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The Cultural Misappropriation of this ancient lineage of ‘Vaishnava Tantric Bauls’ originating from Ekkchakra Birbhum Bengal

8/23/2017

TRISHULA DAS·TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2017

Be inspired, be a Baul but learn what the teachings are and stop making it up as you go. Be inspired but really you do not have to copy everything Babu Kishan does, you do not need to copy his story, contact his friends, go where he goes, tell his friends you are related either a brother or sister? Babu Kishan is unique and has been a Baul all his life and teaching Baul all of his life, he is the real thing and in today’s world one does not have to dress the part to show one is Baul. The New Bauls are riding the wave of Baul that was created by Babu Kishan and his family, Purna Das Baul, Laxshman Das Baul and Nabani Das Khyapa Baul, going back thousands of years in their ancestral chain.

Many people will say, why is Babu Kishan not teaching as much? He has lived through war, terrorist attacks, and other disasters. The biggest disaster was the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia, he was there and saw the worst aftermath in Banda Ache that any person can imagine. Although he grew up going the burning grounds of Tarapith with his Maha Tantric Grandfather Nabani Das Khyapa Baul, nothing can prepare one for the devastation of the amount of human destruction he saw in 2004. He evaluated his life and completely changed his world. It has taken him a very long time to put his life back together again, he is strong and healthy now.

Canada and the Punjabi community has taught him some very important lessons that will never be forgotten and this has rounded out his life, Canada has rounded out his life and healed all the trauma of the past. The Punjabi community here in Vancouver has been really helpful and accepting of Babu Kishan. His creativity is stronger than ever. He is a stronger deeper Baul (Baul signifies a (Tantric technique Master, in the world and not of the world, one who experiences all of human and spiritual life) than one can imagine and has experienced many things others never experience in one life, he has lived many, many lives in one life. You must go through to come out the other side.

This lineage is indigenous to this area of Birbhum the land or Rarh (Red Soil) and they have been doing the Hari Krishna Maha Mantra chanting and dancing going from village to village for thousands of years. They are not from anywhere else. They are from the soul and soil of Birbhum and they are the Lineage of Baul and hold the secrets of what and who Baul is and these secrets are not given out.
Babu is legendary and from a legendary family. He has performed on the biggest stages in India and around the world, I mean he really has. His Mother, Grandmother and ancestor women are Legendary and they have brought Baul to all stages and stadiums in India around the world. If I were to list what a big stage or a stadium I would need a whole chapter to give examples.

His mother Manju Das is the most legendary ‘Baul Women’ ever of our modern time, no one can close or even compare and she was an #1 Indian singer, she learned Baul singing and sang it the way it is to be sung. She traveled around the world for more than 50 years. Her pictures with Indira Gandhi and many Presidents and Prime Ministers of India including just about every famous singer in India were not a quick photo opportunity. She was best friends with Indira Gandhi. Manju knew the whole family personally including Sanjay, Rajiv, Sonja Gandhi ect... these were not just photo opps, they were best friends and long long time associates. There is no need to copy Manju or anybody in this family and then write that it was you are the one who played on the biggest stages, internet is insanity.

If you mention Legendary Baul women and do not mention Brajabala Dasi who was the Guru to all Baul Women you are cheating. If you do not mention Radharani Dasi she was also, a Guru to many. There are so many it is a sin to make up stories about Bangladeshi and Pakistani Women as Baul Women, you see this is what happens when you have outsiders culturally appropriating a whole lineage of Baul. All will be qualified who is who and who is writing about Baul. Babu Kishan Knows the story of everyone and who is saying they are Baul. He will tell all and he holds no punches back about his own family. This needs to be clarified for once and for all.

This family of Bauls starting with Nabani Das Khyapa Baul were state singers for the Freedom movement of India, their story is huge and historical. Babu Kishan recalls hundreds of times he sang and played his khol at Rajiv and Indira Gandhi’s feet. He sat at Indira Gandhi’s feet at her last speech, days before she was assassinated, he went to her funeral, he remembers, they stayed at Pranab Mukerjee’s (The last President of India) house in Delhi because his mother is related to Pranab’s late wife whom he called Aunt Gita.
There is no need to follow Babu Kishan’s style unless you say that you follow him and are a student of his. We have seen everybody taking his writings and stories and writing the same story but taking his name out of the story. He was the first and only Baul in the history of Bollywood because Baul had never been involved in Indian Cinema until Babu Kishan. I mean if you were a Baul and did sing a song or two in a film you followed Babu Kishan, you were inspired by him. Of course you followed him. Are you an Indian Music Composer?

Did you personally go to the Ramakrishna Mission but yet you mention Baul and how you are related to the Ramakrishna but you were not, until I write about it?

Did you get your degree in Indian Music and hang out with all the legendary Indian Composers, singers and artist of India? Did you write all the Baul poetry you are singing today? Was it your ancestors, your Grandfather, who was best friends with Rabindranath Tagore?

Yet you do not talk about this lineage it is left out of your writing but you talk about Baul as if you were the Baul associated with Tagore you were not. Tagore only associated with Nabani Das Khapa Baul, he liked Lalon Fakir (Shah’s) poetry Lalon was not a Baul and Baul does not consider him a Baul.

Baul has great appreciation for Lalon Fakir note his name is not Baul it is Fakir (they are not the same). Baul considers Lalon a fabulously great poet but was he a Baul sadhaka or Baul singer? No he was not, Babu Kishan was one of the first people who composed music for Lalon poetry before that there was no tune to the poetry. We will write more about his little forgotten history and will show by old recording of Babu Kishan’s that people are singing his Lalon songs.
When you do not acknowledge this lineage and yet talk about Baul and Tagore right there you have misappropriated Baul because it was Nabani who initiated Tagore into Baul giving him the name Ravi Baul that is history yet and yet it is written like a generic story. The story only comes from Babu Kishan and his family so if you are using their stories and taking their names off, this is a perfect example of the misappropriation of this lineage of Baul.

There are many stories to be told but there is not the time nor space in this article. Did you know Allen Ginsberg no you didn’t so don’t say Baul was associated with Ginsberg, that Bauls name is Babu Kishan. Did you receive a Padma Shri and a zillion other awards for you Baul singing, no you did not, then do not say Baul received a Padma Sri. By the way that Paul has a name it is Purna Das Baul he is a renowned Legendary Lineage Baul.

Why say it was just Baul as if to claim it was part of you and your story when in actual fact it was not even related. Probably call yourself a Yogi or Yogini and stop using the name Baul, why tag on to something that you are not part of, making up lineages and stories? I have no idea?

Are you the Grandson or daughter of Nabani Das Baul? At least know the true stories of your made up Guru who is just a Baul singer but not a lineage Baul and was particularly jealous of this lineage. And for the ones who are now stealing Baul songs and saying they are the writer at least know the only reason you are singing the song is because it was recorded at Hindustan Recorders decades ago. It is not that difficult to find the truth and the truth will be told in time.

Babu Kishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul was and is a 'PAID qualified' Lecturer on his “ONE and ONLY Lineage of Baul. A lineage Baul spoke Sanskrit and can lecture on Sanskrit. There is no other lineage of Baul! It comes down to Cultural Appreciation vs Cultural Misappropriation and or Cultural Appropriation and it is getting a bit tiring having to qualify all the ignorance on the internet.

Many scholars since the 1970's have written their PHD thesis with the help of Babu Kishan aka Krishnendu Das and many only know him as Krishnendu Das. He used to give information to them and help because many were not fluent in Bengali. He knew them personally and much of what they have written is wrong in many cases and he has personally spoken to them about this but they never changed their writings. Each and everything will be qualified one by one in his new Book on his one and only Lineage of Baul. No one ever said, Lineage Baul until Babu started to talk about Baul, now we have fake copy cats and it is getting annoying. Be a Baul but stop all the lying and fake stories. As Babu says learn to sing first.
'Babu Kishan' is his Indian Cinema Name. Most people who knew him as ‘Krishnendu Das’ to this day do not know about his Bollywood name.

He is the author of 3 books on Baul, dating back to the 1980's, all out of print. George Harrison and Ravi Shankar sponsored his last book in 1986. He was great friends with both and has many stories to tell.
A new book should be release at the end of 2017 or early 2018 that will be about the Historical Authentic Lineage of Baul originating from Birbhum Bengal India. It is taking longer than expected and may be broken down into two books.

He is not only a authentic Lineage Baul who is a Pandit of Indian Music MA of India Music from Calcutta University with 35 years as a music composer in Indian Cinema, Music Composer but a Scholar of Indian Philosophy, Sanskrit and a Baul Poet. Just remember when one says, "Baul" it means one is a genius, not regular, the highest level one can reach, even Ramakrisha knew this and he said, he wanted to be born a Baul in his next life. This is rare today if not impossible.

*No one in this world would know about Baul without this Lineage of Baul who brought Baul to India and the world some 80 or 90 years ago. Babu Kishan has been instrumental in doing this, he is the one who made the contacts, wrote the letters, do you know how difficult this was to do back in the 1970's, 1980, 1990's... there was no such thing as the internet of the internet Bauls that today make up stories lying about lineages and who they are.

The biggest heartache is after all the work Babu Kishan has done to open the door of Baul for others to see all the fake stories about lineages and how other new Bauls are taking claim they are the ones who brought Baul outside of India, fooling people into thinking they are Baul singers when he can't even listen to their voices because they are completely out of tune, people in the west have not got a clue what is real or what is not real. He see's them singing his own songs, his own poetry with his own tune, taking claim as if they are the ones. Please first learn who wrote the songs this is part of being a Baul, at least develop your intellect and have respect.. be honest.
The Nabani Das Baul, Brajabala Dasi Lineage inspired many greats in India these incredible beings are the only pioneers who brought Baul to India and the world. They are legendary!

They are the indigenous Baul's who are the only lineage of Bauls, don’t be fooled there are no other Baul lineages. Do you think all these people listed below were mad, there is a reason that they were inspired by this lineage of Baul. All Bauls have always followed this lineage.

