Bhaj Govindam Verse 17

Bhaj Govindam Though written by another disciple, this verse is a direct continuation of the previous verses. It is like the last verses flows directly into this verse. They talk about the then prevalent exploitation and dominance of Sanathan Dharma by a few, and how people were being mislead. This glorious way of life was wrapped up in layers of blind rituals and taboos, to a great extent it still is. There goes a story - That during the prayer, a family had to tie a black cat which roamed around their house, to keep it away from the alter. However, generations later, because the true reason for tying the cat was lost, this actually became a part of the family ritual, they considered it not possible to complete the prayer without a black cat, believing that the cat is essential for this prayer, they would actually get a black cat specially for the occasion and tie it for the prayers. This is exactly what is happening today. When the masses behave like illiterates and find it beyond their ability to read the original scriptures and understand the deeper meanings, what else can be expected, but the downfall of this eternal way of life. Guru Subodhaji is also saying just like old age (verse 15), coloured robes (verse 16), pilgrimage, penance and charity (Verse 17) do not directly translate into a desire free, liberated state.Here, he is NOT against pilgrimages, fasting/penance or charity. Here, Karma Kandh is NOT being condemned, but the ignorance with which it is being done is being ridiculed. He is emphasising, that when these holy endeavours are under taken, a clarity is needed on;Who is doing this?Who should get the benefit?Why are we doing this?How this should be done?The Final TestVerse 17कुरुते गङ्गासागरगमनं, व्रतपरिपालनमथवा दानम्।ज्ञानविहिनः सर्वमतेन, मुक्तिं न भजति जन्मशतेन॥१७॥किसी भी धर्म के अनुसार ज्ञान रहित रह कर गंगासागर जाने से, व्रत रखने से और दान देने से सौ जन्मों में भी मुक्ति नहीं प्राप्त हो सकती है॥१७॥Kurute GangasagaragamanamVrataparipalanamathava DanamJnanavihinah SarvamatenaBhajati Na Muktim JanmasatenaThe Seventeenth verse said to me - Shruti Says🌷There is no point in going for pilgrimages, Or observing fast/penance nor giving Charity,If one does these out of ignorant selfish reasons.These pious acts done without true knowledge and pure intentions,cannot give liberation even in a thousand years,So say all dharms in unison. ———————————————Who is doing this? Who should get the benefit?Till we are in Deh Buddhi or body consciousness and the feeling that I am the doer (Karta Bhav) and I am the beneficiary (Bhogta Bhav) is there, all the activities be it as noble as pilgrimage, penance or charity, will lead to only bondage and not liberation. The reason is simple, ‘I’ binds. The moment one sees God in his very self and others. When he starts seeing no second. That very moment the ‘Doer-ship and the I’ dissolve and the knot of ignorance in the heart is broken, all the doubts vanish and the entire stock of his karmas get dissolved. All activities of man mainly leads to transmigration, but the same, when offered to the Lord, lose their binding character.We should also remember that, all that we are able to do is by the grace of the Lord, without his will moving even one leaf is not possible. We are but the puppet in the hand of God, we need to be just the flute in Krishna’s hand. Then remains no bhogta nor any Karta. Krishna and The FluteEveryday Krishna would go in the garden and say to all the plants, “I love you”. The plants would respond back happily “Krishna, we love You, too”. One day Krishna rushed into the garden very alarmed. He went to the bamboo plant and the bamboo plant asked, “Krishna, whats wrong with you?” Krishna said “I have something to ask from you, but it is very difficult”. The bamboo said “Tell me: if I can, I will give it to you”. So Krishna said “I need your life. I need to cut you”. The bamboo thought for a while and then said “You don’t have any other choice. You don’t have any other way?” Krishna said, “No, no other way”. And it said “OK”. So Krishna cut the bamboo, made holes in it, and each time, while he was doing that, the bamboo was crying with pain, because he was hurting the bamboo so much. Krishna made a beautiful flute out of it. And this flute was with Krishna all the time.Even the Gopis were jealous of the flute. They said, “Look, Krishna is our Lord, but yet we get to spend only some time with him. He wakes up with you, He sleeps with you, all