The Veda is the Mother of all the scriptures (sastras). The Veda emanated from God Himself as inhalation and exhalation. The great sages, who were the embodiments of the treasure gained by long ascetic practices, received the Veda as a series of sounds and spread it over the world by word of mouth from preceptor to pupil.
Since it was “heard” and preserved by generations, the Veda is known as sruthi, “that which was heard or listened to”. The Veda is endless.
The Vedas: divine revelations
Who composed the Vedas? Until today, it has not been possible to unveil their names. Those who recited it had perhaps no desire to earn renown, for the names are nowhere seen mentioned in the Veda. Perhaps they attached no importance to their names, clans, or sects, or it is likely they had no kith or kin or clan. Whoever they may be, the sages were sure they were masters of all knowledge, for the sense of equality and equanimity found in the Veda is the innate quality of only such wise person...
Parikshith pleads not to be left behind
It was a pitiable sight. Parikshith, the little boy with the crown on his head, plaintively approached his grandfather and others, clung to their feet, and pleaded to accompany them into the forest. He would eat roots and fruits, engage himself in sacred ceremonials, and be happy. “Please entrust the kingdom to some virtuous minister and allow me to come with you, so that I might serve you and make my life worthwhile,” he appealed. Those in the hall were moved to tears by his agony at being left behind. Rocks would have melted in sympathy, had they listened to his anguish.
Dharmaraja managed heroically to suppress his emotions; he lifted the boy, placed him on his lap, and poured consolation and courage into his ear. “Dear child! Don’t become so weak-minded. You are a child born in the dynasty of Bharatha; can a sheep be born in a dynasty of lions? Your father, mother, and grandfathers are full of courage, bold champions of truth, who mad...
Swami: Oh! When did you arrive? You were not visible anywhere outside. Are you well?
Devotee: I came two days ago. I see here a number of people everywhere outside. I hear the incessant confusion of voices. Coming from my place to avoid that confusion, I find here crowds also. Therefore, I came inside. There, it is fine, blissful, quiet. That is why I was inside the Hall. It is as quiet inside as it is restless outside.
Swami: What is special about this? It is natural. Where there is sugar, the ants gather - and between outside and inside, this is the distinction! That is the characteristic. That is how it is.
Devotee: Swami! I don’t understand what You say. If You tell me in detail, I shall listen and be happy.
Swami: You yourself said, didn’t you, that there is an outside and an inside? Well. Those are what we call the external world (bahya-prapancha) and the internal world (antara-prapancha). Now, which is the internal? Give me your idea.
Devotee: You want it to come from my mou...
Indeed, recollecting Krishna’s boyish pranks and enabling others to listen to their descriptions gave Suka great delight! Therefore, as soon as he was asked, he began. “O King, there is no higher course for you during the few remaining days of life than contemplation of God, is there? The doings of the Lord are drops of nectar. Every one of them is a fountain of spiritual bliss (ananda). Tell me which of them you wish to hear about, and I’ll describe the truth of each to you and the glory that I saw.” King Parikshith replied, “Master! I want to hear of the wondrous way in which Gopala moved among the cowherd boys. That will give me such joy that I can liberate myself from the hold of death and birth.” The Lord eats the leavings of his companions So, Suka said, “King! Gopala woke early, during the hours from 4 to 6 (Brahma-muhurtha). Soon, He finished bathing and went into the cowshed to select and separate the cows and calves that had to be taken to the pastures that day....
Q. How then can this delusion disappear?
A. Why, discrimination (viveka) and spiritual wisdom (vijnana) will make it disappear.
Q. For the individual soul (jivi) reflected in the intellect (buddhi) and the Changeless - does one of them superimpose on the other?
A. Though there may appear to be no superimposition, the superimposition exists.
Q. How is that?
A. The Changeless is unattached, unmoved, unaffected, and ever-free. Still, due to the superimposition, it appears differently. This is the result of their coexistence.
Q. Some elders say that “That (Thath)” and “you (thwam)” are the same, identical. How is that? What does it all mean? Please enlighten me.
A. Take the pot, house, and a pitcher. They are distinct, right? They are not identical. But the space (akasa) that is in all of them is the same. When the condition or limitation is removed, the space in the pot, hut, and pitcher all merge with the space that is unconditioned, unlimited. Light is also like this. The light ...
