1964 IV Oct.pdf

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ED I TOR : A R T H U R O S B O R N E

IB I, No. 4

ctober, 1964

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


" W a s i t f o r T h y p l e a

s u r e o r f o r m y s a k e T h o u

d i d s t w i n m e ? I f n o w

T h o u t u r n m e a w a y , t h e

w o r l d w i l l b l a m e T h e e ,

O h A r u n a c h a l a ! "

—The Marital Garland of

Letters, V e r s e 4 .

Publisher:

T . N . V e n k a t a r a m a n ,

S r i R a m a n a s r a m a m ,

T i r u v a n n a m a l a i .

Editor :

A r t h u r O s b o r n e ,



Managing Editor :

V . G a n e s a n ,



A n n u a l S u b s c r i p t i o n :

Rs . 5 ; 10 sh. ; $ 1.50.

L i f e S u b s c r i p t i o n :

R s. 100 ; £ 10 ; $ 30.

S i n g l e C o p y :

Rs . 1 .50 ; 3 sh. ; $ 0 /45 .

T H E M O U N T A I N P A T H( A Q U A R T E R L Y )

" A r u n a c h a l a ! T h o u d o s t r o o t o u t t h e e g o o f t h o s e

w h o m e d i t a t e o n T h e e i n t h e h e a r t , O h A r u n a c h a l a ! "

—T he M arital Garland of Letters, V e r s e 1 .

V o l . I O C T O B E R 1 9 6 4 N o . 4

C O N T E N T S

P a g e

EDITORIAL :

Th e T w o Pat hs . . 195

R e s u r r e c t i o n — M u r u g a n a r . . 197

T h e M a h a r s h i a n d t h e P a t h o f K n o w l e d g e

— T M . P . Mahadevan . . 198

T h e F o r t y V e r s e s o n R e a l i t y

—Sri Ramana Maharshi . . 203

T h e M a h a r s h i a n d t h e P a t h o f D e v o t i o n

— A . Devaraja Mudaliar . . 206

T h e W o r l d — A . Rao . . 209

T h e M a r i t a l G a r l a n d o f L e t t e r s

—Sri Ramana Maharshi . . 21 0

B h a k t i M a r g a i n B u d d h i s m—Lama Anagarika Govinda . . 215

J n a n a a n d B h a k t i — D r - T . N. Krishnaswami . . 222

S i l e n t T e a c h i n g — Ethel Merston . . 222

J n a n a M a r g a i n C h r i s t i a n i t y — Joel Goldsmith 223

A R R O W S F R O M A CHRISTIAN B O W I V :

J n a n a a n d B h a k t i in C h r i s t i a n i t y

—Sagittarius . . 228

ASPEC T S O F I S L A M — I V :

The Suf i Path o f Love

—Abdullah Qutbuddin . . 229

F r o m T a y u m a n a v a r — P ro f. K. R. R. Sastry . . 231

T h e E s s e n t i a l I d e n t i t y — W e i Wu Wei . . 232

H o w I c a m e t o th e M a h a r s h i :

I V — Dil ip Kum,ar Roy . . 234Th e Na me . . 236

LET T ER S TO A BROTHER IV :

S a m a d h i — N a g a m m a . . 239

C h ' a n M a s t e r H s u Y u n

—Up asaka Lu K'uan Yu (Charles Luk) 240

I n t r o d u c i n g M u r u g a n a r . . 2 4 4

B o o k R e v i e w s

A s h r a m B u l l e t i n

L e t t e r s t o t h e E d i t o r

S r i R a m a n a M a n t a p a N i d h i

246

256

259

262

COVER : Design by Sr i S . K . A c h a r y ; Blocks by M e s s r s . S h a n k e r & C o . , B o m b a y .

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


' T H E M O U N T A I N P A T H '

Th e aim of this journ al is to set forth the traditional wisd om of al l religions and

all ages, especially as testified to by their saints and my stics, and to clarify the paths

available to seekers in the conditions of our modern world.

C o n t r i b u t i o n s f o r p u b l i c a t i o n s h o u l d b e a d d r e s s e d t o ' T h e E d i t o r , T h e M o u n t a i n P a t h , S r i

R a m a n a s r a m a m , T i r u v a n n a m a l a i , M a d r a s S t a t e \ T h e y s h o u l d b e i n E n g l i s h a n d t y p e d w i t h

d o u b l e s p a c i n g . C o n t r i b u t i o n s n o t p u b l i s h e d w i l l b e r e t u r n e d o n r e q u e s t .

T h e e d i t o r i s n o t r e s p o n s i b l e f o r s t a t e m e n t s a n d o p i n i o n s c o n t a i n e d i n s i g n e d a r t i c l e s .

N o p a y m e n t i s m a d e f o r c o n t r i b u t i o n s p u b l i s h e d . A n y t h i n g h e r e i n p u b l i s h e d m a y b e r e

p r i n t e d e l s e w h e r e w i t h o u t f e e p r o v i d e d d u e a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t is m a d e a n d t h e e d i t o r i s p r e v i o u s l y

n o t i f i e d .

TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS

1- T h e o f fi c ia l y e a r o f th e q u a r t e r l y i s f r o m J a n u a r y to D e c e m b e r , b u t a S u b s c r i p

t i on can s tart f rom any i ssue .

2. S U B S C R I B E R S I N I N D I A s h o u l d r e m i t t h e i r a n n u a l s u b s c r i p t i on b y M o n e y

O r d e r o n l y a s f a r a s p o s s i b l e a n d n o t b y c h e q u e s . T h e w o r d s ' s u b s c r i p t i o n f o r

T H E M O U N T A I N P A T H f o r y e a r / y e a r s ' s h o u l d b e w r i t t e n o n t h e M . O .

c o u p o n a n d t h e f u l l n a m e a n d a d d r e s s w r i t t e n i n B L O C K L E T T E R S o n t h e

r e v e r s e o f t h e c o u p o n .

L i f e S u b s c r i p t i o n s h o u l d b e s en t b y c h e q u e d r a w n f a v o u r i n g T H E M O U N T A I N

P A T H a n d c r o s s e d .

T h e j o u r n a l w i l l n o t b e s e n t b y V . P . P .

3 . F O R E I G N S U B S C R I B E R S ca n s e n d t h e ir s u b s c ri p t i on b y I n t e r n a t io n a l M o n e y

O r d e r s , B r i t i s h P o s t a l O r d e r s o r b y B a n k c h e q u e s o r d r a f t s p a y a b l e i n I n d i a ,

U S . A . o r U . K . *

T h e s u b s c r i p t i o n r a t e s a r e f o r d e s p a t c h o f t h e j o u r n a l b y s u r f a c e m a i l t o a l l p a r t s

o f t h e w o r l d .

I f d e s p a t c h b y A I R M A I L i s d e s i r e d t h e f o l l o w i n g additional annual amount

s h o u l d b e r e m i t t e d :

R s . £ $

( a ) P a k i s t a n , C e y l o n 4.00

( b ) A s i a , E g y p t , I n d o n e s i a 12s- 1.80

( c ) E u r o p e , A f r i c a ( e x c l u d i n g E g y p t ) 18s. 2.70

( d ) A u s t r a l i a , N e w Z e a l a n d , ' F i j i 24s. 3.60

( e ) N o r t h & S o u t h A m e r i c a , H a w a i i 30s . 4.50

Readers whose subscriptions end with this issue are requested

to take out a renewal in good time.

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T h e M o u n t a i n P a t h( A Q U A R T E R L Y )

Editor: A R T H U R O S B O R N E

V O L . I O CT O BE R, 1964 No. 4

T H E T W O P A T H S

( E D I T O R I A L )

G r a n t e d t h a t a p a t h is n e c e s s a r y , t h e n e x t

que st i on i s : wh at pat h ? I t is he l d i n In di a

that there are thr ee type s o f path : j na na

m a r g a , b h a k t i m a r g a a n d k a r m a m a r g a , t h e

p a t h s o f k n o w l e d g e , d e v o t i o n a n d a c t i o n .

N o t c o m p l e t e l y c o n f o r m i n g t o a n y o f t h e s e ,

t h e r e a r e a l s o t h e t e c h n i c a l l y i n t r i c a t e t y p e s

o f path o f yoga and tantra . These l ast are

d i f fi cu l t to f o l l ow i n the cond i t i ons o f o ur

t i m e . T h e y a r e n o t c o n s i d e r e d h e r e b u t a r e

l e f t to be dea l t w i th l ater .

K a r m a m a r g a , t h e p a t h o f a c t i o n , i s a l s o

l e f t f o r l a t e r t r e a t m e n t - F o r t h e m o m e n t , l e t

u s c o n s i d e r t h e t w o g r e a t p a t h s o f k n o w l e d g e a n d d e v o t i o n , b e i n g a n d w o r s h i p , t h e

one a i m i ng at Ide nt i t y and the o ther at the

u n i o n o f t w o , t o o n e o r t h e o t h e r o f w h i c h a n

a s p i r a n t is a p t to b e d r a w n b y h is o w n t e m

p e r a m e n t . T h e y a r e n o t in f a c t m u t u a l l y e x

c l u s i v e , a l t h o u g h t h e y m a y s e e m t o b e s o

i n t h e o r y . " T h e f o u r m a r g a s , k a r m a , b h a k t i ,

y o g a a n d j n a n a , a r e n o t e x c l u s i v e o f o n e

a n o t h e r . E a c h i s, h o w e v e r , d e s c r i b e d s e p a

r a t e l y i n c l a s s i c a l w o r k s o n l y t o c o n v e y a n

i d e a o f t h e a p p r o p r i a t e a s p e c t o f G o d t o

a p p e a l r e a d i l y t o t h e a s p i r a n t a c c o r d i n g t o

h i s p r e d i s p o s i t i o n . " 1 N e v e r t h e l e s s , a s p i r a n t s

d o , i n the m ai n , f o l l o w e i ther the path o f

k n o w l e d g e o r t h a t o f d e v o t i o n , o f t e n w i t h a

c e r t a i n a d m i x t u r e o f t h e o t h e r a n d o f t h e

path o f ac t i on .

S t a r t i n g w i t h t h e p a t h o f k n o w l e d g e :

' k n o w l e d g e ' i n t h i s s e n s e d o e s n o t i m p l y

l e a r n i n g , t h e o r y o r p h i l o s o p h y b u t i n t u i t i v e

u n d e r s t a n d i n g . I n d e e d , i t i s t h e i n d i r e c t

p a t h s t h a t r e q u i r e e l a b o r a t e t h e o r y . O n l y t h e

b a r e m i n i m u m o f t h e o r y i s n e e d e d f o r t h e

p a t h o f k n o w l e d g e :

S i m p l y t h a t B e i n g i s , a n d y o u a r e T h a t ;

T h e r e f o r e t o k n o w t h e e s s e n t ia l S e l fo f y o u

Is to kno w a l l . Bu t not by ga z i ng at ,

A s o n e c a n k n o w a n o t h e r , f o r n o t t w o

T h e U l t i m a t e . K n o w l e d g e i n t h a t h i g h

s e n s e

I s s i m p l e B e i n g , B e i n g a l o n e i s t r u e .

T h i s w a s t h e p a t h t h a t B h a g a v a n t a u g h t

( a l t h o u g h , a s w i l l a p p e a r la t e r , h e a l l o w e d

iThe Maharshi's Commentary on h i§ ' Five

Stanzas t o S r i Arunachala\ Collected Works,

Rider & C o . , L o n d o n , a n d S r i R a m a n a s r a m a m ,

Tiruvannamalai. . x

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


19 6 T H E M O U N T A I N P A T H October

f o r b h a k t i m a r g a a l s o ) . T h e m e t h o d b y w h i c h

i t i s t o b e f o l l o w e d i s S e l f - e n q u i r y , t h e

c o n s t a n t p r o b i n g i n t o t h e r e a l i t y o f o n e ' s

Self. " S e l f - e n q u i r y l e a d s d i r e c t l y t o Self-

r e a l i z a t i o n b y r e m o v i n g t h e o b s t a c l e s w h i c h

m a k e y o u t h i n k t h a t t h e S e l f is n o t a l r e a d y

rea l i zed . " 2 I t i s not the same as medi tat i on ,

a l t h o u g h s o m e t i m e s l o o s e l y s o c a l l e d ,

" M e d i t a t i o n r e q u i r e s a n o b j e c t t o m e d i t a t e

o n , w h e r e a s in S e l f - e n q u i r y t h e r e is o n l y t h e

s u b j e c t a n d n o o b j e c t . T h a t is t h e d i f f e r e n c e

b e t w e e n t h e m . " 3 " C o n c e n t r a t i o n i s n o t

th i nki ng o f one th i ng . On the contrary i ti s exc l udi ng a l l thoughts , s i nce a l l

t h o u g h t s o b s t r u c t t h e s e n s e o f o n e ' s

t r u e b e i n g , ' ' 4 T h e e f f o r t m u s t b e m a d e

t o s u s p e n d t h o u g h t w h i l e r e t a i n i n g c o n s

c i o u s n e s s . U s u a l l y w h e n t h o u g h t c e a s e s o n e

goe s to s l eep ; wh at o ne mus t do i s to r e

m a i n a w a k e a n d c o n s c i o u s a n d c o n c e n t r a t e

on th e pu re sense o f be i n g , o f ' I am ' , that

r e m a i n s w h e n t h o u g h t s u b s i d e s . I t i s n o t

easy at f i rs t , but wi th e f f or t and pract i ce i t

c a n b e d o n e .

W h o a m I ? " A n y a n s w e r t h e m i n d c a n

g i v e m u s t b e w r o n g , " B h a g a v a n s a id . I n

f a c t t h e v e r y a t t e m p t t o g i v e a v e r b a l a n s

w e r s h o w s t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n h a s b e e n

w r o n g l y c o n s i d e r e d a p h i l o s o p h i c a l c o n u n

drum, when i n f act i t i s a sp i r i tua l exerc i se

T h e a n s w e r b e g i n s t o c o m e a s a c u r r e n t o f

a w a r e n e s s " body-sensed, mind-known, and

yet from both apart/'

I t i s no use th i nki n g that th e m i nd i s

g o i n g t o a b s o r b o r p o s s e s s t h e n e w k n o w

l ed ge ; on the c ont rar y , i t mu st l e t go an d

c o n s e n t t o b e a b s o r b e d b y i t .

1 sought to devour Thee ;Come now and devour me,

Then there will be peace, Arunachala 1

T h e d e v o t e e o r b h a k t a , o n th e o t h e r h a n d ,

d o e s n o t g o s o f a r a s t o c o n c e i v e o f t h e n o n

e x i s t e n c e o f t h e e g o . T h e r e f o r e h e c a n a l s o

n o t c o n c e i v e o f t h e n o n - e x i s t e n c e o f t h e

w o r l d o u t s i d e t h e e g o o r t h e G o d a b o v e i t .

2 The Teachings of Raman a Mah arshi in his ownwords, p . 112 , Ri d er & Co . , Lon d o n, p . 139 , Sr i

R a m a n a s r a m a m e d i t i o n .

3 Ibid., p. 312/139.

4 Ibid., p. 127/160.

Th e three go toge the r ; i f one o f them ex i s ts

a l l thre e do . " A l l re l i g i ons postu l a te the

t h r e e f u n d a m e n t a l s , t h e w o r l d , t h e s o u l a r i d

Go d ; but i t i s on l y the one Rea l i ty that

man i f ests i tse l f as these thre e . On e can say

' the th ree a re rea l l y thre e ' on l y so l on g as

t h e e g o l a s t s . " 5

T h e r e f o r e t h e b h a k t a , i n s t e a d o f r e c o g

n i z i ng ' Tha t w hi ch i s ' as the v er y Se l f o f

h i m, the so l e surv i ver a f ter the d i sso l ut i on

of the i l l uso ry ego or i nd i v i dua l be i n g ,

r e g a r d s I t a s t h e C r e a t o r a n d S u s t a i n e r o f

t h e in d i v i d u a l b e i n g , t h e G o d t o W h o m t h e

i n d i v i d u a l s u b m i t s , t h e L o v e r w h o m h e

s e e k s , t h e H o m e t o w h i c h h e r e t u r n s .

T H E T W O P A T H S

Do n ' t ask i f I be l i eve i n Go d ;

N o t t h a t t h e q u e r y ,

B u t w h e t h e r I b e l i e v e in m e ,

In l i f e and t heo ry .

I f I am then the wo r l d i s , and ab ov e

A G o d t h a t m a d e m e , G o d w h o s e l i v i n g l o v e

S t i l l d r a w s m e b a c k t o H i m , u n t i l I y e a r n

F o r t h a t l a s t i n e l u c t a b l e r e t u r n

T o O n e n e s s w i t h H i m , o t h e r n e s s b u r n t o u t

In f ires o f l o ve — an d f i nd out thus I am no t .

A s t h o u g h i n d r e a m t h r o u g h d i s t a n t la n d s

t o r o a m ,

T h e n w a k e w h e r e d o w n y o u l a y : t ha t

t o o a w a y ,

A n d t h e r e f o r e g o o d ; f o r e v e r y w a y l e a d s

h o m e ,

T h o u g h r o u n d a b o u t .

F o r t h o s e w h o g o d i r e c t

T h e r e i s a n a u s t e r e , h i g h m o u n t a i n p a t h :

to be

A h a v e n t o y o u r s e l f , a l a m p t o y o u r s e l f ,

K n o w i n g t h e r e is n o s e p a r a t e y o u t o p r a y

T o b e u n i t e d w i t h a s e p a r a t e G o d

O u t s i d e o f y o u , k n o w i n g t h a t t h e r e j u s t

IS .

Let scho l ars argue th i s or that i s r i ght

A n d f o l l o w n e i t h e r ; w h i c h e v e r w a y y o u

c h o o s e

For you i s r i ght .

5 F o r t y V e r s e s , v . 2 , Collected Works of Raman a

Maharshi, R i d e r & C o . , L o n d o n , a n d S r i R a m a

n a s r a m a m , T i r u v a n n a m a l a i ,

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1964 R E S U R R E C T I O N 19 7

B h a k t i m a r g a i s i n g e n e r a l t h e p a t h t r o d

d e n b y C h r i s t ia n a n d M u s l i m s e e k e r s ( a n d

i n d e e d , t h e v e r y w o r d ' I s l a m ' m e a n s ' s u b

m i s s i o n ' ) . T h e p a t h o f k n o w l e d g e , o n t h e

o t h e r h a n d , i s i n k e e p i n g w i t h t h e o r i g i n a l

g e n i u s o f B u d d h i s m a n d T a o i s m , a l t h o u g h

b o t h f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s o b l i g e d l a t e r t o p r o

v i d e d e v o t i o n a l p a t h s f o r t h e m a n y w h o

c o u l d n o t a s p i r e s o h i g h . B o t h p a t h s e x i s t

s i d e b y s i d e i n H i n d u i s m . I n d e e d , s o m e o f

t h e g r e a t e s t s a i n ts h a v e b e e n b h a k t a s . S r i

R a m a k r i s h n a s a id : " I d o n ' t w a n t to b e c o m e

t h e h o n e y b u t t o r e m a i n s e p a r a t e s o a s t o

t a s t e t h e h o n e y . " T h e g r e a t M a r a t h i p o e t -

s a in t T u k a r a m s p o k e s o m e t i m e s f r o m t h e

v i e w p o i n t o f I d e n t i t y b u t w a s p r i m a r i l y a

b h a k t a , H e w r o t e : " I d o n o t s e e k G o d -

C o n s c i o u s n e s s ( B r a h m a - J n a n a ) . I s h a ll

a l w a y s d e s i r e d u a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s — T h o u s h a lt

e v e r r e m a i n m y L o r d a n d I T h y d e v o t e e . "

I n H i n d u i s m , B u d d h i s m a n d I s l a m , a l

t h o u g h n o t i n C h r i s t i a n i t y , t h e m o s t w i d e l y

u s e d b h a k t i t e c h n i q u e i s i n v o c a t i o n o f t h e

n a m e o f G o d . " T h e s i m p l e s t m e t h o d i s

c h a n t i n g t h e N a m e a n d f r e e i n g t h e m i n df r o m r e s t l e s s n e s s , " s a i d S w a m i R a m d a s , a

g r e a t m o d e r n b h a k t a . 6

T h e M a h a r s h i a l s o o f f e r e d h i s d e v o t e e s t h e

p a t h o f d e v o t i o n a s a n a l t e r n a t i v e t o Self-

e n q u i r y - H e a l w a y s p r e s c r i b e d S e l f - e n q u i r y

i n t h e first p l a c e , b u t if d e v o t e e s c o m p l a i n e d

that the y f ou nd th i s too d i f fi cu l t h e wou l d

o f t e n a d d : " T h e r e a r e t w o w a y s : a s k

y o u r s e l f ' W h o a m I ? ' o r s u b m i t . " A n d

i n d e e d , m a n y o f h i s d e v o t e e s d i d , a n d s t i l l

6 F o r a n a r t i c l e o n w h o m s e e o u r i s s u e o f J a n u ary 1964.

do, f o l l o w h i m b y t h e p a t h o f l o v e , s u r r e n

d e r , d e v o t i o n . E v e n i n t h i s c a s e , h o w e v e r ,

h e d i d n o t g i v e a n i n v o c a t i o n b u t o n l y p r e s

c r i b e d ( a s d i d S a i B a b a a l s o ) 7 c o m p l e t e s u r

r e n d e r t o t h e G u r u . H e h a s b e e n k n o w n t o

m a k e t h e t r e m e n d o u s s t a t e m e n t : " S u b m i t

t o m e a n d I w i l l s t r i k e d o w n t h e m i n d . "

Or : " On l y b e s t i l l and I w i l l do th e re st . "

I t is not an eas y th i ng to kee p th e

m i n d s t i ll , w i t h o u t t h o u g h t s , o r t o s u b m i t a s

B h a g a v a n u n d e r s t o o d s u b m i s s i o n . W h e n o n e

d o e s , t h e b a r r i e r t o T r u t h i s w e a k e n e d a n dG o d , Self, B h a g a v a n d o e s i n d e e d b r e a k

t h r o u g h a n d s t r i k e d o w n t h e i m p o s t o r e g o .

B u t w h a t a n a s s u r a n c e t o r e c e i v e ! A n d

w h a t p o w e r in h i m w h o c a n g iv e i t !

T h e s u r r e n d e r h a s t o b e c o m p l e t e : n o t

on l y surren der o f a l l the ego ' s des i res but

o f the ego that has the des i res , unt i l i n the

end i t turn s out to be an i l l usor y th i ng , and

b h a k t i b e c o m e s j n a n a .

W h i c h e v e r p a t h o n e f o l l o w s , t h e t h i n g is

t o f o l l o w i t , n o t t o a r g u e a b o u t it . A C h r i s

t i a n p r i e s t o n c e t o l d B h a g a v a n t h a t h e c o n s i d e r e d t h e g o a l o f m y s t i c u n i o n e n v i s a g e d

b y C h r i s t i a n s t o b e d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e H i n d u

goa l o f M ok sh a and sup er i or to i t , and

B h a g a v a n r e p l i e d : " A l l r i g h t , a t t a i n t h a t

f irst a nd then see wh eth er yo u s t i l l fi nd an y

d i f f e r e n c e o r a n y t h i n g t o c r i t i c i s e . " T h a t w a s

a l w a y s h i s r e p l y — t o t u r n t h e c r i t i c f r o m

t h e o r y t o p r a c t i c e . A r g u m e n t d i d n o t i n t e r

e s t h i m , o n l y u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d s i n c e r e

e f f or t .

7 Fo r an ar t i c l e on wh om see our i ssue o f Jul y1964.

R E S U R R E C T I O N

L i n e s f r o m t h e Guru Vachaka Kovai ( T a m i l ) o f M u r u g a n a r

T o r t u r e d o n b o d y ' s c r o s s , t h e J e s u s - s e l f

Suf f ers and d i es .

T h e P a s s i o n e n d e d , s e e t h e C h r i s t - s e l f r i s e ,

I m m o r t a l S p i r i t ,

G o d b e y o n d t h e s k i e s !

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


T H E J M AH A RS H I A N D T H E P A T H O F K N O W L E D G E

By T . M . P . M A H A D E V A N

Prof. T. M. P. Mahadevan , head of the philosophy department of Madras University, is kn own

not only in India but in academic circles th roughout the world as one of the leading exponents

of Advaita. He has presented the truth of its doctrines in books and articles and at the many

international philosophical conferences he has attended. Best known, perhaps, of his books are

G a u d a p a d a , A S t u d y i n E a r l y A d v a i t a (published by the University of Madras) and P h i l o s o p h y

o f A d v a i t a (published by Ganesh & Co., Madras). What is perhaps not so well known is that,

behind the defensive armamen ts of philosophy, Prof. Mahadevan is heart and soul a devotee of

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.

Prof. Mahadevan has the ability, so rare among professional philosophers, to express him

self in case of need in direct language free from academic terminology. Knowin g 1 T h e M o u n t a i n

P a t h ' to circulate far beyond academic circles, he has written this article fqr us in language

that all can follow, without sacrificing anything in profundity or exactitude.

J n a n a o r K n o w l e d g e , a c c o r d i n g t o

Ad vai t a , is the so l e d i rect mea ns to L i bera- -

t i o n . J n a n a m a y m e a n S e l f - K n o w l e d g e o r

k n o w l e d g e a s a p a t h t o S e l f -r e a l i z a t i o n . T h e

f o r m e r , svarupa-jnana, i s the Se l f as pu re

C o n s c i o u s n e s s , t h e la t t e r is t h e p r o c e s s c u l

m i n a t i n g i n dkhandakara-vritti, that i s the

m o d e o f m i n d w h o s e c o n t e n t is t h e i m p a r t i t eSelf. A d v a i t i c t e a c h i n g is t h a t k n o w l e d g e i s

t h e p a t h o n e s h o u l d f o l l o w i n o r d e r t o g a i n

S e l f - K n o w l e d g e , w h i c h is t h e s a m e a s

L i b e r a t i o n o r M o k s h a .

T h e r e a s o n w h y k n o w l e d g e i s c o n s i d e r e d

t h e d i r e c t m e a n s t o L i b e r a t i o n i s t o b e f o u n d

i n t h e c o n c e p t i o n o f L i b e r a t i o n itself.

L i b e r a t i o n m e a n s r e l e a s e f r o m t h e c y c l e o f

b i r t h - a n d - d e a t h . I t i s t h e p s y c h o - p h y s i c a l t n a t i n t h i s s e n s e nesc i ence i s sa i d to be

o r g a n i s m t h a t i s i n v o l v e d i n t h i s c y c l e . H o w - b e g i n n i n g l e s s - N e v e r t h e l e s s i t i s n o t e t e r n a l

e v e r , t h e r e i s n o r e a l i n v o l v e m e n t b e c a u s e b u t c a n b e d e s t r o y e d . B u t o n l y b y t r u e

t h e p s y c h o - p h y s i c a l o r g a n i s m a n d t h e w o r l d k n o w l e d g e . W h e n k n o w l e d g e d a w n s n e -

i n w h i c h i t i s a p p a r e n t l y i n v o l v e d a r e o n l y s c i e n c e i s d e s t r o y e d a n d i t i s r e a l i z e d t h a tp r o j e c t i o n s o f n e s c i e n c e (avidya) a n d n o t | t h e S e l f w a s n e v e r b o u n d b u t i s e v e r f r e e ,

r e a l e n t i t i e s . A g a i n d u e to n e s c i e n c e , t h e S e l f ^ h i s i s L i b e r a t i o n ,

i s w r o n g l y i d e n t if ie d w i t h t h e p s y c h o

p h y s i c a l o r g a n i s m a n d i s t h o u g h t t o b e b o r n A c t i o n c a n n o t e f f e ct L i b e r a t i o n b e c a u s e

and to d i e - Thi s i s the me tap hys i ca l er ror act i o n i s not opp ose d to bo nd ag e and to i ts

that i s a t the roo t o f a l l ev i l . Th e con f us i o n cau se , nesc i en ce . W he n o ne says th i s on e

b e t w e e n t h e S e l f a n d t h e n o t - s e l f a n d t h e d o e s n o t m e a n b y ' a c t i o n ' s i m p l e m o v e m e n t

e r r o n e o u s m i n g l i n g o f t h e i r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e b o d y b u t m o v e m e n t w i t h a s e n s e o f

c o n s t i t u t e s n e s c i e n c e . E a c h e a r l i e r a p p e a r - a g e n c y . ' I a c t ' i n t h is s e n s e i m p l i e s t h e

anc e i n the w or l d o f the app aren t se l f i s the i dent i f i cat i on o f the Se l f w i th the ego as

caus e o f the nex t sub seq uen t app ear anc e , so agen t . I t i s th i s conc e i t o f ag enc y that con st i -

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 T H E M A H A R S H I A N D T H E P A T H O F K N O W L E D G E 199

t u t e s t h e s p r i n g o f a c t i o n . T h e w r o n g i d e n t i

f i c a ti o n a n d t h e c o n s e q u e n t c o n c e i t a r e

c a u s e d b y n e s c i e n c e . O b l i v i o n t o t h e t r u e

n a t u r e o f t h e S e l f a s p u r e C o n s c i o u s n e s s i s

t h u s w h a t g i v e s r i s e t o a c t i o n ; t h e r e f o r e

a c t i o n c a n n o t d e s t r o y n e s c i e n c e b u t o n l y

c o n f i r m b o n d a g e t o i t .

A c t i o n i s s a i d t o p r o d u c e a n y o f f o u r

resu l ts : or i g i nat i on (utpatti), a t t a i n m e n t

(prapti), m o d i f i c a t i o n (vikara) a n d p u r i f i

c a t i o n (samskara). A c t i o n o f v a r i o u s k i n d s

i s r e q u i r e d f o r , s a y , p r o d u c i n g a p o t o u t o f

c l a y ( o r i g i n a t i o n ) , a r r i v i n g a t a d e s t i n a t i o n

( a t t a i n m e n t ) , m a k i n g c u r d s o u t o f m i l k

( m o d i f i c a t i o n ) , a n d c le a n i n g a d u s t y m i r r o r

( p u r i f i c a t i o n ) . L i b e r a t i o n , w h i c h is t h e e t e r

nal nature o f the Self, b e l o n g s t o n o n e o f

these f our ca tego r i es . The Se l f i s e ter nal , so

n o t t o b e o r i g i n a t e d ; i t i s a l l - p e r v a d i n g ,

be i ng no n- d ua l , so not to be at ta i ne d ; i t i s

u n c o m p o u n d e d , b e i n g i n f in i t e , s o n o t t o b e

mod i f i ed ; i t i s b l em i shl e ss , be i n g o f the so l e

c o n s i s t e n c y o f C o n s c i o u s n e s s , s o n o t t o b e

p u r i fi e d . T h e r e f o r e a c t i o n c a n d o n o t h i n g t o

o c c a s i o n L i b e r a t i o n .

I n f a c t L i b e r a t i o n i s n o t t o b e o c c a s i o n e d

at a l l . I t i s t rue that L i berat i on i s sa i d to

b e ' a t t a i n e d ' w h e n n e s c i e n c e i s ' d e s t r o y e d '

b y k n o w l e d g e ; b u t t h e t e r m s ' a t t a i n m e n t '

a n d ' d e s t r u c t i o n ' h a v e t o b e u n d e r s t o o d

h e r e in a f i g u r a t i v e s e n s e . T h e r e a r e t w o

k i n d s o f a t t a i n m e n t a n d t w o o f d e s t r u c t i o n :

a t t a i n m e n t o f t h e u n a t t a i n e d a n d a p p a r e n t

a t t a i n m e n t o f t h e a l r e a d y a t t a i n e d ; d e s t r u c

t i o n o f t h e u n d e s t r o y e d a n d a p p a r e n t d e s

t r u c t i o n o f t h e n o n - e x i s t e n t . F o r t h e fi rs t

k i n d a c t i o n i s n e e d e d , f o r t h e s e c o n d k n o w

l e d g e . F o r i n s t a n c e , f o r g e t t i n g a n o r n a m e n tm a d e o u t o f g o l d a c t i o n i s n e e d e d . B u t s u p

pose a person th i nks he has l os t h i s go l d

c h a i n w h e n i n fa c t h e is w e a r i n g i t r o u n d

h i s n e c k a l l t h e t i m e o n l y k n o w l e d g e i s

n e e d e d . S o m e o n e p o i n t s o u t t o h i m t h a t h e

i s we ar i ng i t and i t i s as t ho ug h he had

f o u n d i t . S i m i l a r l y , f o r d e s t r o y i n g a r e a l

s n a k e a c t i o n i s n e e d e d , b u t f o r d e s t r o y i n g a

s n a k e i m a g i n e d i n w h a t i s r e a l l y a p i e c e o f

rope a l l that i s needed i s enough l i ght to see

that ther e i s no snake . Th e at ta i nme nt o f

L i b e r a t i o n a n d d e s t r u c t i o n o f b o n d a g e a r e

o f t h e s e c o n d k i n d , s i n c e L i b e r a t i o n i s e t e r

n a l a n d t h e r e f o r e e v e r a t t a i n e d . I t o n l y

s e e m s t o b e u n a t t a i n e d o n a c c o u n t o f

n e s c i e n c e , a n d o n , t h e d a w n o f k n o w l e d g e i ts

e t e r n a l n a t u r e i s r e v e a l e d . S i m i l a r l y , b o n d

a g e is u n r e a l , b e i n g c a u s e d b y n e s c i e n c e . A t

t h e d a w n o f k n o w l e d g e it s e e m s t o b e r e

m o v e d , b u t it w a s n e v e r t h e r e . I t f o l l o w s ,

t h e n , t h a t k n o w l e d g e a n d n o t a c t i o n i s t h e

m e a n s o f g a i n i n g L i b e r a t i o n a n d d e s t r o y i n g

b o n d a g e .

A c t i o n , h o w e v e r , i s n o t w i t h o u t i t s u s e ,

D i s i n t e r e s t e d a n d d e d i c a t e d a c t i o n (nish-

kama karma, karmayoga) s e r v e s t o p u r i f y

t h e m i n d a n d t h u s p r e p a r e i t f o r t h e p a t h

o f k n o w l e d g e . A l t h o u g h k n o w l e d g e i t s e l f i s

not an act , i t i s the mi nd that has to seek

and ga i n it . A m i nd tha t is i m pu re an d f i l l

ed wi th pass i ons and se l f i sh des i res cannot

e v e n t u r n i n t h e d ir e c t i o n o f S e l f - k n o w

l edge- I t i s on l y the m i nd tha t has been

r e n d e r e d p u r e b y t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f p a s

s i ons that wi l l be i nc l i ned to pursue the path

o f k n o w l e d g e . T h e d i s c i p l i n e b y w h i c h t h e

p a s s i o n s m a y b e e l i m i n a t e d is t h e p e r f o r m

a n c e o f o n e ' s d u t i e s w i t h o u t c a r i n g f o r

r e w a r d s . C r a v i n g f o r p o s s e s s i o n s a n d th i r s t

f o r s e n s e - e n j o y m e n t s a r e w h a t d e f i le t h e

m i n d a n d m a k e i t u n f it f o r h i g h e r p u r s u i t s .

T h e r e f o r e t h e m i n d m u s t f i r s t , a s a p r e l i m i

n a r y , b e f r e e d f r o m d e f i l e m e n t s , a n d t h is

c a n b e d o n e t h r o u g h a c t i o n n o t m o t i v a t e d

by f i n i te ends .

B h a k t i y o g a ( t h e p a t h o f d e v o t i o n ) a n d

r a j a - y o g a ( t h e p a t h o f m i n d c o n t r o l ) c a n

al so f ind a p l a ce i n the Adv ai t i c sc he me , as

s u b o r d i n a t e s t o t h e p a t h o f k n o w l e d g e . T h e i r

p u r p o s e i s t o m a k e t h e m i n d o n e - p o i n t e da n d i n w a r d - t u r n e d . A t t r a c t i o n t o f a l s e

v a l u e s , d i s t r a c t i o n a n d d i s i n t e g r a t i o n a r e

t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e t a i n t e d m i n d . T h e

t e n d e n c y o f t h e m i n d t o flo w o u t w a r d

t o w a r d s f i n i t e o b j e c t s o f e n j o y m e n t s h o u l d

b e a r r e s t e d , a n d it s h o u l d b e o r i e n t a t e d

t o w a r d s G o d , t h e h i g h e s t v a l u e . T h i s i s t h e

p u r p o s e o f b h a k t i - y o g a .

I t i s the nature o f the mi nd to be

i n c o n s t a n t , d a r t i n g f r o m o b j e c t t o o b j e c t ,

t u r b u l e n t , o b st i n a t e a n d w a y w a r d . T h e

f u n c t i o n o f r a j a - y o g a i s t o d i s c i p l in e it a n d

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200 T H E M O U N T A I N P A T H October

r e n d e r it o n e - p o i n t e d . C o n s t a n t a n d s u s t a i n e d

p r a c t i c e o f c o n c e n t r a t i o n (abhyasa) t o g e t h e r

w i t h b r e a t h - c o n t r o l (pranayama) a n d o t h e r

p r a c t i c e s a n d c u l t i v a t i o n o f a n a t t i t u d e o f

d e t a c h m e n t (vairagya) h e l p t o s u b d u e a n d

p u r i f y t h e m i n d a n d t h u s m a k e i t e l i g i b l e t o

f o l l o w th e p a t h o f k n o w l e d g e 1

L i b e r a t i o n i s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y a p o s t h u

m o u s a c h i e v e m e n t , s i n c e i t i s t h e e t e r n a l

n a t u r e o f t h e Self. E v e n w h i l e in t h e b o d y

o n e c a n r e a l i z e t h e T r u t h . T h i s i s k n o w n a s

jivanmukti. I t i s s o m e t i m e s a s k e d w h y t h e

bo dy sho ul d s t i l l con t i nu e i n the case o fo n e w h o h a s a t t a i n e d L i b e r a t i o n ; b u t t h e

q u e s t i o n d o e s n o t a r i s e f o r t h e L i b e r a t e d

hi ms el f , s i nce f or h i m the re is no bo dy . It

i s t h e u n r e a l i z e d w h o s e e h i m w i t h a b o d y

and ask the qu est i o n . As a rep l y i t i s sa i d

that the body l asts as l ong as the prarabdha

( t h a t p a r t o f t h e k a r m a w h i c h i s t o f r u c t i f y

i n th i s l i f e t i me) , and that a f ter that there i s

videhamukti ( L i b e r a t io n w i t h o u t a b o d y ) .

I n t r u t h , h o w e v e r , t h e r e i s n o d i s t i n c t i o n i n

M o k s h a .

T h u s A d v a i t i c t e a c h i n g i s t h a t k n o w l e d g e

i s t h e s o l e d i r e c t w a y t o L i b e r a t i o n a n d t h a tL i b e r a t i o n i s t h e e t e r n a l n a t u r e o f t h e Self.

T h e t e a c h i n g o f S r i R a m a n a M a h a r s h i is

i n pe r f ec t acco rd wi th th i s . I t i s o f un i que

v a l u e a s a n i n d e p e n d e n t c o n f i r m a t i o n o f t h e

t r u t h o f A d v a i t a , s i n c e h e d i d n o t f o r m u l a t e

a t h e o r y a f t e r f o r m a l s t u d y o f V e d a n t a b u t

d i s c o v e r e d t h e p a t h a n d it s G o a l a f r e s h ,

g a i n i n g p l e n a r y e x p e r i e n c e t h r o u g h a s i n g l e

b r i e f a c t o f S e l f - e n q u i r y . A n d l a t e r , w h e n

t h e t e x t s w e r e r e a d o u t to h i m , h e r e c o g

n i z e d t h a t t h e y w e r e s p e a k i n g t h e s a m e

h e a r t - l a n g u a g e t h a t h e k n e w , t h e l a n g u a g e

o f A d v a i t a . 2

T h e M a h a r s h i w a s n o w r i t e r i n t h e u s u a l

s e n s e o f t h e w o r d - S o m e t i m e s h e p u t i n

w r i t i n g h i s o c c a s i o n a l o r a l i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d

1 T h e s e p r e l i m i n a r y e x e r c i s e s o f k a r m a y o g a ,

b h a k t i y o g a a n d r a j a y o g a a r e h e l p f u l b u t n o t

e s s e n t i a l ; t h e M a h a r s h i w a s q u i t e d e f i n i t e t h a t

t h e p a t h o f S e l f - e n q u i r y a s t a u g h t b y h i m w a s

a l l - s u f f i ci e n t a n d w o u l d a c c o m p l i s h a l s o t h e t a s k s

h e r e a s s i g n e d t o p r e l i m i n a r y y o g a s . ( E d i t o r ) .

2 For an ac c ount o f th i s see ' Ramana Maharshi

and the Path of Self-Knowledge \ Ch. 2 , b y

A r t h u r O s b o r n e ., R i d e r & C o . , L o n d o n .

e x p o s i t i o n s . S o m e o f t h e s e s t r a y w r i t i n g s a r e

i n p r o s e , s o m e i n v e r s e , m o s t l y i n T a m i l b u t

s o m e i n S a n s k r i t a n d a f e w i n M a l a y a l a m

a n d T e l u g u . T h e y c o n s t it u t e w h a t m a y

r i g h t l y b e c a l l e d t h e ' R a m a n o p a n i s h a d ' ,

s i n c e w e h a v e i n t h e m a u t h e n t i c i n s t r u c t i o n

i n t h e d o c t r i n e a n d p a t h o f A d v a i t a . 3

Thei r centra l teach i ng i s that the path o f

S e l f - e n q u i r y is t h e d i r e c t w a y t o S e l f - r e a l i

zat i on . Th e sense o f 11 ' i s n a t u r a l a n d c o m

m o n t o a ll , b u t f e w c a r e t o e n q u i r e i n t o t h e

a c tu a l n a t u r e o f t h is ' I W e t a k e it f o r

g r a n t e d a n d e m p l o y s u c h e m p i r i c a l p h r a s e sas ' I ca me ' , ' I w e n t ' , ' I d i d or 1 I wa s \

Wh at is th i s ' I ' ? W ha t am I ? I t i s not

d i f fi cu l t to see that the bo dy i s not ' I ' . I t

d i d n o t e x i s t b e f o r e b i r t h a n d w i l l n o t s u r

v i v e d e a t h . I n d e e p s l e e p t h e r e i s n o b o d y -

c o n s c i o u sn e s s . E v e n w h i l e w a k i n g I a m a w a r e

t h a t I h a v e t h e b o d y a n d t h e r e f o r e I c a n n o t

be the bo dy . Wh at i s m or e d i f f icu l t i s to see

that the m i nd or eg o i s not ' I ' . I t spr i ng s

f r o m i g n o r a n c e , b e i n g a s u p e r i m p o s i t i o n o n

t h e Self- T h e I - t h o u g h t i s t h e f ir s t t h o u g h t

to ar i se , and the mi nd i s the same as the

e g o . O r d i n a r i l y i t g o e s o u t t h r o u g h t h es e n s e - c h a n n e l s a n d a p p r e h e n d s a n d e n j o y s

e x t e r n a l o b j e c t s , b u t i t m u s t b e m a d e t o

t u r n i n w a r d s a n d e n q u i r e i n t o t h e n a t u r e

a n d s o u r c e o f itself. T h i s c a n o n l y b e d o n e

wi t h a s t i ll mi nd . Thi s enq ui r y " i s the on l y

m e t h o d o f p u t t i n g a n e n d t o al l m i s e r y a n d

u s h e r i n g i n s u p r e m e B e a t i t u d e . W h a t e v e r

m a y b e s a i d a n d h o w e v e r p h r a s e d , t h i s i s

t h e w h o l e t r u t h i n a n u t s h e l l . " 4

E x p l a i n i n g t h e t e c h n i q u e o f S e l f - e n q u i r y ,

t h e M a h a r s h i s a y s : " B y s t e a d y a n d c o n t i

n u o u s i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o t h e n a t u r e o f t h e

m i n d , t h e m i n d i s t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o t h a t t ow h i c h t h e ' I ' r e f e r s ; a n d t h a t i s i n f a c t t h e

Self ." 5 H e a l s o i n s t r u c t e d p e o p l e t o p r o b e

a n d f i n d o u t w h e r e t h e I - t h o u g h t a r i s e s .

W h e n t h e e n q u i r y i s p e r s i s t e d i n it t r a n s p i r e s

that the ego d i sso l ves i n the Se l f whi ch i s

3 T h e y a r e a l l c o n t a i n e d i n e The Collected

Works of Raman a Maharshi' p u b l i s h e d i n L o n d o n

b y M e s s r s R i d e r & C o . , a n d a t T i r u v a n n a m a l a i

b y S r i R a m a n a s r a m a m .

4 F r o m * S e l f - E n q u i r y \ i n ' T h e Collected

Works'.

5 Ibid.

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 T H E M A H A R S H I A N D T H E P A T H O F K N O W L E D G E 201

t h e H e a r t (hridayam). It i s tru e that the

m i n d o f t e n g e t s d i s t r a c t e d o n t h e w a y a n d

s t r a y s o u t w a r d s , b u t e v e r y t i m e t h i s h a p

p e n s it m u s t b e b r o u g h t b a c k t o t h e e n q u i r y

i nto i ts nature . Thi s process has to cont i nue

t i l l i t subs i des i nto i ts Source , the Self. F o r

th i s there i s no o the r mea ns so e f f ec t i ve as

S e l f - e n q u i r y . O t h e r m e a n s s u c h a s b r e a t h -

c o n t r o l a n d m e d i t a t i o n f o r m i n d - c o n t r o l

m a y le a d t o a t e m p o r a r y s u b s i d e n c e o f t h e

mi nd but not to f i na l L i berat i on . I t w i l l r i se

u p a g a i n .

O n t h e p a t h o f S e l f - e n q u i r y i t i s a d m i t ted l y the mi n d that i nv est i ga tes , bu t th i s

se l f - i nve st i g at i o n anni h i l ates it and f i na l l y

i t gets destroyed , j ust as the s t i ck used to

st ir a f une ra l p yr e i s i t se l f f ina l l y bur nt .

Thi s i s the s tate o f L i b era t i on i n wh i ch i t

i s rea l i ze d that ther e is no mi nd at a l l . Wha t

appeared to be the mi nd i s rea l l y the Self,

the Se l f mani f est as 4 1 - I ' . This i s aham

sphurana, prajnana, s e l f - m a n i f e s t a t i o n , w i s

d o m .

T h e M a h a r s h i 's m o s t c o m p a c t a n d c o m

p e n d i o u s , a n d i n d e e d s c r i p t u r a l , e x p o s i t i o n

o f t h e p a t h o f k n o w l e d g e a n d t h e t r u t h o f

Advai ta i s h i s Forty Verses on Reality,

Ulladu Narpadu. I t e x p l a i n s t h a t t h e m i n d

cons i s ts o f tho ugh ts , o f wh i ch the f irs t to

ar i se i s ' I ' . T he d i sc i p l i n e pre scr i be d i s to

e n q u i r e w i t h a k e e n m i n d w h e n c e t h is * I '

ar i ses ( v ers e 23 ) - To say that the C I ' a r i s e s

me an s that the S e l f and the no t - se l f are

f a s t e n e d i n a k n o t w h i c h is c a l l e d t e c h n i

ca l l y ' sup er i m pos i t i on ' or ' nes c i en ce \

B o n d a g e , s o u l , s u b t l e b o d y , e g o i t y , t r a n s

m i g r a t i o n , m i n d , a l l m e a n t h e s a m e ( 2 4 )

T h e y a r e t h e I - t h o u g h t o r e g o f u n c t i o n i n g

i n var i ous wa ys . So l on g as i t dw el l s i n the

b o d y i t a c t s , e x p e r i e n c e s a n d e n j o y s ; o n

l e a v i n g t h e b o d y i t f in d s a n o t h e r . B u t w h e n

i ts natu re i s i n ves t i gat ed i t t akes to fl i ght

a n d t u r n s o u t t o b e d e v o i d o f s u b s t a n c e ( 2 5 ) .

T h e e g o i s t h e p r o p o f a l l a p p e a r a n c e s . I f

the e go is al l else i s ; i f the eg o is no t n ot h

i ng e l se i s . Th e ego is a l l . So wh en the e go

i s i n v e s t i g a t e d a n d i ts u n r e a l i t y p e r c e i v e d

a l l p h e n o m e n a a re g i v e n u p ( 2 6 ) . W h e n ,

t h r o u g h e n q u i r y , t h e s t a t e w h e r e t h e e g o

doe s not r i se u p i s reac he d , th ere i s the

n o n - d u a l Self. W he n the ego i s l os t the Se l f

i s g a i n e d ( 2 7 ) . O n e s h o u l d d i v e i n t o o n e

self, w i t h s e n s e s a n d m i n d c o n t r o l l e d , a n d

f i nd the p l ac e wh en ce th e ' I ' r i ses i n order

t o r e c o v e r t h e Self, a s o n e w o u l d d i v e i n t o

w a t e r t o g e t b a c k s o m e p r e c i o u s j e w e l t h a t

h a d f a l l e n i n t o it ( 2 8 ) . V e r b a l r e p e t i t i o n o f

t h e w o r d ' I ' i s n o t t h e e n q u i r y , n o r i s

m e d i t a t i o n ' I a m n o t t h i s , I a m t h a t ' ; t h i s

m a y h e l p b u t t h e a c t u a l e n q u i r y i s t h e d i r e c t

p a t h . I t i s t o b e d o n e w i t h t h e m i n d t u r n e d

i n w a r d s ( 2 9 ) . T h r o u g h t h e e n q u i r y t h e m i n d

r e a c h e s t h e H e a r t , w h i c h i s o n l y a n o t h e r

n a m e f o r t h e Self, a n d t h e r e t h e p s e u d o - 1

s i nks cres t f a l l en and the rea l ' I ' , th e Self,

sh i nes o f i t s own accord- Thi s rea l I i s not

an ob j ec t to be see n or re a l i zed ; i t i s the

p l e n a r y R e a l i t y ( 3 0 ) . T h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e

e g o t h r o u g h S e l f - e n q u i r y a n d t h e g a i n i n g o f

S e l f - a w a r e n e s s i s th e o n l y a c h i e v e m e n t ;

t h e r e i s n o t h i n g e l s e t o b e a c c o m p l i s h e d .

P u r e S e l f - a w a r e n e s s i s p e r f e c t i o n ( 3 1 ) . T h i s

i s the rea l i zat i on that one a l wa ys i s and w as

the Se l f and that there i s no o th er R eal i t y

( 3 2 ) .

I t i s use l ess to i nd ul ge i n me tap hy s i ca ls p e c u l a t i o n a b o u t R e a l i t y . " D o e s a n y t h i n g

e x i s t o r n o t ? H a s R e a l i t y f o r m o r is i t f o r m

l ess ? Is it one , tw o or ne i th er ? Th ese are

q u e st io n s e n g e n d e r e d b y i g n o r a n c e " ( 3 4 ) .

S i m i l a r l y p h i l o s o p h i c a l q u e s t i o n s a b o u t t i m e

a n d s p a c e , t h e w o r l d a n d G o d , f r e e w i l l a n d

p r e d e s t i n a t i o n , a r e p o w e r l e s s t o l e a d u s o u t

o f o u r s t at e o f i g n o r a n c e . W h e n s u c h q u e s

t i o n s o c c u r t h e e n q u i r e r s h o u l d t u r n t o t h e

b a s i c q u e s t i o n : t o w h o m d o t h e y o c c u r ?

O n e m u s t q u e s t i o n t h e q u e s t i o n e r . W h e n t h e

q u e s t i o n e r is k n o w n t h e r e w i l l b e n o q u e s

t i ons l e f t to ask or answer .

T o s e e k t h e e t e r n a l l y a c h i e v e d S e l f a n d

a b i d e i n i t i s t h e t r u e a c h i e v e m e n t . D e l u

s i on and the mi ser y bo rn o f i t d i sappear -

once one i s es tab l i shed i n the natura l s tate

o f the Self. T h e S e l f is n o t s o m e t h i n g t o b e

n e w l y r e a l i z e d ; i n f a c t t h e v e r y e x p r e s s i o n

' R e a l i z a t i o n ' i s in a p t , f o r t h e r e a l d o e s n o t

n e e d t o b e * r e a l i z e d \ T h e t e r m ' R e a l i z a

t i on ' has to be un der sto od i n a f i gu rat i ve

sense on l y . T he truth i s that th ere i s no

p l ur a l i ty at a l l : f rom t he s tan dpoi n t o f the

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf



A b s o l u t e t h e r e i s n e i t h e r b o n d a g e n o r

re l eas e ; the re is no on e bo un d an d no on e

t o b e r e l e a s e d . A l l t h a t is i s t h e n o n - d u a l

Self.

Thi s i s the theme o f Ulladu Narpadu, a

t r e m e n d o u s p o e m p r o c l a i m i n g t h e U l t i m a t e

R e a l i t y a n d t h e p a t h t o i t s R e a l i z a t i o n .

I n t h e l a t e r y e a r s at S r i R a m a n a s r a m a m

t h e r e u s e d t o b e a d a i l y s t r e a m o f v i s i t o r s

a n d s p i r i t u a l a s p i r a n t s s e e k i n g t o h a v e t h e i r

d o u b t s c l a r i f i e d a n d d i f f i c u l t i e s r e m o v e d b y

p u t t i n g q u e s t i o n s t o S r i R a m a n a M a h a r s h i .

S o m e o f th e t a l k s t h a t e n s u e d w e r e r e c o r d

e d b y c o m p e t e n t r e s i d e n t d e v o t e e s . T h e

l a r g e s t s u c h c o m p e n d i u m w h i c h h a s b e e n

p r e s e r v e d a n d p u b l i s h e d i s Talks with Sri

Ramana Maharshi.6 Q u e s t i o n s a b o u t t h e p a t h

a nd . t h e g o a l c o m e u p c o n s t a n t l y a n d t h e

M a s t e r ' s a n s w e r s a r e a l w a y s f r o m t h e s t a n d

p o i n t o f A d v a i t a - e x p e r i e n c e .

A g a i n a n d a g a i n h e st r e s s e s ( l i k e G a u d a -

p a d a a n d S h a n k a r a a n d o t h e r a n c i e n t

M a s t e r s ) t h a t P e r f e c t i o n , M o k s h a , i s n o ta n y t h i n g n e w t o b e a c q u i r e d . " R e a l i z a t i o n

i s o u r n a t u r e . I t i s n o t a n y t h i n g n e w t o b e

g a i n e d . W h a t is n e w c a n n o t b e e t e r n a l "

( p . 4 5 5 ) . " Y o u d o n o t a c q u i re h a p p i n e s s ;

y o u r v e r y n a t u r e i s h a p p i n e s s . B l i s s i s n o t

newl y earned . A l l that i s to be done i s to

r e m o v e u n h a p p i n e s s " ( 3 0 2 ) .

Ajnana ( i g n o r a n c e ) i s t h e c a u s e o f b o n d

age ; an d ajnana i s u n r e a l . T h e w o r l d of

d u a l i t y i s a n i l l u s o r y p r o j e c t i o n o f ajnana.

W h e n t h e u n r e a l i t y o f ajnana i s rea l i z ed th e

e t e r n a l J n a n a , K n o w l e d g e , s h i n e s o f itself.

" T o k n o w t h a t t h e r e n e v e r w a s i g n o r a n c e

i s t h e g o a l o f a l l s p i r i t u a l t e a c h i n g s . I g n o r

a n c e m u s t b e o f o n e w h o i s a w a r e - A w a r e

ness i s j na na and j na na i s e terna l and

natura l - So ajnana i s u n n a t u r a l a n d

u n r e a l " ( 2 9 8 ) .

A m e n t a l s u p p o r t to S e l f - e n q u i r y , t h o u g h

i t c a n n o t b e t h e e n q u i r y itself, i s to an al ys e

6 P u b l i s h e d b y S r i R a m a n a s r a m a m , T i r u v a n n a -

m a l a i .

t h e t h r e e s t a t es o f e x p e r i e n c e : w a k i n g ,

d r e a m a n d d e e p s l e e p . T h i s i s a l s o r e f e r r e d

t o i n t h e M a n d u k y a U p a n i s h a d a n d b y

G a u d a p a d a i n h i s Karika. T h e M a h a r s h i

exp l a i n s that ther e i s no rea l d i f f eren ce

b e t w e e n t h e w a k i n g a n d d r e a m s t a te s a n d

t h a t b o t h a r e u n r e a l f r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f

t h e A b s o l u t e . T h e s t a te o f d e e p s l e e p s h o w s

t h a t ' I ' a n d t h e w o r l d a r e n o t r e a l ( i n t h e

s e n s e o f p e r m a n e n t ) s i n c e t h e y a p p e a r o n l y

i n t h e w a k i n g a n d d r e a m s t a t e s. " H o w d o e ss l eep d i f fer f ro m the o ther two s tates ? In

s l e e p t h e r e a r e n o t h o u g h t s , w h e r e a s i n t h e

o t h e r t w o s t a t e s t h e r e a r e . T h e r e f o r e

t h o u g h t s m u s t b e t h e o r i g i n o f 11 ' and the

w o r l d . W h a t a r e t h e y ? T h e y c a n n o t b e

n a t u r a l ( i n t h e s e n s e o f p e r m a n e n t ) o r t h e y

c o u l d n o t a p p e a r a t o n e m o m e n t a n d d i s

a p p e a r a t a n o t h e r . W h e r e d o t h e y c o m e

f r o m ? T h e y m u s t b e a d m i t t e d t o h a v e a n

e v e r - p r e s e n t a n d i n v a r i a b l e s o u r c e . I t m u s t

be th e e terna l s tate . . . that f rom wh i ch a l l

b e i n g s c o m e f o r t h , t h a t i n w h i c h t h e y

r e m a i n a n d t h a t i n t o w h i c h t h e y r e s o l v e "( 7 2 6 ) .

Th e acc ept ed ru l e i s : that w hi c h i s

cons tant i n va r i ab l e th i ngs is rea l , that

wh i ch i s i ncon stan t i s unrea l - ' I ' and the

w or l d are i ncon stan t ; the Se l f a l one i s

c o n s t a n t . I n t h e w a k i n g a n d d r e a m s t at e s

o u r b o d i e s a t t a c h t h e m s e l v e s t o u s a n d w e

a r e a f fl ic t e d b y t h e I - a m - t h e - b o d y i d e a .

" B e c a u s e t h e b o d y e x i s t s y o u s a y t h a t i t

w a s b o r n a n d w i l l d i e , a n d t h e n y o u t r a n s f e r

the i dea to th e Self, s a y i n g t h a t y o u a r e

b o r n a n d w i l l d i e . I n f a c t y o u r e m a i n w i t h

o u t t h e b o d y i n s l e e p , b u t n o w y o u r e m a i n

w i t h i t . T h e S e l f c a n r e m a i n w i t h o u t t h e

b o d y b u t t h e b o d y c a n n o t e x i s t a p a r t f r o m

t h e Self. T h e ' I - a m - t h e - b o d y ' t h o u g h t i s

i g n o r a n c e ; t h a t t h e b o d y d o e s n o t e x i s t

a p a r t f r o m t h e S e l f i s k n o w l e d g e . . . S o l o n g

as the re i s the sen se o f sepa rat i on ther e

wi l l be a ff l ic t i ng tho ugh ts . I f the or i g i na l

s o u r c e i s r e g a i n e d a n d t h e s e n se of s e p a r a

t i o n p u t a n e n d t o , t h e r e is p e a c e " ( 4 3 9 ) .

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


T H E F O R T Y V E R SE S O N R E A L I T Y

A d v a i t a , n o n - d u a l i t y , I d e n t i t y , i s t h e s u p r e m e

i s t h e a p p r o a c h t o i t : S e l f - e n q u i r y , ' W h o a m I

p a t h . T h e r e is n o m o r e p r o f o u n d a n d c o m p r e r

o n R e a l i t y ' w h i c h a r e h e r e g i v e n .

INVOCATORY

i . I f Rea l i ty d i d not ex i s t , cou l d there be

a n y k n o w l e d g e o f e x i s t e n c e ? F r e e f r o m a ll

thoughts , Real i ty ab i des i n the Heart , the

So urc e o f a l l thou ghts . I t i s , the re f o re , ca l l

e d t h e H e a r t . H o w t h e n i s o n e t o c o n t e m

plat e i t ? To be as i t i s in the He ar t, i s Its

c o n t e m p l a t i o n .

ii . T h o s e w h o k n o w i n t e n s e f e a r o f d e a t h

seek re f ug e on l y at the f eet o f the Lor d

Wh o has ne i the r death nor b i r th . De ad to

them sel ve s an d the i r po ssess i on s , can the

thou ght o f death occ ur to th em ag ai n ?

