we do not leave it. Instead we are indulged more and more in worldly affairs.
We must concentrate on the said great point of Vyas Muni that he is an ascetic who sees fault/sins in listening and hearing on the materialistic subjects. Nowadays, cinema, TV, backbiting, etc. are the most dangerous activities, which are mostly based in worldly attraction. So, one should carefully listen and hear the matter of faith, truth, Vedas, shastras, Holy Books and even one should seek good or bad from the same. Until and unless we do not continue practising Ashtang Yoga and authentic worship of God including listening of Vedas, Holy Books, etc. then it will be very difficult to determine that what is wrong and what is good. Even to realize the effect of shastra’s preach is very difficult to understand. In this sutra also an ascetic has been warned not to plan for pleasure even of the final liberation and enjoyment, whatever our ancient Rishis/Munis had gained and what to talk about materialistic merriment. So, will have to realize that even listening to the cassette of religious songs or stories, to define religion, will not meet with success in the matter of truth/worship/control of organs/to continue Ashtang Yoga etc.
It will give us only timely pleasure of listening by ears. So the matter of faith/religion/yoga philosophy is deep and vast, and requires study of Vedas/shastras and continuous practice of Vedas/shastras and continuous practice of Yoga philosophy under the supervision of an experienced, Yogi who knows all the said system. When the aspirant is able to realize the fault about listening and hearing, as mentioned above, then he becomes a real ascetic and this is the stage of a Purified Chitta. Thus the practice of realizing Almighty God makes the ascetic able to detach himself from the effect of qualities of Prakriti (Rajo, Tamo & Sato Gun) and thus the soul attains Par-vairaagya (the highest stage of asceticism). The soul who has attained the said highest stage of asceticism is only capable to attain the final liberation.
Yes, Vedas have complete knowledge of the universe like, about the form of deeds and worship. It includes patriotism (deshbhakti) as well. So, patriotism also exists in Vedas.
So, I appreciate your love towards country.
Again, my heartiest blessings to you.
Rakesh: Pranam swamiji mai bas app kay darshan karna cchata hu.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Yes, you are welcome, here.
Rakesh: Pranam swamiji. Mai abi 5 parts divine light pad raha hu..
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Good, please.
