Hi Folks
Jignyaasaa is plateuing(?); either we are running out of our zest for enquiry, or simply tired of probing further as answers are not easy to come by. Almost all to whom I spoke to, in the beginning of 2010, responded with the expressions of (a) "feeling good" and (b) a hope that the year would perhaps be far better than 2009. This optimism was shared by me, though I was unable to pin this on any concrete evidence.
The first of the 12 months has just passed; though there are still positive vibes, a creepingly negative thought has begun to erode the feeling of euphoria. Years will come and years will go, but I would be fated to go on as ever before -without any redeeming answers to any of my doubts, and sheer disbeliefs about the nature of His creation et al- seems to be my fear.
Lest all of you decide that this is an encore of my oft repeated whinings, let me get to the subject of this piece of blog. An overwhelming theme in my outpourings, has been my inability to find a reference ( a profound one) in any scripture which rated paropakaram ( doing good to others) on par or even better pedestal than the "absolute free will, I Am Him, kind of adhyathmic truisms. The paropakaram bit appealed to me to so immensely qualify to be on par and without any demur, that not able to find any texts, on this subjet, was a bit of a disappointment. This topic had evinced a slightly larger response from almost all of you in the past, but yet I remained dissatisfied till I came across a reference in a sloka ( I believe this is in the dharma shashtra texts) and this I thought is worth sharing.
God -according to this text- was trying to weigh the merits of various good deeds against the absolute freedom state of I am Him paradigm. The balance was invariably in favour of the latter, till he placed the "paropakaram"on the other side of the weighing balance. The balance clearly shifted now to the latter, namely "doing good to others" thus establishing its superiority. What did he do then? He decided to take "avatars" and took ten avatars - Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Rama, Rama, Krishna, Bouddha, Kalki - to protect us beings ( paropakaram) . Thus not only He gave us the vedas, He had the sages to write the dharma shashtras, which among other things elevates the paropakaram bit to a status even above the upanishdic aham brahmaasmi doctrine, He also took ten avatars to save/protect us. Fie on the life of a man who does no good to others is an admonition in another text.
Like this folks? I do hope you will make a determined effort to (a) contribute to this blog and (b) respond to others pieces, at least as a "paropakaram" and keep the optimism for 2010 alive for some more time!!!!
Love
Vichu
Boss,
ReplyDeleteDitto as the other, where is this 'text' from? Your command over language makes me more curious.
Somewhere God is testing 'I am Him' versus 'good deeds' as such (I guess)? and then putting the result in HIS own actions? Interesting.
Blog pieces and comments are genuine interaction that make up for the inability to spend time together in person. 2010 or otherwise. We will 'persist'!
By the way, this time Appa's tithi, Anu & I went to an old age home, and did something for the elder persons there, while Naresh undertook the rituals seriously. Great experience. The elders were just like any other elders I know all over. Felt quite a bond, and lesser 'para' feeling than I imagined. Nothing much, and intend to spend more interaction time next time, but think Appa would have approved.
I am reminded of my BITS Pilani days when each day there was a thought written in chalk on a blackboard at the entrance of the magnificent marble Saraswati temple, Birla style, with the statues of great scientists and scholars on the outside walls.
ReplyDeleteOne of those thoughts went, "Paropakaaraya punya-ya, Papaa-ya parapeedanam".
Doing service to the needy is a great way to show affection and love and give back to the world. I remember the concept of "pay-forward" (quite surprisingly from a Hollywood movie with Bruce Willis) in which you pass on to another person a good deed that someone did to you. This is opposed to the conventional "payback" where you return a good deed back to the same person.
Anand and Anu : You are most certainly among those who take paropakaaram seriously - well done! It does not come easy.
Million thanks to those many selfless relief workers who have been directly or indirectly helping those affected by natural calamities like the horrible earthquakes in China, Haiti.
The text is from a book of Acharyal's discourses, but not verbatim reproductions except one or two phrases.
ReplyDeleteI am indeed happy and also envious that you are able to participate is such paropakarams where I do not have much wherewithal, especially today.
And Ganesh, thanks for a response. the quote from Bits Pilani is just about adequate, but when dharma shastras elevate the paropakaram bit the absolute freedom state, it is a bit of a pleasant surprise.
Love
Vichu
Dear all,
ReplyDeleteSome thirty years ago acharyal was in town and was rushing from his chembur camp toDombivli.On my characteristically impulsive manner I asked for a private darshan and was accorded an audience with acharyal for some brief minutes.Annapoorni,Arun,Shekhar and myself found ourselves all alone with Sri Bharathi theertha swamigal in a small room.After our prostration Acharyal asked me what I wanted.I replied that I had nothing specific to ask and that I would consider myself blessed if Acharyal could give a brief upadesam. Acharyal was unprepared for such a request.He closed his eyes in contemplation for afew seconds and spoke in his usual masterly style just for acouple of minutes.I am compressing His message which has a direct relevance to Vichu's subject of paropakaram.The message is given below under quotes though technically speaking it may not qualify as one.
"After innumerable births in varios yonis,we have been gifted human forms.We have to make our lives saarthakam(meaningful)for which we need todo two things.1.Ishwara aaradhana 2.Paropakaaram
You are familiar with the first as you belong to a family that has great devotion to God. Paropakaram is to help someone in need such as a bright boy needing financial assistance for his college studies.
"...Indha irandaiyum chaidhu vandellnaa janmam saarthakama aayidum...."
Aln cont.
ReplyDeleteParopakaaram is,in amanner of understanding,is aradhana of all His manifest forms which includes the divine forms,His avatars and all of the forms that we recognise as individual souls.No wonder it occupies an exalted status in the hierarchy of purusha prayatnams.As vichu has rightly said itis gratifying to see that paropakaram finds a mention in dharma shastra text.
Best wishes
ALN