D e a t h l e s s a r e t h e y .

$ $ *

1. F r o m o u r p e r c e p t i o n o f t h e w o r l d t h e r e

f o l l o w s a c c e p t a n c e o f a u n i q u e F ir s t P r i n c i

p l e p o s s e s s i n g v a r i o u s p o w e r s . P i c t u r e s o f

n a m e a n d f o r m , t h e p e r s o n w h o s e e s , t h e

screen on whi ch he sees , and the l i ght by

wh i ch he sees : he h i mse l f i s a l l o f th ese .

2 . A l l r e l i g i o n s p o s t u l a t e t h e t h r e e f u n d a

m e n t a l s , t h e w o r l d , t h e s o u l , a n d G o d , b u t

i t i s on l y the one Real i ty that mani f ests I t

se l f as these three . On e can say , ' The three

a r e r e a l l y t h r e e ' o n l y s o l o n g a s t h e e g o

l a s ts . T h e r e f o r e , t o i n h e r e in o n e ' s o w n B e

i ng , whe re the ' I ' , o r eg o , i s dea d , i s the

p e r f e c t S t a t e .

3. ' Th e w or ld is rea l . ' ' N o, i t i s a m er e

i l lu s o r y a p p e a r a n c e . ' ' T h e w o r l d i s c o n s c i

o u s . ' ' No . ' ' Th e w or l d i s happ i ness - ' ' No . '

Wh at use i s i t to a rgu e thus ? That State i s

a g r e e a b l e t o a l l , w h e r e i n , h a v i n g g i v e n u p

t h e o b j e c t i v e o u t l o o k , o n e k n o w s o n e ' s S e l f

and l oses a l l not i ons e i ther o f un i ty or dua

l i ty , o f onese l f and the ego .

4 . I f one has f o rm onese l f , the wo r l d and

G o d a l s o w i l l a p p e a r t o h a v e f o r m , b u t i f o n e

i s f orml ess , who i s i t that sees those f orms,

a n d h o w ? W i t h o u t t h e e y e c a n a n y o b j e c t

d o c t r i n e . J n a n a - m a r g a , c he p a t h of k n o w l e d g e ,

? i s the tec h ni q ue Bhag ava n taught for th i&

tensi ve sta tem ent o f i t than hi s ' Fo r ty Ve r se s

be seen ? The see i ng Se l f i s the Eye , and

that Eye i s the Eye o f In f i n i ty .

5 . T h e b o d y is a f o r m c o m p o s e d o f t h e

f i ve - f o l d sheath ; the re f o re , a l l the f i ve

s h e a t h s a r e i m p l i e d i n t h e t e r m , b o d y . A p a r tf r o m t h e b o d y d o e s t h e w o r l d e x i s t ? H a s

a n y o n e s e e n t h e w o r l d w i t h o u t t h e b o d y ?

6. T h e w o r l d i s n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n a n

e m b o d i m e n t o f t h e o b j e c t s p e r c e i v e d b y t h e

f iv e s e n s e - o r g a n s . S i n c e , t h r o u g h t h e s e f iv e

s e n s e - o r g a n s , a s i n g l e m i n d p e r c e i v e s t h e

w o r l d , t h e w o r l d i s n o t h i n g b u t t h e m i n d .

A p a r t f r o m t h e m i n d c a n t h e r e b e a w o r l d ?

7. A l t h o u g h th e w o r l d a n d k n o w l e d g e

t h e r e o f r i s e a n d se t t o g e t h e r i t i s b y k n o w

l e d g e a l o n e t h a t th e w o r l d i s m a d e a p p a r e n t

T h a t P e r f e c t i o n w h e r e i n t h e w o r l d a n d k n o w

l e d g e t h e r e o f r i s e a n d s e t , a n d w h i c h s h i n e s

w i t h o u t r i s i n g a n d s e t t i n g , i s a l o n e t h e R e a

l i ty .

8 . U n d e r w h a t e v e r n a m e a n d f o r m o n e

m a y w o r s h i p t h e A b s o l u t e R e a l i t y , i t i s o n l y

a m e a n s f o r r e a l i z in g I t w i t h o u t n a m e a n d

f o r m . T h a t a l o n e i s t r u e r e a l i z a t i o n , w h e r e

i n o n e k n o w s o n s e l f i n r e l a t i o n t o t h a t R e a

l i ty , a t ta i ns peace and rea l i zes one ' s i dent i ty

w i t h i t .

9 . T h e d u a l i t y o f s u b j e c t a n d o b j e c t a n d

tr i n i ty o f seer , s i ght , and seen can ex i s t on l y

i f s u p p o r t e d b y t h e O n e . I f o n e t u r n s i n w a r di n s e a r c h o f t h a t O n e R e a l i t y t h e y f a l l a w a y .

T h o s e w h o s e e t h i s a r e t h o s e w h o s e e W i s

d o m . T h e y a r e n e v e r i n d o u b t .

10. O r d i n a r y k n o w l e d g e i s a l w a y s a c c o m

p a n i e d b y i g n o r a n c e , a n d i g n o r a n c e b y

k n o w l e d g e ; t h e o n l y t r u e K n o w l e d g e i s th a t

b y w h i c h o n e k n o w s t h e S e l f t h r o u g h e n

q u i r i n g w h o s e is t h e k n o w l e d g e a n d i g n o

r a n c e .

11. I s i t n o t , r a t h e r , i g n o r a n c e t o k n o w

a l l e l s e w i t h o u t k n o w i n g o n e s e lf , t h e k n o w -

er ? As soon as one k no w s the Self, w h i c h

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf



i s t h e s u b s t r a t u m o f k n o w l e d g e a n d i g n o

r a n c e , k n o w l e d g e a n d i g n o r a n c e p e r i s h .

12 . T h a t a l o n e i s t r u e K n o w l e d g e w h i c h

is n e i t h e r k n o w l e d g e n o r i g n o r a n c e . W h a t

i s k n o w n is n o t t r u e K n o w l e d g e . S i n c e t h e

S e l f s h i n e s w i t h n o t h i n g e l s e t o k n o w o r t o

m a k e k n o w n , I t a l o n e i s K n o w l e d g e . I t i s

n o t a v o i d .

13 . T h e Self, w h i c h i s K n o w l e d g e , is t h e

o n l y R e a l i t y . K n o w l e d g e o f m u l t i p l i c i t y i s

f a ls e k n o w l e d g e . T h i s f a ls e k n o w l e d g e ,

w h i c h i s r e a l l y i g n o r a n c e , c a n n o t e x i s t a p a r t

f r o m t h e Self, w h i c h is K n o w l e d g e - R e a l i t y .T h e v a r i e t y o f g o l d o r n a m e n t s i s u n r e a l ,

s i n c e n o n e o f t h e m c a n e x i s t w i t h o u t t h e

g o l d o f w h i c h t h e y a r e a l l m a d e .

14 . If the f i rst person, I , exists, then the

s e c o n d a n d t h i r d p e r s o n s , y o u a n d h e , w i l l

a l so ex i s t . B y enq ui r i n g i nto the natu re o f

the I , th e I per ish es. W it h i t ' yo u ' and ' he '

a l so per i s h . The resu l tant s tate , wh i ch sh i nes

a s A b s o l u t e B e i n g , is o n e ' s o w n n a t u r a l

s tate , the Self.

15 . O n l y w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o t h e p r e s e n t

can the past and the f utu re ex i s t . Th ey too ,

w h i l e c u r r e n t , a r e t h e p r e s e n t . T o t r y t o

d e t e r m i n e t h e n a t u r e o f t h e p a s t a n d t h e

f u t u r e w h i l e i g n o r i n g t h e p r e s e n t is l i k e t r y

i n g t o c o u n t w i t h o u t t h e u n i t .

16 - A p a r t f r o m u s w h e r e i s t i m e a n d

wh er e i s spac e ? I f we are bo d i es , w e a re

i n v o l v e d i n t i m e a n d s p a c e , b u t a r e w e ? W e

a r e o n e a n d i d e n t i c a l n o w , t h e n , a n d f o r

e v e r , h e r e , a n d e v e r y w h e r e . T h e r e f o r e w e ,

t i m e l e s s , a n d s p a c e l e s s B e i n g , a l o n e a r e .

17. T o t h o s e w h o h a v e n o t r e a l i z e d t h e

Self, a s w e l l as t o t h o s e w h o h a v e , t h e w o r d

' I ' re f er s to th e bo dy , but w i th th i s d i f f e r e n c e , t h a t f o r t h o s e w h o h a v e n o t r e a l i z e d ,

the ' I ' i s conf i ned to the bo dy wh ere as f or

t h o s e w h o h a v e r e a l i z e d t h e S e l f w i t h i n t h e

bo dy the ' I ' sh i nes as the l i mi t l ess Self.

18 . T o t h o s e w h o h a v e n o t r e a l i z e d ( t h e

S e l f ) a s w e l l a s t o t h o s e w h o h a v e t h e w o r l d

i s r e a l . B u t t o t h o s e w h o h a v e n o t r e a l i z e d ,

T r u t h i s a d a p t e d t o t h e m e a s u r e o f t h e w o r l d ,

w h e r e a s t o t h o s e t h a t h a v e , T r u t h s h i n e s a s

t h e F o r m l e s s P e r f e c t i o n , a n d a s t h e S u b s t r a

tum o f the wo r l d . Thi s i s a l l the d i f f eren ce

b e t w e e n t h e m .

19. O n l y t h o s e w h o h a v e n o k n o w l e d g e o f

t h e S o u r c e o f d e s t i n y a n d f r e e - w i l l d i s p u t e

a s t o w h i c h o f t h e m p r e v a i l s . T h e y t h a t k n o w

the Se l f as the one So urc e o f dest i ny a nd

f r e e - w i l l a r e f r e e f r o m b o t h . W i l l t h e y a g a i n

g e t e n t a n g l e d i n t h e m ?

20. H e w h o s e e s G o d w i t h o u t s e e i n g t h e

S e l f s e e s o n l y a m e n t a l i m a g e . T h e y s a y t h a t

h e w h o s e e s t h e S e l f se e s G o d . H e w h o , h a v

i n g c o m p l e t e l y l o s t t h e e g o , s ee s t h e Self,

h a s f o u n d G o d , b e c a u s e t h e S e l f d o e s n o t

e x i s t a p a r t f r o m G o d .

21 . W ha t is the Truth o f the sc r i ptur eswhi ch dec l are that i f one sees the Se l f one

sees Go d ? Ho w can on e see one ' s Se l f ? I f ,

s i nce one i s a s i ng l e be i ng , one cannot see

o n e ' s Self, h o w c a n o n e s e e G o d ? O n l y b y

b e c o m i n g a p r e y t o H i m .

22. The Di v i ne g i ves l i ght to the mi nd

and sh ines wi t h i n it . Ex cep t by turni ng the

mi n d i nw ard an d fi x i ng i t i n the Di v i ne ,

t h e r e is n o o t h e r w a y t o k n o w H i m t h r o u g h

t h e m i n d . .

23. T h e b o d y d o e s n o t s a y ' I ' . N o o n e w i l l

a r g u e t h a t e v e n i n d e e p s l e e p t h e * I ' c e a s e s

to ex i s t . On ce the ' I ' em erg es , a l l e l se

e m e r g e s . W i t h a k e e n m i n d e n q u i r e w h e n c e

t h is ' 1 ' e m e r g es .

24. T h i s i n e r t b o d y d o e s n o t s a y ' I ' .

R e a l i t y - C o n s c i o u s n e s s d o e s n o t e m e r g e .

B e t w e e n t h e t w o , a n d l i m i t e d t o t h e m e a

s u r e o f t h e b o d y , s o m e t h i n g e m e r g e s a s T .

I t i s th i s that i s known as Chit-jada-gran-

thi ( t h e k n o t b e t w e e n t h e C o n s c i o u s a n d t h e

i n e r t ) , a n d a l s o a s b o n d a n g e . s o u l , s u b t l e -

b o d y , e g o , samsara, m i n d , a n d s o f o r t h .

25. I t c o m e s i n t o b e i n g e q u i p p e d w i t h a

f or m, and as l ong as i t re ta i ns a f or m i t en d u r e s - H a v i n g a f o r m , i t f e e d s a n d g r o w s

bi g . Bu t if yo u i nvest i ga te i t th i s ev i l sp i r i t ,

w h i c h h a s n o f o r m o f i t s o w n , r e l i n q u i s h e s

i ts gr i p on f orm and takes to f l i ght .

26 . I f the ego i s , everyth i ng e l se a l so i s .

I f the ego i s not , noth i ng e l se is . Ind eed , the

e g o i s a l l. T h e r e f o r e t h e e n q u i r y a s t o w h a t

th i s ego i s , i s the on l y w ay o f g i v i ng up

e v e r y t h i n g .

27. T h e S t a te o f n o n - e m e r g e n c e o f ' 1 ' i s

the s tate o f be i ng THAT. W i t h o u t q u e s t i n g

f o r t h a t S t a t e o f th e n o n - e m e r g e n c e o f ' 1 '

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1964 T H E F O R T Y V E R S E S O N R E A L I T Y 205

a n d a t t a i n in g I t , h o w c a n o n e a c c o m p l i s h

o n e ' s o w n e x t i n c t i o n , f r o m w h i c h t h e ' I '

d o e s n o t r e v i v e ? W i t h o u t t h a t a t t a i n m e n t

how i s i t poss i b l e to ab i de i n one ' s t rue

S t a t e , w h e r e o n e i s THAT ?

28. J u s t as a m a n w o u l d d i v e i n o r d e r t o

g e t s o m e t h i n g t h a t h a d f a l l e n i n t o t h e w a t e r ,

so one shoul d d i ve i nto onese l f , w i th a keen

o n e - p o i n t e d m i n d , c o n t r o ll i n g s p e e c h a n d

b r e a t h , a n d f in d t h e p l a c e w h e n c e t h e ' I '

o r i g i n a t e s .

29 - T h e o n l y e n q u i r y l e a d i n g t o Self-rea l i za t i on i s seek i ng the S ou rce o f the ' 1 1

w i t h i n - t u r n e d m i n d a n d w i t h o u t u t t e r in g

the w or d ' I ' . M edi t at i o n o n ' I am not th i s ;

I a m T h a t ' m a y b e a n a id to t h e e n q u i r y

b u t i t c a n n o t b e t h e e n q u i r y .

30. I f on e enq ui re s ' W ho am 1 ? ' w i th i n

t h e m i n d , t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' I ' f a l ls d o w n

a b a s h e d a s s o o n a s o n e r e a c h e s t h e H e a r t a n d

i m m e d i a t e l y R e a l i t y m a n i f e s t s i t s e l f s p o n t a

neo us l y as ' I - I ' . A l th ou gh i t rev ea l s i tse l f

as ' I ' , i t i s not th e ego but the Per f ec t B e

i n g , t h e A b s o l u t e Self.

31 . F o r H i m w h o i s i m m e r s e d i n t h e b l i s s

of the Self, a r i s i n g f r o m t h e e x t i n c t i o n o f

t h e e g o , w h a t r e m a i n s t o b e a c c o m p l i s h e d ?

He is not awar e o f any th i n g ( a s ) o ther than

t h e Self. W h o c a n a p p r e h e n d h i s S t a t e ?

32. A l t h o u g h t h e s c r i p t u r e s p r o c l a i m4 T h o u ar t T h a t i t i s o n l y a s ig n o f w e a k

ness o f mi n d to med i tat e ' I am Th at , n ot

t h i s ' , b e c a u s e y o u a r e e t e r n a l l y T h a t . W h a t

h a s t o b e d o n e i s t o i n v e s t i g a t e w h a t o n e

r e a l l y i s a n d r e m a i n T h a t .

33 . I t is r i d i cu l o us to say e i the r ' I h av e

n o t r e a l i z e d t h e Sel f ' or ' I ha ve rea l i ze dthe S e l f ' ; are th ere tw o se l ves , f or one to

be the ob j ec t o f the o the r ' s rea l i za t i on ?

I t i s a t r u t h w i t h i n t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f e v e r y

one that there i s on l y one Self-

34 . I t i s du e to il l us i on bo rn o f i gn ora nce

t h a t m e n f a i l t o r e c o g n i z e T h a t w h i c h i s

a l w a y s a n d f o r e v e r y b o d y t h e i n h e r e n t R e a

l i t y d w e l l i n g i n i ts n a t u r a l H e a r t - c e n t r e a n d

to ab i de i n i t , and that i nstead they arg ue

that i t exists or does not exist , that i t has

f o r m o r h a s n o t f o r m , o r i s n o n - d u a l o r d u a l .

35. To seek and ab i d e i n the Re al i ty

t h a t is a l w a y s a t t a i n e d i s t h e o n l y A t t a i n

m e n t . A l l o t h e r a t t a i n m e n t s (siddhis) a re

s u c h a s a r e a c q u i r e d in d r e a m s . C a n t h e y

a p p e a r r e a l t o s o m e o n e w h o h a s w o k e n u p

f ro m s l eep ? Can they that are es tab l i sh ed

i n the Real i ty and are f ree f rom maya, b e

d e l u d e d b y t h e m ?

36 . O n l y i f th e t h o u g h t ' I a m t h e b o d y

o c c u r s w i l l t h e m e d i t a t i o n ' 1 a m n o t t h i s , I

a m T h a t ' , h e l p o n e t o a b i d e a s T h a t . W h y

sho ul d w e f or eve r be t h i nk i ng , ' I am

Tha t ' ? Is i t n eces sar y f or ma n to go ont h i n k i n g * I a m a m a n ' ? A r e w e n o t a l w a y s

T h a t ?

37. T h e c o n t e n t i o n , ' D u a l i s m d u r i n g

p r a c t i c e , n o n - d u a l i s m o n A t t a i n m e n t ' , i s a l s o

f a l se . W h i l e o n e is a n x i o u s l y s e a r c h i n g , a s

w e l l a s w h e n o n e h a s f o u n d o n e ' s Self, w h o

el se i s one b ut the ten th m an ? 1

38. As l o ng as a ma n i s the doe r , he a l so

reaps the f ru i t o f h i s deeds , but as soon as

he rea l i zes the Se l f through enqui ry as to

w ho i s the doe r h i s sense o f be i ng the doe r

f a l l s a w a y a n d t h e t r i p l e karma2 i s e n d e d .

Thi s i s the s tate o f e ternal L i bera t i on-

39. O n l y s o l o n g a s o n e c o n s i d e r s o n e

s e l f b o u n d , d o t h o u g h t s o f b o n d a g e a n d L i

b e r a t i o n c o n t i n u e . W h e n o n e e n q u i r e s w h o

i s bo un d the Se l f is rea l i zed , e t ern al l y

a t t a i n e d , a n d e t e r n a l l y f r e e . W h e n t h o u g h t

o f b o n d a g e c o m e s t o a n e n d , c a n t h o u g h t

o f L i b e r a t i o n s u r v i v e ?

40. I f i t i s sa i d , that L i berat i on i s o f three

k i n d s , w i t h f o r m o r w i t h o u t f o r m o r w i t h

a n d w i t h o u t f o r m , t h e n l e t m e t e l l y o u t h a t

t h e e x t i n c t i o n o f t h r e e f o r m s o f L i b e r a

t i o n is t h e o n l y t r u e L i b e r a t i o n .

•i T h i s r e f e r s to a t r a d i t i ona l s tor y o f a p a r ty

o f t e n f o o l s w h o w e r e t r a v e l l i n g t o g e t h e r . T h e y

h a d t o c r o s s a r i v e r a n d o n r e a c h i n g t h e o t h e r

s h o r e w a n t e d t o c h e c k u p w h e t h e r a l l o f t h e m

h a d g o t s a f e l y a c r o s s . E a c h o n e c o u n t e d i n t u r n ,

b u t e a c h o n e c o u n t e d t h e n i n e o t h e r s a n d f o r g o t

himself. S o t h e y t h o u g h t t h e t e n t h m a n h a d b e e n

d r o w n e d a n d b e g a n t o m o u r n h i m . J u s t t h e n a

t r a v e l l e r c a m e p a s t a n d a s k e d t h e m w h a t w a s t h e

m a t t e r . H e a t o n c e s a w t h e c a u s e o f t h e i r m i s

t a k e a n d i n o r d e r t o c o n v i n c e t h e m h e m a d e

t h e m w a l k p a s t h i m o n e b y o n e , g i v i n g e a c h

o n e a b l o w a s h e p a s s e d a n d t e l l i n g t h e m t o

c o u n t t h e s t r o k e s .

zSanchita, Agami a n d Prarabdha.

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


T H E M A H A R S H I A N D T H E P A T H O F D E V O T I O N '

By A . D E V A R A J A M U D A L I A R

Devaraja Mudaliar is one of the seniormost of Bhagavan's devotees. A lawyer by profession,

he is precise in observation and clear in expression and was therefore often called upon by

Bhagavan to act as interpreter in answering the questions of Western visitors. For some years

he kept an Ashram diary w hich has been published in two volumes under the title ' Day by Day

with B hagavan \ He has also written 1 My Recollections of Bhagavan Sri Raman a'. Both books

are published by the Ashram. The above account m ight m ake h im appear a n intellectual, but he

is at heart a pure bha kta, as the following article shows.

Not on l y i n Indi a but i n a l l re l i g i ons the

p a t h o f d e v o t i o n o r s u r r e n d e r h a s b e e n

p r i z e d a s a m e t h o d f o r a t t a i n i n g to G o d o r

w i n n i n g L i b e r a t i o n . T h e f o u r m a i n p a t h s

r e c o m m e n d e d in H i n d u i s m a re k a r m a ,

b h a k t i , y o g a a n d j n a n a — a c t i o n , d e v o t i o n ,

y o g i c d e v e l o p m e n t a n d k n o w l e d g e ; a n d i t

i s he l d that man ' s bus i ness i n l i f e i s to t ry to

r e a c h G o d b y o n e o r m o r e o f t h e m . T h e

a b o v e f o u r i n c l u d e m a n y v a r i e d t e c h n i q u e s

w h i c h d i f f e r e n t p e o p l e p r a c t i s e i n t h e h o p e

o f e v o l v i n g s p i r i t u a l l y a n d a t t a i n i n g p e r f e c

t i o n . B h a g a v a n R a m a n a h a s o f t e n s a i d t h a t

a l l o f them are good and a l l are d i f f i cu l t , on l y

a c c o r d i n g t o t h e t e m p e r a m e n t a n d a b i l i t y

o f a n a s p i r a n t o n e o r a n o t h e r m a y a p p e a l t o

h i m most and l ook eas i est - He a l so sa i d that

w h a t e v e r m e t h o d o n e m a y p ra c t i s e o n e

must eventual l y at ta i n to Jnana, that i s to

D i v i n e K n o w l e d g e o f t h e Self, t h e A b s o l u t e .

I t i s w e l l k n o w n t h a t B h a g a v a n t a u g h t

t h a t t h e s h o r t e s t a n d m o s t d i r e c t w a y t o

a t t a i n S e l f - r e a l i z a t i o n i s t o e n q u i r e w h o t h i s

' I ' o r e g o t o w h i c h w e r e f e r a t e v e r y t u r n ,

as ' I th ink ' , ' I w a n t ' , ' I do ' , etc . , r ea l ly i sand wh en ce i t ar i ses . Thi s ' I ' i s anoth er

n a m e f o r t h e m i n d , w h i c h a g a i n i s n o t h i n g

b u t a b u n d l e o f t h o u g h t s . H e t a u g h t t h a t i f,

w i t h o u t a l l o w i n g t h e m i n d t o g o o u t w a r d s

a n d i n d u l g e i n t h o u g h t s o f t h e w o r l d , w e

c o n t i n u o u s l y a n d r e s o l u t e l y t u r n i t b a c k o n

i tse l f to f i nd the source whence i t spr i ngs i t

wi l l take us to the Self. T h i s m e t h o d i s

k n o w n a s v ic h a r a o r e n q u i r y a n d c o m e s

u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g o f j n a n a m a r g a .

I t i s n o t s o w e l l k n o w n , h o w e v e r , t h a t

B h a g a v a n w a s h i m s e l f a s m u c h a b h a k t a a s

a j n a n i , a m a n o f d e v o t i o n a s o f k n o w l e d g e .

I cou l d wr i te at l ength on th i s sub j ect , but

i t i s ha rd l y nece ssar y . A pe rusal o f h i s ' F i v e

H y m n s t o A r u n a c h a l a ' 2 i s e n o u g h t o p r o v e

w h a t a s i n c e r e a n d a r d e n t d e v o t e e h e w a s .

Wh at I w i sh to br i ng ou t here is that , wh en

c o m m e n d i n g S e l f - e n q u i r y a n d t el l in g h is

que st i one r to ask h i ms el f ' W h o am I ? ' ,B h a g a v a n o f t e n e n d e d b y s a y i n g : " I f y o u

say you have not the s trength to do th i s ,

t h r o w y o u r s e l f o n t h e o n e g r e a t P o w e r w h i c h

l ook s a f ter a l l . " I ha ve hear d h i m say th i s

not once bu t a nu m be r o f t i mes . Eve n i n h is

ear l i es t boo k , that great l i t t l e w or k ' W ho

1 B h a k t i m a r g a i s k n o w n v a r i o u s l y a s t h e p a t h

o f d e v o t i o n , s u b m i s s i o n o r s u r r e n d e r .

2 S e e e The Collected Works of Raman a Mahar

shi ' , R i d e r & C o . , L o n d o n a n d S r i R a m a n a s r a m a m ,


8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 T H E M A H A R S H I - A N D T H E P A T H O P D E V O T I O N 2 0 ?

am I ? he says : " G od i s pre pa red to tak e

u p a ll b u r d e n s , h o w e v e r h e a vy - W h y n o t

t h r o w a l l y o u r b u r d e n s a l s o o n H i m a n d b e

f ree ? Do n ' t be f oo l i sh l i ke the passe nge r i n

a r a i l w a y t r a i n w h o c a r r i e s h i s b a g o n h i s

l ap or shoul ders i nstead o f putt i ng i t on the

r a c k . " I h a v e n e v e r h e a r d h i m c o m m e n d i n

t h i s w a y , o f h i s o w n a c c o r d , e i t h e r k a r m a

m a r g a o r y o g a .

I n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n , I w o u l d l i k e t o q u o t e

a s t a n z a f r o m a T a m i l p o e m b y t h e l a t e

S i v a p r a k a s a m P i l l a i , 3 o n e o f B h a g a v a n ' s

o l d e s t d e v o t e e s a n d o n e w h o s e a u t h o r i t y t o

s p e a k o n B h a g a v a n ' s t e a c h i n g s it w o u l d b e

har d to d i spu te . " To a l l you g i v e on l y th e

i n s t r u c t i o n : ' P o n d e r a n d f in d o u t w h o y o u

are ' . I f , a f ter that , any one s t i l l su bm i ss i v e l y

asks f or mor e yo u say as yo ur f i na l adv i ce :

' T h e r e is a p o w e r ( s h a k t i ) w h i c h m o v e s y o u

and m e and a l l ; sur ren der y ou r ego at the

f eet o f that M oth er . ' "

N o t o n l y m a n y a n c i e n t s a i n t s o f o u r l a n d ,

b u t e v e n r e c e n t o n e s , s u c h a s S r i R a m a -

k r i s h n a P a r a m a h a m s a a n d S w a m i R a m d a s ,

t o m e n t i o n o n l y t w o , h a v e r e c o m m e n d e d t h e

b h a k t i p a t h o f s u r r e n d e r . T h e P u r a n a s h a v e

e v e n g o n e f u r t h e r a n d l a i d d o w n t h a t f o r

th i s sp i r i tua l l y dark age , the ka l i yuga , the

path o f bha kt i i s the best su i ted and the

e a s i e s t t o p r a c t i s e . L e a v e e v e r y t h i n g t o G o d ,

t h r o w y o u r s e l f a t H i s f e e t a n d j u s t k e e p

c a l li n g on H i s N a m e a l w a y s . Y o u ' n e e d n o t

d o a n y t h i n g e ls e - Y o u w i l l b e s a v e d . T h a t

i s what they say .

B u t w h a t e v e r a n y o n e m a y s a y , h o w

eve r easy at f irs t s i ght the m et ho d

m a y s e e m , o n c e y o u b e g i n t o p r a c

t i se i t earnest l y you wi l l f i nd sur

r e n d e r , r e a l a n d c o m p l e t e s u r r e n d e r , s u r

r e n d e r w i t h o u t a n y m e n t a l r e s e r v a t i o n s

w h a t s o e v e r , s u r r e n d e r t o a c c e p t w i t h j o y ,

a s c o m i n g f r o m G o d , e v e r y t h i n g t h a t b e f a l l s

y o u , g o o d , b a d a n d i n d i f fe r e n t , i s a v e r y

h a r d t h i n g i n d e e d - B u t w e a r e t o l d t h a t s u r

r e n d e r w i l l n o t w o r k u n l e s s i t i s c o m p l e t e .

T h e r e a r e t w o s t o r i e s , o n e f r o m t h e g r e a t

e p i c , t h e M a h a b h a r a t a , a n d t h e o t h e r t o l d

3 F o r whom s e e 'Ramana Maharshi and the

Path of Self-Knowledge \ p p . 8 5 - 9 0 , b y Arthur

O s b o r n e , Rider & C o . , L o n d o n .

b y S r i R a m a k r i s h n a P a r a m a h a m s a , th a t i l lu s

trate th i s . Th e fi rst is that wh en Dr au pa di

w a s l e f t d e f e n c e l e s s , h e r m i g h t y h u s b a n d s

h a v i n g b y t h e n l o s t t h e i r f r e e d o m , a n d t h e

e v i l D u r y o d h a n a a n d h is f r i e n d s t r i e d t o

d i s r o b e h e r i n c o u r t , s h e p r a y e d t o S r i

Kr i s hna as her l ast and on l y re f u ge ; but

h e l p , d i d n o t c o m e f r o m h i m u n t i l s h e h a d

g i v e n u p t h e n a t u r a l a n d a l m o s t i n v o l u n

tary e f f or t to ho l d on to her sar i and pre

v e n t it f r o m b e i n g r e m o v e d f r o m h e r w a i s t .

So l ong as she s tru ggl e d to h e l p herse l f ,

D i v i n e G r a c e c o u l d n o t f l o w t o h e l p h e r .T h e s t o r y t o l d b y R a m a k r i s h n a i s e v e n m o r e

f o r c e f u l . S o m e o n e p i c k e d a q u a r r e l w i t h a

l a u n d r y m a n w h e n h e w a s w a s h i n g c l o t h e s

a n d b e g a n t o b e a t h i m . T h e l a u n d r y m a n

c r i e d o u t t o V i s h n u f o r h e l p . V i s h n u w a s a t

t h a t t i m e d i s p o r t i n g h i m s e l f i n p a r a d i s e w i t h

h i s c o n s o r t L a k s h m i . O n h e a r i n g t h e p i t e o u s

c r y o f t h e l a u n d r y m a n h e r o s e a n d s t a r t e d

r u n n i n g t o w a r d s t h e e a r t h . A m o m e n t l a t e r ,

h o w e v e r , L a k s h m i s a w h i m s t r ol li n g b a c k

i n a l e i su re l y wa y . " W ha t i s the matte r ? "

she asked . " W h y d i d yo u rush o f f so su d

d e n l y ? A n d w h y d o y o u n o w c o m e b a c k i nn o h u r r y ? "

T h e L o r d t h e r e u p o n e x p l a i n e d : " A

d e v o t e e w a s b e a t e n a n d p r a y e d t o m e f o r

he l p and protect i on , so I had to run to h i s

r e s c u e - B u t b e f o r e I g o t t h e r e h e t o o k u p a

s t i c k t o d e f e n d h i m s e l f , s o w h y s h o u l d 1

b o t h e r ? "

T h i s is w h a t B h a g a v a n t a u g h t , t h a t

s u r r e n d e r m u s t b e c o m p l e t e o r i t w i l l n o t

be e f f ec t i ve . I t i s c l ear l y taught i n our re l i

g i o u s l i t e r a t u r e t h a t b e f o r e y o u c a n e x p e c t

a n y p r o g r e s s i n y o u r s p i r i t u a l s t a t e y o umust sacr i f i ce or o f f er a l l you have , body ,

p o s s e s s i o n s a n d s o u l , t o t h e G u r u . W e m u s t

a l s o r e m e m b e r t h a t G o d , G u r u a n d S e l f a r e

e q u a t e d . S u c h s u r r e n d e r h a s b e e n t a u g h t as

a sure and suf f i c i ent means f or the at ta i n

m en t o f our sp i r i tua l goa l , ca l l i t Mu kt i ,

M o k s h a , N i r v a n a , L i b e r a t i o n o r w h a f y o u

wi l l . Submi ss i on to the wi l l o f A l l ah i s the

b a s i c c o m m a n d o f I s l a m . J e s u s sa i d : " C o m e

u n t o M e a l l y e t h a t l a b o u r a n d a r e h e a v y

l a d e n a n d I w i l l g i v e y o u r e s t . " K r i s h n a

s a i d : " A b a n d o n a l l y o u r d u t i e s a n d t a k e

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf



re f u ge i n M e a l one . I w i l l f ree you f r om a l l

s i n s. D o n o t g r i e v e . "

Sr i Kr i shna de f i n i te l y a f f i rmed that i f a

m a n t a k e s r e f u g e a t H i s f e e t a n d s u r r e n d e r s

c o m p l e t e l y h e n e e d n o t d o a n y t h i n g e l s e ,

h e n e e d n o t b o t h e r a b o u t a n y o t h e r d u t i e s .

T h i s p a t h o f u t t e r d e v o t i o n a n d s e l f - s u r

r e n d e r h a s b e e n p r o c l a i m e d a n d f o l l o w e d b y

m a n y a b h a k t a t h r o u g h o u t I n d i a , e s p e c i a l l y

b y t h e g r e a t S a i v i t e a n d V a i s h n a v i t e p o e t -

s a i n ts o f t h e T a m i l l a n d , b y T u k a r a m ,

E k n a t h , N a m d e v a n d o t h e r s i n M a h a r a s h t r a ,

a n d C h a i t a n y a i n B e n g a l . T h e V a i s h n a v i t e s

i n p a r t i c u l a r h a v e a t t a c h e d g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e

to the path o f sur ren der as taught i n the

' Ch ara na s l ok a ' , as it i s ca l l ed , o f the

B h a g a v a d G i t a , w h i c h I h a v e a l r e a d y

q u o t e d - T h e y c a l l th i s s u r r e n d e r ' P r a p a t h i 1

a n d h a v e d e v e l o p e d i ts d o c t r i n e i n g r e a t

d e t a i l , s h o w i n g h o w f a r - r e a c h i n g it s r a m i

f i cat i ons can be .

I shal l re f er on l y to one or two aspects o f

t h i s ' P r a p a t h i ' p a t h w h i c h e s p e c i a l l y a p p e a l

to me . Th ey say , f or i nsta nce , that whi l e

i n o t h e r p a t h s G o d i s t h e G o a l a n d v a r i o u so t h e r t h i n g s a r e u s e d a s m e a n s , o n t h e p a t h

o f s u r r e n d e r b o t h t h e m e a n s a n d t h e e n d

a r e G o d . A n o t h e r t h i n g t h e y s a y i s t h a t

w h e r e a s o n a n y o t h e r p a t h m o r e t h a n o n e

m e a n s m a y b e e m p l o y e d a n d m a y e v e n b e

n e c e s s a r y , o n t h e p a t h o f s u r r e n d e r n o o t h e r

m e a n s a r e n e c e s s a r y o r e v e n a d m i s s i b l e , f o r

t h a t w o u l d i m p l y t h a t y o u r f a i t h i n s u r

r e n d e r w a s n o t c o m p l e t e , a n d t h e r e f o r e y o u r

surr end er i tse l f wa s not . On e i l l ustrat i on

the y quo te f or th i s arg um en t is that in the

R a m a y a n a I n d r a ji t u s e d a p o w e r f u l w e a p o n

c a l l e d ' B r a h m a A s t h r a ' w i t h w h o s e d i v i n ep o w e r h e b o u n d H a n u m a n h a n d a n d f o o t .

T h e R a k s h a s a s , h o w e v e r , s e e k i n g t o m a k e

d o u b l y s u r e , b e g a n t o b i n d h i m a l s o

w i t h r o p e s a n d c h a in s , w h e r e u p o n t h e

d i v i n e w e a p o n c e a s e d t o a c t o w i n g t o

' the ir l ack o f f a i th i n i t . To thr ow one se l f

c o m p l e t e l y o n G o d , s e c u r e i n H i s l o v e a n d

m e r c y a n d p o w e r , a n d n o t t o d r e a m o f b e i n g

a b l e t o d o a n y t h i n g e x c e p t b y H i s G r a c e

a n d W i l l is t h e P r a p a t h i m e t h o d t a u g h t b y

t h e V a i s h n a v i t e s , a n d i t h a s g r e a t v a l u e f o r

t h e r e a l l y a r d e n t d e v o t e e .

E v e n r e c e n t s a i n ts h a v e , i n t h e i r g r e a t

m e r c y , t o l d s o m e l u c k y d i s c i p l e s t h a t i f t h e y

s u r r e n d e r e d c o m p l e t e l y t o t h e G u r u t h e y

n e e d n o t d o a n y t h i n g e l se . O n c e w h e n l ^ i r i s h

C h a n d r a G h o s h w e p t b e f o r e R a m a k r i s h n a

a n d d e c l a r e d t h a t h e c o u l d n o t f o l l o w a n y

d i s c i p l i n e , h o w e v e r s i m p l e o r s h o r t , R a m a

kr i sh na wa s p l eased to te l l h i m : " Th en g i v e

m e p o w e r o f a t t o r n e y " , m e a n i n g : ' S u r

ren der and I w i l l do the rest ! '

I o n c e t o l d B h a g a v a n : " I a m a n o t h e r

G i r i s h . Y o u m u s t s a v e m e y o u r s e l f . E v e r y

s a i n t m u s t h a v e a G i r i s h . "

B h a g a v a n r e p l i e d : " B u t he g a v e p o w e r

o f a t t o r n e y . "

" I t o o h a v e s u r r e n d e r e d t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t

I am cap abl e o f , " I sa i d : " W ha t mo re can

I do ? "

B h a g a v a n s a i d n o t h i n g .

I t w a s n o t B h a g a v a n ' s w a y t o s a y , " S u r

r e n d e r a n d I w i l l l o o k a ft e r y o u . " H o w

eve r , the f o l l ow i ng i nc i de nt is s i gn i f i cant in

t h at r e g a r d . A b o u t a y e a r b e f o r e B h a g a

van l e f t the body I sa i d to h i m one a f ter

noo n : " I am go i ng to s i ng Bhag ava n three

s t an z a s f r o m a p o e m b y S i v a p r a k a s a m P i l -

l a i b e c a u s e t h e y e x p r e s s w h a t I w a n t t o s a y

b e t t e r t h a n I c o u l d . " I t h e n sa n g t h e m .

T h e i r m e a n i n g is : " I h a v e n o t f o l l o w e d

y o u r t e a c h i n g o r i n s t r u c t i o n s ; b u t i s i t p r o

per f or a Gu ru to get d i sgus ted wi t h h i s

d e v o t e e a s a n i n c o r r i g i b l e b e a s t a n d t o g i v e

h i m u p ? I f y o u l e t m e g o m y o w n w a y l i k e

th i s , wh at i s to hap pen to me ? I shal l no t

r e f o r m a n d y o u w i l l n o t c o r r e c t o r c h a n g e m e .

Have I any other he l p i n th i s or the o ther

w o r l d e x c e p t y o u , m y L o r d ? W h a t , t h e n ,

i s yo ur i dea ? Is th i s r i ght beh av i ou r f or

y o u ? "

B h a g a v a n d i d n o t i m m e d i a t e l y r e p l y ,

w h i c h c a u s e d m e s o m e d i s a p p o i n t m e n t . A f t e r

a mi nu te or tw o he sa i d : " W he the r I do

anyth i ng or not , your bus i ness i s on l y to

s u r r e n d e r a n d k e e p s t i l l . "

S o m e f r i e n d s h a v e t o l d m e t h a t I m a y

take th i s to me an : " Do n ' t w or ry ; I k no w

wh at to do and wi l l do i t . " On the o ther

han d, i t m ay o n l y mea n : " I f yo u re a l l y

s u r r e n d e r y o u h a v e n o r i g h t t o c o m p l a i n ;

so i f a devotee compl a i ns i t i s a s i gn that

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 T H E W O R L D 209

h e h a s n o t s u r r e n d e r e d . " I n a n y c a s e , I

pre f er to be an opt i mi st and be l i eve that ,

h o w e v e r i n c o m p l e t e m y s u r r e n d e r m a y b e ,

so l ong as h i s Grace i s compl ete he wi l l l ook

af ter me a l l r i ght .

I r e c e n t l y r e a d i n ' B h a v a n ' s J o u r n a l '

s o m e o f t h e t e a c h i n g s o f S w a m i N i t y a n a n d a

w h o l i v e d i n V a j r e s w a r i f o r a b o u t t h i r t y

yea rs and d i ed a f e w years ago - A d i sc i p l e

asked h i m : " W ha t s hou l d I do ? " ; and her e p l i e d : " Y o u n e e d n o t d o a n y t h i n g . " I

t a k e t h a t t o m e a n a n y t h i n g e x c e p t s u r r e n

d e r a n d l e a v e e v e r y t h i n g t o t h e G u r u .

I n t e l l e c t u a l s m a y f e e l t e m p t e d t o l o o k

do w n on the path o f bhak t i , but I th i nk I

h a v e w r i t t e n e n o u g h t o s h o w t h a t s u c h a n

att i tud e is not justi f ied. I wi l l f inish wi th

one more s tory to i l l ustrate th i s . To l a Pur i

w a s an A d v a i t i n w h o m R a m a k r i s h n a t o o k

as h i s gur u , hav i ng a l r ead y had a tantr i c

g u r u . H e h a d n o p a t ie n c e w i t h p e o p l e w o r

s h i p p i n g a P e r s o n a l G o d a n d u s e d t o m a k e

f u n o f R a m a k r i s h n a f o r c o n s t a n t l y s p e a k i n g

o f K a l i a n d w o r s h i p p i n g h e r a n d c a l l i n g h e r

' M o t h e r H e h a d n e v e r p r e v i o u s l y k n o w n

i ll h e a l t h , w h e n h e w a s s u d d e n l y a t t a c k e d

b y a s e v e r e a n d p a i n f u l f o r m o f d y s e n t e r y . I t

w a s s o b a d t h a t a f t e r s o m e d a y s h e d e c i d e d

t o d r o w n h i m s e l f i n t h e G a n g e s . H e e n t e r

e d t h e r i v e r a n d w a l k e d t o w a r d s t h e o p p o

s i te ba nk , per ha ps hal f a mi l e or so , on l y to

f i n d t h a t t h e w a t e r n e v e r g o t m o r e t h a n

k n e e - d e e p . F i n a l l y K a l i , R a m a k r i s h n a ' s

' M o t h e r , ' a p p e a r e d b e f o r e h i m a n d t h u sm i r a c u l o u s l y c o n v e r t e d h i m .

L e t n o h u m b l e d e v o t e e , t h e r e f o r e , f e e l d i s

c o u r a g e d if s o m e p h i l o s o p h e r o r e v e n s a in t

c o n d e m n s t h e p a t h o f s u r r e n d e r . T h e p r o o f

o f the pu dd i ng i s i n the eat i ng . I t has

w o r k e d a n d p r o d u c e d r e s u l t s a l l o v e r t h e

w o r l d , n o t o n l y w i t h b h a k t a s i n I n d i a , b u t

wi th Suf i s i n Per s i a and myst i cs both i n the

E a s t a n d W e s t . A b o v e a l l, S r i K r i s h n a h a s

hel d out the promi se that He wi l l save a l l

w h o c o m e t o H i m a n d t a k e r e f u g e a t H i s

f eet . Let us not do ub t , but le t us surre nde r

a n d a c h i e v e e t e r n a l P e a c e a n d B l i s s .

T H E W O R L D

B y A . R A O

T h e w o r l d ' s a n e x t e n s i o n o f y o u - —

N o t h i n g o u t s i d e .

L e t w h a t w i l l b e t i d e ;O n l y e n s u e

The i nner se l f o f you ,

For th i s i s t rue .

F o r a d a y y o u w e a r

The garb o f earth and a i r ,

K n o w l e d g e c o n f i n e d

T o m o r t a l m i n d :

O n l y a s p e l l t o b r e a k ,

A d r e a m f r o m w h i c h t o w a k e .

So long i t lasts,

D o n ' t t h i n k y o u o r i g i n a t e

Th e p l a y o f fa te

I t s s h a d o w c a s t s .

B e a g l a s s p o l i s h e d b r i g h t

To re f l ec t the L i ght .

But . Hui N eng sa i d

T h e r e i s n o g l a s s .

L e t t h e e g o - s e l f b e d e a d ,

T h i s w i l l c o m e t o p a s s .

T h e n a l l f a t e ' s t e e t h a r e d r a w n

In that g l ad dawn.

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


T H E M A R I T A L G A R L A N D O F L E T T E R S

T h e r e c o u l d b e n o b e t t e r p r o o f t h a t t h e p a t h o f d e v o t i o n i s c o m p a t i b l e w i t h K n o w l e d g e t h a n

B h a g a v a n ' s ' Marital Garland of Letters to Sri Arunachala ' . H e c om p os ed i t wh i l e he was st i l l

a y o u n g m a n l i v i n g i n a c a v e o n A r u n a c h a l a b e f o r e h i s A s h r a m w a s f o u n d e d . S o m e o f h i s d i s

c i p l es u sed to g o i nto tow n d a i l y to b eg the i r foo d and asked hi m for a song to s i ng as theywe nt . H e r ep l i ed a t f i rst that ther e we r e p l en ty o f so ngs l e f t b y th e c l ass i c a l T am i l p oet -s a i nts

t h a t c o u l d b e u s e d , b u t t h e y p e r s is t e d . S o m e d a y s l a t e r h e w a l k e d r o u n d A r u n a c h a l a , c o m -

p os i n g the ' Mar i t a l Ga r l a nd ' as he wen t . I t i s sa i d that tear s o f ec sta t i c a r d o ur st r e am ed d ow n

hi s fa c e as he c om p o se d i t . Cer ta i n l y i t i s one o f the sup r em e sym bol i c a l l ov e p oe ms o f a l l ages

and a l l r e l i g i o ns . I t has a l w ays r em ai n ed th e em ot i o na l t r easur e o f h i s d ev ote es , as the ' For ty

V e r s e s ' i s t h e i r d o c t r i n a l f o u n d a t i o n . S p o n t a n e o u s l y t h e y b u r s t i n t o t h e s i n g i n g o f i t a t t h e l a st

m o m e n t w h e n b r e a t h w a s l e a v i n g h i s b o d y , s o t h a t i t w a s t h e l a s t e a r t h l y s o u n d h e h e a r d ,

, > . ft..

INVOCATION

G r a c i o u s G a n a p a t i 1 ! w i t h T h y ( l o v i n g )

h a n d b l e s s m e , t h a t I m a y m a k e t h i s a m a r i

t a l g a r l e n d o f l e t t e r s w o r t h y o f S r i A r u n a

c h a l a , t he B r i d e g r o o m !

R E F R A I N

A r u n a c h a l a S h i v a ! A r u n a c h a l a S h i v a !

A r u n a c h a l a S h i v a ! A r u n a c h a l a !

A r u n a c h a l a S h i v a ! A r u n a c h a l a S h i v a !

A r u n a c h a l a S h i v a ! A r u n a c h a l a !

1 . A r u n a c h a l a ! T h o u d o e s t r o o t o u t th e

e g o o f t h o s e w h o m e d i t a t e o n T h e e i n t h e

h e a r t , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

2 . M a y T h o u a n d I b e o n e a n d i n s e p a

r a b l e l i k e Alagu a n d Sundara,2 O h A r u n a

chal a !

3- E n t e r i n g ( m y ) h o m e a n d l u r i n g m e

( t o T h i n e ) w h y d i d s t T h o u k e e p m e p r i s o n e r

i n T h y h e a r t ' s c a v e r n . O h A r u n a c h a l a ?

1 A n o t h e r n a m e f o r L o r d G a n e s h a .

2 T h e T a m i l w o r d alagu a n d S a n s k r i t w o r d

sundara h a v e t h e s a m e m e a n i n g : ' b e a u t y \ A l a g u

a n d S u n d a r a w e r e a l s o t h e n a m e s o f S r i R a m a n a ' s

m o t h e r a n d f a t h e r .

4 . W as it f or Thy p l eas ure or f or m y

s a k e T h o u d i d s t w i n m e ? I f n o w T h o u t u r n

m e a w a y , t h e w o r l d w i l l b l a m e T h e e , O h

A r u n a c h a l a !

5 . Esca pe th i s b l a me ! W hy d i dst T ho ut h e n r e c a l l T h y s e l f t o m e ? H o w c a n I l e a v e

T h e e n o w , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

6 . K i n d e r f a r a rt T h o u t h a n o n e ' s o w n

m o t h e r . I s t h is t h e n T h y a l l - k i n d n e s s , O h

A r u n a c h a l a ?

7. Si t f irmly in m y m ind lest i t elu de

T h e e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

8 . D i s p l ay Th y bea uty , f or the f i ck l e mi n d

t o s e e T h e e f o r e v e r a n d t o r e s t ( i n p e a c e ) .

O h A r u n a c h a l a !

9 . A f t e r a b d u c t i n g m e i f n o w T h o u d o s t

n o t e m b r a c e m e , w h e r e i s T h y c h i v a l r y , O h


10. D o e s i t b e c o m e T h e e t h u s t o s l e e p

w h e n I a m o u t r a g e d b y o t h e rs , O h A r u n a

chal a ?

11. E v e n w h e n t h e t h i e v e s of t h e f i ve s e n

ses break i n upon me, art Thou not s t i l l i n

m y h e a r t , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

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1.964 T H E M A R I T A L G A R L A N D OF L E T T E R S 2 1 1

12 . O n e a r t T h o u w i t h o u t a s e c o n d ; w h o

t h e n c o u l d d a r e e l u d e T h e e a n d c o m e i n ?

T h i s is o n l y T h y j u g g l e r y , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

13 . S i g n if ic a n c e o f O M u n r i v a l l e d — u n

s u r p a s se d ! W h o c a n c o m p r e h e n d T h e e , O h


14 . A s ( U n i v e r s a l ) M o t h e r , i t i s T h y d u t y

t o d i s p e n s e T h y G r a c e a n d s a v e m e , O h A r u

n a c h a l a !

15 . W h o c a n e v e r f i n d T h e e ? T h e E y e o f 1

t h e e y e a r t T h o u , a n d w i t h o u t e y e s T h o u

s e e s t, O h A r u n a c h a l a !

16. A s a l o d e - s t o n e a t t r a c ts i r o n , m a g n e

t i z i ng i t and ho l d i ng i t f ast , so do Thou to

m e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

17 . ( U n m o v i n g ) H i l l , m e l t i n g i n t o a S e a

o f G r a c e , h a v e m e r c y ( o n m e ) I p r a y , O h


18 . F i e r y G e m , s h i n i n g i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s , d o

T h o u b u r n u p m y d r o s s , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

19 . S h i n e a s m y G u r u , m a k i n g m e f r e e

f r o m f a u l t s a n d w o r t h y o f T h y G r a c e , O h


20. S a v e m e f r o m t h e c r u e l s n a r e s o f f a s

c i n a ti n g w o m e n a n d h o n o u r m e w i t h u n i o n

w i t h T h y s e l f , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

21 . T h o u g h I b e g , T h o u a r t c a l l o u s a n d

d o s t n o t c o n d e s c e n d . I p r a y T h e e ! s a y t o

m e ' F e a r n o t ! ' O h A r u n a c h a l a !

22 - U n a s k e d T h o u g i v e s t ; t h i s i s T h y i m

p e r i s h a b l e f a m e - D o n o t b e l i e T h y n a m e ,


23. S w e e t f r u i t w i t h i n m y h a n d s , l e t m e

b e m a d w i t h e c s t a s y , d r u n k w i t h t h e B l i s s

o f T h y E s s e n c e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

24. B l a z o n e d a s t h e D e v o u r e r o f T h y v o t a

r i e s , h o w c a n I s u r v i v e w h o h a v e e m b r a c e d

T h e e , O h A r u n a c h a l a ?

25. T h o u , u n r u f fl e d b y a n g e r ! W h a t c r i m e

h a s m a r k e d m e of f ( f o r T h y w r a t h ) , O h


26. G l o r i o u s M o u n t a i n o f L o v e , c e l e b r a t e d

b y G a u t a m a 3 , rule* m e wi t h Th y gra c i ous

g l a n c e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

3 T h e G a u t a m a h e r e r e f e r r e d t o i s n o t t h e

B u d d h a b u t a H i n d u S a g e o f t h a t n a m e w h o

27 . D a z z l i n g S u n t h a t s w a l l o w e s t u p a l l

t h e u n i v e r s e i n T h y r a y s , b y T h y L i g h t o p e n

t h e l o t u s o f m y h e a r t I p r a y , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

28. I c a m e t o f e e d o n T h e e , b u t T h o u h a s t

f e d o n m e ; n o w t h e r e i s P e a c e , O h A r u n a

chal a !

29. O M o o n o f G r a c e , w i t h T h y ( c o o l )

r a y s a s h a n d s , o p e n ( w i t h i n m e ) t h e a m b r o

s i al o r i fi c e a n d le t m y h e a r t r e j o i c e , O h A r u

n a c h a l a !

30 . T e a r o ff t h e s e r o b e s , e x p o s e m e n a k e d ,

t h e n r o b e m e w i t h T h y L o v e , O h A r u n a chal a !

3 1 . T h e r e ( i n t h e h e a r t ) r e s t q u i e t ! L e t

the sea o f j oy surge , speech and f ee l i ng cease .


32 - D o n o t c o n t i n u e t o d e c e i v e a n d p r o v e

m e ; d i s c l o s e i n s t e a d T h y T r a n s c e n d e n t a l

Self, O h A r u n a c h a l a !

33. V o u c h s a f e t h e k n o w l e d g e o f E t er n a l

L i f e t h a t I m a y l e a r n t h e g l o r i o u s P r i m a l

W i s d o m , a n d s h u n t h e d e l u s i o n o f t h is w o r l d ,


34. U n l e s s T h o u e m b r a c e m e , I s h a l l m e l t

a w a y i n t e a r s o f a n g u i s h , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

35 . I f spu rne d by Th ee , a l as ! wh at rests

f o r m e b u t t h e t o r m e n t o f m y prarabdha ? 4

W h a t h o p e i s l e f t f o r m e , O h A r u n a c h a l a ?

36. In s i l en ce T ho u sa i dst , ' S tay s i l en t ! '

a n d T h y s e l f s t o o d s i l e n t, O A r u n a c h a l a ! 5

37 . H a p p i n e s s l i e s i n p e a c e f u l r e p o s e e n

j o y e d w h e n r e s t i n g i n t h e Self. B e y o n d

s p e e c h i n d e e d i s T h y p r o w e s s r e s t i n g i n t h e

Self. B e y o n d s p e e c h i n d e e d is T h i s m yS t a t e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

d w e l t a t A r u n a c h a l a , f o r m e n t i o n o f w h o m s e e' T h e M y t h o l o g y o f A r u n a c h a l a ' b y T . K . S. i n

ou r issue of J ul y 1964. P. 143.

4 Prarabdha i s the p ar t o f d est i ny d ue to p ast

a c t i o n s (karmas) w h i c h b e a r s f r u i t i n t h e p r e s e n t

b i r t h .

5 S i l e n c e i s t h e h i g h e s t a n d m o s t p e r f e c t f o r m

o f i n s t r u c t i o n w h i c h t h e Guru c a n g i v e , f o r b y

i t s nat ur e i t is c l osest to the essent i a l ob j ec t o f

s u c h i n s t r u c t i o n , w h i c h i s t h e r e a l i z a t i o n b y t h e

d i s c i p l e o f t h e i n c o m m u n i c a b l e a n d i n e x p r e s s i b l e

A b s o l u t e .

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf



38 . Sun ! Th ou d i dst sa l l y f or th and i l l u

s i o n w a s e n d e d - T h e n d i d s t T h o u s h in e m o

t i o nl e s s ( a l o n e ) , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

39. ( A dog can scent out i ts master ) ; am

I t h e n w o r s e t h a n a d o g ? S t e a d f a s t l y w i l l

I s e e k T h e e a n d r e g a i n T h e e , O h A r u n a

chal a !

40 . G r a n t m e w i s d o m , I b e s e e c h T h e e , s u

that I m ay not p i ne f or l ov e o f Th ee i n i g

n o r a n c e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

4 1 . ( I n s u n l i g h t t h e l o t u s b l o s s o m s ) , h o w

t h e n c o u l d s t T h o u , t h e S u n o f s u n s , h o v e rb e f o r e m e l i k e a f lo w e r b e e , s a y i n g ' T h o u

a r e n o t y e t in b l o s s o m , ' O h A r u n a c h a l a ?

42. ' Th ou hast rea l i zed the S e l f eve n

w i t h o u t k n o w i n g t h a t i t w a s t h e T r u t h . I t

i s the T ru th Itsel f ! ' Spe ak ( thu s i f i t be

s o ) , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

43 . R e v e a l T h y s e l f ! T h o u o n l y a r t R e a l i

t y , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

44 . • L o o k w i t h i n , e v e r s e e k i n g t h e S e l f

w i t h t h e i n n e r e y e , t h e n w i l l ( I t ) b e f o u n d . '

T h u s d id s t T h o u d i r e c t m e , b e l o v e d A r u n a

chal a !

45 . W e a k t h o u g h m y e f fo r t w a s , b y T h y

G r a c e I g a i n e d t h e Self, O h A r u n a c h a l a !

46 . W h a t v a l u e h a s t h i s b i r t h w i t h o u t

K n o w l e d g e b o r n o f r e a l i z a t i o n ? I t i s n o t

e v e n w o r t h s p e a k i n g a b o u t , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

47 - I , b y T h y G r a c e , a m s u n k i n T h y Self,

w h e r e i n m e r g e o n l y t h o s e d i v e s t e d o f t h e i r

m i n d s a n d t h u s m a d e p u r e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

48. W h e n I t o o k s h e l t e r u n d e r T h e e a s m y

O n e G o d , T h o u d i d s t d e s t r o y m e a l t o g e t h e r ,


49 . T r e a s u r e o f b e n i g n a n d h o l y G r a c e ,

f o u n d w i t h o u t s e e k i n g , s t e a d y m y w a n d e r

i n g m i n d , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

50. O n s e e k i n g T h y R e a l S e l f w i t h c o u

r a g e , m y r a f t c a p s i z e d a n d t h e w a t e r s c a m e

o v e r m e . H a v e m e r c y o n m e A r u n a c h a l a !

51 . E n f o l d m e b o d y t o b o d y , l i m b t o l i m b ,

o r I a m l o s t , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

52. O h U n d e f i l e d , a b i d e T h o u i n m y h e a r t

s o t h a t th e r e m a y b e e v e r l a s t i n g j o y , A r u

n a c h a l a !

53. M o c k m e n o t , w h o s e e k T h y p r o t e c

t i o n ! A d o r n m e w i t h T h y G r a c e a n d t h e n

r e g a r d m e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

54. Does i t not shame Thee to s tand there

l i ke a post , ( l ea v i n g me ) to fi nd Thee by

m y s e l f , O h A r u n a c h a l a ?

55 . R a i n T h y M e r c y o n m e e re T h y K n o w

l e d g e b u r n m e t o a s h e s , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

56. U n i t e w i t h m e t o d e s t r o y ( o u r s e p a

rate i dent i t i es as ) Thou and me, and b l ess

m e w i t h t h e s t a t e o f e v e r - v i b r a n t j o y , O h


57. W h e n w i l l w a v e s o f t h o u g h t c e a s e t o

r i se ? W he n shal l I reac h The e , subt l er th an

t h e s u b t l e e t h e r , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

58 - I a m a s i m p l e t o n d e v o i d o f l e a r n i n g .

