December 14, 2025
Vivek ji came up with this phrase to explain about Bhakti Time to new students “We learn how Bhagavan loves us”. The sign that you are following through is you learn how to love Bhagavan. How Bhagavan loves us, how we love Bhagavan is encapsulated in Sthane. Sthane is the insight All is All his. All is his, anything that’s coming and going that’s coming from love. All is his how can one not be loving back then. Vivek ji asked us to reflect on this.
Now deep dive into Navada Bhakti. Our third practice is active reflecting. The science behind this is the more I remember the divine, the more I forget the undivine. I have to generate Avidya to Avidya. You are so immersed in Leela of Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, Sri Hanumana don’t you forget yourself how you look, what your needs are. Next is the scripture that supports this
Buddhirbalaṃ yaśodhairya nirbhayatvamarogatā
Ajāḍhyaṃ vākpaṭuḥtvaṃca Hanumat smaraṇādbhavet
The more I remember these four sets of descriptions of Sri Hanumana in this verse the more I invoke these. The first quality pulls the second. Buddhi pulls Bala, those who have stronger mental health tend to have stronger physical health. Yaśa(reverence)pulls dhairya. Whatever I revere I become strong in it. Vivek ji reveres our trust triangle. So, Vivek ji has been showing reverence through actions in last twenty years. Nirbhayatva brings arogatā. Those who are courageous tend to become more immune. If you think you are going to fall, you are going to fall whether in skiing or hiking. Ajāḍhya pulls vākpaṭuḥtva. Ajāḍhya, someone who is careful. They are careful with what’s inside of them, in front of them so they become intentional with what they do; when to speak, when not to speak, when to allow, when to fight. This is the scripture that’s supporting the science. If I keep remembering Sri Hanumana I will start to develop these qualities. Story was about Acharya Bhishma. Bhishma is one who is intense about his connection to the divine. Acharya Bhishma viscerally got to see Sri Krishna as the energy of his body was whisked away which is very, very, very rare and special.
Theme: Week five practice four of Navada Bhakti is Pada Sevana simplifying this into Seva. Active serving, from active remembering to active serving.
Science: In school, college most of us what we study is theory. We are habituated to theorize. I externalize this theory. We are not in high school or college we are experiencing a sacred science. That’s why theorizing and externalizing doesn’t work. So, our experiences we don’t realize. Our habit is holding us back. This week Vivek ji shared how important it is to be open in various settings. Open minded, open hearted that’s what makes us strong seeker. Theorize, externalize doesn’t realize. Cure to all of this is we need one who applies this theory. When we come to have a relationship to one who applies this theory its like they infuse us with an escape velocity to get out of the habit of theorizing and externalizing. An escape velocity is what a rocket needs to leave the earth’s gravitational pull. If that velocity is not enough that rocket may get very high but eventually it will come down. Our Jnana Yagnas, workshops, Yatras are like that. We feel higher and higher and higher as soon as the context changes, we start to fall down. It is worse, because now I know what it feels to be inspired but it’s not inspiration it was just motivation. Inspiration doesn’t wane; motivation does. When I have relationship one who is applying this, they increase my escape velocity to go from motivation to inspiration. This applier is our personal guide, our Sad-Guru. Pada means feet. Actively serve the feet. One’s personal guide is the feet of God. One should have relationship with Sad-Guru to reach the feet of God. The closer we become to our Guide the more we come to have the vision of them. Vision of Sad-Guru is Loka Sangraha. In Chapter 3 of Bhagavad Gita Sri Krishna shares with Prince Arjuna don’t act for Arjuna, don’t act for Pandava, don’t even act for Dharma, act for Loka Sangraha. Act for the welfare for the utility of creation. Yogi is another word for Sad-Guru. Vivek ji shared in meaningful mornings that how do you that you are with Yogi? They nurture Yoga all around them. The best in every being, article, circumstance just comes out.
