ViBha Class Notes – October 15, 2023
When we became old enough and started to decide our own relationships, say at the end of middle school or high school and so on, a human being went from being just another mammal to becoming an acquaintance when we started to believe in them, in what they said or what they did. In Sanskrtam, this would be called Aastika, when we have a belief in this being. An acquaintance became closer, say a friend, and how did this happen? Belief deepened to faith, from Aastika to Shraddha, that if they make me food, I will feel safe and eat it – acquaintance to friend. When one becomes even closer, we call them family. So from Shraddha to Vishvasa or from faith to trust.
Now what kind of relationship do we have with ourselves? It has nothing to do with belief or faith or trust. It is knowledge based, experience based. We know us. We are ourselves and do not have to trust ourselves. This is Bhava in Sanskrtam, the feeling of Oneness, not just closeness. So from belief, to faith, to trust, to Oneness or Being. According to Vivekji, the most important relationship we have is with ourselves and in Vedanta in Bhagavata the name for ourselves is Bhagavan Krshna. We are trying to go from believing, to having faith, to trusting, to feeling a Oneness with Bhagavan Krshna. Bhagavan is in our heart, which means He is in everyone’s heart. The same feeling we have for ourselves, imagine having the same feeling with all beings, including all animals, plants and stones. Our course is a deep course, with deep positive implications.
We are living in a period of Kali. How did this happen? Bhagavan Krshna’s name, form and qualities became unmanifest. Kali comes from the word kala. Another English meaning of kala is machine. Post industrial revolution, everything around us uses machines – Artificial intelligence, machine based learning, and so on. Now people have machines that drive them. People who have self driving cars, now have become bad drivers. When they actually have to drive, they don’t know how to. So we are now living in an era where we are dominated by machines.
In Shrimad Bhagavata, with Kali comes Nirodha – dissolution, where we feel the fundamental, like ice becoming water and water becoming steam. It is becoming more and more dissolved or causal. Us dissolving is a fact of life. Everything associated with us, especially the body, will be dissolved. Living is a terminal condition. No one can stop that and for anyone who internalizes this fact, then they flow with Nirodha or death. Anyone who does not internalize this fact, then they fearfully age and experience Nirodha. We have all met such people, those who age gracefully and those who age fearfully. Those who age fearfully, they do not accept this fact, that Nirodha has happened, is happening and will happen.
In Chapter 4, Nirodha is shared as Pralaya. Laya is drowsiness and Pralaya is comprehensive sleepiness or dissolution. There are four types of Pralaya –
- Nitya Pralaya or regular dissolution – like being distracted or going to sleep
- More comprehensive or bigger is Naimittika Pralaya – special dissolution where Bhagavan Brahma, the Creator goes to sleep
- Prakrta Pralaya or relative dissolution – where there is no more relativity. The elements have also become unmanifest when Bhagavan Brahma dies.
- Most important is Atyantika Pralaya or Absolute dissolution, where we know the Real. We know Existence-Awareness. So we automatically unknow the unreal. The unreal does not affect us. We unknow Dvaita – that there is only Existence-Awareness, and so we feel Peace.
Chapter 5 is a very special part of Shrimad Bhagavata, so we should try to have this Bhava or feeling. Re-reading Verse 2 of Chapter 5 –
Skanda 12:5:2 – tvaṁ tu rājan mariṣyeti
paśu-buddhim imāṁ jahi
na jātaḥ prāg abhūto ’dya
deha-vat tvaṁ na naṅkṣyasi
O King, give up the animalistic mentality of thinking, “I am going to die.” Unlike the body, you have not taken birth. There was not a time in the past when you did not exist, and you are not about to be destroyed.
Reflections on this verse: Rshi Shuka shares with Raja Parikshita that the vision of Bhagavata is to describe Bhagavan. Divinity is in the details, and the more one gets immersed in the details of Bhagavan, the more one forgets the details of themselves – that they were born, that they are going to die. This is described as Pashu buddhi, the notion of one being born and the feeling that they are going to die. The one who has such a mindset lives with fight, flight, freeze, instinctive like an animal.
Rshi Shuka gives some examples of “You are not born and are not going to die”, like is a relationship between a parent and a child, like is a relationship between a tree and seed. We are beyond such limits. These relationships are a cause and effect and do not apply to us.
And then Rshi Shuka shares why someone would feel this and it is because of the mind. Death, our fear of death is an experience in our mind and in the eleventh section, the mind was given the qualification of Maya. So the one who has the notion that they were born and are going to die are described as succumbing to Maya in the last section, and in this section, it is succumbing to not being a human, but rather being an animal.
This section with Rshi Shuka is completed. This is the last verse that Rshi Shuka speaks. We have flowed through thousands of verses from Rshi Shuka and this is his last teaching.
Skanda 12:5:13 – etat te kathitaṁ tāta
yad ātmā pṛṣṭavān nṛpa
harer viśvātmanaś ceṣṭāṁ
kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi
Beloved King Parīkṣita, I have narrated to you the topics you originally inquired about – the pastimes of the Lord Hari, the Supreme Soul of the universe. Now, what more do you wish to hear?
