|| Shri Hari ||

Freedom from Sorrow

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In deep trance (samadhi) state, the Yogi’s intellect is able to grasp the Truth -  

'Rutambharaa tatra pragyaa'  (Yogadarshan 1/48).    

Through power of thought and discrimination one can gain such an intellect.   Sometimes there is a flood, sometimes there is fire,  sometimes favorable and other times unfavorable situations,  but no situation reaches a man  who is standing on top of a hill.  He is only observing the pleasure and pain, but not becoming happy and sad.   This is called rising above the pleasure and pain and you and me, and all of us we can be in this state.  

Actions (karma) are of three kind -  'shukla'  (virtuous actions),  'krushna'  (sinful actions) and 'mishshrit'  (combined).   Ordinary people perform  actions of these three kinds,  but  the 'yogi' who renounces his actions, he does not become the experiencer  or enjoyer of any actions -  

‘कर्माशुक्लाकृष्णं योगिनस्त्रिविधमितरेषाम्’ (योगदर्शन ४/७),

'Karmaashuklaakrishnam yoginastrividhmitareshaam' (Yogadarshan 4/7),

‘न तु सन्न्यासिनां क्वचित् (गीता १८/१२)

'na ta sansyaasinaam kvachit (Gita 18/12).    

No worldly pleasure or pain reach him whatsoever.  When they do not reach at all,  then how can he become pleased or displeased ?     Circumstances are according to one’s actions (karmas).   As are the actions, so are the situations that come in front of the person, but they do not cause him to be happy or sad.  

There is a story in Srimad Bhagavat.  In childhood, Naradji Maharaj’s mother died.  When a child’s mother dies,  he becomes very sad, but Naradji did not become sad,  rather he viewed this as God’s auspicious ordinance.  Naradji was inclined towards God, and mother was a hindrance in his devotion and worship of God.   Therefore when the mother died, that hindrance in the pursuit of prayer and worship of the Lord was removed.   Thus Naradji was pleased.   The point is that situations and circumstances do not make a man unhappy.    It is out of foolishness that he becomes unhappy.   All can rise above pleasure and pain.  In this there is no doubt.  

There are two things that happen out of foolishness and ignorance.  One, we think  'paro dadaateeti' - others are giving us pain (sorrow) and secondly we think,  'aham karomeeti',  that the pleasure (happiness) is due to my own efforts.  If there is pleasure (happiness) due to our own efforts, then no one would be unhappy.   He who gives sorrow to others can never be happy - this is a rule.   

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From "Nitya Yog ki Praapti" in English by Swami Ramsukhdasji