D o T h o u d i s p e l i l lu s i o n , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

59. W h e n I m e l t e d a w a y a n d e n t e r e d T h e e ,

m y R e f u g e , ( I f o u n d ) T h e e s t a n d i n g n a k e d ,


60. I n m y u n l o v i n g s e l f T h o u d i d s t c r e a t e

a p a s s i on , f o r T h e e , t h e r e f o r e f o r s a k e m e n o t ,


61. F r u i t s h r i v e l l e d a n d s p o i l t i s w o r t h

l e s s ; t a k e a n d e n j o y i t r i p e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

62. H a s t T h o u n o t b a r t e r e d c u n n i n g l y

T h y s e l f f o r m e ? O h , T h o u a r t d e a t h t o m e ,


63. R e g a r d m e ! T a k e t h o u g h t o f m e !

T o u c h m e ! 6 M a t u r e m e ! M a k e m e o n e w i t h

T h e e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

64. G r a n t m e T h y G r a c e e r e t h e p o i s o n

of de l us i o n gr i ps me an d , r i s i ng to m y he ad ,

k i l ls m e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

65. T h y s e l f r e g a r d m e a n d d i s p e l il l u s i o n !

U n l e s s T h o u d o s o w h o c a n i n t e r c e d e w i t h

G r a c e I t s e lf m a d e m a n i f e s t O h A r u n a c h a l a !

66 . W i t h m a d n e s s f o r T h e e h a s t T h o u f r e e d

m e o f m a d n e s s ( f o r t h e w o r l d ) ; g r a n t m e

n o w t h e c u r e o f a l l m a d n e s s , O h A r u n a

chal a !

67. F e a r l e s s I s e e k T h e e , F e a r l e s s n e s s I t

se l f ! H ow canst Th ou f e ar to tak e me, O h


6 1 R e g a r d m e ! T a k e t h o u g h t o f m e ! T o u c h

m e ! ' r e f e r r e s p e c t i v e l y t o t h e , t h r e e m o d e s o f

i n i t i a t i o n , b y l o o k , b y t h o u g h t , a n d b y t o u c h .

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 T H E M A R I T A L G A R L A N D O F L E T T E R S 2 13

68. W h e r e i s ( m y ) ig n o r a n c e o r ( T h y )

W i s d o m , i f I a m b l e s s e d w i t h u n i o n t o T h e e ,


69 - E s p o u s e m e , I b e s e e c h T h e e , a n d l e t

t h is m i n d , n o w w e d d e d t o t h e w o r l d , b e w e d

d e d t o P e r f e c t i o n , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

70 . M e r e t h o u g h t o f T h e e h a s d r a w n m e

t o T h e e , a n d w h o c a n g a u g e T h y G l o r y ( in

I t s e l f) , O h , A r u n a c h a l a ?

71 . T h o u h a s t p o s s e s s e d m e , u n e x o r c i z -

a b l e S p i r i t ! a n d m a d e m e m a d ( f o r T h e e ) ,

t h a t I m a y - c e a s e t o b e a g h o s t ( w a n d e r i n gt h e w o r l d ) , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

72. B e T h o u m y s t a y a n d m y s u p p o r t l e s t

I d r o o p h e l p l e s s l i k e a t e n d e r c r e e p e r , O h


73 . T h o u d id s t b e n u m b ( m y f a c u l t i e s )

w i t h s t u p e f y i n g p o w d e r . 7 t h e n r o b m e o f m y

u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d r e v e a l th e K n o w l e d g e o f

T h y Self, O h A r u n a c h a l a !

74. S h o w m e t h e w a r f a r e o f T h y G r a c e , i n

t h e O p e n F i e l d w h e r e t h e r e is n o c o m i n g a n d

g o i n g , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

75 . U n a t t a c h e d t o t h e p h y s i c a l f r a m e c o m pos ed o f the ( f i ve ) e l em ents , l e t m e f or ev er

r e p o s e h a p p y i n t h e s i g h t o f T h y S p l e n d o u r ,


76 . T h o u h a s t a d m i n i s t e r e d t h e m e d i c i n e

o f c o n f u s i o n t o m e , s o m u s t I b e c o n f o u n d

ed ! Shi n e Th ou as Gr ace , the cure o f a l l

c o n f u s i o n , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

77. Shi ne Thou se l f l ess , sappi ng the pr i de

o f t h o s e w h o b o a s t of th e i r f r e e - w i l l , O h

A r u n a c h a l a V

78. I a m a f o o l w h o p r a y s o n l y w h e n o v e r

w h e l m e d ( b y m i s e r y ) , y e t d i s a p p o i n t m e

n o t , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

79 . Gu ard me l est I f lounder s t orm - tos sed

l i k e a s h i p w i t h o u t h e l m s m a n , O h A r u n a

chal a !

80. T h o u h a s t c u t t h e k n o t w h i c h h i d t h e

v i s i o n o f T h y H e a d a n d F o o t ( t h e l i m i t l e s s

7 T h i s v e r s e a l l u d e s t o t h e w a n d e r i n g a s c e t i c s

w h o s p ir i t a w a y c h i l d r e n f o r d i s c i p l e s , s t u p e f y i n g

t h e m w i t h a p i n c h o f p o w d e r , s u c h a s s a c r e d

ashes .

S e l f ) . M o t h e r l i k e , s h ou l d s t T h o u n ot c o m

p l e t e T h y t a s k , O h A r u n a c h a l a ! 8

81 - B e n o t ( l i k e ) a m i r r o r h e l d t o a n o s e

l e s s m a n , b u t ra i s e m e ( f r o m m y l o w n e s s )

a n d e m b r a c e m e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

82. L e t u s e m b r a c e u p o n t h e b e d o f t e n

der f lowers, wh i ch i s the mi nd , w i th i n the

r o o m o f t h e b o d y ( o r t h e U l t i m a t e T r u t h ) ,


83. H o w i s i t t h a t T h o u h a s t b e c o m e f a

m o u s f r o m T h y c o n s t a n t u n i o n w i t h t h e p o o r

a n d h u m b l e , O h A r u n a c h a l a ?

84. T h o u h a s t r e m o v e d t h e b l i n d n e s s o f

i g n o r a n c e w i t h t h e u n g u e n t o f T h y G r a c e ,

a n d m a d e m e t r u l y T h i n e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

85. T h o u d i d s t s h a v e c l e a n m y h e a d ( a n d

I w a s l o s t t o t h e w o r l d ) , 9 t h e n T h o u d i d s t

( s h o w T h y s e l f ) d a n c i n g in T r a n s c e n d e n t

S p a c e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

86. T h o u g h T h o u h a s t l o o s e d m e f r o m t h e

m i s t s o f e r r o r a n d m a d e m e m a d f o r T h e e ,

w h y h a s t T h o u n o t y e t f r e e d m e f r o m i l l u

s i o n ; O h A r u n a c h a l a !

87 . Is i t t rue S i l ence to rest l i ke a s tone ,

i n e r t a n d u n e x p a n s i v e , O h A r u n a c h a l a ?

88 . W h o w a s it t h a t t h r e w m u d t o m e f o r

f o o d 1 0 a n d r o b b e d m e o f m y l i v e l i h o o d , O h


89. U n k n o w n t o a ll , s t u p e f y i n g m e , W h o

w a s it t h a t r a v i s h e d m y s o u l , O h A r u n a

chal a ?

90 - I s p o k e t h u s t o T h e e , b e c a u s e T h o u

a r t m y L o r d ; b e n o t o f fe n d e d b u t c o m e a n d

g i v e m e h a p p i n e s s , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

8 T h e c u t t i n g o f t h e k n o t w h i c h b i n d s m a n t o

i l l u s i o n i m p l i e s t h e a t t a in m e n t o f nirvikalpa

samadhi; c o m p l e t i o n of t h e t a s k r e f e r s t o t h e

state of sahaja samadhi.

9 T h e p a r e n t h e s i s i s n o t a m e r e a d d i t i o n t o e x p l a i n the i mp l i c a t i o n o f shav i n g the hea d , for by

a n a l t e r n a t i v e r e a d i n g , i n v o l v i n g t h e c h a n g e o f

a s i n g l e l e t t e r , t h e s e w o r d s b e c o m e e x p l i c i t in t h e

t e x t .

1 0 L i t e r a l l y , ' T h r e w m u d i n m y m o u t h \ a n e x

p r e s s i o n m e a n i n g ' c a u s e d m y r u i n T h e d e e p e r

me an i ng o f th i s ver s e i s : ' W ho was i t that

i n d i v i d u a l i z e d m e a n d r o b b e d m e o f m y P e r f e c t

B e i n g ? '

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T H E M O U N T A I N P A T H October

91 . L e t u s e n j o y o n e a n o t h e r i n t h e H o u s e

o f O p e n S p a c e , w h e r e t h e r e i s n e i t h e r n i g h t

n o r d a y , O h A r u n a c h a l a ! 1 1

92. T h o u d i d s t t a k e a i m ( a t m e ) w i t h d a r t s

o f L o v e a n d t h e n d e v o u r e d m e a l i v e , O h


93. T h o u a r t t h e P r i m a l B e i n g , w h e r e a s

I c o u n t n o t i n t h i s n o r t h e o t h e r w o r l d .

W h a t d i d s t T h o u g a i n t h u s b y m y w o r t h l e s s

self, O h A r u n a c h a l a !

94 . Di st Th ou not ca l l me i n ? I ha ve co m ei n . N o w m e a s u r e o u t f o r m e , ( m y m a i n t e

n a n c e i s n o w T h y b u r d e n ) . H a r d i s T h y

l o t , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

95. T h e m o m e n t T h o u d id s t w e l c o m e m e ,

d i d s t e n t e r i n t o m e a n d g r a n t m e T h y d i v i n e

l i f e , I lo s t m y i n d i v i d u a l i t y , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

96 . B l e s s m e t h a t I m a y d i e w i t h o u t l o s

i n g h o l d o f T h e e , o r m i s e r a b l e i s ( m y f a t e ) ,


97. F r o m m y h o m e T h o u d i d st e n ti c e m e ,

t h e n s t e a l i n g i n t o m y h e a r t d i d s t d r a w m e

g e n t l y i n t o T h i n e , ( s u c h i s ) T h y G r a c e , O h


98 - I h a v e b e t r a y e d T h y ( s e c r e t ) w o r k

i n g s . B e n o t o ff e n d e d ! S h o w m e T h y G r a c e

n o w o p e n l y a n d s a v e m e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

99. G r a n t m e t h e e s s e n c e o f t h e V e d a s ,

w h i c h s h i n e i n t h e V e d a n t a , O n e w i t h o u t

a s e c o n d , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

H T h e a l l u s i o n is t o t h e ' c a v i t y o f t h e H e a r t '

w h i c h i s b e y o n d t i m e a n d s p a c e .

100. E v e n m y s l a n d e r s , t r e a t as p r a i s e a n d

g u a r d m e f o r e v e r a s T h i n e o w n , I p r a y , O h


101. A s s n o w i n w a t e r , l e t m e m e l t , a s L o v e

i n T h e e , W h o a r t L o v e itself, O h A r u n a

chal a !

102. I h a d b u t t h o u g h t o f T h e e a s A r u n a ,

and l o ! I wa s cau ght i n the trap o f Th y

G r a c e ! C a n t h e n e t o f T h y G r a c e e v e r f a i l ,


103. W a t c h i n g l ik e a s p i d e r to t r a p ( m e

i n t h e w e b o f T h y ) G r a c e , T h o u d i d s t e n t

w i n e m e a n d w h e n i m p r i s o n e d f e e d u p o n

m e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

104- Le t me be the vo tar y o f the vot ar i es

o f t h o s e w h o h e a r T h y n a m e w i t h l o v e , O h


105. S h i n e T h o u f o r e v e r a s t h e l o v i n g S a

v i our o f he l p l ess suppl i ants l i ke myse l f , Oh


106 . Fam i l i ar to Th i ne ears are the swe et

s o n g s o f v o t a r i e s w h o m e l t t o t h e v e r y b o n e s

w i t h l o v e f o r T h e e , y e t l e t m y p o o r s t r a i n s

a l s o b e a c c e p t a b l e , O h A r u n a c h a l a I

107. H i l l o f P a t i e n c e , b e a r w i t h m y f o o l i s h

w o r d s , ( r e g a r d i n g t h e m ) a s h y m n s o f j o y

o r a s T h o u p l e a s e , O h A r u n a c h a l a !

1 08 . O h A r u n a c h a l a ! m y L o v i n g L o r d !

T h r o w T h y g a r l a n d ( a b o u t m y s h o u l d e r s )

w e a r i n g T h y s e l f t h is o n e ( s t r u n g ) b y m e ,


B l e s s e d b e A r u n a c h a l a ! b l e s s e d b e H i s

d e v o t e e s !

B l e s s e d b e t h i s M a r i t a l G a r l a n d o f L e t t e r s !

L I V I N G P H I L O S O P H Y

In Indi a there i s no such th i ng as ar m

c h a i r p h i l o s o p h y . P h i l o s o p h y is n o t o n l y a

w ay o f tho ug ht bu t a l so a w ay o f l if e in th i s

cou ntr y . I t i s not bo rn o f i d l e cur i os i ty ,

n o r i s i t a m e r e i n t e l l e c t u a l g a m e . E v e r y

p h i l o s o p h y h e r e is a r e l i g i o n , a n d e v e r y r e

l i g i o n h a s i ts p h i l o s o p h y . T h e p h i l o s o p h e r

h e r e w a s n o t a t a l l a n d s p e c t a c l e d p r o f e s s o r

d i c tat i ng h i s notes to the c l ass or weavi ng

c o b w e b s o f t h e o r y i n h i s s t u d y , b u t o n e w h o

w a s m o v e d b y a d e e p i n n e r u r g e t o k n o w

t h e s e c r e t s o f l i fe , w h o l i v e d l a b o r i o u s d a y s

o f sp i r i tua l d i sc i p l i ne and who saw the l i ght

by the transf ormat i on o f h i s l i f e .

From Sri Jaideva Singh's introduction to

his text and English translation of the P r a t -

y a b h i j n a h r i d a y a m , published by Messrs.

Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi-6-

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


B H A K T I M A R G A I N B U D D H I S M

The Meaning and Importance o f Prayer

B y L A M A A N A G A R I K A G O V I N D A

Acharya, Arya Maitreya Mandala

T h e B u d d h i s t t r a d i t i o n i n c l i n e s m o r e t o j n a n a rr ia r ga a n d t h e C h r i s t i a n t o b h a k t i m a r g a .

N e v e r t h e l e s s , e v e r y c o m p l e t e r e l i g i o n c o n t a i n s e l e m e n t s o f b o t h a n d p r o v i d e s s c o p e f o r b o t h

t y p e s o f a p p r o a c h . I n t h i s a r t i c l e t h e v e n e r a b l e a u t h o r s h o w s t h e v e r y i m p o r t a n t p l a c e t h a t

p r a y e r , a b h a k t i t e c h n i q u e , c a n h o l d i n B u d d h i s m . I t i s a r e s u m e o f t a l k s d e l i v e r e d b y h i m d u r i n gt h e in t e r n a t i o n a l r e l i g i o u s c o n f e r e n c e o f 1 9 60 a t V e n i c e , c o n v o k e d b y t h e C u l t u r a l C e n t r e o f t h e

F o u n d a t i o n G i o r g i o C i n i , I s o l a d i S a n G i o r g i o M a g g i o r e . T h e s u b j e c t o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e , to

w h i c h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e m a i n r e l i g i o n s o f t h e w o r l d w e r e i n v i t e d , w a s ' T h e E x p e r i e n c e o f

P r a y e r \

L a m a G o v i n d a i s a l r e a d y k n o w n t o m a n y o f o u r r e a d e r s a s a u t h o r o f t h e i m p o r t a n t s t u d y

1 F o u n d a t i o n s o f T i b e t a n M y s t i c i s m ( R i d e r & C o . , L o n d o n . )

E v e r y r e l i g i o n r e c o g n i z e s a h i g h e s t v a l u e ,

a 4 s u m m u m b o n u m ' ; t h e i s t i c r e l i g i o n s c a l l

i t ' Go d ' , non - th e i s t i c r e l i g i on s ca l l i t Tao ,

N i r v a n a , S a m m a s a m b o d h i ( P e r f e c t E n l i g h t

e n m e n t ) e t c . I f i n t h e i s t i c r e l i g i o n s p r a y e r

h a s b e e n d e f i n e d as a c o m m u n i o n o r a d i a

l o g u e w i t h G o d , i n n o n - t h e i s t i c r e l i g i o n s i t

c o u l d b e d e f in e d a s in t e n s e l o n g i n g f o r t h e

h i g h e s t s ta t e o f p e r f e c t i o n o r c o m p l e t e n e s s ,

t h e r e a l i z a t i o n o f p e r f e c t E n l i g h t e n m e n t .

Pr ay er i n i ts w i d est sen se i s " a d i r ect i o n

o f t h e h e a r t " ( R i l k e ) a n d p r e s u p p o s e s a

m e n t a l o r s p i r i t u a l p o l a r i t y : e i t h e r b e t w e e n

man and God , or between the f i n i te and

i n f i n i te , the i nd i v i dual and the uni versa l , the

i m p e r f e c t a n d t h e p e r f e c t , e t c . I n C h r i s t i a

n i t y , J u d a i s m a n d I s l a m t h e i n d i v i d u a l

h u m a n p o l e i s c o n c e i v e d a s t h e s o u l , t h e

d i v i n e p o l e as t h e C r e a t o r ; i n H i n d u i s m

as Jivdtma a n d Paramdtma ( o r B r a h m a n ) ,

i n B u d d h i s m a s t h e l i m i t e d , m u n d a n e i n d i

v i d u a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d t h e p o t e n t i a l u n i

v e r s a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s w h i c h i s l a t e n t in e v e r y

s e n t i e n t b e i n g a n d c a n b e e x p e r i e n c e d a n d

real i ze d i n i ts to ta l i ty i n the s tate o f

E n l i g h t e n m e n t .

P r a y e r t h u s a r i s e s f r o m a s t a t e o f c r e a t i v e

t e n s i o n b e t w e e n t h e h u m a n a n d t h e d i v i n e ,

t h e c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f i n c o m p l e t e n e s s ( o r i m

p e r f e c t i o n ) a n d t h e id e a l o f c o m p l e t e n e s s

( o r p e r f e c t i o n ) , b e t w e e n t h e p r e se n t s t a te

o i i g n o r a n c e o r d e l u s i o n a n d t h e l o n g e d - f o r ,

f u t u r e s t a te o f l i b e r a t i o n : t h e a w a k e n i n g

f rom the i l l us i on o f separateness to the

w h o l e n e s s o f l i f e .

W h a t h e r e a p p e a r s t o u s as ' f u t u r e ' ,

h o w e v e r , i s s o m e t h i n g t h a t i s e v e r - e x i s t i n g ,

e v e r - p r e s e n t i n o u r u n i v e r s a l d e p t h -

c o n s c i o u s n e s s (dlaya-vijndna), w h i c h m o d

e r n p s y c h o l o g y h a s n o w a t l a s t r e d i s c o v e r e d

t h o u g h g r e a t l y m i s u n d e r s t o o d , b y c o n

ce i v i ng i t as an enemy o f reason and the

s o u r c e o f u n c o n t r o l l a b l e d r i v e s a n d e m o

t i ons an d ca l l i ng i t " the Un con sc i o us , n —

1 " I t has l on g c ea sed to be a sec r et that th ev e n e r a b l e r o o t - c o n c e p t o f m o d e r n p s y c h o l o g y

' t h e U n c o n s c i o u s ' i s a r a t h e r u n c r i t i c a l a n d

o b s c u r e c o n c e p t " , s a y s M e d a r d B o s s i n h is " I n -d i e n f a h r t e i n e s P s y c h i a t e r s " ( p . 1 9 ) .

" P r e s e n t - d a y p s y c h o l o g i c a l t e r m i n o l o g y w h i c h

p o s t u l a t e s a n ' u n c o n s c i o u s ' i n c o n t r a s t t o c o n s c i o u s n e s s , b e c o m e s t h e r e b y g u i l t y o f a f a l s i f i c a

t i o n o f f u n d a m e n t a l p s y c h o - s o m a t i c f a c t s . T h i s

t e r m i n o l o g y a n d t h e s u b s e q u e n t l y w r o n g l y s t r u c -t u r i z e d p h e n o m e n a a r e a t y p i c a l e x a m p l e o f t h e

f a u l t y c o n c l u s i o n s w h i c h a r i s e f r o m a r a d i c a l l y

a p p l i e d d u a l i s m . " ( J e a n B e b s e r : " U r s p r u n g

u n d G e g e n w a r t " , V o l . I , p . 3 2 7 ) .

" T h e m o d e r n m i n d s u f f e rs f r o m t h e o d d p r e

j u d i c e t h a t c o n s c i o u s n e s s i s a p u r e l y s u p e r f i c i a l

o u t g r o w t h o f r e a l i t y , a n d t h a t t h e m o r e f u n d a

m e n t a l t h e p o w e r , p r i n c i p l e o r s u b s ta n c e b e c o m e s ,

t h e m o r e b l i n d a n d u n c o n s c i o u s i t m u s t b e . "

( A l a n W . W a t t s : " T h e S u p r e m e I d e n t i t y " , p. 56 )

" I n F r e u d ' s v i e w t h e u n c o n s c i o u s i s e s s e n t i a l l y

the sea t o f i r r a t i on a l i ty . In Jun g 's th i n ki n g the

m e a n i n g s e e m s to b e a lm o s t r e v e r s e d ; t h e u n -

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf



i n order to subord i nate i t a l l the more to

t h e l i m i t ed s u r f a c e - c o n s c i o u s n e s s , w h i c h

i dent i f i es i tse l f w i th the ephemeral i nterests

o f it s m o m e n t a r y i n d i v i d u a l e x i s t e n c e , t h u s

l os i ng the con ne ct i o n wi t h i ts or i g i n , the

l i v i n g s o u r c e o f c r e a t i v e p o w e r .

I n p r a y e r , h o w e v e r , w e t u r n b a c k t o t h a t

s o u r c e , w e r e - e s t a b l i s h i ts c o n n e c t i o n w i t h

t h e i n d i v i d u a l , f o c a l iz e d s u r f a c e - c o n s c i o u s

n e s s , s o t h a t t h e t e n s i o n b e t w e e n s u r f a c e

and depth , l i ke that o f a s tr i ng , produces a

p u r e s o u n d , a h i g h e r v i b r a t i o n o f t h e S p i r i t .

I t i s not the ob j e c t o f pra yer to e l i mi na teth i s tens i on , but to t ransf orm i t i nto a crea

t i v e f o r c e b y e s t a b l i s h i n g a m e a n i n g f u l ,

h a r m o n i o u s c o - o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e t w o

a p p a r e n t l y c o n t r a d i c t o r y , b u t i n r e a l i t y

c o m p l e m e n t a r y , p o l e s . T h u s p r a y e r b e c o m e s

a source o f s trength and certa i nty , and not

m e r e l y a s e d a t i v e o r a t r a n q u i l l i z e r . T h e

i nner pe ace that com es f ro m i t i s due to the

e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a b a l a n c e b e t w e e n t h e

f o r c e s o f o u r i n d i v i d u a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d

t h e v a s t p o t e n t i a l i t i e s o f o u r d e p t h - c o n s

c i o u s n e s s , i n w h i c h t h e e x p e r i e n c e s o f a

b e g i n n i n g l e s s p a s t a r e s t o r e d a n d t h r o u g hw h i c h w e p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h a t g r e a t e r l i f e

t h a t e n c o m p a s s e s t h e u n i v e r s e a n d c o n n e c t s

u s w i t h e v e r y l iv i n g b e i n g .

P r a y e r — a n d i n a s t il l h i g h e r d e g r e e ,

m e d i t a t i o n ( o f w h i c h p r a y e r i s o n l y t h e

f irs t s t ep ) — i s th e consciously directed a p

p r o a c h t o w a r d s t h i s v a s t s t o r e - h o u s e o f e x

p e r i e n c e , w h i c h m o d e r n p s y c h o l o g y m e r e l y

o b s e r v e s i n i ts p a s s i v e l y a c c e p t e d , f u n c t i o n a l

e f f e c t s o n c u r s u b c o n s c i o u s m i n d ( a s i n

d r e a m s a n d a r c h e t y p a l s y m b o l s ) a s i f i t

w e r e d r i v e n b y i r r e s i s t a b l e fo r c e s . " C o m

m o n e x p e r i e n c e l o o k s o n t h e i d e a t h a t w ea r e p u s h e d a b o u t b y s u c h i n n e r d r i v e s a s

unreal and art i f i c i a l . What meani ng can i t

h a v e , w e s a y , f o r m e n w h o s e l i v e s a r e d e d i

c a t e d t o t h e p u r s u i t o f k n o w l e d g e o r t h e

creat i on o f beauty or the serv i ce o f the i r

f e l l o w s ? W h a t p l a c e i n it i s t h e r e f o r d e v o

t i on and sacr i f i ce and that endl ess s tr i v i ng

f o r t r u t h a n d h u m a n b e t t e r m e n t w h i c h e v e r

c onsc i ous i s essent i a l l y the sea t o f the d eep est

s o u r c e s o f w i s d o m , w h i l e t h e c o n s c i o u s is t h e

i n t e l l e c t u a l p a r t o f t h e p e r s o n a l i t y . ( E r i c h F r o m m

i n " Z e n B u d d h i s m & P s y c h o a n a l y s i s " , p . 9 6 ) .

has d i s t i ng ui she d ma n at h i s best ? . . .

Men seem not to be pushed i nto the f i nest

th i ngs they do but to f o l l ow the urgent ca l l

o f s o m e t h i n g t h a t d r a w s t h e m o n t h r o u g h

h a r d s h i p a n d u n c e r t a i n t y a n d d i s c o u r a g e

m e n t t o t h e a t t a i n m e n t o f a h i g h d e s i r e . " 2

" T h i s c o n c e p t i o n h as t h e a d v a n t a g e o v e r

p r e s e n t p s y c h o l o g i c a l o r t h o d o x y in t h a t i ts

a t t i t u d e is f o r w a r d , toward a goa l to be

r e a c h e d , a n d n o t b a c k t o t h e p u s h a n d d r i v e

o f c i r c u m s t a n c e , a n d i s t h u s i n h a r m o n y

w i t h t h e c o m m o n v e r d i c t o f e x p e r i e n c e . " 3

P r a y e r — b e i n g a " d i r e c t io n of th e h e a r t "

( i . e . , o f the i nner cent re o f a hum an be i n g ,

w h i c h p a r t i c i p a t e s e q u a l l y i n h i s i n d i v i d u a l

c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d i n h i s s u p e r - i n d i v i d u a l

d e p t h - c o n s c i o u s n e s s ) a n d t h u s o f h i s i n t u i

t i o n , a n d n o t m e r e l y o f h i s s u r f a c e -

c o n s c i o u s n e s s — i s , t h e r e f o r e a p o s i t i v e a n d

a c t i v e a p p r o a c h t o t h e h i d d e n t r e a s u r y o f

u n i v e r s a l e x p e r i e n c e - I t d o e s n o t b l i n d l y

t a k e h o l d o f e x p e r i e n c e - c o n t e n t s t h a t h a p

p e n t o w e l l u p — b u t h a v e n o b e a r i n g o n i t s

i n t u i t e d a i m , l i k e a m a n w h o d e s c e n d s

w i t h o u t a l i g h t in t o a d a r k s t o r e - r o o m i n

the ce l l ar o f h i s hou se , a i m l ess l y tak i n gh o l d o f w h a t e v e r c o m e s i n t o h i s h a n d s .

P r a y e r i s i n d e e d t h e l a m p t h a t e n a b l e s

us to d i scover i n the vastness o f the treasure -

hou se those ver y i tems, that are use f u l or

e s s e n t i a l o n o u r s p i r i t u a l w a y t o w a r d s

c o m p l e t e n e s s - I n s t e a d o f d r a g g i n g f r a g m e n

t a r y g l i m p s e s o f c o n t e n t s o f t h e d e p t h -

consc i ousness i nto the g l ar i ng l i ght o f the

i n t e l l e c t a n d s u b m i t t i n g t h e m t o a d e a d l y

a n a l y s i s , p r a y e r t u r n s o u r c o n s c i o u s m i n d

i n w a r d s a n d t r a n s f o r m s t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r c e s

o f the depth i nto act i ve ones , because

" m a k i n g t h e u n c o n s c i o u s c o n s c i o u s t r a n s

f o r m s t h e m e r e i d e a o f t h e u n i v e r s a l i t y o f

m a n i n t o t h e l i v i n g e x p e r i e n c e o f t h is u n i

v e r s a l i t y . " 4 In o th er w or ds : i nstea d o f

r a i s i n g t h e a r c h e t y p a l s y m b o l s a n d v i s i o n s

o f t h e d e p t h t o t h e s u r f a c e a n d s u b o r d i n a t i n g

t h e m t o c o n c e p t u a l t h o u g h t a n d t h e t r i v i a l i

t i es o f temporal a i ms and purposes , the

2 " T h e Biology of the Spirit" b y E d m u n d W .

S i m m o s s , p , 8 8 .

zibid., p. 90.

4 E r i c h F r o m m , o p . cit. p. 107.

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1964 B H A K T I M A R G A IN B U D D H I S M 217

f o c u s o f o u r i n d i v i d u a l i z e d m i n d s h o u l d t u r n

i n w a r d s i n o r d e r t o b e c o m e a w a r e o f i t s

u n i v e r s a l s o u r c e a n d m a k e u s e o f i ts i m

men se potent i a l i t i es i n the pur sua nce o f

u l t i m a t e c o m p l e t e n e s s a n d p e r f e c t e n

l i g h t e n m e n t .

P r a y e r a s a m e a n s t o w a r d s t h is a i m w o u l d

d e f e a t i ts o w n p u r p o s e i f i t w a s t h e e x p r e s

s i on o f se l f ish des i re s or ex c l u s i v e l y co n

c e r n e d w i t h o u r o w n i n d i v i d u a l w e l f a r e .

M o r e o v e r t h e B u d d h i s t n e i t h e r b e l i e v e s i n

s e p a r a t e e g o h o o d ( o r a n u n c h a n g e a b l e

i ndi v i dua l so u l that has to be ' saved ' and

p r e s e r v e d f o r e t e r n i t y ) n o r l o o k s u p o n t h e

Bu dd ha as a Go d , wh o f u l fi l s h is w i sh es . To

h i m t h e B u d d h a i s t h e m o d e l o f t h e c o m

p l e t e o r p e r f e c t m a n , w h o h a s b e c o m e

con sc i ou s o f h i s uni ver sa l i ty , rea l i zed the

d i v i n e w i t h i n h i m s e l f a n d t h u s b e c o m e a

l i ght to o thers .

I f, t h e r e f o r e , t h e B u d d h i s t b o w s d o w n

b e f o r e t h e i m a g e o f t h e B u d d h a , h e d o e s n o t

ask any th i n g o f h i m , he does not pra y to

h i m , b u t g i v e s v e n t t o h i s f e e l i n g s o f v e n e

r a t i o n in t h e s a m e w a y i n w h i c h h e w o u l d

show h i s respect and l ove to h i s l i v i ng re l i

g i o u s t e a c h e r o r G u r u , in w h o s e f o o t s t e p s

h e is d e t e r m i n e d t o f o l l o w i n o r d e r t o m a k e

hi s teac h i ngs a l i v i n g rea l i ty wi th i n h i mse l f .

T h e f o r m u l a , w h i c h h e u t t e r s d u r i n g t h e

a c t o f v e n e r a t i o n b e f o r e t h e i m a g e o r s y m

bo l o f the En l i ght ene d One ( su ch as a

s t a t u e , a s t u p a , a r e l i q u a r y , t h e B o d h i -

t r e e , o r w h a t e v e r h e l p s h i m t o b r i n g t h e

n o b l e f i g u re o f t h e B u d d h a b e f o r e h is

m i n d ) , cons i s ts o f the wo rd s :

" I take re f u ge i n the Enl i g hte ned On e ; "

" I t a k e r e f u g e i n t h e T e a c h i n g " ( t h e

S a c r e d L a w , t a u g h t b y a l l E n l i g h t e n e d O n e s ) ;" I t a k e r e f u g e i n t h e C o m m u n i t y ( o f

t h o s e w h o h a v e r e a l i z e d t h e t e a c h i n g ) . "

I n T i b e t t h i s f o r m u l a i s p r e c e d e d b y t h e

w o r d s : " I t a k e r e f u g e i n t h e G u r u " ;

b e c a u s e t h e G u r u i s t h e l i v i n g r e p r e s e n t a

t i v e , t h e m o u t h - p i e c e , o f t h e B u d d h a , t h e

t r a n s m i t t e r a n d e m b o d i m e n t o f t h e B u d d h a ' s

Teachi ng , who k i ndl es the f l ame o f f a i th i n

the d i sc i p l e and i nsp i res h i m to f o l l ow i n

t h e f o o t s t e p s o f t h o s e w h o h a v e r e a l i z e d t h e

S a c r e d T e a c h i n g {dharma) , a n d b e c o m e

m e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i t y o f S a i n t s

(Sangha).

The f i rs t s tep o f devot i on and prayer i n

B u d d h i s m , t h e r e f o r e , co n s i s t s i n t h e e x p r e s

s i o n o f v e n e r a t i o n , l o y a l t y a n d g r a t i t u d e

t o w a r d s t h e T e a c h e r , t h e l i v i n g G u r u , a s

w e l l a s t h e B u d d h a w h o s p e a k s t h r o u g h

h i m . A nd j ust as the perso n o f the Gu ru i s

con ce i ve d as a l i nk i n the con t i nu i ty o f

s p i r i t u a l t r a n s m i s s i o n o f B u d d h a S a k y a -

m u n i ' s t e a c h i n g , in t h e s a m e w a y B u d d h a

Sak yam uni i s on l y one l i nk i n the i n f in i te

c h a i n o f E n l i g h t e n e d O n e s - T h u s t h e t e r m' G u r u ' c o m p r i s e s t h e c o m p l e t e c h a i n o f

s p i r i t u a l t e a c h e r s w h o h a v e p a s s e d o n t h e

l i v i n g t r a d i t i o n t h r o u g h m i l l e n i u m s f r o m

g e n e r a t i o n t o g e n e r a t i o n ; a n d s i m i l a r l y t h e

t e r m ' B u d d h a ' i n c l u d e s t h e t o t a l i t y o f a l l

t h e E n l i g h t e n e d O n e s w h o p r e c e d e d h i m o r

m a y f o l l o w h i m .

T h u s , i n M a h a y a n a t r a d i t i o n , t h e h i s t o r i

c a l p e r s o n a l i t y o f S a k y a m u n i - B u d d h a r e

cedes behi nd the uni versa l f i gure o f the

P e r f e c t E n l i g h t e n e d O n e , t h e s y m b o l o f t h e

C o m p l e t e M a n w h o h a s r e a l i z e d h i s d i v i n e

n a t u r e . I n s t e a d o f w o r s h i p p i n g a G o d b e y o n da l l h u m a n c o n c e p t i o n , e n t h r o n e d i n a r e a l m

o f m e t a p h y s i c a l a b s t r a c t i o n s a n d g e n e r a l i

zat i ons , the Bu dhh i st s tr i ves a f ter the rea l i

z a t i o n o f t h o s e d i v i n e p r o p e r t i e s w h i c h h a v e

b e e n d e m o n s t r a t e d b y i n n u m e r a b l e s a i n t s

and En l i ght ene d On es . He tr i es to re a l i ze

t h e m i n h i s o w n h e a r t , i n h i s o w n m i n d a n d

i n h i s own l i f e .

T h e t h o u g h t t h a t a g o d s h o u l d h a v e

crea ted the wo r l d w i th a l l i t s ev i l , i t s su f f er

i n g , i ts i m p e r f e c t i o n , s t u p i d i t y a n d c r u e l t y ,

a p p e a r s t o h i m a k i n d o f b l a s p h e m y o f t h e

v e r y i d e a o f G o d a s t h e e m b o d i m e n t o f p e r

f ec t i on . For h i m i t i s not a god who i s res

p o n s i b l e f o r t h e e v i l a n d i m p e r f e c t i o n o f t h e

w o r l d , b e c a u s e t h e w o r l d t h a t w e e x p e r i

e n c e i s t h e c r e a t i o n of o u r o w n i g n o r a n c e ,

o u r o w n c r a v i n g s a n d p a s s i o n s . T h a t i m p e r

f e c t i o n s h o u l d c o m e o u t o f p e r f e c t i o n a n d

c o m p l e t e n e s s s e e m s t o c o n t r a d i c t a l l r e a s o n ,

w h i l e t h e o p p o s i t e a p p e a r s m o r e l i k e l y t o

t h e B u d d h i s t . T h e e x p e r i e n c e s o f l i f e a n d

t h e e x a m p l e o f t h o s e w h o h a v e a t t a i n e d

e n l i g h t e n m e n t , h a s t a u g h t h i m t h a t f r o m a

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf



s t a t e o f i m p e r f e c t i o n p e r f e c t i o n c a n b e

achi eved and that the su f f er i ngs resu l t i ng

f r o m o u r p a s s i o n s , a r e t h e v e r y f o r c e s t h a t

l e a d t o w a r d s li b e r a t i o n .

B u t w h i l e t h e B u d d h i s t r e j e c t s t h e i d e a o f

a C r e a t o r - G o d , h e b e l i e v e s i n t h e d i v i n e

pr i nc i p l e i n man, the i nborn spark o f l i ght

(bodhi-citta) e m b o d i e d in h i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s

a s a y e a r n i n g t o w a r d s p e r f e c t i o n , t o w a r d s

c o m p l e t e n e s s , t o w a r d s E n l i g h t e n m e n t . T o

p u t i t p a r a d o x i c a l l y : i t i s n o t G o d w h o

c r e a t e s m a n , b u t m a n w h o c r e a t e s G o d i n

hi s i mage , i . e . the i dea o f the d i v i ne a i mwi th i n h i m sel f , w hi ch h e rea l i zes i n the

f ir es o f s u f f e r in g , f r o m w h i c h c o m p a s s i o n ,

u n d e r s t a n d i n g , l o v e a n d w i s d o m a r e b o r n .

T h e u n f o l d m e n t o f i n d i v i d u a l l i f e i n t h e

u n i v e r s e h a s n o o t h e r a i m a p p a r e n t l y b u t

b e c o m i n g c o n s c i o u s o f i ts o w n d i v i n e e s s e n c e ,

a n d s i n c e th i s p r o c e s s g o e s o n c o n t i n u o u s l y ,

i t r e p r e s e n t s a p e r p e t u a l b i r t h o f G o d o r ,

t o p u t i t i n t o B u d d h i s t t e r m i n o l o g y : t h e

c o n t i n u o u s a r i s i n g o f e n l i g h t e n e d b e i n g s , i n

e a c h o f w h o m t h e t o t a l i t y o f t h e u n i v e r s e

b e c o m e s c o n s c i o u s .

T h e s e E n l i g h t e n e d O n e s a r e w h a t t h e

Ma hay ana ca l l s " the i n f i n i te nu m be r o f

B u d d h a s " o r — i n s o f a r a s t h e y a r e e x p e r i

e n c e d a s a c t i v e l y i n f l u e n c i n g t h e d e v e l o p

m e n t o f h u m a n i t y — " t h e i n fi n it e n u m b e r o f

B o d h i s a t t v a s " . T h e l a t te r r e p r e s e n t t h e

a c t i v e f o r c e s e m a n a t i n g f r o m t h o s e w h o

h a v e a t t a in e d t h e h i g h e s t s t a t e o f c o n s c i o u s

ness , i nsp i r i n g and f urth er i n g a l l those w ho

a r e s t r i v i n g f o r l i b e r a t i o n . T h i s i s r e p r e

s e n t e d p i c t o r i a l l y b y t h e a u r a o f t h e m e d i

tat i ng Bu dd ha , wh i ch i s fi l led w i th smal l

r e p l i c a s of th e B u d d h a , s y m b o l i z i n g t h e

i n f i n i t e n u m b e r o f B o d h i s a t t v a s w h o i n

m y r i a d f o r m s a p p e a r f o r t h e w e l f a r e o f a l l

l i v i n g a n d s u f f e ri n g b e i n g s . T h o u g h t h e y

m a n i f e s t t h e m s e l v e s i n i n n u m e r a b l e i n d i v i

dual f orms, they are one i n sp i r i t .

I ha ve des cr i b ed the f irst s tep o f Bu d

d h i s t p r a y e r a s a n e x p r e s s i o n o f v e n e r a t i o n

a n d g r a t i t u d e t o w a r d s t h e g r e a t E n l i g h t e n

e d O n e s , w h o t a u g h t t h e w a y o f l i b e r a t i o n

t o h u m a n i t y b y w o r d a n d d e e d . A s a n e x a m

pl e o f the pro f ound devot i on whi ch f i l l s the

B u d d h i s t s a d h a k a , I m a y q u o t e h e r e s o m e

p a s s a g e s f r o m S a n t i d e v a ' s " Bodhicar-

ydvatdra"9 w h i c h d e s c r i b e s t h e a w a k e n i n g

of the i nner l i ght , or the p ract i ce o f the

B o d h i s a t t v a s o n t h e w a y t o w a r d s E n l i g h t e n

m e n t .

" In orde r to take posses s i on o f the pear l

o f E n l i g h t e n m e n t , I w o r s h i p t h e T a t h a g a t a s

and a l so the f au l t l ess j ewel o f the doctr i ne ,

as we l l as the sp i r i tua l sons o f the E n

l i g h t e n e d O n e s , t h e o c e a n s o f v i r t u e .

" W h a t e v e r m a y b e f o u n d i n t h is w o r l d :

flowers, f ru i ts , v e g e t a b l e s a n d l i f e - g i v i n g

w a t e r s ; m o u n t a i n s o f p r e c i o u s s t o n e , f o r e s t -

s o l i t u d e s f o r m e d i t a t i o n , c r e e p e r s a d o r n e d

w i t h b e a u t i f u l , r a d i a n t b l o s s o m s , t r e e s w h o s e

b o u g h s a r e b e n t u n d e r t h e b u r d e n o f d e l i

c i o u s f r u i t , p e r f u m e s a n d s c e n t s f r o m t h e

w o r l d o f g o d s , m i r a c u l o u s t r e e s , j e w e l - t r e e s ,

l o v e l y p o n d s o f l o t u s - f l o w e r s r e v e r b e r a t i n g

wi th the swe et song o f swans , w i l d p l ant s

as wel l as those of the f ields : everything

that i s sui table as an of fering and al l that

i s con ta i n ed i n the i n f i n i ty o f space an d do es

not be l on g to a ny bo dy ; I co l l ec t a l l th i s in

m y mi nd an d o ff er it to the Per f e c t O nes

and the i r sp i r i tua l sons ( the Bod hi

s a t t v a s ) . "

" I a m w i t h o u t m e r i t s a n d , t h e r e f o r e , v e r y

p o o r . I h a v e n o t h i n g e l s e fo r t h e i r w o r s h i p .

M a y , t h e r e f o r e , t h e P e r f e c t O n e s , w h o h a v e

n o t h o u g h t b u t t h e w e l f a r e o f o t h e r s , a c c e p t

t h is f o r m y s a k e . "

T h e n e x t s te p i s t h e c o m p l e t e s e l f - s u r r e n

der and change o f heart i n awareness o f our

f a u l t s a n d w e a k n e s s e s .

" W h o l e l y a n d w i t h o u t r e s e r v e I d e d i c a t e

m y s e l f t o t h e E n l i g h t e n e d O n e s a n d t h e ir

sp i r i tua l sons : take possess i on o f me , e x a l ted be i ngs ! F i l l ed wi t h hu mi l i ty I o f f er

m y s e l f a s y o u r s e r v a n t . H a v i n g b e c o m e

y o u r p r o p e r t y , I h a v e n o t h i n g m o r e t o f e a r

i n th i s wor l d . I w i l l do on l y what i s he l p f u l

t o o t h e r b e i n g s . I w i l l g i v e u p m y f o r m e r

w r o n g - d o i n g a n d n o t c o m m i t f u r t h e r m i s

d e e d s . D u e t o h a t r e d a n d i n f a t u a t i o n I h a v e

c o m m i t t e d m a n y w r o n g d e e d s . I d i d n o t

rea l i ze that I am onl y a trav e l l er , p ass i ng

t h r o u g h t h i s w o r l d . D a y a n d n i g h t , w i t h o u t

c e s s a t i o n v i t a l i t y d e c r e a s e s a n d d e a t h a p

p r o a c h e s - T h i s v e r y d a y , t h e r e f o r e , I w i l l

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 B H A K T I M A R G A IN B U D D H I S M 219

t a k e r e f u g e in t h e g r e a t a n d p o w e r f u l p r o

t e c t o r s o f t h e w o r l d . F r o m t h e b o t t o m o f

m y h e a r t I t a k e r e f u g e i n th e d o c t r i n e a n d

l i k e w i s e i n t h e m u l t i t u d e o f B o d h i s a t t v a s .

W i t h f o l d e d h a n d s I im p l o r e t h e P e r f e c t

Enl i ghtened Ones i n a l l the reg i ons o f the

uni verse : may they k i ndl e the l i ght o f t ruth

f o r a l l t h o s e w h o o n a c c o u n t o f t h e i r d e l u

s i on woul d o therwi se f a l l i n to the abyss o f

m i s e r y . "

A f t e r t h e d e v o t e e h a s t h u s o p e n e d h i m

se l f to the Enl i g hten ed One s and o f f ered

h i m s e l f t o t h e m1

an i nstru men t o f th e i rpea ce ' ( i n the wo rd s o f the beaut i f u l and

uni v ersa l pra ye r o f S t . Fra nc i s o f Ass i s i ,

w h i c h c o u l d h a v e b e e n s p o k e n b y S a n t i d e v a

o r a n y d e v o u t B u d d h i s t ) 5 h e r e n o u n c e s t h e

f ru i ts o f h i s good deeds and i nstead o f be i ng

c o n c e r n e d f o r h is " o w n s a l v a t i o n " , h e v o w s

to ded i cate h i ms el f to the w el f a re o f a l l

l i v i n g b e i n g s . I n o t h e r w o r d s : h e w i l l

rathe r share the su f f er i ngs o f h i s f e l l o w -

be i ngs , i n order to i nsp i re and ass i s t them

o n t h e i r w a y t o w a r d s L i b e r a t i o n , t h a n r e s t

b l i ss f u l l y on the pedesta l o f h i s v i r tues ,

en j oy i ng f or h i ms el f the f ru i ts o f h i s good

d e e d s .

It i s in this spiri t that he utters the vow :

" W h a t e v e r m e r i t I m a y h a v e o b t a i n e d , m a y

I b e c o m e t h e r e b y t h e s o o t h e r o f e v e r y p a i n

f or a l l l i v i ng be i ng s . Th e me r i ts wh i ch I

h a v e a c q u i r e d i n a l l m y r e b i r t h s t h r o u g h

thou ght , wo rd a nd deed , a l l th i s I g i ve

5 « L o r d , M a k e m e a n in s t r u m e n t o f T h y P e a c e ,

T h a t w h e r e t h e r e i s h a t r e d , I m a y b r i n gl o v e ;

T h a t w h e r e t h e r e i s w r o n g , I m a y b r i n g t n e

s p ir i t o f f o r g i v e n e s s ;

T h a t w h e r e t h e r e i s e r r o r , I m a y b r i n g t r u t h ;

T h a t w h e r e t h e r e i s d o u b t , I m a y b r i n g f a i t h ;

T h a t w h e r e t h e r e i s d e s p a i r , I m a y b r i n g

h o p e ,

A n d w h e r e t h e r e a re s h a d o w s , I m a y b r i n gT h y l i g h t ;

T h a t w h e r e t h e r e i s s a d n e s s , I m a y b r i n g

j o y .

L o r d , G r a n t t h a t I m a y s e e k , ra t h e r to c o m

f o r t t h a n t o b e c o m f o r t e d ,

T o u n d e r s t a n d t h a n t o b e u n d e r s t o o d ; t o

l o v e t h a n t o b e l o v e d ;

Fo r it i s by g i v i n g that one r ec e i vet h ,

I t i s by se l f - fo r ge t t i n g that one f ind s,I t i s b y f o r g i v i n g t h a t o n e is f o r g i v e n ;

I t i s by d y i ng , that one awa ken s to e ter na l

l i f e . "

a w a y w i t h o u t r e g a r d t o m y s e l f , in o r d e r t o

rea l i ze the s a l vat i o n o f a l l l i v i ng be i n gs .

N i r v a n a m e a n s t o g i v e u p e v e r y t h i n g ; a n d

my hea rt des i res Ni r van a . If I mu st g i ve u p

e v e r y t h i n g , i s i t n o t b e t t e r t o g i v e e v e r y

t h i n g t o l i v i n g b e i n g s ? I h a v e d e d i c a t e d

my se l f to the wel f ar e o f a l l l i v i ng b e i ng s ;

m a y t h e y b e a t m e a n d a b u s e m e a n d c o v e r

m e w i t h d u s t . M a y t h e y p l a y w i t h m y b o d y

a n d m a k e m e a n o b j e c t o f t h e i r r i d i c u l e . I

h a v e a b a n d o n e d m y b o d y t o t h e m ; w h y

s h o u l d I w o r r y a b o u t it ? T h o s e w h o a b u s e

m e , t h o s e w h o t r e a t m e b a d l y , t h o s e w h o

j e e r at m e , m a y t h e y a l l a t t a in e n l i g h t e n

m e n t . "

W h o w o u l d n o t b e r e m i n d e d h e r e o f

C h r i s t ' s w o r d s : " L o v e y o u r e n e m i e s , b l e s s

t h e m t h a t c u r s e y o u , d o g o o d t o t h e m t h a t

h a t e y o u , a n d p r a y f o r t h e m w h i c h d e s p i t e -

f u l ly u s e y o u a n d p e r s e c u t e y o u " ? E v e r y

t r u e B u d d h i s t w h o h e a r s t h e s e w o r d s , w i l l

b e c o n v i n c e d t h a t h e w h o s p o k e t h e m , w a s

o n e o f t h e g r e a t B o d h i s a t t v a s , o n e o f i h e

e n l i g h t e n e d h e l p e r s o f m a n k i n d , t o w h o m h e

p a y s r e s p e c t i n h i s d a i l y d e v o t i o n s , w h e n

h e r e m e m b e r s t h e E n l i g h t e n e d O n e s o f t h ep a s t , t h e p r e s e n t a n d t h e f u t u r e . 6

The cu l t i va t i on o f an at t i tude o f l ov i n g

k i n d n e s s a n d t h e c o n s c i o u s p e n e t r a t i o n o f

t h e w o r l d w i t h c o m p a s s i o n a t e t h o u g h t s a n d

a l o v i n g h e a r t — " l i k e a m o t h e r w h o p r o

t e c t s h e r c h i l d w i t h h e r o w n l i fe " — h a s b e e n

c a l l e d b y t h e B u d d h a a " d i v i n e s t a t e ' ,

l i te r a l ly a " " d w e l l i n g i n G o d " ( B r a h m a -

v i h a r a ) . H e r e w i t h h e h a s a t t h e s a m e t i m e

g i v e n a p e r f e c t d e f i n it i o n o f w h a t h e c o n

s i ders ' d i v i ne ' . Th e l ove o f w hi ch he spea ks

h e r e is f a r m o r e t h a n h u m a n i t a r i a n g o o d

w i l l , i n t o w h i c h s o m e W e s t e r n i n t e r p r e t e r sha ve tr i ed to d i l ute the maitri ( Pal i :

mettd) o f t h e B u d d h a , t h o u g h t h e a b o v e -

6 " Y e ca buddhd atitd ca

ye ca buddhd andgatd,

paccuppannd ca ye buddhd

aham vanddmi sabbadd."

( P a l i )

" T h e E n l i g h t e n e d O n e s o f t h e p a s t ,

t h e E n l i g h t e n e d O n e s o f t h e f u t u r e ,

t h e E n l i g h t e n e d O n e s o f t h e p r e s e n t :

I w o r s h i p t h e m a t a ll t i m e . "

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf



m e n t i o n e d q u o t a t i o n , w h i c h d e f in e s maitrl

as the spo ntan eou s and se l fl ess l ov e o f a

m o t h e r , s h o u l d h a v e t a u g h t t h e m a d e e p e r

u n d e r s t a n d i n g ,

Th e o ther cons t i tuen ts o f th i s ' d i v i n e

s t a t e ' c o n s t i t u e n t s w h i c h n a t u r a l l y fl o w

f r o m t h i s b o u n d l e s s l o v e ( a n d w h i c h , o n

acc oun t o f th e i r bo und l essn ess , are a l so

c a l l e d " i l l i m i t a b l e s " ) , a r e c o m p a s s i o n

(karund) a n d s y m p a t h e t i c j o y (mudita),

i .e - the shar i ng o f o ther s ' so rro w and j oy ,

and f i na l l y that s tate o f equ ani m i ty

(upeksd) w h i c h i s u n a f f e c t e d b y o n e ' s o w n

suf f er i ngs or successes .

O n e o f t h e g r e a t e s t m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g s

c o n c e r n i n g t h e s p i r i t u a l a n d e m o t i o n a l a t t i

t u d e o f B u d d h i s m i s d u e t o t h e w r o n g i n t e r

pretat i on o f the term upeksd ( Pal i :

upekkhd). A p u r e l y n e g a t i v e r e n d e r i n g o f

t h is i m p o r t a n t t e r m a s ' i n d i f f e r e n c e ' h a s

r e p e a t e d l y l e d t o t h e o p i n i o n ( e s p e c i a l l y

f rom the s i de o f Chr i s t i a n the o l og i ans ) that

l o v e , c o m p a s s i o n a n d t h e s h a r i n g o f h a p p i

n e s s w i t h o t h e r s a r e o n l y p r e p a r a t o r y s t e p s

t o t h e a t t a i n m e n t o f c o m p l e t e i n d i f f e r e n c e ,

w h i c h w o u l d t h u s s e e m t o b e t h e h i g h e s t

a i m a n d t h e c u l m i n a t i o n o f B u d d h i s t e t h i c s .

The f act that upeksd i s p l aced at the end o f

t h e s e ' d i v i n e s t a t e s ' h a s l e d t o t h e c o n

c l u s i o n t h a t t o t h e B u d d h i s t l o v e a n d c o m

p a s s i o n a r e o n l y c o n v e n i e n t m e a n s f o r h i s

o w n s a l v a t i o n a n d t h a t t h e r e f o r e t h e y a r e

not the outcome o f t rue a l tru i sm or o f equal

va l ue wi th the s i mi l ar qual i t i es i n Chr i s

t i an i ty .

In re a l i ty the op pos i te i s t rue : j ust as

l o v e i s n o t n e g a t i v e d b y c o m p a s s i o n o r b y

the capac i ty to share the j oy o f o thers butactual l y f i nds i ts f u l f i l ment i n these qual i

t ies , so also upeksd d o e s n o t e x t i n g u i s h t h e

p r e c e d i n g a t t i t u d e s . I n fa c t o n l y a m a n w h o

is n o t s h a k e n b y e n m i t y o r f a v o u r s , w h o i s

i nd i f f erent tow ar ds h i s ow n ga i n or l oss

( b u t n o t t o w a r d s t h a t o f o t h e r s ) i s c a p a b l e

o f s h o w i n g e q u a l s y m p a t h y t o a ll b e i n g s .

N o t o n l y d o l o v e a n d c o m p a s s i o n a n d r e

j o i c i ng i n the happi ness o f o ther be i ngs f i nd

t h e i r u l t i m a t e p e r f e c t i o n i n upeksd, b u t w e

c a n e v e n s a y t h a t upeksd i s the v ery

f o u n d a t i o n o f t h e s e q u a l i t i e s w h i c h t h e E n

l i g h t e n e d O n e s a n d t h o s e w h o f o l l o w i n t h e i r

f o o t - s t e p s c u l t i v a t e a n d o f f e r t o t h e w o r l d ,

as the sun sh i nes f or s i nners an d sa i nts

a l i k e . 7

T h u s upeksd, in i ts highest aspect, i s that

u n s h a k a b l e s t e a d f a s t n e s s , t h a t p e r f e c t m e n

ta l and sp i r i tua l ba l ance and equani mi ty i n

w h i c h n e i t h e r i n d i ff e r e n c e n o r l u k e w a r m

em ot i on s f ind a p l ac e and i n whi ch the

di f f erence between one ' s own se l f and that

o f o ther s has d i sa ppe ared . Thi s has been

b e a u t i f u l l y e x p r e s s e d b y S a n t i d e v a i n t h e

first Kdrikd of his Siksasamuccaya :

6< Yadd mama pa/resdm ca bhayam

duhkham ca na priyam

Taddman ah ko viseso yai tarn raksdmA

netaram ? "

" I f m y n e i g hb ou r , l i ke m yse l f , hates

f ear and pa i n ,

i n wh at wa y , then , d o I d i s t i ngui sh

m y s e l f f r o m o t h e r s ,

that I shou l d seek protect i o n f or m yse l f

and not f or o ther s ? "

H e r e w e c o m e t o t h e h e a r t o f t h e p r o b l e m

and to the ch i e f mot i ve o f Budd hi st pr aye r ;i t i s l o v e a n d c o m p a s s i o n b a s e d o n p r o f o u n d

understandi ng o f the essent i a l uni ty o f l i f e

and the mutual re l at i onshi p o f a l l sent i ent

be i ngs . Just as the se l f l ess l ove o f a mother

i s n o t t h e o u t c o m e o f a n y e t h i c a l d e m a n d o r

c a t e g o r i c a l i m p e r a t i v e b u t r e s t s o n h e r

k n o w l e d g e o f t h e e s s e n t ia l o n e n e s s o f

m o t h e r a n d c h i l d , s o a ls o t h e B u d d h i s t ' s

a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s h i s f e l l o w - b e i n g s i s t h e

n a t u r a l r e s u l t o f h i s i n n e r m o s t c o n v i c t i o n .

T h i s c o n v i c t i o n is n u r t u r e d b y e x p e r i e n c e s

o f medi ta t i on , o f whi c h pra yer i s the f irs t

s tep . In th i s sense we ma y ca l l pra yer ap r e l i m i n a r y f o r m o f m e d i t a t i o n . I t u s e s

w o r d s t o g u i d e t h e m i n d i n a c e r t a i n d i r e c

t i on , and the f urth er i t proc eed s the l ess

w o r d s it n e e d s . F i n a l l y p r a y e r b e c o m e s

mantra, c r e a t i v e s p e e c h or w o r d o f p o w e r ,

t h a t a w a k e n s t h e d o r m a n t f o r c e s o f o u r

7 i t w i l l b e r e m a r k e d b y H i n d u r e a d e r s t h a t

upeksa i s e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e H i n d u vairagya.

T h o s e w h o r e a d t h e a r t i c l e b y F a t h e r L a z a r u s

o n t h e " S p i r i t u a l T r a d i t i o n s o f t h e G r e e k O r t h o

d o x C h u r c h ' i n o u r i s su e o f J a n u a r y 1 96 4 w i l l

a l so note i t s equ i va l en c e w i th the qua l i ty o f

apatheia w h i c h h e t h e r e ^ e s c r i b e s . ( E d i t o r )

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 B H A K T I M A R G A IN B U D D H I S M 2 2 1

soul , —- unt i l the mi nd o f the devotee d i ves

i n t o t h e o c e a n o f h i s d e p t h c o n s c i o u s n e s s

(dlaya-vijfidna) , wh er e the rea l i ty o f a

greater l i f e , that connects h i m wi th a l l l i v i ng

b e i n g s a n d t h e v e r y s p i r i t o f t h e E n l i g h t e n

e d O n e s , r e v e a l s i t s el f t h r o u g h d i r e c t e x

p e r i e n c e , b e y o n d w o r d s a n d c o n c e p t s .