Scripture: Scripture is Guru Gita. Katha behind Guru Gita is, once Bhagavati Parvati saw in the distance Bhagavan Shiva when he was with group of people prostrating to someone. This really caught her attention that he is prostrating instead of others prostrating to Bhagavan Shiva. When he came back Bhagavati Parvati asked him “Where were you?” Bhagavan Shiva said “I was in Satsanga with Vidvāns/Yogis.” Bhagavati Parvati asked him “Why were you prostrating”? Bhagavan Shiva said “Because they are doing my work.” Bhagavan Shiva is in mount Kailasa but it is those Yogis, those Sad-Gurus are doing his work. He was prostrating to them.
Another story relating to this. Vivek ji heard this from Swamini Vimalananda. She had come back from teaching in city to a room where Pujya Swami Chinmayananda was there with his feet out with so many people, a packed room. One was giving Pujya Swami Chimamanda tea, one was massaging his feet, another taking notes. When she walked into this room, she really wanted to be close to him. As all of these people are physically doing for him (not seva). He said as if he is speaking her mind that “My real devotees are the ones who are working in the field.” She was coming from working in the field, she is being closer to him. That’s why Bhagavan Shiva is prostrating to these Sad-Gurus, to these Yogis. Bhagavati Parvati asked for more details about this, so he shared many, many, many qualities of Guru that became Guru Gita. In our tradition the first 13 verses of Guru Stotram are from Guru Gita not in that particular order. Vivek ji picked one verse from Guru Stotram that most of us are familiar with it.
gururbrahmā gururviṣṇuḥ gururdevo maheśvaraḥ
gurureva parabrahma tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ
Vivek ji wants to share two points. First, Vivek ji is trying to bring out these magical mantras instead of complicated ones. Vivek ji feels every student of this course should have twelve magical mantras. Vivek ji thinks that we should have magical spell like Harry Potter spell towards articles, beings and circumstances one for each month. We all know to chant this verse, what is our relationship with it? Second point is gurureva parabrahma is in original Guru Gita. Guruḥ sākṣāt parabrahma is a Pata Beda, it’s a new version. This is why we are moving with original version gurureva parabrahma. Quarter 1, one’s guide is like Bhagavan Bramha. Bhagavan Bramha creates. Your guide catalyzed you from a searcher to seeker. They created it by challenging us to be better version of ourselves. Guru is compassionate towards us to be better version ourselves. That’s why Guide is the one who creates for one to become a seeker from searcher. Gururviṣṇuḥ, one’s guide is Bhagavan Bramha, one’s guide is Bhagavan Vishnu. Bhagavan Vishnu conserves us on our journey. The creation happens through Satsang. Conservation happens through Seva. A Guru facilitates us inside to engage in service and the external opportunities as well. In our community everyone can serve. Gururdevo maheśvaraḥ, our Guru is Maheshwara. Bhagavan Shiva consumes. Some engage in Seva with expectation, with reciprocity like I am entitled to my Guru. So, a Guru consumes this vice, this Vasana, this ego through Sadhana. By encouraging Sadhana contemplate more, take Vitamin R3 more. Lower Seva comes with expectation; higher Seva comes with acceptance. Gurureva parabrahma, one goes from creating, to conserving to consuming to contentment. Bramha means infinity. The sign one is expecting infinity is contentment. Prince Arjuna asks Sri Krishna “What is the sign of someone is like you”? Sri Krishna says “They are content”. One’s guide facilitates this from Sadhana back to Seva. One no longer acts for fulfilment but acts out of fulfilment. They no longer act for their family, they feel like their entire Loka is their purpose, Loka Sangraha.
- Our Guide is like Bhagavan Bramha, he creates us as a seeker through Satsang
- Our Guide is like Bhagavan Vishnu, he conserves us through Seva.
- Our Guide is like Bhagavan Shiva he consumes vices, Vasanas, Ego through Sadhana.