Q. In this cosmos, which is the human body, what is the best dharma to follow? Which stage of life (asrama) is most conducive for that dharma? How many stages of life are there in all?
A. There are four stages of life. If you know about them, you can yourselves decide which stage of life you are to fulfil, examining your own achievement, progress, and aptitude. The four stages are: spiritual student (brahmacharya), householder (grihastha), forest dweller (vanaprastha), and renunciant (sanyasa).
Q. Different explanations are given by different people for the word spiritual studentship and the stage it denotes. I wish to know from you the real significance of that stage.
A. Very well. It is believed that all who haven’t become householders are entitled to be called spiritual students.
This is very wrong. Only those who keep their minds away from the delusions of the world, who are constantly engaged in the thought of God, who don’t look at or listen to light or merely entertaining st...
Q. I have heard it said that the worlds (lokas) are all in the body of people! Some experienced people and some who are learned in the scriptures (sastras) have said so. Is that true? What are those worlds? Where are they situated?
A. Yes. They are: the earth in the feet, the atmosphere in the genitals, heaven in the navel, the great world in the heart, the world of good people in the throat, the world of virtue in the brow centre, and the realm of truth on the crest of the head, These worlds, called the upper worlds, are all situated in the body of people. There are also lower worlds. (The upper worlds, in the order given above, are the bhu-loka, bhuvar-loka, swar-loka, mahar-loka, janaloka, thapo-loka, and sathya-loka.)
Q. What are the lower worlds? Where do they exist?
A. The bottomless region in the soles of the feet, the depth of hell on the nails, the great depth in the heels, the bottomless pit in the hip, the infernal region in the knees, the great pit in the thighs, ...
Living is either pleasant or unpleasant, depending upon one’s basic attitude toward life. See how the same object becomes pleasant once and unpleasant on another occasion! The thing welcomed with great fondness at one time becomes hateful at another time and there is not even the desire to see it. The condition of the mind at those times is the cause of this state. Therefore, it is necessary to train the mind to be always pleasant.
Control the temper of the mind
The waters of a river leap from mountains, fall into valleys, and rush through gorges; tributaries join at various stages, and the waters become turbid and unclean. So too, in the flood of human life, speed and power increase and decrease. These ups and downs might happen at any moment during life. No one can escape them. They may come at the beginning of life, at the end, or perhaps in the middle. So, one has to convince oneself firmly that life is necessarily full of ups and downs and that, far from being afraid and worried...
Devotee: Swami, at Venkat hill (Venkatagiri), during the Assembly of God, You said some things that I couldn’t clearly understand. Can I ask about them now?
Swami: I am happy when people ask Me about things they haven’t understood. Of course, you have every right.
Devotee: You said the gross form (sthula-rupa) and the subtle form (sukshma-rupa), didn’t You? These two, are they the characteristics only of the mind (manas)? Or are they related to everything?
Swami: They are characteristic of everything; in fact, all the names and forms found in the gross exist also in the subtle stage! Why, the gross is there only to make you understand the subtle!
Devotee: Well then, Swami, we see the gross firmament (sthula-akasa); is there also a subtle firmament?
Swami: My dear boy, all this exists in that subtle firmament (akasa). The subtle one is as imperceptible and as all-pervading as the gross one.
Devotee: What is its name, Swami?
Swami: It is known as the subtle firmament of the heart (...
The brothers lived in the preceptor’s house and served him with devotion. They renounced the palace comforts and gladly underwent the hardships. They carried out the wishes of the master in humility and with loyalty.
They finished their studies in a very short period and mastered the subjects they were taught. One day, Dasaratha came with his minister to the home of their teacher. He was beside himself with joy when he saw them reciting Vedic hymns and heard the sacred formulae rolling off their tongues, clear and fast, like a cascade of bright pearls.
He was happy that his sons had learned so much.
Rama rose and fell at his father’s feet. Seeing this, the three brothers also came forward and prostrated before him. The teacher invited the emperor and minister to sit on raised seats covered with deerskin. Dasaratha began conversing with the teacher in order to find out how far the children had advanced in studies. Rama signed to his brothers that they should not overhear their talk;...