T h u s p r a y e r i n B u d d h i s m i s t h e p a t h o f

d e v o t i o n (bhakti-marga)—first to the G ur u

a n d th e E n l i g h t e n e d O n e s ( t h r o u g h saram-

gamana, vandand a n d pujd), then to a l l

l i v i ng and suf f er i ng be i ngs (maitri-bhdvand)

t h r o u g h t h e B o d h i s a t t v a - v o w s o f p e r f e c t

s e l f - d e d i c a t i o n (pranidhdna)—that en ds in

t h e l i g h t o f k n o w l e d g e . F o r h e w h o w a n t s

to par take o f the l i ght must f irs t ope n h i m

self. Prayer i s an act o f openi ng heart and

m i n d ; a n d w h i l e w e o p e n o u r s e l v e s w e n o t

o n l y a l l o w t h e l i g h t t o e n t e r , b u t w e m a k e

the f i rst breach in the wal ls of our self-

c r e a t e d p r i s o n w h i c h s e p a r a t e s u s f r o m o u r

f e l l o w - b e i n g s . T h u s , i n t h e s a m e m e a s u r e

i n w h i c h t h e l i g h t s t r e a m s i n a n d m a k e s u s

r e c o g n i z e o u r t r u e u n i v e r s a l n a t u r e t h a t

connects us wi th a l l that ex i s ts i n the i n f i n i t y o f s p a c e a n d t i m e , o u r l o v e a n d c o m

pass i on f or a l l l i v i ng an d suf f er i ng be i n gs

wel l s up and s treams out f rom us l i ke a

m i g h t y c u r r e n t t h a t e m b r a c e s t h e w h o l e

w o r l d . I n t h i s w a y p r a y e r b e c o m e s a n a c t

o f d e v o t i o n i n a t w o f o l d w a y : t o t h e f o r c e s

o f the l i ght (bodhi) a s w e l l a s t o o u r f e l l o w -

b e i n g s (maitri, karund)- The f orces o f the

l i g h t , h o w e v e r , a r e n o t a n a b s t r a c t id e a l b u t

a l i v i n g r e a l i t y , e m b o d i e d i n t h o s e g r e a t t e a

c h e r s o f h u m a n i t y , w h o m w e v e n e r a t e a s

t h e E n l i g h t e n e d O n e s .

T h e m o r e in t e n s e l y w e c a n p u t o u r s e l v e si n t o t h e i r p r e s e n c e , t h e m o r e a l i v e t h e y b e

c o m e in o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s , t h e d e e p e r w e

f ee l f or them i n response to the i r l ove , i n

a d m i r a t i o n o f t h e i r d e e d s a n d i n g r a t i t u d e

f o r t h e i r t e a c h i n g s , th e g r e a t e r i s t h e i r p o w e r

t o a c t u p o n u s . B u t in o r d e r t o e x p e r i e n c e

t h e i r p r e s e n c e , w e r e q u i r e v i s i b l e s y m b o l s

i n w h i c h t h e h i g h e s t q u a l i t i e s o f t h e e n l i g h t

e n e d m i n d a r e e x p r e s s e d a n d t h r o u g h w h i c h

at the same t i me our deepest f ee l i ngs are

a r o u s e d .

S u c h s y m b o l s a r e th e v a r i o u s r e p r e s e n t a

t i o n s o f t h e B u d d h a - f i g u r e , w h i c h n o t m e r e l y

d e p i c t a p a r t i c u l a r h i s t o r i c a l p e r s o n a l i t y , b u t

a r e th e o u t c o m e o f t h e i n t e g r a t e d r e l i g i o u s

e x p e r i e n c e o f i n n u m e r a b l e g e n e r a t i o n s o f

d e v o t e e s . T h u s t h e i m a g e i s n o t a n o b j e c t

o f v e n e r a t i o n ( i . e ., t h e B u d d h i s t d o e s n o t

p r a y t o t h e i m a g e ) b u t a m e a n s t o e x p e r i e n c e

t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e E n l i g h t e n e d O n e s .

I n s t e a d o f m e r e l y w o r s h i p p i n g o u r i d e a l o r

p r a y i n g t o t h e E n l i g h t e n e d O n e s — a s if

t h e y w e r e s o m e t h i n g o u t s i d e o u r s e l v e s — w e

m u s t o u r s e l v e s become our i dea l , i dent i f y

our se l v es wi t h i t , i n order to be ab l e to live

i t a l so i n our outward act i v i t i es and i n our

dai l y li f e . An i dea l be co me s an e f f ec t i ve or

a c t i v e f o r c e o n l y w h e n it i s f e l t a n d e x p e

r i e n c e d a s a n e v e r - p r e s e n t r e a l i t y , as i s t h e

c a s e i n t h e h i g h e r s t a t e s o f m e d i t a t i v e e x

p e r i e n c e (dhydna) or i nner v i s i on . Thu s

t h e o u t e r , m a t e r i a l i m a g e a n d l i k e

w i s e t h e p w j a - r i t u a l a n d t h e l i t u r g y i n c o n

g r e g a t i o n a l w o r s h i p , i n w h i c h p r a y e r

b e c o m e s a n a c t o f j o i n t d e v o t i o n a n d self-

d e d i c a t i o n , is o n l y t h e b e g i n n i n g a n d t h ep r e p a r a t i o n f o r t h e u n f o l d m e n t o f i n n e r

v i s i o n i n m e d i t a t i o n , i n w h i c h t h e d e v o t e e

b e c o m e s o n e w i t h h i s i d e a l . I n t h e g e s t u r e s

(mudrd) a n d a c t i o n s ( s u c h as b o w i n g d o w n ,

o f f er i ng l i ghts , wa ter and f l owers , e tc . ) o f

r i t u a l w o r s h i p (pujd) o u r t h o u g h t s a n d

e m o t i o n s a r e m a d e v i s i b l e a s a m e a n s o f

g u i d i n g a n d c o n c e n t r a t i n g t h e m i n d u p o n

t h e s a c r e d p a t h . W e m a y c a l l i t a d r a m a t i z e d

f o r m o f m e d i t a t i o n : m e d i t a t i o n p u t i n t o

a c t i o n a n d r e n d e r e d v i s i b l e a n d a u d i b l e .

T h r o u g h t h e p a r a l l e l i s m o f b o d y , m i n d a n d

s p e e c h , t h e c o - o r d i n a t i o n o f m o v e m e n t ,t h o u g h t a n d w o r d , t h e h a r m o n y o f f e e l i n g ,

c r e a t i v e i m a g i n a t i o n , v i s u a l i z a t i o n a n d

v e r b a l e x p r e s s i o n , w e a c h i e v e a u n i t y o f a l l

t h e fu n c t i o n s o f o u r c o n s c i o u s b e i n g , w h i c h

af f ec ts not on l y the sur f a ce o f our p er

s o n a l i t y , n a m e l y o u r s e n s e s a n d i n t e l l e c t ,

b u t e q u a l l y t h e d e e p e r r e g i o n s o f o u r m i n d .

I n t h e r e g u l a r p e r f o r m a n c e of s u c h r i t u a l

w o r s h i p t h e v e r y f o u n d a t i o n s o f o u r b e i n g

a r e s l o w l y b u t c e r t a i n l y t r a n s f o r m e d a n d

m a d e r e c e p t i v e f o r t h e . i n n e r l i g h t .

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J N A N A A N D B H A K T I

B y D r . T . N - K R I S H N A S W A M I

J n a n a a n d B h a k t i a r e l i k e t w o s w e e t s

m a d e o u t o f t h e s a m e s u g a r , o f w h i c h y o u

c a n c h o o s e w h i c h e v e r y o u l i k e . G i v i n g u p

' mi n e ' i s Bha kt i ; g i v i n g up ' I ' i s Jn ana.

Th e f orm er g i ves up a l l h i s posses s i ons ; the

l at ter g i ves up the very possessor o f the

p o s s e s s i o n s .

B h a k t i is t u r n i n g t h e m i n d t o w a r d s G o d ;

S e l f - e n q u i r y , t h e p a t h o f J n a n a , t u r n s t h e

m i n d t o i t s o w n i n n e r e s s e n c e , w h i c h i s t h e

Self. I n S e l f - e n q u i r y t h e s u b j e c t s e t s o u t i n

sear ch o f h i ms el f . He w h o seeks mu st ex i s t .

Thi s ex i s tence i s i t se l f the Self. I n B h a k t i

on e is d i sgu sted wi t h one ' s i nd i v i dua l se lf

a n d f e e l s o n e ' s n o t h i n g n e s s o r u n i m p o r t a n c e

a n d f i x e s o n e ' s m i n d o n t h e H i g h e r P o w e r .

W h e n t h e m i n d a t l a s t b e c o m e s f u l l y a w a r e

of the Hi ghe r Po w er i t i s aw ed by i t and

abs orb ed i nto i t . Thi s i s to ta l sur ren der o f

the ego - Th e ma n no l on ger i s ; God

al one i s .

' T h e C l o u d o f U n k n o w i n g ' , a 1 4t h C e n

t u r y C h r i s t i a n w o r k i n w h i c h t h e s o u l i s

o n e d w i t h G o d , s a y s t h a t a l l c r e a t u r e s h a v e

i n t h e m t w o p o w e r s , o n e a k n o w i n g p o w e r ,

t h e o t h e r a l o v i n g p o w e r . T o t h e f ir s t, G o d ,

t h e M a k e r o f b o t h p o w e r s , i s e t e r n a l l y i n

c o m p r e h e n s i b l e ; t o t h e s e c o n d H e i s c o m

p r e h e n s i b l e . T h i s i s t h e w o n d e r f u l m i r a c l e

o f l o v e . " H e m a y w e l l b e l o v e d b u t n o t

t h o u g h t . L o v e m a y r e a c h G o d i n t h is l i f e

b u t n o t * k n o w i n g ' . " S o f a r i s B h a k t i , b u t

t h e b o o k c o n t i n u e s : " A n d t h e r e f o r e s w i n k

and sweat i n a l l that thou canst and mayest

f or to get thee a true kno wi ng a nd a f ee l i ng

of thyse l f as tho u art . An d then I t ro u tho u

shal t hav e a true kn ow i ng and a f ee l i ng o f

G o d as H e i s . " T h i s is J n a n a . H e w h o d o e s

n o t k n o w h i s s e l f c a n n o t k n o w a n d m u c h

l e s s l o v e G o d .

Here i s what the Maharshi says on the

sub j ect : " To l o ng f or h app i ness i s Bh akt i .

To l ong f or the Se l f i s Jnana. "

I t i s Jnana to know that the Master i s

w i t h i n y o u , b u t t o c o m m u n e w i t h h i m i s

Bha kt i . W he n the l ov e o f Go d or Se l f i s

mani fest i t i s Bhakti ; when i t i s in secret i t

i s Jnana.

To k no w th e Se l f as b li ss is Jna na ; e f f or ts

to un co ve r th is natu ra l b l i ss are Bh akt i . A

b h a k t a m a k e s n o p l a n s , t r u s t i n g t h a t G o d

w h o s e n t u s h e r e h a s h is o w n s c h e m e , w h i c h

a l o n e w i l l w o r k . H e c l a i m s n o t h i n g . H e

has surrendered h i s personal i ty , so that h i s

act i ons and the i r resu l ts are due to the

H i g h e r P o w e r . H e a c c e p t s w h a t e v e r b e f a l l s

w i t h e q u a n i m i t y H e h a s l e a r n t f r o m t h e

G i t a t h a t a c t i o n s g o o n o f t h e m s e l v e s , w i t h

o u t a n a c t o r . A c y c l o n e c a u s e s h a v o c b u t

there i s no acto r respon s i b l e f or i t . Go d has

created act i ons but no actor at a l l .

O n e - p o i n t e d t h o u g h t o f G o d i s B h a k t i ;

o n e - p o i n t e d e x p e r i e n c e o f S e l f i s J n a n a .

W h e n ' o t h e r ' a r i s e s t h e r e is f e a r - T h e r e

s h o u l d b e o n e a l o n e , w h e t h e r w e c a l l i t G o d

o r Self.

S I L E N T T E A C H I N G

(From a record kept by Ethel Merston)

At f i rs t , l i ke ev er yo ne e l se , T u sed to ask

que st i on s , but a f ter a t i me f ou nd th i s to be

q u i t e u n n e c e s s a r y . I f I w e r e r e a l l y s t u c k

o v e r s o m e p r o b l e m , B h a g a v a n w o u l d s e e m

to kn ow it . and I wo ul d get the answ er s i

l e n t l y p r o j e c t e d in t o m y c o n s c i o u s n e s s b y

hi m Or , as i t onc e ha pp ene d , as I sat

b e f o r e h i m i n t h e h a l l, m u l l i n g o v e r a p r o

b l e m t h a t h a d b e e n w o r r y i n g m e f o r t h r e e

d a y s , w i t h o u t f in d i n g a s o l u t i o n , B h a g a v a n

s u d d e n l y a s k e d h i s a t t e n d a n t t o h a n d h i m a

b o o k o n t h e P u r a n a s ; h e t u r n e d t h e p a g e s

u n t i l h e f o u n d t h e p a s s a g e h e w a n t e d , t h e n

p a s s e d t h e b o o k t o a d e v o t e e a n d , p o i n t i n g

to me, to l d h i m to read the passage a l oud .

I t w a s a c o m p l e t e a n s w e r t o m y p r o b l e m .

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J N A N A M A R G A IN C H R I S T I A N I T Y

Contemplative Meditation with Scripture

B y J O E L G O L D S M I T H

C h r i s t i a n i t y h a s d e v e l o p e d a l m o s t e n t i r e l y a s b h a k t i - m a r g a , a r e l i g i o n o f d u a l i s t ic w o r s h i p

a n d d e v o t i o n . T h e t e a c h i n g o f J o e l G o l d s m i t h i s a r e m a r k a b l e r e m i n d e r o f t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f

jna na -m ar g a that i t c onta i ns . I t i s an i l l ustr a t i on a l so o f the t r uth that jna na - ma r ga , the ' p a th o f

k n o w l e d g e ' , d o e s n o t i m p l y p h i l o s o p h y o r e r u d i t i o n b u t i s a s s i m p l e a s i t i s p r o f o u n d . I f a n y

f o l l o w e r s o f t h e M a h a r s h i , t ra i n e d t o e q u a t e j n a n a - m a r g a w i t h S e l f - e n q u i r y , f in d J o e l G o l d

s m i t h ' s m e t h o d o f c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n b i b l i c a l t e x t s s t r a n g e , t h e y s h o u l d r e c a l l t h a t it is v e r y c l o s e

to the use ofMahdvdkyds

r e c o m m e n d e d b y S h a n k a r a c h a r y a .Thi s ar t i c l e i s sp ec i a l l y wr i t t en for ' The Mow itain Path'. S h o r t l y b e f o r e h i s s a d d e m i s e

i n Jun e th i s year , me nt i o ned br i e f l y i n our Ju l y i ssue , Jo e l Go l d s mi t h had sent u s a se r i es o f

ar t i c l es for p ub l i c a t i on i n * The Mountain Pathstart ing wi th th i s one . The se wi l l be p ub l i sh ed

a s p r e v i o u s l y a r r a n g e d . W e t a k e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o d e c l a r e o u r d e e p a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r t h i s g r e a t

C h r i s t i a n m y s t i c w h o e x p r e s s e d h i s p r o f o u n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g in s i m p l e l a n g u a g e t h a t a l l c o u l d

f o l l o w .

C o n t e m p l a t i v e m e d i t a t i o n i s t h e p r e p a r a

t o r y s t e p b e f o r e p u r e m e d i t a t i o n w i t h o u t

w o r d s o r t h o u g h t s , a n d it s m a i n p u r p o s e s i s

t o k e e p t h e m i n d s t a y e d o n G o d — t o a c k n o w

l e d g e H i m i n a l l o u r w a y s — s o t h a t i n q u i e t

ness and in conf i denc e w e m ay " be s t i l l,

a n d k n o w t h a t I a m G o d . "1

W e k n o w t h a t " t h e n a t u r a l m a n

rec e i ve th not the th i ngs o f the Sp i r i t o f

Go d ; f or the y are f oo l i shn ess unto h i m :

n e i t h e r c a n h e k n o w t h e m , b e c a u s e t h e y a r e

s p i r i t u a l l y d i s c e r n e d . " 2 T h e r e f o r e , o n l y i n

c o n t e m p l a t i v e m e d i t a t i o n , c o n s c i o u s o f

s c r i p t u r a l T r u t h , c a n w e p r e p a r e o u r s e l v e s

t o a t t a i n t o o u r d i v i n e S o n s h i p o r t h e B u d d h a

mi n d . I t is prom i sed : " I f ye a b i de i n me ,

a n d m y w o r d s a b i d e i n y o u , y e s h a l l a s k

wh at ye w i l l , and i t shal l be do ne unt o

y o u - " 3 In o the r wo rd s , i f w e ab i d e i n the

W o r d a n d i f w e l e t t h e W o r d a b i d e i n u s ,w e w i l l b e a r f r u i t r i c h l y .

T h u s c o n t e m p l a t i n g T r u t h , w e a t t a i n t h e

g i f t o f d i s c e r n m e n t t h r o u g h w h i c h w e a t t a i n

T r u t h — w h i c h t h e " n a t u r a l m a n " c a n n o t

k n o w . T h i s i s a f fi r m e d i n t h e B h a g a v a d -

Gi ta . " Wi t h mo rta l eyes thou canst not see

m e . I g i v e t h e e t h e r e f o r e d i v i n e s i g h t . B e

h o l d n o w m y g l o r y . " 4

1 P s a l m 4 6 : 1 0 .

2 1 Cor i n thi an s 2 :14 .

3 John 15 :7

4Ch. X I , v . 8 .

T o m e d i t a t e p r o p e r l y — t o d e v e l o p t h e

a b i l i t y t o p r a c t i c e m e d i t a t i o n — i t is n e c e s

s a r y to u n d e r s t a n d c e r t a i n s p i ri t u a l p r i n c i

p l es o f l i f e . Unl ess a medi tat i on has i n i t a

c o n s c i o u s a w a r e n e s s o f a s p i r i t u a l p r i n c i p l e ,

i t w i l l not be benef i c i a l . I t can i n f act l ead

to j ust a me nta l s t i l l ness i n whi c h the re i sn o s p i r i t u a l f r u i t a g e o r " s i g n s f o l l o w i n g . "

T h e r e f o r e , y o u m u s t n o t o n l y k n o w w h y

y o u a r e m e d i t a t i n g , b u t y o u m u s t k n o w

s p e c i f i c p r i n c i p l e s t o t a k e i n t o y o u r m e d i t a

t i o n .

Let us take the ma j or pr i n c i p l e o f l i f e

u p o n w h i c h a h a r m o n i o u s e x i s t e n c e c a n b e

e x p e r i e r c e d : I a m I . D e c l a r e t h i s t o y o u r

self, because i t i s i nd i sputabl e - You are not

s o m e o n e e l s e — y o u a r e y o u r s e l f ! " I a m I . "

In the great l esson on suppl y taught i n

H e b r e w S c r i p t u r e , t h e M a s t e r a s k s t h i s

q u e s t i o n of th e p o o r w i d o w w h o w a s l o o k i n gf o r s u p p l y , " W h a t h a v e y o u i n y o u r

hou se ? " He d i d not i nqui r e o f her wha t she

w a n t e d o r h o w m u c h s h e w a n t e d . " W h a t d o

y o u already h a v e i n y o u r h o u s e ? "

Let us see how th i s can be appl i ed i n

p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e . W e a r e m a n y p e o p l e

g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r i n r e a d i n g a n d , a s y o u c a n

e a s i l y f e e l , t h e r e i s a p e a c e a m o n g u s . T h e r e

i s q u i e t n e s s a n d c o n f i d e n c e , a n d c e r t a i n l y

ther e is an abs enc e o f hate , b i g otr y , b i as , or

j e a l o u s y . L e t u s n o w a s k o u r s e l v e s t h i s

q u e s t i o n : " H o w d i d th i s p e a c e g e t h e r e a n d

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


2 2 4 T H E M O U N T A I N P A T H O c t o b e r

h o w w a s b i a s , b i g o t r y , a n d h a t r e d e l i m i

n a t e d ? " T h e a n s w e r i s c l e a r . Y o u b r o u g h t

i n t o t h i s a t m o s p h e r e t h e p e a c e t h a t i s h e r e .

W h a t e v e r s t i l l n e s s a n d c o n f i d e n c e i s p r e s e n t

• — w h a t ev e r l o v e i s w i t h u s — y o u b r o u g h t

it . W h a t e v e r o f h a t r e d , j e a l o u s y o r d i s c o r d

i s not h ere , yo u d i d n ot br i n g i nto our

p r e s e n c e .

W h a t h a v e y o u i n y o u r h o u s e ? W h a t

h a v e y o u i n y o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s ? Y o u h a v e

l o v e , y o u . h a v e l i f e , y o u h a v e c o - o p e r a t i v e -

n e s s a n d y o u h a v e p e a c e . W h a t d i d y o u b r i n g

i nto th i s tem pl e ? Thi s temp l e i s the tem pl e

o f G o d , b u t w h a t m a d e i t s o ? Y o u r b e i n g

h e r e i n a n a t m o s p h e r e o f l o v e a n d

mutual i ty . Then i t i s not that th i s Path i s

the tem pl e o f Go d , i t i s that yo u are the

t e m p l e o f G o d ! " K n o w y e n o t t h a t y e a r e

the t em pl e o f Go d ? " 5 Y e a r e th e t e m p l e

o f G o d if s o b e y o u l e f t y o u r p e r s o n a l f e e l

i n g s o u t s i d e , if s o b e y o u l e f t h u m a n l i m i t a

t i ons o f anger , f ear , and j ea l ousy outs i de , if

s o b e y o u b r o u g h t i n y o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s t h e

l o v e a n d t h e p e a c e w e f e e l h e r e - B e c a u s e w e

do f ee l it and beca use w e are cogn i zan t o f

the pea ce that i s in our mi ds t , w e kn ow

b e y o n d m e a s u r e t h a t y o u b r o u g h t i t . I n

o t h e r w o r d s t h e d e g r e e o f p e a c e , l o v e , a n d

j o y w e f e e l — t h e d e g r e e of h e al in g c o n

s c i o u s n e s s t h a t i s w i t h u s — i s t h e d e g r e e

t h a t y o u b r o u g h t h e r e i n y o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s .

T h e r e c a n b e n o g r e a t e r d e g r e e o f h e a l i n g

c o n s c i o u s n e s s th a n t h a t w h i c h y o u b r o u g h t

w i t h y o u ; t h e r e c a n b e n o g r e a t e r d e g r e e o f

h e a l t h th a n t h a t w h i c h y o u b r o u g h t w i t h

y o u ; t h e r e c a n b e n o g r e a t e r d e g r e e o f s u p

p l y t h a n w h a t y o u b r o u g h t w i t h y o u — a n d

h o w m u c h y o u b r o u g h t w i t h y o u d e p e n d s o n

n a m e l y , ( 1 ) h o w m u c h T r u t h y o u k n o w

a b o u t y o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s , ( 2 ) w h a t c o n s t i

t u t e s y o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s , ( 3 ) w h o y o u a r e

a n d w h a t y o u r t r u e i d e n t i t y i s .

Th e Mast er Chr i s t Jesu s asks : " W ho do

m e n s a y t h a t I a m ? " I f t h e m e n a r e j u st

h u m a n b e i n g s w i t h n o s p i r i t u a l d i s c e r n

m e n t , t h e y w i l l sa y t h a t h e i s a H e b r e w

p r o p h e t , o r a r e s u r r e c t e d H e b r e w p r o p h e t ,

o r s o m e o n e b r o u g h t d o w n f r o m t h e h u m a n

p a s t , B u t " W h o m d o ye say that I a m ?

5 1 Cor i n thi an s 3 :16 .

and Pete r re p l i ed : " Th ou art the C hr i s t ,

t h e S o n o f t h e l i v i n g G o d . " 6 W h e n P e t e r

a n s w e r e d t h e M a s t e r , h e w a s r e v e a l i n g y o u r

t r u e i d e n t i t y a n d m i n e , a n d w h e n C h r i s t

Jesus sa i d , " Cal l no man y ou r f ather upo n

the earth : f or one i s yo ur Fa ther , wh i ch i s

i n h e a v e n , " 7 h e w a s r e f e r r i n g t o y o u r c o n

s c i o u s n e s s a n d m y c o n s c i o u s n e s s . A s a

ma tter o f f ac t h i s ent i re mi n i s try wa s a

r e v e l a t i o n o f m a n ' s s p i r i t u a l Sonship. T h e r e

f ore , yo u can br i n g i n f in i te pea ce , i n fi n i te

h a r m o n y , i n f i n i t e h e a l i n g c o n s c i o u s n e s s , a n d

i n f in i te sup pl y i nto th i s gr oup o f read ers ,

b u t y o u c a n a c c o m p l i s h t h i s i n o n l y o n e w a y ,

b y k n o w i n g t h a t " I a n d m y F a t h e r a r e

o n e , " 8 and " Son , tho u art eve r wi th m e, and

al l that I have i s th i ne . " 9

T h i n k w h a t w o u l d h a p p e n i f y o u s e t a s i d e

t e n m i n u t e s e v e r y m o r n i n g t o b e s e p a r a t e

a n d a p a r t f r o m t h e o u t s i d e w o r l d — f o r t h e

p u r p o s e o f c o n t e m p l a t i n g G o d a n d t h e t h i n g s

o f G o d - T h i n k w h a t w o u l d h a p p e n s h o u l d

you set as i de ten mi nutes f or sp i r i tua l rea

l i z a t io n ! O n l y t h o s e w h o h a v e b e e n t o u c h e d

i n s o m e m e a s u r e b y t h e S p i r i t o f G o d w o u l dhave the capac i ty to s i t f or ten mi nutes i n

c o n t e m p l a t i v e m e d i t a t i o n . T h i n k !

I a n d m y F a t h e r ar e o n e . T h e F a t h e r

has sa i d to me , " Son , thou art ever wi th

m e , a n d a l l t h a t I h a v e i s t h i n e . " T h e r e

f ore , I hav e a l l that God has ; a l l that Go d

has i s mi n e . Th e earth i s the Lo rd ' s ,

a n d t h e f u l n e s s t h e r e o f . " 1 0 O f m y o w n

se l f I am noth i ng but , i n th i s oneness wi th

m y Fat her , a l l that the Fat her hath is

m i n e . " M y p e a c e I g i v e u n t o y o u , " 1 1

Th ere i s no l i mi tat i on to the amo unt o f

p e a c e t h a t I h a v e , b e c a u s e I h a v e b e e n

g i v e n t h e C h r i s t p e a c e , t h e M y p e a c e . T h e

C h r i s t p e a c e h a s b e e n g i v e n u n t o m e .

T h e r e f o r e , w h e n t h e q u e s t i o n i s a s k e d ,

" W h a t h a v e y o u i n y o u r h o u s e ? " y o u c a n

r e p l y :

6 M a t t h e w 1 6 :1 6 ,

7 Ma tth ew 23 .9 .

8 Jo hn 10.30.

9 L u k e 15.31.

1 0 P s a l m 2 4 : 1 .

n Joh n 14 :27 .

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1964 J N A N A M A R G A IN C H R I S T I A N I T Y 225

I h a v e t h e f u l l m e a s u r e o f C h r i s t p e a c e .

I have a l l that the Father hath , f or the

F a t h e r h a s g i v e n H i s a l l n e s s u n t o m e .

G o d h a s e v e n b r e a t h e d i n t o m e H i s l i f e ,

so I ha ve i n m y cons c i ousn ess l i f e e terna l .

T h e C h r i s t h a s c o m e t h a t I m i g h t h a v e

l i f e , a n d t h a t I m i g h t h a v e i t a b u n d a n t l y .

T h e r e f o r e , I h a v e i n m y h o u s e — i n m y

c o n s c i o u s n e s s — a b u n d a n t l i f e , i n fi n it e l i fe ,

e ternal l i f e , because th i s Chr i s t has sa i d ,

" I a m e t e r n a l l i f e . " T h e r e f o r e , I h a v e

etern al l i f e i n m y cons c i ous ness as the

g i f t o f Go d . I ha ve an in f i n i ty o f su ppl y

b e c a u s e t h e C h r i s t r e v e a l s : " Y o u r

h e a v e n l y F a t h e r k n o w e t h t h a t y e h a v e

n e e d o f a l l t h e s e t h i n g s , " 1 2 and " i t i s your

F a t h e r ' s g o o d p l e a s u r e t o g i v e y o u t h e

k i n g d o m . " 1 3 T h e r e f o r e , I h a v e t h e k i n g

d o m o f G o d w i t h i n m e , w h i c h i s t h e k i n g

dom o f a l l that I shal l ever need . I have i n

my consc i ousness e ternal l i f e , i n f i n i te sup

p l y , d i v in e p e a c e . T h e p e a c e w h i c h p a s s e t h

u n d e r s t a n d i n g I h a v e .

A s y o u c o n t e m p l a t e t h e s e p r i n c i p l e s f o r

f i ve or ten mi nutes each day , you carry i nto

y o u r w o r l d t h e a w a r e n e s s o f t h e p r e s e n c e o f

a l l that God i s and a l l that God has—as a

g i f t t h a t h a s b e e n b e s t o w e d u p o n y o u b y

t h e G r a c e o f G o d .

Y o u r h a v i n g c o n t e m p l a t e d t h e s e t r u t h s i s

the reason there i s peace i n our mi dst . You

h a v e b r o u g h t " t h e p e a c e o f G o d w h i c h

p a s s et h a ll u n d e r s t a n d i n g " 1 4 I f there i s l ove

h e r e w i t h u s , y o u h a v e b r o u g h t t h e l o v e

that i s w i thout l i mi t . I f there i s suppl y i n

th i s Mountain Path, y o u h a v e b r o u g h t G o d ' s

s t o r e h o u s e . A l l t h a t t h e F a t h e r h a t h i s y o u r s ,

a n d y o u h a v e b r o u g h t it h e r e . R e m e m b e r

t h i s : W h a t y o u h a v e b r o u g h t h e r e t o m a k e

of th i s Pat h a tem pl e o f God , yo u a l so br i ng

t o y o u r b u s i n e s s o r t o y o u r h o m e b y y o u r

m o r n i n g c o n t e m p l a t i o n o f t h i s T r u t h . Y o u

t h e r e b y m a k e o f y o u r h o m e a t e m p l e o f

G o d . Y o u d o n o t f in d l o v e i n y o u r h o m e ;

y o u b r i n g l o v e to y o u r h o m e , b e c a u s e l o v e

i s f o u n d o n l y w h e r e y o u e x p r e s s it . I n o t h e r

wo rd s if yo ur f am i l y i s to f i nd l ov e they w i l l

f in d i t b e c a u s e y o u , w h o a r e a t t u n e d t o G o d ,

12 M a t t h e w 6 : 3 2 .

1 3 L u k e 1 2 : 3 2 .

1 4 P h i l i p p i a n s 4 : 7 .

b r i n g i t t h e r e . Y o u w h o h a v e b e e n l e d t o a

s p i r i t u a l t e a c h i n g h a v e b e e n g i v e n t h e G r a c e

t o k n o w t h i s T r u t h , w h e r e a s m e m b e r s o f

y o u r f a m i l y a n d y o u r b u s i n e s s a s s o c i a t e s

w h o a r e r e p r e s e n t e d b y " t h e n a t u r a l m a n

w h o r e c e i v e t h n o t t h e t h i n g s o f G o d , " c a n

n o t b r i n g p e a c e a n d h a r m o n y i n t o t h e i r

r e l a t i o n s h i p s .

O n l y t h o s e w h o h a v e t h e S p i r i t o f G o d

i n d w e l l i n g a r e c h i l d r e n o f G o d . O n l y t h o s e

w h o h a v e t h e S p i r i t o f G o d i n d w e l l i n g h a v e

b e e n g i v e n t h e " p e a c e w h i c h p a s s e t h u n

d e r s t a n d i n g " T h e r e f o r e , r e m e m b e r : W h a t

y o u d i s c o v e r h e r e a t t h i s m o m e n t y o u h a v e

b r o u g h t . L i k e w i s e , w h a t y o u f i n d . i n y o u r

h o m e , i n y o u r b u s i n e s s , i n t h e w o r l d , i s w h a t

y o u b r i n g t o y o u r h o m e , t o y o u r b u s i n e s s ,

o r t o t h e w o r l d .

W h a t h a v e y o u i n y o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s ?

T h i s is t h e p a s s w o r d f o r m e d i t a t i o n : " W h a t

hav e I i n m y cons c i ous nes s ? "

O f m y s e l f I h a v e n o t h i n g , b u t b y t h e

Gr ace o f Go d " a l l th i ngs that the Fa ther

h a t h a r e m i n e . " 1 5 " Th e earth i s the

L o r d ' s , a n d t h e f u l n e s s t h e r e o f , " 1 6 T h e r e

f o r e , I h a v e b e e n g i v e n M y p e a c e , t h eChri s t peace - I hav e bee n g i ven a l l these

a d d e d t h i n g s b e c a u s e m y h e a v e n l y F a t h e r

k n o w e t h t h a t I h a v e n e e d o f t h e m a n d i t

' is His goo d plea su re to ful f i l l m e. I am

f i l l ed f u l l o f the Grace o f God and , by the

Grace o f God , a l l that the Father hath i s

m i n e .

I f you ask Me , I can g i ve yo u bre ad ;

eat i ng it , yo u wi l l never hun ger . I can

g i v e y o u l i v i n g w a t e r s ; d r i n k i n g , y o u w i l l

n e v e r t h i r s t .

T h i s is w h a t y o u a r e s a y i n g in y o u r h o u s e

h o l d , i n y o u r b u s i n e s s , i n t h e w o r l d — o n l yyo u are say i ng it s i l ent l y and secre t l y . Y ou

n e v e r v o i c e it o p e n l y b e c a u s e th e c o m m a n d

of the Master i s that we do our pr ay i ng i n

s e c r e t , w h e r e n o m a n c a n h e a r u s o r s e e u s .

I f y o u r p r a y i n g i s d o n e i n t h e i n n e r s a n c

t u a r y o f y o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s , w h a t t h e F a t h e r

seeth or heareth i n secret i s shouted f rom

t h e h o u s e t o p s . " T h y F a t h e r w h i c h s e e th

i n s e c r e t h i m s e l f s h a l l r e w a r d t h e e o p e n -

1 5 John 16 :15 .

1 6 P s a l m 2 4 : 1 .

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l y . " 1 7 S i l e n t l y a n d s a c r e d l y a s k y o u r s e l f :

" W ha t ha ve I i n the hou se ? "

I hav e the Gr ac e o f Go d . A l l that the

F a t h e r h a t h i s m i n e - I h a v e b e e n g i v e n

qui etn ess a nd con f i den ce a nd s t i l l ness ; I

h a v e b e e n g i v e n M y p e a c e . T h e F a t h e r

h a t h b r e a t h e d H i s l i f e i n t o m e , t h e r e f o r e 1

h a v e G o d ' s l if e w h i c h i s e t e r n a l a n d i m

m o r t a l .

I h a v e t h a t m i n d i n m e w h i c h w a s a l s o

i n Chr i s t Jesus and so I have no human

des i res and I seek noth i ng o f any man.

" I and my F ath er are on e " and I re ce i v ea l l t h a t I r e q u i r e b e c a u s e m y F a t h e r

k n o w e t h m y n e e d s a n d it i s H i s g o o d p l e a

s u r e t o g i v e t h e k i n g d o m . B e c a u s e I a l

r e a d y h a v e a l l , I p r a y o n l y f o r t h e o p p o r

t u n i t y t o s h a r e t h a t w h i c h t h e F a t h e r

h a t h g i v e n t o m e .

N o t e w h a t t r a n s p i r e s i n y o u r h o m e , i n

y o u r b u s i n e s s , a n d in t h e w o r l d a s y o u s i l e n t

l y , s a c r e d l y , a n d s e c r e t l y r e m i n d y o u r s e l f :

T h a n k G o d I a s k n o t h i n g o f a n y m a n

e x c e p t t h a t w e l o v e o n e a n o t h e r . I a s k

o n l y t h e p r i v i l e g e o f s h a r in g G o d ' s A l l -

n e s s w h i c h i s a l r e a d y m i n e . W h y s h o u l d

I l ook to " ma n, wh ose bre ath i s i n h is

n o s t r i l s , " 1 8 w h e n b y r i g h t o f d i v i n e S o n -

sh i p I am he i r to a l l o f the hea ven l y

r i ches ?

D o y o u n o t s e e w h y t h e r e is a n a t m o s

p h e r e o f p e a c e a m o n g u s ? W e c a m e h e r e

f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f a b i d i n g i n t h e p r e s e n c e

o f G o d a n d t o t a b e r n a c l e w i t h t h e S p i r i t o f

G o d w h i c h is w i t h i n y o u a n d w i t h i n m e .

W e a r e g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r t o s h a r e t h e s p i

r i t u a l G r a c e o f G o d , t h e s p i r i t u a l P r e s e n c e

o f G o d a n d t h a t s p i r i t u a l L o v e o f G o d . T h a t

i s w h y the re i s pe ace w i th us ; ther e can b e

n o s u c h p e a c e w h e r e p e o p l e c o m e t o ge t

s o m e t h i n g . W h e n y o u s it d o w n to m e d i t a t e ,

t u r n q u i e t l y w i t h i n a n d r e a l i z e :

As the branch i s one wi th the tree , as

t h e w a v e i s o n e w i t h t h e o c e a n , s o a m I

one wi t h Go d . Th e a l l ness o f i n f i n i ty i s

p o u r i n g I t s e l f f o r t h i n t o e x p r e s s i o n a s m y

i n d i v i d u a l b e i n g , a s m y i n d i v i d u a l c o n

s c i o u s n e s s , a s m y i n d i v i d u a l li f e . H a v i n g

1 7 M a t t h e w 6 : 4 .

is Isaiah 2:22.

r e c e i v e d t h e a l ln e s s o f G o d , I w a n t o n l y

to share i t .

A s y o u r e s u m e y o u r o u t e r a c t i v i t y , y o u

r e m e m b e r t o h a v e a t e n - s e c o n d m e d i t a t i o n

as o f ten as poss i b l e , i n wh i ch to r em i nd

y o u r s e l f :

T h e G r a c e o f G o d is u p o n m e . I h a v e

sp i r i tua l meat and sp i r i tua l bread to

share wi th a l l who are here , and those

w h o a c c e p t I t w i l l n e v e r h u n g e r . I c a n

g i v e t o t h e w o r l d s p i r i t u a l w a t e r , a n d

t h o s e w h o a c c e p t t h i s l i v i n g w a t e r w i l lne ver th i rs t . " I and m y Father are on e , "

and the Father i s pour i ng I ts A l l ness

t h r o u g h m e , t o y o u , a n d t o t h i s w o r l d .

A c o n t e m p l a t i v e m e d i t a t i o n h a s i n i t s o m e

t h i n g o f a b a c k - a n d - f o r t h n a t u r e . Y o u a r e

v i r tu al l y sa y i ng to the Fath er :

T h a n k y o u , F a t h e r , t h a t Y o u r G r a c e i s

u p o n m e . T h a n k y o u , F a t h e r , t h a t Y o u

h a v e g i v e n m e Y o u r p e a c e . I f I h a v e a n y

hope , or f a i th , or conf i dence , Thou hast

g i ve n it to me . Of my ow n se lf I am

n o t h i n g , s o w h a t e v e r m e a s u r e o f p e a c e ,

hope , f a i th and conf i dence I have i s the

g i f t o f t h e F a t h e r w i t h i n m e . T h a n k T h e e ,

f o r T h y g r a c e , T h y p e a c e , T h y a b u n d a n c e .

Y ou then pa use , as i f the s t i ll smal l vo i ce

we re abou t to spea k to yo u . I t i s an at t i

t u d e o f " S p e a k , L o r d ; f o r t h y s e r v a n t h e a -

r e t h . " 1 9 I f you per s i s t i n th i s w ay o f l i f e ,

e v e n t u a l l y y o u w i l l d i s c o v e r t h a t t h e F a t h e r

will s p e a k t o y o u , a n d u s u a l l y in t h i s m a n

ner :

S o n , I h a v e b e e n w i t h y o u s i n c e b e f o r e

A b r a h a m w a s . K n o w y o u n o t t h a t " I

a m w i t h y o u a l w a y s , e v e n u n t o t h e e n d o f

t h e w o r l d " ? 2 0 K n o w y o u n o t t h a t " I

w i l l n e v e r l e a v e t h e e , n o r f o r s a k e t h e e " ? 2 1

I f y o u m o u n t u p t o h e a v e n , I w i l l b e

t h e r e w i t h y o u . T u r n a n d r e c o g n i z e M e .

A c k n o w l e d g e M e a n d y o u w i l l f in d M e ,

e v e n t h e r e i n h e l l . I f y o u w a l k t h r o u g h

the va l l e y o f the sha do w o f death , I w i l l

n o t l e a v e y o u -

1 9 1 S a m u e l 3 : 9 .

20 M a t t h e w 2 8 : 2 0 .

2 1 H e b r e w s 1 3 : 5 .

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 J N A N A M A R G A I N C H R I S T I A N I T Y 227

T u r n w i t h i n a n d s e e k M e . A c k n o w l e d g e

M e i n t h e m i d s t o f y o u a n d I w i l l c h a n g e

death i nto l i f e , age i nto youth , l ack i nto

a b u n d a n c e . O n l y a b i d e i n t h i s W o r d a n d

c o n s c i o u s l y l e t M e a b i d e i n y o u . W h i t h e r

d o y o u t h i n k y o u c a n f le e f r o m M y

S p i r i t ?

O p e n y o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d f e e l t h e

p e a c e w h i c h p a s se t h u n d e r s t a n d i n g — h e r e

w h e r e w e a r e .

M y p e a c e g i v e I u n t o y o u — M y p e a c e .

M y k i n g d o m , t h e k i n g d o m o f A l l n e s s , is

estab l i sh ed wi th i n yo u . Ab i de in th i sT r u t h a n d le t t h i s T r u t h a b i d e i n y o u . C o n

s c i o u s l y r e m e m b e r t h a t t h e S o n o f G o d

i nd we l l s you a nd that It i s c l oser to y ou

t h a n b r e a t h i n g a n d n e a r e r t h a n h a n d s a n d

f eet . " I can do a l l th i ng s thr ou gh C hr i s t

w h i c h ' s t r e n g t h e n e d m e . 2 2 . . . I l i v e ;

y e t n o t I , b u t C h r i s t l i v e t h i n m e . " 2 3 L e t

M e , th i s i ndwel l i ng Son o f God , ab i de i n

y o u .

I f yo u hav e been l ed to a sp i r i tua l w ay o f

l i f e , you wi l l not have the capac i ty to f or

g e t y o u r t e n - s e c o n d m e d i t a t i o n s a n d y o u r

t e n - m i n u t e c o n t e m p l a t i v e m e d i t a t i o n s . I fthe Spi r i t o f God dwel l s i n you , you wi l l be

as unabl e to go through the hours o f the day

a n d n i g h t w i t h o u t t h e c o n s c i o u s r e m e m b

r a n c e o f t h e p r e s e n c e o f G o d a s y o u w o u l d

b e u n a b l e t o g o w i t h o u t f o o d - A s f o o d is

n e c e s s a r y t o t h e " n a t u r a l m a n , " s o t h e c o n

s c i o u s a w a r e n e s s o f t h e p r e s e n c e o f G o d i s

v i ta l to the sp i r i tua l ma n. Sp i r i tu a l f oo d is

essent i a l to the Son o f God .

S i l e n t l y a n d s e c r e t l y m a k e t h i s a c k n o w

l e d g m e n t t o y o u r f a m i l y , to y o u r b u s i n e s s

a c q u a i n t a n c e s , a n d t o y o u r n e i g h b o u r s : " I

c a n g i v e y o u l i v i n g w a t e r s . " W i t n e s s t o

w h a t d e g r e e t h i s c h a n g e s t h e t r e n d o f y o u r

t h o u g h t f r o m b e i n g t h e " m a n o f e a r t h " w h o

is a l w a y s s e e k i n g t o g e t s o m e t h i n g — t o b e

i n g t h e s p i r i t u a l S o n o f G o d w h o i s m o t i

v a t e d b y t h e d e s i r e t o g i v e a n d t o s h a r e .

" A s k o f M e a n d I c a n g i v e y o u t h e p e a c e

t h a t p a s s e t h u n d e r s t a n d i n g . I c a n s h a r e

w i t h y o u th e i n d w e l l i n g C h r i s t - p e a c e w h i c h

t h e F a t h e r h a t h g i v e n m e . "

22 P h i l i p p i a n s 4 : 1 3 .

2 3 Gal at i ans 2 :20 .

W i t n e s s h o w t h i s r e v e r s e s t h e t r e n d o f

y o u r l i f e . W h e r e a s t h e n a t u r a l m a n r e c e i v e s

not the thi ngs^ o f G od bec au se he i s too bu sy

r e c e i v i n g t h e b a u b l e s o f " t h i s w o r l d , " t h e

s p i r i t u a l m a n is n o t o n l y a l w a y s r e c e i v i n g

but he is shar i ng . He i s ab l e to d i sce rn tha t

t h e s e s p i r it u a l t r e a s u r e s c a n n o t b e h o a r d

e d ; t h e y m u s t a l w a y s b e e x p r e s s e d a n d

a l l o w e d t o f l o w f r o m t h e w i t h i n t o t h e

w i t h o u t . A n d s o y o u s e c r e t l y a n d s a c r e d l y

c a r r y t h e m i n t o y o u r h o m e a n d i n t o y o u r

b u s i n e s s , a n d t h e n y o u t a k e t h e n e x t s t e p

a n d le t t h e m f l o w t o y o u r e n e m y .

" F a t h e r , f o r g i v e t h e m ; f o r t h e y k n o w

n o t w h a t t h e y d o , " 2 4 I f you ask Me, I w i l l

g i v e y o u l i v i n g w a t e r s a n d y o u w i l l n e v e r

th i rs t aga i n - I w i l l g i ve yo u me at and

y o u w i l l n e v e r a g a i n h u n g e r . I a m c o m e

t h a t y o u m i g h t h a v e l i f e , a n d t h a t y o u

m i g h t h a v e it m o r e a b u n d a n t l y .

A s y o u p r a c t i c e c o n t e m p l a t i v e m e d i t a t i o n ,

t h i n k w h a t i s p o u r i n g t h r o u g h y o u t o t h is

w o r l d t o h e l p e s ta b l i s h p e a c e o n e a r t h . T h e r e

h a s n o t b e e n p e a c e o n e a r t h b e c a u s e s o m a n y

i n d i v i d u a l s h a v e b e e n s e e k i n g t o g e t i t , a n d

f e w t h e r e a r e w h o h a v e s o u g h t t o b r i n g i t ,to ex pr es s it , to sha re it . I f the re i s to be

p e a c e o n e a r t h , t h e M a s t e r c l e a r l y r e v e a l s

that I must br i ng i t—and th i s I i s the I o f

yo u , the d i v i n e Son o f yo u . I f ther e i s to be

p e a c e i n t h e w o r l d , yo u m u s t b r i n g i t — j u s t

a s y o u b r o u g h t i t h e r e a n d a s y o u a r e l e a r n

i n g t o c a r r y i t i n t o y o u r h o m e a n d i n t o y o u r

bus i ne ss act i v i ty . Pe ac e i s not here unt i l

y o u b r i n g it . W h a t h a v e y o u i n y o u r c o n

sc i ousness ?

I h a v e t h e p e a c e t h a t p a s s e t h u n d e r

s t a n d i n g , a n d I c a n c a r r y i t w h e r e v e r I

w i l l , w h e r e v e r I a m , b e c a u s e i n M y p r e sence there i s f u l f i l l ment . The p l ace

w h e r e o n I s t a n d i s h o l y g r o u n d b e c a u s e

C h r i s t d w e l l e t h in m e . T h e i n d w e l l i n g

Chri s t i s the f u l f i l l ment , and wh er e the

Chri s t i s / there i s pea ce . Th er e f o re I br i n g

p e a c e t o m y b o d y , I b r i n g p e a c e a n d q u i e t

t o m y m i n d , a n d I b r i n g p e a c e , q u i e t , l o v e ;

a n d a b u n d a n c e t o y o u , w h o e v e r t h e " y o u "

m a y b e - I b r i n g t o y o u t h e G r a c e o f G o d .

G o t h o u a n d d o l i k e w i s e !

2 4 L u k e 2 3 : 3 4 ,

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


ARROWS FROM A CHRISTIAN BOW—IV.

J N A N A A N D B H A K T I IN C H R I S T I A N I T Y

B y S A G I T T A R I U S

I h a v e b e e n a s k e d t o w r i t e a b o u t j n a n a

a n d b h a k t i i n C h r i s t i a n i t y . T h e e n e m y i s

the ego o r se l f - w i l l ; abo ut that a l l agree .

T h e r e a l l y s e n s i b l e t h i n g , t h e r e f o r e , w o u l d

b e t o s t o p w r i t i n g a r t i c l e s a n d c o m p a r i n gr e l i g i o n s a n d g e t d o w n t o t h e p r a c t i c a l w o r k

of k i l l i ng i t, no matte r by wh at ma rg a or

t h r o u g h w h a t r e l i g i o n .

W h a t e v e r m e t h o d m a y b e u s e d , i n

w h a t e v e r r e l i g i o n , it i s f u n d a m e n t a l l y a

m e t h o d of. c o n q u e r i n g t h e e g o . T h a t is w h a t

s h o u l d b e b o r n e i n m i n d a l w a y s .

B a s i c a l l y t h e r e a r e t w o w a y s o f d o i n g

t h i s : e i t h e r t o b r e a k t h e e g o i n s o c o m p l e

te l y that i t w i l l run to harness and never

agai n da re to k i ck i ts hee l s up or to take the

b i t b e t w e e n i t s t e e t h a n d b o l t , o r t o d e s t r o y

i t a l toge ther . Th e f or m er wa y i s ca l l ed

b h a k t i m a r g a i n H i n d u i s m , t h e l a t t e r j n a n a

m a r g a . C h r i s t t a u g h t b o t h .

H e t a u g h t b h a k t i m a r g a w h e n h e t o l d u s

to say " Th y wi l l be do ne . " Th ere i s s t i ll

a ' m e ' and i t sti l l has a w i l l , b ut i ts w i l l

i s to be sub ord i nat e a l w ay s and i n a l l th i ngs

t o G o d ' s w i l l . T h i s i s t h e w a y m o s t C h r i s t

i a ns f o l l o w — m o s t C h r i s ti a n s w h o a r e C h r i s

t i a n s. I n H i n d u i s m i t i s t h e w a y o f R a m a -

kr i sh na , wh o sa i d : " I don ' t wa nt to be the

h o n e y b u t t o t a s t e t h e h o n e y " — t h a t i s t o

r e m a i n a p a r t f r o m D i v i n e B e i n g i n o r d e rto en j oy I t : o f Tu ka ram , wh o sa i d " I shal l

e v e r d e s i r e d u a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s . T h o u s h a ll

e v e r r e m a in m y L o r d a n d I T h y w o r

s h i p p e r "

C h r i s t t a u g h t j n a n a m a r g a w h e n h e s a i d :

" T h e m a n w h o w a n t s t o s a v e h i s l i f e w i l l

l ose i t , but th e man w ho l os es h i s l i f e f or

m y sake wi l l f i nd i t . " Th ere is no qu est i on

t h i s t i m e o f k e e p i n g a ' m y w i l l ' w h i c h h a s

t o b e s u b o r d i n a t e d t o ' T h y w i l l ' . I f t h e l i fe

wh i ch has the wi l l is to be g i ve n up , ho w

c a n a n y w i l l r e m a i n ?

I t d o e s n ' t r e a l l y m a t t e r w h i c h p a t h y o u

f o l l o w . B o t h l e a d t o t h e s a m e g o a l . O n l ya r g u i n g w h i c h o f t h e m i s b e t t e r l e a d s t o n o

goal a t a l l . Th e path o f bha kt i m ay l ead to

t h e ' m y s t i c u n i o n , ' th e u n i t i n g o f t w o w h o

st i l l are tw o , l i ke hum an l o ver s ; but that

d o e s n ' t m a t t e r , b e c a u s e f r o m t h e r e t h e p r o

c e s s w i l l t a k e i t s o w n c o u r s e t h r o u g h i t s o w n

c o n t i n u e d m o m e n t u m , w i t h n o f u r t h e r n e e d

f or d i sc i p l i ne and theory , unt i l he can say

w i t h t h e C h r i s t i a n m y s t i c J a c o b B o e h m e :

" G o d h a s b e c o m e t h a t w h i c h I a m a n d h a s

m a d e m e t h a t w h i c h H e i s - "

Y o u c a n l o o k a t i t f r o m a n o t h e r a n g l e t o o

and say that bhakt i marga i s the Path o f

L o v e a n d j n a n a m a r g a t h e P a t h o f K n o w

l e d g e . T h e l o v e r r e m a i n s s e p a r a t e f r o m t h e

Be l ov ed f or the j o y o f l ov i ng . Tha t i s the

att i tude o f Ra ma kri s hn a , o f a l l the great

b h a k t a s . K n o w l e d g e m e a n s t h e r e a l iz a t i on

that ther e i s no one to re ma i n sep arate :

t h e r e j u s t I S .

C h r i s t t a u g h t b h a k t i m a r g a w h e n h e s a i d

that the greatest o f the l aws o f Moses i s to

l o v e G o d w i t h a l l y o u r h e a r t a n d a l l y o u r

mi n d and a l l yo ur sou l and a l l yo ur s treng th .

H e t a u g h t j n a n a m a r g a w h e n h e s a id :" Y o u s h a l l k n o w t h e T r u t h a n d t h e T r u t h

s h a l l l i b e r a t e y o u . " 1 But the Jews he sa i d i t

t o c o u l d n ' t t a k e i t — ' W h a t t r u t h ? W h a t c a n

y o u l i b e r a t e u s f r o m ? A r e n ' t w e f r e e a l

r e a d y ? D o n ' t w e f o l l o w t h e o r t h o d o x r u l e s

o f our re l i g i o n and scr i pt ure ? ' C hr i s t i ans

s a y p r e t t y m u c h t h e s a m e t h i n g t o - d a y t o o .

T h e r e a r e n o t m a n y w h o c a n t a k e i t .

1 St , John, VI I I , 32 .

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


ASPECTS O F ISLAM—IV

T H E S U F I P A T H O F L O V E

B y A B D U L L A H Q U T B U D D I N

Y e a r s a g o , w h e n I s t il l o c c a s i o n a l l y w e n t

t o a c i n e m a , I s a w a H o l l y w o o d v e r s i o n o f

a M e d i a e v a l I s l a m i c t o w n . S u i t a b l y r e p u l

s i v e l o o k i n g b e g g a r s w e r e c r o u c h i n g o u t s i d e

a p a l a c e w a l l , c r y i n g : " A l m s f o r t h e l o v e

o f A l l a h ! " T h i s w a s a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c i n a c

c u r a c y . I n t h e f ir s t p l a c e t h e N a m e w a sm i s p r o n o u n c e d , t h e f i r s t s y l l a b l e b e i n g a c

centuated i nstead o f the second , and i n the

seco nd p l ac e ' f or the l o ve o f A l l ah ' is not

an Is l ami c phr ase . ' In the nam e o f A l l ah '

y e s , but not ' f or the l ov e o f A l l ah . '

A l s o t h e p h r a s e s o c o m m o n t o C h r i s t i a n

w r i t e r s t h a t ' G o d i s l o v e ' i s n o t I s l a m i c .

T h e q u a l i t y t h a t i s e q u a t e d w i t h G o d i n

I s l a m is r a t h e r T r u t h . I n d e e d , i n t h e w e l l

k n o w n s t o r y o f t h e S u f i A l H a l l a j w h o w a s

c r u c i f ie d f o r p r o c l a i m i n g t h e S u p r e m e I d e n

t i ty whi l e i n a s tate o f ecs tasy , h i s actual

w o r d s w e r e ' A n a ' l H a q q , ' m e a n i n g " I a mt h e T r u t h . "

Thi s perhaps re f l ec ts the f act that , desp i te

t h e r i g i d d u a l i s m o f e x o t e r i c I s l a m , A d v a i t a

i s f a r m o r e w i d e l y r e c o g n i z e d b y t h e S u fi s

t h a n b y a n y b u t t h e v e r y g r e a t e s t C h r i s t i a n

m y s t i c s . B o t h r e l i g i o n s a r e e s s e n t i a l l y

b h a k t i - m a r g a . I n d e e d , I n d i a n Su f is , w i t h

t h e i r m e t h o d s o f e c s t a t i c d e v o t i o n a n d i n v o

c a t i o n o f t h e D i v i n e N a m e , a r e p r a c t i c a l l y

i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m H i n d u b h a k t a s p i n i n g

f o r K r i s h n a , t h e D i v i n e L o v e r . T h e v e r y

w o r d • I s l a m ' m e a n s • s u b m i s s i o n . ' M a n y

S u fi s a in t s , h o w e v e r , c o m p a r a b l e i n t h a t t oH i n d u b h a k t a s s u c h as T u k a r a m o r t h e r e

c e n t S w a m i R a m d a s , h a v e p e r c e i v e d t h e

t r u t h o f A d v a i t a a n d u s e d i t s l a n g u a g e ,

a l t h o u g h n o t d e v e l o p i n g t h e t e c h n i q u e o f

j n a n a - m a r g a .

D e s p i t e t h e o r e t i c a l r e c o g n i t i o n o f A d v a i t a ,

i t i s the path o f l ove that run s thr oug h Su f -

i s m , a s t h r o u g h C h r i s t i a n i t y , a n d t h e s y m

b o l i s m o f l o v e r a n d B e l o v e d i s c o n s t a n t l y

i n use . Thi s doe s not i mpl y that the quest

i s a sort o f l ess rea l re f l ec t i on o f the p hy

s i ca l rea l i ty o f l ov e . In f act , that wo ul d

b e a n i n v e r s i o n o f t r u t h . T h e r e a r e , i n d e e d ,

c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s b e t w e e n d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s o f

rea l i ty , but i t i s the h i gher that i s more rea l

a n d is r e f l e c te d a n d s y m b o l i s e d b y t h e l o w e r ,

n o t t h e o t h e r w a y r o u n d - I f t h e D i v i n e R a y

p i e r c e s i n t o t h e d a r k a n d s e c r e t p l a c e o f t h e

soul , c reat i ng there the germ o f new l i f ew h i c h g r o w s u n s e e n a m i d p a i n a n d d i s c o m

f o r t u n t i l t h e ' n e w m a n ' s p r i n g s t o l i f e ,

t h a t i s a r e a l i t y s y m b o l i s e d b y , n o t s y m b o

l i s i ng , the phys i ca l l aws o f sex .

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e s y m b o l i s m u s e d , t h e h u

m a n l o v e r s e e k i n g t h e D i v i n e B e l o v e d c a n

a p p e a r e i t h e r a s m a n o r w o m a n . I n d e e d ,

t h e t w o f o r m s o f s y m b o l i s m m a y b e u s e d

i n d i s c r i m i n a t e l y , s i n c e b o t h a r e t r u e . I n

C h r i s t i a n i t y t h e h u m a n s o u l i s t r a d i t i o n a l l y

r e p r e s e n t e d , a s i s t h e C h u r c h itself, as the

b r i d e o f C h r i s t . T h e r e is a l s o , h o w e v e r , t h e

s y m b o l i s m o f t h e s e e k e r a s p i r i n g t o b e g u i d e d a n d b l e s s ed b y t h e D i v i n e G r a c e s y m b o

l i se d a s h i s B e l o v e d — D a n t e b y B e a t r i c e o r

t h e t r o u b a d o u r b y h is l a d y w h o t r a d i t i o n a l l y

h a d t o b e u n a t t a i n e d a n d u n a t t a i n a b l e .

