Patralekha Part II, Excerpts from Letter # 7.
Translated by Smt Kalyani Bose
Ecstasy (Ananda) does not follow the rule of cause and effect - that is truth.
And it does not sustain for long - that is pathetic yet a stronger truth. Seeing that ecstasy is short lived, if somebody
becomes ecstatic and clasps his hands in joy we will consider him either as a completely nutty being or an incarnation of
god.
The basic teachings of Mandukya is to perform sadhana to eternalize this feeling of ecstasy. Now, where is ecstasy? In
our nature. What is nature? Whatever is innate. Where or what is innate? Where nothing sprouts.
Gautama Buddha would have been happy to hear this and would have said, ‘So, at long last you found out the path to
Nothingness?‘
Really, unless you go to Nothingness there can be no perpetual happiness. Be absolutely void. Then all the cosmic Pranas
will crowd in to fill that void.
This reminds me of a Buddhist monk. After having a fabulous feast at a king’s palace, he was basking in the sun and
rubbing his stomach with utter fulfillment, exclaiming,, ‘Oh! What happiness, what happiness!’ Now the king was
approaching him with a desire to listen to some spiritual discourses. Seeing that ecstatic state of the monk, he said, ’
Such happiness! The feast must have been to your heart’s content, eh?‘ ‘ Oh, no, no. you are mistaken . I have not eaten
at all,’ was the reply. ‘The pleasure is purely due to absolute emptiness.’
The same thing Yagnavalkya said from a different perspective. ‘Tyakten Bhunjitha’- Enjoy by Renouncing. The more you
renounce, the more the ecstasy deepens. Eventually Absolute Void=Infinite Happiness.
On Gayatri from Patram Pushpam (letter written to smt. Amita Mazumdar)
Letter # 58 (Page 237)
This is the simple and inner meaning of the Gayatri Mantra. And this is the original Vedic interpretation.
The presiding deity of this Mantra is Sabita (one aspect of the rising Sun) and the meter is Gayatri (one of the seven
Vedic meters). The Vedic Rishis described this particular meter as the Rhythm of Fire. The basic concept is to hold on to
the idea that a flame within you is continuously going upward, trying to merge into the Cosmic space.
The Rishi or the Seer of the Gayatri Mantra is Viswamitra. Like Gautama Buddha, he loves everyone in the world and
everyone loves him. While meditating on the Mantra, you have to keep in mind the significance of the meter as well as
the importance of the Seer. You have to start the Practice (sadhana) with a strong feeling that the upward flame of your
aspiration, combined with an inclination to love one and all is flowing out of your heart to reach the Supreme Beyond.
As mentioned before, the deity is Sabita- the rising Sun. He is still below the horizon but His rays, like the tips of myriad
golden arrows are spreading all across the sky. The image of dawn has to be imprinted deep inside. The applied meaning
is- the Lord Resides behind the screen of our outer self but the whole existence is lighted by His Radiance.
Next comes the meaning of the prayer. The effulgent deity Sabita is awakening us every moment with His golden touch.
His pure rays carry the intensely scorching energy within (Bhargah) which would burn all our impurities. His Touch is
tormenting. Yet we embrace that as a token of His love and carefully bring that into the deep cave of our heart
(Dhimohi) because we know that this Fire will cleanse all or impurities and transmit our purified intelligence and
awakened consciousness to the Eternal Light.
The Bliss of the Celestial Heat pouring down from the heaven to our heart is awakening us and pulling us towards the
Effulgent Purity. This is the real concept of the Gayatri Mantra.
PATHER KATHA
(Letters written to Asu Ranjan Debnath)
The explanation I have given for the term ‘Aparna’ is in accordance with Yajurveda. In the Vedas the word ‘Parna‘ has a
double meaning~ a leaf and/or a wing. In the word ‘Suparni‘ it means wings. Hence ‘Saparni’= Female Bird.
