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2016/12

Hari Bhajan Bina...攀登人生高峰的灵性秘诀

作者：苏蕾士哥文达教授

第三章

Prem Bhakti Bina Uddhar Nahi
（若非爱与虔诚，超脱焉可期）

对于为数众多的人发出呻吟声和悲叹声而抱怨说，‘我感到那么的厌烦，我感到那么的不完美，我感到那么的漫无目的。。我感到那么的没有方向’。。。，这不啻是一种解毒剂，尤其是针对现代年轻人内心所发出的回响，更是如此。这圆满（Uddhar，超脱）的缺乏是导致人们纵情于和追求短暂欢乐于外在因素的主要原因。

那么什么是Prem（爱）呢？

斯瓦米解释，

‘Prem是一个常被滥用的字眼。对一个吸引力的正面回应就叫做爱；任何眷恋或执着的感觉，不论它是琐屑的抑或短暂的，都被称为Prem。我们必须杜撰新的词语或把特别的词语搁置一旁，来表示爱的多种形式。父母之于子女或子女之于父母的执着或依附，必须称之为亲情。异性的相吸，最好述之以爱慕、迷恋或幻觉（Moha）。对臻达真理中固有之崇高的渴望就是Prem。。。唯有这，才可以用那圣洁的字眼，Prem，名之。因为那是人所能获得的最甜美的，最迷人的以及最满意的拥有物。爱或Prem有足够的坚强和稳定去包容所面对的种种障碍，击退所有延误或违反的企图。它不会判断一个事件是好的而另一事件是不好的；它不会将它们归属于不同的动力。’

因此照斯瓦米所下的定义，只有对达到真理中固有之崇高的渴望才被称为Prem。

斯瓦米详细拟定这要点，借强调，

‘爱从一颗心流向另一颗心，从一个地方流向另一个地方，从一个人流向另一个人，最终抵达目的地，这就被称为神的恩典；这样的Prem是纯净的。然而，那紧紧绑着一个人的爱被称为Kama（欲望）。那种Prem是有限制的，是狭隘而局限于一处的，而在真正意义上它是不能叫做Prem的。’

因此，意识的扩张就是Prem。。。这是包容一切的爱 --

‘万物一体必须以超然的爱来表达；这爱拥抱所有人类，不分信念，社群或语言。愿你们大家培育起这神圣的爱并突显自己为一个新时代的先锋，完全摆脱私心，贪婪，憎恨和暴力。’

以下的歌曲，斯瓦米唱了好多遍了：

‘爱是我的形相
真理是我的气息
至福是我的粮食
我的生命是我的福音
扩张是我的生命
爱没有原因爱没有季节
没有生也没有死 ’

我的生命是我的福音，扩张是我的生命。。。这里，再一次深思这些诗句，不难发现身为诗人的导师把隐喻的诗意很优美典雅地给带出来。。。斯瓦米说，如果他的生命是他的福音，而意识的扩张是他的生命，那么，肯定地，他的福音，除了Prem 之外，别无其他了。

斯瓦米作进一步地澄清，他说，

‘最有意义和最重要的力量是什么，让我告诉你们吧，是我的Prem。。。我或会易天为地或换地成天但那不是神圣力量的标志。那有效的，自古以来普遍存在的Prem才是独一无二的标志。。。’

即便开化得最慢最低的人也有能力去拥有一丝爱，若不是为了他的亲友，至少是为了拥有本能与冲动去维持他的肉身免受伤害。要扩张爱和爱每一个人，包括朋友和敌人，动物与植物，这确实是一种灵性修行（Sadhana）。就这一点，一个求道者或会问，‘斯瓦米，我对‘我’和‘我的’的爱如何能扩张？’

斯瓦米说，

‘爱是铁石心肠的溶剂。没有无拘无束的、完美圆满的和大公无私的爱，灵性修行就不能成功。没有它，峇赞（Bhajan）等于糟蹋气息，Satsang（研讨）等于浪费时间而坐禅等于自欺欺人。’