Par a l l e l to th i s i n Is l am i s the s tory o f M a j -

n u n w h o g o e s m a d w i t h l o n g i n g f o r t h e d a r k

b e a u t y o f L a i l a , w h o s e n a m e in f a c t m e a n s

' n i g h t ' a n d w h o s y m b o l i s e s t h e d a r k m y s

t e r y , t h e C l o u d o f U n k n o w i n g . M o r e f r e

q u e n t l y , h o w e v e r , t h e h u m a n s o u l i s r e p r e

s e n t e d a s f e m a l e a n d a s p i n i n g f o r t h e D i v i n e

J r . , j ust as Hi n du bha kta s are gop i s s ee k

in g cu e l o v e o f K r i s h n a , t h e D i v i n e c o w h e r d ,the f lute-player. A ls o i t wi l l be see n that

i n t h e M a h a r s h i ' s Marital Garland of Let

ters to Sri Arunachala s y m b o l i s m w h i c h

m i g h t b e c o n s i d e r e d m a l e o r f e m a l e i s u s e d

i n d i s c r im i n a t e l y . I t m u s t b e r e m e m b e r e d

t h a t t h i s w a s w r i t t e n f o r t h e g u i d a n c e a n d

i n s p i r a t i o n o f t h e b h a k t a s a m o n g h is f o l l o w

ers .

T h e t h e m e o f q u e s t f o r t h e D i v i n e L o v e r

i s f a r m o r e w i d e l y u s e d i n I s l a m i c e s o t e r i s m

than i n Chr i s t i a n and is m uc h better at te st

ed in l i terat ure . Is th i s par t l y becau se f ew

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


2m T H E M O U N T A I N P A T H O c t o b e r

Chri s t i an sa i nts and seekers seem to have

be en poets ? In the great ages o f Is l am th e

p o e t s w e r e s a i n t s a n d t h e s a i n t s p o e t s . A m o n g

the Pers i ans , Haf i z i s the greatest l yr i c poet ,

p e r h a p s w h a t S h e l l e y o r S w i n b u r n e i s i n

E n g l i s h , b u t w i t h t h e d i f f e r e n c e t h a t w h e r e

i n t h e m o n l y a n o c c a s i o n a l i n t u i t i o n m a k e s

s o m e p o e m o f l a s t i n g v a l u e a m o n g m u c h v e r

b a l b a n a l i t y , h i s p o e m s a r e o f t e n o f s u b s t a n c e

w h i c h t h e W e s t , l a c k i n g t h e f i r e o f D i v i n e

L o v e , w o u l d c o n s i d e r a p p r o p r i a t e r a t h e r t o

t h e p h i l o s o p h e r t h a n t h e p o e t ,

I n E t e r n i t y w i t h o u t b e g i n n i n g t h e r a d i a n c yo f T h y b e a u t y g l o r i f ie d i n i ts o w n s p l e n

d o u r ;

Lo ve wa s reve a l e d and its f ire set the w or l d

af l ame.

R e a s o n d e s i r e d t o k i n d l e it s l a m p f r o m

that f l ame o f Thy l ove ,

Th e l i ghtn i ng o f j ea l ou sy f lashed , and the

w o r l d w a s t h r o w n i nt o c o n f u s i o n .

O t h e r s s t a k e d t h e i r f o r t u n e o n e a s e a n d

w o u l d n o t t a k e u p t h e b u r d e n o f L o v e ;

W e , T h y l o v e r s , w e r e t h e o n e s w h o s e

h e a r t s , e x p e r i e n c e d i n grief, staked a l l on

g r i e f a n d t o o k u p t h e b u r d e n o f L o v e .R e n u n c i a t i o n o f t h e e g o i s t h e w h o l e s e c r e t ,

b y w h a t e v e r p a t h i t m a y b e a c c o m p l i s h e d ;

a n d w h o s h o u l d k n o w t h i s b e t t e r t h a n t h e

l o v e r ? A n s a r i o f H e r a t w r i t e s :

K n o w t h a t w h e n t h o u l e a r n e s t t o l o s e t h y

.:. self

T h o u w i l t r e a c h t h e B e l o v e d .

T h e r e i s n o o t h e r s e c r e t t o b e r e v e a l e d ,

A n d m o r e t h a n t h i s i s n o t k n o w n t o m e .

For the Suf i , l ove i s a l l - su f f i c i ent , as Umar

K h a y y a m w r i t es :

A l t h o u g h t h e c r e e d s n u m b e r s o m e s e v e n x y -

t h r e e ,

I ho l d wi th none but that o f l ove o f Thee ;

W h a t m a t t e r f a i t h , u n f a i t h , o b e d i e n c e , s i n ?

Thou ' r t a l l i n a l l , the rest i s vani ty .

F r o m l o v e t o U n i o n , f r o m U n i o n t o I d e n

t i t y . T h e f o l l o w i n g p o e m b y S h a b i s t a r i , p r o s y

t h o u g h i t m a y s o u n d i n t r a n s l a t i o n , i s r e

m o v e d o n l y b y t h e t h i n n e s t o f v e r b a l v e i l s

f r o m t h e t r u e a n d u l t i m a t e d o c t r i n e o f A d -

v a i t a o r I d e n t i t y .

U n i o n w i t h 1 T h e T r u t h 9 i s sepa rat i on f or

t h e c r e a t u r e s t a t e ,

F r i e n d s h i p w i t h H i m is e s t r a n g e m e n t f r o m

self,

When the cont i ngent wi pes o f f the dust o f

c o n t i n g e n c y ,

N o t h i n g r e m a i n s s a v e N e c e s s a r y B e i n g .

Th e ex i s te nce o f the two w or l ds i s as a

d r e a m ,

I n t h e m o m e n t o f e t e r n i t y t h e y b e c o m e

n a u g h t .

A b s o l u t e B e i n g b y it s o w n p e r f e c t i o n i s

p e r v a d i n g a l l ,

P h e n o m e n a l o b j e c t s a r e m e r e i m a g i n a r y

th i ngs ;I m a g i n a r y t h i n g s a r e n o t r e a l l y e x i s t e n t ,

T h o u g h t h e n u m b e r s a r e m a n y , o n l y O n e is

c o u n t e d .

I n a m o m e n t t h i s w o r l d p a s s e s a w a y ,

N o n e r e m a i n s i n t h e w o r l d s a v e c T h e

T r u t h ' ,

A t th a t m o m e n t y o u a t t a in p r o x i m i t y ,

Y o u , s t r i p p e d o f self, are ' un i te d 9 to the

B e l o v e d . 1

T h e J u d a e i c i n j u n c t i o n t o l o v e , w h i c h

C h r i s t r e i t e r a t e d , h a d t w o a s p e c t s , n o t o n l y

t o l o v e G o d w i t h a ll y o u r h e a r t a n d m i n d

and soul and s trength , but a l so to l ove yourn e i g h b o u r as y o u r s e l f . O n t h e w h o l e , t h e

G o d - i n t o x i c a t e d w a y f a r e r h a s t e n d e d to

n e g l e c t t h e s e c o n d o f t h e s e . N a t u r a l l y , o n e

who l oves God wi l l be f i l l ed wi th goodwi l l

t o w a r d s a l l H i s c r e a t u r e s , b u t t h i s d o e s n o t

n e c e s s a r i l y t r a n s f o r m i t s e l f i n t o a c t i o n o r

c o n s t i t u t e a n a c t i v e a n d p r o m i n e n t p a r t o f

h is suluk or path . Th e ecstat i c i s not n or

m a l l y a p h i l a n t h r o p i s t , e v e n t h o u g h h e i s

not an ego i s t . In Chr i s t i an i ty he has o f ten

b e e n a m o n k s e c l u d e d f r o m s o c i e t y . T h e r e

i s n o m o n a s t i c i s m i n I s l a m , b u t t h e M u s l i m

e c s t a t i c a l s o h a s s e l d o m b e e n a c t i v e l y p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h h u m a n w e l f a r e .

T o - d a y t h e r e i s a g e n e r a l t e n d e n c y t o

s t r e ss t h e l o v e o f o n e ' s f e l l o w s . I n H i n d u

i s m it w o u l d b e c a l le d c o m b i n i n g t h e p a t h

of bha kt i w i th that o f ka rm a. A s tr i k i ng

m o d e r n e x e m p l a r o f t h i s w a s t h e r e c e n t H i n

d u s a i n t , S w a m i R a m d a s - D u r i n g t h e y e a r s

o f h i s t ra i n i ng , be f ore he became a sa i nt , he

w a n d e r e d a b o u t t h e c o u n t r y w i t h t h e N a m e

i T h e a b o v e q u o t a t i o n s a r e t a k e n f r o m 'The

Sufi Path of Love, An Anthology of Sufism 33

c o m p i l e d b y M a r g a r e t S m i t h , L u z a c .

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 F R O M T A Y U M A N A V A H 231

of Go d a l w ay s on h is l i ps , but a l so see i ng

G o d m a n i f e s t e d i n e v e r y b o d y h e m e t , n o t

o n l y t h o s e w h o h e l p e d h i m a n d w e r e f r i e n d

l y b u t a l s o i n t h e t i c k e t - c o l l e c t o r w h o e j e c t

e d h i m f r o m a t r a i n a n d t h e b u l l y i n g p o l i c e

m a n w h o w a r n e d h i m o n t h e i c y p l a t

f o r m . W h e n a s a d h u g a v e h i m a d r i n k i n g

v e s s e l a n d a n o t h e r s t o l e it , h e c h e e r f u l l y

r e m a r k e d t h a t R a m in o n e f o r m h a d g i v e n

i t and i n another had taken i t away agai n . 2

1 i n s t a n c e t h is c a s e b e c a u s e o f t h e c o m

m o n o b j e c t i o n t h a t t h e M u s l i m c o u l d n o t s e e

th i ngs th i s way on account o f the s tr i c t Is l a

m i c d o c t r i n e o f t h e i m p a s s a b l e g u l f b e t w e e n

t h e C r e a t o r a n d H i s c r e a t u r e s . M a y b e , b u t

t h e S u fi , w i t h o u t w o r r y i n g h i s h e a d o v e r

p h i l o s o p h y o r t h e o l o g y , c a n r e c a l l t h e Q u r a -

2 S ee t h e t w o v o l u m e s o f h i s e a r l y a u t o b i o g r a p h y ,

' In Quest of God ' an d ' In the Vision of God \b o t h p u b l i s h e d b y B h a v a n ' s B o o k U n i v e r s i t y ,

B o m b a y ,

n i c s a y i n g : " W h i c h e v e r w a y y o u t u r n ,

ther e i s the Fac e o f G od ! " W i th th i s s ay

i ng i n h i s heart he can see Di v i ne Bei ng

m a n i f e s t e d b e f o r e h i m i n t h e c l o u d - c a p p e d

m o u n t a i n , t h e t a l l t r e e s a n d b r i l l i a n t f l o w e r s ,

but a l so i n the d i n gy s treets , the j os t l i n g

c r o w d , t h e m o n g r e l s l i n k i n g b y . H e c a n

s e e A l l a h l o o k i n g a t h i m t h r o u g h t h e e y e s

o f h i s be l ov ed , and a l so t ry to see h i m

t h r o u g h t h o s e o f t h e c o l l e a g u e h e w a s j e a l

ous o f , the boss he resented , the f r i end hef e l t r a n c o u r t o w a r d s . H e e x p e r i e n c e s a n

o u t f l o w o f l o v e i n w h i c h t h e r e is n o s e n t i

m e n t , n o d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e w o r t h y

a n d t h e u n w o r t h y . H e a c c e p t s h i s e n v i r o n

m e n t , p l e a s a n t o r u n p l e a s a n t , a s G o d - g i v e n ,

as that whi ch i s needf u l f or h i m, and h i s

f e l l o w s , h e l p f u l o r i r k s o m e , a s o b j e c t s f o r

l o v e a n d c o m m i s e r a t i o n . W i t h t h is r e m e m

brance i n h i s mi nd and l ove o f God i n h i s

h e a r t , w h a t m o r e d o e s h e n e e d ?

F R O M T A Y U M A N A V A R

B y Prof. K . R . R S A S T R Y

T h o u g h l i v i n g a s l a t e as t h e 1 8 t h C e n t u r y ,

T a y u m a n a v a r w a s o n e o f t h e g r e a t e s t o f a l l

t h e T a m i l p o e t - s a i n t s . B h a g a v a n o f t e n u s e d

t o q u o t e h i m . H e w r o t e p u r e A d v a i t a . T h e

f o l l o w i n g l i n e s s h o w h o w i t c o u l d b e c o m bi ne d wi th a sp i r i t o f bh akt i .

I c a n n o t w o r s h i p a t T h y s h r i n e

O r t o T h y h o l y s y m b o l s b o w ;

I cann ot p l uc k the f l owe rs f or o f f er i ng

W h e n i n e a c h f l o w e r ' s h e a r t a r t T h o u .

H o w c a n I p r e s s m y p a l m s t o g e t h e r ,

M y b o d y b e n t t o w o r s h i p T h e e ,

H o w m y i m p e r f e c t s e r v i c e o f f e r .

W h e n T h o u i n d w e l l e s t , L o r d , i n m e ?

Thou art the vastness o f the Voi d ,

T h e e l e m e n t s , t h e p r i m a l s o u n d ,

T h e V e d a s a n d t h e q u e s t t h e y b r i n g ,

T h e G o a l b e y o n d a l l s e e k i n g f o u n d .

T h o u a r t t h e q u e s t a n d T h o u t h e f i n d i n g ,Thou o f a l l see i ng art the S i ght ,

O f k n o w i n g , T h o u a l o n e t h e K n o w l e d g e ,

O f m i n d a n d e y e t h e i n n e r L i g h t ,

T h e o u t e r w o r d a n d i n n e r m e a n i n g ,

The voca l and the s i l ent Cal l .

O h S o u r c e o f G r a c e in j o y p a s t t h i n k i n g ,

L o n e c o s m i c D a n c e r in H i g h W i s d o m ' s

hal l !

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


V7

TH E E S S E N TI A L I DE N TI TY

I

B y W E I W U W E I

" B y j o i n t l y d i s c u s s i n g n o u m e n o n a n d p h e n o m e n o n , o n e r e a c h e s t h e h i g h e s t c o n s c i o u s n e s s

a n d c r e a t e s r i g h t u n d e r s t a n d i n g a m o n g s e n t i e n t b e i n g s . " ( F a - t s a n g , 6 4 2- 7 12 , f o u n d e r o f t h e

H u a - y e n S e c t of B u d d h i s m , b a s e d o n t h e Avatamsaka S u t r a ) .

" P o s i t i v e " i s n o t p o s i t i v e w i t h o u t " n e

g a t i v e / ' a n d " n e g a t i v e " is n o t n e g a t i v e

w i t h o u t " p o s i t i v e . " T h e r e f o r e t h e y c a n o n l y

b e t w o h a l v e s o f o n e w h o l e , t w o c o n c e p t u a l

a s p e c t s of o n e w h o l e t h a t a s a w h o l e c a n

n o t b e c o n c e i v e d - — p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e i t i s t h i s

w h i c h s e e k s to c o n c e i v e .

" B e i n g " c a n n o t be w i t h o u t " n o n - b e i n g / '

a n d " n o n - b e i n g " c a n n o t no t b e w i t h o u t( t b e i n g . " T h e r e f o r e t h e y c a n o n l y b e t w o

c o n c e p t u a l a s p e c t s o f o n e w h o l e t h a t a s s u c h

c a n n o t b e c o n c e i v e d — i n w h i c h t h e r e i s n e i

t h e r b e i n g n o r n o n - b e i n g a s o b j e c t i v e e x i s

t e n c e s .

" A p p e a r a n c e " ( f o r m ) c a n n o t a p p e a r

w i t h o u t " v o i d " ( v o i d n e s s o f a p p e a r a n c e ) ,

a n d " v o i d " c a n n o t b e v o i d n e s s o f a p p e a

r a n c e w i t h o u t " a p p e a r a n c e . " T h e r e f o r e

t h e y m u s t b e t w o c o n c e p t u a l a s p e c t s o f w h a t

i s o b j e c t i v e l y i n c o n c e i v a b l e — a s w h i c h t h e i r

i d e n t i t y is a b s o l u t e in n o n - o b j e c t i v i t y .

" S u b j e c t " h a s n o c o n c e p t u a l e x i s t e n c e

a p a r t f r o m " o b j e c t , " n o r " o b j e c t " a p a r t

f r o m " s u b j e c t . " T h e y , t o o , a r e t w i n s p i n

n i n g a s p e c t s o f t h e i n c o n c e i v a b l e i n w h i c h

t h e y a r e i n e v i t a b l y r e u n i t e d .

W h e r e t h e r e is n e i t h e r p o s i t i v e n o r n e g a

t i v e , b e i n g n o r n o n - b e i n g , a p p e a r a n c e n o r

v o i d , s u b j e c t n o r o b j e c t , t h e r e m u s t b e i d e n

t i t y . B u t i d e n t i t y c a n n o t p e r c e i v e itself, a n d

t h a t i s w h a t w e a r e . T h a t is w h y o n l y h e

w h o d o e s n o t k n o w c a n s p e a k , a n d w h y h e

w h o k n o w s c a n n o t s p e a k — f o r w h a t - h e - i s

c a n n o t b e a n o b j e c t o f w h a t - h e - i s , a n d s o

c a n n o t b e p e r c e i v e d o r d e s c r i b e d .

P o s i t i v e a n d n e g a t i v e , b e i n g a n d n o n - b e

i n g , a p p e a r a n c e a n d v o i d , s u b j e c t a n d o b j e c t ,

c a n b e c o n c e i v e d b y u s b e c a u s e a s " u s "

m i n d i s d i v i d e d i n t o s u b j e c t - c o n c e i v i n g a n d

o b j e c t - c o n c e i v e d b u t , r e - i d e n ti f ie d w i t h w h a t

t h e y a r e , w e a r e t h e i r t o t a l o b j e c t i v e a b

s e n c e — w h i c h i s t h o u g h t o f as p u r e u n d i v i d

e d m i n d .

" T h a t a l o n e i s t r u e K n o w l e d g e w h i c h i s

n e i t h e r k n o w l e d g e n o r i g n o r a n c e . W h a t i s

k n o w n i s n o t t r u e K n o w l e d g e . S i n c e t h e

Sel f sh i nes wi th noth i ng e l se to know or to

m a k e k n o w n , I t a l o n e i s K n o w l e d g e , I t i s

n o t a v o i d . " 1

" S p a c e " is a static t h r e e - d i m e n s i o n a l

c o n c e p t , o f w h i c h " t i m e " i s t h e active

c o u n t e r p a r t , w h o s e f u n c t i o n i n g c o n s t i t u t e s a

f u r t h e r d i r e c t i o n o f m e a s u r e m e n t . S p a c e

c a n n o t b e c o n c e i v e d w i t h o u t t im e ( d u r a t i o n ) ,

n o r t i m e w i t h o u t s p a c e ( e x t e n s i o n ) . T w o

c o n c e p t u a l a s p e c t s o f a u n i t y t h a t is i n c o n

c e i v a b l e ; g i v e n t h e n a m e o f " s p a c e - t i m e , "

t h e i r i d e n t i t y i s a b s o l u t e i n n o n - c o n c e p t u a -

l i ty . U n a c c o m p a n i e d b y t h e m , p h e n o m e n a

c a n n o t b e e x t e n d e d i n a p p e a r a n c e , a n d o n l y

a s t h e i r n o u m e n a l s o u r c e c a n b e a s s u m e d

to be .

" P h e n o m e n a " c a n n o t b e s u c h w i t h o u t

" n o u m e n o n , " n o r " n o u m e n o n " w i t h o u t" p h e n o m e n a " T h e r e f o r e c o n c e p t u a l ly t h e y

a l s o a r e t w o a s p e c ts o f n o n - c o n c e p t u a l i t y .

P h e n o m e n a , b e i n g n o t h i n g s i n t h e m s e l v e s

( d e v o i d o f s e l f - n a t u r e ) y e t a r e e v e r y t h i n g ,

a n d n o u m e n o n , b e i n g t h e s o u r c e of e v e r y

th i ng , ye t i s no th i ng . Ev ery th i n g , then , i s

bot h , and ne i th er is any th i ng : e ter nal l y

s e p a r a t e a s c o n c e p t s , t h e y a r e f o r e v e r i n s e

p a r a b l e u n c o n c e i v e d , a n d t h a t i d e n t i t y i s t h e

e s s e n t i a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g .

1 R a m a n a M a h a r s h i ' s ' Forty Verses '—V. 12.

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1964 T H E E S S E N T I A L I D E N T I T Y 233

That i s what the uni verse i s i n so f ar as

i ts n a t u r e c a n b e s u g g e s t e d i n w o r d s . T h e

u n i v e r s e i s i n c o n c e i v a b l e b e c a u s e w h a t i t i s

i s wh at w e are , and wh at w e are is wha t

t h e u n i v e r s e i s — a n d t h a t i s t o t a l a b s e n c e

c o g n i t i o n a l l y w h i c h , u n c o g n i s e d , n e c e s s a r i l y

subs i s ts as to ta l pre sen ce .

IT

" I f i t is sa i d , that L i b er a t i on i s of thr e e ki nd s , wi th for m or wi th out fo r m or wi th and

wi thout for m, then l e t me te l l you that the ex t i nc t i on o f the thr ee for ms o f L i ber a t i on i s the

o n l y t r u e L i b e r a t i o n . R a m a n a M a h a r s h i ' s ' Forty Verses \ V. 40.

W e c a n n o t u s e m i n d t o t r a n s c e n d m i n d :

t h e r e f o r e n o u m e n o n ( w h i c h is t h e a b s t r a c t

o f m i n d) r epre sent s the l i mi t o f poss i b l e

c o g n i t i o n .

" N o u m e n o n " n e c e s s a r i l y i s t o t a l p o t e n t i a

l i ty . I f i t f unc t i on s , i n f unc t i on i ng i t mu st

b e s u b j e c t i v e , a n d t h e r e b y i n e v i t a b l y o b

j e c t i v e a l s o . T h a t i s t o s a y , s u b j e c t o b j e c -

t i v i ses i tse l f and so becomes apparent to

i t s el f as o b j e c t , m a n i f e s t i n g p h e n o m e n a l l y

" w i t h i n " itself. I t l ook s at i t se l f and p er

c e i v e s t h e u n i v e r s e — w h i c h i s t h e n a p p a r e n t

l y o u t s i d e itself, s i nce ob j ec t i v i sat i o n i s a

p r o c e s s of a p p a r e n t e x t e r i o r i s a t i o n .

T h e r e f o r e t h e p h e n o m e n a l u n i v e r s e i s t h e

o b j e c t i v e a s p e ct o f n o u m e n o n .

T h i s p r o c e s s c o m p o r t s t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f

s p a c e a n d d u r a t i o n , w i t h o u t w h i c h o b j e c t s

c o u l d n o t h a v e t h e n e c e s s a r y e x t e n s i o n — a n d

w i t h o u t t h e i r e x t e n s i o n t h e r e c o u l d b e n o

c o g n i t i o n -

P h e n o m e n a , t h e r e f o r e , a r e n o t s o m e t h i n gp r o j e c t e d b y n o u m e n o n : t h e y a r e the appea

rance of noumenon — or n o u m e n o n r e n d e r e d

o b j e c t i v e a n d a p p a r e n t .

This f u n c t i o n i n g i s w h a t s e n t i e n t b e i n g s

a r e , a n d that e x t e n s i o n i n s p a c e - t i m e i s w h a t

w e k n o w a s m a n i f e s t a t i o n . I n that a p p e a

r a n c e — l i k e a l l p h e n o m e n a , o f w h i c h o u r

a p p e a r a n c e is a n a s p e c t w e h a v e n o n a t u r e

o f our own, but i n this f u n c t i o n i n g ( w h i c h

i s o u r n a t u r e ) noumenality and phenomena-

lity are identical.

This, i s w h y , t h u s m a n i f e s t e d , we are not

a s s u c h ( p h e n o m e n a l l y ) , an d w h y we are as

p h e n o m e n a l n o u m e n a l i t y ( o r n o u m e n a l p h e -

n o m e n a l i t y ) . T h u s t h e r e i s n o d u a l i t y i n

w h a t w e a r e , b u t o n l y an a p p a r e n t a u t o n o

m o u s f u n c t i o n i n g w h i c h i s t h e m a n i f e s t i n g

o f n o n - m a n i f e s t a t i o n .

N o e n t i t y i s i n v o l v e d i n w h a t w e a r e , f o r

" e n t i t y " is a p h e n o m e n a l c o n c e p t — a n d

e v e r y o b j e c t , m a t e r i a l o r c o n c e p t u a l , t h a t i s

p h e n o m e n a l , i s d e v o i d o f n a t u r e ( i s n o t ) .

W h e n t h e a u t o n o m o u s f u n c t i o n i n g , w h i c h i s

a l l that we are i n ma ni f es tat i on , no l onge r

f u n c t i o n s , i . e. , w h e n i t n o l o n g e r e x t e n d s i t

s e l f i n a n a p p a r e n t s p a c e - t i m e c o n t i n u u m ,

t h i s - w h i c h - w e - a r e r e m a i n s t o t a l ly i n t e g r a te d

i n n o u m e n a l i t y .

N o u m e n a l i t y a s s u c h c a n n o t b e r e c o r d e d .

W h a t " n o u m e n a l i t y " r e p r e s e n t s n e it h e r h

n o r is n o t . I t i s n e c e s s a r i l y i n c o g n i s a b l e , b e

c a u s e t o t a l l y d e v o i d o f o b j e c t i v e q u a l i t y , a s

mi r rorn ess i s , and bec aus e i t i s pre c i se l y

w h a t w e a r e , a n d a b s o l u t e l y a l l t h a t w e a r e ,

w h e t h e r n o n - m a n i f e s t e d o r in a p p a r e n t

m a n i f e s t a t i o n -

Y e t t h e fi n al w o r d b e w i t h H u a n g - P o :

" T h e r e is n o d i f fe r e n c e b e t w e e n s e n t i e n t b e

i n g s a n d B u d d h a s , o r b e t w e e n S a m s a r a a n d

N i r v a n a o r b e t w e e n d e l u si o n * a n d bodhi,

W h e n a l l s u c h f o r m s a r e a b a n d o n e d t h e r e i s

t h e B u d d h a . "

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


H O W I G A M E T O T H E M A H A R S H I

I V

B y D I L I P K U M A R R O Y

D i l i p K u m a r R o y i s k n o w n t h r o u g h o u t In d i a a s a f a m o u s s i n g e r , a p a r t f r o m w h i c h h e h i m

s e l f c o m p o s e s s o n g s a n d w r i t e s p o e m s , e s p e c i a l l y d e v o t i o n a l s o n g s a n d p o e m s t o S r i K r i s h n a , F o r

m a n y y e a r s h e w a s a n i n m a t e of S r i A u r o b i n d o A s h r a m a t P o n d i c h e r r y . N o w h e i s t h e h e a d

o f t h e H a r i K r i s h n a M a n d i r a t P o o n a w h e r e , a i d e d b y h i s f o r e m o s t d i s c i p l e , In d i r a D e v i , h ea c t s a s g u r u t o t h e m a n y K r i s h n a b h a k t a s w h o c o m e . T h i s a c c o u n t o f h i s v i s i t t o t h e M a h a r s h i

i s t a k e n o n hi s o w n i n v i t at i o n , f r o m h i s b o o k ' T h e F l u t e C a l l s S t i l l r e v i e w e d e l s e w h e r e i n

thi s i ssue .

I t ha pp en ed i n 1945 , I th i nk . I wa s s t il l

l i v i n g as a n i n m a t e o f S r i A u r o b i n d o A s h

r a m , e v e n t h o u g h I h a d c o m e to f e e l a g r o w

i ng sense o f i so l at i on and begun to surmi se

that I wa s a mi s f i t ther e . M y sadness and

s e n s e o f d e r e l i c t i o n o n l y d e e p e n e d w i t h t i m e

t i l l w h a t l i t t l e p e a c e I h a d l e f t m e c o m p l e

te l y and I f e l t a ll but s tran ded . Bu t I need

not go i nto the w h y and w he re f or e o f i t a l l ;

I w o u l d p l u n g e s t r a i g h t i n t o w h a t k e e p s m e

c o m p a n y a s o n e o f t h e m o s t u n f o r g e t t a b l e

exp er i e nce s I ha ve ever had . I t does , as i t

was a l a n d m a r k i n m y l i f e .

A f t e r h a v i n g b e e n f o r w e e k s in t h e g r i p

o f a d eep g l o om , I . . . . . . w ro te s tra i ght t o Sr i

A u r o b i n d o . H e w r o t e b a c k a t o n c e g i v in g

m e t h e n e e d e d p e r m i s s i o n , w h i c h I d e e p l y

a p p r e c i a t e d .

I t o o k t h e t r a i n t o T i r u v a n n a m a l a i w h e r e

R a m a n a M a h a r s h i l i v e d . B u t a s t h e t r a i n

r o l l e d o n I f e l t a d e e p a n d g r o w i n g m a l a i s e .

H o w c o u l d I w i n t h e n e e d e d p e a c e a t

t h e f e e t o f o n e w h o w a s n o t m y G u r u w h e n

I cou l d not at ta i n it a t the f eet o f m y re ve r

e d G u r u , S r i A u r o b i n d o , w h o s e w i s d o m a n d

g r e a t n e s s m y h e a r t h a d n e v e r o n c e q u e s

t i o n e d -

Wel l , I a l i ghted at the s tat i on i n a mi xed

f r a m e o f m i n d . . .

But i t wa s too l a te then , f or I wa s a l re ady

a t t h e g a t e s o f R a m a n a s h r a m . H o w c o u l d

I r e t u r n n o w , a f t e r h a v i n g c r o s s e d t h e

R u b i c o n ? B e s i d e s , I w a s d r i v e n b y a n i r r e s -

i s tab l e urge to meet i n the f l esh the great

Y o g i w h o — u n l i k e m y o w n p r e c e p t o r , S r i

A u r o b i n d o — w a s a v a i l a b l e t o a l l a t a l l h o u r s .

An d, to cro w n a l l , I wa nt ed to test the

M a h a r s h i f o r m y s e l f a n d s e e w h e t h e r h e ,

w i t h h i s m a g i c c o m p a s s i o n , c o u l d l i ft m e

out o f the deep s l ough I had l anded i n .

B u t h e d i d , a n d a g a i n s t m y w o r s t p r o g

nost i cat i ons at that , so that I cou l d not pos

s i b l y exp l a i n i t aw ay as a f i gment o f a ut o

s u g g e s t i o n . I m e a n — i f t h e r e w e r e a n y a u t o

s u g g e s t i o n h e r e i t c o u l d o n l y b e against a n d

n o t in f a v o u r o f m y r e c e i v i n g t h e g o o d s . B u t ,

a s t h e L o r d ' s w a y s a r e n o t o u r s , I w o n a n

e x p e r i e n c e I c o u l d n e v e r e v e n h a v e d r e a m

ed o f- So l i s ten wi t h bat ed breat h .

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1964 H O W I C A M E T O T H E M A H A R S H I 235

I can s t i l l recapture the thr i l l o f the apo

c a l y p t i c e x p e r i e n c e t h a t c a m e t o m e t o c h a r m

a w a y a s i t w e r e t h e o b s t i n a t e g l o o m w h i c h

had set t l ed on my chest l i ke an i ncubus .

B u t , a l a s, w o r d s s e e m s o u t t e r l y p a l e a n d

b a n a l t h e m o m e n t y o u w a n t t o d e s c r i b e a n

a u t h e n t i c s p i r i t u a l e x p e r i e n c e w h i c h i s v i

v i d , thr ob bi n g and i ntense . St i l l I mu st t ry .

I entere d a tr if l e d i f fi dent l y a b i g , bar e

h a l l w h e r e t h e M a h a r s h i r e c l i n e d m o r n i n g

a n d e v e n i n g a m o n g h i s d e v o t e e s a n d t h e

v i s i t o r s w h o h a p p e n e d to c a l l . A c c e s s i b l e t o

a l l , the great sa i nt sat on a d i van l ook i ng

stra i ght i n f ront at noth i ng at a l l . I wa s to l d

he l i ved thus a l l the t i me, i n sahaj a sama-

dhi , that i s a constant superconsc i ous s tate .

I w a s i n d e e d f a s c i n a t e d b y w h a t I s a w , b u t

I w i l l not even a ttem pt to po rtr ay wi th

w o r d s h o w o v e r w h e l m e d I w a s ( a n d w h y )

by w ha t met m y eye s . For w ha t i s i t a f ter a l l

that I saw ? Just a th i n , ha l f - na ke d ma n

si t t i ng s i l ent l y , gaz i ng wi th g l azed eyes at

t h e w i n d o w . Y e t t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g i n

h i m th a t s p o k e t o m e — a n i n d e f i n a b l e b e a u

ty o f po i se and a p l en i tud e that cannot be

l i m m e d w i t h w o r d s . I w r o t e a f t e r w a r d s a

p o e m 1 on h i m that m ay g i v e a better i de a ,

but I must not get ahead o f m y s tory .

I touched h i s f eet and then , w i thout a

wo rd , sat do w n near h i m on the f loor and

m e d i t a t e d , m y h e a r t a h e a v e w i t h a s t r a n g e

e x a l t a t i o n w h i c h d e e p e n e d b y a n d b y i n t o

a n i n e f f a b l e p e a c e w h i c h b e g g a r s d e s c r i p t i o n .

M y m o n t h - o l d g l o o m a n d m i s g i v i n g s , d o u b t sa n d q u e s t i o n i n g s , m e l t e d a w a y l i k e m i s t b e

f ore sunr i se , t i l l I f e l t I was be i ng crad l ed

on the crest of a f lawless peace in a vast

oce an o f f e l i c i ty and l ight . I ha ve to use

s u p e r l a t i v e s h e r e a s I a m t r y i n g t o d e s c r i b e

as best I can my e xp er i e nc e o f an i ne f f ab l e

b l i ss and peace whi ch l asted f or hours and

h o u r s . I c a n w e l l r e m e m b e r h o w d e e p w a s

t h e g r a t e f u l n e s s I f e l t t o w a r d s t h e M a h a r s h i

on that s l eep l ess and rest f u l n i ght as I re

c l i ned , bathed i n peace , i n an easy chai r un

der the s tars at whi ch I gazed and gazed i n

a n e c s t a s y o f t e a r s . A n d I r e c a l l e d a p r e g

nan t say i ng o f h i s : " Just be . A l l is i n you .

O n l y a v e i l s t a n d s b e t w e e n . Y o u h a v e o n l y

to rend the ve i l and then , wel l , just be."

I h a d f o u n d t h i s f a v o u r i t e r e m a r k o f h i s

r a t h e r c r y p t i c h e r e t o f o r e . B u t i n t h a t m o

me nt I un der sto od f or the f irst t i me and

w r o t e a p o e m i n h o m a g e t o t h e M a h a r s h i . 1

i T h i s p o e m h a s a l r e a d y b e e n p u b l i s h e d i n

' The Mountain Path 5 of A pr i l 1964, p . 87.

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I n most religions (though not in Chris

tianity) invocation of the Divine Name

is one of the most important techniques of

bhakti m arga, that is of the path of devo

tion and submission. The following passage

in praise of it is taken from Namdev, one

of the great Maratha poet-saints of the

13th and 14th Centuries: In his youth he

was a bandit and murderer. One day he

came upon a young mother comforting her

fatherless child and with mudden horror it

flashed on him that it was he who had slain

the father. In violent remorse he rushed to

the nearby temple and tried to commit sui

cide, but he was prevented. He then vowed

the rest of his life to penance and worship.

He became an ecstatic bhakta and a saint.

A l l - p e r v a d i n g

T h e N a m e p e r m e a t e s e v e r y w h e r e f r o m

t h e h e a v e n s t o t h e l o w e s t r e g i o n s o f t h e e n

t i r e u n i v e r s e . W h o c a n t e l l t o w h a t d e p t h s

i n t h e n e t h e r r e g i o n s a n d t o w h a t h e i g h t

i n t h e h e a v e n s i t e x t e n d s ? T h e i g n o r a n t u n

d e r g o e n d l e s s t y p e s o f r e b i r t h w i t h o u t k n o w

i n g t h e E s s e n c e . T h e N a m e is i m m o r t a l , s a y s

N a m d e v . F o r m s a r e i n n u m e r a b l e b u t th e

Name i s a l l .

Th e Nam e i tse lf i s f or m , and f or m i s the

N a m e . T h e r e i s n o d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n

N a m e a n d f o r m . B e c o m i n g m a n i f e s t , G o d

a s s u m e d N a m e a n d f o r m . T h u s t h e N a m e

a n d t h e V e d a s w e r e e s t a b li s h e d . R e m e m b e rt h a t t h e r e i s n o m a n t r a b e y o n d t h e N a m e -

T h o s e w h o s a y o t h e r w i s e a re i g n o r a n t . T h e

N a m e i s G o d H i m s e l f s a y s N a m d e v . T h i s

i s k n o w n o n l y t o l o v i n g d e v o t e e s o f t h e

L o r d .

T h e a l l - p e r v a d i n g n a t u r e o f t h e N a m e c a n

b e u n d e r s t o o d o n l y w h e n o n e r e a l i z e s h i s

Self. A s l o n g a s o n e ' s o w n n a m e i s u n r e

cog ni z ed i t i s i mp oss i b l e to grasp the a l l -

p e r v a d i n g N a m e . W h e n o n e k n o w s o n e ' s

S e l f o n e f in d s t h e N a m e e v e r y w h e r e . T o

c o n s i d e r t h e N a m e d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e N a m e d

c r e a t e s i l l u s i o n . A s k t h e S a i n t s , s a y s N a m d e v .

N o n e c a n r e a l i z e t h e N a m e b y t h e p r a c

t i ce o f K n o w l e d g e ( J n a n a ) , m e d i t a t i o n o r

a u s t e r i t y ( t a p a s ) . S u r r e n d e r y o u r s e l f f ir s t

at the f eet o f the Gur u and l earn to k no w

that the ' I ' i tsel f i s the Nam e- Af te r f in di ng th e s o u r ce of th a t ' I m e r g e y o u r i n d i

v i d u a l i t y i n t h a t O n e n e s s w h i c h i s S e l f - e x i s

tent and devo i d o f a l l dual i ty , that whi ch

p e r v a d e s b e y o n d a ll d u a l i t y , T h e N a m e h a s

c o m e i n t o t h e t h r e e w o r l d s . I t i s P a r a b r a h -

m a n Itself, where there i s no act i on ar i s i ng

out o f dual i ty ,

N a m d e v 's Enlightenment

This was read out before Bhagavan in

the hall and he said: " Namd ev must have

written this after he had obtained full Reali

zation on touching the feet of Vishobake-

sar." The point of this remark is that for

a long time Na mdev, although a saint and

an ecstatic, was not fully realized. He wor

shipped God under the name of Viihcba

(as is common in Maharashtra), and so in

tense wa s his devotion that the image of

God in the temple used to come to life for

him and, speak to him as a friend. This sort

of manifestation is apt to occur for the ecs

tatic bhakta. A modern example is Sri

Ramakrishna, for whom the image of the

Mother, Kali, came alive.

Bhagavan continued with the following

story of Namd ev's final Englightenm,ent-

G o r a , a n o t h e r s a i n t, w h o w a s a p o t t e r b y

trade , he l d a f east to whi ch he i nv i ted the

sa i nts , i n c l u d i n g N a m d e v a n d J n a n a d e v . I n

t h e h o p e o f e n l i g h t e n i n g N a m d e v , J n a n a d e v

s a i d t o G o r a : " Y o u r j o b i s m a k i n g p o t s .

Y o u d a i l y t e s t t h e m t o s e e w h i c h a r e p r o

p e r l y b a k e d a n d w h i c h a r e n o t - T h e r e s i t

t i ng i n f ront o f you are the pots o f God , so

t e s t t h e m t o s e e w h i c h ar e s o u n d . " G o r a ,

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1964 T H E N A M E 237

w h o h a d b e e n t o l d p r i v a t e l y o f t h e p u r p o s e

o f the test , agreed and , tak i ng up the s t i ck

wi th whi ch he used to test h i s pots , went

r o u n d a m o n g h i s g u e s t s , t a p p i n g e a c h o n e

o n t h e h e a d . T h e y a l l s u b m i t t e d m e e k l y

t i ll h e c a m e t o N a m d e v , w h o c r i e d o u t i n

d i g n a n t l y : " W h a t d o y o u m e a n , p o t t e r , b y

c o m i n g t o t a p m e w i t h y o u r st i c k ? G o r a

t h e r e u p o n r e p l i e d t o J n a n a d e v : ' " ' A l l t h e

o t h e r p o t s a r e p r o p e r l y b a k e d ; o n l y t h i s o n e

i s n o t y e t b a k e d . "

A t t h i s e v e r y o n e b u r s t o u t l a u g h i n g .N a m d e v w a s s o h u m i l i a t e d t h a t h e g o t u p

and rushed out o f the house s tra i ght to the

t e m p l e o f V i t h o b a w h e r e h e c o m p l a i n e d b i t

ter l y , c ry i ng ou t : " A m I not you r ch i l d a nd

you r c l osest f r i en d ? H ow c oul d yo u le t such

a h u m i l i a t i o n b e f a l l m e ? "

V i t h o b a a p p e a r e d b e f o r e h i m a s u s u a l a n d

s e e m e d t o s y m p a t h i s e , b u t t h e n s a i d : " W h y

coul d you not s i t qu i et and submi t to the

tapp i ng , l i ke a ll the o thers ? Th en th ere

w o u l d h a v e b e e n n o t r o u b l e . "

A t t h is N a m d e v b e c a m e s ti ll m o r e u p s e ta n d c r i e d : " Y o u t o o w a n t t o h u m i l i a t e m e !

W h y s h o u l d I s u b m i t ? A m I n o t y o u r

ch i l d ? "

V i t h o b a t h e n s a i d : " Y o u h a v e n o t y e t u n

d e r s t o o d a n d e v e n i f I t e l l y o u y o u w o n ' t .

But go to such and such a ru i n ed tem pl e i n

the f orest and there you wi l l f i nd a sa i nt

w h o w i l l b e a b l e t o g i v e y o u E n l i g h t e n

m e n t . "

N a m d e v w e n t t o t h e fo r e s t , as h e w a s

t o l d , a n d w h e n h e r e a c h e d t h e r u i n e d t e m

p l e h e f o u n d a s i m p l e o l d m a n l y i n g a s l e e p

t h e r e w i t h h i s f e e t r e s t i n g o n a S i v a - l i n g a m ,

H e c o u l d h a r d l y b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s w a s t h e

m a n f r o m w h o m h e , t h e c h o s e n M e n d o f

V i t h o b a , w a s t o o b t a i n E n l i g h t e n m e n t . H o w

eve r , as ther e wa s no one e l se there , he

w e n t u p t o h i m a n d c l a p p e d h i s h a n d s t o

w a k e h i m . T h e o l d m a n w o k e w i t h a s t a rt

. and , seek i ng h i m, sa i d : " Oh , so you a re the

fe tm d ev w h o m V i t h o b a h a s s e n t h e r e . "

A t t h i s N a m d e v w a s t a k e n a b a c k a n d b e

gan to th i nk that th i s mu st be a ma n o f

p o w e r t o k n o w h i s n a m e a n d w h y h e h a d

com e- St i l l , ma n o f po w er or not , he had

no r i ght to rest h i s f eet on a l i ng am , he

tho ugh t ; and he to l d the o l d ma n so .

" Oh , are m y f eet on a l i nga m ? ' ' the o l d

m a n s a i d ; " A l l r i g h t , p u t t h e m s o m e w h e r e

e l s e . "

S o N a m d e v , o u t o f r e v e r e n c e f o r t h e l i n

g a m , m o v e d t h e m t o a n o t h e r s p o t . T h e r e

t o o a S i v a - l i n g a m s p r a n g u p , a n d s o i n o n e

p l a c e a f t e r a n o t h e r , w h a t e v e r p l a c e h e p u t

t h e m . F i n a l l y h e s a t d o w n a n d t o o k t h e m i n

h i s l a p , a n d h e h i m s e l f b e c a m e a S i v a - l i n g a m . A n d a t t h a t m o m e n t E n l i g h t e n m e n t

d a w n e d o n h i m .

A f t e r t h is N a m d e v r e t u r n e d h o m e . F o r

some days he d i d not go to the templ e at a l l ,

a l th oug h i t had be en h i s habi t to go ther e

dai l y and spend most o f the day there wi th

V i t h o b a . A f t e r a f e w d a y s V i t h o b a a p p e a r e d

b e f o r e h i m i n h i s h o u s e a n d a s k e d , a p p a

r e n t l y g u i l e l e s s , w h y h e h a d f o r g o t t e n t o

v i s i t h i m.

" N o m o r e f o o l in g m e n o w , " N a m d e v r e

p l i e d . " I k n o w n o w . I s t h e r e a n y p l a c ew h e r e Y o u a r e n o t ? D o I n e e d t o g o t o t h e

t e m p l e t o b e w i t h Y o u ? D o I e x i s t a p a r t f r o m

Y o u ? "

n Y e s , n o w y o u u n d e r s t a n d , " V i t h o b a s ai d-

C o m m e n t i n g o n t h is s t o r y , B h a g a v a n s a i d :

" I t is to be no ted that i t wa s on l y wh en

h e s u r r e n d e r e d a n d t o u c h e d t h e f e e t o f t h e

G u r u t h a t h e o b t a in e d E n l i g h t e n m e n t . "

V e r i l y , T h e N a m e i s G o d H i m s e l f .

In modern times Swami Ramdas a lso, like

most bhaktas, prescribed the invocation of

the Name. The following is an article about

it that he distributed privately among his

disciples. It is printed here with the k ind

permission of Mataji.

G o d a n d H i s N a m e a r e n o t d i s t i n c t f r o m

o n e a n o t h e r . N a m e i s G o d H i m s e l f . T h e

m o m e n t w e t h i n k o f t h e N a m e o u r m i n d i s

f i ll ed wi t h the pre sen ce o f Go d . Th ere is no

e a s i e r w a y o f f o c u s s i n g t h o u g h t u p o n G o d

t h a n t a k i n g c o n s t a n t l y H i s N a m e . W h e n w e

r e p e a t t h e N a m e a l o u d , w e f e e l o u r h e a r t

i s f l ooded wi th the ecstasy o f l ove , because

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t h e s o u n d o f t h e D i v i n e N a m e a w a k e n s t h e

heart to the b l i ss and l ove o f God .

A l t h o u g h m e n t a l r e p e t i t i o n o f t h e N a m e i s

h e l d t o b e f a r m o r e e f f i c a c i o u s t h a n t h e v e r

ba l repet i t i on , s t i l l the rare exper i ence o f

s w e e t n e s s a n d j o y d e r i v e d b y u t t e r i n g t h e

N a m e a l o u d i s i n c o m p a r a b l e . W h e n th e e n

t i r e b e i n g o f t h e d e v o t e e t h r i l l s w i t h r a p

ture to the musi c o f the Name he rea l i zes

that the Name is Brahman.

G o d is b o t h m a n i f e s t a n d u n m a n i f e s t . T h e

N a m e s t a n d s f o r s u c h a G o d . H e r e t h e u n

m a n i f e s t i s t h e a l l - p e r v a d i n g , i n fi n it e , i m

mutabl e , t ranqui l and s tat i c sp i r i t o f God ,

T h e m a n i f e s t i s t h e e n t i r e u n i v e r s e o f n a m e ,

f o r m a n d m o v e m e n t w i t h a l l i t s b e i n g s ,

c r e a t u r e s a n d t h i n g s . T h e N a m e s t a n d s f o r

t h is a l l - i n c l u s i v e a n d a l l - t r a n s c e n d e n t G o d

h e a d , w h o i s b o t h p e r s o n a l a n d i m p e r s o n a l .

T h e D i v i n e N a m e i s t h u s t h e b e g i n n i n g -

l ess source o f a l l c reat i on and the creat i on

itself. G o d , t h e a b s o l u t e , i s t h e n a m e l e s s

N a m e .

T h e N a m e c a n f r e e t h e s o u l f r o m b o n

dag e . Th e Na me can take it to the h i ghest

c o n s u m m a t i o n o f s p i r i t u a l l i f e . T h e N a m e

can gran t a b l i nd sou l D i v i ne s i ght . Th e

N a m e c a n b l e s s a n i n d i v i d u a l w i t h a u n i

v e r s a l v i s i o n f u l l o f s u b l i m i t y . T h e N a m e

can l i f t the sou l to i nconce i vabl e he i ghts o f

G o d - r e a l i z a t i o n -

L o v e , L i g h t , P o w e r a n d J o y

T h e p o w e r o f t h e N a m e is i n v i n c i b l e . A

m i n d w h i c h i s c o n s i d e r e d t o b e u n c o n q u e r a

b l e , b y t h e s o o t h i n g i n f l u e n c e o f t h e N a m eb e c o m e s d o c i l e , y i e l d i n g a n d s u b m i s s i v e . T h e

mi n d i tse lf is t ra ns f orm ed i nto God by the

p o w e r o f t h e N a m e . H e w h o t a k e s r e f u g e

i n t h e N a m e c a n w o r k w o n d e r s . D e a t h i t s e l f

w i l l s t a n d i n a w e o f h i m . H e ca n c o m m a n d

al l the f orces o f nature and d i rect them to

b r i n g a b o u t a s p i r i t u a l a w a k e n i n g i n t h e

h e a r t s o f m e n . T h e N a m e c a n m a k e a h u

m a n b e i n g a n e m b o d i m e n t o f e t e r n a l l o v e

a n d j o y . T h e N a m e c a n c o n v e r t a n i n d i

v i d u a l i n t o a C o s m i c R e a l i t y — a n i g n o r a n t

s o u l in t o a v e r y G o d .

W h e r e t h e N a m e o f G o d i s s u n g , t h e

a t m o s p h e r e i s p e r m e a t e d w i t h p u r i t y , p e a c e

a n d b l i s s ; f o r t h e s y m p h o n y o f t h e N a m e

s p r e a d s e v e r y w h e r e t h e s p l e n d o u r o f l o v e .

Th e Na me i s a l l - su f f i c i ent , Th e utter ance

o f i t i s i t se l f me di ta t i on . Th e ecstasy b orn

of it is itself Samadhi. T h e N a m e i s l o v e ,

l i g h t , p o w e r a n d j o y -

T h e w r i t e r c a n v o u c h f o r it f r o m h i s o w n

e x p e r i e n c e t h a t t h e N a m e b y it s e lf w i t h o u t

a n y o t h e r sadhana can grant one the f u l l es t

v i s io n of G o d e v e r y w h e r e a n d m a y m e r g e

h i m i n a n o c e a n o f n e v e r - e n d i n g l o v e a n d

j o y .

T h e r e i s n o Sadhana w h i c h c a n b e s o u n i

ver sa l l y ad opt ed by a l l peo p l e and i s a t the

same t i me so s i mpl e f or rea l i z i ng God as the

Di v i ne Na me . I t i s pe r f ec t l y t rue , i n the

wo rd s o f a sa i nt , that he w ho ha s Go d ' s

N a m e a l w a y s o n h i s t o n g u e i s a Jivanmukta,

or a l i ber ated sou l .

S o , d e a r f r i e n d s , t o w h a t e v e r r a c e , c a s t e ,

c r e e d o r c o l o u r y o u m a y b e l o n g , t a k e u p t h e

N a m e o f G o d , a n d f e e l t h e s w e e t c o m m u

n i o n w i t h i t , a n d y o u m a y d e p e n d u p o n i t ,

y o u r s o u l s t h r o u g h c o n s t a n t b a t h i n g i n t h e

n e c t a r o f t h e N a m e w i l l n o t o n l y b e p u r i

f ie d b u t w i l l a ls o b e i l l u m i n e d w i t h t h e o m

n i p r e s e n t a n d o m n i s c i e n t l i g h t a n d l o v e o f

G o d . T h i s p r a c t i c e o f t a k i n g th e N a m e w i l l

l e a d t h e u n y i e l d i n g s p i r i t o f m a n t o c o m

p l e t e s u r r e n d e r t o t h e o m n i p o t e n t p o w e r a n d

wi l l o f Go d . In the ear l i er s tages wh en the

N a m e i s r e p e a t e d w i t h e a r n e s t n e s s , f a i t h a n d

c o n c e n t r a t i o n , t h e f a c e a n d t h e b o d y o f t h e

d e v o t e e w i l l s h i n e w i t h a p e c u l i a r l u s t r e , h i s

m i n d w i l l b e f i l l e d w i t h w i s d o m a n d h e a r t

w i t h l o v e . T h i s i s d u e t o p r e d o m i n a n c e o f

Satva Quna i n t h e d e v o t e e . L a t e r w h e n t h e

r e p e t i t i o n i s c o n t i n u e d w i t h t h e s a m e z e a l ,

h e w i l l b e h o l d t h e u n i v e r s e b e f o r e h i m a s

t h e v e r y e x p r e s s i o n o f G o d . B e c o m i n g o n e

wi th God , he wi l l have the v i s i on o f God

e v e r y w h e r e .

Cur e f or des i res

In Islam, as one would expect from a

religion whose very name denotes ' submis-

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1964 S A M A D H I 2 3 9

sion ' no technique is more prized than in

vocation of the Divine Name.

" Th e f ood and dr i nk o f the sa i nt is r e

m e m b r a n c e o f t h e N a m e o f t h e L o r d , " s a i d

A b u ' l H a s a n .

A l - G h a z a l i , t h e g r e a t t h e o l o g i a n , s a i d :

" W h a t t h e s l a v e o f G o d d e r i v e s f r o m H i s

N a m e i s d e i f i c a t i o n , b y w h i c h I m e a n t h a t

h i s h e a r t a n d p u r p o s e a r e d r o w n e d i n G o d

a n d h e s e e s n o n e o t h e r . "

" Rec i ta l o f the Nam e i s a cer ta i n cure f or

a l l d e s i r e s , " s a i d D h u ' n N u n M i s r i ; " W h o

eve r hears i t f a i th f u l l y f i nds the wa y to

G o d . "

B e s t o w s D i v i n e W i s d o m

For the Sikhs also there is no more po

tent technique than invocation of the Di

vine Name, as the following hymn from the

Granth Sahib shows.

H e a r k e n i n g t o t h e N a m e b e s t o w s

T r u t h , d i v i n e w i s d o m , c o n t e n t m e n t .

T o b a t h e i n t h e j o y o f t h e N a m e

Is to bathe i n the ho l y p l aces .B y h e a r i n g t h e N a m e a n d r e a d i n g i t

A m an atta i ns to hon our ;

B y h e a r k e n i n g t h e m i n d m a y r e a c h

Th e h i ghes t b l i ss f u l po i se

O f m e d i t a t i o n o n G o d .

S a i t h N a n a k , t h e s a i n t s a r e a l w a y s h a p p y :

B y h e a r k e n i n g t o t h e N a m e

S o r r o w a n d s in a r e d e s t r o y e d . 1

Buddhism is the most impersonal of reli

gions- Its essential and original teaching

seems to have no place for a Path of devo

tion or for personal worship. In the Pure

Land School, however, in China and Japan,

Mahayana Buddhism has developed such aPath for those who need it. A passage in

Zendo's Comm entary on the Pure Land

Sutras runs as follows : " On l y repea t the

n a m e of A m i t a b h a w i t h a ll y o u r h e a r t , w h e

ther wa l k i n g or s ta ndi ng , s i t t i ng or l y i n g ;

n e v e r c e a s e t h e p r a c t i c e o f i t f o r a m o m e n t .

T h i s is t h e w o r k w h i c h u n f a i l i n g l y i s s u es i n

sa l vat i on , f or i t i s i n accordance wi th the

o r i g i n a l v o w o f A m i d a B u d d h a . " I t w a s o n

t h e b a s is o f t h i s i n s t r u c t i o n H o n e n f o u n d e d

t h e J a p a n e s e S c h o o l o f J o d o . 2

1 The Sacred Writings of the Sikhs, p. 34,

A l l e n & U n w i n .

2 BuddMsm, p . 1 62 , b y C h r i s t m a s H u m p h r e y s ,

C a s s e l l .

LETTERS TO A BROTHER— 4

S A M A D H I

B y N A G A M M A 1

T h i s m o r n i n g a E u r o p e a n w h o w a s s i tt i n g

i n f r o n t o f B h a g a v a n s a i d t h r o u g h a n i n t e r

p r e t e r : " I t is s t a t e d i n t h e M a n d u k y o p a -n i shad that there can be no Moksha ( L i b e

r a t i o n ) , h o w e v e r m u c h dhyana ( m e d i t a t i o n )

o r t a p a s ( a u s t e r i t y ) i s p e r f o r m e d , u n l e s s

sam adh i a l so i s ex pe r i e nc ed . Is that so ? "

B h a g a v a n r e p l i e d : " R i g h t l y u n d e r s t o o d ,

they are the sam e th i ng . I t ma ke s no d i f f e

r e n c e w h e t h e r y o u c a l l i t 'dhyana o r t a p a s

o r s a m a d h i o r a n y t h i n g e l s e . T h a t w h i c h i s

s teady and cont i nuous l i ke the f l ow o f o i l i s

i Fo r a not e on Na gam ma , see our i ssue o i

Januar y 1964 .

t a p a s a n d dhyana a n d s a m a d h i . T o b e o n e ' s

o w n s e l f i s s a m a d h i . "

Q u e s t i o n e r : B u t i t i s s a i d i n t h e M a n d u k -

y a t h a t s a m a d h i m u s t n e c e s s a r i l y b e e x p e

r i e n c e d b e f o r e a t t a i n i n g Moksha.

B h a g a v a n : A n d w h o s a y s i t is n o t s o ?

I t i s s tated not on l y i n the Man du ky a but

a l l the bo ok s . But i t i s t rue sam adh i on l y

i f y o u k n o w y o u r s e l f . W h a t is t h e u s e o f

s i t t i ng s t i ll f or so me t i m e l i ke a l i f e l ess o b

j e c t ? S u p p o s e y o u g e t a b o i l o n y o u r h a n d

a n d h a v e it o p e r a t e d u n d e r c h l o r o f o r m : y o u

don ' t f ee l any pa i n at the t i me, but does

. (Continued on Page 2 4 3 )

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G H ' A N M A S T E R H S U Y U N ( 1 8 4 0 — 1 9 5 9 )

B y U P A S A K A L U K ' U A N Y U

( C h a r l e s L u k )

Eac h i ssue o f ' The Mountain Path * up to no w has c ar r i ed an ar t i c l e on so me sa i nt or gur u ,

T h e p r e v i o u s t w o h a v e b e e n H i n d u s a in t s . W i t h t h e a b r u p t m a n n e r o n e a s s o c i a te s w i t h a Z e n

M a s t e r t h i s t i m e w e p r e s e n t a Z e n ( o r , i n C h i n e s e , C h ' a n ) M a s t e r w i t h th e c o m b i n e d s t r e n g t h

and gent l e ness one o f ten fi nd s i n a H i n d u Sw am i . The auth or o f th i s a r t i c l e , Lu K 'u an Y u to

g i v e h i m h i s C h i n e s e n a m e , i s w e l l k n o w n t o s t u d e n t s o f Z e n f o r h i s t h r e e - v o l u m e w o r k

' C h ' a n a n d Z e n T e a c h i n g ' a n d h i s m o r e r e c e n t ' T h e S e c r e t s o f C h i n e s e M e d i t a t i o n ' r e v i e w e d

i n th i s is s u e ( b o t h p u b l i s h e d b y R i d e r & C o . , L o n d o n ) . H i m s e l f a d i s c i p l e o f H s u Y u n , h e is

w e l l q u a l i f i e d t o w r i t e a b o u t h i m .

C h ' a n M a s t e r H s u Y u n w a s b o r n o n 2 6 t h .

A p r i l 1 84 0 a t C h u a n c h o w f u i n F u k i e n p r o

v i n ce . Hi s f a the r wa s an o f fi c ia l o f the pr e

f e c t u r e a n d h is m o t h e r d i e d i m m e d i a t e l y

af ter g i v i n g b i r th to h i m . Hi s unc l e wa s

chi l d l ess and ado pte d h i m as h i s he i r ; so

h i s g r a n d m o t h e r d e c i d e d t h a t h e s h o u l d t a k e

t w o w i v e s t o c o n t i n u e b o t h f a m i l i e s .

