Heart of the Eastern Mystical Teaching

Prasad Shastri Hari

Description

This is an account of the life and teachings of a God-realised Mahatma, Shri Dada of Aligarh (1854-1910), a life given to sharing his knowledge of ultimate reality and relieving distress in whatever form it confronted him. Shri Dada was a traditional teacher of the way of Self-Knowledge (Adhyatma Yoga), based on the philosophy of non-duality (Advaita). Unlike many of the great spiritual figures of the time, Shri Dada remained in the world as a family man, earning his livelihood and bearing his share of life's trials. His short sermons, and his response to events and to people, give the surest indication of how to advance one's spiritual progress in daily life, 'intent on expanding your limited experience of a fraction of the finite world to consciousness of infinity, perfect peace, bliss and love'. Shri Dada was known as the Saint Universal, who saw that all religions lead to the same goal, and for whom 'Hindus and Moslems, Christians and Jains are waves and bubbles of the same water of love'. There are several interchanges with people of other faiths, and the book is an antidote to religious narrowness of any kind.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Distributed by eBookpartnership
• Date de parution: 25 septembre 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780854240722
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

T HIS BOOK is a collection of the teachings of a spiritually enlightened man who was born in 1854 at Aligarh in Northern India. To his friends and disciples he was affectionately known as Shri Dada which means Elder Brother . These teachings have been reproduced by a close disciple of the saint who sat at his feet for many years and has written down the substance of what he heard.
This book provides answers to the intellectual problems and conflicts which face mankind, and is at the same time a presentation of the spiritual way of life which is the greatest contribution which India can make to the West. An account is given of the mystical techniques of the East which, when conscientiously applied, can lead to the ideal of inner peace, fearlessness and freedom from worry in this life.
THE HEART OF THE EASTERN MYSTICAL TEACHING
THE HEART OF THE EASTERN MYSTICAL TEACHING
Shri Dada Sanghita
by
HARI PRASAD SHASTRI
Those who drink the truth from the fountain of spiritual wisdom while living in tranquil contemplation of God and serving His creatures, acquire immortality and infinite bliss.
( Shruti )
SHANTI SADAN
LONDON