If not for Baul Saint Nabani Das Kyappa Baul, Purna Das Baul and Maju Dasi, Lakshman Das Baul and Babukishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul there would be no one in this world who would know anything about Baul. Babukishan should be given an oscar or an equivalent reward because if not for him no one would know anything about Baul. He created most of the relationships and maintained them for his Baul family, he has never asked for acknowledgement but I am saying after hearing what he has done for Baul. This lineage are the pioneers who brought Baul to the world. Today some 07 or 80 years later some Bauls are trying to do what they have done and that is a good thing they have been inspired by this lineage the oldest living lineage of Baul, however, the copying and deleting of this lineages names and then just listing them just as ‘the Bauls’ who were associated with Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan, George Harrison is complete disconnect and distortion of the truth, this is called Cultural misappropriate and Cultural Appropriation. I have seen article after article on the net saying Bauls even received a “Padma Shri Award”, no Bauls did NOT. Only ONE Baul did and his name is “Sri Purna Das Baul”, so please use the names of the Baul and when saying Bauls were associated with Tagore, it was only Nabani Das Khyappa Baul. When you are saying as I have seen written that you are the only Baul who took Baul out of India.

Please have some respect and correct your writer rather than ignoring. Baul was not associated with any of the below, it was only this family of Lineage Bauls who were, this the oldest living lineage and the Bauls who brought Baul to the world. Please do not use what they have done and then generically say Bauls did it, they have a name please give credit to the name just as you would to any poet, singer or artist. Baul was never a huge group of people, they were a small group and this lineage has already been preserved, funding for the already preserved songs in the hands of this family perhaps needs some help with translation but others but I have no idea how others will preserve Baul when it is in the hands of this family? What are they going to preserve?

If you were the Prime Minister of India and were once a Chai Walla, would all chai walla's take credit and say Chai Walla's are Prime Minister of India?

This lineage and family are the only Bauls who have associated with the listen of famed Bengali’s below.

I t should read Babukishan aka Krishnendu Das or Purna Das Baul & Manju Das or Nabani Das Baul & Brajabala Das associated with:

Allen Ginsberg,
Bob Dylan,
George Harrison
The Rolling Stones,
Indira Gandhi,
Rabindranath Tagore,
Jawaharlal Nehru,
Tara Shankar Bandhypadhya,
Kavi Nazrul, Bidhan Chandra Roy,
Pankoj Mollick,
R. C. Boral,
S D Burman,
RD Burman,
Bimol Roy,
Sakti Pado RajGuru,
Uday Shankar,
Nitish Mukherjee,
Nitin Bose,
Shantidev Ghosh,
Ajit Ganguly,
Deben Bhattacharya,
Pahari Sanyal,
Timir Baran,
Allauddin Khan,
Dr. Amartya Sen's Grandfather Kshiti Mohan Sen,
Ram Kinkar Baij,
Sita Ram Omkarnath,
Ravi Shakar,
The President of India Pranab Mukerjee,
Sonja Gandhi,
Rajiv Gandhi,
Dr. Ananda Shankar Roy,
Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi,
Tv Producer Abhijit Das Gupta,
Jyoti Basu W Bengal former chief Mininster,
Diretor General of India Radio.
Dr Bhupeen Hazarika,
Mithun Charabhorty,
Bapi Lahari,
MF Huissen,
Chuni Goswami,
Shyam Benegal,
Amitabha Bachchana,
Satyajit Ray,
Mrinal Sen,
Zakir Hussain,
Ratan Tata
and many, many more.

Babukishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul is the only BAUL who has worked in Indian Cinema and Bollywood for 35 years in a big big way. He has, recorded composed and produced most of his father's music without taking credit or any payment, he did everything for his Calcutta family for free and gave them everything.

Baul is now close to extinction and please be warned that the new Baul singers who cut the names of the history of Baul off, taking the songs and the stories that belong to this family then warping it into their story without even acknowledging where they got the idea of Baul from. Creating new stories and making themselves look exotic but they have no roots in the original Baul are Tourist Attractions. It is great teach about Baul, tell about Baul, Sing the Songs of Baul but in context, in truth, stop making up stories and saying Baul is from Bangladesh it is not, not even when Bangladesh was part of Bengal. Baul comes from Birbhum (period). Stop making up lineages and saying you are from a lineage when everybody who knows, understands that is a lie.

It should be noted: that just because one calls themselves a Baul and uses this lineages's songs does not mean they are a Baul. Today with the internet anybody can be famous, making up a lineage, it is so simple, all the leg work had been completed decades ago, before the internet. And Westerners please please at least take the time to do some research.

It should also, be noted those that who are now fundraising in the name of Baul saying they are going to preserve Baul honestly what are you going to preserve when you do not even acknowledge the truth about lineage and who wrote the songs of Baul. Baul has already been preserved long ago and recorded with all the major record companies in India, including Hindustani Records that is why the new Baul singers have songs to sing but they should give credit where credit is due rather that making up different poets names and adding it to themselves singing the songs. It is understood everybody is trying to do something and good on you but you copy and take what does not belong to you. The door was opened long ago to understand but you decided to make new stories and copy everything Babu Kishan has spent a lifetime to preserve, going where he goes... this is weak to say the least.
In time this will be qualified in the Media and addressed.

Babu Kishan will be speaking about this in the coming year, giving context and his opinions on the using and abusing of his lineage.
There is a huge disconnect between the real Baul and these new age singers who are making up lineages and completely changing the narrative of Baul, this is not helpful.

Baul is open to all and believes in UNITY however, we live in a different time, and now at this particular time Baul does not need the narrative to be changed and culturally misappropriated, or taught out of context, we only have a short time to get the narrative straight, there is no need for new Baul singers to make a new narrative and distort Baul stories. It is time to set the record straight and qualify what and who is Baul.

Baul does not have it roots in Buddhism, Baul goes back before Buddhism to a time of Radha and Krishna to a time of Shiva. They include Buddhist thought but the new Bauls singers teachings on this are completely misguided and wrong.

Babu Kishan is the first authentic Baul to lecture and teach his authentic Baul tradition he has been traveling and teaching since 1971 around the world.

He also, lectures on Sanskrit Classical and Oral Sanskrit
Indian Philosophy & Indian Music, Folk, Classical, Baul and Indian Cinema Music & his personal stories and experiences.

BA Indian Philosophy Calcutta University MA Indian Music & Folk Music Calcutta University

Was a monk in the Ramakrishna Mission for 12 years

Born into the one and only Baul Lineage into the lap of Nabani Das Khyapa Baul in Suri Birbhum Bengal initiated into Tarapith and Tara Ma where Nabani his grandfather was a sadhak there as he was blessed and initiated by Bama Kepha

In the 1980's he represented Calcutta University around India, regarding Indian Philosophy, Sanskrit and Baul.
@ Universities around the world.

UCLA,
Columbia,
Chicago University
Boston University
Pennsylvania Music College
Baltimore Music College,
Philadelphia Arts and Music College
Kansas University
Music St Louis University
Washington and Lee University Virginia
University of Washington
University of Toronto
University of British Columbia
SFU (Simon Fraser University)
Harvard University
Mumbai University
Whistling Woods Film Institute in Mumbai
San Francisco College of Arts
Berkeley University Music School
Red Wood University
San Diego University
University of Victoria
Cambridge and Oxford in UK
Berlin Music College
Stuttgart University
Bremen University
Germany Hamburg
University Cologne
University University
Germany Zurich
University Geneva
University Brussels
University Rome
University of Fine Arts
University of Honk Kong
University of Bangkok
University of Singapore
Delhi University
University of Mauritius
University of Johannesburg South Africa
Calcutta University
Vishva Bharati in Shantiniketan Birbhum

and many others.. since 1971

www.babukishan.org

Written By Trishula Das a western Canadian writer fighter student of Baul. A Vedic Astrologer, who found myself learning and defending the preservation the history of Baul accurately. Why? because I am the biggest supporter of my husband Babu Kishan and have spent 24/7 for 14 years immersed in Baul Bhava and Baul Rasa Lila mysticism.

I found myself writing about Baul through the eyes of Babu Kishan and during the past decade I have read just about everything written about Baul I am shocked to see many people change their story as I write about Baul. I write something then they copy it but taking the names off and adding new names (a complete Cultural Misappropriation).

It has been an interesting eye opener watching what Babu Kishan does the New Age Bauls will copy. I write lineage, then Lineage becomes the thing, others will create lineages that I can guarantee 100% are not a lineage and never were. I write about the Universities Babu Kishan taught at since the 1970’s then guess what, now the thing is to contact and list Universities?

I write about all the stages he has performed on, guess what? It has become quite a joke. It must be Babu Kishan because he finds the same thing living here in Vancouver, if he wears a certain hat then all the Indian men will wear that hat. What he does it seems people copy and I am not just saying that, others say it all the time, they all laugh about it. With this in mind if I could only get Babu Kishan back teaching, he obviously has some power to influence what people do.

This is real Baul other people are inspired and want to follow like a Pied Piper that is why Nehru, Indira Gandhi and her two sons had this family sing before any speech, real Baul has a magic. Real Baul has the power to draw a crowd, this has been proven over and over through time. They are not drawing a crowd by showing how exotic they look, they are drawing a crowd by their technique of thousands of years of practice in a Guru Shishya Parampara Sampradaya.
If he films in a certain way, they copy him, he made a movie called “Canadian Dream” hard to believe but at the same time a Punjabi guy copied and called his movie at the very same time “Canadian Dream” we were so puzzled but the guy said, he wanted to ride off of Babu Kishan’s name and his promotion? What he does people seem to follow so I guess I should just get over it.

But when I see people singing his songs, his poetry or his Grandfathers poetry I really am in a fighting mood, because this is stealing or being blatantly dishonest putting other poets names on a known Nabani Das Khyapa Baul song? If you are a Baul Master you would know this because these are the things a Baul Master would know. This is not Mastery this a Cultural misappropriation.

#baul #baulmusic #birbhum #kalokata #kirtan #bengal #baulofbengal #shantiniketan #bengalfolkmusic #sufi #baulsufi #babukishan #baulguru #rabindranathtagore #tagore #statesman #timeofindia #articleonbaul #tantricbaul #vaishnavabaul #baulofbirbhum #folkmusic #mysticbaul #baulsinger #baulperformer #baulgaan #baulsangeet #baulsadhana

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Bhakti Yoga Kirtan The Vaishnava Bauls of Birbhum Bengal

2/28/2016

Rabindranath Tagore gave (Sri Nabani Das Khapa Baul) the name Khyappa Baul and named him 'Mirror of the Sky'. To this very day villagers in Birbhum remember a legendary Tantric Vaishnav Baul Saint Avadhut named Nabani Das Khyappa Baul.