W h e n h e w a s 1 1 , h i s g r a n d m o t h e r d i e d

a n d m o n k s w e r e i n v i t e d t o p e r f o r m B u d d h i s t

r i tes . Thi s was the fi rs t t i me he saw mo nk s

o r s a c r e d o b j e c t s a n d i t m a d e h i m v e r y h a p

py . A f t er th i s he read the sutras whi c h

d e e p l y i m p r e s s e d h im - W h e n h i s u n c l e t o o k

h i m o n p i l g r i m a g e t o N a n y o , h e b e c a m e s o

a t t a c h e d t o t h e h o l y p l a c e t h a t h e w a s r e

l u c t a n t t o r e t u r n h o m e . W h e n h e w a s 1 4 ,

h i s f a t h e r d i s c o v e r e d t h a t h e w a n t e d t o r e

n o u n c e t h e w o r l d a n d , in o r d e r t o k e e p h i m ,

e n g a g e d a T a o i s t t o t e a c h h i m m e d i t a t i o n .

A f t e r p r a c t i s i n g T a o i s m f o r t h r e e y e a r s , h e

de c i de d that its teac h i ng f a i l ed to reach the

ul t i m ate goa l . On e da y he fl ed to Na ny o but

w a s s o o n f o u n d a n d b r o u g h t h o m e . S o m e

t i me l ater h i s f a ther sent f or the two g i r l s

a n d c e l e b r a t e d H s u Y u n ' s m a r r i a g e . A l t h o u g h

the l at ter l i ved wi th h i s tw o wi v es , he ha d

n o i n t e r c o u r s e w i t h t h e m b u t t a u g h t t h e m

t h e D h a r m a , w h i c h t h e y u n d e r s t o o d .

A t 1 9 , t o g e t h e r w i t h h i s c o u s i n F u K u o ,

h e fl ed t o K u s h a n . m o n a s t e r y a t F u c h o w

w h e r e h i s h e a d w a s s h a v e d , a n d h e r e h e

f o l l o w e d t h e M a s t e r M i a o L i e n a n d r e c e i v e d

f u l l o r d i n a t i o n - A f t e r b e i n g o r d a i n e d , h i s

cous i n l e f t i n search o f en l i ghtened masters

H S U Y U N

b u t w a s n e v e r h e a r d o f a g a i n . H e a r i n g t h a t

h i s f a ther had sent servants to l ook f or h i m,H s u Y u n h i d in a g r o t t o b e h i n d t h e m o n a s t e r y

w h e r e h e p r a c t i s e d a u s t e r i t i e s f o r t h e n e x t

thre e years . At 25 , he l earn ed that h i s f a ther

had d i ed i n Hunan prov i nce and that h i s

s t e p m o t h e r w i t h h is t w o w i v e s h a d e n t e r e d

a n u n n e r y .

D u r i n g t h e s e y e a r s i n t h e g r o t t o , h e m a d e

v e r y g o o d p r o g r e s s a n d h a d m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g

e x p e r i e n c e s - H e s a y s i n h i s a u t o b i o g r a p h y :

" I wa s ab l e to ma ke m y heart con tent and

b e c a m e fr e e t o g o a n y w h e r e I w a n t e d . A s

t h e r e w e r e m o u n t a i n s t o s t a y o n a n d h e r b s

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1964 C H ' A N M A S T E R H S U Y U N 2 41

t o e a t , I s t a r t e d w a n d e r i n g f r o m p l a c e t o

p l a c e . ' ' A t 3 1 , h e w e n t t o W e n c h o w w h e r e h e

m e t a m o n k w h o u r g e d h i m t o c a l l o n t h e o l d

m a s t e r Y u n g C h i n g w h o w a s w e l l - v e r s e d i n

b o t h t e a c h i n g a n d C h ' a n t r a n s m i s s i o n . T h i s

m a s t e r u r g e d h i m t o r e s u m e e a t i n g r i c e a n d

to use the Kun g An ( k oa n) " W ho i s dragg

i ng th i s corp se o f mi n e ? " and o rde red h i m

to s tud y the Ch 'a n ru l es , the Lo tus teac hi ng

a n d o t h e r i m p o r t a n t s u t r a s . F r o m 3 6 t o 43 ,

he wen t on a p i l g r i m ag e to P 'u T ' o i s l and

o f f N i n g p o , w h i c h w a s t h e b o d h i m a n d a l a o f

A v a l o k i t e s v a r a B o d h i s a t t v a , t h e n c e t o t h em o n a s t e r y o f K i n g A s o k a a t N i n g p o a n d t o

m a n y o t h e r h o l y p l a c e s w h e r e h e c a l l e d o n

w e l l - k n o w n m a s t e rs a n d m a d e g o o d p r o g r e s s

i n h i s Ch 'an pract i ce .

A t 4 3 , h e t o o k s t o c k o f h i s a c h i e v e m e n t s

w h i c h w e r e n o t c o m p l e t e a n d r e m e m b e r i n g

ho w he had sacr i f iced h i s l ov e f or h i s p a

rents i n order to j o i n the Sangha, he was

ash am ed that he had atta i ned so l i t t l e . In

order to repay h i s debt o f grat i tude to them,

h e d e c i d e d o n a l o n g p i l g r i m a g e f r o m P ' u

T ' o t o t h e F i v e - P e a k e d M o u n t a i n ( t h e b o

d h i m a n d a l a o f M a n j u s r i ) i n t h e N o r t h - w e s t

to pra y f or the i r reb i r th i n the Pu re L an d.

F f o m t h e t h a t c h e d t e m p l e o f F a H u a o n

P 'u T ' o i s l and , he set out wi th i ncense s t i cks

i n h i s h a n d s , p r o s t r a t i n g h i m s e l f e v e r y t h r e e

paces unt i l he reached h i s dest i nat i on .

I n h i s l o n g w a l k w i t h p r o s t r a t i o n a t e v e r y

t h i r d s t e p a n d c o n c e n t r a t i o n o n r e p e a t i n g

M a n j u s r i ' s n a m e , h e s u c c e e d e d i n r e a l i z i n g

s i n g l e n e s s o f t h o u g h t w h i c h w a s t h e k e y t o

h i s s u b s e q u e n t s u c c e s s i n C h ' a n t r a i n i n g .

T w i c e h e w a s i n d a n g e r o f d e a t h a n d t w i c e

h e w a s s a v e d b y M a n j u s r i w h o a p p e a r e d a s

a b e g g a r c a l l e d W e n C h i t o h i d e h i s i d e n t i t y ,

i nstead o f We n Sh u as he was ca l l ed i nChi na . Th e f irs t t i me he had been cau ght

i n a h e a v y s n o w s t o r m a n d w a s v e r y h u n g r y ,

t i r e d a n d e x h a u s t e d f o r s e v e r a l d a y s a f t e r

w h i c h h e w a s g i v e n s o m e y e l l o w r i c e g r u e l

w h i c h b r o u g h t h i m b a c k t o l if e - L a t e r h e

c a u g h t m a l a r i a a n d d y s e n t r y a n d w a s d y i n g

i n a d e s e r t e d t e m p l e o n t h e t o p o f a m o u n

t a i n w h e n t h e b e g g a r a p p e a r e d a g a i n t o g i v e

h i m t h e h o t w a t e r a n d m e d i c i n e t h a t s a v e d

h i m . C h i a s k e d s e v e r a l q u e s t i o n s w h i c h H s u

Y u n d i d n o t u n d e r s t a n d a n d c o u l d n o t a n s

w e r b e c a u s e h e w a s s t i l l u n e n l i g h t e n e d a n d

d i d n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h e l i v i n g m e a n i n g o f

C h ' a n d i a l o g u e ( J a p a n e s e , m o n d o ) . A l t h o u g h

he was to l d by the beggar that the l a t ter

w a s k n o w n i n e v e r y m o n a s t e r y o n t h e F i v e -

P e a k e d M o u n t a i n , w h e n h e a r r i v e d th e r e

a n d a s k e d t h e m o n k s a b o u t W e n C h i n o o n e

k n e w h i m . L a t e r h e m e n t i o n e d t h e i n c i d e n t

t o a n e l d e r l y a b b o t w h o b r o u g h t h is p a l m s

tog ethe r and sa i d : " Tha t beg gar wa s the

t r a n s f o r m a t i o n b o d y o f M a n j u s r i B o d h i s a t t

va . " On l y then d i d the maste r rea l i ze that

h e h a d a c t u a l l y m e t t h e B o d h i s a t t v a w h o h a d

s a v e d h i m t w i c e o n t h e l o n g j o u r n e y .

A f t e r s i tt i n g in m e d i t a t i o n , h e p a i d r e v e

r e n c e t o t h e B o d h i s a t t v a o n t h e F i v e - P e a k e d

Mo unt ai n , thus f u l f i l li ng h i s vo w taken th ree

years be f ore to pray f or the l i berat i on o f

h i s p a r e n t s . D u r i n g th i s l o n g j o u r n e y , w h i c h

t o o k t h r e e y e a r s , h e s u c c e e d e d i n r e a l i z i n g

s i ng l enes s o f mi nd ( i . e . , the pure and u n

d i s t u r b e d m i n d ) e v e n i n t h e m i d s t o f h a r d

s h i p , adv ers i t y , i l l ness and dan ger . On the

m o u n t a i n h e s a w , a s m a n y o t h e r p i l g r i m s

i n c l u d i n g d e v o t e e s f r o m f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s

h a v e d o n e , b a l ls o f l i g h t d a n c i n g f r o m o n e

p e a k t o a n o t h e r .

T h e m a s t e r t h e n w e n t w e s t a n d s o u t h ,

p a s s i n g t h r o u g h m a n y h o l y p l a c e s w h e r e h e

p a i d r e v e r e n c e a n d s a t i n m e d i t a t i o n u n t i l

h e r e a c h e d t h e h o l y s i te o f S a m a n t a b h a d r a

B o d h i s a t t v a o n m o u n t O M e i in W e s t S z e c h -

w a n - T h e r e h e s a w at n i g h t c o u n t l e s s B u d

d h a - l i g h t s , l ik e a c o n s t e l l a t i o n o f b r i g h t

s t a r s i n t h e s k y . H e c o n t i n u e d h i s w e s t w a r d

j o u r n e y a n d e n t e r e d T i b e t w h e r e h e v i s i t e d

the Pota l a , the seat o f the Dal a i Lama, and

t h a t o f t h e P a n c h e n L a m a a t T a s h i L u n p o

mo nas ter y . He then l e f t T i be t to v i s i t the

hol y s i tes o f Ind i a , a f ter whi ch he crossed

t o s e a t o C e y l o n , a n d t h e n c e t o B u r m a . H e

t h e n r e t u r n e d t o C h i n a w h e r e h e f ir s t v i s i t

e d t h e C o c k ' s F o o t M o u n t a i n i n Y u n n a n

w h i c h w a s t h e b o d h i m a n d a l a o f M a h a k a s -

y a p a , a n d t h e n p a s s e d t h r o u g h t h e p r o v i n c e s

o f K w e i c h o w , H u n a n , H u p e h , K i a n g s i a n d

A n h w e i . I n h i s a u t o b i o g r a p h y th e m a s t e r

wr ot e o f these tw o yea rs o f t rav e l : " The

s c e n e r y c h a n g e d e v e r y d a y b u t m y p u r e

m i n d w a s li k e a b r i g h t m o o n h a n g i n g s o l i

t a r i l y i n t h e s k y . M y h e a l t h g r e w m o r e r o

b u s t a n d m y s t e p s w e r e r a p i d , "

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf



In h i s 54th and 55th years , the master

s t a y e d o n a m o u n t a i n t o r e a d t h e t r i p i t a k a .

A t 5 6 , h e w a s i n v i t e d t o t h e fa m o u s m o n a s

tery o f Gao Mi n g at Y an gc ho w to assi s t i t s

a b b o t in s u p e r v i s i n g t h e t w e l v e w e e k s o f

C h ' a n m e d i t a t i o n . O n h i s w a y to Y a n g c h o w ,

he s l i ppe d and f e l l i n to a r i s i ng r i ver and

w a s c a u g h t i n a f i s h e r m a n ' s n e t . H e w a s

c a r r i e d t o a n e a r b y t e m p l e w h e r e h e w a s

r e v i v e d - H e w a s v e r y i ll b u t w e n t o n t o K a o

M i n g m o n a s t e r y w h e r e h e w a s a s k e d to h e l p

a t t h e f o r t h c o m i n g m e d i t a t i o n w e e k s . W i t h

out d i sc l os i ng h i s i l l ness , he po l i te l y de c l i n

ed the abbot ' s request , ask i ng on l y to be

a l l o w e d t o a t t e n d t h e m e d i t a t i o n m e e t i n g s .

Hi s re f usa l was regarded as an a f f ront to the

w h o l e c o m m u n i t y a n d , a c c o r d i n g to K a o

M i n g ' s r u l e s of d i s c i p l i n e , h e w a s p u n i s h e d

b y b e i n g b e a t e n w i t h a w o o d e n r u l e r , A s

t h e m a s t e r w a s p r a c t i s in g t h e r e l i n q u i s h

m e n t o f a t t a c h m e n t t o e g o , k s a n t i - p a r a m i t a

a n d v i r y a - p a r a m i t a , h e w i l l i n g l y a c c e p t e d

t h is p u n i s h m e n t w h i c h a g g r a v a t e d h i s i l l

ness . In orde r to cu re i t , he sat f irmly in

t h e m e d i t a t i o n h a l l d a y a n d n i g h t w i t h i n

creas i ng zea l . He sa i d i n h i s au tob i ogr aph y :

" In the pur i ty o f my s i ng l eness o f mi n d , If o r g o t a l l a b o u t m y b o d y . T w e n t y d a y s l a t e r

m y i l ln e s s v a n i s h e d c o m p l e t e l y . F r o m th a t

m o m e n t , w i t h a ll m y t h o u g h t s e n t i re l y w i p

e d o u t , m y p r a c t i c e t o o k e f fe c t t h r o u g h o u t

the day and n i gh t , M y s teps we re as swi f t

as i f I wa s fl y i ng i n the a ir . On e e ven i ng ,

a f t e r m e d i t a t i o n , I o p e n e d m y e y e s a n d s u d

d e n l y s a w I w a s i n b r i g h t n e s s s i m i l a r t o

b r o a d d a y l i g h t i n w h i c h I c o u l d s e e e v e r y

t h i n g w i t h i n a n d w i t h o u t t h e m o n a s t e r y . . . "

K n o w i n g t h a t h e h a d o n l y a c h i e v e d a n a d

vanced but not the f i na l s tage , he re f used to

c l i ng to i t , res o l v i n g to w i pe out the f ina l

h i n d r a n c e c a u s e d b y h i s l a s t s u b t l e a t t a c h

m e n t t o e g o a n d D h a r m a . O n e n i g h t w h e n

t h e m e d i t a t i o n e n d e d a f t e r s i x s u c c e s s i v e i n

c e n s e s t i ck s h a d b e e n b u r n e d , a m o n k c a m e

to f il l h i s cu p o f tea - As the bo i l i n g w ate r

s p l a s h e d o v e r h i s h a n d , h e d r o p p e d t h e c u p ,

w h i c h f e l l t o t h e g r o u n d a n d b r o k e w i t h a

s o u n d w h i c h w a s h e a r d b y h i s p u r e m i n d 1

t h a t w a s n o w a b l e t o p e r f o r m i t s n o n - d i s -

i ' P u r e m i n d ' i s a t e c h n i c a l t e r m f o r t h e

i n n a t e , p r i m o r d i a l i n t e l l e c t .

c r i m i n a t i n g f u n c t i o n o f p e r c e i v i n g e x t e r n a l s ,

Instant l y he cut o f f h i s l ast l i nk wi th sam-

sara and re j o i ced at h i s rea l i zat i on o f the

A b s o l u t e . H e w r o t e i n h i s a u t o b i o g r a p h y :4 ' I w a s l i k e s o m e o n e a w a k i n g f r o m a d r e a m , ?

w h i c h m e a n t t h a t h e h a d l e a p e d o v e r t h e

w o r l d l y s t r e a m t o t h e o t h e r s h o r e o f B o d h i .

H e t h e n c h a n t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g t w o g a t h a s :

1

A cup f e l l to the ground

W i t h a s o u n d c l e a r l y h e a r d .

A s s p a c e w a s p u l v e r i z e d ,T h e m a d m i n d c a m e t o a s t o p .

2

When the hand re l eased i ts ho l d , the cup

f e l l and was shattered ,

'T i s hard to ta l k when the f ami l y breaks

u p o r s o m e o n e d i e s .

S p r i n g c o m e s w i t h f r a g r a n t f l o w e r s e x u

b e r a t i n g e v e r y w h e r e ;

M o u n t a i n s , r i v e r s a n d t h e g r e a t e a r t h a r e

o n l y t h e T a t h a g a t a .

A f t e r h i s o w n e n l i g h t e n m e n t , th e m a s t e ri m m e d i a t e l y b e g a n h is B o d h i s a t t v a w o r k o f

gu i d i ng others out o f the sea o f su f f er i ng .

Hi s f i rs t ac t was to pray to the Buddha f or

t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f h is m o t h e r w h o m h e h a d

n e v e r s e e n . P r e v i o u s l y h e h a d t a k e n t h e

v o w t o g o to t h e m o n a s t e r y o f K i n g A s o k a

a t N i n g p o t o p a y r e v e r e n c e t o t h e B u d d h a ' s

re l i cs and to burn o f f there one o f h i s f i ngers

a s h i s o ff e r i n g t o t h e B u d d h a f o r h e r l i b e r a

t i on - E a c h d a y h e p r o s t r a t e d t h r e e t h o u s a n d

t i m e s a n d i n c r e a s e d t h e n u m b e r u n t i l h e

ach ed a l l ov er and wa s ser i ous l y i l l. He b e

c a m e s o w e a k t h a t t h e c h ie f m o n k d i d n o t

a p p r o v e o f h is b u r n i n g a f i n ge r o n a c c o u n t

o f t h e r i s k i n v o l v e d . T h e m a s t e r b u r s t i n t o

a f l ood o f tears and f ina l l y the su pe r i nt en

d e n t o f t h e m o n a s t e r y a n d a n o t h e r m o n k

agreed to ass i s t h i m i n f u l f i l l i ng h i s vow.

H e w a s h e l p e d t o t h e m a i n h a l l w h e r e t o

g e t h e r w i t h t h e a s s e m b l y , h e p a i d r e v e r e n c e

t o t h e B u d d h a , p e r f o r m e d t h e r i t u a l a n d r e

c i ted the text o f the ru l es o f repentance and

r e f o r m . H e w r o t e la t e r : " W i t h s i n g l e n e s s

o f m i n d , I r e p e a t e d t h e B u d d h a ' s n a m e a n d

p r a y e d H i m t o l i b e r a t e m y a f f e c ti o n a t e

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 C H ' A N M A S T E R H S U Y U N 243

mo the r . At the beg i nni g I f e l t pa i n , but as

g r a d u a l l y m y m i n d b e c a m e p u r e , m y a w a

k e n i n g w i s d o m m a n i f e s t e d c l e a r l y . . . W h e n

m y f i nger had bu rne d o f f, I arose to bo w

d o w n b e f o r e t h e B u d d h a . I d i d n o t n e e d

o t h e r s t o s u p p o r t m e a n d e n t i r e l y f o r g o t m y

i l ln e s s . A f t e r w a l k i n g u n a i d e d t o p r e s e n t

m y t h a n k s t o t h e a s s e m b l y , I r e t u r n e d t o t h e

s i c k b a y . E v e r y o n e p r e s e n t w a s s u r p r i s e d

a t m y t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , a n d I m o v e d o u t o f

t h e h u t f o r s i c k m o n k s - "

F r o m t h e n u n t i l h i s d e a t h , t h e m a s t e r p e r f o r m e d hi s B o d h i s a t t v a w o r k b y e x p o u n d

i n g s u t r a s , t r a n s m i t t i n g t h e p r e c e p t s , r e c o n

s t r u c t i n g m a n y t e m p l e s t h a t h a d f a l l e n i n

r u i n s , b u i l d i n g n e w o n e s a n d s t a r t i n g s e m i

n a r i e s f o r n o v i c e s , B u d d h i s t a s s o c i a t i o n s f o r

l a y m e n a n d f r e e B u d d h i s t s c h o o l s f o r c h i l

dre n . Hi s f i e ld o f ac t i v i t i es was no t conf i n

e d t o C h i n a b u t a l s o i n c l u d e d B u r m a , T h a i

l a n d , M a l a y a , S i n g a p o r e a n d H o n g K o n g

w h e r e t h e n u m b e r o f h i s d i s c i p l e s c o u l d n o t

b e c o u n t e d .

I n t h e c o u r s e o f t h is B o d h i s a t t v a w o r k ,

t h e m a s t e r s u r v i v e d d a n g e r s , i l l n e s s e s , p o i

s o n i n g , b e a t i n g , t o r t u r e a n d p e r s e c u t i o n . A

t r a n s l a t i o n o f h i s a u t o b i o g r a p h y i s b e i n g

p u b l i s h e d b y i n s t a l m e n t s i n World Buddh

ism, a m o n t h l y jo u r n a l p u b l i s h e d in D e h i -

w e l a , C e y l o n . B e f o r e p a s s i n g a w a y o n 1 3 t h

Oc tob er 1959 , the ma ster sa i d to h i s at te n

d a n t : " A f t e r m y d e a t h a n d c r e m a t i o n ,

p l ease mi x m y ashes wi th sugar , f l our andoi l , knead a l l th i s i nto n i ne ba l l s and throw

them i nto the r i ver as an o f f er i ng to l i v i ng

b e i n g s i n t h e w a t e r . I f y o u h e l p m e t o f u l

fil m y v o w , I s h a l l t h a n k y o u f o r e v e r . "

H s u Y u n i n h i s e x t r e m e o l d a g e h a d c h o

sen hard shi p and suf f er i ng to pro tec t the

B u d d h a D h a r m a i n h i s c o u n t r y i n s t ea d o f

s e e k i n g s a f e t y a c r o s s t h e w a t e r i n H o n g

K o n g .

S A M A D H I

(Continued from Page 2 3 9 )

that me an that yo u are in samad hi ? I t i s

the same wi t h th i s too - On e has to kn ow

w h a t s a m a d h i i s . A n d h o w c a n y o u k n o w

s a m a d h i w i t h o u t k n o w i n g y o u r s e l f ? I f t h e

S e l f is k n o w n , s a m a d h i w i l l b e k n o w n a u

t o m a t i c a l l y .

M e a n w h i l e 2 a T a m i l d e v o t e e o p e n e d t h e

T i r u v a c h a k a m a n d b e g a n s i n g i n g t h e * T e nS o n g s o n P u r s u i t ' . T o w a r d s t h e e n d c o m e s

t h e p a s s a g e : " O h I s h v a r a 3 , Y o u a r e t r y i n g

to f lee but I am ho l d i n g Y ou f ast . So w he re

c a n Y o u g o a n d h o w c a n Y o u e s c a p e f r o m

m e ? " B h a g a v a n c o m m e n t e d w i t h a s m i l e :

2 T h e r e w a s a n i n f o r m a l a t m o s p h e r e i n t h e h a l l

a n d i t m i g h t w e l l h a p p e n t h a t s o m e o n e w o u l d

star t to s i ng whi l e some one e l se was ta l ki ng ,

( E d i t o r ) .

3 I s h v a r a s ig n i f ie s th e P e r s o n a l G o d , ( E d i t o r ) .

" So i t seem s that H e is tr yin g to f lee and

t h e y a r e h o l d i n g H i m f a s t ! W h e r e c o u l d H e

nee to ? Wh er e i s He not pre sen t ? Wh o i s

He ? A l l th i s i s noth i ng bu t a pag ean t . T her e

i s anot her se que nce o f ten songs i n the sa me

b o o k , o n e o f w h i c h g o e s : ' O h m y G o d ! Y o u

h a v e m a d e m y m i n d Y o u r a b o d e . Y o u h a v e

g i v e n Y o u r s e l f u p t o m e a n d i n r e t u r n h a v e

t a k e n m e i n t o Y o u . L o r d , w h i c h o f u s i st h e c l e v e r e r ? If Y o u a r e g i v e n u p t o m e I e n

j o y e n d l e s s b l i s s , b u t w h a t u s e a m I t o y o u ,

e v e n t h o u g h Y o u t a k e m e ? M y F a t h e r a n d

G o d , w h a t h a v e I t o g i v e Y o u w h e n Y o u

h a v e m a d e m y b o d y Y o u r t e m p l e in Y o u r

b o u n d l e s s m e r c y t o m e ? ' T h i s m e a n s t h a t

t h e r e i s n o s u c h t h i n g a s ' I ' . S e e t h e b e a u t y

of i t . W he re ther e is no such th i ng as ' I '

w h o i s t h e d o e r a n d w h a t i s d o n e , w h e t h e r i t

b e d e v o t i o n o r S e l f - e n q u i r y o r s a m a d h i ? "

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


I N T R O D U C I N G M U R U G A N A R

W e h a v e d e c i d e d i n e a c h i s s u e o f 'The Mountain Path' t o i n t r o d u c e o n e o r m o r e o f B h a g a -

v a n ' s d e v o t e e s t o o u r r e a d e r s , s o a s t o in c r e a s e t h e f e e l i n g o f p e r s o n a l f e l l o w s h i p b e t w e e n t h o s e

w h o a p p r o a c h f r o m a d i s t a n c e a n d t h o s e w h o , w h e t h e r r e s i d e n t h e r e o r n o t , a r e k n o w n d e v o

tees o f Bh aga van . To star t the ser i es w e ar e her e g i v i ng an a c c ou nt o f the auster e d evo tee

a n d e m i n e n t T a m i l p o e t M u r u g a n a r .

A m o n g t h e d e v o t e e s o f B h a g a v a n , M u r u

g a n a r , t h e p o e t , h o l d s a s p e c i a l l y h o n o u r e d

p l a c e . I n T a m i l N a d t h e c o n n e x i o n b e t -

b e e n p o e t r y a n d s a n c t i t y h a s b e e n c l o s e a n d

c o n t i n u o u s d o w n t h e c e n t u r i e s . Peria-Pu-

ranam, t h e s t o r y in v e r s e o f t h e s i x t y - t h r e e

S a i v i t e S a i n t s — m a n y o f t h e m p o e t s — w a s

a f a v o u r i t e o f B h a g a v a n ' s i n h i s b o y h o o d ;

a n d in d r a w i n g M u r u g a n a r t o h i m s e l f t h e

s e e r w a s o n l y h e l p i n g t o p r e s e r v e a n a n

c i e n t t r a d i t i o n .

B o r n in 1 8 9 5 , S r i C . K . S u b r a h m a n y a m

g r e w u p i n a n a t m o s p h e r e o f T a m i l l e a r n

i n g a n d b e c a m e i n d u e c o u r s e a t e a c h e r o f

Tam i l i n a Hi g h Scho o l . H i s first co l

l e c t i o n o f p o e m s , Swat antra-Git am , o w e d

m u c h t o h i s a r d e n t a d m i r a t i o n o f G a n d h i j i

a n d , l i k e t h e e a r l y w o r k o f h is e l d e r c o n

t e m p o r a r y , S u b r a h m a n y a B h a r a t i , f o r m e d

a d is t i n c t c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e n a t i o n a l m o v e

m e n t .

B u t w h e n h e c a m e t o B h a g a v a n a n d f e l l

u n d e r h i s s p e l l , h e r e n o u n c e d a l l o t h e r i n

t e r e s t s , c o m p l e t e l y e f f a c e d h i s p e r s o n a l i t y

a n d t u r n e d i n t o " a s h a d o w o f B h a g a v a n . "

An d he has l i ved e ver s i n ce i n a s tate o f

s t a r k s i m p l i c i t y , u t t e r l y p o o r a n d o b s c u r e .

I n t h u s l o s in g t h e w o r l d t o f in d B h a g a v a n ,

he has f oun d a j oy to utter and a vo i ce to

u t t e r it w h i c h h a v e g i v e n h i m a h i g h a n d

a s s u r e d p l a c e a m o n g t h e i m m o r t a l s i n g e r -

s a i n t s o f T a m i l N a d . T h i s s u d d e n a n d c o m

p l e t e c h a n g e i n t h e p o e m s a n d i n t h e m a n n e r

o f h is u t t e r a n c e , t h e m a r v e l l o u s l y s u s t a i n e d

a n d i n f i n i t e l y v a r i e d b e a u t y o f t h e e n o r m o u s

b u l k o f h is v e r s e o n a s i n g l e t h e m e , c o n

s t i t u te s a n u n d o u b t e d " m i r a c l e " w r o u g h t b y

B h a g a v a n , p e r m a n e n t l y t h e r e fo r a l l e y e s t o

b e h o l d .

M u r u g a n a r w a s c on t e n t w i t h c o m p o s i n g

h i s p o e m s a n d h a v i n g t h e m r e a d b y B h a g a -

van . For h i m there was no " w i der publ i c " to

w h o s e n o t i c e t h e y s h o u l d b e b r o u g h t . T h u s

i t f e l l t o an a d m i r e r , S r i R a m a n a P a d a n a n -

d a , t o a r r a n g e f o r t h e p r i n t i n g a n d p u b l i c a

t i o n o f s i x v o l u m e s o f M u r u g a n a r ' s p o e m s ;

Th e s tatus o f Mu ru gan ar as a poe t is as

yet kn ow n onl y to a sm al l c i rc l e . I t i s g i v en

t o f e w t o a p p r e c i a t e t h e a r c h i t e c h t o n i c s , t h e

p r o s o d i c v i r t u o s i t y a n d t h e w e a l t h of m y

t h o l o g i c a l a n d m e t a p h y s i c a l s u g g e s t i o n i n

the songs o f th i s most sch o l ar l y poe t ; an d

i t i s g i ve n to f ew er s t i ll to recog ni ze i n the mt h e m o d u l a t e d e c h o e s o f t h e M a s t e r ' s v i b

rant s i l ence . But d i scern i n g cr i t i cs l i ke Sr i

V . S- C h e n g a l v a r o y a P i l la i a n d M r . J u s t i c e

M . A n a n t h a n a r a y a n a n h a v e n o t h e s i t a t e d to

c o m p a r e h i m w i t h S t . M a n i k k a v a c h a g a r .

I n p r a c t i s i n g t h e P r e s e n c e of B h a g a v a n

u n d e r t h e t e r m s o f M u r u g a n a r ' s i m a g e s a n d

r h y t h m s , o n e e n t e r s i n t o i n t e n s e l y f e l t r e l a

t i ons wi t h the Gur u wh o f i gures i n var i ous

r o l e s o f S i v a o r S u b r a h m a n y a , a s f a t h e r .

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1964 I N T R O D U CI N G M U R U G A N A R 245

m o t h e r o r l o v e r , as m a s t e r , k i n g o r c o m m a n

der , as beg ga r or bet ray er . Eac h o f the 850

stanzas in Guru-Vachaka-Kovai 1 is a l ittle

g o l d e n c a s k e t w r o u g h t w i t h l o v i n g c a r e t o

ensh r i ne and set o f f a ge m f a l l en f ro m the

M a s t e r ' s l i p s .

T h e s t r e a m o f M u r u g a n a r ' s i n s p i r a t i o n

h a s c o n t i n u e d r u n n i n g f r e s h a n d s t r o n g e v e n

af ter the pass i ng o f Bha ga va n. I f i t has l os t

some o f the o l d br i skness and br i ghtness , i t

h a s a c q u i r e d a n e w s e r e n i t y .

L e a v i n g a s i d e M u r u g a n a r ' s o w n c o p i o u s

o u t p o u r i n g s , h i s s u c c e s s i n e v o k i n g s o m u c h

o f t h e l i tt l e t h a t B h a g a v a n h i m s e l f w r o t e

i s som ethi n g to be gra te f u l f or . I t i s to

M u r u g a n a r t h a t w e o w e t h e e x i s t e n c e a n d

p o e t i c p a t t e r n o f Upadesa Saram, ( ' I n s t r u c

t i o n in T h i r t y V e r s e s ' ) t h e l i v i n g q u i n t e s

senc e o f advai t i c thou ght and a br i e f b ut

suf f i cient vade-mecum o f B h a g a v a n ' s o w n

p r a c t i ca l g u i d a n c e . M u r u g a n a r c o m p o s e d a

l o n g n a r r a t i v e p o e m t e l l i n g h o w t h e r i s h i s

w h o t r u s t e d t o o m u c h t o t h e i r r i t u a l s w e r e

t a u g h t a l e s s o n . A t t h e c r u c i a l m o m e n t ,w h e n S i v a h a d t o d e l i v e r H i s t e a c h i n g , M u

r u g a n a r l e ft it t o B h a g a v a n t o p r o v i d e t h e

ipsissima verba o f d i v i n e r e v e l a t i o n .

M a n y o f t h e Forty Verses on Reality o w e

thei r f i na l f orm and the expos i t i on i ts l og i

c a l a r r a n g e m e n t t o M u r u g a n a r ' s e f f o r ts . A n d

t h i s g a m e o f c o l l a b o r a t i o n r e a c h e d i t s c l i

m a x in t h e c o m p o s i t i o n o f Atma Vidya,

w r h i c h f il ls a m u s i c a l m o u l d o f G o p a l a k r i s h -

n a B h a r a t i w i t h a n e w , p r o f o u n d m e a n i n g .

B e g i n n i n g " E a s y is S e l f - k n o w l e d g e , " i t r a i

ses on l y to re j ec t th e i mag e o f " the ber ry

i n the pa l m o f on e ' s h and " ; so ev i d en t i s

t h i s p e r c e p t i o n t h a t i t n e e d s n e i t h e r p e r c e i -

v e r n o r t h i n g p e r c e i v e d . H a v i n g p r o c e e d e d

t h u s fa r , M u r u g a n a r h a d t o l e a v e o ff w h e r e

t h e p o e t qu a p o e t c o u l d o n l y s a y o r i m p l y ,

" T h e r e s t i s s i l e n c e " . B u t B h a g a v a n , s p e a k

i n g w i t h a n a u t h o r i t y h i g h e r t h a n a n y p o e t ' s ,

i A n En g l i sh t r a nsl a t i o n o f a p ar t o f whi c h i s

p u b l i s h e d b y S ri R a m a n a s r a m a m u n d e r t h e t i t le ,

• Guru Ramana Vachana Mala'.

c o n t i n u e d t h e a r g u m e n t , e x p l a i n e d t h e

sadhana a n d t h e g r a c e a n d e n d e d w i t h a

h i n t t h a t A n n a m a l a i , t h e I n n e r E y e , t h e O n e

A l o n e , i s t h e a u t h o r .

W i t h M u r u g a n a r o n e f in d s o n e s e l f t a k i n g

p a r t in a s t r e n u o u s g a m e w h e r e t r a n s c e n

d e n t a l e x p e r i e n c e i s c r e a t e d a n d c a u g h t in

w o r d s , c o l o u r e d o r c o m m o n a s h e c h o o s e s .

T h e u n i v e r s a l t e a c h e r w h o t e a c h e s t h r o u g h

s i l ence i s made to mani f est i n a thousand

s o u n d s a n d s w e e t a i r s , e a c h u n i q u e l y a p p r o

p r i a t e to a r o l e a n d a m o o d . T h r i c e b l e s s e d

i s the ear tra i ned to hear the secret that

o n l y M u r u g a n a r c a n u t t e r . F o r in h i s g a r

den o f de l i ght , one sp orts wi t h G od i n a r i o t

o f rhymes and eats f or ever the ever f resh

f ru i t o f thq tree o f the kno wl ed ge , that h om e

i s h e a v e n a n d h e a v e n i s h o m e .

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


V

Book Reoieivs

T H E S P I R I T U A L D I A L O G U E O F E A S T A N D

W E S T : B y J a c q u e s - A l b e r t C u t t at . ( M a x

M u e l l e r B h a v a n P u b l i c a t i o n s , P p . 5 0, p r i c e

not s ta ted . )

T h i s a d d r e s s g i v e n b y t h e S w i s s A m b a s s a d o r

i n I n d i a w a s r e c e i v e d h e r e w i t h p a r t i c u l a r i n t e

rest , since i t seems at f i rst sight to be the samesor t o f a c t i v i ty that The Mountain Path is

en gag ed i n and p ar t i c u l ar l y to be aki n to the

p r e s e n t i s s u e w i t h i t s t h e m e o f t h e t w o p a t h s o f

j n a n a a n d b h a k t i . R e a l l y , h o w e v e r , t h e r e i s a

w i d e d i f f e r e n c e . T h e p u r p o s e o f The Mountain

Path i s " t o se t for th the t r ad i t i ona l w i sd om o f

a l l r e l i g i ons and a l l ages , esp ec i a l l y as test i f i ed

to by the i r sa i nts and myst i c s , " but not i n the

f r a m e w o r k o f a n y s u p p o s e d co n t r a s t b e t w e e n

E a s t e r n t ru t h a n d W e s t e r n t r u t h . W h a t i s t r u e

i s t r u e a n d t r a n s c e n d s a l l s u c h c o n t i n g e n t dif

f e r e n c e s .

B u t t h e r e m a y b e d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s o f t r u t h . S o

l on g as the ego or i nd i v i d u a l be i n g i s fe l t t o ber ea l , so l ong wi l l the Se l f or Uni ver sa l Be i ng be

fe l t t o be o the r than i t , i n fa c t t o be the G od

w h o c r e a t e d i t a n d t o w h o m i t m u s t r e t u r n .

T h i s is o b v i o u s , b e c a u s e t h e e g o c a n n e v e r c l a i m

t o b e e t e r n a l , i n f i n it e a n d o m n i p o t e n t . O n l y w h e n

a n d i n t h e m e a s u r e t o w h i c h a m a n , w h e t h e r

e a s t e r n o r w e s t e r n , w h e t h e r H i n d u o r C h r i s t i a n ,

c a n c o n c e i v e o f h i s o w n i n d i v i d u a l u n r e a l i t y c a n

h e c o n c e i v e o f U n i v e r s a l B e i n g a s t h e t r u e S e l f

o f h i m .

T h e r e f o r e w h a t D r . C u t t a t c a l l s t h e d i a l o g u e

b e t w e e n E a s t a n d W e s t m i g h t e q u a l l y w e l l b e

c a l l e d a d i a l o g u e b e t w e e n A d v a i t i n s a n d d u a

l i s t s i n Ind i a . Bu t i t i s una t ta i na b l e , bec a us e

t h e A d v a i t i n k n o w s t h a t d u a l i s t i c w o r s h i p r e p r e

sents one stage o f t r uth ( t r uth as i t mu st ap p ear

so l on g as the r ea l i ty o f the i nd i v i d ua l be i n g i s

b e l i e v e d i n ) n o t o n l y i n t h e o r y b u t i n i t s p o w e r

t o c a r r y t h e w o r s h i p p e r to t r u e m y s t i c e x p e r i

e n c e . T h e r e f o r e o n t h e o n e h a n d h e c a n n o t d e

n o u n c e d u a l i s m a s d o c t r i n a l l y w r o n g o r s p i r i tu a l l y

i m p o t e n t , w h i c h h e k n o w s i t i s n o t , n o r o n t h e

o t h e r h a n d c a n h e r e c o g n i z e i t as e q u i v a l e n t t o

Ad va i ta and on the same l eve l , whi c h i t a l so i s

not . In fa c t he i s a l r ea d y s i tuated a t the ou t

c o m e o f th e d i a l o g u e a n d t h e r e f o r e d o e s n o t n e e d

to engage i n i t .

B u t f o r t h e d u a l i s t t o r e c o g n i z e t h i s h i e r a r c h i

c a l d i s t i n c t i o n w o u l d r e q u i r e a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y

d e g r e e o f h u m i l i t y . I t i s r e m a r k a b l e h o w m a n y

H i n d u b h a k t a s d o i n f a c t e v i n c e t h i s h u m i l i t y ;

but on e fee l s that i t i s the one o utc om e to the

' d i a l o g u e ' w h i c h i ts W e s t e r n p r o p o n e n t s a r e d e - ,

t e r m i n e d t o r e j e c t ; a n d s i n c e i t i s t h e o n e t r u e

o u t c o m e t h e w h o l e i d e a o f a d i a l o g u e b e c o m e ss u p e r f l u o u s . O n l y t w o o t h e r h y p o t h e t i c a l o u t

c o m e s m i g h t b e e n v i s a g e d : o n e t h a t t h e r e a r e

two d i f fer ent ver s i ons o f u l t i mate t r uth , and the

o t h e r t h a t t h e E a s t ( o r A d v a i t a ) i s w r o n g a n d

t h e W e s t ( o r d u a l i s m ) i s r i g h t ; t h e W e s t e r n

p r o p o n e n t s o f ' d i a l o g u e ' a l w a y s a v o i d s a y i n g

wh i c h th ey favo ur , but i t i s not har d to guess .

A p o i n t w h i c h m a k e s o n e d o u b t w h e t h e r t h e y

ar e r ea l l y op e n to d i a l o gue i s the i r mi sus e o f

t h e t e r m * s y n c r e t i s m ' . R i g h t l y u s e d , t h i s m e a n s

a p a t c h w o r k r e l i g i o n m a d e u p o f b i t s a n d p i e c e s

o f e x i s t i n g r e l i g i o n s a n d w o u l d a p p l y t o a m o v e

m e n t s u c h a s T h e o s o p h i s m . D r . C u t t a t , h o w

e v e r , u s es it t o i n c l u d e s u c h a n u n c o m p r o m i s i n g

o p p o n e n t o f s y n c r e t i s m a s R e n e G u e n o n . G u e n o n ' s

s t a n d p o i n t w a s t h a t e a c h r e l i g i o n i s a n o r g a n i c

w h o l e — d o c t r i n e , r i t u a l a n d e t h i c s — a n d m u s t b e

fo l l ow ed st r i c t l y i n i t se l f a s suc h , but that ther e

i s a uni v er sa l t r uth un d er l y i n g a l l r e l i g i on s . I f

t h e a d v o c a t e s o f ' d i a l o g u e ' d e n y t h i s w e a r e

b r o u g h t b a c k o n c e a g a i n t o t h e q u e s t i o n w h a t

p u r p o s e t h e d i a l o g u e c a n s e r v e — w h a t p u r p o s e

o t h e r t h a n p r o s e l y t i s m . P e r h a p s t h e y s h o u l d

e x a m i n e t h e i r o w n m i n d s m o r e c l e a r l y f i r s t a n d

d e c i d e w h e t h e r t h e y r e a l l y a r e l o o k i n g f o r a u n i

v e r s a l t r u t h u n d e r l y i n g t h e d i f f e r e n t d o c t r i n a l

f o r m s o r w h e t h e r t h e i r s e c r e t a i m is n o t to c o n

v e r t E a s t e r n e r s t o t h e i r d o c t r i n e . T h e o n l y

t h i r d a l t e r n a t i v e w o u l d b e t h a t t h e y a r e a g n o s t i c s .

A H I S T O R Y O F Z E N B U D D H I S M : B y H e i n -

r i c h Du mo ul i n , S .J . (Fab er , Pp . 335. Pr i c e

42s.)

Z e n i s s o m u c h to t h e f o r e n o w a d a y s t h a t

ma ny r e ad er s wi l l be g l ad o f a h i stor y o f i t .

That o f Fathe r Du mo ul i n , S .J ., i s bot h er u d i te

and we l l wr i t te n . In fa c t an a t t r ac t i v e boo k,

U n f o r t u n a t e l y h e s l i p s i n o c c a s i o n a l p a s s a g e s o f

e g r e g i o u s n o n s e n s e m i s i n t e r p r e t i n g a n d d e n i g

r a t i n g Z e n i n p a r t i c u l a r a n d B u d d h i s m i s g e n e -

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 B O O K R E V I E W S

r a l , w h e t h e r f r o m u n w i l l i n g n e s s o r i n a b i l i t y t o

u n d e r s t a n d i t i s n o t f o r t h i s r e v i e w e r t o s u g

gest . W i tho ut go i ng far to seek , ther e i s th i s

on e near the beg i nn i ng o f the bo ok : " I f , then ,

th i s h i stor i c a l se t t i ng g i ves r i se to the c onjec tur e

t h a t i n t h e e x e r c i s e s o f H i n a y a n a B u d d h i s m w e

a r e d e a l i n g c h i e f l y w i t h p s y c h i c t e c h n i q u e s , s o

i n t h e s t a g e s a n d s y s t e m s o f m e d i t a t i o n w e c a n

r e a d i l y r e c o g n i z e d e s c r i p t i o n s o f m e n t a l s t a t e s .

N o w h e r e d o e s a w a y o p e n i n t o t ra n s c e n d e n c e . "

A c t u a l l y i t is i m p o s s i b l e t o r e a d t h e p o e m s o f t h e

e a r l y A r a h a t s o r t h e d e s c r i p t i o n s o f t h e m w i t h

out see i n g that they r e f l ec t the s up r em e t r ans -

c e n d e n c e . " H e w h o s e o u t f l o w s a r e e x t i n g u i s h e d

a n d w h o i s i n d e p e n d e n t o f b a s i s ( f o r r e b i r t h ) ,w h o s e p a s t u r e i s e m p t i n e s s , t h e s i g n l e s s a n d

f r e e d o m — h i s t r a c k i s a s di f fi c u lt t o k n o w a s t h a t

o f b i r d s i n t h e s k y . " ( D h a m m a p a d a , 9 3 , q u o t e d

f r o m ' B u d d h i s t T e x t s T h r o u g h t h e A g e s ' , P p . 4 5,

e d i t e d b y E . C o n z e a n d o t h e r s , p u b . B r u n o

C a s s i e r e r ) .

T o t h e a b o v e m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o r m i s u n d e r

s t a n d i n g , w h i c h e v e r i t m a y b e , F r . D u m o u l i n S .J .,

a d d s f o r g o o d m e a s u r e : " H i n a y a n a B u d d h i s m

ac h i eve s a sp i r i tua l i s i ng o f Y og a by uni t i ng i t s

p s y c h i c e x e r c i s e s t o a m o r a l a n d r e l i g i o u s q u e s t

for sa l va t i on , but i t i s un ab l e to i ntr od uc e any

e l e m e n t o f m e t a p h y s i c a l k n o w l e d g e . " H o w an y

s y s t e m c a n b e ' s p i r i t u a l i s e d ' w i t h o u t ' m e t a p h y

s i ca l k n o w l e d g e ' l et th e g o o d f a t h e r e x p l a i n .

M o r e o v e r o n e w h o c o n s i d e r s h i m s e l f c o m p e t e n t

t o w r i t e o n B u d d h i s m s h o u l d k n o w t h a t t h e

' ques t for sa l va t i on ' ex i sts o nl y i n d ua l i s t i c r e

l i g i o n s w h i c h s t o p s h o r t o f t h e p u r e t r a n s c e n d

e n c e o f N i r v a n a a n d t h e r e f o r e b e l i e v e i n a n i n

d i v i d u a l s o u l t o b e s a v e d . A n d w h a t l e a d s h i m

t o s u p p o s e t h a t H i n d u Y o g a s t a n d s i n a n y n e e d

of ' sp i r i tua l i s i n g ' b y B ud d h i sm or anything^ e l se ?

W h e t h e r i g n o r a n t o r m a l i c i o u s , s u c h a b o o k i s

d e e p l y t o b e d e p l o r e d .

Z E N F L E S H , Z E N B O N E S : B y P a u l R e p s .

(Ch ar l es E. Tut t l e , Pp . 211 . Pr i c e $3 .25 . )

T h e f l a v o u r o f Z e n i s t o b e f o u n d f a r m o r e i n

c r y p t i c s t o r i e s a n d d i a l o g u e t h a n i n e x p o s i t i o n s

o f d o c t r i n e . N e a r l y a ll w r i t e r s o n Z e n s p r i n k l e

a f e w o f t h e s e t h r o u g h t h e i r b o o k s . T h e f i rs t

s e c ti o n o f ' Z e n F le s h , Z e n B o n e s o f w h i c h t h e

seventh i mp r i nt i s just out , c ons i sts o f 101 stor i es ,

m a n y o f w h i c h b r e a t h e t h e s p i r i t o f Z e n .

Th e sec o nd s ec t i on i s a no l ess fa sc i na t i ng

c o l l e c t i o n o f k o a n s w i t h t h e c o m m e n t a r y o f E k a i ,

k n o w n a l s o a s M u m o n , a g r e a t Z e n M a s t e r o f

the 12 th to 13 th Ce ntu r y . In the i ntr od u c t i o n to

t h i s s e c t i o n P a u l R e p s r i g h t l y w a r n s a g a i n s t r e

g a r d i n g k o a n s as c o n u n d r u m s a n d t r y i n g t o f in d

a n s w e r s t o t h e m . " W h a t is t h e r i g h t a n s w e r t o

a k o a n ? T h e r e a r e m a n y r i g h t a n s w e r s a n d

t h e r e a r e a l s o n o n e . . . . F o r t h e k o a n i t s e lf i s t h e

a n s w e r , a n d b y t h e t i m e t h e r e i s a r i g h t a n s w e r

to i t Zen i s d ea d . " On e i s r em i nd ed o f the

M a h a rs h i' s s a y in g o f ' W h o a m I ? ' : " N o a n s w e r

t h a t t h e m i n d c a n g i v e i s r i g h t . "

T h e t h i r d s e c t i o n c o n s i s t s o f t h e f a m o u s Z e n

' O x - H e r d i n g ' p a r a b l e o f t h e q u e s t f o r t h e Self.

I t i s se t for th i n ten ad mi r ab l e ep i so d es i l l ust r a t

e d b y d e l i g h t f u l w o o d c u t s b y t h e m o d e r n a r t i st

T o m i k i c h i r o T o k u r i k i .

I t i s r a the r sur p r i s i n g to f i nd , as the four t h and

l ast sec t i on o f th i s bo ok , a Ka shm i r i tantr i c t ex t

l i s t i ng 112 tec h ni q ues o f sad ha na . I t r ec or d s a

h i g h l y i n t e r e s t i n g t r a d i t i o n b u t o n e q u i t e d i f f e

r e n t f r o m w h a t is k n o w n a s ' Z e n ' .

F O C U S O N T U K A R A M F R O M A F R E S H A N G L E .

B y S . R . S h a r m a . ( P o p u l a r B o o k D e p o t ,

L a m i n g t o n R o a d , B o m b a y - 7 . R s . 4 .5 0)

Tukar am, who l i ved i n the f i r st ha l f o f the

17th Centur y , was one o f the l ast and gr eatest

o f the Mar a thi p oet -sa i n ts o f Ind i a . A n ec sta t i c

and a bhakta, he r ec e i ved i n i t i a t i on i n a d r eam

f r o m h i s G u r u a n d l a t e r h i m s e l f a p p e a r e d t o h i s

d i sc i p l es i n the sam e w ay to i n i t i a te the m. H e

l o v e d s i n g i n g t h e s o n g s o f s a i n t s ; a n d h i s o w n

p o e m s ( l i k e a l l t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i g i o u s p o e m s ) a r em a d e t o b e s u n g a n d r e m a i n w i d e l y p o p u l a r t o

t h i s d a y . S u c h g a t h e r i n g s f o r kirtan o f t e n c a r r i e d

the p ar t i c i p a nts awa y into a s ta te o f ec stasy . I t

i s sa i d that a t the en d o f h i s l i fe h i s bo d y s i m

p l y d i s a p p e a r e d , r e a b s o r b e d i n t o S p i r i t .

H e w a s o n e o f t h o s e w h o w o n t h r o u g h t o

Jnana b y s h e e r f o r c e o f bhakti. H e r e f u s e d t o

b e c o n f i n e d i n e i t h e r c a t e g o r y . S o m e t i m e s h e

w o u l d d e f i n i t e l y p r o c l a i m h i m s e l f a bhakta : " I

d o n o t s e e k G o d - K n o w l e d g e . I s h a ll e v e r d e s i r e

d u a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s . T h o u s h a l t e v e r r e m a i n m y

L o r d a n d I T h y w o r s h i p p e r . " H o w e v e r , t h e f o l

l o w i n g s t a n z a s h o w s h o w t h i s d u a l i t y w a s i n f a c t

t h e p e r m a n e n t M y s t i c U n i o n .

" B e t w e e n y o u a n d m e t h e r e is n o d i f f e r e n c e .

I w a s o n l y j o k i n g a b o u t d u a l i t y . Y o u a r e m y

o w n f o r m , I a m Y o u r s e l f i n a l l c e r t a i n t y . I a m

w i t h i n Y o u a n d Y o u ta k e m y s e r v i c e . I a m

i m m o v a b l e w i t h i n Y o u , a n d Y o u a r e t h e p o w e r

w i t h i n m e . Y o u s p e ak t h r o u g h m y m o u t h a n d

I f e e l b l is s w i t h i n Y o u . T u k a s a y s : n a m e s a r e

v e r y m i s l e a d i n g . "

V e r y i n t e r e s t i n g i s h i s e x p l a n a t i o n of t h i s .

" Th e g l o r y o f the bhaktas i s k n o w n t o t h e m

o n l y . I t i s h a r d f o r o th e r s t o c o m p r e h e n d . . . .

In or d er to i nc r ease the hap p i ness o f l ove i n th i s

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


2 4 8 T H E M O U N T A I N P A T H October

w o r l d , t h e y d i s p l a y d u a l i t y w i t h o u t a c t u a l l y

d i v i d i n g . T u k a s a y s : t h is i s u n d e r s t o o d b y t h o s e

o n l y w h o h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d t h e U n i t y o f F a i t h . "

T h i s i s a q u e e r , j u m b l e d l i t t le b o o k a b o u t t h e

g r e a t p o e t - s a i n t . S c r a p s o f i n f o r m a t i o n a n d v i e w s

o f T u k a r a m a n d h is g r e a t p r e d e c e s s o r s m i n g l e

w i t h q u o t a t i o n s a n d p a r a l l e l s w i t h o t h e r s a i n t s ,

S u f i a n d C h r i s t i a n a s w e l l a s H i n d u . H o w e v e r ,

the say i ngs o f Tukar am quoted i n i t a r e a r ar e

t r e a s u r e a m p l y a t o n i n g f o r s u c h f a u l t s .

G U R U ' S G R A C E , A U T O B I O G R A P H Y O F

M O T H E R K R I S H N A B A I . T r a ns l at e d b y

S w a m i R a m d a s . ( A n a n d a s h r a m , K a n h a n g a d ,

P p . 255. Pr ice Rs . 2 .50)

I n h e r v e r y e m o t i o n a l a u t o b i o g r a p h y K r i s h n a -

b a i , t h e ' M o t h e r ' of A n a n d a s h r a m , a p o s t r o p h i s e s

' P a p a ' a t t h e o p e n i n g o f a l m o s t e v e r y p a r a g r a p h :

" O h a l l - p e r v a d i n g P a p a ! " , " P a p a , p r o t e c t o r o f

the hu m bl e ! and so for th . She a lso says that

s h e h a s r e a l i z e d h e r i d e n t i t y w i t h U n i v e r s a l B e

i n g , s o th i s ' P a p a ' m u s t b e i d e n t i c a l w i t h h e r

self. W he n she say s that ' Pap a ' in the fo r m o f

c e r t a i n t r o u b l e s o m e v i s it o r s a t t h e A s h r a m r e

j e c t e d t h e g u i d a n c e o f ' P a p a ' a n d t h a t a l l t h is

was o nl y ' Pa p a 's ' l i la or ga me , it is c l ear that

b y ' P a p a ' s h e m e a n s a t th e s a m e t i m e G o d

A l m i g h t y an d S w a m i R a m d a s .

H o w e v e r , d o c t r i n a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s a r e f a r f r o m

b e i n g in t h e f o r e f r o n t w i t h h e r . T h e b o o k p r i

m a r i l y t e l l s t h e s t o r y o f h e r t e m p e s t u o u s s a d h a -

na and her assaul ts on the ego and st r ugg l e for

p u r i t y . I t s h o w s q u i t e u n i n t e n t i o n a l l y w h a t

b e a u t y a n d g r a c e s h e b r o u g h t t o A n a n d a s h r a m

a n d h o w s h e f o u n d h e r p a t h i n s e r v i c e t o a l l

w h o c a m e t h e r e a n d t a u g h t o t h e r s a l s o t o s t r i v e

t h r o u g h s e r v i c e . B u t s e r v i c e d i d n o t m e a n s u b -

m i s s i v e n e s s . W e r e a d h o w c o n s t a n t l y s h e

o p p o s e d t h e s u g g e s t i o n s o f ' P a p a ' ( m e a n i n g

h e r e , o f c o u r s e , t h e h u m a n R a m d a s ) o n q u e s

t i o n s o f A s h r a m l i f e a n d m a n a g e m e n t . A n d i t

o f t e n t u r n e d o u t t h a t s h e w a s r ig h t ! Y e t t h r o u g h

i t a l l one sees a l ov i ng and l ov ab l e d i sp os i t i on .I t w o u l d b e i n t e r e s t i n g t o h a v e a s e q u e l t o

t h is v o l u m e , d e s c ri b i n g d e v e l o p m e n t s i n A n a n d

ashr a m and i n Mata j i ' s - ow n l i fe and out l oo k s i nc e

t h e p a s s i n g o f S w a m i R a m d a s .

S R I R A M A D A S A G I T A : B y M . R . B h a t ( A n a n -

dasfcram , Pp . 160, Pr ice R s. 2 .)

Prof. M . R a m a k r i s h n a B h a t h a s m a d e a S a n s

k r i t G i t a o f t h e t e a c h i n g s o f S w a m i R a m d a s i n

f o u r t e e n c h a p t e r s , e a c h c h a p t e r c o m p r i s i n g t h e

a n s w e r t o a d o c t r i n a l q u e s t i o n . T h i s is h e r e

p r i n t e d w i t h a n E n g l i s h v e r s e b y v e r s e t r a n s l a

t i on . I t i s or t ho d o x and i nsp i r i n g up ad e sa . I t

i s d o u b t l e s s i n f u l l a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e t e a c h i n g

o f S w a m i R a m d a s , a l t h o u g h t h e e m p h a s i s i s f a r

m o r e o n m e t a p h y s i c a l e x p o s i t i o n a n d l e s s o n p u r e

bhakt i than was usua l i n the ac tua l ta l ks o f the

S w a m i .

T H E F L U T E C A L L S S T I L L : B y D i l ip K u m a r

R o y a n d I n d i r a D e v i . ( I n d i r a N i l o y , H a r i

K r i s h n a M a n d i r , P o o n a - 1 6 , P r i c e R s . 6.50.)

T h e f ir st p a r t o f ' T h e F l u t e C a l l s S t i l l ' c o m

p r i ses a ser i es o f l e t ter s i n wh i c h In d i r a D ev i

te l l s o f her sad hana as a d i sc i p l e o f Di l i p K um ar

R o y a n d i n c i d e n t a l l y d e s c r i b e s t h e g r o w t h o f t h e

H a r i K r i s h n a M a n d i r o v e r w h i c h t h e y j o i n t l y p r e

s i d e . Th e sec ond p ar t i s a l so c om p o se d o f l e t ter s

b u t t h i s t i m e b y D i l i p K u m a r R o y . T h e i r m a i n

the me i s Ind i r a 's ec sta t i c t r anc es and v i s i on s o f

S r i K r i s h n a . I n t h e s e s h e o f t e n b e c o m e s i d e n t i

f ie d w i t h M i r a B a i w h o s i n g s t h r o u g h h e r e c s t a

t i c song s o f l ov e for Kr i shn a . M an y o f these ar e

r e n d e r e d i n t o E n g l i s h v e r s e b y D i l i p K u m a r R o y .

A n a i r o f l o v e a n d p u r i t y p e r v a d e s t h e b o o k .

O n e f e e l s t h a t H a r i K r i s h n a M a n d i r m u s t b e a

v e r y j o y f u l p l a c e . A n d t h e r e i s a n a t m o s p h e r e

o f u n c o m p r o m i s i n g i n t e g r i t y . I n n o t h i n g d o e s

thi s show mor e c l ear l y than i n the r e fusa l o f the

j o i nt gur us o f the i nst i tut i on to c l a i m Rea l i za t i on ,

d e s p i t e t r a n c e s , v i s i o n s a n d m i r a c l e s . I n v i e wof a l l the d ub i ous c l a i ms that ar e mad e these

d a y s , s u c h a b s t e n t i o n s h o w s t r u e n o b i l i t y .

Ind i r a Dev i , i t shoul d be sa i d , i s r e l uc tant to

s p e a k a b o u t h e r v i s i o n s a n d e x p e r i e n c e s a n d d o e s

so onl y on the i ns i sten c e o f her gur u, Di l i p . H e r

r e l u c t a n c e s e e m s p r a i s e w o r t h y .

