Hari
OM
Application - that is what 'Workings-days' are about!
The Narada Bhakti Sutra is our guide for a while… the
nature of Love (with the capital 'ell') and a full exploration of it. As
always, you are encouraged to seek out the full text from Chinmaya Publications
(links in side-bar); but for those who prefer e-readers, this version is recommended. Whilst awareness and interest can be
raised by these posts on AV-blog, they cannot substitute for a thorough reading
and contemplation...and practice!
Chapter
Seven; Section 1 - The Glory of The Sage; Glory of the Path. Discussing the
nature of saints and sages, of wise men and holy…
tIxIRkuvRiNt
tIwaRin sukmIRkuvRiNt kmaRi[ sCDaSÇIkuvRiNt zaSÇai[.69.
Tiirdhiikurvanti
tiirthaani sukarmiikurvanti karmaani sachcchaastriikurvanti shaastraani ||69||
(they) sanctify the sacred places of pilgrimage, add
glory to actions and lend authority to scriptures.
As
these totally devoted, one may even say intoxicated, men and women move about
the world and, as they do so, the Love emanates from them and, even in places
already considered to be holy, it seems they add just that bit more of the
holy. Such truly holy, Love-filled beings are indeed rare. Wherever they go in the world, however, they leave their mark and influence the people who are privileged to be in their company. They infuse into the ugly animal human a dose of Love, an embrace of brotherhood, a touch of tolerance, mercy goodness, kindness… their very presence seems to purify the environs and they come into contact with. Their words and deeds are exemplary and the mental and intellectual behaviour of the world is improved by what they offer. Such persons as these will always be advocates for the best of human nature to rise to the top, for peace to reign upon society. Never will they be heard or seen to be inciting anything other than Love.
Equally,
these illumined ones will have the learning and ability to shed a deeper
understanding of the scriptures - all scriptures, but of course here, we are
talking particularly of the Sanskrit Shaastras - which would have remained a
mystery were it not for the incredible parampara of teaching which has ensured
accuracy and unbroken continuation down the millennia. The messages contained
therein would amount to nothing, did we not have the teachers to bring them to
light.
What
is more, the shaastras would be little more than words and apparent fiction
were it not for the authority provided by such sages. It is by living according
to the shaastras, by proving the theories if you will, that authority is
provided. Proving over the centuries, time and again, that the methods and
systems contained within the shaastras are to be applied in life and are
practical and possible, resulting in sublime existence.
When
we read the words of an Adi Shankara, a Vivekananda, a Ramana Maharishi, not
only do we find that they are devoid of anything ugly, but have, in fact, a
beauty beyond the words themselves; there is no selfishness, only Love shining
bright. In our modern life, we have lost sight of such beauteous examples of
life. We may read the words, but then close the book and turn around and engage
again in a world of strife and turmoil, believing we cannot make the change,
cannot aspire to anything of the promise in those words read, examples shown.
Yet, if we could for one moment, grasp onto the very feet of one of these
exemplars of spiritual life, just one small step at a time include some of the
teachings into our own lives, how much better would life be? This is the choice
we have. Change begins with ourselves only - but the towering examples of the
saints and sages must be our guides; we must trust that their understanding of
the scriptures is being generously shared and given authority by their very own
example.
