Bhaagavata Suutram: Chapter-1 (Suutrams 29-32)

 (Aphorisms (Sūtrams) Composed By Shri Datta Swami As Answers To Questions Asked By His Devotees)

29) Jñāna pūrvāveśo na sarvatra tyājyaḥ |

[Shri. Amudha asked how one can become intelligent if one is emotional and sensitive? Shri Datta Swami answers that both intelligence and emotions are important. One must stop emotions in wrong contexts and this does not mean that one must eradicate the emotion in every context. It only means that you shall not become a slave of your emotions and exhibit them everywhere and at all times. You can have the emotion in a proper context so that it will not harm good people. At the same time, emotions should not harm your health. Controlling emotions does not mean the complete eradication of emotions, becoming like an inert stone. Emotional bonding towards your own self or your parents or spouse or children will give a lot of tension and misery throughout your life since all worldly bonds are selfish and temporary, confined to this birth only. The same emotional bonding with God to any extent gives eternal bliss. Such emotional bonding towards God after attaining true spiritual knowledge is always appreciable because it becomes free of desires aspired from God. Without spiritual knowledge, the precious emotions for God also get contaminated with selfish desires. Either in worldly life or in spiritual life, first, knowledge and analysis with the help of intelligence are necessary before getting emotion (devotion) to implement anything in practice. To get into service and maintain consistency, emotion is important and during service to God, intelligence is very important. Due to emotion, the mind gains strength and the intelligence becomes weak. To analyse and understand a situation or a personality, the required analytical logic is supplied by intelligence alone, be it in worldly life or in spiritual life. Therefore, one must recall this answer to control their emotions in required contexts and develop patience to handle every situation in life.]

30) Gurubuddhyā viśeṣata ityuktam |

[Shri. Amudha asked that if someone is feeling dumb and unable to think clearly, is self-criticism or analysis of oneself the right way to improve? Shri Datta Swami answers that no soul has the capacity to analyze its own self because every soul is biased with unique individual samskaras (qualities) carried by it since millions of births. Only your contemporary human incarnation of God (Sadguru) can analyze and show the defects of your internal self. You cannot even see or analyse the condition of your internal organs without the help of your doctor, how can you even think of your internal self? Therefore, self-analysis does not mean the analysis of your self by you. It means the analysis of your self with the help of your Sadguru. Although your Sadguru knows your defects, He may not reveal them if He feels that it will not help your progress on the spiritual path. When a soul learns spiritual knowledge from the Sadguru directly, it will be reformed from all sins and reach the stage of practical non-repetition. At that point, the defect no longer exists. Therefore, a true devotee must learn the entire spiritual knowledge preached by his/her contemporary human incarnation of God and get reformed from all kinds of sins so that he/she will be free from all kinds of punishments in this life and after life. This is the only way to improve your self.]

31) Svayaṃ jñāyase na vañcayātmānam upadeṣṭāram |

[Shri. Amudha asked how do we understand the difference between doing things for our own happiness versus doing things for God's happiness? Shri Datta Swami answers that every soul is given intelligence by God so that it can think and analyse to discriminate justice from injustice and God from the world. No professional education or literary skills are needed for this. Since practicing justice is difficult and serving God is difficult, people cover their failure by saying that they are unable to understand!!! A soul can fool other souls, but not the omniscient God. For a sincere devotee, who wants to follow the will of God at all times, I advise that before having a thought and before doing any action, one must question one’s own self “Will God be happy with me if I think like this and do like this? Is it justified or not?” If the answer is “yes”, then continue. Otherwise, just stop it. If you are unable to decide, then take the help of your Sadguru or the contemporary human incarnation of God.]

32) Jñāna svarūpānanda vibhūti trimūrtiḥ |

[Shri. Amudha asked if a human incarnation of God comes into our life, how can the soul recognise and realise Him? Shri Datta Swami answers that a true incarnation can be identified by i) excellent spiritual knowledge (Prajñānaṃ Brahma– Veda), ii) love (Raso vai saḥ– Veda) and bliss (Ānando Brahma– Veda) and iii) miraculous powers (Satya Kāmaḥ- Veda). Kṛṣṇa told the Bhagavad Gītā (excellent spiritual knowledge), loved Sudāmā and Gopikās giving them bliss (love and bliss) and lifted Govardhana hill (miracle). These three identity marks belong to God Brahmā, God Viṣṇu and God Śiva respectively and happened to be the basic identity marks of the incarnation of God Datta, the root source of all incarnations of God. Among these three identity marks, the 1^st is given topmost importance because it helps the humanity in real sense by showing the correct path by giving very deep sharp analysis. Miracles are shown even by demons, which were attained by them from God through rigid penance. Miracles alone can’t decide the divinity. Rāvaṇa is having one identity mark (miracle) since he lifted Kailāsa hill. But, Rāvaṇa did not show spiritual knowledge like the Gītā and love-bliss. Hence, Rāvaṇa can be eliminated from Kṛṣṇa in the filtration based on the spiritual knowledge and love-bliss. The divinity of any incarnation can be identified through His excellent Spiritual knowledge and love to devotees. These two are the real inherent qualities of God for identity. Knowledge is His personality and love is His beauty. Both these can’t be separated from any human being. Miracles are like jewels worn and can’t be inherent characteristics like knowledge and love. The jewels can be transferred to others, like devilish people also. Between knowledge and love, knowledge is more important because knowledge alone can show the right path for any soul to reach God and please God. The jewels (miracles) can be hidden, but, the personality and beauty can’t be hidden. Knowledge can never be hidden because it is propagated by the devoted disciples of the incarnation. With the help of this excellent Spiritual knowledge itself, one can easily identify the incarnation of God.]

To be continued...

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