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
Ten; Section 1 - The Teachers; Aachaaryas of Bhakti
Narada-ji
again utilises a single suutra to name the masters of devotion.
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Ityevam
madanti janajaLpanirmahaaH ekaamataaH
Kumaravyaasa-Shuka-Shandilya-Gargavishnu-Kaundinya-
Shesh-Odva-Aaruni-Bali-HanumadVi-bhiishan-adyo
bhaktyaavaachaaryaaH ||83||
Thus declare they, who are fear not others' prattling,
in their unanimous opinion;
(Sanat) Kumaara, Vyaasa, Shuka, Shandilya, Garga,
Vishnu, Kaundinya,
Shesha, Uddhava, Aaruni, Bali, Hanuman, Vibishana,
etc., those teachers of Devotion.
Heedless
of criticism, truly wise men stand up for Truth; filled with conviction, they
cannot and will not mince matters, or 'polish' Truth just to make others feel
comfortable. Truth, in fact, is often something perceived as 'inconvenient'!
The great teachers will not succumb to peer pressure and will hold to their
theories… and how often they are proved correct, sometimes well after their
death. Society is not very good at accepting wisdom if it tells it what has
always been told, or posits
new theories which still points to the Old Truth, which requires some effort in making adjustments in order to best survive.
Common
sense surely dictates that, if we can read the ancient writings of such
teachers as these, some from untold centuries ago, and find their revelations
and instructions to be as pertinent and fresh as if they were written
yesterday, then we ought to be paying attention… does it not?
Truth
is Eternal, it fades not, neither does it perish. The reason we can be faced
with ourselves, as if in a mirror, through these writings, demonstrates the
Truth of the philosophy and methodology offered there for making the efforts
of improvement. What is more, due to the scientific nature of Sanskrit culture,
many teachers over the years have taken up 'the experiment of life and worship'
and have all, as one voice, come to the same conclusion. Love is All.
They
didn't just theorise, they lived and breathed and were examples of that Truth.
Who were they? Twin sons of Brahma-ji, the Kumaaras constantly chanted
'Hari sharanam', Vyaasa the great poet
and author, Shuka who wrote the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Shandilya and Garga who
wrote many suutras on Bhakti, Vishnu-rishi the historian, Kaundinya the ruler
who came to understand the path and benefit of deep meditation and the role
bhakti plays in this. Then Shesha the serpent upon who Lord Vishnu reclines,
Uddhava who was friend and devotee of Sri Krishna; Aaruni who revealed the joy
of 'the secret lover', Bali who was the epitome of surrender and ritual,
Hanuman the great soldier-servant of Sri Rama, Vibhishana who remained righteous
and loyal to Rama (Truth) throughout his brother Ravana's terrible reign.
Today is Sri Ramnavaami - may the blessing of the Lord be with you all!