The Significance of Purity - 2015 New Year Talk

First of all I wish you all a happy, a healthy, prosperous and successful new year, 2015. Today I would like to share my thoughts on a topic that has been going rounds in the newspapers. The topic is “Clean India” or “Swatcch Bharat” campaign. I consider this to be an important mission and something that requires all our support. This idea of cleanliness or purity is very much in our scriptures. It seems it is only in the text, we don’t seem to be following it. Therefore we have to lend a thought in that direction. In the Vedas also “Shaucham” is talked about and in the thirtieth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita Krishna mentions ācāryopāsanaṁ śaucaṁ sthairyam ātma-vinigrahaḥ and in the sixtieth chapter as Daivi Sampath, Krishna again emphasizes cleanliness or purity tejaḥ kṣamā dhṛtiḥ śaucam. In Astanga yoga, yama and niyama are two sets of disciplines and there also Patanjali Maharishi emphasizes this as the first niyama Shaucham, santoshah, tapas, svadhyaya, and Ishvarapranidanam. Thus purity or cleanliness is so important even as a spiritual value. This topic of “shuddi” or “Shaucham” is very elaborately discussed in our scriptures at five different levels. Today I would explore this topic briefly.

            Purity at five layers: a) Desha shuddi b) Anna shuddi c) Deha shuddi d) Vak shuddi and e) Mana shuddi. Each succeeding layer is tougher and very, very important also especially for a spiritual seeker. We should start with the grossest and outermost layer and gradually we should pay attention to the purity of the subtler layers.

            Desha shuddi: Here the word “Deshah” means the place where we live. The condition of the external world will heavily depend upon the condition of our house. So we have to start with the place where we live and then surroundings, and if they are clean generally the country will be clean. When we talk about the cleanliness of the place it includes orderliness also. Cleanly disorderliness, that is not going to work. It should be unfettered and orderly. First we must know what things are there in the house; many of us don’t know what are there! As they say: everything has a place and everything in its place. If we follow these two rules, we are taking care of desha shuddi or cleanliness or hygiene.

            Anna shuddi: The food that we eat must be clean and pure. In Chandhogya Upanishad it is pointed that whatever we eat has got three layers. Food has got sthula hamsha, madhyama hamsha, and sukshma hamsha. The grossest part of the food gives us the taste of the food and later it goes as a waste. The middle part of the food caters to the physical nourishment and there is a third layer which only our sastras talk about. The nutritionists don’t talk about it or even know about it. The third layer that caters to our sukshma shariram and caters to our mind and which caters to our personality and finally caters to our character; therefore we have to eat only those food which will be good and healthy for our mind also. That is why we ban non-vegetarian food because they are not good for spiritual good at all. Non-vegetarian, liquor, drugs etc are not good for satva shuddihi. Our scriptures not only points out the type of food but also about the one who cooks the food and also one who serves, the source of food, from where it comes, all of them contribute to our inner condition. That is why we say “home food is always best”. But that practice is slowly going as many people do not want to cook food at home. In the olden days the women chanted slokas while cooking food. That is supposed to influence the annam and the consumers also benefitted from that. And if we cannot do all this things there is a general suggestion: before consuming the food may you offer it to the Lord physically. Or if you are consuming elsewhere at least mentally offer it to the Lord – :Annam Brahma! Raso Vishnuh! Bhoktaa devo Maheswarah. The solid food is Brahma, inside food is Vishnu and one who digests inside our stomach is Lord Shivah. Remembering Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva while consuming food, that annam is always pure. Thus anna shuddi is emphasized. In the Sandhyavandam there is a prayachita mantram for consuming all kinds of food at all kinds of places especially New Year party. Yad-uchistam-abhojyam yadvaa dushcharitam mama, O Lord! Whatever I have consumed yesterday, whatever paapam it brings I don’t know – let all of them be ward with this prayer. This sandhyavandanam was practiced in the olden days! One more thing I forgot to mention. We talk about ghee for anna shuddi. We avoided ghee saying cholesterol, cholesterol. Now medical science itself is changing the opinion. Whatever we said as fats before they are now saying it is good for health. In Kerala we were swimming in coconut oil. They said it is very harmful and so we left it. Now they are revising the opinion and saying that it is not as bad as we thought it was. So for anna shuddi we used to add cow’s ghee and it was supposed to be very good. So you can use ghee now, no problem.