斯瓦米提供我们扩张爱的一个实用的方法，

‘人有两种不同的特性。一种颇为普遍的特性，是使一个人欺骗他自己而认为自己是个好人，有诸多美德，智力与才华。另外一种特性，则颇为少见，是体认到在他人之内的优良品质，他人的功德、才能与良好行为并且欣赏他人的理想与典范。耶稣就属于第二类。他在他人之内看到优良的品质，对他们的美德感到鼓舞、喜悦，并与他人分享他的欢乐。’

因此，如果他们聚焦于他人的优点而不是自己的，那么，Prem就可以在个人之内培育起来。松开我们对那种自私、只注重自我的执着，而把心念转向一个更高的目标，这似乎是开启爱的闸门的唯一方法。要对这个观念就更加清晰明白，让我们想象一个母亲，看她如何尝试从无知的孩子手中取回那由于好奇而握着的一把利器或一把刀。如果母亲行动或示意孩子把刀放下，孩子在激动和紧张的情况下，会不知不觉地把刀握得更紧，而危害到孩子的生命。因此，帮助孩子把刀放下的技巧就在于转移孩子的注意力于母亲手中悬荡着的玩具或糖果。孩子热衷于他所渴望之物，于是把刀子松开。通过这方法，母亲得以让孩子避开伤害。

母亲赛的做法完全一样，而虔诚法门，如歌曲中第三行所描述的，就可以达到同样的目的，把心念转移到一个更高的目标。

更崇高的爱叫做虔诚（Bhakti）。斯瓦米在他的一次致辞中强调了这一点，

‘爱均等地存在于一切众生之内，只不过它在不同的关系中，采纳许多不同的形式而已。在世俗的生活里，夫妻之间，它是迷恋（moha）；母子之间，它是母爱（Vaatsalya）；而亲戚之间，它叫做亲情（Anurag）。给神的爱叫做虔诚（Bhakti）。’

如果我们分析我们的行动，我们会发现，我们大多数的行动都是因为爱而彰显于外在世界的。我们准备‘牺牲’我们罹患癌症的脚趾，让医生切除以保全生命，因为我们更爱我们的身体。我们‘牺牲’我们的时间与能量以迎合外在世界的各种不同的挑战，因为爱促使我们去喂养、关照和提供衣服给我们的家人。为了社群，我们准备放下无聊的差异和成见，团结一致。为了国家的爱与光荣，一个人准备牺牲他所拥有的一切。因此，我们可以看到，目标越高，我们把爱倾泻的能力也就越大而做出牺牲的能力会更易于办到。当心念有了一个更大的空间去漫游、活动，我们的心念便松开紧握着的琐屑事物。因此，自然地，如果爱被导向最大的动机或最高的生活目标，也就是神，那么，这就会拉开我们禁闭的、受限制的爱并且还让爱畅流和灌溉我们的整个人格。这会带来极为向往的圆满（Uddhar 超脱）。

斯瓦米说过，

‘对主的虔诚仅是达至目标的一种修行法门而已。求道者不应该因达到虔诚而停止修行：他必须常抱热切之心去找出哪一种行为，哪一种行动会取悦主，会带给主欣慰（Anand，至福，妙乐）。对之，要加以探讨，加以渴求，执行会达至目标的事情，即，从事有助于达到目标的行动，那就是真正的虔诚（Bhakti）。’

Bhakti 或虔诚，因此是唯一能提升心念，从生活的琐屑和世俗的元素而达至更大和更高的人生概念。虔诚看来像是闸门，通过它，能够让较低级冲动和本能的人，绽开成充满神圣的属性与品质的芬芳花朵。斯瓦米在他的一次讲演中提醒我们这一点，

