20th March 2019 saw over 110 eager listeners gather at Chinmaya Sagar, Panchsheel to learn about the Connection between Vedanta and the Puranas from Sw. Aparajitananda from Mangalore.
Swamiji explained how Vedanta and Puranas are connected through Veda Vyas ji and the essence of the Vedantic knowledge is in the stories of Puranas. To elaborate Swamiji explained the Kunti Stuti in the First Canto of the Bhagawata Purana where Kunti praises the Lord in gratitude. The Stuti shows us the way to develop devotion.
- In order to develop devotion, you need to first know the nature of the Lord who is Pure Consciousness. Devotion is love.
- Kunti says that the Lord is hiding behind the curtain of Maya. Just like the actors hide behind their costumes. Similarly, the Lord is behind each and every BMI. Seek Him within.
- How can one know God? He can be known only through a pure mind. "Amala aatmanam". A mind which entertains noble thoughts. (love, compassion, forgiveness etc).
- Study of the scriptures and listening to the Leelas of the Lord should be a daily part of a seeker’s sadhana.
- Kunti recalls how the Lord saved them from all the different problems. She recalls various incidents. Always be grateful to the Lord. We get and forget but He gives and forgives. Gratitude is an opportunity to develop love for the Lord.
- We can develop a relationship with the Lord by taking all our problems to Him as soon as we get them. Since He is the Creator, He has the best solutions. In this way our ego too cannot rise. Humility comes in. Problems that we face intensifies our relationship with Him. Surrender to Him and seek His guidance.
- Kunti’s prayer to the Lord is for more problems/calamities, because only then can she pray from the depth of her heart. And once she finds Him, she is then in bliss. This shows that happiness is not outside of me. I am independent of circumstances. Only a peaceful mind has the strength to forgive. Happiness depends on the thoughts one entertains. Tune the mind to Him and be free.
- Those who are proud and arrogant due to their high birth, power (Aishwarya), wealth etc. will not remember Your name. Akincha gochara - One who is seen by those who have nothing to call their own. Humility is an important necessity to progress on the spiritual path.
- Pay attention to the reality of life. Understand that life is a gift to us. So as all our abilities and talents. I am nothing. I know nothing. I have nothing. I can do nothing. Keep this thought always and the ego will not rise. Ego and Bhakti cannot coexist. Be insignificant in your own eyes. I am nothing, but with the Grace of God, I can do anything. That should be the attitude.
- .Have perfect trust in the total functioning of the cosmos. Lord is after all in total control of everything. No mental disturbance is then ever justified. None. A sign of total faith and devotion is peaceful mind. Do not justify the disturbance of your mind. The price we pay for forgetting Him is mental disturbance. If there are mental disturbances, then one has forgotten the Lord or has no faith in Him.
- .Kunti asks Him to cut off her attachment to her children as the mind is not available for meditation on God. The Lord is the top priority. Our first attachment should be to God. We forget the Giver and get preoccupied with the gifts.
- .If there is a weakness which one is unable to overcome, confess it to Him and ask for His Grace and blessings. Don't justify any weaknesses. As long as you justify the weakness, it will never be overcome.
- .Lastly, Kunti earnestly prays to the Lord that May her mind constantly think of Him like the Ganga flows towards the ocean. Intensely desire Him, seek Him and the Universe will arrange itself to fulfil that desire because the ultimate desirer is none else that the Lord Himself. But one should have the wisdom to choose the desire wisely.