Khyappa or sometimes spelled Kheppa and (Kheppi for women) means sat chit ananda (eternal conscious and blissful), highly mystical, fully awake, aware, divine ecstatic love, wild, free bird, blissful, divine consciousness, magical, mysterious, out of body connected to the divine at a very high level, khyappa is not something that can be faked. It is not a name for everybody it was a name designated for a Avadhut, however, today everybody is calling themselves khyappa as many are calling themselves ‘Baul’ and ‘Baul Guru’.

Rabindranath Tagore the great Bengali Noble prize winner for literature and the writer of the Indian, Bangladeshi, and Sri Lankan national anthems, loved Nabani and Nabani is the only Baul who inspired and associated with Tagore. The Pous Mela in Shantiniketan was created by Rabindranath Tagore in honour of Nabani Das Baul to bring together intellectuals, poets, and creative artists from around the world.

To the untrained eye and ear wandering and singing a song does not make one a Baul. Rabindranath honoured Nabani because he was an ecstatic mystic full of wisdom, he admired his poetry, his tune and his depth in sadhana as a Tantric Yogi and Baul Avadhut. Rabindranath respected Nabani's ancient lineage and its richness, authentic cultural significance and tradition of wisdom, along with the energetic live wire shaktified pure ecstatic love that Nabani embodied. Tagore also, gave land and a special place for Nabani Das Khyappa Baul to sit and be at Tagores own Vishva Bharti University, they spent much time together and it should be noted that all of the old pictures and the ones at The Royal British Museum in London of Nabani were pictures taken by Tagore himself.

Tagore appointed Nabani Das Baul as a Professor of Baul music and dance at the Tagore Vishva Bharti University in Shantiniketan. Nabani is the first and last Baul to teach at Vishva Bharti University. One of Nabani's students was Indira Gandhi, her father Jawaharlal Nehru had the greatest respect for Nabani. The Indian Independence movement was in full swing. Nehru appointed Nabani a state singer, where Nabani along with Nehru and his contingent traveled all over India, playing for people, sharing the magic of Baul and Nehru's political messages.

Like his grandfather, KD Babukishan also traveled with his parents around India as state singers for Indira Gandhi, with whom Babu's mother was best friends until Indira Gandhi's assassination. Babukishan recalls going to Delhi for Indira Gandhi's state funeral with the Gandhi family. There were millions of people it was an epic historical event the fall out from her death or I should say her murder was catastrophic. They also were state singers for Rajiv Gandhi until Rajiv's assassination  . Often times after a day of work Babu would sit with Rajiv Gandhi and unwind after their travels through out India. Babukishan has traveled India so many times with different people including Sitaram Das Omkarnath, his father, his mentor and great friend the Supreme Court judge who was a master Jyotishi who predicted Babu would meet me one day, and he also predicted that Sri Purnab Mukerjee the now President of India would rule India one day. Purnab Mukerjee and Babu's family were very close as his mom Manju and Pranab's wife the late Gita Antie were relatives. I met her in at the Mukerjee house in Delhi in 2007.

Guru Shishya Parampara Sampradaya Lineage. Bauls are Tantrics, Indian musicians who know the Tantra of Sound, Mystical Bards, Guru's, Pandits, Acharya's who are simply called Baul. There are some Bauls who are not from this lineage or a lineage period and it is very interesting how they are changing the face of an ancient living lineage that they do not even understand. Real Bauls are mysterious you will never figure them out all one can do is taste their rasa it is impossible to catch a Baul they are here one minute and gone the next, they do not want to be seen and certainly do not want to collect devotee's but there is something to learn from them if one is patient.

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, was wise enough to know what the scholar Sri Chaitanya had figured out 500 years before, that Bauls were able to draw people together through their energetic shakti and ecstatic charismatic chanting, singing and dancing. Dry scholarship and talking doesn't necessarily awaken people to a new movement. Sri Nitanyanda of Ekchakra Birbhum was a Vaishnava Baul and the ancestor of this lineage, he was elder to Sri Chaitanya. It was Nitanyanada who taught his Baul tradtion of kirtan, singing and dancing to Sri Chaitanya.

Sri Chaityana started his Hari Krishna movement based on the ecstatic 'Hari Krishna Hari Ram' singing and dancing of the Vaishnava Baul of Birbhum. The Bauls would start with the Hari Krishna chant early in the mornings as a wakeup call announcing their presence to the villagers of Bengal, inviting them to listen and learn about spiritual life.

Baul is a rare, esctatic, super charged high speed internet, direct blissful Yoga and sweet heart-opening devotional singing and Baul Kirtan is full of ecstatic energy that turns even the hardest of hearts to honey, bringing the rasa of ananda (bliss) alive.

It is a secret esoteric path meaning a Baul will never tell you anything directly you will learn through sadhana and being with a Baul over a lifetime that one may learn and grasp a drop, all the rest is just mere speculation. You will be tested every step of the way of this magical journey and be put off as the path is not straight it is crooked to prevent the people who just want to buy something and then say, they are an Indian musician or Yogi or this or that. Today everybody wants everything right here and now that is not the path of Baul because it is a super advanced path a way to easily reach God/dess but as we know nothing is really easy. It is not a beginners path and very hard to understand because of the language translation from a certain type of Birbhum Bengali to even Bengali or Hindi let alone English. I have to translate backwards in certain ways let alone the Sanskrit parts?

The path of Love, The path of poetry, deep soul music, trance dance and sadhana. The path of ecstatic union. The path of everything. The path of humanity. The mysterious mystical inner path. The path of GRACE and Divine Love. The path of the Avadhut. The Mystic Tantric Path. The path of higher deep Yoga. The path beyond the Path. The bliss permeated Path. The path of Soul mates. The path of the Divine Feminine. The path of Shakti Maa.

Baul is the path of everything in the universe, the path of poetry all Bauls produce some kind of poetry this is how they distill their teachings in simple poetic songs that hit the heart of everything the universe consists of, there is nothing that is excluded.

Bauls play a one stringed trance inducing instrument called an ‘ektara’ also called the ‘Gopi Chand’ or ‘Gopi Yantra’ which is the Bauls symbol of peace and unity for all. A Baul plays a variety of instruments including a rare one or two stringed instrument called a ‘Gubgubi’ which Nabnai himself named the Ananada Lahari meaning ‘waves of bliss’. Baul is a Guru Shishya Parampara Sampradaya, they are sadhu's and belong to sadhu sangha which are called Akaras. There used to be 22 such sanghas, now there are only 2, they are almost extinct.

There is a lot of misinformation about the Bauls today, misrepresentations abound among a new generation of Baul singers, scholars, writers, documentary film makers, information found on wikipedia, Gurus from other sects including Osho who wrote many books on the Bauls and was deeply inspired by Nabani Das Khyappa Baul. All of them have completely missed the point of who these sweet devotional people are. They repeat the same thing over and over and it is not accurate. Many fakes are changing this beautiful tradition, they dress the part, singing out of tune trying to copy what can not be copied. Baul is only achieved through sadhana. The fake Bauls say they are sadhakas to attract students, some say they are sexual tantrics as sex always sells. This has gone on for a long time. Unaware foreigners attracted by sexual tantra of the west, and Indians attracted by the dream of sexual freedom, flock to Shantineketan. Yet the real Bauls are now almost extinct, and those that still remain, live marginalized in poverty.

Bauls have been described as mad, Sai, Shah, Fakir, Dervish, Aula, Muslim, afflicted by the wind, illiterate, beggars and folk singers, yet they are none of the above. They accepted all but that does not mean they became the other, it does not mean they became Islamic or Buddhist. Baul is a sect unto its own and they are Sahaja Baul which are some of the first Sufi"s on the planet, Sahaja = Sufi Vaishnava Baul (Hindu Sufi).

Sahaja is the same as Sufi “Sahaja simply means natural and spontaneous. It not only implies natural spiritual levels, but on the mystic level of the miraculous. It means that easy or natural state of living without planning, design, contriving, seeking, wanting, striving or intention. It is that nature which, when once established, brings the state of absolute freedom and peace. Sahaja is a natural state which balances reality between the pairs of opposites and maintains harmony of the Cosmos.

Thus ‘sahaja’ expresses one who has reverted to his natural state, free from conditioning. It typifies the outlook which belongs to the natural, spontaneous and uninhibited man, free from innate or inherited defects.
As such even nakedness of the sadhus is considered to be ‘sahaja’. By his own demeanor Datta shows man’s instinct for naturalness and primordial perfection not only of the physical and spiritual level but at the mystical level.
A parallel is made to plants and trees which do not grow according ‘svadharma’ or rules and obligations incurred at birth.

Nature only has ‘svabhava’ meaning its own inborn self or essence as its guidance. In other words ‘what is to come must come of itself’ to manifest in a state of absolute freedom. Taoism speaks of ‘sahaja’ as a highest virtue – the loss of the peculiar naturalness or unselfconsciousness. I have personal experiences with Taosim and my Master named his place of practice the same word as Sahaja but in Chinese.

One finds this state in an innocent child which is always in its ‘sahaja’ state unless interfered to by society. In his semi-naked state an sahaja avadut is just as unconscious of others nakedness as he was of his own.

“The person who has conquered the baser self and has reached to the level of self mastery: he is at peace, whether it be in cold or hot, pleasure or pain, honoured or dishonoured” – Bhagavad Gita. “ This is Sahaja the Bhagavad Gita and Vaishnavism is Sahaja in its pure unorthodox sitting on a throne form. It should be noted pure Gaudiya Vaishnavism always honored this family of Bauls. There are perhaps hundreds if not thousands of pictures of this family preforming for them raising huge amounts of money for them. There has never been any debate about them not being ancestors of Sri Nityananda of Ekchakra? Their story has never been told and now with the internet many are making up stories.