‘神的爱是不具任何自私自利的痕迹的。爱只是为了爱而已。这就叫做Bhakti（虔诚）。只有具备宽恕（Kshama）素质的人才被认为是赋予圣洁之爱的人，而这素质不能得之于导师也不能得之于教科书。只有在我们面临导致哀伤和痛苦的问题和困难时，这容忍与宽恕的素质才有扎根的余地。当你面对困难时，你不应该感到烦恼而成为沮丧的受害者。在这种情况下，你应该发挥容忍与一个宽恕的态度而不应该陷于焦虑不安，进而引起愤怒、憎恨和报复的心态。这Kshama（宽恕）的素质是一个人最强大的威力。如果一个人丧失这素质，他就变成恶魔了。’

‘宽恕是真理（Satyam）
宽恕是正义（Dharma）
宽恕是非暴力（Ahimsa）
宽恕是祭品（Yagya）
宽恕是喜悦（Santosh）
宽恕是仁慈（Daya）
宽恕是世上的一切。’

待续。。。

Hari Bhajan Bina...Spiritual Tips to climb the mountain of life

by Professor Dr. Suresh Govind

Chapter 3

Prem Bhakti Bina Uddhar Nahi

This then is the antidote to the numerous groans and moans of people who complain, `I feel so bored’, I feel so incomplete, I feel so aimless ..I feel I have no direction’ …….echoed especially from the minds and hearts of the young in the present times. This lack of fulfilment (Uddhar), is the main reason why people indulge and derive momentary pleasures from external elements.

What then is Prem?

Swami explains,

‘Prem is a much-misused word. Any positive response to an attraction is called Love; any feeling of attachment, however trivial or transitory is being called Prem. We must coin new words or set aside specific words to indicate the forms of Love. The attachment of parents to children or of the children to their parents must be called affection. The attraction of sex is best described as fancy, fascination or delusion or moha. The yearning to reach for the sublimity that lies inherent in truth is Prem….that alone is entitled to be called by that holy word, Prem. For that is the sweetest, the most charming and the most satisfying possession of man. Love or Prem is strong and steady enough to overlap all obstacles confront with equanimity, defeat all attempts to delay or deviate. It does not judge one incident as good and another as bad; it does not ascribe them to different agencies.’

Hence by Swami’s definition the yearning to reach for the sublime that lies inherent in truth is alone considered Prem.

Swami elaborates the point by stressing,

‘Love which moves, flows from one heart to another, from one place to another, from one person to another ultimately reaches the destination which is called the Grace of god; such Prem is pure. But the love which gets tied up to one individual is called Kama. That kind of Prem which has limitation, which is narrow and is confined to one place, cannot be calling Prem in the real sense.’

Hence expansion of consciousness is Prem …the love which is all encompassing –

‘The oneness of all creation must be expressed in a transcendental love which embraces all people regardless of creed, community or language. May you all develop this divine love and stand out as the harbingers of a new age free from selfishness, greed, hatred and violence.’

Swami has sung many times the following song:

‘Love is My Form
Truth is My Breath
Bliss is My Food
My life is My Message
Expansion is My Life
No Reason for Love No Season for Love
No Birth and no Death’

My life is My Message, Expansion is My Life.. Here again on contemplation of the words the poet in the teacher brings out the hidden meaning so beautifully…Swami states that if His life is his message and expansion of consciousness is his life surely his message is therefore nothing more than Prem.

Swami clarifies this further when he says,

‘The most significant and important power is, let me tell you is MY PREM…I may turn the sky into earth, or earth into sky but that is not the sign of divine might. It is Prem, the effective, universal ever present that is the unique sign….’

Even the lowest evolved man has the capacity to possess a tinge of love, if not for his kith and kin at least for possessing instincts and impulses to keep his physical self from harm. To expand love and to include everyone including friends and enemies, flora and fauna is indeed Sadhana. At this point a seeker might ask `Swami how can the love which I have for I and My expand?

Swami has said,

‘Love is the solvent for the hardest of hearts. Without love, free, full and selfless, no spiritual Sadhana can succeed. Without it, Bhajan is a waste of breath, Satsang a waste of time and meditation a self deception.’