Reflections: The vision of Shrimad Bhagavata is Vasudeva Anuchintya, that every thought of ours revolves around Bhagavan Krshna. And this is the truth as our thoughts depend on Awareness; Awareness does not depend on our thoughts. But we have to know this to be transformed by this. Our thoughts are tied to Bhagavan Krshna, but we do not know this, so we do not benefit.
Rshi Shuka is asking Raja Parikshita what else he wants to know. He had six questions and he has answered these six questions. And if there were more questions, then he would stop Takshaka. Here Rshi Shuka’s nature is being expressed, that he is the death of death. If we can visualize Takshaka, a most poisonous being, this snake is an icon of death, but Rshi Shuka can stop him. Rshi Shuka’s willpower is stronger than world power. Vivekji was sharing how much Rshi Shuka loves Raja Parikshita and us too, that his final words are coming to us directly. Rshi Shuka lives in the heart of Raja Parikshita, in the heart of Takshaka. He is Existence-Awareness. These are the final words of Rshi Shuka with the end of Chapter 5.
Chapter 4 is Nirodha in the form of Pralaya. Chapter 5 is Nirodha with the final words of Rshi Shuka. Chapter 6 is the Nirodha of Raja Parikshita.
Vivekji has already mentioned that Rshi Shuka doesn’t speak anymore, so this is Raja Parikshita speaking to Rshi Shuka.
Skanda 12:6:2 – siddho ’smy anugṛhīto ’smi
bhavatā karuṇātmanā
śrāvito yac ca me sākṣād
anādi-nidhano hariḥ
Mahārāja Parīkṣita said – I have now achieved the purpose of my life, because a great and merciful soul like you has shown such kindness to me. You have personally spoken to me this narration of the Supreme Personality of the Godhead, Hari, which is without beginning or end.
Some details around this verse – Before Raja Parikshita shares this verse with Rshi Shuka, he goes very close to him and picks up Rshi Shuka’s feet one by one, puts them on his head, and then speaks to him. He goes on to further share that he has No Fear. Let us put ourselves in this position – We have been told that we have one week to live or maybe one minute to live. What would be the feelings in our head? For some of us, it is pashu buddhi – fight, flight, or freeze. But Raja Parikshita says he has no fear, just like Prince Arjuna says in the Bhagavad Gita, Nashta Moha – He has no anxiety, stress, or dejection. Then Raja Parikshita shares again – Please bless me. Please give me permission to be enlightened or be in Samadhi (to absorb all of his identification to the Spirit).
Let us try to feel that detail of Surrender to one’s Trust triangle.
In Vivekachoodamani, the shishya asks the Sadguru or guide if he/she can ask a question, that level of Surrender or permission. Here Raja Prikshita is asking if he can be in Samadhi. These are some of the final words of Raja Parikshita as well. Now both Rshi Shuka’s and Raja Parikshita’s words are complete.
Rshi Shuka is an icon of Fearlessness and we can only give what we have. So what did Rshi Shuka give Raja Parikshita? Fearlessness. If we look at murtis of Bhagavan, one hand is up like a high five, symbolizing Abhaya dana. The highest form of dana or generosity is Abhaya. Rshi Shuku obviously doesn’t say yes as Rshi Shuka and Raja Parkishita had become One. This is just felt!
Vivekji had recently read that when Rshi Shuka was describing various Bhaktas in Bhagavata, he actually became each Bhakta and spoke from that narrative. So for example, when he was describing Bhakta Prahlada, he became Bhakta Prahlada and spoke from that depth. One of the greatest qualities we can invoke is empathy and Rshi Shuka has done that. Rshi Shuka is in Raja Parikshita’s heart, can feel his heart, and has taught him accordingly. Now that Raja Parikshita asks him for permission, he can feel Rshi Shuka in his heart, so they do not have to exchange words.
Our completing verse for this chapter is Verse 8 –
Skanda 12:6:8 – ity uktas tam anujñāpya
bhagavān bādarāyaṇiḥ
jagāma bhikṣubhiḥ sākaṁ
nara-devena pūjitaḥ
Who is now speaking is Suta. There are three dialogues happening. The three main teachers are Rshi Shuka, the Suta also known as Rshi Ugrashavas and the final dialogue is with us, this course itself.
Rshi Ugrashavas said: Thus requested, the saintly son of Shreela, Vyāsadeva gave his permission to Raja Parīkshita. Then, after being worshiped by the King and all the sages present, Śukadeva departed from that place.
Raja Parikshita felt Rshi Shuka in his heart, and he tried to worship Rshi Shuka, but Rshi Shuka’s seva or work was done. If we recall, he never stayed anywhere longer than it takes to milk a cow – he never waited for that worship. This is like, once a large group of people were praising Pujya Swami Tejomayananda and this was becoming so common that his response to them was COT – change of topic!
So now Rshi Shuka did not wait for the worship or Raja Parikshita’s Samadhi or Takshaka to come and bite him. He had full belief, faith, trust and feeling that Raja Parikshita was free now. The feeling that is being shared is that both Rshi Shuka and Raja Parikshita have no doubt. Our doubt is whether Bhagavan is looking at us and looking after us. But if we feel no doubt, then it is no more about Bhagavan looking at us and looking after us. Bhagavan IS. There is no more us, just Bhagavan IS. No doubt here is a very powerful feeling!