It is important to understand that Baul arrived before both Buddhism and Islam. Bauls are considered to be original Sufi before Muslim existed and Sufi in this context is Hindu or more appropriately called Sanatan Dharmic Sufi. Some say they are the very earliest Indian Sufi's but I do not like to use the word Sufi because there is so much debate about where Sufi is from and the Bauls of Bengal are not Islamic they sing some Islamic Sufi songs because they love all but that does not make them Islamic or Muslim. However, I must make it perfectly clear Sufi pre-dates Islam and Sufi in the context of Baul is not Islamic it is Sahaja (Sahajaya) Baul Sahaja is Sufi.

The Bauls were not British educated English speaking Christian Bengali's who learned Sanskrit after the fact. Vaishnava Bauls learned Sanskrit in the oral tradition by hearing and remembering from birth, which creates a person with a photo graphic memory. Bauls are the original Das and Dasi singers and dancers of Bengal, the original kirtanists from the red soil called Rarh. Many of their Kirtan's have been taken by the Orthodox New fundamentalist Vaishnava and claimed as their own? They use a degrading language to describe the Bauls and many other sects to raise themselves up higher than any other religion in the world this surely anyone can understand is most certainly not othodox is shows a lack of confidence and heart towards others. Yet they have no clue where their information and kirtan came from or the true stories.

Babukishan is a master of India music classical, folk bhajan, kirtan, all music and his job for years was working for the biggest music companies in India categorizing all of the music of India, his description of kirtan is completely different from what is going on in the west. The west is chanting, kirtan is the telling of the stories of Krishna, Ram Shiva and Kali telling their stories in reverence and chanting. Kirtan is worship with reverence it is unheard of in his tradition for people to fall asleep on the floor.

It should be noted that Babukishan has recorded and produced the first recorded Hanuman Chalisa in India that is one of the most successful recordings of the Hanuman Chalisa played in all the temples in India the singer the late Hari Om Sharam. Babukishan has also, produced and recorded music by some of the Islamic Sufi greats including, Abida Parveen, Munni Begam, Allan Fakir, Nusrat Fateh Ali, Karim Khan, Majid Shola, and many more so he understands what is Muslim Sufi and what is Baul Sufi from experience not from books. He has recorded more Lalon Fakir songs than anybody and loves his poetry but still does not consider him to be a Baul. Babukishan has also, produced and recorded the biggest kirtan, bhajan singers in India including ...

Bauls were the biggest peacekeepers accepting all people. It should be understood that Baul is the path of the Avadhut always exploring and learning. They have many teachers but only one Guru. Understanding the history of Bengal is very important to understanding Baul. When Bengal was in strife under Islamic invasion they accepted Sufi into their fold. When Buddhists flowed into Bengal and were challenged by Brahamins, Bauls were the only people who gave them refuge and accepted them saving many from persecution. Baul is a sect onto its own based on Sanatan Dharma with a sprinkle of Sufi and Buddhist practices. Please understand that it is also, said Sufi is based on Sanatan Dharma and was in India way before the Muslim's existed. Bauls have always been natural Indian Tantric Sufi's. A Baul will also say Buddha actually followed Shiva. Many of Baul practices are some of the earliest known before Buddha and before was Sufi attached to Islam in modern thought.

Stories abound about Bauls being from Persia, Uzbeckistan or Bangladesh, but many of these speculations are coming out of Bangladesh which is a Muslim country. They have somehow appropriated Baul culture and use this as a way to raise huge amount of money, apparently in order to preserve Baul Tradition as their ‘National heritage’. Baul tradition was born thousands of years ago and is indigenous to and originates from Birbhum Bengal. There were no Bauls in Bangledesh, even when Bangaldesh was Bengal they were not from the place now called Bangladesh. Baul has always been based on Sanatan Dharma, the eternal dharma of India as found in the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, Puranic and Vedic wisdom. There were no Bauls in Bangladesh prior to the 1970's because Babu's mother Manju was a well know family in that area before it became Bangladesh.

Vaishnava Baul is the lineage of Krishna & Kali Kirtan. The Vaishnava Bauls are the original Kirtanists from the land of Rarh (red soil) which is Birbhum.

Kenduli Birbhum Bengal is the home of the Joy DEV Baul Mela. JOY Dev wrote the Gita Govinda about the love between Radha and Krishna.

This story comes from the oral tradition of the oldest living Baul lineage as told by Babukishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul, a ‘Lineage Baul Guru’ and the only Baul Guru Scholar from inside the tradition of the Vaishnava Bauls of Birbhum Bengal. Babukishan has lectured all over the world for decades at the University level and has done Baul preformances on some of the biggest stages in the world since the 1970's.

Baul is not only an ocean of devotion but is also, an ocean of Indian Philosophy, Yoga, Tantra, Vedic, Puranic, and Upanishad wisdom. The title 'Baul' implies one is a Guru, Pandit, Acharya, an authority, they were the Shastra before books, they are oral storytellers, spiritual Bards, Bhakti Yogi's, Masters of Nada Yoga, and Vayu Dharma. However, being an oral tradition did not mean they didn't read Bengali and Sanskrit manuscripts and Shastra.

KD Babukishan was born in 1962 in Suri Bhirbhum W Bengal into the lap of Nabani Das Khappa Baul and his wife Brajabala Dasi. KD Babukishan is the birth son of Purna Das Baul and Manju Dasi, however and for whatever reason he was left right after his birth to be raised by Sri Nabani, his Sad Guru and grandfather. Nabani and Brajabala raised their little grandson who was born premature with crooked limbs, it was thought he would die the next day. They named him Krishnendu (Krishna in Bengali). The name Babukishan was given to him by Mahesh Bhatt a Hindi film Director and Suraj Sanim one of the biggest Hindi film writers.

Nabani was an adept sadhaka at Tarapith who had traveled as a sadhu tantric all over India living in the Himalaya's into Tibet he has lived in caves and was a great Yogi Tantric. Nabani took his sick tiny premature grandson with crooked limbs to Tara Maa right after he was born praying and begging for his life. Ayurvedic medicine, prayers and mantra were used to heal baby Krishnendu and his limbs were straightened through daily Ayurvedic massage given by Nabani and Brajabala Dasi. It should be noted that Nabani was a healer and he had healed thousands of people eveywhere he went, taking their karma and transmuting their karma.

Nabani knew the Tantra of alchemy and traditional herbs, he was a close friend of the famed Ayurvedic doctor and healer Dr. Kali Goti who also helped with healing Babu. Nabani was an adept at manifesting siddhi's, he knew all the Guru's, Saints, Siddhas, Yogis, Naths, Swamis, Sadhus, Sadhakas of the time and had them all give dharshan and blessings to his little baby Krishnendu. Babu went everywhere with Nabani and was a regular at Tarapith learning tantric and Baul sadhana. hanging out with the Gurus and Tantrics one could say he owes his life to Tara Maa and Kali Maa. The village Rakha Kali Maa temple where he played, was right beside the Ratha Yatra Cart with Radha and Krishna. The village favoured many gods. Babu saw and experienced a world that does not exist today, those times are gone. I specualate that perhaps this was Babu's karma and a continuation of his past life.

Nabani's samadhi was in 1969, when KD Babukishan was only 8 years old. He thought Nabani was his father, until he learned his real father was Nabani's eldest son Purna Das Baul who had since had two other sons that were raised outside the Baul tradition, in contemporary Calcutta. Most people on a path would agree that our family is not who we are. Guru is our real family if we are lucky to have one, Babu was lucky to have Nabani who left him his spark. Losing Nabani was to be the greatest loss of little KD Babukishan's life and the greatest loss to the whole Baul community. Nabani was not an ordinary Baul he was an extraordinary genius. Babukishan was by his side when he went into samadhi.

On his grandfather’s passing, KD Babukishan recalls: suddenly my grandpa reached out and gave me his hand at the same time a huge thunder cracked and filled the air with energy, my grandpa ' Boro Baba's' whole body turned a blue whitish an electric current shocked me and ran through my body at the same time automatically the tulsi plant fell over and the Bhagavad Gita sitting in the tulsi plant hit Boro Baba on his head, he was gone. He held my hand so tight I felt an electric current run through my body my third eye opened, I saw the universe my Boro Baba had given me what is called a Bramhma darshan. I felt a huge force of power and light in my body, I couldn't break free of Boro Baba's grip.

The Baul kirtan for Nabani went on for weeks, they chanted HARI KRISHNA HARI RAM for 8 days in a continuous flow, and then 6 more weeks taking breaks for some food and rest. Thousands of people came to pay their respects. Nabani was a famous father figure, Baul Guru of Birbhum, a state artist and the whole state of Birbhum was closed. He was burried in traditional Baul way, sitting in a padmasana.

Some time after his grandfather’s death, his Grandmother sent him to live in Calcutta with Purna Das Baul and Manju Dasi, his birth parents, as she felt he’d be better off there and that he needed to be educated. KD Babukishan's went from the highest energy and biggest love bliss to a material life in Calcutta and a family where he didn't fit in. He recalls how his mother Manju used to bribe him with cookies to call her Maa.

Those days were hard for a little boy, suddenly surrounded by strangers, in the strange city, and before long, they packed him off to Ramakrishna Mission, where he remained for the following twelve years. Living there was tough, but the Swami’s there respected the Bauls, and often told him the story how Ramakrishna loved the Bauls, and said many times how he wanted to be born a Baul in his next life.

The family sometimes let him stay with them and even travel with them, touring with his father. When he was nine, they went to London and Europe on his first of many overseas trips. They went to perform at the fundraiser for Bangladesh in 1971, 1972, and 1978. There was a big group of Indian musicians who played at Hyde Park at the concert sponsored by the Beatles and The Rolling Stones. That is where he first met and became lifelong friends with George Harrison and the Rolling Stones. Later in 1986, George Harrison along with Ravi Shankar helped him publish his 3rd book on Bauls, now out of print. During that trip they traveled to Mick Jaggers place in Nice, France and where his father recorded with them for the album Jai Bangla. Mick Jagger was their limousine driver, and drove them from the airport to his place. In 2004 Babukishan returned the favor picking up Mick Jagger from the airport when The Rolling Stones performed in Mumbai.

Just as he was in the process of becoming a sanaysin, his father pulled him out of Ramakrishna Mission to work as his tour manager and it should be noted that Babukishan composed most of his fathers music as Krishnendu Das he was also, the youngest music composer in India at the time and was given awards for being the youngest and has a 40 years of award winning music composer. There were many good times and many difficult times with his Calcutta family and he left them for Mumbai after somethings that Babu didn't agree with but always supported them.

