In the previous episode, we had witnessed Sage Pulasthya and Bhishmachaarya exchanging an important conversation with each other with regards to the benefits that a person would receive when he / she embarks on a “Teertha-Yatra” to visit important “Punya-Kshetras” across our Bhaarata Desha. As part of this discussion, the duo talks about those qualities that one should not possess while embarking on spiritual journeys. One important aspect among the lot is “Karthrutva Buddhi” – Many times we might be having this thought that it was only because of our own effort were we able to undertake the “Yatra” successfully. This attitude is not right. Instead, we should always have the humility to accept that it is only with Bhagawan’s divine “Anugraha” we are able to visit these places and get the benefits out of it. Secondly, the duo also speak about those of us who have “Ahankara” and “Mamahaara” (Anger and self-pride). If we have these bad qualities in us when we’re embarking on such tours, we would not have the purity of mind from within us. Only if our minds are pure, will we be able to enjoy any benefit of the “Teertha Yatras”. Readers should keep both these points in mind very clearly.
Moving on with the conversation further thus, the duo discusses various other important points. Firstly they talk about how one should have accumulated enormous “Punya-Karma” in the past birth(s), so that he / she gets this opportunity today! This is extremely true for all of us – For instance, if we’re able to obtain an opportunity to visit Mathura, Brindavan, Dwaraka, Ayodhya, etc. where Bhagawan’s divine lotus feet have been imprinted, what amount of “Punya-Karma” we’ve done earlier! We should be able to pay our gratitude to Bhagawan for giving us the apt reward for whatever we’ve done earlier! Similarly, it is not easy to obtain the divine “Anugraha” and a close proximity of a Guru (Spiritual Master or a Mahatma) in one’s lifetime. Like I’ve told many times earlier as well, a Guru can be anyone who is a spiritually realized soul – Be it Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi or Shirdi Sai Baba or Puttaparthi Sai Baba, Ma Anandamayi, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, or whoever – If a Guru has to talk, render some advice to us, guide us, etc. we should be damn sure that we’ve done enormous “Punya-Karma” (Good deeds) in our previous births! It is only because of this, the Mahatma reaches out to us. Thus, we should take this as an opportunity to gain the maximum benefit out of our Guru’s advice. This is one important point that we should remember. The crux here is very simple – If we’re getting an opportunity to visit any of the “Punya-Kshetras” including a Guru’s abode, it is all because of our “Punya-Karma” that we’re getting this reward from Bhagawan. We should utilize this in the right way.
Secondly, whenever we go for “Teertha-Yatras” a person who gives more importance to the physical comforts and preferences, would never be able to benefit out of the entire exercise. Many of us make this mistake – When we travel as a group of say, 100 or 200 people together for a spiritual tour, many of us would not be preferring to stay in a shared accommodation (Dormitory types). All of us want a nice 5-star hotel with all the physical comforts to stay. We should remember one thing here – We’re not going for a business or a leisure trip. This is a spiritual tour. While embarking these kinds of tours, the focus should only be worshipping the deity / Guru, rather than the physical comfort. Some of us also have this requirement today – Whenever we travel in a train, many of us would only want the lower berth and not the middle or the upper ones. This is because we’re too lazy to get up and down the middle and upper berths everytime and we might end up “straining” ourselves by doing so! These are the physical comforts that we should be ready to give up for a noble cause. We should have a clear understanding that the reason behind the travel is to obtain the divine “Anugraha” of Bhagawan or the Guru. For this, things would not be easily happening. Only if we are prepared to undergo some suffering, will we be able to obtain the “Anugraha”. We should always remember that nothing in life comes very easily to us. We should slog our way through to achieve something. Similarly here also, if we’ve to really obtain the divine “Anugraha” of Bhagawan / Guru, we’ve to be prepared to manoeuvre a few physical hurdles. Only then we would become eligible for receiving the “Anugraha”.
So for today, let us understand these two points very clearly – Firstly, if we’re able to embark on any spiritual “Yatra”, we should understand that it is because of our accumulated past “Punya-Karma” that we’re getting this reward. Secondly, while embarking on the “Yatra”, we should not give importance for physical comfort. We should learn to accept whatever situations come by, and should not crib or keep complaining about them. If we’re not having this tolerance within us, we would slowly become ineligible to obtain Bhagawan’s / Guru’s “Anugraha”. So let us understand these important points today and we shall wait till the next episode to continue this discussion further! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 