Asserted Topics:
What is Antardrashti?
Key Points:
- Vrutti slowly focuses on Bhagavan by practice.
- The practice of meditating on Murti is Antardrashti.
Explanation
In this Vachanāmrut, Sadguru Brahmanand Swami asked a question, ‘ It takes huge effort to keep vrutti on Bhagavan while it stays in front of worldly objects itself. What is the reason for this?
Then Shreeji Māharāj said that those who are devotee of Bhagavan, their vrutti does not focus on anything other than Bhagavan. Contradictorily, they worry that it is hard for them to keep vrutti on worldly objects. Here it looks from the answer of Maharaj that whatever defect is there it is because of lack of practice. The path of bhagavan is not difficult (but keeping vrutti on bhagavan is difficult), and to accomplish the tasks of the world is easy. However, it looks difficult because we haven’t done enough practice. It is natural that without practice any task of this world is difficult. That is why Maharaj said that vrutti of a devotee cannot focus on anything other than bhagavan. One is not a complete devotee if his vrutti is engaged elsewhere. He will become a perfect devotee while practising.
In this subject practice is more important. Manytimes, the habit of practice leads to success even for those who appear smaller (in the success of spiritual path) and those sitting at the top of knowledge stays far away from this subject. In Geeta also practice is considered to be a prime means to restrain the man. ‘अभ्यासेन तु कैान्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते’ Here, it does not seem that elements (24 elements of Maya i.e. Mana, Buddhi etc.) helping or resisting. It is not like those elements of maya always run towards it and not towards bhagavan. One’s elements also belonged to maya that ran towards bhagavan. However, it can be said that the phases of Jiva were different.
In scriptures, it is said that when jiva gets salvation the inner-body stays inside this universe and it gets a divine body with which it goes to the divine abode of bhagavan. Then what happens to the inner-body? Because it stays as it is until the dissolution of the universe. With the dissolution of the universe it also gets dissolved. Then what happens to it? It is said that bhagavan gives this inner-body to another jiva. Then, that jiva does not get any extra help from this inner-body to keep vrutti in the bhagavan, unless it has its own power. That is why the inner-body is neutral to all jivas. It does not help or resist. It does not possess any spirit to keep love (constant-vrutti) in bhagavan. It is all from jiva only. Twenty-four elements do not possess brightness or spirit. Vrutti stays in bhagavan only with the spirit of jiva.
Sad. Brahmanand swami asked what is the medium or means to keep vrutti in bhagavan? Then Maharaj replied that antardrashti is the means of constant vrutti and what is antar-drashti? Then, keeping vrutti in the murti of bhagavan either outside or inside the heart (where jiva stays), one should do constant practice of it. Whatever activities are performed, if there is no murti of bhagavan (constant vrutti in murti of bhagavan during activities) at the centre of those activities, it is not a antar-drashti but a bahya-drashti (focus of vrutti on other things than bhagavan). No matter if it is an activity of Yog (means of connection of soul with bhagavan). Thus, elements in this subject are self-incapable. Everything is only because of spirit. The centre of spirit is a jiva-soul, not elements like buddhi. Therefore, Maharaj says that vrutti of a devotee only stays in bhagavan. A jiva whose spirit is completely impressed towards bhagavan, it does not require effort to keep vrutti in bhagavan but it stays naturally.
Yes, when there is a matter of contribution, the activities of elements like senses, man, buddhi can be counted to contribute in originating or protesting spirit. Otherwise, jiva needs to be a devotee by heart and the means for that is to cultivate interest in antar-drashi.