Tuesday, February 21, 2017

SELF AND LIBERATION.

"Jada" Bharata, after whom Bharat gets its name, was a renowned king of the Suryavamsa who spent his last years in tapas in the forest. One day, he saw a pregnant deer jump into the river fleeing a lion. It gave birth to a fawn and died. Responding to the hapless newborn, Bharata was inexorably drawn into a web of attachment - gave up his prayers and died thinking of the deer. As a result, he was born as a deer in his next life. However, he remembered his past owing to his tapas and was filled with remorse for his excessive attachment to an animal. He left the herd for an ashram and was soon absolved of that birth. Later, the deer was reborn as the son of a pious Brahman. Now, he was the personification of non-attachment, indifferent to food, abuse or work, so much so he was nicknamed "Jada" Bharata. There was no application of mind, as there was no mind - only gnana
One day, "Jada" Bharata joined a party of palanquin-bearers of King Rahugana who was on a journey in search of a guru. Bharata caused the palanquin to jump while trying to avoid stepping on every insect in his path. An angry king asked Bharata why he faltered. Bharata replies: "Who am I and who are you? I am not my body, nor are you your body. I am my atman and my atman is not carrying your palanquin". Struck by the reply, the king fell at Bharata's feet and requested that he be accepted as a pupil.
The great Bharata Yogiswara then revealed the nature of the Self and the means to liberation - sever attachment through wisdom, keep the company of great souls and listen to and sing the praise of the Lord.
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