Samashti Puja & Completion – Chinmaya Mission Niagara

ViBha Class Notes – December 17, 2023

Today is the completion of our 5 year journey of Vedanta in Bhagavata, encompassing 168 hours of classes of satsang. We just chanted Shanti Shanti Shantih. The first Shanti or Peace is – May my inner world be peaceful! One of the hardest parts about teaching Bhagavata is that not a lot of people teach it over such a lengthy period. Vivekji covered many verses of Bhagavata, sharing the section, the chapter and the particular verse, but these are not verses chanted often by others. So, Vivekji feels this guilt about how poor his chanting is of Rshi Shuka’s teachings, of Bhagavan Krshna’s words. That is one of the hardest parts of teaching Bhagavata for Vivekji, of having this guilt of not chanting a verse correctly or in the right tone. Vivekji is thus beginning our completion by asking forgiveness to Rshi Shuka and to Bhagavan Krshna. If we feel the same way, we should fold our hands near our heart. Over the past 5 years, during this course, if we have been distracted or angry or not thinking about Rshi Shuka or Bhagavan Krshna, then we are all asking for forgiveness –

Visaarga Bindumaatrani Padapadaksharani cha

Nyunani Chatirktaani Kshamasva Parameshwara

Achyutaya Namah

Anantaya Namah

Govindaya Namah

For the past 5 years, we have begun with our Dhyana Shlokas. Vivekji is going to re-order the Dhyana Shlokas this time, starting with the Bahikarana shloka. This is the verse that states that this is an external practice, this is what will prepare us for Bhagavata –

Dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo ‘tra paramo nirmatsarāṇāṁ satāṁ

vedyaṁ vāstavam atra vastu śivadaṁ tāpa-trayonmūlanam

śrīmad-bhāgavate mahā-muni-kṛte kiṁ vā parair īśvaraḥ

sadyo hṛdy avarudhyate ‘tra kṛtibhiḥ śuśrūṣubhis tat-kṣaṇāt

This is the means and the means is Dharma – to follow our responsibilities and to try not to be distracted in our responsibilities, or dilute our responsibilities. In this verse, it is shared that just by listening to Bhagavata, it helps us not to dilute, not be distracted, but to be intentional.

Once we have prepared ourselves through this Bahikarana sadhana or external discipline, the next verse is sharing the Antakarana sadhana, the more intense discipline that will transform us –

Janmādy asya yato ’nvayād itarataś cārtheṣv abhijñaḥ svarāṭ

tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye muhyanti yat sūrayaḥ

tejo-vāri-mṛdāṁ yathā vinimayo yatra tri-sargo ’mṛṣā

dhāmnā svena sadā nirasta-kuhakaṁ satyaṁ paraṁ dhīmahi

The inner practice is Dhimahi or Contemplation. This requires preparation. Sadhana is to lead us to the Sadhya. Sadhya is not a means, external or internal, not a means which is less intense or more intense, but Sadhya means ends. The ends of Bhagavata is to feel that we Belong to Bhagavan. We are no longer an individual, but we are his 100% unconditional instrument, like the Gopis, like Bhakta Prahalada.

Sac-cid-ānanda-rūpāya viśvotpaty-ādi-hetave

tāpa-traya-vināśāya śrī-kṛṣṇāya vayaḿ numaḥ

There is Only Bhagavan Krshna and nothing else.

Shrimad Bhagavata’s first section is on Shishya or Disciple. The shishya or disciple is Raja Parikshita. The word Parikshita means the one who reflects. We also are reflecting and seeking. We are Raja Parikshita. The second section of Shrimad Bhagavata shifts from shishya to Sadhana. If we are a disciple, that means we are ready for Discipline. The discipline of Shrimad Bhagavata is Contemplation. And this is how we are going to complete Shrimad Bhagavata, our Vedanta in Bhagavata course, by practicing the Contemplation that was guided to Raja Parikshita.

The first Contemplation is on the Ishtarupa. Ishta means personal – one’s personal name, form and qualities of the Divine and for us that is Bhagavan Krshna. Bhagavan Krsha is the 20th Avatara that is listed in Shrimad Bhagavata. The second flow of our Contemplation will go from Ishtarupa to Vishvarupa, to the impersonal name, form and qualities. For us, that is Bhagavan Narayana who is Avatara 0. When Infinity comes as Divinity, that is Bhagavan Narayana, then Bhagavan Narayana takes on more Avataras. The final discipline that is offered to Raja Parikshita and to us is to contemplate not on Ishtarupa, not on Vishvarupa, but Atmarupa or Svarupa, for us to contemplate on who we are, that is our Nature. And this is not an Avatara. We have Atma who assumes

Avatara 0, which is Bhagavan Narayana, who assumes Avatara 20, which is Bhagavan Krishna. This is what Rshi Shuka shared with Raja Parikshita, this is what we have been practicing and we will now finally practice once again.