            Deha shuddi: The cleanliness of the body. This we need not elaborate as even Medical Science emphasizes that every part of the body must be clean and hygiene. Now even a day has been dedicated for hand-washing! There is so much importance given to handwashing before eating food and they are also advising doctors to wash their hands after seeing each patient. If the doctors don’t wash hands between two patients then most of diseases are caused by them! Many diseases are caused in the hospitals by doctors; handwashing is such a small thing and that is why our sages were carrying a kamandalu all the time. Apavasprasya. It looks silly but handwashing must be regularly done. Similarly mouth washing, what is called? Achemanyam. Thereafter they talk of cleaning the eyes, cleaning the ears, cleaning the stomach etc. In the olden days during the summer vacations we have a ritual – a very painful ritual where we have to take Castor oil. And the whole day you feel like going to the toilet only. Even when I think of that toilet thoughts come! That has even become a metaphor; when we see someone with a grimace look we ask: did you take Castor (Valaka ainnai) oil. It was compulsory as it cleanses the stomach and in yoga sastra they talk about nadi shuddi. Pranayama is supposed to be a wonderful practice for cleaning the inner physiological system. The next tougher layer is:

            Vak shuddi: Our mouth is continuously producing words like a factory for 24 hours and some even in their sleep. When we are continuously manufacturing words, these words are going out all over. These words can produce wonderful results or they can destroy long relationships. Words can destroy a family, or an organization; all because of wrong words used at wrong time. Therefore our scriptures consider vak tapas or vak shuddi as a very important purity project. Therefore whenever we produce words, that is whenever we talk we must watch for quality control. Just like in a factory where the product is tested before being sent outside there is department for quality like TQM etc. Total Quality Management must also apply to the words before they come out of our mouths. If quality parameters are to be applied to words then I must talk consciously and deliberately. In mechanical talk I cannot control the quality. Therefore the first rule is to avoid mechanical and impulsive talking. What are the quality parameters I have to look for; in the Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna gives four parameters.

.           First factor is, make sure your words do not disturb the other people; your words must be non-hurting, non-disturbing. Anudvega-karam or verbal ahimsa. Avoid verbal himsa. The second parameter is satyam, speak the truth. So non-hurtful and truthful and transparent. Then the third one is priyam. May your language be peaceful, gentle, soft, pleasant. Even the most unpleasant thing you can present pleasantly; the negativity of the unpleasant content can be diluted by good communication. The adverse effect of an unpleasant content can be diluted by communicating that content in a thoughtful and pleasant manner. Therefore the manner of communication, the tone of communication, the facial expression during communication, the body language during the communication – they all can be gentle and that is called priya. By talking a few pleasant words everybody will be happy. Then why can’t you use some pleasant words, why be stingy? There is no expenditure in using pleasant words. And finally hitam. Speak what is good for all and not for time-pass. Any talking should be beneficial to the other, I must be beneficial to me also. And if we observe this rule, all the gossip mongering, rumour mongering will abate for they never useful to anyone. On the other hand it will be harmful. Since gossip is always juicy we must bear in mind this parameter, hitam is very important. Thus ahimsa, satyam, priya, hitam vakyam. We are supposed to follow these four factors before we utter a word; and if we are careful then we will not have much to talk. Because most of the time we are violating one or more of these factors.