The easiest way to pronounce Baul is (Ba–oowl). Bauls are known as 'wind catchers' , the Masters of Pranayama which they call Vayu Dharma. Baul comes from the words Vayu (air) and Tula (to raise the vital air). Ba stands for Va in Bengali language. Bauls practice various yogic tantric techniques and their singing and mantric chanting. The aim of the Baul is God Realization & Self Realization in the human body, humanity is first and foremost to the Bauls – to be a good human, to realize God within this body temple.

Bauls are considered to be Sahaja which means natural and spontaneous. It implies natural on the spiritual level and on the mystical level of the miraculous. It means that easy natural state of living without planning, design, contriving, seeking, wanting, or striving for attention.  It is that nature which, when once established, brings the state of absolute freedom and peace. Sahaja is a natural state which balances reality between the pairs of opposites and maintains harmony of the Cosmos.

Thus ‘sahaja’ expresses one who has reverted to his natural state, free from conditioning. It typifies the outlook which belongs to the natural, spontaneous and uninhibited man, free from innate or inherited defects.
As such even nakedness of the sadhus is considered to be ‘sahaja’. By his own demeanor Datta shows man’s instinct for naturalness and primordial perfection not only of the physical and spiritual level but at the mystical level.
A parallel is made to plants and trees which do not grow according ‘svadharma’ or rules and obligations incurred at birth.

Sahaja is: “The person who has conquered the baser self and has reached to the level of self mastery: he is at peace, whether it be in cold or hot, pleasure or pain, honoured or dishonoured” – Bhagavad Gita. “

Sahaja is NOT,  licentious, loose, lustful, lewd, salacious behavior as described by the orthodox Vaishnav coming out of Bengal. Shaja is a Sanskrit word and those translations are completely wrong, To be sahaja is to hear, see, smell beauty in all things. To be a sahaja is to love (prema) unconditionally from the soul spontaneously and naturally. It is a feminine way of being the "path of Radha" the inner soul, it is an elevated way of being. It is to move ones focus inward and not get stuck in rhetoric and the mind or of knowledge. It is about having knowledge but not getting caught and hung up on knowledge.

Bauls practice techniques similar to Daoist Qigong they are Masters of energy work and mysticism. They are visionary and communicate inward, it is a inner path. Inner ritual, Radha and Krishna reside in the alter of the heart this is where the Rasa Lila takes place. As an example of outer it would be the temple and book business and even sometimes even murti's although I know they worship murti's and at all temples around the world as I have been to every type of temple, church and even mosques with Babukishan.

FAMOUS BAULS

Purna Das Baul is the first famous Indian Vocalist to come to America. First arriving in 1967 on a tour from San Francisco to New York staying in Woodstock NY at Bob Dylan's home as guests of Sally and Albert B Grossman (Bob Dylans manager). The recorded music from that time is called 'Bauls at Big Pink'. Purna Das Baul and his brother the late Laxshman Das Baul who was a much loved Baul a Bob Marley of the Bauls appeared on the cover of Bob Dylan's Legendary album John Westly Harding, Bob Dylan was a super fan of Lakshman Das Baul. Sally Grossman has remained a loyal a very dear friend of the Bauls and Laxshman Das Baul since 1967. At 81 years of age Lashman Das Baul passed away in April 2015 ending a legendary period of Baul history.

The Bauls at Big Pink produced by Al Aronowitz the father of Rock Journalism and another beloved friend of Babu's who passed in 2004, Garth Hudson and Robbie Robertson of the Band 1967 / The photo of Nabani Das Khyappa Baul was taken by Rabindranath Tagore. The Bauls on this album are Purna Das Baul and Lakshman Das Baul

Baul Samarat (King of the Bauls) Purna Das Baul at 82 years old has recieved the highest awards as a vocalist in India including many President Awards, Padma Shri and a rare award from the JAGANATHA TEMPLE called 'Nada Brahma Award' which only 3 have received including the much celebrated Ravindra Jain and Lata Mangeshakar. This family of Vaishnava Bauls are celebrated at the Jaganatha Temple in Orissa they know they are ancestors of Nityananda, Jai Nitai.

Allen Ginsberg's had always honoured Nabani Das Baul as his Guru who he first met him in the early 1960's while traveling in Bengal. Ginsberg became a very dear friend of KD Babukishan whom Babu visited every year in America from the 1980's until Ginsberg passed, they are both poets and have a love for Nabani Das Baul. Ginsberg is the one who insisted to Sally and Albert B Grossman (Bob Dylan's manager) to bring Nabani to America, however, in 1967 Nabani's health was failing and he sent his two son's Lakshman and Purna Das Baul.

Kshiti Mohan Sen was a well-known scholar of ancient and medieval India and close associate of Rabindranath Tagore served as the Vice Chancellor of Visva-Bharati University in Santineketan for years. Kshiti Mohan Shastri described Nabani Das Baul "the last real true Baul" he wrote a book on Baul and regarded Nabani as the greatest ocean of intelligence he was as a huge admirer of Nabani. Kriti Mohan Sastri is the Grandfather of Armarta Sen a Professor, Economist and Philosopher living in New York.

KD Babukishan walks between worlds in a true tantric form with one foot in the spiritual world and one foot firmly on earth, in the world but not of the world. He is a highly awarded Bollywood Indian Cinema Music Composer, Indian Music Producer, a Master of Indian Music, Classical, Folk, Bhajan, and Kirtan composing scores for 150 films, Film Designer, Film Maker, he has recorded and worked with the who is who of Indian music and Western music.

KD Babukisha was raised a Baul and spent 12 years as a Ramakrishna monk in Calcutta, BA in Indian Philosophy, MA of Indian Music from Calcutta University, Poet, the first Baul to be educated in the oral tradition and outside. A Sanskrit Scholar from the Oral Tradition, Sanskrit Education at the Masters level and because of his love of Sanskrit he spent countless years learning from Dr. Roma Chowdhri who was like a mother to Babu she was a legendary world renowned Bengali Sanskrit scholar who dedicated her whole life to Sanskrit.

Baukishan now lives in Vancouver Canada with me Trishula his Moner Manush wife and partner of almost ten years, traveling back and forth to India. Babu's life changed dramatically when he was in the 2004 Tsunami in Indonesia where he witnessed, tens of thousands of souls leaving Bhumi Maa all at once, one of Maa's biggest smashen grounds. He has lived through the 1971 war between Bengal and Bangladesh, he has lived through many many terrorist attacks in Mumbai and lived many lifetimes in this one lifetime. Babu's main cause has always been to preserve his Baul tradition and it has been proven a difficult task it seems that over many decades his dream, all of his time and energy have been thwarted by his Calcutta family and many other road blocks, but he never gives up.

"The way my braid is, that’s how it will stay.
I’ll get into the water, I’ll splash water around, but I won’t get my hair wet.
I’ll swim about this way, and that way.
I’ll dive into the water, and won’t listen to what people say.
I’ll enjoy myself but not suffer because of it.
Gosain Rasaraj says: “Listen, my friend , that beauty leaves me speechless".
I won’t be chaste; I won’t be unchaste.
I won’t leave my Lord".
Famous Baul song (poetry) by Rasaraj Gosai (Nabani Das Baul's elder brother)
Not getting ones hair wet mean remaining unattached, Bauls songs are metaphorically coded. It is really hard to translate Bengali or Sanskrit into a one worded English translation and sometimes even impossible, there is assumed one knows all of Yoga and Tantra because each song is many discourses all in a simple song and sometimes you do not need to understand, you can listen and just get in it on a very deep level, the songs awaken a person to understanding. It is very subtle but a memory deep within your heart will understand.

The Joy Dev Baul Mela is held here the Vaishnava Bauls attend ever year to do puja to the great poet (kavi) Joy Dev. The bridge going across the Ajoy river is named Nabani Setu after Nabani Das Baul. The mela is completely different today, the Bauls have been marginalized and pushed out by the new kirtan singers. The Bauls honour Joy Deva and the love he had for his soul mate Padmavati because Bauls believe in Soul Mates as Radha and Krishna live and dance in their hearts, this is the real Rasa Lila dance.

   Copyright all rights reserved 2017
Meaning,

PLEASE do not copy and paste, then cut the names off I have seen others use my writings and change their story to fit this story?
#baulsofbengal #babukishan #sufi #birbhum #tantra #nabanidasbaul #ramakrishna

December 19th, 2015

12/19/2015

New article on ️Baul's

December 19th, 2015

12/19/2015

What is Bhakti Yoga by Trishula Das

9/9/2013

What is Bhakti Yoga? Bhakti Yoga is feeling everything, emotion, it is attachment to your beloved whether that be Krishna, Kali, Ganesha, Durga, Radha it is talking to Devata as a friend, lover, father, mother... it is not about being indifferent to what is going on in the world. You get to choose, it is about Loving so dearly that you express everything inside of yourself without holding back. There is a certain amount of insanity in Bhakti Yoga. Bhakti is not about suppression, repression, or playing pretend when really inside something else is going on, yes Bhakti is pure Love and Devotion and Love has different expressions it is not all fluffy, Mother Theresa Loved but if you have read about her, she was tough and spoke her mind.

Have you ever been to a Mandir in India and there is someone standing up at the front talking to Krishna or Maa, talking, crying holding there hands up arguing. This is Bhakti, be human is Bhakti praying, confiding, chanting, singing the stories of Devata.

Bhakti is about relationship. Yes I have seen people even talk angrily at Devata, that does not mean one does not have love and compassion, if you saw a child crossing the road about to be hit by a car... what would you do stand there and say, this is God's will... NO any mother that loves her child would scream and run to save her child and after she saved him LOL most mothers would say or scold don't you ever do that again... and cry OMG.

Bhakti Yoga Love, Compassion and Devotion does not mean to loose your head or be perfect all the time, Jnana Yoga the Yoga of the intellect go hand and hand with Bhakti and if someone tried to run your kid down with a car I know this mother would not stand there and say. Oh Well I love you and have compassion for you driver, this is life, Bhakti means you are actively involved in Your LOVE and Compassion and you still have discernment, intellect Jnana Yoga.