We are shifting to the Puja now. In our Puja, we are going to collectively offer Puja to Bhagavan Krshna-Radha through their Utsava murtis. There are many materials that are needed for a Puja, for this formal ritual, but for the sake of simplicity and the environment, Vivekji will only use Akshata or rice for all of the materials that are needed. Everyone should get ready in their hearts. With our hands folded near our hearts –

Atha Aacharana. We are seeing Bhagavan Ganesha in ourselves, around us. Let us whisper or chant softly –

śuklāmbaradharaṃ vishnum śaśivarṇaṃ caturbhujam ।

prasannavadanaṃ dhyāyetsarvavighnopaśāṃtaye ॥

Atha Pranayama – Let us begin to breathe in a deep way in and out, really feeling that our body is becoming more pure.

Atha Dhyana – Let us visualize externally and internally our Guide and the lineage of Guides in our life; they are the ones who protect us. Those who provide external protection, that is temporary. A gGide teaches us to be independent and that is eternal protection.With our hands folded near our hearts –

Gururbrahmā gururviṣṇuḥ gururdēvō mahēśvaraḥ ।

gururēva parambrahma tasmai śrīguravē namaḥ ॥

We have completed the introduction to this Puja. Our Mukhya Puja begins with this 4th step which is –

Atha Avahana – Let us reflect on what our Sankalpa will be. Sam kalpa means well changed. From 2019 to 2023, we have had lots to reflect on in terms of who we are. Now is the space and time to solidify that we are going to change in a specific way. This is our micro sankalpa, out of gratitude and appreciation to Bhagavan, to the Trust triangle. Let us identify what that is and feel that it is being established in our heart. Let us also recognize that we have a community sankalpa as well – our macro “well change”. We are already feeling privileged, but to share that privilege so that others also get to feel what we are. We keep doing this by offering our effort, offering our time and offering our resources.

Now, let us close our eyes. Bhagavan Krshna will come on in a different way for all of us. Now with our left hand, let us touch our heart and extend our right hand forward, then open our eyes and feel that we are touching Bhagavan Krshna’s feet. Then let us repeat –

Om Krshna Brahmane Namah. Avahayami.

The digital image or the pachaloha murthi in front of us is not just pixels and metal. We take for granted that Bhagavan lives in our hearts. This is us solidifying that we are not going to take this for granted. Now that we have invoked or invited Bhagavan, Bhagavan never says no to us. When we are doing that which is right, Bhagavan just removes our obstacles and says yes, yes, yes.

Atha Asana – We are welcoming Bhagavan to stay and be comfortable. The more we shift from making ourselves comfortable to making Bhagavan comfortable, the more we will feel that He is staying with us.

Om Krshna Brahmane Namah

Aasanam Samarpayami

Bhagavan says He is going to stay and sleep over. We want Bhagavan to feel fresh so we offer Gandham or sandalwood paste. This is for Him to feel fresh, but it is really for us to prepare for this freshness.

Om Krshna Brahmane Namah

Gandham Samarpayami

Atha Archana – Now the next part of our Puja is where we are thinking, speaking and using our hands to know that Bhagavan is more than just an externality. What is significant about Bhagavan is the Gunas. This is where we are deepening our Contemplation from our Ishtarupa or Bhagavan Krshna to the Vishvarupa that is Bhagavan Narayana. In our Archana, Vivekji will chant Om Namo Narayanaya 108 times and will use the mala that was at the feet of Bhagavan Jagadeeshwara at Sandeepani, the mala that was touched and blessed by Swami Tejomayananda.

We should chant in our heart or write, but feel Om Namo Narayanaya.

Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Namo Narayanaya

Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Namo Narayanaya…

Please repeat –

Krshna Para Brahmane Namah

Archanam Samarpayami.

In our Puja, the first 3 steps are known as the Purva Puja. It is to prepare us for there to be a change in our heart. That was Aacharana, Pranayama and Dhyana. The Mukhya Puja started in the 4th step which was Avahana. Everyone made a promise to their Ishtarupa, Vishvarupa and Atmarupa to change well, to make a change especially knowing the opportunities that we all have in the form of our community and in the form of Vedanta in Bhagavata, as well as our Samashti or our collective well change. After we feel privileged, we must help others to feel the privilege.

Avahana – Asana – Gandha – Archana and now Naivedya

Atha Naivedya – Naivedya is a feeling of cheer. The more content we become, the more cheerful we become. Please repeat –

Om Krshna Brahmane Namah

Naivedyam Samarpayami

Now we make another transition in our Puja, from the 20th Avatara to the 0 Avatara.

Atha Namaskara – We are moving to the Infinity where there is no sense of Avatara. There is only a sense of Being. So now let us relax our bodies, enjoy our breath, chant with the mind and reflect with the intellect as we all actively listen to Atma Shataka – as we listen to the teachings, the experience of being one with the Atma. We are offering Namaskara to our own Self, as we are with ourselves –

Mano Buddhyahamkara-Chittani Naham

Nacha Shrotra Jihve Na Cha Ghrana Netre

Nacha Vyoma-Bhoomirna Tejo Na Vayuh