This vak shuddi is considered as extremely important for one’s own well-being as well as the well-being of the surrounding. That is why vap shuddi is glorified in our sastras. They say that the best ornament for a person is vak shuddi. If this is there and there are no other ornaments that person would be still very beautiful and popular in a gathering. Such a person will be successful and attract all others to himself. On the other hand if a person has the best dress, best ornaments and if his tongue is rude, gross, or a stinging tongue then nobody will like to go anywhere near him. After 10 minutes with such a person then I begin to avoid that person. If I am failing in a relationship then we have to introspect and often you’ll find there is a problem in your talking. Unfortunately we do not realize that we have a bad tongue; the indication is generally people avoid me; generally people become hostile to me. If it happens with one or two then it could be their problem but if it happens consistently then I have to introspect and check the quality of my conversation. There are so many wonderful slokas in our scriptures on the importance of vak shuddi. Recently some people were telling me that there are “image consultants”. They will look at my face and suggest appropriate hairstyle; clean shaven or moustache; what kind of dress to wear; teach you to speak in good accent etc. For this they will charge thousands of rupees. If you want to build a good image our sastram says “the best image is your facial expression; pleasant face and pleasant words.” All other image building efforts will miserably fail if your words are ashubdam. Shudda vak is called samskrutha vak. Prosperity is at the tip of your tongue; relations are there or not are decided at the tip of the tongue. Tip of the tongue means the words that come out. Shudda vakyam is called soonrutha vak which is called kamadhenu; with subha vak you can get everything in life.  That does not mean you should not be educated or be in a job etc but I am only emphasizing as to how important the words are.

            Now the last and the toughest is mana shuddi; cleanliness or purity of the mind. This topic also is very elaborately talked in our scriptures. In the Bhagavad Gita there is one chapter exclusively dedicated for this. 16^th chapter is called “Deiva Aasura Sampath bhaga yogah” . Healthy thoughts and sick thoughts, or sickly thoughts. Healthy thoughts are called Deivam and unhealthy thoughts “aasuram vrittayah”. We must look upon our minds as a garden and cultivate all the healthy thoughts mentioned there, it will ananda to us and others also. When we are regularly tending the garden then we have to weed out the wrong plants. So make your mind a garden. There is one particular topic highlighted in the scriptures especially the Gita as part of mana shuddi and that is “Raga-dvesha management”. Raga means liking or attachment. We all like certain people and certain situations. In simple words, raga is “likes” and similarly dvesha is not those things hated but “disliked”. R-D management is considered important part of mana shuddi.

            And if I have to manage R-D then I must understand the ways of R and D. That is why the vedas talk about their natures, their features, and how they come to bear. The first thing we have to note that is that we can learn to manage R-D but we can never avoid R-D. We can never eliminate raga-dvesha. R-D destruction does not exist. Dayananda Swami nicely says: even our gods have got preferences. Vigneshwara wants “kozhakattai” for naivedyam. Krishna always likes butter. They have their own neivadyam and they have got different colours also. Krishna is always pitambara dhari, they have got their own musical instruments also like veena, venu etc. And they have got their own weapons also; gada, shula etc. When gods themselves have got their own preferences how can we human beings avoid? Therefore the first point is R-D cannot be avoided. So likes and dislikes will always be there; there is no getting past that.

            The second point about R-D is that they have got advantages as well as disadvantages. Whenever an event happens in my life and if it is in conformity with my raga-dvesha then that event gives me happiness. And when any event that does not conform with my R-D then that event brings me sorrow. Therefore R-D gives happiness is the advantage and they also give me sorrow is the disadvantage. So what gives happiness is my raga-dvesha conforming events or complaint event. I will term them “conforming situations” CS and NS (non-conforming situations). During the music season in a concert the musician sings all the songs I like. That day brings me so much of kushi, happiness. Suppose the musician’s throat is not alright because too many kutcheris and weather is also like this! Or he sings his own compositions (these everyone is into composing) and in the unknown ragas. You don’t know the composition or the ragam and you attend such a concert and that leaves you not at all happy. You come out of the concert and go to the canteen (the audience laughs) and today’s special is “Adai aviyal”. That will make you instantly happy as at least let the music go to dogs but I will enjoy adai and aviyals. That will compensate but if there also NS (non-conforming situations) then it is going to bring emotional disturbance (ED).