Goddess Kali will destroy what is not right, what does she want.. (KALI WANTS THE TRUTH)...

I am a Kali Bhakta her Love is not simple or easy.. it is the Love of a Mother that burns...it is the Love of a Warrioress the not speaking up, the not turning your back when you see something not right, the fearless Goddess and yes she the Goddess of Sacred Rage.

What is Bhakti Yoga?? by Yogi Ananda Saraswathi

5/30/2013

Babukishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul..and his Grandfather (Guru) Sri Nabani Das Kheppa Baul.. Lineage Vaishnava Baul of Bengal the original Hare Krishna singers and dancers of Bengal.

BHAKTI YOGA is often associated with chanting or praising the benevolence of gods. It is communing with God through devotional acts, prayer, offerings, music, praise, and or dance with the aim of awakening love in the heart and opening oneself to God’s grace. It is the path of spiritual or divine love and devotion. In this, the arms, legs, voice and body movements act as the hands of love. Bhakti may be directed towards God or Goddesses or even one’s spiritual preceptor.

Bhakti practice focuses on the faculty of feeling. It addresses the emotion of selflessness and dedicated service to all living beings. It is showing one’s love by worship and by subordinating oneself. In the words of Sri Swami Sivananda “Bhakti is not mere emotionalism, but is the turning of the will as well as the intellect towards the Divine. It is supreme love of God. It leads to immortality or God-realization”

Bhakti margha is the path of devotion leading to Yoga with God. It is Union through Devotion. Bhakti yoga is a major branch of the yoga tradition, utilizing the feeling capacity to connect with the ultimate Reality conceived as a supreme Person – Uttama –Purusha. Bhakti margha is embodied in Patanjali's Yoga Darshana in the second limb, niyama -observances, as devotion - Ishvarapranidhana. Bhaktivada is the gospel of bhakti. Bhakti Sutra are Aphorisms on Devotion by the Sage Narada. The collective discipline of love and devotion is extolled in the Bhagavad-Gita, the Bhagavata-Purana. Both Vaishnavas and Shaiva scriptures are replete with bhakti margas. The entire Chapter 12 of the Gita is dedicated to the Yoga of Devotion; the worship of Saguna and Nirguna Brahman.

Bhakti is a word derived from the verbal root bhaj. In connection with yoga and as being one of the recognized forms of it, the general signification of bhakti yoga is devotion, affectionate attachment.

Basically Bhakti means Bhakti means, “love of God” or “love of Truth.” The first manifestation of this is desire for something more in life, for an ideal or Ishta. In Tamil ‘ishtam’ means something you like or have passion or desire. Just as it is available in the Jnana path, bhakti yoga practice also systematically channels desire and emotion towards highest ideals. Over time, one movers beyond Murtis and images to begin asking “Who am I”, “Why am I here” and with grace end with ecstatic Yoga with the Divine.

Bhakti yogi is one who practices bhakti yoga; bhaktim is devotional service. He is the Cosmic Magnet of the all-embracing heart. Bhatyaa means in full devotion. Bhaktiyogena means ‘by devotional service.’ Bhaktimaan is a devotee. ‘Bhaktiman me priyah’ in Gita 12.17 means ‘the God-lover, the one who has love of God, is dear to Me.’ ‘By bhakti he comes to know Me: ‘bhaktya mam abhijanati’ – Gita 18.55.

Jnana-knowledge and bhakti are not two separate things but viewed as different aspects, as the power of the sun is one thing, though viewed separately as two separate things as heat and light. They are interdependent; there cannot be knowledge of God’s true nature through mere intellectual reasoning without embracing the spirit of devotion. This is because Divinity is seated in the heart of all creatures and the Self is that which is dearer than a son, dearer than wealth, closer than anything else. There cannot also be bhakti without knowledge. In the Gita, Sri Krishna states that among the devotees, He is the Jnani. The bhakti marga is there the preparatory stage. But it is also an end in itself.

Those who pursue action receive the fruits of action through Me, and those who pursue knowledge receive the fruits of knowledge from Me. Hence even those who serve Me through the Yoga of Devotion (bhakti yoga) pass through stages to acquire spiritual knowledge and are eventually liberated through My grace. If
liberation come to those who perform the Yoga of Devotion, how much more certainly does it come to those who acquire a correct intuitive knowledge of the nature of the Self in this very life: Shankara, Gita Bhasya XI.1.

Generally Bhakti is of two kinds: Vaidika bhakti and Prema bhakti. Vaidika bhakti conforms to the injunctions in the scriptures to chant God’s name, to perform rituals, to pray, make pilgrimages worship with the aid of enjoined materials etc. Prema bhakti is the earnest pursuance of these means leading to ultimate Yoga with Divinity.

In Prema bhakti, there is no place for any kind of earthly attachment. One gives the body and soul to God in entirety. It is unconditional love of and for the Supreme. In Prema the Jiva merges with the Paramatma. The bhaktas wholehearted offering is graciously accepted by the Lord and absorbs the devotee to become His own. Prem means highest form of love; Prema means Divine Love. Prema Yoga is Yoga of Love. Prema samarthya is the power or capacity for love. In the Shaivite tradition, ‘Premamayi’ is a reference to virgin Gauri aspiring Lord Shiva while he was in deep meditation. Premamayi Radha means ‘O Radha, full of Love.’ Radharani is the sum-total of prema-bhakti.

Hara Hara Mahadeva
(draft Bhakti Yoga – Premam ©) by Yogi Ananda Saraswathi

Sarira (The Body)

4/1/2013

Baul Master Yogi Nabani Das Khyappa Baul

SARIRA. The dictionary meaning given to this word is ‘body, envelope or sheath of the body. It also takes a meaning of something that is easily dissolved or worn away to bring forth an idea being something transitory. So, it is foam-like, full of holes. The general meaning is a composite body, the physical self or vehicle of impermanent character in and through which an ethereal entity lives and works. ‘Sariram khalu dharmasaddhanam’ means the body is the means of fulfillment of dharma. Sarirananda means ananda in the body. In Gita 4.21, ‘sariram kevalam karma’ means purely physical action. Even the maintenance of physical life cannot be effected without action – asrirayatrapi ….akarmanah: Gita 3.8.

SARIRA TRAYA: This is the Vedantic doctrine of three bodies, namely Sthula sarira - the physical or gross body; Suksma sarira - the subtle body and Karana Sarira – the causal body.

STHULA SARIRA: Also sthoola sarira. ‘Sthula’ means type of attribute, gross or physical. ‘Sthula bhutani’ refers to the gross elements: ether, air, fire, water and earth. Sthula sarira refers to the body of the soul in the waking state or Jagra avastha. So, sthula sarira means coarse or gross, not refined, conditioned and differentiated matter. Here sarira implies a form, generally speaking. It is the lowest substance-principle of which man is composed of. Strictly speaking, the physical body is not a principle at all, it is merely a house which follows a course of natural decay. It is man’s expression of his constitution on the physical plane. It is needed for evolution and active work.

The Sthula-sarira or physical hierarchy of the human body is built up of cosmic elements, themselves formed of living atomic entities. It is the sarira that eats, breathes and moves or acts. It is produced by one’s past karmas and now composed of many diverse components which have undergone panchikarana. In Vedanta, panchikarana is the theory how matter came into existence from the five primordial subtle elements. Sthula sarira is the instrument of Jiva attached to the body and dominated by Ahamkara or ego, the I-ness in which Atman is reflected. Its main features are: Sambava – birth; Jara – ageing and Maranam – death, all happening in the Waking State. What garments this temporary casing?

KOSHA: This takes the meaning, sheath, vessel or layer. In Vedanta philosophically, koshas are the five sheaths through which the soul functions simultaneously in the various planes or levels of existence.

(1) Annamaya kosha: Annam means food implying ‘sheath composed of food’ or the gross physical body sustained by food.
(2) Pranamaya kosha: Prana means vital force implying ‘sheath composed of prana or vital force,’ It is also known as the pranic or health body, or the etheric body.
(3) Manomaya kosha: Manas means mind, thought, will, wish implying ‘mind-formed sheath’. It is the lower astral body; the instinctive-intellectual sheath of ordinary thought, desire and emotion.
(4) Vijnanamaya kosha: Is the ‘sheath of cognition’ or intelligence. It is the mental or cognitive-intuitive sheath.
(5) Anandamaya kosha: Is the ‘body or sheath of bliss; the intuitive-superconscious sheath or actinic-causal body. Anandamaya kosha is not a sheath in the same sense as the four outer koshas. It is the soul itself, a body of light, also called karana sharira, causal body, and karmashaya, holder of karmas of this and all past lives. Anandamaya kosha is that which evolves through all incarnations and beyond until the soul's ultimate, fulfilled merger, vishvagrasa, in the Primal Soul, Parameshvara. Then anandamaya kosha becomes Sivamayakosha, the body of God Siva.

SUKSAMA SARIRA: ‘Sukshma’ means fine, subtle or belonging to a subtler order of existence than the solid physical. It also means the subtle dimension. This is the subtle body, the psychomental aspect of the human body that exists independent of the physical or gross body. This is the layer responsible for life energy, wanting and reasoning. It is made up of a combination of Kama, Higher Manas, Buddhi and Karma In the spiritually developed man constitutes his or her Spiritual Soul. It is often considered to survive the death of the physical body and is involved in the process of rebirth and eternal life.

LINGA SARIRA: Suksma sarira is also called Lingasarira. Linga means characteristic mark and sarira being form, implies impermanence. It is so called because it puts one in the mind of atman and reminds one of atman; the beginingless limitation of atman. The Dream State is a distinct state of suksma sarira where the buddhi shines due to memories of deeds done in the waking state. At death, the linga sarira remains in the astral realms and finally fades out. The linga sarira is formed before the sthula sarira is formed and thus serves as a model or pattern around which the physical body is molded and grows into maturity.

KARANA SARIRA: ‘Karana’ means instrument, cause; the efficient or instrumental cause of something. Karana sarira is the causal body where the individual rests during sound, deep, dreamless sleep where the intellect, mind and senses being reduced to an unmanifested potential condition. Basically it means buddhi becoming dormant and all concepts of time fail. It is also known as Anandamaya kosha, the sheath of bliss. This is the state of Ishvara or the stage of consummation of atman and Paramatman. It is the search of the transcendent Brahman.