A R T H U R O S B O R N E .

T O L E R A N C E , A S T U D Y F R O M B U D D H I S T

S O U R C E S : B y P h r a K h a n t i p a l o . ( R i d e r ,

P p . 191, Pr ice 25s. )

I t i s a sur p r i s i ng fac t that to l er anc e , h and ma i d

o f c o e x i s t e n c e , e x t o l l e d b y s o m a n y o f o u r p r e

s e n t - d a y s e c u l a r l e a d e r s a s t h e s u p r e m e v i r t u e , i s

i s a w o r d c o m p l e t e l y u n k n o w n t o t h e e t h i c a l

s y s t e m s o f t h e w o r l d ' s g r e a t r e l i g i o n s .

P h r a K h a n t i p a l o , a y o u n g E n g l i sh b h i k k h u r e

s i d ent i n Tha i l and , ad mi t s at the beg i n ni n g o f h i s

i n t r o d u c t i o n t h a t t h e r e i s n o e x a c t e q u i v a l e n t f o r

t h e w o r l d i n t h e e a r l y P a l i s c r i p t u r e s . T h e n e a r

est w e get to i t i s ' p a t i en c e . ' H ad he exe r c i s ed

a l i t t l e m o r e p a t i e n c e h e m i g h t h a v e w r i t t e n a

l e s s i n t o l e r a n t b o o k . H a d h e t a k e n t h e t r o u b l e

to s tud y a l i t t l e mor e d eep l y , t o r e f l ec t a l i t t l e

m o r e t h o u g h t f u l l y o n t h e g r e a t t r a d i t i o n s o f a n

t i q u i t y w h i c h h e c o n d e m n s s o g l i b l y , h e m i g h t

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 B O O K R E V I E W S 249

( w h o k n o w s ? ) a t l e a s t h a v e l e a r n t t o t o l e r a t e

t h e m .

E v e r y b o d y a d m i r e s t h e r e m a r k a b l e r e c o r d o f

n o n - v i o l e n c e w h i c h h a s c h a r a c t e ri s e d th e p r o p a

g a t i o n o f B u d d h a D h a m m a d o w n t h e a g e s . I t h a s

had it s d oc t r i na l ba t t l es , i nter n a l and ext er n a l ,

a n d t o - d a y , a l a s , i s b e i n g e x p l o i t e d l i k e o t h e r

r e l i g i o n s f o r p o l i t i c a l a n d n a t i o n a l i s t i c e n d s , b u t

e v e n t h o s e w h o c a n n o t s u b s c r i b e t o t h e a u t h o r ' s

i nto l e r ant asse r t i on that i t i s the so l e r e p os i tor y

o f d oc t r i na l t r uth wi l l r ead i l y ad mi t that wi th

r e g a r d t o a c t u a l v i o l e n c e i t s h a n d s a r e c l e a n e r

than those o f any o f i t s c om p et i tor s i n the f i e l d .

W e c a n o n l y r e g r e t th a t P h r a K h a n t i p a l o , w h o s e

b o o k r e m i n d s u s p a i n f u l l y o f ce r t a i n n i n e t e e n t h

c e n t u r y C h r i s t ia n m i s s i o n a r i e s , h a s p e r f o r m e d

s u c h a s in g u l a r d i s s e r v i c e t o th e d h a m m a h e a s

p i r es to ser ve .

L i k e m a n y a g o o d m i s s i o n a r y b e f o r e h i m , P h r a

K h a n t i p a l o h a s c a s t a b r o a d g l a n c e a t t h e r e l i g i

o u s c u s t o m s a n d b e l i e f s o f t h o s e o u t s i d e t h e f o l d

f o r t h e s o l e p u r p o s e , i t s e e m s , o f h o l d i n g t h e m

u p t o r i d i c u l e a n d c o n t e m p t . N o t h i n g h a s e s c a p e d

h i s z e a l o u s e y e , f r o m b e e f - e a t i n g a n d w i n e -

b i b b i n g i n t h e V e d a s t o t h e p e r s e c u t i o n o f C h r i s

t i a n m y s t i c s b y t h e C h u r c h h i e r a r c h y . L i k e m a n y

a g o o d m i s s i o n a r y b e f o r e h i m , h e h a s t o r n t h r e e

q u o t a t i o n s f r o m t h e H o l y Q u r a n o u t o f t h e i r

c o n t e x t t o s u p p o r t t h e p o p u l a r W e s t e r n i m a g e o f

I s l a m — s w o r d i n o n e h a n d , Q u r ' a n i n t h e o t h e r .

Par t o f the author 's d i f fi c u l ty se em s to ar i se

f r o m a f e a r t h a t a n y r e c o g n i t i o n o f a n o t h e r ' s p o i n t

o f v i e w m u s t i n e v i t a b l y r e s u l t in a w o o l l y s y n

c r e t i s m . O n e c a n n o t h e l p s u s p e c t i n g t h a t , a s

a B u d d h i s i ; m i s s i o n a r y , h e m u s t , l i k e h i s C h r i s

t i an r iv a l s , h a v e r u n u p a g a i n s t t h e N e o - H i n d u

c l a i m that a l l r e l i g i ons ar e one and found i t a

p a r t i c u l a r l y t i r e s o m e n u t t o c r a c k . W e s y m p a

t h i s e w i t h h i m h e r e , b u t s u r e l y i t is n o t n e c e s s a r y

to be a sync r et i s t i n or d er td r e c o g i n z e t h e e s s e n

t i a l va l i d i t y o f a l l anc i e nt t r ad i t i ons , taki n g i nto

d u e c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h e i r h i s t o r i c a l a n d g e o g r a p h i

c a l c ont exts . W e st i l l r em ai n fr ee to r eg ar d ouro w n p a r t i c u l a r o r t h o d o x y a s t h e b e s t — a t l e a s t f o r

u s. I t d o e s , h o w e v e r , r e q u i r e m o r e s y m p a t h e t i c

u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d r e f l e c t i v e s t u d y t h a n t h e

a u t h o r s e e m s p r e p a r e d t o g i v e to t h e s u b j e c t .

A s P h r a K h a n t i p a l o c a n n o t b e a r t o t o l e r a t e

t h o s e w h o m h e c o n s i d e r s l e s s t o l e r a n t t h a n h i m

self, i t seem s a p i ty that he d i d not mai n ta i n a

n o b l e A r y a n s i le n c e . M i g h t w e s u g g e s t t h a t h e

r e - r e a d A p p e n d i x 11 o f h i s b o o k , e n t i t l e d ' T h e

C o m p a s s i o n a t e C h a r a c t e r o f B u d d h a s , B o d h i s a t t -

v a s a n d D i s c i p l e s ' i n w h i c h h e h a s a s s e m b l e d a

n u m b e r o f p e r t i n e n t a n d m e m o r a b l e t e x t s w e

wo ul d a l l d o wel l t o p on d er . Or aga i n , ther e is

t h e q u o t a t i o n f r o m t h e ' U p a s a k a S i l a S u t r a ' w i t h

w h i c h h e o p e n s h i s i n t r o d u c t i o n :

W h e n y o u s e e m e n i n d i s h a r m o n y t r y t o c r e a t e

h a r m o n y .

S p e a k g o o d o f o t h e r s a n d n e v e r o f t h e i r f a u l t s ,

C h e r i s h a g o o d m i n d e v e n f o r y o u r e n e m y .

H o l d t o th e m i n d o f c o m p a s s i o n a n d r e g a r d

a l l b e i n g s a s y o u r p a r e n t s .

I s th is r ea l l y wh at h e i s t r y i ng to d o ?

L A S T D A Y S O F T H E B U D D H A : A T r a n s la t io n

o f t h e M a h a P a r i n i b b a n a S u t t a b y S i s t e r V a ~

j i r a a n d F r a n c i s S t o r y . ( B u d d h i s t P u b l i c a t i o nS o c i e t y , K a n d y , C e y l o n , P p . 1 00 , P r i c e n o t

sta ted . )

S t u d e n t s o f B u d d h a D h a m m a h a v e l o n g b e e n

i n nee d o f c heap r e l i ab l e t r ansl a t i ons f r o m th e

P a l i C a n o n a n d w i l l w e l c o m e t h e p r e s e n t s e r i e s ,

In p a m p h l e t f o r m , m a d e b y s u c h r e c o g n i z e d s c h o

l a rs as t h e T h e r a s N y a n a p o n i k a , N a r a d a , S o m a

a n d N y a n a m o l i .

Th e t r ansl a t i on o f a sac r ed tex t i nto d i gni f i ed

c o n t e m p o r a r y p r o s e a l w a y s p r e s e n t s d i f f i c u l t i e s ,

a n d t h e P a l i C a n o n w i t h i t s r i g i d s t r u c t u r e , a b u n

d a n c e o f t e c h n i c a l t e r m s , s t o c k p h r a s e s a n d p a

r agr ap hs and ad d i c t i on to the p ass i ve vo i c e i s ho

e x c e p t i o n .

W h a t t o d o w i t h s u c h p h r a s e s a s 4 F o u r c o n s t i

t u e n t s o f p s y c h i c p o w e r ' w h i c h , u n e x p l a i n e d , is

as mean i ng l e ss i n E ng l i sh as in the or i g i na l ?

O r w i t h s u c h o f t - r e p e a t e d p h r a s e s a s " c h o i c e

f o o d , h a r d a n d s o f t , " w h i c h s o u n d s s i n g u l a r l y

u n a p p e t i s i n g t o t h e m o d e r n W e s t e r n e a r .

S i s t e r V a j i r a , a G e r m a n l a d y w h o , a s h e r I n

t r o d u c t i o n s h o w s , is n o t a l t o g e t h e r a t h o m e i n t h e

E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e , c a n h a r d l y b e b l a m e d f o r d o

i n g n o t h i n g a b o u t t h e m a t a l l . S h e s h o w s a

s t r o n g p r e f e r e n c e f o r t h e l a n g u a g e o f t h e K i n g

Jam es Bi b l e , but not c onsi sten t l y . In any c ase i t

s e e m s r a t h e r o d d t h a t w h i l e t h e C h u r c h e s a r e

b u s y t r y i n g t o e s c a p e f r o m t h e A u t h o r i s e d V e r

s i on mod er n Bud d hi sts shoul d be st i l l i n i t s thr a l l .

T h e d e s i g n a t i o n o f A m b a p a l i , t h e B u d d h a ' s

c o u r t e s a n d i s c i p l e , a s " t h e m a n g o l a s s " i n e v i

t a b ly s et s u s w o n d e r i n g w h a t B o b b i e B u r n s w o u l d

h a v e m a d e o f t h i s r e m a r k a b l e l a d y . A n i n t e r e s t

i n g s p e c u l a t i o n b u t h a r d l y c o n d u c i v e t o o u r c o n ~

c e n t r a t i o n o n t h e t e x t .

B u t l e t u s n o t b e u n g r a t e f u l . S i s t e r V a j i r a h a s

o b v i o u s l y b e e n a t p a i n s t o g i v e u s a r e l i a b l e , r e

v e r e n t r e n d e r i n g o f t h i s i m p o r t a n t s u t t a a n d o n

t h e w h o l e i t r e a d s q u i t e w e l l .

R . F . R O S E .

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf



M Y S T I C I S M IN W O R L D R E L I G I O N : B y S i d n ey

S p e n c e r . ( P e l i c a n B o o k s P p . 3 6 3 f Pr i c e 7s 6d .

M a d r a s A g e n t : O r i e n t L o n g m a n s )

P e l i c a n B o o k s o b v i o u s l y k n e w t h e ir m a n w h e n

t h e y i n v i t e d t h e R e v . S i d n e y S p e n c e r t o t a c k l e

t h e f o r m i d a b l e t a s k o f s u r v e y i n g t h e w h o l e f ie ld

o f m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e i n h i s t o r i c a l r e l ig i o n s i n

a p a p e r b a c k v o l u m e o f l i t tl e m o r e t h a n 3 50 p a g e s .

T h e a u t h o r , o n e t i m e p r i n c i p a l o f M a n c h e s t e r

C o l l e g e , O x f o r d , a n d n o w a U n i t a r i a n M i n i s t e r ,

h a s a f o r m i d a b l e k n o w l e d g e o f h i s s u b j e c t , r a n g

i n g f r o m t h e n u m i n o u s e x p e r i e n c e s o f s o - c a l l e d

p r i m i t i v e p e o p l e s t o t h e e x a l t e d t e s t i m o n i e s o f

t h e g r e a t m a s t e r s — H i n d u , B u d d h i s t , C h i n e s e ,G r e e k , J e w i s h , C h r i s t i a n a n d M u s l i m . A v o i d i n g

a l l g e n e r a l i s a t i o n s a n d a p p a r e n t l y f r e e f r o m a l l

p er sona l b i as , ne i s a t gr ea t p a i ns to p r esent us

w i t h a l l t h e f a c t s a n d le t t h e m s p e a k f o r t h e m

se l ves . Th e f if ty p ages d ev ote d to H i n d ui s m, for

i n s t a n c e , e m b r a c e t h e U p a n i s h a d s , G i t a , V e d a n t a

( S h a n k a r a , R a m a n u j a a n d M a d h v a ) t h e b h a k ti

c u l t o f V a i s h n a v i s m , K a s h m i r i S h a i v i s m a n d

S h a i v a S i d d h a n t a . H i s t r e a t m e n t o f o t h e r r e l i

g i o u s t r a d i t i o n s i s e q u a l l y c o m p r e h e n s i v e .

I n e v i t a b l y a b o o k o f t h i s k i n d h a s r a t h e r t h e

c h a r a c t e r o f a n e n c y c l o p o e d i a , b u t t h e w a r m s y m

p athy the author fee l s for h i s sub jec t r a i ses i t

a b o v e t h e l e v e l o f a s i m p l e b o o k o f r e f e r e n c e .

I t i s r e fr e shi n g to fi nd suc h sc ho l a r l y ac c u r ac y

g o i n g h a n d i n h a n d w i t h a n o p e n - m i n d e d f r e e

d o m f r o m p r e j u d i c e a n d s p e c i a l p l e a d i n g . H i s

m e t h o d m a y n o t p l e a s e c e r t a i n p a n d i t s a n d t h e o

l o g i a n s w h o a r e l o a t h t o a l l o w s a l v a t i o n t o t h o s e

o u t s i d e t h e f o l d , b u t e v e n t h e y w i l l b e h a r d p u t

to it t o f i nd fau l t wi th h i s p r ese nta t i on o f the

d ata .

S o m e b o d y o n c e s a i d : " T h e s t u d y o f c o m p a r a

t i v e r e l i g i o n h a s l e f t m e o n l y c o m p a r a t i v e l y r e l i

g i o u s . " T h e R e v . S i d n e y S p e n c e r h a s c l e a r l y n o t

s u f f e r e d f r o m t h is o c c u p a t i o n a l h a z a r d . N o r , w e

fee l c onf i d ent , w i l l h i s r ead er s .

A T H O L Y M O T H E R ' S F E E T : ( T e a ch i n g s o f

S h r i S a r a d a D e v i ) . B y h e r d i r e c t d i s c i p l e s .

T r a n s l a t e d f r o m t h e B e n g a l i , w i t h a n i n t r o

d u c t i o n b y S w a m i N i k h il a n a n d a . ( A d v a i t a

A s h r a m , A l m o r a , P p . 3 8 3, P r i c e R s . 5.)

S a r a d a D e v i e m e r g e s f r o m t h e s e r e m i n i s c e n c e s

o f her d i sc i p l es i n a l l her s i mp l i c i ty and gr eat

ness . S h e s t a y e d v e r y m u c h i n t h e b a c k g r o u n d

d u r i n g S r i R a m a k r i s h n a ' s l i f e t i m e , c o n s i d e r i n g i t

a gr eat p r i v i l ege to be ab l e to ser ve h i m and hi s

d i s c i p l e s a n d c o n t e n t w i t h a l i f e o f h a r d w o r k

a n d w o r s h i p . H o w e v e r , a f t e r h i s d e a t h s h e w a s

r e c o g n i z e d a s a g u r u a n d b l o s s o m e d o u t a s t h e

H o l y M o t h e r , e v e n t h o u g h , o n h e r o w n a d m i s s i o n ,

h e r r e m e m b r a n c e o f h e r t r u e n a t u r e w a s s p a s

m o d i c , n o t c o n s t a n t .

Wh at st r i kes one i s the gr eat l ove that she

s h o w e d t o a l l w h o c a m e t o h e r f o r h e l p , t h e h u

man, sensi b l e and t r ul y sp i r i tua l ap p r oac h to the i r

p r o b l e m s a n d h e r g r e a t f o r b e a r a n c e i n t h e f a c e

o f p e r s o n a l t r ia l s . W h e n h e r m o t h e r h a d r e

p r o a c h e d S r i R a m a k r i s h n a , s a y i n g t h a t , b y c e l i

b a c y , h e w a s d e p r i v i n g h e r o f t h e s w e e t s o u n d

of be i n g c a l l ed ' mo the r , ' he had r ep l i ed tha t she

w o u l d h a v e s o m a n y s o n s t h a t h e r e a r s w o u l d

t i n g l e w it h , t h e s o u n d o f ' m o t h e r ' ; a n d s o it w a s .

Th er e i s no d ou bt that r ea l p o we r f lowed

t h r o u g h h e r a s a g u r u . S i m p l e an d u n l e t t e r e d

a s s h e w a s , s p e a k i n g n o l a n g u a g e b u t B e n g a l i , s h e

b e c a m e a t e a c h e r a n d m o t h e r t o l e a r n e d a n d i g

n o r a n t a l ik e , n o t o n l y H i n d u s b u t f o r e i g n e r s . T o

a l l o f them she gave r ea l a f fec t i on and so l ac e .

H e r p a t h c o m b i n e d k a r m a m a r g a a n d b h a k t i .

W h e n h e r d is c i p l e s w e r e n o t p e r f o r m i n g r i t u a l

w o r s h i p o r s a y i n g i n v o c a t i o n s s h e l i k e d t h e m t o

b e w o r k i n g . S h e d i d n o t a p p r o v e o f id l e n e s s o r

e v e n o f l o n g h o u r s o f m e d i t a t i o n . A t o n e w i t h

Sr i Rama kr i s hn a , she was a t the same t i me hi s

g r e a t e s t b h a k t a .

P a r t s o f t h e s e r e m i n i s c e n c e s h a v e a p p e a r e d

f r o m t i m e t o t i m e i n t h e p e r i o d i c a l ' P r a b u d d h a

Bhar ata , ' but i t i s go od to ha ve them gath er ed

t o g e t h e r i n t o a s i n g l e b o o k . A n e x c e l l e n t b i o

g r a p h i c a l i n t r o d u c t i o n b y S w a m i N i k h i l a n a n d a

i nc r eases i t s ap p ea l .

U N N A M U L A I .

T H E T E M P L E A N D T H E H O U S E : B y L o r d

J l a g la n . ( R o u t l e d g e a n d K e g a n P a u l , P p . 2 18 .

Pr ice : 30s. )

T h e a u t h o r o f t h is s ti m u l a t i n g b o o k p r o v i d e s a

n e w a p p r o a c h t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e p r o g r e s s o f

soc i e t i es i n gener a l and o f the or i g i n o f houses

i n p a r t i c u l a r . E x a m i n i n g t h e c u r r e n t l y a c c e p t e d

t h e o r i e s o n t h e s u b j e c t , L o r d R a g l a n p r o v e s , w i t hthe he l p o f a l a r ge mas s o f d a ta assem bl ed i n

t h e c o u r s e o f h i s p u r p o s i v e c a r e e r , th a t h o u s e s

d i d n o t s t a r t w i t h p r i m i t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n s f o r

s h e l t e r as u s u a l l y p r o p a g a t e d , b u t r e p r e s e n t m o

d i f i ed ed i t i ons o f the or i g i na l temp l es and p a l ac es ,

— ' C o s m i c b u i l d i n g s ' a s h e t e r m s t h e m — w h i c h

w e r e d e s i g n e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e t h e n p r e v a i l i n g

c o n c e p t i o n s o f t h e C o s m o s . T h e s h a p e o f t h e

h o u s e s c h a n g e d f r o m r o u n d to s q u a r e w i t h t h e

c h a n g e o f i d e a s a b o u t t h e s h a p e o f t h e u n i v e r s e .

T h e s e b u i l d i n g s w e r e e r e c t e d a s d w e l l i n g p l a c e s

o f t h e G o d s , w i t h d u e a r c h i t e c t u r a l p r o v i s i o n

f o r t h e i r f u n c t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s . T h e y w e r e

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 B O O K R E V I E W S 251

g u a r d e d f r o m e x t e r n a l p o l l u t i o n a n d v i s i t a t i o n s

o f ev i l sp i r i t s thr ough var i ous r i tua l s .

T h e k i n g s a s e a r t h l y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e G o d s

f a s h i o n e d t h e p a l a c e s o n t h o s e m o d e l s a n d i n d u e

c o u r s e t h e i n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e d w e l l i n g p l a c e s p r e a d

d o w n w a r d s i n s o c i e t y , a n d o u t w a r d s ( f r o m t h e

C a p i t a l ) i n t h e p r o v i n c e s , k e e p i n g i n t a c t m o s t o f

t h e f e a t u r e s o f t h e t e m p l e .

T h e a u t h o r s u r v e y s t h e c u s t o m s o b t a i n i n g i n a

l a r g e n u m b e r o f s o c i e t i e s , a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d ,

e s p e c i a l l y r e l a t i n g t o m a r r i a g e , t h e h e a r t h - f i r e ,

b i r ths and d eaths i n the house e t c . , and p r esents

a t h e s i s w h i c h s h o u l d g o a l o n g w a y i n m o d i f y i n g

a n d r e v i s i n g m a n y o f t h e l o n g - h e l d n o t i o n s i n

t h e m a t t e r .

L o r d R a g l a n ' s c o r r e c t i v e c o n c l u s i o n s o n t h e

t h e o r i e s o f p r o g r e s s a r e w e l c o m e . H i s t o r y is n o t

a l l p r ogr ess , a l l the t i m e (P . 197 ) . So me o f h i s

s t a t e m e n t s , h o w e v e r , a r e o p e n t o q u e s t i o n , e . g . ,

" T h e r e i s n o t h i n g n a t u r a l i n h u m a n c u l t u r e i n

any o f i t s ma ni fe sta t i ons . . . Nobody supposes

languages to be natural" W e d o . L i n g u i s t i c

s t u d i e s d o p o i n t t o a n i n t i m a t e r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n

h u m a n f e e l i n g s , e m o t i o n s , s t a t e s o f m i n d a n d t h e

s o u n d s a n d v o c a b l e s f r o m w h i c h t h e o r i g i n a l l a n

g u a g e s c a m e t o e v o l v e ,

T H E B H A G A V A D G I T A : B y R , D . R a n a de .

( B h a r a t i ya V i d y a B h a v a n , C h a u p a t t y . B o m

ba y -? , Pp . 321 , Pr i c e Rs . 10 .)

B o o k s o n t h e Gita c o n t i n u e t o m u l t i p l y

b u t f e w a m o n g t h e m h a v e t h e m a t u r i t y o f t h o u g h t

a n d u n i t y o f v i s i o n t h a t u n d e r l i e D r . R a n a d e ' s

e x p o s i t i o n . A p h i l o s o p h e r h i m s e l f , t r a i n e d i n t h e

w a y s o f t h e l o g i c a l i n t e l l e c t , t h e a u t h o r w e i g h s

t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n s a n d th e s h o r t c o m i n g s o f e v e r y

n o t a b l e t h e o r y a d v a n c e d b y s c h o l a r s o n th e G i t a

and o f fer s h i s ow n stud y o f the sc r i p tur es i n ter m s

o f G o d - r e a l i s a t i o n .

Th e wo r k i s d i v i d ed i nto f i ve p ar ts and d ea l sw i t h t h e s u b j e c t in a h i s t o r i c a l s u r v e y . D r . R a

nad e f i r st s tud i es the r e l a t i on o f the Gi ta to the

U p a n i s h a d s , t h e S a n k h y a a n d t h e B r a h m a S u t r a s ;

h e e x a m i n e s t h e d i f f e r e n t m e a n i n g s g i v e n t o t h e

s a m e t e r m s a n d t h e v a r y i n g c o n n o t a t i o n s o f c e r

t a i n k e y c o n c e p t i o n s , s u c h a s Avyakta, Kaivalya,

Asvathha, i n the Gi ta vis-a-vis t h e o t h e r a n c i e n t

t e x t s .

H e t h e n p r o c e e d s t o e x p o u n d t h e v i e w p o i n t s o f

t h e A c h a r y a s S h a n k a r a , R a m a n u j a a n d M a d h v a

a n d o t h e r s . H e p a y s s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n t o J n a n e s h -

w a r a , p a r t i c u l a r l y t o w h a t h e c a l l s h i s d o c t r i n e

of " a s y m p t o t i c a p p r o x i m a t i o n t o R e a l i t y " w h i c h

h o l d s t h a t t h e r e c a n n e v e r b e c o m p l e t e i d e n t i t y

o f s t a t u s b e t w e e n t h e s e e k e r a n d G o d .

T h e t h i r d a n d f o u r t h p a r t s c o v e r t h e v a r i o u s

t h e o r i e s o f m o d e r n s c h o l a r s — W e s t e r n a n d E a s

t e r n — a n d t h e a u t h o r ' s o w n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , i n

t e r m s o f m o d e r n t h o u g h t , s h o w i n g h o w t h e G i t a

l e a d s t h e b e i n g t h r o u g h a m e n t a l a n d m o r a l d i s

c i p l i n e t o w a r d s t h e G a t e s o f t h e S p i r i t o p e n i n g

o n a s u p r e m e B e a t i t u d e .

A mos t use f u l ad d i t i on to Gi ta l i t er a tu r e .

C O N Q U E S T O F T H E S E R P E N T : B y C . J . V a n

V l i e t . ( N a v a j i v a n P u b l i s h i n g H o u s e , A n n i e -

d abad -14 . Pp . 179 , Pr i c e Rs . 3.00 )

T h e l e g e n d o f t h e s e r p e n t s t a n d i n g g u a r d a t t h e

d o or o f a p r i c e l e ss t r easu r e i s t o be fou nd i n a l

m o s t a l l t h e t r a d i t i o n s of th e w o r l d . T h e p r e c i s e

m e a n i n g g i v e n t o t h e s y m b o l , h o w e v e r , v a r i e s

fr o m p l ac e to p l a c e ; our au thor i n ter p r e ts i t as

the ser p ent o f sexua l i ty s tand i n g in the wa y o f the

w e a l t h o f s p i r i t u a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s . L e a v i n g a s i d e

f o r th e m o m e n t a d e e p e r p e r c e p t i o n w h i c h i d e n

t i f i es the t r easur e wi th Immor ta l i ty , a s a l so the

q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r i t i s n o t e g o i n g e n e r a l r a t h e r

t h a n s e x i n p a r t i c u l a r w h i c h i s t h e h u r d l e m e t

by the seeker i n h i s quest for the sp i r i tua l goa l ,

we ar e a t one wi th the wr i ter i n h i s ana l ys i s o f

t h e r o l e o f s e x i n e v o l u t i o n , t h e n e c e s s i t y o f c o n

t i nenc e , h i s r ebut ta l o f the sup er f i c i a l a r guments

b y a s e c t i o n o f m e d i c a l o p i n i o n a g a i n s t c e l i b a c y

a n d t h e i n n u m e r a b l e w a y s i n w h i c h s e x u a l p u r i f i

c a t i o n c o n t r i b u t e s t o t h e h i g h e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f

m a n .

T h e a n c i e n t s o f I n d i a w e r e n e v e r t i r e d o f a d

voc a t i ng the i d ea l o f Brahmacharya tor t h o s e w h o

sou ght a l i fe h i ghe r than that o f the sens es .

Retas, w h e n c o n s e r v e d , c h a n g e s a u t o m a t i c a l l y

i nto ojas; t h a t p a r t o f th e l i f e - f o r c e w h i c h f o r

m u l a t e s it s e l f i n t o r e p r o d u c t i v e e n e r g y a n d n o r

m a l l y g o e s o u t o f t h e s y s t e m c o n v e r t s itself, if

r e s t r a i n e d , i n t o a l i f e - b u i l d i n g d y n a m i s m a n d , a t

i t s h i ghe st , fee d s the br a i n i n the for m o f a r a d i a n t e n e r g i s m . T h a t i s h o w s e x - c o n s e r v a t i o n

r e s u l t s i n t h e h e i g h t e n i n g o f t h e l i f e - p o t e n t i a l

w h i c h c a n b e d e v e l o p e d b y s p i r i t u a l p r e s s u r e i n t o

a p o w e r w h i c h c a n h o l d it s o w n a g a i n s t t h e o n

s l aughts o f d i sease , , d i s i nte gr at i on and eve ntu a l l y

e v e n d e a t h . T h e a u t h o r ' s r e m a r k s o n t h e n e c e s

s i t y o f c o m p l e t e c o n t r o l o v e r s e x i n p r a c t i c e s

b a s e d o n t h e a w a k e n i n g o f K u n d a l i n i o r w h e n

o n e e n t e r s i n t o t h e o c c u l t s p h e r e s o f l i f e a r e b a s e d

o n i r r e f u t a b l e y o g i c e x p e r i e n c e a n d d e s e r v e to b e

p o n d e r e d o v e r b y a l l p r a c t i t i o n e r s o f t h i s l i n e o f

y o g a .

T h e b o o k i s r a t i o n a l , p e r s u a s i v e , b a l a n c e d .

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf



S A D A S I V A B R A H M A N a n d V O I C E O F T A Y U -

M A N A V A R : b o t h b y S h u d d h a n an d a B h a r a t i ;

' T H E Y O G I A N D H I S W O R D S : C o m p i l e d b y

S w a m i S a t y a n a n d a a n d o t h e r s . ( S h u d d h a

n a n d a L i b r a r y , Y o g a S a m a i , A d y a r .

M a d r a s - 2 0 . )

S a d a s i va B r a h m a n w a s a m o s t r e m a r k a b l e

A v a d h u t a o f t h e S o u t h i n t h e 18 th c e n t u r y . H e

wa ,s d e ep l y l ear n ed i n the anc i en t l or e and hi s

w o r k s i n S a n s k r i t , n o t a b l y t h e Atma Vidya Vila-

sa, a r e g e m s o f s p i r i t u a l w i s d o m . S a i n t T a y u -

m a n a v a r , a n o t h e r l u m i n a r y i n t h e r e l i g i o u s f i r m a

m e n t o f T a m i l n a d , w a s h i s c o n t e m p o r a r y a n d h e

r e c e i v e d f r o m S a d a s i v a B r a h m a n t h e p o t e n t ' m e s

s a g e o f S i l e n c e .

S r i S h u d d h a n a n d a B h a r a t i w r i t e s i n t h e s e b o o k

l e t s b r i e f l y b u t p a s s i o n a t e l y a b o u t t h e l i v e s a n d

teac hi ngs o f the two sa i nts .

T h e t h i r d b o o k i s s u e d b y t h e S h u d d h a n a n d a

L i b r a r y , c o n t a i n s , b e s i d e s a l i f e - s k e t c h o f S r i

S h u d d h a n a n d a B h a r a t i , c o m p i l a t i o n s f r o m t h e l a

v i sh t r i butes p a i d to h i m by var i ous f r i end s and

a d m i r e r s a n d e x t r a c t s f r o m h i s t a l k s o n a l l s u b

j e c t s .

S A D H A N A F O R S E L F - R E A L I Z A T I O N : B y

S w a m i P r a t y a g a t m a n a n d a S a r a s w a t i a n d S i r

J o h n W o o d r o f f e ( A r t h u r A v a l c n ) ( G a n e s h ,

Mad r as , Pp . 127 , Pr i c e Rs . 6 . )

Prof. P r a m a t h a N a t h a M u k h o p a d h y a y a — as

h e w a s k n o w n i n h is Purvdsrama — w a s o n e o f

the sta l war ts i n the ear l y year s o f the p r esent

c e n t u r y w h o s p e a r h e a d e d t h e c u l t u r a l a n d r e l i g i

o u s r e n a i s s a n c e o f t h e n a t i o n . H e w a s a m o n g

t h e f i r s t — a l o n g w i t h S r i A u r o b i n d o a n d o t h e r

em i ne nt f i gures — to j o i n the Nat i o na l Co un c i l

o f E d u c a t i o n w h i c h w a s f o u n d e d t o r e o r i e n t a t e

e d u c a t i o n o n l i n e s s u i t e d t o t h e g e n i u s a n d n e e d s

o f t h e c o u n t r y . H e w r o t e a t l e n g t h o n V e d a n t a ,

i n t e r p r e t i n g i t s p r o f o u n d t h o u g h t in t e r m s o f

m o d e r n s c i e n c e , a n d p r o j e c t e d t h i s a n c i e n t

k n o w l e d g e o n t h e p r a g m a t i c m i n d o f t h e d a y . H e

d i d y e o m a n s e r v i c e b y g u i d i n g a n d c o l l a b o r a t i n g

w i t h s c h o l a r s l i k e S i r J o h n W o o d r o f f e a n d I n d i a n

c o l l e a g u e s i n t h e r e s u s c i t a t i o n o f t h e T a n t r i c t r a

d i t i o n o f t h i s l a n d , ti l l t h e n t h o r o u g h l y d i s c r e d i t

ed for a var i e ty o f r eas ons .

T h a t i s n o t a l l. H e n o t m e r e l y w r o t e a n d

taught , but a l so lived w h a t h e b e l i e v e d . I n h i s ;

o w n l i f e h e t o o k s t e p s t o g i v e a p r a c t i c a l s h a p e

t o t h e h i g h k n o w l e d g e t h a t w a s g i v e n t o h i m a n d

b u i l t u p a n i n n e r e d i f i c e t h a t i s n o w h a p p i l y c a s t

i n g it s g l o w o f L i g h t , P o w e r a n d J o y o n a l l w h o

c o m e i n i t s e n v i r o n s .

Sadhana for Self-Realization i s a f ine sum ma r y

of h i s e f for ts i n the sp h er e o f sad ha na to b r i ng h om e

t o t h e w o r l d o f s e e k e r s t h e p r a c t i c a l b e a r i n g s o f

t h e T a n t r a , e s p e c i a l l y t h e S h a k t a T a n t r a . T h e

b u l k o f t h is v o l u m e i s f r o m t h e p e n o f S w a m i j i .

Onl y a sma l l sec t i on (on Ma ntr as ) i s f r o m Si r

J o h n W o o d r o f f e .

I t i s a s e l e c t i v e c o m p i l a t i o n f r o m h i s w r i t i n g s

p e r t a i n i n g t o s a d h a n a , s p r e a d o v e r a n u m b e r o f

d e c a d e s . T h o u g h h e s a y s t h a t t h e b o o k i s n o t

n e w , s ti l l t h e l o n g I n t r o d u c t i o n h e h a s w r i t t e n t o

p r e f a c e t h e s e l e c t i o n s s e ts a n e w k e y a n d o p e n s

out ne w v i stas i n the ap p r ec i a t i on a nd ut i l i sa t i on

o f T a n t r a , M a n t r a , Y a n t r a , K u n d a l i n i — s u b j e c t s

t h a t h a v e r e c e i v e d m o r e t h a n a d e q u a t e t r e a t m e n t

i n h i s p ages .

M . P . P A N D I T .

T H E S E C R E T O F C H I N E S E M E D I T A T I O N : B y

C h a r l e s L u k ( R i d e r & C o . , L o n d o n , P r i c e 3 5s .)

U p a s a k a L u K ' u a n - y u ( C h a r l e s L u k ) h a s g iv e n

Us ano ther va l u ab l e bo ok to ad d to our gr a t i tud e

f o r t h e t h r e e v o l u m e s o f " C h ' a n a n d Z e n T e a c h

i n g , " a n d i n m a n y w a y s i t p r e s e n t s a n i n c r e a s e d

ma tur i ty and c l ar i ty o f exp r ess i on . I t s t i t l e

" M e d i t a t i o n " a n d t h e T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s l i s ti n g

s i x m e t h o d s o f " S e l f - c u l t i v a t i o n " w i l l s u f f ic i e n t ly

w a r n t h o s e w h o f o l l o w t h e g r e a t M a s t e r s f o rw h o m s u c h an a p p r o a c h w a s d i a m e t r i c a l l y o p

p o s e d t o t h e d i r e c t a w a k e n i n g w h i c h t h e y r e p r e

s e n t e d , b u t t h e b o o k m u s t b e a p p r a i s e d f o r w h a t

i t t e a c h e s a n d s h o u l d n o t i n c u r r e p r o a c h f o r

w h a t i t d o e s n o t .

T h i s t e a c h i n g r e p r e s e n t s C h ' a n a s g e n e r a l l y

fou nd i n the East to - d ay , and I th i n k i n man y

r esp ec ts a l so the Zen o f Jap an, for ther e i s a

g e n e r a l a b a n d o n m e n t o f th e d i r e c t a p p r o a c h a n d

a tac i t a c c ep ta t i on o f the l ong way r ound , v i a a

s u p p o s e d " self," f o r t h o s e w h o r e g a r d t h e m s e l v e s

a s u n f i t t e d to u n d e r t a k e a n i m m e d i a t e d i s p l a c e

m e n t . T h e y c h o o s e t o a s s u m e th a t w e i n t h e

W e s t a r e i n t h e s a m e c o n d i t i o n a n d M r . L u k r e

p e a t s h e r e w h a t I h a v e h e a r d f r o m t h e m o u t h s

o f s o m a n y , b u t t h e r e a r e t h o s e a m o n g u s w h o

t h i n k d i f f e r e n t l y a n d w h o m a i n t a i n t h a t w e a r e

as f r esh to th i s i nsp i r a t i on , and as r ea d y to ta c kl e

t h e v e r t i c a l a s c e n t , a s t h e y t h e m s e l v e s w e r e a

t h o u s a n d y e a r s a g o .

M r . L u k g i v e s u s a p o r t i o n o f t h e f a m o u s

S u r a n g a m a S u t r a , w h i c h w e s o l a m e n t a b l y l a c k ,

d e a l i n g w i t h t w e n t y - f i v e a p p r o a c h e s t o " e n l i g h t

e n m e n t , " d i s c u s s e d i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e B u d -

d h a b y t h e m o s t e m i n e n t B o d h i s a t t v a s . T h i s p r o

b a b l y r a t h e r l a t e S u t r a is h i g h l y r e g a r d e d i n

C h i n a , a n d t h i s i m p o r t a n t s e c t i o n i s a v a l u a b l e

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 B O O K R E V I E W S

a c q u i s i t i o n w h i c h s e r i o u s B u d d h i s t s w i l l g r e a t l y

e n j o y .

T h e r e a f t e r h e g i v e s u s e x t r a c t s , l u c i d l y c o m

m e n t e d b y h i m s e l f , o n th e " m e t h o d s " e m p l o y e d

i n C h ' a n a s d e s c r i b e d b y w e l l - k n o w n M a s t e r s — a l l,

o f c o u r s e , o f t h e l a t e r p e r i o d s — f o l l o w e d b y t h o s e

e m p l o y e d b y t h e a d m i r a b l e P u r e L a n d s c h o o l ,

b y t h e s c h o l a r l y T i e n T ' a i ( T e n d a i ) s c h o o l , a n d

b y t h e l a t e r T a o i s t s , w i t h , a d e s c r i p t i o n o f a u t h e n

t i c e x p e r i m e n t s , a n d a c h a p t e r o n C h i n e s e y o g a

w h i c h h e h i m s e l f g e n e r o u s l y d e m o n s t r a t e s t o

s o m e o f h i s f r i e n d s .

To thos e w ho f ight shy o f i t , not wi sh i ng to be

d i s t r a c t e d f r o m t h e i r p r a c t i c e o f n o n - p r a c t i c e o r

d i r e c t s e e i n g , o n e m a y s a y t h a t t h e y w i l l m i s s

m u c h v a l u a b l e a n d i n t e r e s t i n g i n f o r m a t i o n ; o n e

m a y a s k t h e m w h o t h e r e c o u l d b e t o b e d i s t r a c t

ed , and assur e them that they too may benef i t by

t h i s w o r k .

I n v i e w o f t h e m o d e s t d i m e n s i o n s o f t h e v o

l u m e t h e p u b l i s h e r s m a y b e t a k e n t o t a s k f o r

p r i n t i n g s o m a n y e x t r a c t s i n p a i n f u l l y s m a l l p r i n t ,

e x c e s s i v e l y t r y i n g t o t h e e y e s a n d d e t r i m e n t a l

t o a p p r e c i a t i o n . A n o t h e r i n a d e q u a c y , f o r w h i c h

a l s o M r . L u k i s c e r t a i n l y n o t r e s p o n s i b l e , i s t h e

d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e f r o n t i s p i e c e a s ' " T h e e m b a l m

e d b o d y o f C h ' a n M a s t e r W e n Y e n . " T h e C h i

n e s e M a s t e r s w e r e n e v e r e m b a l m e d , a n d a r e n o tn o w . I n e x t r e m e l y r a r e c a s e s , t h e i r f u n e r a r y

jar be i ng op ened a f ter thr ee or f i ve year s , the

bo d y has be en foun d to be i ntac t . I t i s then

l a c q u e r e d o r g i l d e d a n d p r e s e r v e d i n t h e p o s t u r e

i n w h i c h th e M a s t e r d i e d . S u c h b o d i e s d o n o t

a t a l l r e s e m b l e m u m m e s o r t h e e m b a l m e d . S u c h

g r a t u i t o u s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s s u r e l y s h o u l d n o t o c c u r

i n p r i nt ?

R e a d e r s ' g r i e v a n c e s s h o u l d b e v o i c e d in n o t i c e s

o f b o o k s , a n d t h o s e w h o h a v e r e a c t e d a g a i n s t

M r . L u k ' s c o n s t a n t r e i t e r a t i o n o f th e r e d u n d a n t

e x p r e s s i o n " p u r e a n d c l e a n " w i l l a g a i n s u f f e r ,

t h o u g h p e r h a p s l e s s o f t e n . T h e C h i n e s e w o r d

m e a n s " p u r e , " p u r e m e a n s " u n m i x e d , " a n d w h e n

— a s n e a r l y a l w a y s — i t is a p p l i e d t o M i n d it m e r e

l y i m p l i e s " d e v o i d o f o b j e c t s . ' " A n o t h e r g r i e

v a n c e o f w h i c h o n e h a s h e a r d a g o o d d e a l is t h e

i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e p r e f i x " self." S u c h a c a r e f u l

a n d c o n s c i e n t i o u s t r a n s l a t o r a s M r . L u k , a n d h e

i s t h a t a b o v e a l l e l s e , m u s t b e c o n v i n c e d t h a t

se l f i s i mp l i ed , but r ead e r s no d o ub t f ind i t d i f f i

c u l t t o f o r g e t t h a t i n t h e D i a m o n d S u t r a t h e

B u d d h a i s s a id t o h a v e s t a t e d — f i f t e e n t i m e s , 1

t h i n k — t h a t t h e r e i s n o s u c h t h i n g . T o M r . L u k

t h e p r e f i x p r o b a b l y r e f e r s t o t h e n a t u r e o f t h e

nou n to . wh i c h i t i s a t tac h ed , as fo r i ns tanc e ,

" s e l f - n a t u r e " m e a n i n g t h e s e l f o r n a t u r e o f

nature r a ther than the se l f o f the ob j ec t , but i t

m a y b e w o n d e r e d w h e t h e r i n g e n u o u s r e a d e r s

r ea l i se that ?

" M e r i t s " a n d " v o w s " a r e o t h e r a w k w a r d

w o r d s — a b s u r d w h e n a p p l i e d t o B o d h i s a t t v a s w h o

by d e f i n i t i on ar e r i d o f self, a n d " p a s s i o n s " f o r

klesha m e r e l y r a i s e s a s m i l e i n p e o p l e w h o d o

n o t s p e n d t h e i r l i v e s a l t e r n a t i n g b e t w e e n t o w e r

i n g r a g e s a n d u n a p p e a s a b l e l u s t , o r o n t h e o t h e r

h a n d m a y l e a d t h e m t o t h i n k t h a t t h e y m u s t b e

o n t h e v e r g e o f " e n l i g h t e n m e n t . " I n p o i n t i n g

out the above c ases I am not in fact s i n g l i n g o u t

Mr . Lu k, as m i gh t ap p e ar to be the c ase . No

d oubt he woul d r ep l y that i t i s not for h i m, af o r e i g n e r , t o i n v e n t n e w t e c h n i c a l t e r m s i n E n g

l i s h . P e r s o n a l l y h e i s t o b e a b s o l v e d f r o m a l l

r ep r oac h , but i t i s t i me that Eng l i sh t r ansl a tor s

sup p l i ed h i m wi t h a r a t i on a l l i s t o f t ec hni c a l

t e r m s , a n d c e a s e d a p p a r e n t l y t o c o n s i d e r t h a t i t

i s the busi nes s o f a t r ansl a tor to d em ons tr a te h i s

o w n p e d a n t r y r a t h e r t h a n t o r e v e a l w h a t h i s

a u t h o r w a s s e e k i n g t o m a k e c le a r . T h e a b o l i t i o n

o f j a r g o n is u r g e n t l y n e e d e d if B u d d h i s t t e a c h

i ng i s t o d eve l op i n the West , for i t mi s l ead s

s t u d e n t s r e a d i n g f r o m t h e ' g u e s t ' p o s i t i o n , c o n

f u s e s t h e m , a n d d e l a y s t h e i r c o m p r e h e n s i o n i n

d e f i n i t e ly . W h e n t h e m e a n i n g o f t e c h n i c a l t e r m s

i s f a r r e m o v e d f r o m t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s c o n c e r n e d ,

e v e n r e a d i n g f r o m t h e " h o s t " p o s i t i o n , w h i c h

M r . L u k s o a d m i r a b l y r e c o m m e n d s , w i l l n o t a l

w a y s p r e v e n t a r e a d e r f r o m b e i n g m i s l e d .

T h e r e a r e t o o m a n y s t i m u l a t i n g s t a t e m e n t s i n

t h i s b o o k f o r q u o t a t i o n to c o v e r t h e m , b u t r e a d

er s wi l l be s t r u c k by suc h l i nes as H an Sha n 's

( 1 5 46 - 1 62 3 ) " O r d i n a r y p e o p l e m i s t a k e C h ' a n f o r

a d o c t r i n e , w i t h o u t k n o w i n g t h a t C h ' a n i s b u t

t h e s e l f - m i n d w h i c h i s b e y o n d b i r t h a n d d e a t h . "

(p . 5 6 ) . A n d T s u P a i 's ( 1 5 4 3 -1 6 04 ) . " T h e s e c r e t

o f Ch 'an t r a i n i ng l i es i n your mi nd 's ab i l i ty ' t o

r ea l i se the oneness o f a l l c ontr ar i es suc h as ad

ver s i ty and p r osp er i ty , e t c . , and i f you c an

a c h i e v e t h is , y o u r a w a k e n i n g w i l l b e i m m i n e n t . *'(p . 6 2 ) .

A n y o n e c a r e f u l l y r e a d i n g t h e l a t e r d e t a i l e d

d esc r i p t i ons o f the e f fec ts o f some o f the so -c a l l ed

" m e d i t a t i o n " t e c h n i q u e s i s l i k e l y t o r e a l i s e w h a t

an i mp ass i b l e gul f sep ar ates a l l th i s f r om th e

p u r e a n d i n s p i r i n g r e v e l a t i o n o f a S h e n H u i , a

H u a n g P o , o r a H u i H a i . P e r h a p s t h e m o s t e x

t r a o r d i n a r y f e a t u r e i n t h i s b o o k i s t h e T a o i s t

c h a p t e r i n w h i c h , a f t e r a b r i e f b u t b r i l li a n t a n a

l ys i s o f the op en i ng ver s es o f the Ta o Te h Chi ng . .

p r o b a b l y t h e c l e a r e s t e x p o s i t i o n t h a t e x i s t s i n

E l g l i s h , M r . L u k p a s s e s w i t h o u t c o m m e n t t o q u o t

i n g a m o d e r n d i s s e r t a t i o n o n T a o i s t " m e d i t a t i o n "

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


T H E M O U N T A I N P A T H October

t h a t i s a s f a r f r o m h i s i n t r o d u c t o r y e x p o s i t i o n a s

c h i r o p o d y i s f r o m t h e B e a t i t u d e s .

W i t h e a c h n e w v o l u m e s w e a r e m o r e d e e p l y

i nd e bted to Mr . Luk, wh o was the f i rst, a f ter

Jo hn Bl o fe l d , t o b r i ng Ch 'an to us . I t has be en a

r e v e l a t i o n t o m a n y , a n d h e h a s m a n y f r i e n d s

am on g us i n c on seq ue nc e . The f i el d i s l a r g e , and

m u c h m o r e a w a i t s u s , t h e c h o i c e a m o n g w h i c h ,

w e m a y h o p e , w i l l f a l l n o w t o t h e e a r l y a n d

m o s t a u t h e n t i c M a s t e r s w h o s e s p o k e n d o c t r i n e i s

w h a t w e need—whatever w e ma y i ma g i ne that

w e want, a n d w e m a y n o w b e c o n f i d e n t t h a t h e

c an d o i t, for h i s sc ho l ar sh i p and the p r o fu nd i ty

o f h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g h a v e c l e a r l y b e e n d e m o n s

t r a ted .

T. S. G.

C O S M I C T H E O L O G Y : T h e E c c le s i a s ti c a l H i e r a r

c h y o f P s e u d o - D e n y s : A n I n t r o d u c t i o n . B y

D o m D e n y s R u t l e d g e . ( R o u t l e d g e & K e g a n

Pau l , Pp . 212 . Pr i c e 32s. )

T h e P s e u d o - D i o n y s i u s ( o r - D e n y s ) , w r i t i n g a s

though a d i sc i p l e o f St . Paul ' s but thought to

ha ve l i ved ac tua l l y i n the four th or f i fth c ent ur y ,

has be en on e o f the mo st i n f l uent i a l o f a ll Ch r i s

t i a n m y s t i c s . M o s t w i d e l y k n o w n , b e c a u s e m o s t

uni ver sa l , i s h i s Mystical Theology. T h e f a r l e s s

k n o w n Ecclesiastical Hierarchy i s , h o w e v e r , a l s o

o f i m m e n s e v a l u e to m e m b e r s o f t h e C a t h o l i c a n dG r e e k O r t h o d o x C h u r c h e s ( it w a s w r i tt e n b e f o r e

t h e sc h i s m b e t w e e n t h e m ) , a n d o f t h e o r e t i ca l i n

ter est to o ther s , s i nc e i t s p ur p os e i s t o p o i nt out

t h e w e a l t h o f s y m b o l i s m i n t h e C h u r c h h i e r a r c h y

a n d s a c r a m e n t s . T h i s i s s h o w n a s a s y s t e m

t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e D i v i n e L i g h t i s c a n a l i s e d d o w n

t o m e n a n d , i n a s i m u l t a n e o u s r e v e r s e m o v e m e n t ,

m e n a r e b r o u g h t b a c k t o t h e S o u r c e o f L i g h t . I n

an age wh en r i tua l is ap t to be i gn or an t i y

d e c r i e d t h e r e c a n b e f e w b o o k s ; w h i c h w i l l s o d e

m o n s t r a t e it s p o t e n t i a l p r o f u n d i t y .

A r e v i e w o f an e a r l i e r b o o k b y D o m R u t l e d g e

in ' The Mountain Path ' r e m a r k s o n h i s a b s u r d l y

v i t u p e r a t i v e a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s H i n d u i s m . i I t m u s t

b e s a i d t h a t t h e p r e s e n t b o o k , d e a l i n g w i t h C h r i s

t i a n m y s t e r i e s o n l y , i s s o b e r a n d p r o f o u n d . E v e n

h e r e , h o w e v e r , o n e w i l d s t a t e m e n t c r e e p s i n .

T h a t i s h i s s u g g e s t i o n ( o n p a g e 2 6) t h a t a C a t h o

l i c l i t u r g i c a l r e n e w a l m a y b e t h e b o n d o f r e

u n i o n b e t w e e n E a s t a n d W e s t . W h a t c a n t h a t

m e a n e x c e p t t h a t P r o t e s t a n t s i n t h e W e s t a n d

H i n d u s , B u d d h i s t s , M u s l i m s a n d o t h e r s i n t h e

E a s t a r e a l l e x p e c t e d t o b e c o m e C a t h o l i c s ? T h i s

l o o k s l i k e t h e d a y - d r e a m i n g o f a m o n a s t i c

r e c l u s e .

1 (The Search of a Yogireviewed in ' The

Mountain Path ' of Apri l 1964.

C G E N T L E M A N S A I N T , ST . F R A N C I S D E

S A L E S A N D H I S T I M E S , 1 5 67 - 16 3 3: B y

M a r g a r e t T r o u n c e r . ( H u t c h i n s o n , P p . 2 40 ,

Pr i c e 21s . )

Thi s l i fe o f S t . Fr an c i s d e Sa l es i s ta i l or e d to

sui t p i ous Catho l i c s and they wi l l l ove i t . Other s

a l so wi l l fi nd mu c h wo r th r e ad i n g i n i t i f they

c a n p e r s e v e r e b e y o n d t h e L i t t l e L o r d F a u n t l e r o y

i m p r e s s i o n o f t h e e a r l y c h a p t e r s . H i s m o s t c h a

r a c t e r i s t i c w o r k s e e m s t o h a v e b e e n t h e p e r i l o u s

o n e o f g i v i n g s p i r i t u a l d i r e c t i o n t o h i g h - s o u l e d

l ad i es . A m an mus t i nd eed be a sa i nt to avo i d

fa l l i ng i nto a t l east one c r eva sse on su c h a p ath .

Th er e i s g r ea t bea uty and no b i l i ty i n h i s life-—•

a s i n d e e d i n t h e s e l a d i e s a l s o . F o r t h e m h e f o u n d

e d t h e O r d e r o f t h e V i s i t a t i o n , i n t e n d e d f o r l a d i e s

wh o w e r e n o t r o b u s t e n o u g h t o e n d u r e t h e r i

g o u r s of t h e o l d e r c o n t e m p l a t i v e o r d e r s — t h o u g h

i n the ear l y d ays the i r l i fe seems to have been

r i g o r o u s e n o u g h .

H e wa s abov e a l l a sa i nt o f l ove , d i r ec t i n g sou l s

t h r o u g h l o v i n g s y m p a t h y . H i s b o o k s w e r e e x

p o s i t i o n s o f t h e m y s t e r i e s o f D i v i n e L o v e , t h e

auth or te l l s us . She is ve r y c ar e fu l not to get

out o f her d ep th i n sp ea ki ng o f th em . H i s l e t ter s

w e r e e x u b e r a n t w i t h l o v e . T h e s c r i p t u r e w h i c h

p a r t i c u l a r l y e n d e a r e d i t s e l f t o h i m w a s t h e S o n g

o f S o l o m o n .

Y e t he wa s v i r i l e and i ntr e p i d a t the s ame

t i me. To s l i p i nto Ca l v i n i st Ge ne va in d i sgu i se ,

as he d i d i n h i s youth , i n the ho p e o f c on ver t i ng

o n e o f i t s g r e a t m e n t o C a t h o l i c i s m w a s s o m e

t h i n g l i k e s l i p p i n g in t o S t a l in ' s M o s c o w t o c o n

v e r t a m e m b e r o f t h e P o l i t b i u r o t o d e m o c r a c y .

H e w a s u n s p a r i n g t o w a r d s h i m s e l f . T o h i s c h a r

ges a l so h i s l ov e nev er ma d e h i m so f t or l eni ent .

S A G I T T A R I U S .

I H Y A U L U M U D - D I N , T h e R e v i v a l o f R e li g i ou s

S c i e n c e s : B y A l - G h a z a l i . T r a n s l a t e d b y B a n -

k e y B e h a r i . ( M a t a K r i s h n a S a t s a n g , V r i n d a -

ban, P p . LI a nd 432 , Pr i c e Rs . 16 .)

T h e c u s t o m a r y r e f e r e n c e t o A l - G h a z a l i a s t h e

St. T h o m a s A q u i n a s o f I s la m h a r d l y d o e s h i m j u s

t i c e , for he d i d fa r mor e than stab i l i ze I s l a mi c

t h e o l o g y : h e m a d e S u f i s m r e s p e c t a b l e i n t h e e y e s

o f th e o r t h o d o x . N o o n e h a s e v e r p e r f o r m e d t h i s

ser v i c e i n Chr i st i ani ty , w i th the r esul t that Chr i s

t i a n m y s c i c i s m a n d e s o t e r i s m h a v e n e v e r b e e n

a c c e p t e d f u l l y a n d w i t h o u t r e s e r v a t i o n b y t h e

guar d i ans o f the l e t ter o f the d oc tr i n e .

I t i s i nter es t i ng to see wh at a p er vad i ng i n

f luenc e Chr i s t i ani ty had on Suf i sm and on A l -

Gha za l i i n p ar t i c u l ar . Th e d oc t r i ne is , o f c our s e

i m p e c c a b l e , b u t t h e g e n e r a l t o n e , d e p r e c a t i n g

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 B O O K R E V I E W S 255

m a r r i a g e in f a v o u r of c e l i b a c y and p r o p e r t y in

f a v o u r of m e n d i c a n c y and c l a i m i n g to be a m i s e

r a b l e s i n n e r is far l e s s Q u r a n i c t h a n C h r i s t i a n .

N o t the l east i nter es t i ng fea t ur e abou t th i s

a b r i d g e d t r a n s l a t i o n is t h a t it is by a H i n d u S a d h u

a n d p u b l i s h e d by the M a t a K r i s h n a S a t s a n g at

V r i n d a b a n . T h e E n g l i s h of it is far f r o m p e r f e c t ,

b u t it is a l a b o u r of l o v e and that it h a s b e e n d o n e

at all is l a u d a b l e .

A B D U L L A H Q U T B U D D I N .

( 1 ) J A P J I ; (2) E S S A Y ON J A P J I : B o t h by

P r i t a m d a s K a r a m c h a n d a n i , P p. 110 an d 345,

P r i c e Rs . 2.50 and Rs . 6. A v a i l a b l e at M a n j a -

h a d D a r b a r , 3rd R o a d , K h a r , B o m b a y .

T h e J a p j i of G u r u N a n a k is a s o n g of r e m e m

b r a n c e and s e l f - c o n s e c r a t i o n , sumiran and saran.

It is the G i t a of the S i k h s , the c e n t r a l h y m n of

t h e G r a n t h S a h i b , w h i c h is the s a c r e d s c r i p t u r e

o f the f o l l o w e r s of N a n a k and G o v i n d a S i n g h .

In 38 P a u r i s or s t e p s it b r i n g s out the d i s c i p l i n e s

o f k a r m a , b h a k t i and j n a n a m a r g a s w h i c h l e a d

t h e d e v o t e e to a l i fe of p u r i t y , u n i t y and d i v i n i t y .

I t tur ns th e s o u l G o d w a r d and its r e p e t i t i o n c l e a n s

t h e m i r r o r of the m i n d .

Lt . C o l o n e l K a r a m c h a n d a n i ha s d o n e a g r e a t

s e r v i c e in c o m p i l i n g the a b o v e t w o v o l u m e s of

c o m m e n t a r i e s and e x p l a n a t i o n s on these sac r ed

v e r s e s . The first is a c l e a r a n n o t a t i o n of the t e x ta n d th e s e c o n d an e l a b o r a t e t r e a t i s e on it, c o n

t a i n i n g r e f e r e n c e s to the G i t a and the Q u r ' a n and

t o W e s t e r n t h i n k e r s s u c h as S p i n o z a , K a n t , S c h o

p e n h a u e r , J u n g , J a m e s , etc., as w e l l as to S h a n -

k a r a and R a m a n a M a h a r s h i . The g r e a t e r p a r t

o f it is c o m p o s e d of V e d a n t i c d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h

D h a r m a d a s , u n d e r w h o m he s t u d i e d .

T h e a u t h o r a r g u e s c o n v i n c i n g l y t h a t th e p h e

n o m e n a l w o r l d is i l l u s i o n , the s o u l or S e l f the

u i n q u e r e a l i t y , and God the p u r e S e l f of all. Li

b e r a t i o n c o m e s by l o v e , p r a y e r , j a p a , d e d i c a t e d

s e r v i c e or V e d a n t i c s a d h a n a of d i s c r i m i n a t i o n .