The Vedas have depicted in various ways how Gayatri, as a bird, had penetrated the solar region and collected the Soma
from the region of the Gandharvas. As the Soma or the moon exist below the Sun so also it does beyond. The lower
moon is a part of the universal Nature and goes through the fortnightly wane and wax. Here everything is controlled by
the law of birth and death and immortality can not be attained as long as one is governed by this law. Consumption of
earthly soma brings about intoxication- a blind attachment for material objects. Unless the same soma is purified and
carries the supra cosmic ecstasy from beyond the solar region or cosmic cycles, the true function of the Soma is not
fulfilled. In order to sublimate the Somayag, the Vedas have indicated some unique methods that demand rigorous
discipline.
The rising of the Kundalini in the Hathayoga is very similar to this concept. The latent fire or the spiritual energy all over
the body has to be channelized to flow upwards and the imagery is that of a liquid radiance moving up through
Sushumna along the core of the spinal cord. Gayatri is the rhythm of Agni~ she is the power or Shakti of Agni. She is
being described as an one-year old girl when she brings down Soma from the upper regions. She is also a stealer of our
hearts~ but her lure has nothing earthly in nature ~ everything in her is celestial.
She is ‘Suparni” when, poised on her powerful wings, she brings the nectar of Immortality for mortals from the heaven
above. Again the same one is called ’Aparna’ (without wings) when she is besides herself in ecstasy in Cosmic Vastness~
like a bird with its wings folded going down in the depth of Impassable.
Some hints on the meditation on Gayatri:
A scorching radiance from the Cosmic Nothingness coming down through the passage on the top of the head and
moving along the spinal way is hitting the ground. Its blazing effulgence is filling the whole entity consisting of physical,
vital and mental beings. Then the same blazing radiance is going up from the base (Muladhara) along the spine up
through the passage on the top of the head (Brahmarandhra) and expanding into the same Cosmic Nothingness.
Akash Bhavna:
To start with, one thing should be clear. Happiness is not the same as Ananda. Happiness (sukha) depends on the
interaction with outer objects whereas Ananda is purely subjective-sprouting forth by itself from the depth of the inner
being.
A Saiva philosopher defines Ananda as extreme relaxation-(Ananda Vishrantih). A Yogi expounds- relax all efforts,
release consciousness into the infinity and feel the undisturbed sense of innate delight in each and everypart of y our
being. That is Ananda.
The Rishi of Upanishad named it "Bhuma" -expansiveness- and drew a close connection with Akash.
"Had Akash not encompassed us as Ananda', he added, "who would have breathed, who would have even lived?"
This Akash has entered every heart, built a tiny seat of lotus and from there has expanded beyond 'Dyavaprithivi' earth
and heaven.
We have to feel this essence of unconditional Ananda; we have to realize Akash-the Ananda Brahma.
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<b>Letter No.6, addressed to Sudha Basu.</b>
From Patram Pushpam in Bangla, edited by Smt. Gauri Dharmapal.
How much the sky gives us is beyond expression. When we can see the vast expanse of the sky at the same time we find
the Virat, seated in serious meditation. Heart is fulfilled with light and ananda. Why men created the cities? Why did the
mechanical civilization, dividing us from the nature, dehumanise us?
I do not deny the benefits we derive from the machine but I cannot worship it as the deity. It will give me rest, give me
freedom but it will remain my slave. Why should I be crushed under its pressure? Cities seem to me like the cooking
utensils. Let the juice from them spread to different parts of the country’s body. I have no objection. But I prefer to keep
it behind the screen. It should not show itself unabashed. Let be; I am talking uselessly. One day man will return to
nature though he will have machines too, I hope.
With respect to your complaint about inertia, it seems that the body is the cause. But each condition of life may be
utilized. The way is not struggle against it. The way is to understand it. Has inertia visited you? Let that be; going into its
depth you will find Siva is sitting as the sky. The moment you see the sky, behold the light of dawn blooming amidst the
darkness. In this way you will be able to find the purity out of any quality of nature. It depends on your mental attitude.
Never worry. Remember that whatever comes your way, you have to deal with it naturally with that smiling face of
Mahishasurmardini, the subduer of the demon. She deals with the asuric force with a smile.
Now up to this; remain well. Blessings.
Copyright of Aju Mukhopadhayay
Translated by Aju Mukhopadhyay, 2008
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