the time you are with him”. So one day they asked the bamboo, “Tell us the secret of it. What secret do you have, that the Lord treasures you so much?” And the bamboo said, “The secret is that I’m empty inside. And the Lord does whatever he wants with me.”Why are we doing this?This we have discussed in great length in verse 16 (Sadhana vs Sadhan) - It is a means or the end. In Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran, when Bhagirath was urging Ma Ganga to descend to earth, she asked a prominent question, will quote directly from the Granth;Ma Ganga: I am not inclined to go down to the terrestrial region (Mrtyu Lokh) for people will wash aways there sins into me. Where will I wash off that sin myself.Bhagirath: Ma, pious souls who have given up attachment to actions as well as to their fruit, are pure of mind, foremost amongst the knower of Brahma and capable of purifying the whole world, shall wash off your sin through the very contact of their body while bathing in your water. For in them in their hearts dwells Sri Hari, the destroyer of sins.We have to ask ourselves which category do we fall in, the purifier or the sinner. The same Pilgrimage, penance and Charity can be an end and the means, depending on who is doing it. We have to evaluate where we stand, and we have to be honest to ourself.How this should be done?In a nut shell: pilgrimage + Divine Wisdom, Penance + Divine Wisdom and Charity + Divine Wisdom = Vigyan (True knowledge of the self)Pilgrimage + Ignorance, Penance + Ignorance and Charity + Ignorance = Manifold increase in Delusion Note: The rain water is pure, if it falls on the rose petal it is called dew drops, and if it falls in the drain it not fit for drinking. Lets delve deeper;Pilgrimage (Tirath)These days most people are just like tick mark tourist. They have to tick visiting a place in their spiritual tourist list. However, it is not only a place, but the company of a saint and also the amount of time spent with holy people on the tirath sthan, and contemplating on the divine on that spot. We need to become one with that place, and go like Ramji with an ‘Udasin Vrath’, where most comforts are given up. In olden days, when a person left on Tirath yatra it was never sure if that person would return. It was a journey taken even at the expense of ones own life. The yearning for the Lord and the belief that he is there, is the foundation stone of pilgrimage. If there is this kind of devotion towards the Triath, the person can not return with desires for the material world, they get burnt there and returns a pure individual who has felt the presence of Lord.We can not and should not undermine the importance of these holy places. The question is not if we should visit, but how we should visit and post the visit what changes have to be made in our life.Penance (Tapas)Here there is no debate if Tapas is needed or not. Tapas and Penance is needed.We all try to find an easy ways and quote people like Raja Janak and Gurus, who seem to be indulging. They had done their share of tapas to reach a stage where they could be in the midst of luxury and yet not get attached to it. It is a wrong comparison we make between them and us. If milk debate that just like butter, it can also be put into water and maintain its own identity, it is a funny state of affairs. Most wise people would just leave the fool alone, and not even indulge in a debate with the dim wit.All Subodhaji is saying here is, be aware of where you are in your Sadhana (Refer to Sadhana Vs Sadhan in verse 16) Be aware if it is a means or the end that you are working on?Is there effort or now one has reached a phase of effortless effort?The tapas is to gain from the Lord or to gain the Lord himself?Dana (Charity)What is Charity?Charity is giving till it hurts, it pinches. Beyond what you need, is best used in charity. Most of us use charity as brownie points to cover our self indulgence, and give us a sense of comfort that we have also done something for the greater good.“When god blesses you financially, don’t raise your standards of living, raise your standards of giving."Charity is only fruitful when you have earned your money in the right way and you are giving it to the right person, with the right intention. Types of Chairty:- Dhan - Donation in the form of money - Aana - Food/medicine/cloths etc (quality of charity - food fresh or left overs)- Smaya -Time- Gyana - Knowledge- Abhaya - FearlessnessSamay Dana - Giving time is...