Hara Hara Mahadeva
(draft The Human Body)
By Yogi Ananda Saraswathi

Flowers in the Hindu Way of Life.

3/15/2013

FLOWERS IN THE HINDU WAY OF LIFE. Nature itself is the first and foremost sacred scripture – the external is a symbolic marker for the internal divine law and principle. Fragrance, color and beauty are attributes of the essence of the Self source. “The flower” said Jean Giraudoux in The Enchanted, ‘is the poetry of reproduction. It is an example of the eternal seductiveness of life.’ Nearly all religions and faiths, irrespective of being organized or not are associated with flowers in more ways than one. All Hindu festivals, celebrations and auspicious days are ‘flower acts’ as they form an integral essence of the event portraying the divine.

Hindu’s infatuation knows no bounds and omission of flowers during puja and auspicious events are deemed to be a defect. Flowers are used during puja at home, temples and at sacred places. Deities are decorated with loose flowers or garlands made of flowers and leaves. Flowers are also offered and placed at the feet of deities. Flower ‘showers’ brighten Hindu prayers and the feet of holy men.

PUSHPAM: In bhakti yoga, puja is an essential stage. The word puja has two root word. ‘Pu’ refers to ‘pushpam’ or flowers. ‘Ja’ refers to japa or japam. ‘Ja’ can also mean water. Jalam’ or water. Water sipped during puja is anchamanam. It is hence said that puja may be a process during which flowers and water is offered to God as prasada along with recitation of His name.

During puja rituals, pushpam have their own significance along with kumkum, gandam -sandalwood paste, phalam – fruits, akshata, naivedyam –food, jalam - water and milk. It is said that subtle frequencies of Deities which are active in the atmosphere are attracted towards certain flowers. This is known as ‘pavitrak’. There is a distinction between ‘negative energy’ and ‘black energy’. These energies are subtle and troubles us because it is tama predominant. It can affect a person’s well being, character and conduct. It may manifest at a physical level in many forms of negative behavior.

In bhakti one approaches the Deity for peace, harmony and well being. The positive energy in Deities is sattva predominant and is called ‘chaitanya’ - divine consciousness, ‘ananda’ – bliss or even ‘shanti’ – peace. Sattvik flowers form part of this positive energy. Flowers attract and emit energy. The attracted energy gets converted to chaitanya or Shakti. It reduces negative effects. During prayers there is a formation of chaitanya in the heart of the devotee.

GUNAS and PRAKRITI: Pushpanjali is the offering of flowers in ritualistic worship. Flowers are part of prakriti and it is classified into sattva, rajas and tamas. This classification is based on color, fragrance, shape and origin. Tamas flowers are avoided in prayers. Sattva flowers are used in puja and for all auspicious events. To a certain extent rajas flowers are also used in puja. Generally flowers with strong odor, stale or those without fragrance are not used. Mutilated flowers and those eaten by insects are also avoided. Home grown flowers are considered to the most suitable while forest flowers are not rejected as well. Types of puja flowers are also found in the scriptures.

Flowers are representative of nature or prakriti. The sage Narada, in Devi Bhagavatam, fragments the word ‘prakriti’ wherein ‘Pra’ means ‘exalted or superior’ and Kriti denotes Creation. So, Mother Goddess Devi whose material energy moves creation is referred as Devi Prakriti. ‘Pra’ is symbolic of sattva guna and the most exalted quality. ‘Ti’ denotes tamo guna. Offering sattva guna flowers is the highest as they do not contain impurities. Offering sattva guna flowers is also symbolic of bhaktas giving up tamo and rajo guna and give blessings of sattva guna. This is conducive to flowering of consciousness. Offering flowers is a way to transmit devotional bhava-emotion and requesting blessings. Yad Bhava is the bhava of saranagati or surrender and faith.

Flowers such as arka, nandyavartham ,drone, white lotus, jasmine, coral tree flowers are considered satvix. The rajas flowers include red lotus, trumpet flowers, white thorn apple flowers. Ketaki, china rose, cottant plant and kasa grass are tamas flowers.

TEMPLES: Most temple compounds house a Nandavanam meaning flower parks. In house compounds they take the shape of mini-nandavanam to produce sufficient flowers for puja use. ‘Pushpa Pallakku’ is a vahana adorned was flowers in which the deity is brough around the temple. If this is done to circumambulate the inner sactorum, it sia called ‘ull veethi urvalam’. The vahanam is called a Pallakku. In the Nandavanams, one finds Thulasi, Vilvam, Virukshikam and other flowers dedicated to specific deities. Normally bhaktas going to temple bring their own flowers and offer with full bhakti. One feels complete this war rather than pinching flowers from the temple Nandavanam.

SYMBOLISM: Flowers are also symbolic of what human conduct should be. Flowers do not discriminate. They are a thing of beauty for all. They provide fragrance to one and all. Similarly one should conduct life with full of love and compassion towards all living beings. Deities have their connection with flowers. The most quoted one is the lotus, which albeit, is the symbol of detachment, eternity, purity and divinity. Its metaphysical analogy is its perennial rise to faultless beauty from a muddy environment – symbolic of the evolution of man’s consciousness. In Hatha Yoga, the padmasana pose is adopted by those striving to reach the highest level of consciousness. In Kundalini each chakra is described as lotus and petals.

COSMETICS: The Indian women and flowers are a inseparable lot. Flowers in the hair is a pleasant ornamental sight throughout human evolution. They double up as fragrance and beauty enhancing the appearance of the wearer. Jasmine for instance announces from far. Its smell is feminine. The human body is a temple and flowers add nature and divinity to it. This is deitification of body and sharing rituals owed to any deity.

‘Flowers’ it is often said ‘is the way to a woman’s heart’ and there you have the social element. Stringed flowers and bridal corsage is a must in Indian weddings. In the Southern tradition, hair is said to be an erotic part of a woman. The Thiruvilayadal Purana has a debate on fragrance from Mother’s Parvati’s hair. In the South, decorating the hair is indeed ritualistic. It uplifts the wearer’s spirit and inner beauty.

SIGNIFICANCE OF FLOWERS
Aparaajita – Goddess Durga
Arka flower – Milkweed flower used in all prayers
Ashok – Associated with Sita
Atasi or flax – Sri Krihna’s complexion
Bandhook or Midday flower – Sun God
Banyan flower – Lord Siva prayers
Bilva flower – Lord Siva prayers
Blue butterfly pea flower – Goddess Durga
Chameli flowers – offered to Lord Hanuman
Champaka – Sri Krishna, Lord Kamadeva, Goddess Lalitambika
Champaka (yellow) – Goddess Saraswati
Dhatura flowers – Lord Shiva worship
Erukkan flower – used in all prayers
Fragrant Screw Pine – Lakshmi puja
Hibiscus – Goddess Durga and Kali
Indian coral red: -Used in the worship of Visnu and Siva
Japa kusum – Sun God, Surya worship
Jasmine – Used in all Deity worship and Durga Puja
Kadamba – Associated with Lord Krishna and Goddess Durga
Kovidar or purple orchid – Symbol in Bharata’s flag
Krishna Kamal flowers – offered to Sri Krishna
Kumud or white water lily – divine flower
Kund or Star jasmine – known for whitensss
Lotus – Goddesses, especially Lakshmi
Madhavi Lata – Associated with Vrindavan
Malati – Well known for fragrance
Marigold flowers – Lord Ganesha worship
Mandarai or Purple orchids – Lord Shiva
Milkweed flower – Lord Ganesha
Mogra flowers – Lord Vishnu prayers
Mullai flower – Lord Dakshinamurthy
Nandhyavattai – Lord Krishna worship
Neel Kamal – Goddess Durga worship
Parijat – Brought to earth by Lord Krishna
Patal or paral – adorns the hair of Goddesses
Pomegranate flowers – Lord Ganesha
Punnag – Lord Vishnu worship
Tajnigandha flowers – offered to Lord Shiva
Tulsi flowers – Vishnu and Krishna worship
Red coloured flowers – Lord Ganesha
Red Jasmine flowers – Goddess Lakshmi prayers
Sanku Pushpam or Conch flower – Lord Ganesha
Sev arali – Lord Subramaniya worship
Tamal or Himalayan Garcina – Lord Rama, Baby Krishna
Thazhampoo or ketaki – Cursed by Lord Shiva, not used in worship but offered to Goddess Lakshmi.
Thumba poo – avoided in Lakshmi puja
Vakul or Maulasari – Sri Krishna
White Lotus – Goddess Saraswati
Yuthika or jasmine – Sri Krishna

AYURVEDA: Lotus raw seeds used for strength and vigor; Kewda oil is for respiratory problems, provides vitality; Rose reduces heat in intestines and stomach; Champa kills germs in the blood; Aniseed flowers reduces stomach; Marigold flower is beneficial in liver diseases; Jasmine flower reduces burning sensation; Sunflower contains Vitamin A and D; Chameli oil used for skin diseases; Saffron reduces anxiety and stress; Ashok flower is used to cure diseases related to women; Palash or forest flame flower cures stomach problems; China rose flower cures mouth ulcers; Shankhpushi is good for refreshing the mind; Acacia helps in ringword problem; Need flower isn anticeptic and purifies the blood; Clove destroys bacteria; Juhi Jasmine treats mouth ulcers; Madhawi helps arthritis; Swallo-wart removes phlegm; Kadamba flowers helps cattle diseases; Kachnar controls loose bowel movements; Shrishflower eases the mind; Naagkesar destroys itching sensations; Bakul flower oil is applied to the skin; Pomegranate cures conjunctivitis and mouth ulcers.

Hara Hara Mahadeva
(second draft Flowers and Garlands Nature in the Hindu Way of Life, cf The Hindu Person)

Ramakrishna and Kali Maa!!

3/13/2013

The great mother plays with her children the game of ‘hide and seek’ and her children enjoy the game to the core. Sitting on mother Kali’s lap her children wait to see when the great mother opens her eyes. In such anticipation the children close their eyes and go to sleep and then the great mother opens her eyes and lovingly looks at her children.

