WORKSHOP ON WORK IS WORSHIP
Guru Poornima Week- Greatness of Guru Bhakthi Series-2 - Sant Eknath
Radhe Krishna To All,
The state of Maharastra in India is renowned for the spiritual giants it had given to the world. Sant Nama Dev, Sant Thukaram, Sant Gnaneswar, Sant Jana Bai.... the list is almost endless and Sant Ekanath is one amongst the most exalted saints of India. He is frequently quoted as the one of the best examples for devotion towards a Guru.
Ekanath is known for his Guru Bhakti. He was a Mahatma who had learnt all the shastras. But he realized that Shastras were of no use. He wondered, “Of what use is learning ‘Tarka’ or Vedanta if one failed to experience peace?” Even if we are adept in all the Shastras - be it Vedanta, Tarka or any other philosophy - we cannot enjoy peace/bliss unless these are brought into experience. Books and Shastras will not bestow peace. Only sadhana will give peace. The doubts will be cleared only if seen practically. So, Ekanath felt, “I have studied all these shastras. But they are of no use. What is the essence of all these shastras? To serve a Guru,” and he deeply desired to serve a Guru. Lord Panduranga, in a dream, directed him to Janardhanaswami who was a great Mahatma.
Ekanath served Janardhanaswami for twelve long years with one-pointedness. And how did he serve his Guru all these twelve years? Without any expectation whatsoever! He would clean the place, keep all the puja articles ready for the Guru, maintain the accounts of the home, wash the Guru’s clothes and so on. Day and night he attended on his Guru. Innumerable Sadhus visited his Guru.
Janardhanaswami taught Brahma Vidya to some, Raja yoga to some, Shastras to some. The Guru blessed each with a way of attaining liberation. But nothing diverted the attention of Ekanath whose sole desire was to serve the Guru in all ways. He had nothing to ask of his Guru. He did not demand his Guru to bestow him with Mantropdesa or teach him Shastras or Vedanta Vichara. He wanted to serve his Guru. His sole aim was his Guru’s happiness. He did not even wish his Guru to take notice of his services. He served his Guru in this way for twelve long years.
Janardhanaswami felt guilty for not having given anything to this attendant devotee of his. He was wonderstruck that this young fellow had nothing to ask of him. So, he himself decided to bestow darshan of his Upasana Murti, Lord Dattatreya, on the selfless Ekanath. He asked Lord Dattatreya to give darshan to Ekanath when the latter returned from his morning bath in the river. The next day when Ekanath stepped out of the river Godavari he found Lord Dattatreya under the nearby tree. Since one should not be disrespectful to God he prostrated before this Lord. Lord Dattatreya blessed him by placing His Feet on Ekanath’s head. Ekanath then returned home.
Here, at home Janardhanaswami was restless. He walked up and down awaiting Ekanath’s return. He kept rehearsing as to how he should handle the stunned Ekanath. It was not going to be darshan in a dream but a real one, just as one person sees another. Janardhanaswami thought, “Anyone who has darshan of the Lord would swoon. Ekanath would be in bliss. Full of joy he would come running and narrate the darshan breathlessly. I must calm him down.” But Ekanath returned home and carried on with his work as usual! The Guru waited for Ekanath to come and describe the darshan in an excited tone. But Ekanath did not! The surprised Janardhanaswami called his upasana devata and asked him, “Did you not give darshan to Ekanath?” Lord Dattatreya said, “I did! Just you had asked me I gave him darshan as he returned from his bath in the river”. The astounded Guru called the devotee. “How can you be so calm? Have you not had darshan of Lord Dattatreya this morning?” Ekanath simply replied, “I never desired this! Only if I considered someone other than you as God should I feel ecstatic! Since I consider you as God there is no new darshan of God to be had anywhere else. I never desired for it nor does this surprise me. I desire only you!”
So great was his Guru Bhakti. Due to his Guru Bhakti Lord Panduranga Himself later served this Ekanath, in the form of a young man by name Kandya Kanna!
Regards
Please Chant
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
------------ --------- --------- --------- ---------
If you have any questions or doubts concerning Spirituality, Mental peace or problems in life or about dharma, please write to us by clicking here:
http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/askquestion.php
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji personally answers these questions for you and suggests prayers.