Swami gives us a practical way of expanding love,

‘Two different characteristics are to be found among men. One characteristic, which is rather common, is for one to delude himself that he is a good man, with many virtues, intelligence and talents. The other quality, which is rare, is recognition of the good quality in others, their merits, abilities and good deeds and to appreciate their ideals. Jesus belonged to the second category. He saw the good qualities in others, rejoiced over their virtues and shared his joy with others.’

Prem can therefore be cultivated in individuals if they focused on the good in others instead of themselves. To loosen our hold on our self-interested pre-occupation of only fattening the ego and to turn the mind towards a higher goal appears to be the only way to open the flood gates of love. The idea can be seen more vividly if we see how mothers try to obtain a sharp object or a knife from the innocent child who has grabbed it out of curiosity. If the mother moves or gestures to the baby to drop the knife, the child, in his excitement unwittingly will increase the grip on the knife, thereby endangering the life of the child. Therefore the technique of helping the child to loosen his grip on the knife is to excite and divert the attention of the child’s mind to a dangling toy or sweet from the mother’s hands. The enthusiasm for the child to reach out to the desired object loosens his grip on the knife. It is through this way that the Mother prevents harm from coming to the child.

The mother in Sai does this the same way and the methodology of Bhakti mentioned in the 3rd line of the song serves the same purpose of diverting the mind to a higher goal.

Love for the higher is called Devotion (Bhakti). Swami has stressed this in one his speeches,

‘Love exists equally in all beings, but it assumes many different forms in various relationships. In worldly life, between husband and wife, it is infatuation (moha); between a mother and her child, it is maternal love (Vaatsalya); and between kith and kin, it is called affection (Anurag). The love towards God is known as Devotion (Bhakti).’

If we analyse our actions we will see that most of our actions are manifested in the world outside as a result of love. We are prepared to `sacrifice’ our cancerous toe to the surgeon’s knife because we love our body more. We `sacrifice’ our time and energy to meet the various challenges in the outer world because love prompts us to feed, care and clothe our loved ones at home. For the sake of the community we are prepared to set aside our petty differences and come together. For the love and honour of the nation one is prepared to sacrifice everything he posseses. Therefore it can be seen that higher the goal the greater is our ability to pour forth love and easier is our ability to sacrifice. Our mind loses its grip on petty matters when it has got a greater field to roam and play. Hence naturally if love is directed to the greatest cause or the highest goal in life i.e. GOD, then this will not only pull out our confined and limited love but allow love to flow and irrigate our entire personality. This will confer the much desired fulfilment (Uddhar).

Swami has said,

‘Devotion to the lord is only a form of discipline to reach the Goal. The seeker should not stop with the acquisition of devotion: He must be always eager to find out which behaviour of his, what acts of his will be most pleasing to the Lord, will fill the Lord with Anand. Inquire about that, yearn for that, do things that will secure that objective - be engaged in acts conducive to gain it, that is real Bhakti.’

Bhakti or devotion is therefore the only way to lift the mind from the petty and mundane elements of living to greater and grander notions of life. Devotion appears to be the gateway through which man with lower impulses and instincts, gets blossomed to one fragrant with divine attributes and qualities. This Swami reminds us in one his speeches,

‘Love of the Divine is devoid of any trace of self-interest. It is love for the sake of love alone. This is called Bhakti (Devotion). Only a person who has quality of Kshama (attitude of forgiveness) can be considered to be endowed with sacred love, this quality cannot be acquired from preceptors nor from text books. Only when we face problems and difficulties that cause grief and misery this quality of forbearance and forgiveness has the scope for taking roots. When you face difficulties you should not get upset and become victim of depression. In such situation, you should bring tolerance and an attitude of forgiveness into play and should not get agitated giving rise to anger, hatred and revengeful attitude. This quality of Kshama or forgiveness is the greatest power for a human being. If one loses this quality, he becomes demonic.’

‘Kshama is Satyam (Truth)
Kshama is Dharma (Righteousness)
Kshama is Ahimsa (Non-injury)
Kshama is Yagya (Sacrifice)
Kshama is Santosh (Pleasure)
Kshama is Daya (Compassion)
Kshama is everything in the world.’

to be continued …