Now, Takshaka comes disguised as a Brahmana to that satsanga. He comes disguised as a teacher. When everyone is at ease, their vigilance is down, he quickly transforms into a snake and bites Raja Parikshita. And instantly Raja Parikshita’s body burns and disintegrates! And everyone gathered is stunned. How did this happen? They kind of let that go. They are stunned that someone who a week earlier was sort of filled with fear, and now a week later is free. So the finality of this scene is when the Devas and Suras are gathered in heaven and start to play music and offer flowers.
The best celebration of life is when we become the Death of death.
Final reflection: In the eleventh section, Bhagavan Krshna “DIED” and how gracefully He died! He was sitting in the jungle, He got shot by an arrow and He died. In this section, we see how gracefully Raja Parikshita has died. He was in Satsanga, he was intensely poisoned and he died. Shrimad Bhagavata teaches us the Art of Dying. This is a Master Map in how the sections are designed and the chapters are connected. Now as we complete our 161 hours, imagine we had the same fate and that we only have 168 hours or in our case, 8 more weeks. Are we feeling the art of dying more?
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Reflective Dynamics: Try to feel that Raja Parikshita, Rshi Shuka and Bhagavan Krshna are in our heart! They are our sense of Being. Listen carefully and try to feel deeply:
Suta said, “Hearing these words of Shuka, Vyasa’s offspring, who is ever established in the experience of the Atman in everything, Raja Parikshita approached him, placed his feet on his own head and spoke to him with palms joined in salutation.”
The Raja said, “I have indeed achieved my highest end in life by being the object of your blessing. From your mouth, I have been able to hear about the greatness and excellences of Shri Hari, the Infinite without birth or death. It is no wonder that such saintly ones as you, whose minds are always devoted to Achyuta, bless and console the ignorant who are afflicted by the woes of worldly life. I have been blessed enough to hear from you this Purana which is entirely devoted to the description of the excellences of the worshipful Lord of sanctifying fame. O Holy One, for me who has attained the Brahmic state of bliss, beyond all fear through your instruction, Takshaka and other specters of death hold fear no more. O Holy One, bless me so that I may breathe my last with my senses in-gathered, with the mind freed from its store of desires and my vital energies concentrated exclusively on the Supreme Lord. The reign of ignorance and its results has ceased for me forever by my firm establishment in the knowledge and experience as the Spirit – that state of Supreme blessedness which is the Lord through the instructions imparted by you.”
Suta said, “Saying so the King Parikshita worshiped the Sage Shuka who blessed him and then departed along with other ascetics. As for the Rajarshi Parikshita, he sat there motionless like a tree, having made the mind in-gathered, concentrated and absorbed in the Paramatma by exercising the controlling power of the buddhi. He was seated facing north on the banks of the Ganga, on a seat of darbha grass, spread with their tips towards the east, free from all doubts and all attachments. The Great Yogi that he was, he sat there fully absorbed in the experience of the unity of the Self with Brahman.
Now, the serpent Takshaka, impelled by the incensed Brahmana boy, went towards the King at an opportune moment to kill him. On the way he met Kashyapa, a Brahmana who is an expert in treating victims of snake poison. Presenting much wealth to that expert in treating snake poison, Takshaka managed to win him over and send him away from the scene. Being capable of taking any form, he took the form of a Brahmana in order to disarm all suspicion, and approaching the King, inflicted the fatal bite on him. At once, even as all the assembled people were looking on, the body of the Rajarshi, who was united in Spirit with Brahman, was reduced in a flash to ashes by the fiery poison of the serpent. On the Earth, in the sky, in all the quarters, the distressed cry of “Alas” reverberated. Devas, Asuras and humans stood wonderstruck and immobilized. The celestials then sounded kettledrums, the Gandharvas sang and the devas showered flowers crying, “Hail! Hail! Hail”!
Try to establish ourselves in the truth that Raja Parikshita, Rshi Shuka, Bhagavan Krshna, are established in our heart. They don’t just look after you, they don’t just look at you, but They Are You!
Stretch, inhale, open your eyes, and smile! This is temporary Enlightenment!
Leela is that which makes us melt our individuality. So this is Bhagavan’s leela!
Last week’s discussion: How does the fear of death affect our life?
Vivekji’s thoughts: The fear of death makes us hold on more which makes living and dying harder.
Last week’s RAW: Write to Rshi Shuka about how we feel about him.
Vivekji’s reflection – An English word for Brahman is Reality. When we write to Rshi Shuka and we feel that he can feel this, that is us getting closer to Brahman. Reality is being better oriented for us. When we pray, do we feel Bhagavan is listening to us? If we do, then Bhagavan is real for us, but we have to feel that.
RAW: To spend 15 minutes each day visualizing these verses that Vivekji has read. Vivekji read verses 1-15 from Chapter 6 – Raja Parikshita’s enlightenment, Rshi Shuka’s moving, Raja Parkshita’s moving, how the world responds. Everyone must visualize this to personalize this.