------------ --------- --------- --------- ---------
The state of Maharastra in India is renowned for the spiritual giants it had given to the world. Sant Nama Dev, Sant Thukaram, Sant Gnaneswar, Sant Jana Bai.... the list is almost endless and Sant Ekanath is one amongst the most exalted saints of India. He is frequently quoted as the one of the best examples for devotion towards a Guru.
Ekanath is known for his Guru Bhakti. He was a Mahatma who had learnt all the shastras. But he realized that Shastras were of no use. He wondered, “Of what use is learning ‘Tarka’ or Vedanta if one failed to experience peace?” Even if we are adept in all the Shastras - be it Vedanta, Tarka or any other philosophy - we cannot enjoy peace/bliss unless these are brought into experience. Books and Shastras will not bestow peace. Only sadhana will give peace. The doubts will be cleared only if seen practically. So, Ekanath felt, “I have studied all these shastras. But they are of no use. What is the essence of all these shastras? To serve a Guru,” and he deeply desired to serve a Guru. Lord Panduranga, in a dream, directed him to Janardhanaswami who was a great Mahatma.
Ekanath served Janardhanaswami for twelve long years with one-pointedness. And how did he serve his Guru all these twelve years? Without any expectation whatsoever! He would clean the place, keep all the puja articles ready for the Guru, maintain the accounts of the home, wash the Guru’s clothes and so on. Day and night he attended on his Guru. Innumerable Sadhus visited his Guru.
Janardhanaswami taught Brahma Vidya to some, Raja yoga to some, Shastras to some. The Guru blessed each with a way of attaining liberation. But nothing diverted the attention of Ekanath whose sole desire was to serve the Guru in all ways. He had nothing to ask of his Guru. He did not demand his Guru to bestow him with Mantropdesa or teach him Shastras or Vedanta Vichara. He wanted to serve his Guru. His sole aim was his Guru’s happiness. He did not even wish his Guru to take notice of his services. He served his Guru in this way for twelve long years.
Janardhanaswami felt guilty for not having given anything to this attendant devotee of his. He was wonderstruck that this young fellow had nothing to ask of him. So, he himself decided to bestow darshan of his Upasana Murti, Lord Dattatreya, on the selfless Ekanath. He asked Lord Dattatreya to give darshan to Ekanath when the latter returned from his morning bath in the river. The next day when Ekanath stepped out of the river Godavari he found Lord Dattatreya under the nearby tree. Since one should not be disrespectful to God he prostrated before this Lord. Lord Dattatreya blessed him by placing His Feet on Ekanath’s head. Ekanath then returned home.
Here, at home Janardhanaswami was restless. He walked up and down awaiting Ekanath’s return. He kept rehearsing as to how he should handle the stunned Ekanath. It was not going to be darshan in a dream but a real one, just as one person sees another. Janardhanaswami thought, “Anyone who has darshan of the Lord would swoon. Ekanath would be in bliss. Full of joy he would come running and narrate the darshan breathlessly. I must calm him down.” But Ekanath returned home and carried on with his work as usual! The Guru waited for Ekanath to come and describe the darshan in an excited tone. But Ekanath did not! The surprised Janardhanaswami called his upasana devata and asked him, “Did you not give darshan to Ekanath?” Lord Dattatreya said, “I did! Just you had asked me I gave him darshan as he returned from his bath in the river”. The astounded Guru called the devotee. “How can you be so calm? Have you not had darshan of Lord Dattatreya this morning?” Ekanath simply replied, “I never desired this! Only if I considered someone other than you as God should I feel ecstatic! Since I consider you as God there is no new darshan of God to be had anywhere else. I never desired for it nor does this surprise me. I desire only you!”
So great was his Guru Bhakti. Due to his Guru Bhakti Lord Panduranga Himself later served this Ekanath, in the form of a young man by name Kandya Kanna!
Regards
Please Chant
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
------------ --------- --------- --------- ---------
If you have any questions or doubts concerning Spirituality, Mental peace or problems in life or about dharma, please write to us by clicking here:
http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/askquestion.php
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji personally answers these questions for you and suggests prayers.
------------ --------- --------- --------- ---------
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About
THE SPIRITUAL SKY
There is another reality that is more compatible to us than what we experience now, and that reality is the unlimited Spiritual Sky.
The material world is a pale reflection of the Spiritual world, it is NOT heaven which some religions say is the ultimate destination.
Heaven is still in the material world and when you go there after using up all of your good karma you must come back to the earthly planets.