Lot of people like Bhagavan Vishnu but not Bhagavan Shiva because it is too hard to let go of their vices, Vasanas, Ego. One who is strong enough our guide is Bramha. Bramha here Vivek ji means the infinite, content. This is not even something with putting effort in, it just happens. This higher Seva is infused with acceptance. Geometrically we have created a diamond, from Satsang to Seva to Sadhana to Seva. That’s what a Guide can do to us; we are just carbon. One’s guide pressurizes us, then we become diamond from carbon. It is all coming from within you, like a diamond comes from the earth.
Story: Today’s katha is about Rishi Valmiki ji and Rishi Narada. Rishi Valmiki ji’s name was Ratnakara, one who does diamonds, his whole purpose was jewels. In that he stole, he murdered. One day Rishi Narada was coming to the vicinity of him. Ratnakara wanted to steal from Rishi Narada who had nothing on him. So, Ratnakara told him “Since you don’t have anything for me to steal, I will kill you”. Rishi Narada said “Is your family going to share in your papa?” Ratnakara’s instinct was “Yes”. Rishi Naraya says “Why don’t you ask them? You can tie me here. If they say yes, you kill me. If they say No we will talk.” When he asked his family, his wife told him “We are your responsibility. The papa and punya that comes with it is yours. That is the choice you are making.” Essentially, she is sharing No. That absolutely rocked Ratnakara. Rishi Narada created him by challenging him. Think about what you are doing with your life. Next, he conserved him by engaging him to say “Mara” which means die. It was through this Japa that he was conserved. Someone being is so dejected, they would want to end their life. Literally he was protected through Japa. Satsang, then this is almost like his Seva. Next, he consumed him. Ratnakara asked “I don’t just want to do Japa; I want to be like Rama so I can be with Rama.” Rishi Narada started to describe Bhagavan Rama’s 16 qualities. One of those qualities is Vidvān, one who is visionary. And finally, the contentment. Rishi Narada the one who shares with Rishi Valmiki ji “You went from worst to the best. You did this through challenge, through chanting, through inquiry. Now share with others about how you transformed.” He didn’t do this for fulfilment he was already with Bhagavan Rama; he did this out of fulfilment. When someone asked Rishi Valmiki ji “How come you documented Ramayana?” He shared “I know what it feels like to be a dry leaf blown around by the wind.” When someone doesn’t have purpose that’s what they feel like. Now Rishi Valmiki ji is beyond purpose to presence so, he didn’t want others to feel the same way. So, he shared the Ramayana for people find purpose, to grow out of living for people to live purpose, to grow out of purpose to live for presence. Active serving, God’s feet. God’s feet is, our own Sad-Guru. Our personal guide creates us, conserves us, consumes what’s not us so that we feel content.
Discussion Subject: What are the impurities in my offering of the Seva? How do I evolve this? How do I grow out of these impurities?
Vivek ji: Vivek ji’s reflection relates to expectation. How do you know that you are engaged in lower Seva? There is an expectation that it should happen in certain way, or it should be organizational like this, and these people should do that. When people have expectations based on the context of service like that, those who are Rajasic drifting to Tamas they tend to have the same expectations towards Guide as well. A sense of entitlement that my guide should look at me, talk to me, be available for me, lead and so on. Pujya Swami Tejomayananda has shared “If God gets mad at you, that’s forgivable. If Guru gets mad at you even God can’t help you.” It’s shared when God gets mad, go ask Guru and Guru will appease God. So much of transformation is needed for one to finally re-resonate with one’s Guide. How do you know you are engaged in higher seva? Acceptance, it’s not about you, it’s about presence All is, All His how can you not be accepting then.
ROM: From now until January 18th before you make any consequential decisions, presentations etc. reflect on What Would the Wise do. What would Pujya Swami Chinmayananda would do, what would Pujya Swami Tejomayananda would do then decide, present. This is part of the Pada Sevana.