So who is Richard Bach? What is the Ashtavakra Gita? And why, in the name of all that's spiritual, would someone mention these names together? I was 17 when I read "Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah". If you haven't read it already, I recommend you do so. It's a small 144 page book, but it sets you thinking. Richard Bach is a retired Air Force pilot well known for his books that are semi-autobiographical, one of the better known ones being "Jonathan Livingstone Seagull". He writes beautifully, never preaching, writing simple stories that make you think, and then think some more. For those who like love stories, try "A Bridge Across Forever". This is the first book of his that I read, too.
And what is the Ashtavakra Gita? Ready for a story?
There was this King in ancient India, a rich, wise king, who knew no lack whatsoever, his name was King Janaka. One day, as he sat in his court surrounded by his courtiers, in the midst of pomp and grandeur, he dozed off. And as he slept, he had a dream.
He dreamt that he had lost everything, and was very very hungry. Unable to contain his hunger, he went begging for food, and received from a householder one piece of dry bread. He went to a private place to eat, so he would not have to share with anyone, and just as he was about to take the first bite, a crow came and took the bread from his hand.
"Ah" he cried, in disappointment and frustration, and the cry woke him up, and he was back in his court. The dream and the feeling of disappointment were so real that it set him thinking. What if that was reality, and the grandeur was the dream? How do we know what's really happening, and what is an illusion? (There, see the connection?) He thought more and more about it, and then invited the great sage Ashtavakra (known as such because he was deformed in eight places) to come to the palace and preach to him about life and it's various nuances. This knowledge, given to the King in the luxury of his own palace by the sage, is known as the Ashtavakra Gita. It's extremely powerful knowledge that's better absorbed in the presence of a Master.
I am lucky to have a living Guru, his name is Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The Founder of the Art of Living Foundation, he is a joy to know, and has the knack of making even the most complicated things extremely easy to understand. There's a saying in Sanskrit, "Rishinaam Yatachittanaam Vaachamarthanu Dhavate". It means that when a wise man speaks, you don't just hear it, you experience it. If you hear Sri Sri speak, you'll know exactly what that phrase means.
In "One", Richard Bach speaks of coming face to face with a younger "him". I had a similar experience recently. During the Art Of Living Teachers' Training Program, we used to watch Ashtavakra Gita videos, and later write down whatever we felt about it in a little notebook. This was 13 years back, and the notebook had disappeared among my piles and piles of books.
On a recent trip to Kolkata, I was throwing things away with gusto to make space for more things, and the little blue notebook smiled up at me. I opened it and bingo! I met "me", 13 years back. It is interesting to see what a 25 year old thought of centuries old knowledge, presented smilingly to her by a man she considered best friend, big brother and dad all rolled into one.
The next blog will be an unedited page from the notebook, written 13 years back.
Tell me what you think, did I like meeting the "younger me"?
The Gita of Ashtavakra is such profound knowledge, and yet it has remained relatively unknown and less popular than The Bhagvad Gita. I have been privileged to have listened to the discourses on Astavakra Gita by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in 2001. I could not agree with your more - "Rishinaam Yatachittanaam Vaachamarthanu Dhavate” – when a wise man speaks, you not only hear the words, you experience them at a much deeper level. I am glad you started this blog and I do hope more people become aware that this precious and profound knowledge exists, and those interested can dive deeper!
ReplyDeleteI too had two note-books where I had written down my thoughts and experiences as I was listened to these discourses. These are in Bombay at the moment and I shall get these back soon here in Calcutta.
Since 2001, there have been times when this knowledge got submerged somewhere deep inside me; and it is only now in the last few weeks that this knowledge has started re-surfacing once again. Thanks to you, it comes back like a torrent!
It is so true that we keep making the same mistake of assuming that WE are the doers, when the truth is that we are merely witnesses, part of a grand plan where we are playing our small, pre-determined part. Shakespeare has written,” all the world’s a stage”; and come to think of it, we are all actors merely acting out parts given to us in this ‘play’ called life. But we make the ominous mistake of thinking that we are the playwrights, and that is when misery befalls and begins.
By assuming that we are the DOERs, leads us to compound our mistake by starting to question everything. We question everything : about us, about other, about our surroundings : WHY did so and so say / do this to me? WHY did so and so behave like that? WHAT did I do /not do to make so and so sad/happy? The ??? never end...the mind keeps rotating like the windmills powered by these ??.To this, Astavakra says, turn questions into wonders! In other words, change the ? into an !, and see how our answers and our attitudes and our lives change...! This is what Astavakra says, “ Nanascharya vidam vishwam” – this world is full of small wonders. And we just need a slight ‘tilt’ of vision/knowledge to ‘see’ the wonders of this world. Everything becomes so easy, effortless and enjoyable. Questions lead to more questions, while wonder leads ends in amazement! And that is when everything becomes a celebration – life itself is a celebration. Because you can only celebrate when you are free, and you cannot be free till you are hooked to your questions – turn ? upside down, and you will see that it indeed is a hook, and you keep hanging on to it! Straighten the hook and it becomes a !, and you are free!!
Through this roller-coaster of ride we call life, we forget that there is a Higher Power who takes care of each and every need of ours. The minimum of everything is guaranteed, and yet we keep worrying and bothering about this very issue! We are so unsure, uncertain and insecure about everything in life. We do not have FAITH. What is Faith? FAITH IS GIVING DIVINITY A CHANCE...
During the days of the Buddha, India was a very prosperous place. Even on a spiritual level, the people were highly advanced. That is why the Buddha asked his monks to give up everything and become BHIKHUS – the one who has to beg for food. The reason for making them Bhikhus is very deep and profound : for a people who have always been well-off in life, to beg for food is the biggest ego-crusher! Also, as Bhikhus one learns to have faith in the divine : it teaches you not to worry about future needs, but to have faith that all your need will be taken care of. Everything will come to you, first learn to let go! In this game of life, losing is winning!
Beautifully put Ketan! Someone asked me why our thoughts were so similar, and I quoted Sri Sri blatantly, "The Source is the same!" :)
ReplyDeleteso true, Ishani!
ReplyDeleteLike rivulets from singular river-source, start flowing in their separate paths through diverse lands and following different destinies...and after traversing great distances suddenly find their paths converging....they meet and flow together before emptying themselves into the mighty ocean.