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
Eight; Section 1 - Obstacles and Remedies; Avoid Arguments. Having spent some
time being advised of what it is to travel in the Higher Planes of Beingness,
the text now takes us back into the saadhana, the means of working towards such
exalted heights ourselves.
Vaadae
navlMBy>.74.
Vaado
naavalmbyaH ||74||
Vain disputation and discussion should not be entered
into.
Understanding
the essential divinity of all Masters, the devotee must not indulge in
controversial discussions. Unless one is oneself a master of the shaastras, one
is not benefited by, nor will benefit other, with uncontrolled, prideful
disputations on philosophical declarations.
The
nature of Truth is such that it can never be proved by argument alone. By
argument, neither an atheist can prove 'there is no God', neither can a sage
prove 'there is a God'. It is only in the inner experience as we lift ourselves
from the limited, little hide-out of our intellect, when we disengage it from
its bondages with the objects, emotions and thoughts, and rise to the heroism
of a greater living, only then, released from this tiny well of existence, can
we have at least a vague suspicion of perhaps a possibility of the existence of
a Greater Reality.
So
long as we are embedded in flesh, hibernating in the midst of sensuous sorrows
and vaasanas, basking in the brilliant warmth of some intellectual fireworks,
or remaining encrusted with the
prison-house of the body, mind and intellect, nothing can be understood or
experienced of the Truth. Since nothing can ever be proven by arguments, let us
leave them. Let us LIVE the path, that in itself becomes its own unquestionable
proof.
Certainly,
when in a discussion with equal minds, it is possible to put forth the tenets
of philosophy and the supporting texts and such like, but it is also incumbent
upon us when we embark on such, to accept that the other party may put forth
their own views and also find it within us to pare back the ego aspects of
debate - which so readily jump forward! - in order to at least acknowledge the
there are differences of opinion and that as long as neither party is hurt or
infringed upon in any way, then each may proceed with life in the framework of
their choosing. For the bhakta, that is to devote his or herself only to living
according to the scriptures and guidance of the Guru in order to keep a focus
on the Higher, and live life to the best that can be done. To lose time in
arguing where one is never going to be 'heard' will only cause distress to
oneself, and strife to another and risks bringing about conflict which harms
all. This is discussed further in the next suutra.