            The third point in life is that events are not going to happen based on my raga-dvesha. The unfolding events are not going to consult me. The events going to happen are governed by several factors which are known or unknown and therefore many events will be CS and many events will be NS also. So life is a mixture of CS+NS. When rains come it is not going to consider this factor: whose kutcheri is today? The rain is not going to consider the people or our interest; rains will happen when it will happen. Therefore the unfolding events are not going to consult my raga-dvesha. Life involves continuous confrontation of CS and NS. There is no advance notice in life; there is unpredictability. Unpredictable NS may come in your SMS! That is why it is important to close your phone during the class; any news may come and it may be CS or NS. And other people’s behaviour also will be in conformance to my raga or dvesha; others are not going to behave as per my raga or dvesha; they will not respect my r-d because they act and behave will be governed by what? They have got their own raga-dvesha and this is something all parents must note that their children will live their lives according to their raga and dvesha. The children may not respect my raga-dvesha. Even if they consider my r-d then also it will be secondary to their own r-d. Maximum they will say “sorry” and then do what they want to do. Some people will do what they like and some people will say “sorry” and do what they want to do. But remember everyone’s life and behaviour is going to be governed by their raga-dvesha. Therefore most of the times in our lives we are going to confront NS. All human interactions will bring a lot of NS to us. This whole talk is about CS and NS and let me remind you NS means non-complaint situations. So NS events are not avoidable, NS interactions are unavoidable. When we come to the class in a car then NS events will occur; parking is a problem or someone has blocked your car and you cannot take it out. How people rush to get out or drivers not behaving properly or you have lost your slippers; every moment we are confronting NS, CS, NS, NS etc. And most of the time NS only because our raga-dveshas are increasing and they are becoming finer and finer. Therefore life involves NS.  First you cannot avoid R-D and therefore you cannot avoid NS also.

            Then the next point is NS (non-complaint situation) will always bring emotional disturbance. Because the mind which always has raga-dvesha is going to judge the situation in terms of CS or NS and the mind will invariably react to NS and this will cause emotional disturbance in the form of disappointments, in the form of irritations, in the form of anger, in the form of hatred, in the form of regret, in the form of worry and in the form of the modern word STRESS. Now our whole life involves continuous stress, you know why? Because we are continually facing NS and NS cannot be avoided because R-D cannot be avoided. So from R-D to NS to ED. So what is life is R-D to NS to ED is our daily life. And now and then we have CS! And during that moment we smile. It is not like that we smile generally and now and then frown. But we are generally disturbed and now and then smile….(laughs). So RD, NS, ED are unavoidable. We have no choice.

            Then comes the next important point where we have a choice. Until now we have no choice at all but what is until now – if you don’t answer then I will have a NS problem! I also face NS problems. Sometimes students come late and sit right in the front and push other students and even sit on their laps! The pushing student is not disturbed and even the pushed student is not disturbed but I am who is watching all this! The pushed student is not disturbed as he got the seat only doing that! ….(laughs). But I am disturbed because I have got raga-dvesha which is a student should come and sit without disturbing others. It is legitimate or illegitimate is the next question. Whenever I see my R-D violated and NS comes then I tell myself that this is Dhyana sloka chanting and so let me close my eyes. …(laughs).

