DOGMA IN GURU SAKASH
Namaskar,Guru Sakash is itself a dharmic practice, but some have
been staining it with dogma. And that is what is discussed in this
letter.
BABA'S GUIDELINE: HOW WE ARE TO DO GURU SAKASH
At the designated time each morning, every Ananda Margii awakens
and immediately ideates on Sadguru. This is our practice of Guru
Sakash. And this practice of Guru Sakash is just like our Guru
Dhyana. Because in Guru Sakash we are to lovingly recite His divine
Name. This is the direction in Guru Sakash:
Smarettam Nam purvakamMeaning: 'Recall His Name'
Ananda Marga spiritual philosophy states, "Whatever words you
use mentally to address the Guru at the time of dhyana or Guru
dhyana, should also be used at the time of this Guru Dhyana [i.e.
Guru Sakash]. You should always address the Guru for an extended
period. This is Gurusaka'saha." (1)
Hence in Guru Sakash the bhakta is to engage in the deeply
devotional process of chanting His divine name over and over again.
With a heart drenched in His love and with His form floating in
mind, the sadhaka is to recite His loving Name.
MOTHER - BABY ANALOGY
It is just like how a baby cries and calls out for its mother
and then the mother comes. Calling the mother's name is enough.
That baby need not repeat some poetry or text from the mother's
book in order to get the mother to come. Simply saying 'mama' is
enough.
Similarly to get Him in Guru Sakash, just calling His name is
needed-- not more & not less. Because after all that is Gurus
guideline. So we should follow Him.
CALLING SADGURU IS THE KEY POINT
Point being that Sadguru Himself directs us that when doing Guru
Sakash we are to chant His name. So then that is what every sadhaka
should do; and by following His guideline one is sure to get
success.
Hence at the time of Guru Sakash the aspirant is to internally
repeat His name or call out to Him with any other intimate and
loving epithet that naturally and spontaneously arises in the mind.
But that epithet must be a siddha mantra.
Here the main point is that one must know that in Gurusakasha
one should call Him.
And indeed, that is the very clear-cut method for doing Guru
Sakash: To repeat His divine name or address Him in any other
intimate and loving way. And by this divine practice, one will get
Him and drift in His bliss all day long.
NOT REPEAT THE SHLOKA IN GURU SAKASH
Because Guru clearly guides us to address Him in Gurusakash in
the same way that we do dhyana. One should not repeat the shloka
during Guru Sakash. Rather we are to call Him using His divine
name. That is His teaching.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Whatever words you use mentally
to address the Guru at the time of dhyana or Guru dhyana, should
also be used at the time of this Guru Dhyana [i.e. Guru Sakash].
You should always address the Guru for an extended period. This is
Gurusaka'saha." (2)
So first and foremost in every disciple's mind is to follow the
Guru. And His instruction is to chant His name at the time of Guru
Sakash - not repeat the shloka.
The value of the shloka is how to do the practice-- that
everyone should understand and remember. Just like in our first
lesson we do not repeat the entire system but rather repeat our
Ista Mantra.
And indeed Gurus original teaching on this important point of
Guru Sakash was first given in Shabda Cayanika (Bengali edition),
and there He makes no mention whatsoever that we are to repeat the
shloka. Only He is telling to repeat Gurus name.
CANNOT DO TWO WORKS AT THE SAME TIME
Here is another way of thinking of this matter of Guru
Sakash.
The limitation of the human mind is that it cannot do two works
at the same time.
Then how can someone chant His name and repeat the shloka
simultaneously. It is not possible.
It is just like: How can a person listen to two different radio
stations broadcasting two different programs at the same time. One
cannot.
Reason being two things cannot be done at same time by one unit
mind. By the method of deduction then it is clear that we are only
to repeat His name. Since that is the singular guideline on the
point of Guru Sakash. And being His disciples we are to follow Him
and not anyone else.
MANTRA MUST BE REPEATED
Logic and rationality further tell us that Baba has given the
shloka "Pra'tah shirasi..." to provide us with instructions for how
to do Guru Sakash. And those instructions are to be followed - not
repeated. And those instructions specifically state that we are to
repeat His Name.
Hence, those directives - those lines of the shloka - are not to
be repeated like a mantra during the practice of Guru Sakash. That
will not work; and that has no sense.
It is just like when practicing yama and niyama then we abide by
the guidelines of those 10 tenets. We do not sit there and repeat
the shloka: "Ahim' saty a'steyam...." (GHC) Rather we abide by the
philosophy which that shloka preaches.
Likewise, when it is time for half-bath, we do not repeat the
instructions from Caryacarya part 2, rather we go to the bath or
well and apply water accordingly.
Similarly, the shloka "Pra'tah shirasi..." is the philosophy of
HOW to do Guru Sakash, and the repetition of the dhyana mantra is
the WAY to do.
NOT REPEAT THE SHLOKA
The culminating point is that Guru Sakash is one highly
devotional teaching from Baba and we should practice it according
to His guideline- not any other way. So may we all be sincere in
our approach each and every morning and even when we awake in the
middle of the night. In all such times may we follow His guideline
of lovingly recite Guru's name as His divine form appears in mind -
and not repeat the shloka.
Namaskar,in Him,Chandramohan
Note 1: CRYSTAL CLEAR VARABHAYA MUDRA PHOTO TO ALL
To succeed in the spiritual realm it is very helpful for
everyone to have a crystal clear copy of Sadguru in varabhaya
mudra. This is a must. So everyone should demand proper copies of
this photo from PRS Dada and others responsible for making this
available. Everyone should put forth this demand. It is our
birthright. Because without a photo of proper quality, doing Guru
Sakash and Guru Dhyana is not easy.
REFERENCES1. Yoga Psychology, '98 Edn, p.1952. Yoga Psychology,
'98 Edn, p.195
