In the previous episode, we had witnessed the commencement of a very important answer given by Bhagawan Krishna to the questions asked by Uddhava. It is to be remembered by the readers that we’re now amidst the “Keshava-Uddhava-Samvaadham”, as part of Bhagawan Krishna’s important pieces of advice to Uddhava, just before He’s going to descend back to Vaikunta. He guides Uddhava on how do we follow the “Bhakti-Maarga” to reach Bhagawan at the end of this birth. This is what we often refer to as “spiritual progress” or “walking the spiritual path”. The answers that Bhagawan Krishna is giving here is of course not only for Uddhava alone, but for all of us who are striving hard to follow the lines of the “Bhakti-Maarga”. In this way, yesterday we’ve witnessed two important practices that would eventually lead up to the “Bhakti-Maarga” – “Paricharya” (Performing voluntary and selfless service to Bhagawan & His ardent devotees – Bhaagawathas) and “Stuthi” (Singing in praise of Bhagawan or chanting His slokas with a one-pointed focus). We’ve witnessed a brief description about both of them yesterday. In today’s episode, we shall move ahead with the other ways that Bhagawan Krishna is going to list out. For our reference, let us re-visit the sloka from where we’re picking up these important points right now.
Bhagawan Krishna says thus:
“Paricharyaa stuthihi prahvaguna karmaanu keertanam!
Mat kathaashravaneshtadhaa madanudhyaanam uddhava!!
Sarva laabopaharana daasena aatmanivedanam!!”
We now move on with the next aspect – Those who constantly talk and discuss about me and my “Avatara” significances and those who are propagating all of these points are sure to attain “Moksha”! This is also one path of “Bhakti-Maarga”. Whenever we get time away from our professional and personal duties, we should think of Bhagawan, talk about His divine “Leelas” with people around us. This is why we often stress the importance of being amidst a “Satsanga”. I’ve repeatedly stressed upon this point time and again at various contexts, but here, Bhagawan Himself is laying so much emphasis on it. Whenever we get an opportunity, we should never miss to be part of the “Satsanga” group and talk about Bhagawan. This itself is one of the highest forms of “Bbhakti-Maarga”. Sage Aadi-Shankara Bhagawatpaada too stresses this point in his “Bhaja-Govindam” hymn isn’t? He says thus:
“Satsangatve nissangatvam.. Nissangatve nirmohatvam!
Nirmohatve nischala tatvam… Nischala tatve jeevan muktihi!!”
Here we can see that Sage Shankara had built a nice “staircase” for attaining “Moksha” through the path of “Satsanga”. With this, we should realize the importance of this “Bhakti-Maarga”, and make it a point that we read a lot about Bhagawan, discuss and talk about Bhagawan with like-minded people and by that, we should strive towards attaining “Moksha”. We should understand that this is one of the easiest ways of doing things. We can allocate some time even at home, to talk and discuss about Bhagawan amidst our family members – Our spouse, children, parents, etc. This itself is one of the greatest forms of “Satsanga”. If we’re doing this meticulously every day at home, Bhagawan makes it a point to dwell at all times amongst us! If Bhagawan is going to be with us at all times, what more can we ask for? Hence, let us make it a point to follow this easy step.
In addition to this point, as an extension, if we get opportunities, we should not only restrict ourselves to talk about Bhagawan amidst close “Satsangas”, but also try and propagate Bhagawan’s significances to the world, as much as possible. In fact, this is also one important purpose for which this blog, titled “The Indian Dharma” was formed in the year 2017. With Bhagawan Krishna’s divine grace, we’ve been running this blog for the past 4 years and through this blog page, we’re trying to propagate Bhagawan’s important pieces of advice, messages, significance, etc. to far off places across the globe. With Bhagawan’s divine grace, we’ve had viewership from approximately 120 countries across the globe. This process is what we refer to “Prasanga” and this is another way of practising “Bhakti-Maarga”. Hence, if we’re getting opportunities to do such things, we should be readily coming forward to take it up immediately.
Moreover, apart from talking and discussing about Bhagawan in various forums, we should also cultivate the habit of “listening” to Bhagawan’s stories, songs, slokas, etc. This is again, one of the easiest ways of performing “Bhakti-Maarga”. We should make it a point to spend time in listening to spiritual discourses done by some eminent scholarly people, listening to “Krithis”, Bhajans, etc. in praise of Bhagawan and also to slokas from prominent texts like Valmiki Ramayana, Bhagawad Gita, Bhaagwatha Puraana, etc. By listening to all of these, the most important thing that would happen is that, our mind would slowly and automatically start coming into our control. Once we’re able to achieve mind control, automatically our “Satva Guna” is going to fly high, and in turn, our mind is going to become conditioned to follow the path of attaining “Moksha”!
So for today, we’ve discussed three important pathways of attaining “Moksha” – Being part of “Satsanga”, “Propagating Bhagawan’s significances” (Prasanga) and Listening to Bhagawan’s significances (Shravana). So let us put these easy, but important points into practice from today and we shall wait for the next episode to continue this important discussion further! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 