Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda’s birth centenary celebration which was started with an All Karnataka Balamahotsava programme last year is being observed this year with Akhanda Gita Jnana Yajna comprising of year long non-stop Gita Jnana Yajnas from May 1, 2014 to May 20, 2015 in various parts of Bangalore city. The first Yajna was conducted in English by Pujya Brn. Vasumana Chaitanya of Koramangla, Bangalore centre from 01/05/2014 to 11/05/2014 taking Bhagavad Gita chapter 2 in the evenings at Sripaadakshetra, Bangalore South centre of Chinmaya Mission. The Yajna was inaugurated by Pujya Swamini Sugunananda who paid towering tribute to Gurudev for His work in spreading the message of our scriptures across the globe and giving the relevance of the message to the present society. Sri B Krishnakumar, president of Chinmaya Mission, Bangalore highlighted the programmes planned to celebrate Pujya Gurudev’s birth centenary.
Pujya Vasumanaji took the subject explaining the meaning of each shloka giving a beautiful analysis of why one should study the Gita. She stressed the need to become aware that we have the need to calm our ever turbulent mind and develop an urge to find a solution. It is very important that we should not try to do it on our own as self medication is not advisable. The shastras will come to our rescue and if our sankalpa is sincere the Guru will appear in our lives even if we do not go in search of Him. The Bhagavad Gita is an outstanding example of Arjuna’s sincere desire to find a solution and Lord Krishna’s teaching which helps Arjuna to come out of the misconceptions of ‘I’ and ‘Myness’ which is the only way to calm the agitated mind and once the mind is free from agitations realization of the ultimate Truth becomes easy and fast. Infact the Lord assures that one need not wait for long to realize the truth; if one has the right attitude enlightenment can happen in a moment.
Fear of death is what troubles the human mind to a great extent. One should realize that death is only for the gross body with the subtle and causal body deciding the leave the gross body once the vasanas for which the present birth was taken gets exhausted just as the traveler leaves the place of his visit once the work there is completed. But the Atman in whose light the gross body functions is eternal, all pervading and immutable. It does not move anywhere and does not undergo any modification and as such grieving over the death of gross body is neither advisable nor wise. To understand the real nature of Atman one should transcend the body, mind and intellect dropping all notions of ego. This forms the basis of Jnana yoga.
Speaking on Dharma Vasumanaji very clearly explained that definition of Dharma is very complex and a very thin line separates what is Dharma and what is Adharma. One should always strive to perform the samanya dharma and lead life without Raga and Dwesha enjoying work for the sake of work. We develop the dwandwas with individuals as we develop intimacy and so it is necessary to meet people like a cracked pot so that the meeting will be without Raga and Dwesha. Work should be done for the sake of chitta shuddhi without and any expectation with the attitude of prasada bhava. This is the real essence of Karma yoga.
Extolling Bhakti Vasumanaji rhetorically explained that real devotion is allowing the Lord to function through us without seeking anything as the Lord is aware of our needs and has provided all that we need. Real Bhakti is total unconditional surrender at the lotus feet of the God accepting life as it comes with the only prayer to give the strength to face it. This is real Bhakti yoga.
Speaking on Sthitaprajna Vasumanaji emphatically declared that cleaning the body is simple; but cleansing the mind is very difficult. The realized person has mastered the art controlling the mind withdrawing the senses from sense objects and offloading all burden of life to the Lord. A Jnani is not perturbed at the loss of people and situations as he looks upon them as a caretaker given to him by the Lord who withdraws when He feels they have served their purpose. Warning against fall of man from Godhood Vasumanaji stressed the importance of self control keeping the arishadwargas at bay moving among objects of the world with neither any love for nor aversion against them.
Vasumanaji’s discourse was backed by several examples drawn from the lives of saints as well as her own experiences through contact with illustrious personalities.
The last day of the Yajna on May 11, 2014 saw Pujya Swami Brahmanandaji gracing the occasion to celebrate Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda’s 98th Jayanti celebration with bhajans and Paduka Puja. In all the Yajna was a befitting commencement of the Akhanda Gita Yajna bringing back fond memories of Pujya Gurudev who strode like a lion with His roaring inimitable exposition of the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads for over forty years till the very last breath.
May His grace flow through all and help us in our sadhana to seek the Eternal Truth.