The first of the tw o b o o k s g i v e s us the o r i g i n a l

texi : of the J a p j i in devanagari sc r i p t as w e l l as

the t r ansl a t i on . The s e c o n d g i v e s g e m - l i k e t r a n s

l a t i o n s f r o m G u r u G r a n t h , K a b i r , R a v i d a s and

the Gi ta . It is a p l e a s u r e to s t u d y t h e m and to

c o n t e m p l a t e the s a c r e d J a p j i w h i c h s a y s : " C h a n t

G o d ' s N a m e in the a m b r o s i a l p r e - d a w n : the bud

o f your soul sha l l op en p eta l by p eta l i nto a f r a g

r a n t f l o w e r . C o n q u e r m i n d and you w i l l c o n

q u e r th e w o r l d . "

Y O G I S U D D H A N A N D A B H A R A T I .

J O U R N A L S

W e h a v e r e c e i v e d c o p i e s of the i n a u g u r a l i s s u e

( J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y , 1964) of a b i - m o n t h l y c y c l o -

s t y l e d n e w s l e t t e r e n t i t l e d ' T h e P a t h D i v i n e ' p u b

l i shed by ' T h e U n i v e r s a l S e l f - R e a l i z a t i o n C e n

t r e ' of D u r b a n , S o u t h A f r i c a . T h i s r e f e r s to 4 T h e

M o u n t a i n P a t h ' and ' T h e C a l l D i v i n e ' and is

d e v o t e d m a i n l y to the t e a c h i n g of R a m a n a M a

h a r s h i .

W e h a v e al s o r e c e i v e d th e Jul y I ssue of the

s m a l l m o n t h l y n e w s p a p e r ' C h r i s t i a n Y o g a

W o r l d ' f r o m San F r a n c i s c o , C a l i f o r n i a . T h i s is

t h e o r g a n of a g r o u p run by F a t h e r S u b r a m u n i -

am . T h e i s s u e r e c e i v e d c o n t a i n s an ar t i c l e on

R a m a n a M a h a r s h i . In g e n e r a l the p a p e r e x p l a i n s

the t r uths of H i n d u t e a c h i n g and the u n d e r l y i n g

u n a n i m i t y of the r e l i g i o n s .

W e h a v e r e c e i v e d th e f i rst issue of ' G u r u

V a n i t h e an nu al j ou rn a l of S h r e e G u r u d e vA s h r a m . G a v d e v i — G a n e s h p u r i , P.O. V a j r e s h w a r i ,

D i s t . T h a n a , M a h a r a s h t r a S c a te . T h i s a s h r a m ,

a b o u t 55 m i l e s o u t s i d e B o m b a y , p e r p e t u a t e s the

i n f l u e n c e of the l a t e S w a m i N i t y a n a n d a t h r o u g h

t h e p e r s o n of his s u c c e s s o r , S w a m i M u k t a n a n d a .

I m p r e s s i o n s of b o t h are h e r e g i v e n f r o m a w i d e

r a n g e of d e v o t e e s , i n c l u d i n g p e r s o n s e m i n e n t in

p o l i t i c s , law and other f i e l d s of a c t i v i t y , m o s t l y in

E n g l i s h , s o m e a l s o in H i n d i and M a r a t h i . T h e y

a r e on a r e m a r k a b l y h i g h l e v e l and of r ea l sp i r i

tua l i nter est . The E n g l i s h in w h i c h t h e y are

w r i t t e n is a l so on a h i g h l e v e l . T h e g e n e r a l g e t -

u p and a p p e a r a n c e of the a n n u a l are a d m i r a b l e .

T h e e d i t o r s are to be c o n g r a t u l a t e d on l a u n c h i n g

this f ine n e w a n n u a l .

The Mountain Path — L i f e S u b s c r i b e r s( I n c o n t i n u a t i o n of the l i s t a l r e a d y p u b l i s h e d in our J u l y i s s u e )

W E S T G E R M A N Y :

F R I T Z K R E I E , Hofgeismar.

Jos. F R . HAAGEN, P o r z - Z u n d o r i

C Z E C H O S L O V A K I A :

M U D R . R O B E R T F U C H S B E R G E R , Bratislava.

U N I T E D K I N G D O M :

P E G G Y C R E M E P I L L I N G ,

I N D I A :

SH I A VAX R. V A KI L , B o m b a y ,

IND R A M O H A N C H O P R A , New Delhi,

N. P A R A M E S WA R A N T A M P I , Trivandrum

V . V A I D Y A S U B R A M A N Y A M , Madras.

B . SARATHCHANBRA, C o i m b a t o r e .

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


T h e a r r i v a l o f a b i - m o n t h l y n e w s l e t t e r f r o m

S o u t h A f r i c a a n d a m o n t h l y p a p e r f r o m C a l i f o r

nia, b o t h n o t i c e d i n o u r b o o k r e v i e w s e c t i o n ,

w e r e t w o m o r e s i g n s h o w w i d e s p r e a d i s t h e i n

f l u e n c e o f t h e M a h a r s h i a n d t h e k n o w l e d g e o f

h i s A s h r a m .

A n o t h e r w a s a l e t t e r f r o m H e l s i n k i a s k i n g p e r

mi ss i on to t r ansl a te some o f the Mahar shi ' s wr i t

i ngs and say i ngs i nto F i nni sh .

»e * * *

I t has bee n a l eg i t i m ate gr i e van c e o f v i s i tor s

h e r e t h a t A s h r a m l i b r a r y b o o k s h a v e b e e n s h u t

a w a y i n o l d c u p b o a r d s a n d n o t a l w a y s e a s y t ot r a c e . T h e i n f a n t MOUNTAIN PATH l i b r a r y i s n o w

b e i n g c o m b i n e d w i t h t h e m o r e r e a d a b l e p a r t o f

t h e A s h r a m l i b r a r y a n d p u t o n d i s p l a y i n s h o w

c a s e s i n T H E MOUNTAIN PATH o f f i c e a n d p r o p e r l y

c a r d i n d e x e d . W h e n o u r b u i l d i n g s c h e m e s a r e

c o m p l e t e d , t h e e n t i r e l i b r a r y w i l l b e o n d i s p l a y

a n d c a r d i n d e x e d .

T H E M O T H E R ' S D A Y

S r i R a m a n a s r a m a m n e v e r h a d a n ' A s h r a m

M o t h e r ' a s s o m a n y a s h ra m s d o . B h a g a v a n w a s

s o u n i v e r s a l t h a t i t w a s u n n e c e s s a r y . B e s i d e s ,

t h e d i r e c t p a t h o f K n o w l e d g e o r A d v a i t a t h a t h e

t a u g h t d o e s n o t i n v o l v e w o r s h i p o f t h e S h a k t i o r

M o t h e r . H o w e v e r , t h e S h a k t i i n f l u e n c e m a y b e

h e l p f u l a n d w a s n o t n e g l e c t e d b y B h a g a v a n , n o r

i s i t no w by h i s As hr am . I t c am e, ve r y f it ti ng ly ,

t h r o u g h h i s o w n m o t h e r . W h e n h e w a s l i v i n g

a t S k a n d a s h r a m o n t h e H i l l s h e c a m e t o l i v e

t h e r e a n d l o o k a f t e r t h e s m a l l g r o u p o f d e v o t e e s

w h o h a d g a t h e r e d r o u n d h i m . A s i m p l e , u n l e t

t e r e d w o m a n , s h e l i v e d a l i f e o f s e r v i c e a n d d e

v o t i o n . S h e d i e d i n 1 92 2. T h e w h o l e d a y B h a g a

v a n s a t b e s i d e h e r a n d t h r o u g h h i s c o n c e n t r a

t i on , a i d ed by her ow n e f for ts , wa s ab l e to que l l

t h e t h o u g h t - w a v e s s o t h a t a t d e a t h s h e p a s s e d

t o L i b e r a t i o n ,

S h e w a s b u r i e d a t t h e s o u t h e r n f o o t o f A r u n a

c h a l a w h e r e a n u m b e r o f g r a v e s , f o r m i n g a s o r t

o f s c a t t e r e d c e m e t e r y , a l r e a d y e x i s t e d . B h a g a

v a n u s e d t o c o m e d o w n f r o m S k a n d a s h r a m ( l e s s

t h a n h a l f an h o u r ' s w a l k a w a y ) a n d si t t h e r e f o r

a w h i l e d a i l y . T h e n , a f te r s o m e t i m e , h e s t a y e d .

A thatc hed shed was p ut up for h i m and that

w a s h o w th e p r e s e n t A s h r a m s ta r t e d . G r a d u a l l y

t h e e x t e n s i v e a s h r a m b u i l d i n g s w e r e e r e c t e d , a n d

t h e p r o c e s s st i ll c o n t i n u e s . T h r o u g h t h e p e r s e -

v e r e n c e o f t h e Sarvadhikari l and the gen er os i t y

o f t h e d e v o t e e s , a t e m p l e i n t ra d i t i o n a l S o u t h I n

d i an sty l e wa s bui l t ov er the shr i ne . I t i s ther e

The Mother with the Maharshi

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1964 A S H R A M , B U L L E T I N 257

t h e S R I C H A K R A P U J A d e s c r i b e d i n c u r A p r i l

1964 Ashram Bulletin i s h e l d . T h e a n n i v e r s a r y

o f h e r d e a t h a n d N i r v a n a i s c e l e b r a t e d a n n u a l l y .

It fel l this year on June 4.

Tower over Mother's shrine

A m a n u s c r i p t l e f t b y A l a n C h a d w i c k * r e c o r d s

t h e e x t r a o r d i n a r y i n t e r e s t t h a t t h e M a h a r s h i t o o k

i n th e e r e c t i o n o f h i s m o t h e r ' s s h r i n e .

" B h a g a v a n w a s d e e p l y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e c o n s

t r u c t i o n o f t h e s h r i n e b u i l t o v e r b i s m o t h e r ' s

t o m b . H e a t t e n d e d e v e r y f u n c t i o n i n c o n n e c t i o n

wi t h i t , p l ac i ng h i s han d s i n b l ess i ng on the va r i

o u s o b j e c t s t h a t w e r e t o b e e n c l o s e d i n t h e w a l l s .

A t n i g h t w h e n n o o n e w a s a b o u t h e w o u l d w a l k

r o u n d a n d r o u n d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n , c o n s e c r a t i n g i t .T h a t h e s h o u l d t a k e s u c h a d e m o n s t r a t i v e i n t e

r e s t i n a n y t h i n g w a s e x t r e m e l y r a r e a n d h a s b e e n

d o u b t e d b y m a n y , b u t I m y s e l f w a s a n e y e - w i t

ness to the se th i ngs and c an vo uc h for the i r

t r u t h . "

S A I N T 'S D A Y C E L E B R A T E D

A u g u s t 1 5 th i s I n d i a ' s I n d e p e n d e n c e D a y a n d

t h e r e f o r e a p u b l i c h o l i d a y . F o r t h e l a s t t e n y e a r s

i t h a s a l s o b e e n o b s e r v e d a s t h e: a n n i v e r s a r y c e l e -

1 For whom see our Ashram Bulletin of Jan.

1964.

b r a t i o n o f A r u n a g i r i n a t h a r , a g r e a t T a m i l p o e t -

s a i nt o f T i r u v a n n a m a l a i . H e l iv e d a b o u t f i v e c e n

t u r i e s a g o . H i s m o t h e r d i e d w h e n h e w a s a b o y

and l e f t h i m i n the c ar e o f h i s e l d e r s i s ter , c ha r g

i n g h e r t o r e f u s e h i m n o t h i n g t h a t h e a s k e d f o r .

A s h e g r e w u p h e f e l l i n t o a l i f e o f d e b a u c h e r y ,

c o n s t a n t l y c o m i n g t o h i s s i s t e r f o r t h e m o n e y i t

r e q u i r e d . T h e c l i m a x c a m e o n e d a y w h e n h e

w a n t e d m o n e y f o r th e u s u a l p u r p o s e a n d s h e

t o l d h i m s h e h a d n o m o r e a n d s a i d : " I f y o u

m u s t h a v e a w o m a n ta k e m e . " T h i s p r o v o k e d

o n e o f t h o s e s u d d e n r e v e r s a l s w h i c h s o m e t i m e s

t u r n a s i n n e r i n t o a s a i n t. O v e r c o m e w i t h s h a m e

a n d s e l f - l o a t h i n g , h e r u s h e d t o t h e g r e a t t e m p l e(o f wh i c h th er e i s a p h oto gr a p h o n p age 106 i n

our i ssue o f Ap r i l 1964 ) , c l i m be d one o f the gopu-

rams o r t o w e r s a n d , c o n s i d e r i n g h i m s e l f u n f i t t o

l i v e , c a s t h i m s e l f d o w n . H o w e v e r , t h e i n t e n s i t y

o f h is r e p e n t a n c e a w a k e n e d D i v i n e c o m p a s s i o n

a n d h e w a s b o r n e u p a n d c a m e t o t h e g r o u n d

g e n t l y w i t h o u t h a r m . H e b e c a m e a g r e a t s a in t

a n d p o e t . S o m e f i f te e n h u n d r e d o f h i s p o e m s

s t i l l s u r v i v e a n d a r e w i d e l y s u n g , a l t h o u g h t h i s

i s on l y a smal l p or t i on , o f wh at he i s r ep ute d to

h a v e c o m p o s e d . B h a g a v a n o f t e n q u o t e d t h e m o r

r e f e r r e d t o t h e m .

T h e r e w a s a l a r g e g a t h e r i n g f o r t h e o c c a s i o n

t h i s y e a r , b o t h a t t h e A s h r a m a n d i n t h e t o w n ,

P e o p l e c a m e f r o m a l l p a r t s o f t h e T a m i l c o u n t r y

a n d m u s i c , b h a j a n s , l e c t u r e s a n d p r o c e s s i o n s w e r e

a r r a n g e d f o r t h e m .

P E R S O N A L N O TE S

E a r l y i n A u g u s t a g r o u p o f a b o u t 20 A m e r i c a n s

w i t h t h e i r I n d i a n g u i d e s c a m e t o s e e t h e A s h r a m

f r o m M a d r a s . T h e y w e r e t o ld a b o u t t h e M a h a r

s h i , a f t e r w h i c h a n u m b e r o f t h e m w a l k e d r o u n d

A r u n a c h a l a b a r e f o o t a t n i g h t . T h e y l e f t t h e n e x t

d a y .

M i s s E t h e l M e r s t o n h a s r e t u r n e d f r o m a m e d i

c a l c h e c k - u p i n M a d r a s a s l i v e l y a n d a l e r t as

e v e r b u t n o l o n g e r a b l e to v e n t u r e o u t — s e v e r e

t a p a s f o r o n e w h o h a s b e e n a g r e a t m o v e r a n d

tr ave l l er a l l her l i fe .

A s e v e r e ta p a s h a s b e e n i m p o s e d b y d e s t i n y

o n R o n a l d R o s e a l s o , i n th a t , p r o d i g i o u s r e a d e r

a s h e h a s a l w a y s b e e n , h e is s u f f e r i n g f r o m e y e

s t r a in a n d h a s h a d t o g i v e u p r e a d i n g . F o r t u

n a t e l y w e a l r e a d y h a d o u r q u o t a o f b o o k r e v i e w s

i n h a n d f r o m h i m b e f o r e t h i s r e s t r i c t i o n o v e r

t o o k h i m .

M r s . T a l e y a r k h a n h a s r e t u r n e d f r o m s e v e r a l

w e e k s ' r e c u p e r a t i o n in B o m b a y l o o k i n g m u c h f i t

t e r a g a i n a n d w i t h h e r e x u b e r a n t v i t a l i t y r e s t o r e d ,

S r i K u p p u s w a m i A i y a r , w h o w a s f o r m e r l y a

v i s i tor her e , has r etu r ne d no w as a r es i d ent i n

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf



o n e of the s m a l l A s h r a m c o t t a g e s and is a v a l u e d

o f f i c e w o r k e r .

" M Y R E A L H O M E "

F o l l o w i n g th e M a h a s a m a d h i of S w a m i R a m d a s

in July 1963, one A m e r i c a n l a d y and two F r e n c h

c a m e h e r e . The A m e r i c a n , T h e o d o r a ( T e d d y )

S c h l e i c h e r , k n o w n as INDIRA, s e e m e d i n c l i n e d to

s e t t l e d o w n h e r e p e r m a n e n t l y but, a f t e r a stay of

m a n y m o n t h s , has now r e t u r n e d to her h o m e in

C a l i f o r n i a on the r e q u e s t of her p a r e n t s .

" I was f i rst led to I n d i a and to m y p e r s o n a l

g u i d e , S w a m i R a m d a s , oy J o e l G o l d s m i t h . M y

p a t h was one of s i m p l e b h a k t i . G r a d u a l l y , h o w

e v e r , I was i n t r o d u c e d to B h a g a v a n ' s t e a c h i n g

a n d S e l f - e n q u i r y d e e p e n e d m y u n d e r s t a n d i n g of

b h a k t i . For I r ea l i sed that Jnana and b h a k t i

w e r e i n s e p a r a b l e s i n c e J n a n a led me to the r e a l

l o v e of Self, w h i c h is not d e p e n d e n t on e x t e r n a l

s u p p o r t .

" B h a g a v a n to m e is the h i g h e s t G o d h e a d . I

c a n n o t t h i n k of Him as a p e r s o n a l i t y . He is the

v e r y p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n of P u r e B e i n g , not r estr i c ted

to th e l i m i t e d b o d y . B h a g a v a n is an a c c u m u l a

t i on of d y n a m i c e n e r g y w h i c h , l ik e a m a g n e t ,

p u l l s one i n t o its v e r y B e i n g o r , G o d - C e n t r e . "

4i I f e e l t h a t t h i s d y n a m i c P o w e r , c a l l i t A r u -

n a c h a l a or B h a g a v a n , has le d me to my r e a l

h o m e , the h o m e w i t h i n . "

BRIGETTE SUNDIN s t a y e d for a l o n g t i m e as a

g u e s t of Mrs. T a l e y a r k h a n , but she a l so has now

l e f t .

MA R YA M H I R N is st i l l her e , s tay i ng in a r e n t e d

h o u s e , o u t s i d e the A s h r a m , and s h o w s no i n c l i n a

t i on to l e a v e .

W e h a v e a ls o had a l o n g - t e r m v i s i t o r f r o m G e r

m a n y and one f r o m D e n m a r k .

FRITZ KREIE c a m e h e r e d i re c t f r o m G e r m a n y

i n Januar y , 1964 , says : " I w as d e e p l y i m p r e s s e d

and fe l t at h o m e f r o m th e f ir s t m o m e n t . A f t e r a

f e w m o n t h s I l e f t on a tour that had a l r e a d y b e e n

a r r a n g e d of s o m e of the o t h e r r e p u t e d h o l y p l a c e s

Fritz Kreie

o f Ind i a , but it was not di ffi cult for me to

r e c o g n i s e , t h a t at Sri R a m a n a s r a m a m a l o n e

c o u l d I f ind what I was

s e e k i n g , so I was s o o n

b a c k h e r e and s t a y e d

ti l l I wa s du e to r e t u r n

t o G e r m a n y at the end

o f A u g u s t . "

J O R G E N C H R I S T O P H E R S O N

o f C o p e n h a g e n had

s e e n The Mountain

Path and c o r r e s p o n d

e d w i t h us b e f o r e

c o m i n g . He c a m e h e r es t r a i g h t f r o m D e n m a r k

i n J u l y . B e f o r e the

e n d of A u g u s t he

to o had to r e t u r n

a n d he w e n t s t r a i g h t

b a c k , w a s t i n g no t i m e on t o u r i s m .

R . V. RAGHAVAN, a r e t i r e d s u b - i n s p e c t o r of po

l i c e , was a l o n g - s t a n d i n g d e v o t e e . He had b e e n

r e s i d e n t at the A s h r a m fo r s o m e y e a r s p a s t and

had taken on the d u t y of g u i d i n g v i s i t o r s r o u n d .

H e p a s s e d a w a y s u d d e n l y and q u i t e u n e x p e c t e d l y

o n th e m o r n i n g of S e p t . 2nd.

F O R T H C O M I N G F E S T I V A L S

1. N A V A R A T H R I C E L E B R A T I O N S : Fr om 6-10-1964 to

15-10-1964 : ( L a k s h a r c h a n a , w i t h M a h a n y a s a

R u d r a b h i s h e k a m and p a r a y a n a of s a c r e d

w r or ks suc h as D e v i M a h a t h m i y a m is p e r

f o r m e d . Sri Y o g a m b i k a , the d e i t y , is d e c o r a t

e d and w o r s h i p p e d in the d i f fer ent asp ec ts

o f th e D i v i n e M o t h e r . )

2 . K A R T H I G A I D E E P A M : 19-11-1964 (Th e fa mo us

D e e p a m Da y w h e n a big c a u l d r o n is lit

o n top of the M o u n t a i n A r u n a c h a l a . T h e

F e s t i v a l p r o p e r c o m m e n c e s f r o m th e l l - l l - ' 6 4 ,

l ast i ng for ten d a y s . )

3. SR I B H A G A V A N ' S J A Y A N T H I : 21-12-1964. (Th e 85th

b i r t h d a y of the M a h a r s h i ) .

Sri Ramanasramam — L i f e M e m b e r s( I n c o n t i n u a t i o n of the l i s t a l r e a d y p u b l i s h e d in our J u l y I s s u e )

I N D I A : E N G L A N D :

S . K. KH A R E , L a g a r g a w a n , W. E. EVANS, P o u l t o n - L e - F y l d e .

DR. SUBBARAYAN, T i r u v a n n a m a l a i ,

K . SUBRAHMANIAN, H y d e r a b a d ,

K . PADMANABHAN, B a n g a l o r e ,

V . V A I D Y A S U B R A M A N Y A M , Madras.

W E S T G E R M A N Y :

W E R N E R V O I T E L , Stuttgat.

D O N O R :

Indra Mohan Chopra,

New Delhi

M A L A Y A :

T H O N G YI N Y E O W ,

MRS. LOH KI M T H Y E .

K H O O T U A N C H I S .

MRS. T H O N G ENG K E O W .

S O U T H A M E R I C A :

T . F. LORGUS, P o r t o - A l e g r e .

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


25<J

£ettels to the Zditol

Y o u r j o u r n a l i s i n d e e d f in e . I h a v e a l w a y s

t h o u g h t t h a t a j o u r n a l f r o m T i r u v a n n a m a l a i

s h o u l d b e p u b l i s h e d t o p r o p a g a t e B h a g a v a n ' s

t e a c h i n g . I n m y ' T h e F l u t e C a l l s S t i l l ' * t h e r e

i s a l e t t e r o n B h a g a v a n . I w o n d e r i f y o u w o u l d

c ar e to p r i nt i t i n you r qu ar te r l y ? * * I w i l l w r i t e

t o y o u l a t e r o n a b o u t y o u r f i n e ( J u l y i s s u e ) e d i

t o r i a l, w h i c h I n d i r a D e v i t o o h a s l i k e d — s h e s a y s

s h e h a s a v e r y g o o d ' f e e l ' a b o u t y o u r j o u r n a l .

D I L I P K U M A R R O Y ,

H a r i K r i s h n a M a n d i r , P o o n a .

* * * *

' T h e M o u n t a i n P a t h 1 i s i n d e e d a v e r y i n s t r u c

t i ve and i nsp i r i ng j our n a l . Th e f i rst i ssue was

good , the sec ond i ssue bet ter , and the th i r d st i l l

b e t t e r . I t c o n t a i n s v e r y g o o d a r ti c l e s b y m a n y

d e v o t e e s w h o h a v e h a d s o m e e x p e r i e n c e s b y c o n

t a c t w i t h B h a g a v a n . T h e a r ti c l e s i n t e n s i f y t h e

a s p i r a n t s ' d e v o t i o n f o r B h a g a v a n a n d t h u s g i v e

them an i mp etus i n the i r e f for ts to a t ta i n the goa l

B h a g a v a n h as s h o w n . T h e y a ls o w h e t th e a p p e

t i t e o f e a r n e s t s e e k e r s t o a b s o r b m o r e t h e t e a c h

i n g s o f B h a g a v a n a n d r e a l is e H i s e t e r n a l P r e

s e n c e . T h e j o u r n a l i s s u r e l y s e r v i n g it s p u r p o s e .

S A T C H I D A N A N D A ,

S e c r e t a r y o f A n a n d a s h r a m , K a n h a n g a d ,

* * * *

T h o u g h t f u l l y w r i t t e n , y o u r a r t i c le o n ' V e g e t a

r i a n i s m ' w h i c h a p p e a r e d i n t h e i s s u e o f 1 T h e

M o u n t a i n P a t h ' o f A p r i l 19 64 i s t h o u g h t - p r o v o k

i n g a n d b e a r s t h e t o u c h o f w i s d o m .

I t is a g r e a t p i t y t h a t e v e n i n o u r p r e d o m i n a n t

l y H i nd u Ind i a those who use the f l esh o f d eada n i m a l s f o r f o o d s t il l p r e d o m i n a t e .

I w h o l e - h e a r t e d l y w e l c o m e y o u r q u a r t e r l y

w h i c h i s f u l l o f i n t e r e s t i n g a n d i n s t r u c t i v e a r t i

c l e s . M a y i t g r o w i n u s e f u l n e s s a n d w i d e c i r

c u l a t i o n .

K R I S H N A N A N D .

S h a n t i A s h r a m , B h a d r a n , G u j e r a t .

* * " * - , *

* Reviewed elsewhere in this issue.—Editor.

** Published on page 234 as 'How I c a m e to the

Maharshi.'—Editor.

Y o u r e d i t o r i a l s a r e c h a r m i n g , i n s t r u c t i v e a n d r e

v e a l i n g . L o r d R a d h a K r i s h n a ' s g r a c e a n d b l e s s i n g s

b e o n y o u .

B A N K E Y B E H A R I ,

M a t a K r i s h n a S a t s a n g , V r i n d a b a n ,

# # * *

A l l o w m e t o c o n g r a t u l a t e y o u o n y o u r n o b l ep r e s e n t a t i o n o f S e l f - w i s d o m i n The Mountain

Path. W i t h t h e g r a c e o f a r a r e G u r u b e h i n d

y o u a n d th a t e s s e n t i a l b a c k g r o u n d o f w i s d o m

t r a d i t i o n s w h i c h a r e f o u n d i n s u c h p e r f e c t i o n i n

S o u t h I n d i a , y o u r j o u r n a l i s a l m o s t a l o n e i n t h e

m i d s t o f s o m u c h t r a s h y l i t e r a t u r e t h a t a ll l o v e r s

o f b r a h m a - v i d y a m u s t r e j o i c e a t i ts a p p e a r a n c e .

S i n c e i t i s i n E n g l i s h a n d t h e r e f o r e i n t e n d e d

n o t o n l y f o r I n d i a n r e a d e r s b u t f o r a w o r l d a u d i

e n c e , t h i s i s a f u r t h e r e n c o u r a g i n g f e a t u r e ; f o r

I b e l i e v e t h e r e a r e t h o u s a n d s o f s i n c e r e s e e k e r s

i n t h e W e s t w h o n e e d T h e Mountain Path a n d

t h e t r u t h i t r e p r e s e n t s . S o m a n y s i ll y b o o k s

h a v e b e e n w r i t t e n a b o u t y o g i s a n d s w a m i s , a n d

s o m a n y i m p o s t o r s a n d a d v e n t u r e r s h a v e e x p l o i t

ed the sub je c t , that ic i s mo st enc ou r ag i ng t o

h a v e s o m e t h i n g h o n e s t a n d s i n c e r e , w i t h a g e n u i n e

Teac her i n the for e fr ont , t o se t a r i ght th i s t r ag i c

state of affairs.

O n l y t h o s e l i k e m y s e l f w h o h a v e b e e n t r y i n g

t o d o th e s a m e t h i n g — a n d n e e d l e s s to s a y w e l

c o m e t h is s t r o n g s u p p o r t i n t h e c o m m o n a i m —

k n o w h o w h a r d t h e e d i t o r i a l j o b m u s t b e , a n d

h o w w e l l y o u a r e s u c c e e d i n g .

Y o u r e d it o r i a l s a r e m o s t r e f r e s h i n g . T h e J u l y

o n e w h e r e y o u d e a l w i t h K r i s h n a m u r t i s a y s

t h i n g s t h a t n e e d e d s a y i n g a b o u t t h a t p a r a d o x i c a l

p e r s o n a l i t y w h o f o r f i ft y y e a r s h a s b e e n o v e r -

c o m p e n s a t i n g h i m s e l f f o r h i s e a r l y c o n d i t i o n i n g

b y L e a d b e a t e r a n d o t h e r s .

- JOHN SPIERS, E d i t o r , V a l u e s .

* * * *

C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s o n y o u r l a s t e d i t o r i a l . I t m a d e

v e r y c l e a r s o m e t h i n g w h i c h f e w p e o p l e o n t h e

s p i r i t u a l p a t h s e e m t o g e t s t r a i g h t : t h e d i f f e r e n c e

b e t w e e n a g l i m p s e o f h i g h e r c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d

p e r m a n e n t r e a l i z a t i o n .

M A R G U E R I T E L I D C H I ,

E d i t o r , World Union-Goodwill, P o n d i c h e r r y .

* * * *

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf



I s h o u l d l i k e t o t e l l y o u w h a t p l e a s u r e I h a v e

got f r om r ead i ng the f ir st thr ee i ssues o f yo ur

m a g a z i n e ' T h e M o u n t a i n P a t h , ' E v e r y t h i n g in it

is of high qu al i t y . It i s a fine tr ib ute to the

u n f o r g e t t a b l e R a m a n a M a h a r s h i .

Y o u r e d i t o r i a l 1 W h e r e C h a r i t y B e g i n s ' i n t h e

s e c o n d i s s u e p a r t i c u l a r l y i m p r e s s e d m e . I t i s c o m

p l ete l y i n the sp i r i t o f the Master , a sp i r i t whi c h

I am tr y i n g to ass i mi l a te as we l l a s I c an .

P R O F . A N D R I E U ,

L y o n , F r a n c e ,

* * * *

T h i s q u a r t e r l y j o u r n a l i s m a g n i f i c e n t a n d I r e

g r e t n o t t o k n o w e n o u g h E n g l i s h t o e x p r e s s m y

a d m i r a t i o n a n d s a t i s f a c ti o n . * W i t h r e g a r d to th e

p i c t u r e s o f S r i R a m a n a , o f t h e M o u n t a i n a n d o f

d e v o t e e s , I a g r e e c o m p l e t e l y w i t h w h a t

the Ed i tor says o n p . 124 . W e ar e ve r y

h a p p y t o s e e , a m o n g w o r l d l y s i g h t s , t h e

ser en e fac e o f one w ho i s estab l i shed i n

the t r ue v i s i on and c an he l p us to a t ta i n i t a l so .

I t i s i n d e e d a b l e s s e d c o n t a c t . A l t o g e t h e r I a p p r e

c i a t e t h e E d i t o r ' s a n s w e r s t o t h e l e t t e r s . T h e y

s e e m e x p r e s s e d i n t h e s p i r it o f t h e M a h a r s h i .

A nd I l ov e the ed i tor i a l s . I f I s tar t to men t i on

a l l the th i ngs I l i ke i t wo ul d be too l ong . I l ov e

v e r y m u c h t h e q u o t a t i o n s a n d p o e m s h e r e a n d

t h e r e , p e r m i t t i n g u s t o m e e t w i t h f r i e n d s b y t u r n

i n g t h e p a g e s ( T u k a r a m , S h a n k a r a , H u i - N e n g ,

M i l a r e p a ) — b l e s s e d m e e t i n g s ! A l s o t h e A s h r a m

B u l l e t i n .

' Krishna',

Par i s ,

* From here on the English has been edited,

— E d i t o r .

* * * *

I a m a s u b s c r i b e r t o y o u r q u a r t e r l y The Moun

tain Path a n d w o u l d l i k e t o s a y w h a t a t r e

m en d o us he l p i t has been to me . In fa c t it has

b e c o m e a s o r t o f ' d a i l y b r e a d ' f o r m e , in s p i t e

o f the fa c t that the ver y h i gh sp i r i tua l l eve l o f

t h i s p a t h is f a r f a r a b o v e m y i n n e r c o m p r e h e n

s i o n . T h e ' h y p n o t i s m o f t h e w o r l d ' ( a s J o e l

G o l d s m i t h s o a p t l y n a m e s i t i n y o u r i s s u e o f A p r i l

1964 ) s t i l l d r ag s m e d ow n too mu c h . I t i s so

d i f f i c u l t t o r emember a l l the t i me that the d i f f i

c u l t i e s a n d p r o b l e m s a r e o f t h e r e l a t i v e p l a n e o r

M a y a ; a n d e v e n w h e n w e d o r e m e m b e r w h a t a

t e r r i b l e c h a l l e n g e i t p r e s e n t s ! I w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y

i n t e r e s t e d i n G o l d s m i t h ' s ' I n f i n i t e W a y o f L i f e '

a s I t oo have fe l t that , s i nc e God i s One , a l l i s

O n e P e r f e c t , I n f i n i t e B e i n g , a n d d i s e a s e a n d s o r

r o w and s i n have no p l a c e i n it , that we see th em

a s s u c h t h r o u g h s o m e e r r o r o f o u r s o r th a t t h e

i d e a o f O n e n e s s i n a l l a n d O n e P e r f e c t B e i n g i s

j u s t n o n s e n s e — b u t t h e s e c o n d p r o p o s i t i o n j u s t

d o e s n ' t h o l d w a t e r — i t r e d u c e s a l l l i f e , a l l b e i n g ,

e v e r y t h i n g , t o u t t e r c h a o s .

I c a n i m a g i n e B h a g a v a n S r i R a m a n a n o d d i n g

a p p r o v i n g l y at G o l d s m i t h w i t h h is w o n d e r f u l l y

k i n d a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g s m i l e . Y o u c a n im a g i n e

ho w b i t ter l y I r egr e t not to hav e sa t a t the gr e at

S a g e ' s f e e t i n h i s l i f e t i m e ! I e n v y t h o s e h a p p y

s o u l s w h o m h e i n i t i a te d b y a l o o k , a l l o w i n g t h e m

to ha ve a fl ash o f r ea l i za t i on o f the Tr u th t hr o ugh

hi s Gr ac e and b l ess i ng .

M A R Y N . K A N N Y , .

B o m b a y ,Yes, it was a tremendous experience ; but re

member that the Grace and the blessing are still

the same. As S. P. Mukherjee wrote in his p o e m

in our January 1964 issue : The body-presence,

the presence in the heart, These are the same"

E d i t o r .

* * * *

M& y I s e n d y o u m y d e e p a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r Th e

Mountain Path. I h a v e r e a d t h e c o p i e s s e v e r a l

t i mes . I am esp ec i a l l y gr a te fu l for the p i c tu r e o f

R a m a n a M a h a r s h i . S u c h a s e r e n e a n d b e a u t i f u l

f a c e . S o m e t i m e s l o o k i n g a t i t I h a v e t o c r y .

Ag a i n I wa nt to tou c h it . I c an ' t seem to l oo kat i t eno ugh . I f on l y I c ou l d hav e seen hi m ,

b e e n i n h i s p r e s e n c e , r e c e i v e d h i s i n i t i a t i o n !

A r t i c l e s t h a t I k e e p r e - r e a d i n g a r e : ' Self-

E n q u i r y ' b y D . E . H a r d i n g , ' O u t s i d e t h e S c r i p

t u r e s ' b y D r . K r i s h n a s w a m i , ' L i v i n g t h e I n f i n it e

W a y ' b y J o e l G o l d s m i t h a n d y o u r e d i t o r i a l s a n d

b o o k r e v i e w s . A n d t h a n k y o u f o r t h e a r t i c l e

o n V e g e t a r i a n i s m .

M R S . H . L . C A V A N A G H ,

C a l i f o r n i a .

Don't be grieved. His initiation still comes to

those who turn to him —Editor.

$ * * *

T o w r i t e in a m a t t e r - o f - f a c t w a y a b o u t m y i m

p r e s s i o n s a f t e r g o i n g t h r o u g h t h e v a r i o u s a r t i c l e s ,

p o e m s a n d p i c t u r e s o f T h e Mountain Path s e e m s t o

me out o f p l ac e . I s i m p l y fee l that the j ou r na l i s

just as it ough t to be an d as I wou l d w i sh i t t o be .

I n i t h e a r t s p e a k s t o h e a r t a n d t h e r e f o r e e v e r y

s e e k e r o n t h e l o n e l y r o a d t o R e a l i z a t i o n a n d a l l

d e v o t e e s o f S r i B h a g a v a n w i l l f e e l t h e d i v i n e m e s

s a g e c o n v e y e d t h r o u g h i t .

M a y t h e G r a c e o f S ri B h a g a v a n w h i c h I f e e l s o

abund ant l y f l owi ng thr ough The Mountain Path b e

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


1964 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 261

w i t h t h e j o u r n a l c o n s t a n t l y a n d b r i n g p e a c e a n d

b l i ss not onl y to a l l r ead er s but equa l l y to the

p ub l i sh er , the ed i tor s an d the ent i r e s ta f f !

R . F UC H SB E R G E R ,

B r a t i s l a v a , C z e c h o s l o v a k i a .

* * * *

Th e f i r st thr e e c op i es o f ' Th e Mo un ta i n Path '

h a v e p r o v e d a s o u r c e o f r e a l h e l p , c o m f o r t a n d

i n s p i r a t i o n a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o b r i n g a c o n s t a n t

s u p p l y o f s p i r i t u a l n o u r i s h m e n t f r o m t h e A s h r a m .

I t i s w i t h m u c h a d m i r a t i o n f o r t h e w o r t h y e f f o r ts

o f a ll c o n c e r n e d i n m a k i n g t h e j o u r n a l s u c h a

' b e a c o n l i g h t i n t h e s e t i m e s t h a t I s h o u l d b e

m o s t h a p p y t o t a k e o u t a l i f e s u b s c r i p t i o n t o

' T h e M o u n t a i n P a t h . '

P E T E R B R I G H T ,

P a i g n t o n , D e v o n ,

* # # *

W e i W u W e i ' s a r t i c le s h i t o ff a n d r e l e a s e a n d

e l u c i d a t e m y o w n p o s i t i o n b e t t e r th a n a n y t h i n g

I ' v e e v e r c o m e a c r o s s — h e s p e a k s e x a c t l y m y o w n

l a n g u a g e , o n l y s o v e r y m u c h b e t t e r t h a n I e v e r

c o u l d .

T h e H i n d u ' 3 ' w i t h a s q u i g g l e a t it s b a c k —

w h a t d o e s i t m e a n ?

E . G R A C E B L A N C H A R D ,

S h r e w s b u r y ,

The symbol printed at the head of our 'con

tents ' page and at the h ead o f the editorial is

OM, the first and greatest of the mantras —Editor.

H e * # *

( T o S . P . M u k h e r j i ) I r e a d y o u r l if e i n t h e ' A s h

r a m B u l l e t i n ' o f The Mountain Path of July 1964.

i h a v e n o w o r d s t o e x p r e s s m y f e e l i n g s a b o u t o u r

G u r u d e v S r i B h a g a v a n R a m a n a f o r h a v i n g g r a n t e d

y o u r p r a y e r , I h a v e b e e n p r a y i n g f o r th e s a m e

thi ng for the l ast ten year s . Let Bha gav an take h i s

o w n t i m e t o b l e s s m e . R e a l l y y o u a r e v e r y n e a r

t o h i s C h i d a n a n d a R u p a . I c a n t h e r e f o r e o n l y r e

q u e s t y o u t o b le s s y o u r b r o t h e r .

C . N . S H A S T R Y ,

S a i d a p u r , D h a r w a r .

* * * *

S w e e t t o t h e t h o u g h t , s w e e t t o t h e e a r , s w e e t

t o t h e m o u t h , i s ' T h e M o u n t a i n P a t h . ' I t w i l l

b r i n g B h a g a v a n ' s G r a c e t o m a n y t h o u s a n d s w h o

a r e h u n g r i l y r e a c h i n g o u t f o r p e a c e a n d e n l i g h U

e n m e n t .

M . T H A N G A V E L ,

P o n d i c h e r r y .

* * * *

W h e n I g o o n a s k i n g m y s e l f ( o f c o u r s e , n o t

v e r b a l l y ) w h o I a m I b e c o m e s i le n t a n d e n t e r

t h e s t at e o f n o t - k n o w i n g . I d o n o t k n o w a n y

t h i n g . A n d I d o n ' t g o f u r t h e r . M a y I a s k y o u

w h e t h e r t h e r e is a n y f u r t h e r s t e p . A f t e r a t i m e

I b e c o m e n o r m a l a n d m y o r d i n a r y m i n d s t a rt s

f u n c t i o n i n g .

R A J A O F B H G R ,

P o o n a .

Surely this not knowing anything does not

mean becom ing unconscious like a block of wood ?

Th e 11 ' which knows things objectively as s e p a

r a te from itself m ay cease to function, but in

its place a state of pure aw areness arises— or yo u

could call it pure being, pure conscious being.

This is normal. To lose it again is abnormal,

even thou gh usual. It can be retained side by side

with, or rather underlying, what we call 'nor

mal * consciousness of an apparently objective

world, That is what we aim at. It is to be ac

complished by persistent steady effort and w hile

retaining consciousness.—Editor.

So long as you have the ego-sen se you have to struggle. At theend of the struggle you come to know that you have not achieved anything. Yo u feel that you are helpless. Then God comes to your help.But as long as you think you can help yourself you must struggle.Struggle ceases in surrender. Thereafter you say, ' Oh God , Yo u doeverythin g.' No w you find everything is done by His will and pow er.Surrender gives you this kno wled ge. The ego-sen se is wiped out notonly in the inner silence but also in all your active life.

— S M A W I R A M D A S .

8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


Sri Ramana Mantapa NidhiS R I B H A G A V A N S A M A D H I B U IL D I N G

F r o m 1-7-63 t o 3 1 - 8 - 6 4 c o l l e c t i o n s

a r e a s u n d e r : —

S r i K . K . N a m b i a r , B o m b a y

Mrs. K . K . N a m b i a r , B o m b a y

Mrs. M i t h a i w a l a , B o m b a y

Mrs. M a r i a T r i b u t s c h , A u s t r i a

S r i D e w a n H u k u m c h a n d , A m b a l a

Sr i N . P . M. Mer i ta , Bom ba y


P r i n c e s s M e e n a K u m a r i D e v i , B o m b a y

Prof. K . S w a m i n a t h a n , N e w D e l h i . .

S r i J a y a n t i la l B . R a w a l , A h m e d a b a d

S r i P . M e h t a , L o n d o n . . i,

S r i N . R . N a r a y a n a I y e r , R a m a n a s r a m a m

Prof. K . S w a m i n a t h a n , N e w D e l h i

S r i N . B . K . N a m b i a r , B o m b a y

S r i H . C . C h a n d r a s e k a r i a h , B a n g a l o r e

S r i V . N a r a y a n a s w a m i I y e r

( C h e l la m I y e r ) , R a m a n a s r a m a m .

A d e v o t e e . .

S r i A m a r c h a n d N a r u l a , N e w D e l h i

Mrs. M a n i m a F . D o c t o r , M a d r a s

D r . D . K r i s h n a m u r t h i , S h i m o g a

Mrs. M a r i a T r i b u t s c h , A u s t r i aS m t . B . M i n a k s h i , M a d r a s

S r i N . P a r a m e s v ^ a r a n T a m p i ,

T r iv a nd ru m ^ f c f i ^ f e

S r i N . S a m b a s i v a n , M a d r a s

M i s s R o b i n N o r m a n , A u s t r a l i a

S r i C . N . S a s t r y , D h a r w a r

K u m a r i M u n i r a t n a m , N o w t o k a , F ij i

S r i B h a g a v a t i N a i d u , N o w t o k a , F i j i

S m t . K u p p a m m a l , N o w t o k a , Fiji

S m t . M u r u g a m m a l , N o w t o k a , F i j i

S r i G e r t r u d e F u g e r t , M u n i c h u >

S r i M . R . J a n a k i r a m i e r , V i l a p a k a m . .

M i s s A r l e t t e H a n s , I n u w i c k , C a n a d a . . j

S r i G . N a t a n a S i k a m a n i P i l l a i ,

S i r u k a l u r . k

S r i S at i G o d a v a r i U p a s a n i , S a k o r i

S r i M . S . R a m a c h a n d r a s w a m y , M y s o r e

S r i V . S . V . M a n i , M a d u r a i

Mrs. R o d a M a c l v e r , B o m b a y

Sr i S . N . Tr i p athi , A l l a h a ^ ^ : i ^ t ^Sr i K .. N . Rao , Ka l l u r j E ^ ^ l ^ ^ ^

S r i P . N . D e s a i , B o m b a y

S r i A m a r n a t h A g a r w a l , N e w

S r i G . V . K a r v e , B o m b a y

S m t . R a n i P a d m a v a t h i D e v i , B h o p a l


Rs . P .

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S r i S . V e n k a t a r a m a n , M a n a m a d u r a i .

S r i M . S . V i s w a n a t h a n , P a l g h a t

S r i V . V a r a d a R a j an , T i r u c h i

A d e v o t e e

S r i N . S a m b a s i v a n , M a d r a s

S r i B i s h a m b a r n a t h S a x e n a , O r a i

S r i H . K a i k o b a d , M a d r a s

W e l l i n g t o n T a l k i e s , M a d r a s

Mrs. N a r g i s a K . P a r e k h , M a d r a s

Mrs. F . T a l y a r k h a n , R a m a n a s r a m a m .

S r i J o h n J . R e e d e , V a r k a l a

S r i P . P a i d i t h a l i , B a n g a l o r e

H . H . M a h a r a n i o f M a n d i , M a n d i

Sr i P . V . K . R a ju

S r i U m e s h D u t t , J u l l u n d e r

S r i J . J a g a d e s w a r a i a , S e c u n d e r a b a d .

S r i M . S u b b a r a y a d u , C u d d a p p a h

M r . J o h n P . C a r e y , N a p a , C a l i f o r n i a

^ S fi C h a r l e s A n d r i a n , P o n d i c h e r r y

' p f is s K h u s h n a n E l a v i a , B o m b a y

S r i V . R a m a m u r t l , M a d r a s

S r i F r a m j i D o r a b j i , M a d r a s

S r i ^ K . H o r m u s j i , M a d r a s

S r i M u t h u M a n i c k a m P i l l a i ,^ . . . A t e a r a m a n g a l a m [

Mrs. K . C . A r d e s h e r , C a l c u t t a

S r i L a l a V . G o v e n k a r , B o m b a y

S r i S . S r i n i v a s a n , C o i m b a t o r e

L i s a H e r m i n E d i n g a r , O r t l i b g a s s e

Sr i V. R. L . Nar a i n , Ca l c ut ta

D r . P . V . H e g d e , H u b l i

A d e v o t e e


S r i J e s s i e S a h g a l , B a n g a l o r e

S r i - V . R a m a m u r t i , M a d r a s

S r i V . R a m a c h a n d r a I y e r , S i r k a l i

S r i G o s a i n R a m a c h a n d r a , J u l l u n d e r

S r i M a n g a l d a s , B a n g a l o r eS r i A . R . K r i s h n a n , B a n g a l o r e

To ta l

P r e v i o u s C o l l e c t i o n s

G r a n d T o t a l

E x p e n d e d

A t B a n k

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Rs . 73,078 47

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Rs . P .

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8/22/2019 1964 IV Oct.pdf


T H E M O U N T A I N P A TH( A Q U A R T E R L Y )

I ND E X TO CONTE NTS OF

VOLUME I

(January, 1964 to October, 1 9 6 4 )

A L L E N , F .

T h e F u t i l i t y o f A r g u m e n t , 1 5 2

A.shram Bulletins, 48, 117, 185, 256

B H A K T A V A T S A L A M , M .

T h e M o u n t a i n P a t h , 2 0

B U C H M A N I T E

B u c h m a n a n d B h a g a v a n , 4 5

B Y L E S , M A R I E B .

Zen T r a i ni n g i n Jap a n, 153

C H A T T O P A D H Y A Y A , H A R I N D R A N A T H

T h e G o l d e n M a s t e r ( p o e m ) , 6 5 ; W a n d e r e r o ft h e D e e p ( p o e m ) , 74 ; T h e T e a r i n g o f t h e M a s k

( p o e m ) , 1 6 6

" D "

F i g h t i n g S l e e p i n e s s , 1 1 6 ; H o w I c a m e to t h e

Mahar shi , 139

D A L A I L A M A , H . H. T H E

T i b e t a n B u d d h i s m , 8 3

D E V A R A J A M U D A L I A R , A .

Y o u Mu st Cl i ng Too , 156 : T he Mah ar shi and

the Path o f Devot i on , 206

" D E V O T E E ."

B r i e f E t e r n i t y ( p o e m ) , 1 76

D I L I P K U M A R R O Y

T o S r i R a m a n a M a h a r s h i ( p o e m ) , 87 ; H o w I

c ame to the Mahar shi , 234

Editorials

T o T h o s e w i t h L i t t l e D u s t , 17 ; W h e r e C h a r i t y

Beg i ns , 67 ; A Path an d A Gu i d e , 127 ; T he T w o

Paths, 195

E K N A T H E A S W A R A N , P R O F .

The Cand l e o f the Lor d , 163

" P . O . "

Sator i , 140

* G . L . N . "

R a m a n a S a d G u r u , 1 3 1

G O L D S M I T H , J O E L S .

T h e I n f in i t e W a y o f L i f e , 9 0 ; T h e N e e d f o rR e m e m b r a n c e , 1 3 0 ; J n a n a M a r g a in C h r i s t i a n i ty , 223 ; A Note on J . S . Go l d sm i th by theEditor , 177

G O V I N D A , L A M A A N A G A R I K A

B h a k t i M a r g a i n B u d d h i s m , 21 5

H A K U I N

S o n g o f M e d i t a t i o n ( p o e m ) , 8 6

H A R D I N G , D . E .

S e l f - E n q u i r y : S o m e O b j e c t io n s A n s w e r e d , 75

H A R T Z , L O U I S

H ow I me t the Mah ar shi , 72

IND IR A

A s h r a m Bulletin, 258

J A Y A C H A M A R A J A W A D I A R , H . H . S R I

T h e V i r t u o u s W a y o f L i f e , 15 9

K R E I E , F R I T Z

Ashram Bulletin, 258

K R I S H N A M U R T H I , N . R .

Sti l lness, 146

K R I S H N A S W A M I , D R . T . N .

Outs i d e the S c r i p tur es , 23 ; Jnan a and B hak t i , 222

L U K , C H A R L E S

H su Y un, 240

L A Z A R U S , F A T H E R

S p i r i t u a l T r a d i t i o n s o f t h e G r e e k O r t h o d o xC h u r c h , 3 2

M A H A D E V A N . D R . T . M . P .

T h e M a h a r s h i a n d t h e P a t h o f K n o w l e d g e , 1 98 ;BooJc Reviews, 114

M A I E R , H U G O


M E R S T O N , E T H E L

Bhagavan in the Heart, 1 0 9 ; Awakening, 175 ;

Silent Teaching, 22 2

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Messages, U

M O U N I S A D H U

Th e Heritage of Sri Maharshi, 147

M U K H E R J I , S. P .A B e a c o n S t i l l ( p o e m ) , 3 1 ; N a g a B a b a , 9 9 ;


M U R U G A N A R

Th e Bl i n d Se er , 184 ; R esu r r ec t i on , 197 ; Int r o

d uc i ng , 244

N A G A M M A

R e m a i n W h e r e Y o u A r e , 2 1 ; T r u e S i le n c e , 7 1 ;

A bo ve the Th r ee Sta tes , 174 ; Sam ad h i , 239

N A M E , T H E

A S y m p o s i u m , 2 3 6

N O R M A N , R O B I N


O S B O R N E , A R T H U RT h e R e l a t i o n s B e t w e e n R e l i g i o n a n d A r t , 40 ,

A h a d ( p o e m ) , 82 ; T h e S w a m i V i v e k a n a n d a

B i r t h C e n t e n a r y , 9 8 ; V e g e t a r i a n i s m , 1 0 0 ; Book

Reviews, 59-62, 110-114, 178-9, 246-8

P A N D I T , M . P .

Book Reviews, 64, 115, 179, 250-2

Q U T B U D D I N , A B D U L L A H

I s Suf i sm Is l am i c , 28 ; Shi r k an d Taw hi d , 81 ;

T h e L e s s e r a n d G r e a t e r J i h a d , 1 4 9 ; T h e S u f i

Path o f Love , 229 , ; Book Reviews, 63, 182, 255

R A M A N A M A H A R S H I , S R I

F o r t y V e r s e s o n R e a l i t y , 2 03 ; T h e M a r i t a l G a r

l and o f Let ter s , 210

R A O , A .Th e Da r k Ni gh t , 137 ; Th e W or l d , 209

R O S E , R O N A L D

Ashram Bulletin, 187 ; Book Reviews, 180-1, 249

S A G I T T A R I U S

A n A g g r e s s i v e T e a c h e r , 3 0 ; C a s t n o t y o u rp e a r l s b e f o r e S w i n e , 9 6 ; M a n y a r e c a l l e d b u tf& w a r e c h o s e n , 1 6 7 ; J n a n a a n d B h a k t i i n C h r i s

t ianity, 228 } Book Reviews, 6 2 , 116, 181-2, 254S A S T R Y , K. R. R.

T h e G u i d e t o t h e M o u n t a i n P a t h , 9 5 ; P a t t i n a t h uS w a m i , 1 33 ; T a y u m a n a v a r , 2 3 1

S A S T R I , P . V .

H ow I c am e to the Mahar s hi , 138

S A T Y A M A Y E E

Tap as and Sannyas , 102

" S E I N "

A Ra g i n g F i r e , 82

S N Y D E R , G A R Y

T r a n s l a t i o n o f H a k u i n ' s ' S o n g o f M e d i t a t i o n ' , 8 6

S U B R A H M A N Y A M , P R O F . K .

B e y o n d P s y c h o l o g y , 1 33 ; Book Reviews, 183-4

S H U D D H A N A N D A B H A R A T I , Y O G I

Book Reviews, 184, 255

•:T. K. S.

T h e S e c r e t s o f A r u n a c h a l a , 1 05 ; T h e M y t h o l o g y

o f Ar un ac h a l a , 141 ; Book Reviews, 6?

T. S. G.

B o o k Reviews, 254

U N N A M U L A I

A V i s i t t o A n a n d a s h r a m , 38 ; Book Reviews, 250

V E N K A T E S W A R L U , P A I D I

Tr i bute to Sa i Baba , 169

W E I W U W E I

" I am no t , but the U ni v er s e i s Myself " , 44 ;

No n-V ol i t i on a l L i v i ng , 88 ; See i ng i t S i mp l y , 157 ;

The Essent i a l Id ent i ty , 232

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in

H E N N C O L L I N S , f DR. W . J. — Caus alitv and M U K T A N A N D A , S W A M I . — A n impression of Maha rshi

Rebirth, 252

H I D D I N G H E , . K J O I C E t — An Interpretation fro m

Sri Ramana, 42 ^ T h e Power of Shaktipata, 1 6 7 f

Ashram Bulletin, 116 . x

M U R U G E S A M U D A L I A R . P U R I S A I — Fir e Walki ng in

3 6 1 South India, 189 . J

Horoscope of Sri ^Ramana Maharshi, 5 8 ; Analysis NAGARAJA RAO, PROF. — Th e Restorer of Advaita,

of th e Hor os co pe by L. K. B A N E R J I , 214 ; 28.4

Holland: A dream world, 7 7

H I G G S , M I C H A E L f— Haiku (Poem) ,

Astrologic al Note by V. T. SESHADRI, 216 ; Notes N A M B I A R , K. K. — Silent Response, 82 ; A be t on

(Western style) by late R A O SAHER M . D .

S A G A N E , 363

H U M P R E Y S , C H R I T M A S — A Tri bute fr om , 99 JT

I N D I R A D E V I — Modes of Pray er, 143 A .

INTRODUCING. . . . .— Kris hna Bikshu, Ra ma-

swami P i l l a i / 1 2 1 ; Kunju Swami, 2 1 7 * f T . P

prayer, 161 ; Ho w I came to the Maharshi, 277.>/~

NARASIAH, S. L. — Ashram Bulletin, 119, 381. X

O S B O R N E , A R T H U R — Ram ana S at-Guru (Po em ), 9 ;

Buddha and Ramana, 44 ; Book Reviews, 111;

199-200, 287-290; 367. Heart and the Head

(Poem), 192 ; Lines from a ' Testament' (Poem),,

Ramachandra Iyer/299 : Venkatoo (T. N. Ven- ^ 228; Rene Guenon, Restorer of Traditional

kataraman), 382.

J A N A K I M A T A — (a no te on her l i f e ) , 105

J A Y A C H A M A R A J A W A D I A R , H. H. THE M A H A R A J A OF

MY S O RE — Sri Ramana and the Indian Philo

sophic Tradition, 238. A

JESUDASAN, F R . , S.J. —Miracle of Lourdes, 177/

K A M E S W A R A R A O , V. — How I came to the Mahar

shi, jM./^K A R A M C H A N D A N I , DR. P. V . — H o w I came to the P O O S A L A R — 1 7 . * ^ "

Maharshi, 5 ; A n introduction to Japji , 263. «f" «Quis Separabit *

Symbolism in the West, 330; How I came to the

Maharshi, 351; Th e Oldman of the Sea (Poem) ,

7A

3 4 8 . ^ . K 4^ f

PANDIT, M . P . — Book Reviews, 112-3; 202 ; 290-1 : *

A Note on Vedic Symbolism, 362.*T"

P A N R I M A L A I S W A M I G A L , S R I - L A - S R I — Mahar shi

Ramana and Self-enquiry, 110.^^

PATTABHIRAMAN, C. R. —Guidance of Sages, 3 4 . ^

- Self-Enquiry, 194.^

KRISHNAJI , T . — Meera Bai and Bridal Symbolism, QUTBUDDIN, ABDULLAH — Jnani, Prophet and Avatar

309. f~

K R I S H N A B H I K S H U — Introducing, 121 r 61 ; The Rosary in Islam, 149 ; We will show

them our signs, 328./~

K R I S H N A M U R T H Y , P R O F . N. R. — Sri Bhagav an' s R A D H A K R I S H N A N , DR. S. — Bhagava n Sri Ram ana,

triumphant Gaze, 95 ; Rosary in Hinduism, 146y Sustainer of Spiritual Reality, 31 ; A Message,

RAJAGOPALAIYER, N. R . — Bhagavan's teaching on

Aham Vritti, 236. ^

K R I S H N A S W A M Y , DR . T. N. — The Mah ars hi and

Healing, 25 ; Whos e will be done ? 138. ^ ^

KULKARNI , PROF. G. V. — Book Reviews, 203-4.

K U N J U S W A M I — Introducing, 217 ; So me re mi ni

scences, 282. f

L A K S H M A N A S A R M A , K. — Ramana Jayanthi, 1 1 / ^ R A J A N , N. N. — Suffer Little Children-, 10 ; Tiru-

R A J A G O P A L A S A S T R I , S . -

205-6; 291/

Book Reviews, 113-4;

LIBRA — Thoughts and Clouds, 318.

L I E T Z , G E R T R U D — A vis i t f rom Germany, 6 8. ^

Life Subscribers-Members —128 to 130. X

M A H ^ C D E V A N , DR . T. M . P . — Shankara and Ramana,

55 ; Ashram Bulletin, 377."h~

M A I E R , DR , H U G O — Ashram Bulletin, 212>

M A L L I K , G U R L I A L — How h e came to see me, 27.*T

chuzhi, th e birthplace of Ramana, 13 ; Miracle

of Tirupati Venkataramana, 174./*"

R A M A C H A N D R A I Y E R , T. P. — Introducing, 299;

Consciousness, 327.A

RAMACHANDRAN, A . V. — Sri-La-Sri Panrimalai

Swamigal, 183./ 1

RAMACHANDRA, K. — The Maharshi and His bless

1964 IV Oct.pdf

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