Though the eyes shut the children feel a lightning jolt in their consciousness when the divine mother looks at them with such intensity. Immediately the children open their eyes but only find mother Kali with closed eyes.

Wide range of emotions encompasses ‘the beloved children of the mother’ as they beg to mother Kali to look at them again. The mother smiles but keeps her eyes shut. Then suddenly without any forewarning the mother looks straight into her children’s eyes just for a second.

The great Kali - the momentary glance and the eternal truth:
Sri Ramakrishna Parahamsa.

Vedanata ....

3/13/2013

|| The Four-Fold Spiritual Wealth: A Prerequisite for Vedanta ||

To avail full benefit from any branch of knowledge, one has to have the prerequisite qualifications to ensure complete fulfillment in that particular field. This is known in Sanskrit as ‘Adhikara.’ For example, the part of Vedic literature dealing with rituals (Mimamsa) states that only a person with the following four qualifications is eligible for performing Vedic Karmas (sacrifices etc) and their fruits thereof:

1). They have the desire to perform the Vedic Karma (in order to obtain the desired fruits).

2). They be competent to perform the Karma.

3). They understand the secret behind the Karma (Karma Rahasya).

4). They not be prohibited by the scriptures against performing that particular Karma.

Going further, the science of ‘Moksha’, or liberation, better known as Vedanta too requires a qualified seeker to attain full benefit from it. Only the one who is qualified for it can attain Moksha. However, only a very few people are interested in Moksha, because the majority of us live under the illusion that happiness is the result of fulfilling worldly desires, while Moksha is something which has no trace of ‘wordliness’ in it, and this is what frightens us, making us believe that Moksha is not our cup of tea at all.

What is needed for preparing the requisite ground entitling us to the study of Vedanta? Is it necessary to have performed Vedic rituals, or to have made an enquiry into the nature of Dharma (Dharma Jijnansa)? To all these questions Bhagavan Shankaracharya answers an unequivocal ‘No’. However, another set of qualifications is emphasized by him, which is both sufficient and necessary. This is known as ‘Sadhan Chatushtaya’, or the four-fold wealth of Sadhana (spiritual practice). It must be remembered here that acquiring this four fold wealth is extremely difficult because it depends upon the continuity of purifying Karmas performed by the seeker in his past lives. The Bhagavad Gita says: ‘One cannot transcend Karma, without performing Karma’ (3.4).

The Four-Food Spiritual Wealth consists of the following:

1). The ability to discriminate between that which is permanent and that which is impermanent (Nitya-Anitya-Vastu-Viveka).

2). Non-Attachment to the fruits of actions, in this world and the next (Iha-Amutra-Phala-Bhoga-Vairagya).

3). The Six Virtues like control of mind etc (Shata-Sampatti).

4). A sustained desire to achieve Moksha (Mumukshutva).

1). The Ability to Discriminate:

Viveka is the human ability to accept what is conclusively decided to be right, rejecting that which is identified as wrong after a proper analysis. What exactly is the nature of the Viveka which is required for pursuing (attaining) Moksha?

Indeed Moksha is a state of permanent, untainted, and unparalleled Ananda-Happiness. But the happiness derived from this world is not so. It is in fact the exact opposite, being momentary, tainted with many faults, meager and limited. This is obvious because this happiness is dependent on worldly objects which are by nature non-permanent. How can a permanent state of happiness be derived from a non-permanent object? Not only this, we all know that to derive pleasure, there needs to be a contact between the sense organs and the object in question. Therefore, there is an amount of effort required in this engagement which eventually leads to exhaustion and hence the joy gained is not long lasting.

Further, the pleasure does not persist all the time even when such a contact is in place. Only God knows His own Lila that the pleasure gained from the contact between a sense organ and an object sustains only for a limited period of time. Indeed, desire for an object seems to disappear when it is fulfilled and the fulfillment also disappears before long. Even then, the fulfilled desire does not reappear for a long time. Therefore, the seeker of Moksha comes to the firm conclusion that everything in this world is non-permanent. Keeping this always in mind, the seeker drops the craving for anything which is fleeting. The Vedas state that only Brahman is permanent. One should always remember this. Gradually then there takes place a detachment from the impermanent and attachment towards that which is permanent. This is the discriminative understanding known as Nitya-Anitya-Vastu-Viveka. Such a discrimination can never surface in one who is sinful in thought and deed. The Gita says: ‘Only those whose sins have been terminated by virtuous deeds are able to worship and pursue me firmly’ (7.28). This is Krishna’s own voice. Hence it is clear that such a discriminating faculty is found only in those who have obtained the grace (Kripa) of God through virtuous deeds (Punya Karma). Therefore, an aspirant should invoke the grace of God through Punya-Karma and through direct contact with saints and sages, Mahatmas who are already blessed with such a grace.

2). Non Attachment to the Fruits of Action:
As Viveka gets more and more rooted, detachment towards momentary pleasures becomes prominent and perpetual. According to the Viveka Chudamani:

The deer meets death through its attachment to sound. The elephant is caught by its desire for touch. The moth meets death due to its fascination for a sight. The fish dies due to its relationship with taste. The black bee meets death due to its fascination for smell. (Verse 78)

A deer can be caught by enticing it with sweet sounds like those of a flute. Upon hearing the flute, the deer stands motionless, entranced; an elephant, during the mating season, is easily lured by the touch of a female elephant; a moth is attracted to the light of a flame not knowing that if it falls into it it will burn; a fisherman baits a hook, and a bee is attracted to the odor of a flower.

Each of these creatures gets into a death trap due to attachment to a single sense object. What then can be said about humans who hanker after not one but five sense objects? Without the ability to discriminate between what is permanent and what is transient, believing sensory pleasures to be paramount, man has become a beast.

Compared to these extremely short-lived worldly physical pleasures, the heavens gained by performing Vedic Yajnas (sacrifices) are indeed lavish and lasting. However, they too are time-bound and hence impermanent. The Gita says:

‘After the Punya is exhausted they fall again from the heavens into the world of mortals’ (9.21).

Therefore, the seeker of Moksha should not strive for more than what is sufficient to sustain his life. Vairāgya matures to this state only when one lives with minimum possessions. This is the true meaning of detachment, which is defined as the mental state of giving up everything by one’s own choice.

3). The Six Virtues:
The Six Virtues (Shata Sampatti) are:

a). Controlling the Mind (Shama):

To achieve any aim in life, it is very important to remove the mind from its objects of desire and fix it unmovingly on the aim. This firmness of the mind is Shama.

b). Control of the Senses (Dama):

Controlling the outer senses is known as Dama. The seeker of Moksha should, while increasing his sense perception of God, constantly and forcefully prevent his organs of knowledge like the eyes (Jnana Indriyas) and organs of action like speech (Karma Indriyas) from indulging in their objects of desire. This is what constitutes Dama. It is only after Dama is perfected that Shama can be attained.

c). Satiety in the Enjoyment of Sense-Objects (Uparati):

It is through the sense organs that we enjoy an object. It is by Karma that we are able to acquire the desired sense objects. Therefore, the one who always hankers after sensory enjoyment is constantly involved only in performing actions (Gita 2.70). Contrary to this, the aspirant of Moksha withdraws from Karma and revels in God. This is knows as Uparati. On account of this feeling in his mind, the aspirant of Moksha ultimately becomes a Sannayasi (ascetic).

d). Endurance (Titiksha):

Man suffers from three types of pains. This is called ‘Tapa-traya’ (three-fold pain). On account of the body there is the ‘Adhyatmika-tapa’ in the mind. Natural causes like rain, sun etc. cause ‘Adhidaivika-tapa’. Scorpions, tigers etc. are the source of ‘Adhibhautika–tapa’. These all happen according to one’s previous actions (Prarabdha Karma). Commonly man tries to escape from them. When he is unable to do so, he begins to hate them. This is but natural. However the aspirant of Moksha does not view them with hatred. He endures them while progressing in the direction of his spiritual practice towards Moksha. This type of endurance is known as Titiksha.

e). Faith (Shraddha):

To understand this we need to keep two things in mind. Firstly, the nature of Moksha cannot be inferred using our own minds because it is beyond our mental faculties. Therefore it has to be known through the Vedas only. Secondly,no one, no matter how talented or qualified he or she may be, it is impossible to study the Vedas on one’s own. The Vedas can be understood only with the help of a Guru. Hence, for the seeker of Moksha, there is no way other than the Guru and the Vedas. Keeping this in mind, we should have complete faith in the words of both the Vedas and our Guru. This faith is known as Shraddha. The word itself is made of two components: Shrat mean truth, and Dha, means bearing it. Therefore, the faith necessary for bearing the truth is known as Shraddha. The Gita says: ‘shraddhavan labhate jnanam’ (4.39) - A man of faith can attain knowledge.

f). Proper Concentration (Samadhana):

Samadhana means keeping the mind in balanced concentration (sama-dhana). In what? In God and Guru. Generally it is seen that people behave only in such a manner that vitiates the mind. But contact with God or the Guru is of the opposite nature. These kinds of contacts divert the mind from the passions occupying it and the resulting concentration provides him peace. The equanimity of the mind obtained from fixing it on God and Guru is known as Samadhana.

4). An Intense Desire for Salvation (Mumukshutva)

Generally human existence is plagued with miseries only. Unable to face them, some unwise people commit suicide. They think that by doing so they will gain eternal freedom from miseries. Nothing could be far from the truth. Their suicide rather than ending their miseries becomes a source of even more grief. This is because our present suffering is a result of our misdeeds either in this birth or the previous ones. Ending our body without first annihilating our sins by undergoing the miseries confronting us, is to act like the prisoner who escapes from prison without first completing his full term. His sentence is increased even more. Thus suicide leads to even more miseries. Hence the fulfillment of human life lies in maintaining faith in Dharma while facing life’s miseries. Keeping this in his mind, the seeker with an intense desire for salvation (Mumukshu), realizing that in essence this world is but misery only, transfers his attention from the world to Moksha. Moksha is nothing but complete freedom from all bondages and miseries. This is not like the heavens (Swarga) we gain after death. Nor is it impermanent like Swarga. Moksha is attainable while living itself. It is permanent, and should be obtained by discriminating between the permanent and the transient, detachment, control of the mind etc. and listening to Vedanta from the mouth of an authorized Guru.

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