            Now we come to the next important stage where we have a choice; from ED the next possible stage is ES. From emotional disturbance to emotional slavery. This is based on an important psychological principle that when any emotional disturbance stays in the mind and especially disturbing emotions even when it stays in the mind for a short while – the emotion in the mind can grow very fast. Any emotion outside cannot survive like fish out of water but if a disturbed emotion stays in the mind it grows very fast and it grows very strong like hatred, fear, or worry or anxiety or jealousy. When these emotions grow very strong then you cannot eliminate it. These emotions will stay in the mind and then the mind will become a slave of these emotions. And this emotional slavery is a very serious problem. Emotional disturbance is unavoidable and it is a minor problem but ED to ES is a very serious problem. When emotional slavery comes then my own mind becomes useless. It is no more available for me because the emotions have taken the mind as a hostage, and the mind becomes useless. And when the mind becomes useless then I become useless. To do any constructive work I have to change NS to CS. To convert NS to CS it requires my constructive energy. In the grip of ES I cannot help myself or I cannot help others also as no constructive activity can be done under the grip of toxic emotions. Therefore the first problem of ES is that the mind becomes useless. Then the next stage of ES is that my mind becomes harmful to me. Because when toxic emotions are there in the mind for a long time we are stressed and get into varieties of health problems. All the problems that are dormant in the body, they all sprout and grow when the mind is in stress. They say cancer in the body is due to immunity in the body fading despite advancement in medical sciences. Immunity gets weakened when stress and it is getting widespread. Even at the end of the class, you watch, you will be facing stress. So stress leads to lowered immunity and that is an invitation to all kinds of diseases. Therefore the mind becomes useless and mind becomes harmful and therefore we have to avoid emotional slavery and it is possible by using our free-will. We have no choice in the first three stages: R-D to NS to ED. Here free-will will not help as it comes into operation only in the fourth stage by blocking the conversion of ED to ES.

            I will quickly summarize and conclude the talk otherwise you will have a NS problem..(laughs). Because you are all busy and we’ll start looking at the watches. There are five levels and the first one is Vivekah. Vivekah is remembering the fact that ES makes me useless and ES is harmful to me. The second is sankalpah. It is a strong auto-suggestion that I will always be alert throughout the day that ED is going to happen very often. My duty is to ensure that ED does not get converted to ES. ED, I cannot stop, but ES I can stop. Therefore sankalpah is auto-suggestion for alertness. The third step is pratipaksha bhavana. When emotional disturbance thoughts are continuously going on in the mind, I have to use my free-will to generate and pump-in positive thoughts or at least neutral diversion thoughts. So either positive thoughts or diversion thoughts have to pumped in for displacing the ED. What thoughts arrive in the mind I have no choice but whether they should continue in the mind or not I have a choice. That is why Krishna says in the Gita; tharyona vasham aagachchat. When emotional disturbance come don’t be a slave (vasham means slave). Emotional slavery comes when you allow the anger thoughts to continue, worry thoughts to continue, fear thoughts to continue. You pluck such toxic thoughts by replacing them by using your free-will. Therefore handy diversions must be there. At least have laurel and hardy video with you. If you watch them then you will laugh. What handy diversions is something you should choose. Or positive thoughts of courage: I can face any situation. Then the fourth level is satsanga. To support positive thoughts you need some model people who are embodiment of courage and positive thoughts. Remember such people and remember their teachings in the mind. By remembering such sat purusha will bring in positive thoughts to your own mind. By models I definitely don’t mean Ms Universe or a fashion show where they walk funnily wearing funny clothes; by models I mean puranic models who are embodiment of courage and bhakti. They say: when god is there in the heart, why should I be afraid of anything. That is why you should attend Bhagavad Gita class and it will teach you a lot of positive thoughts. The last one is prarthana. Pray to the Lord,” O Lord! I must have the strength to avoid emotional slavery. Give me the strength and free-will to avoid ES. With this prayer I can avoid emotional slavery which is called mana shuddi. So mana shuddi means having only those R-D which will not create emotional slavery. Toxic R-D produce ES and non-toxic R-D will not produce ES. So Krishna says: may you have raga-dvesha but let them be non-toxic. So if you have a R-D which is protected by this five point programme then you will have mana shuddi which is freedom from ES.

            If you follow this pancha shuddi you will be successful in the material life as well as spiritual life.