Even though you can stay there for millions of years and all your senses work better and you can have better sex life you cannot get to the Spiritual world easily because there you are more into sense gratification than here on earth.
The Spiritual Sky is 75% of Krishna's creation and the material world is 25%, the Spiritual world is eternal and time does not exist there, The material world is temporary and time destroys everything here.
In the Spiritual Sky there are no stars because everything is self illuminating, in the material world if turn off the lights at night you can't see a thing and most people are afraid of the dark.
In the Spiritual world there is no birth, old age, disease, war, or death, In the material world there is birth, old age, diseases, wars, and death all around us.
The Spiritual Sky is known as Vaikuntha or without anxieties, while the material world is called Kuntha or with anxieties. The living entities are like fish out of water here in material consciousness and some of them don't even realize that this place is a horror show for them.
So the choice is clear you can stay here and be a hero, fighting against material hardships or you can become a surrendered Krishna devotee and go back home, Back to Godhead.
The material world is a pale reflection of the Spiritual world, it is NOT heaven which some religions say is the ultimate destination.
Heaven is still in the material world and when you go there after using up all of your good karma you must come back to the earthly planets.
Even though you can stay there for millions of years and all your senses work better and you can have better sex life you cannot get to the Spiritual world easily because there you are more into sense gratification than here on earth.
The Spiritual Sky is 75% of Krishna's creation and the material world is 25%, the Spiritual world is eternal and time does not exist there, The material world is temporary and time destroys everything here.
In the Spiritual Sky there are no stars because everything is self illuminating, in the material world if turn off the lights at night you can't see a thing and most people are afraid of the dark.
In the Spiritual world there is no birth, old age, disease, war, or death, In the material world there is birth, old age, diseases, wars, and death all around us.
The Spiritual Sky is known as Vaikuntha or without anxieties, while the material world is called Kuntha or with anxieties. The living entities are like fish out of water here in material consciousness and some of them don't even realize that this place is a horror show for them.
So the choice is clear you can stay here and be a hero, fighting against material hardships or you can become a surrendered Krishna devotee and go back home, Back to Godhead.
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JAPA
Japa is the quiet prayer. You say it loud enough so you can hear it, but it’s mostly for yourself. Radha and Krishna can hear you. They’re close by, so you don’t have to shout. But They’re listening carefully, so you pronounce with great care. Put your heart into it. Hear me, Lord. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Over and over, the thirty-two syllables are repeated.
From Bhajana Kutir #78
Empty and calm and devoid of self
Is the nature of all things.
No individual being
In reality exists.
There is no end or beginning,
Nor any middle course.
All is an illusion,
As in a vision or a dream.
All beings in the world
Are beyond the realm of words.
Their ultimate nature, pure and true,
Is like the infinity of space.
-Prajnaparamita
---
It is only when the mind is completely under control that man can grasp his real identity. Then all troubles and travails, doubts and dilemmas, come to an end. Man then overcomes sorrow, delusion and anxiety. He is established in the holy calmness of Shanti (peace). Spiritual life is not a matter of meaningless talk. It is an experience of pure Ananda (bliss).
- Baba
All cravings and impulses rise up with overpowering strength like waves from the sea, roar in fury, and then subside in to calm waters. They do not confer peace. Wisdom lies in forgetting these waves and directing one's attention to the calm depths within. You can attain Shanti (peace) only if you dive in to the deep and undisturbed depths of the sea within, not by swimming around on the surface.
- Baba
From Bhajana Kutir #78
Empty and calm and devoid of self
Is the nature of all things.
No individual being
In reality exists.
There is no end or beginning,
Nor any middle course.
All is an illusion,
As in a vision or a dream.
All beings in the world
Are beyond the realm of words.
Their ultimate nature, pure and true,
Is like the infinity of space.
-Prajnaparamita
---
It is only when the mind is completely under control that man can grasp his real identity. Then all troubles and travails, doubts and dilemmas, come to an end. Man then overcomes sorrow, delusion and anxiety. He is established in the holy calmness of Shanti (peace). Spiritual life is not a matter of meaningless talk. It is an experience of pure Ananda (bliss).
- Baba
All cravings and impulses rise up with overpowering strength like waves from the sea, roar in fury, and then subside in to calm waters. They do not confer peace. Wisdom lies in forgetting these waves and directing one's attention to the calm depths within. You can attain Shanti (peace) only if you dive in to the deep and undisturbed depths of the sea within, not by swimming around on the surface.
- Baba
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