First edition 1948 Reprinted 1954, 1979 Second Edition 2008 ISBN 978-0-85424-030-2 This ebook edition 2014 ISBN 978-0-85424-072-2
Shanti Sadan 2014 29 Chepstow Villas London W11 3DR, UK www.shantisadan.org
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.
CONTENTS
PREFACE
PROLOGUE
BOOK I. CHANDAUSI
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
BOOK II. MORADABAD
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
BOOK III. NAJIBABAD
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XX
BOOK IV. HAPUR
CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXVI
CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVIII
CHAPTER XXIX
CHAPTER XXX
GLOSSARY
PREFACE
I N the last 150 years, the mind of Europe has been gradually awakening to the spiritual thought of India, aided by the learned works of scholars in France, Germany, and Great Britain. But few, if any, of these scholars ever practised the Yoga; and therefore none was able to set the seal of his own personal experience on the validity of the promise of complete release, once and for all time, from the sufferings and anxieties of life; none of them attained the everlasting bliss of spiritual illumination pledged by the holy Rishis, who first revealed this philosophy in the ancient Himalayan region. It is made clear in the Upanishads that mere academic knowledge of this philosophy is but a burden on the intellect.
Although the profundity and logical validity of the holy teachings have been established in published works, the practical side of the Upanishads, the Darshanas and the Puranas has never yet been given in a simple and authentic way. The opportunity is now taken to present the life of practical Yoga as revealed and lived by the Saint Shri Dada of Aligarh. This holy Truth portrayed by Shri Dada is the same as that taught by Shri Krishna, Gautama Buddha and Jesus Christ; it represents all that is best in the systems of Yoga, the highest teachings in the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, and the essence of Buddhist, Sufi and Christian mysticism.
Nothing but the practice of the spiritual truth in daily life will transmute the hearts of the people into living torches of peace and inner illumination. All other aspects of human happiness in the social and international spheres are contingent on the state of spiritual illumination in personal life. The method of attaining this ideal was given in a simple and convincing way by Shri Dada and is here set down by one of his disciples for the good of the world.
OM TAT SAT
PROLOGUE
I T is the year 1855. A new star is rising above the horizon of India, mother of the Vedas and priestess of the world-a lamp to dispel the spiritual gloom and intellectual lethargy in which she is plunged, a light to become the hope of the world. The time is ripe for that spiritual law which Alexander of Macedon was unable to wrest from India by force, to begin to pass to the West and so gradually to effect a change in the standards by which men live. Devotees of Christ, those who have not fallen into narrow sectarianism, are awaiting a fresh interpretation of the Truth preached by their Master.
Ishvara is both immanent and transcendent. Time carries out the commands of its Lord. Space is an instrument on which is sounded the sweet strains of His will, vibrating through every subtle and gross object contained by it according to the pattern of cause and effect. Apparent discords, either in nature or societies, conceal the fragments of a new theme which unfolds to combine the scattered notes into a new and grander harmony.
Over the holy valley of Dharuli in the Himalayas the full moon, rising in majestic splendour, illumines a small gathering of Rishis, spiritually perfect beings, sitting round in a semi-circle attended by their youthful brahmacharis. Manuscripts of the ancient wisdom, so far unseen by humanity, are spread before them inscribed on bark. Gleaming loshtas are set beside them, filled with the limpid waters of a brook which ripples gently to the east of the holy assembly, singing sweet songs of welcome to these Lords of wisdom. They seem to be awaiting someone as they meditate on some grave theme. What perfect peace reigns in this valley!
Two sages in aged bodies are descending from the brow of a hill with slow and measured tread, attended by sixteen young men and women. A chorus of: Jai to the Guru of Gurus! Om Namo Narayanaya! greets them from the assembly. Joining the palms of their hands, they give their blessings in reply saying: Om Tat Sat. The new arrivals are the holy Rishi Vyasa and Shri Swami Krishnanandaji.
All meditate on Om. Shri Vyasa lifts up his right hand and says: Holy Guardians of Dharma! Illustrious Rishis! A new sub-cycle in this Yuga is ending. A new light of the torch of Eternal Truth is to be ushered into the world. The West has to live according to the Law which the Lord gave her nearly 2,000 years ago. Optimism and activity, ambition and love of power have stifled the growth of the spirit of the West. Now let a new era open. A tributary of the holy Ganga of the Gita is winding its way to Angala Desha. Thus it has been decreed. This holy and venerable Sage, this representative of the great Shankara, this saint is undertaking the great task. Give your blessings, holy Sages.
A chorus of Om Tat Sat breaks the silence of the valley; the sound of Jai! reverberates among the peaks of the Himalayas. Paramahansa Krishnananda Swami steps forward, saying Jai! to the holy assembly of Sages. Golden flowers are showered from above, while faint music rises and falls. One great Himalayan peak to the left, another to the right tremble and loose forth streams of light which converge to form an arch over the valley.
OM
BOOK I - CHANDAUSI
C HAPTER I
T HE Divine Seed matured in the body of a Brahmin child of Aligarh. Holy Rishis, like spiritual eagles swooping from their lofty Himalayan eyries, spread their wings to warm and protect the coming Saint; Devas helped to fashion him with their prayers. Thus it was that he had already grown into a flower of sainthood when the holy Krishnananda Swami took charge of him and directed his mind towards the state of jivanmukti. His mind became the mind of his Guru. His lips uttered the words of his Guru. His Atman was perfectly united with the Atman of his Guru and the universe. There was no trace of egoity left in Shri Dada. To him the trees, the grass, the birds, mountains, rivers, clouds and human beings, were all beads on the same thread, his own Atman. Having cast away his individuality he found the Lord of the universe in his Self, identified with him. Now his words were the sacred texts. He was a universal saint. Whether from East or West, Buddhist, Mohammedan, Christian or atheist, there was no sinner in his estimation. He used to call those junior to him in age Lalji, the name by which he worshipped the child Krishna. The elderly ones he called Bhayya (Dear brother).
When a purified mind, divested of its load of selfishness, comes into contact with the universal Mind by meditation, its thoughts will bear fruit at the right time, like seeds sown in carefully tilled soil. Some seeds take root in a few weeks, some in a few months, and some take still longer. So the thoughts of an illumined heart create ideals of beauty and truth when they come to fruition. Spiritual propaganda is not drum-beating. Christ did not seek to advertise Himself, and the great poet Valmiki taught his classic Ramayana to only two boys. In fact, truth needs little propaganda. Shri Dada taught his few pupils as naturally as a candle burns or clouds sail in the sky.
. . . . .
In the cool shade of the mango-grove, late in the afternoon, the Teacher is sitting on a mat addressing a few attentively listening disciples. One of them asks him Holy Guruji, my heart is restless: nothing worldly can retain my interest long. Do you think I am physically ill? What shall I do?
He replies: My son, every heart is restless; no worldly object can satisfy the restlessness of the human heart. Nothing interests a man for long. All friendships are tentative. Your heart is like a bird in a cage; it is not happy there; it feels the call of the spring and the sun-filled blue sky invites it; the only way for a bird to be happy is to fly freely in the sun. The human heart is meant to be given to God; give it to Him and you will not feel restless.
I want to give it to God; but again it relapses into old habits. Please tell me what to do, Guruji.
The bird can fly only when its wings are free. Give up the load of pleasure desires an