|| Shri Hari ||
Meaning of the word "Upaasana"and Its Characteristics
उपासना शब्दका अर्थ और उसका स्वरूप
In reality, people do not want to renounce ‘sense of mine’ (mamta); rather they continually grab hold of new ‘mamta’ (affection, sense of mine) and desires. If giving up ‘mamta’ (affection, sense of mine) appears to be difficult, then don’t attach to new relationships. Leaving the house, you become a ‘sadhu’, and after becoming a ‘sadhu’, you start attaching with new relationships by initiating new disciple etc. Have affection-sense of mine (mamta) with only the One, the Truth, the Reality; besides that One, there is no one that is ours. The glories of Saints-Great Souls is that they make you leave all other relations, and attach you to the One Supreme Being, the Eternal Lord. They take the wandering ‘jeevas’ (beings), and make them unite with the One, the Truth - They say, he who says the following, That One is yours ‒‘ममैवांशो जीवलोके’ (गीता १५ । ७) "Mamevaansho jeevaloke" (Gita 15/7). This Jeev (Atma, Spirit, Soul) is a part of Me only". (Gita 15/7) Due to your relationship with the One, serve everyone, honor-respect everyone. The wife serves the husband’s family members only due to her relationship with her husband; In the same way, due to your relationship with God, serve everyone. ‘नातो नेह राम सो मनियत ।’ Having a ‘sense of mine’ (my very own) with Bhagwan, this itself is ‘upasana’, it is ‘sitting close’ to God.
‘Karmayog’, is doing ‘Upasana’ through one’s duty and conduct, by renouncing sense of mine, attachment, desires. Jnanayog is doing ‘Upasana’ by ‘knowing Paramatma’. Bhaktiyog is doing ‘Upasana’ by ‘believing and accepting Bhagwan.’ That which is realized through Jnanayog, is also realized through Karmayog.
यत्साङ्ख्यैः प्राप्यते स्थानं तद्योगैरपि गम्यते ।
Yatsaankhyaih praapyate sthaanam tadyogairapi gamyate (Gita 5/5)
The Supreme state which is reached by the Sankhyayogi is attained also by the Karmayogi. (Gita 5/5)
एकमप्यास्थितः सम्यगुभयोर्विन्दते फलम् ।
ekamapyaasthithah samyagubhayorvindate phalam (Gita 5/4)
For one who is established in either, gets the fruit of both (God Realization)
The reason being, that the man who gets established in either one of the two yogas, attains the embodiment of Paramatma, as fruit of either. Even in Karmayog, ‘upasana’ takes place on accepting the Lord. To remove the mind from the world, and to engage it in (come close and sit next to) Bhagwan, is the Upasana of Karmayog. Do japa for some time, do recitation-prayer for sometime ‒ is this Upasana ? Real ‘upasana’ means, let the mind be ever immersed, diligently devoted to God. Just as the mind is always engaged in the family, in the same way, at all times while walking-roaming, one should be immersed in Paramatma. This is real ‘Upasana’. This will surely be accomplished. This human body has been received for this purpose only. If it was received for the world, then the world would be attained. But the world has not been attained. Therefore it is for God Realization that this human body has been attained. ‘Upasana’ should be of only God. The Power of ‘Upasana’ even on hiding, cannot be hidden. Someone has said ‒
भजन करे पातालमें प्रकट होय आकाश ।
दाबी दूबी नहिं दबे कस्तुरीकी वास ॥
He who has begun to walk towards Paramatma, in other words he who has realized Paramatma, his behavior and conduct changes. There is a distinction in his body, power-intellect. With his radiance, the entire atmosphere becomes radiant. Nature accepts the ‘self’ as victorious. If things of this world, are of some use to the divine soul, then they consider their lives a success.
to be continued.......