Aasura Vasana
Sri Yogi Ramiah came here about a week back. Sitting before Bhagavan this morning he said, “Bhagavan, some people say ‘We have become Jnanis. We are in the Jeevanmukta state.’ They do not, however, sit quietly even for a minute but will always be wandering.
Sri Yogi Ramiah came here about a week back. Sitting before Bhagavan this morning he said, “Bhagavan, some people say ‘We have become Jnanis. We are in the Jeevanmukta state.’ They do not, however, sit quietly even for a minute but will always be wandering. How can they be Jeevanmuktas?”
“What of that?” said Bhagavan. “Are not Narada and others Jeevanmuktas? What is wrong with the Jeevanmukta state if one goes about the world? All things happen according to one’s prarabdha.”
“That is not it, Bhagavan. People like Narada went round the world singing celestial songs for the benefit of the world after they became Jeevanmuktas. These people are not
like that. They mix in all worldly affairs full of raga and dvesha (desires and aversions) and claim to be Jnanis and Jeevanmuktas. How can that be?” said that devotee.
“That is what you ask, is it?” said Bhagavan. “I see. That is all known as Aasura Vasana (demoniac tendencies). It has been humorously described in Vasudeva Mananam. Wait. I will have it read.” So saying, Bhagavan asked Venkataratnam to bring a copy of Vasudeva Mananam. Taking the chapter on Aasura Vasana and asking him to read it, Bhagavan said, “Look. Please note that you must read it without laughing. You should also read it aloud without mumbling to yourself. There you are. You have already started laughing. Read without laughing.” He somehow controlled his laughter and began reading. I will only write down the summary. “For a sadhaka the obstacles relating to Aasura Vasana exhibit themselves frequently though he feels that he has got rid of them. For instance, he would say, ‘You are a fallen yogi. Useless fellow. Is this the way to perform rituals? There is no doubt about it. Even the Guru who taught you these rituals is also a brashta (a fallen person). Don’t come to my presence from tomorrow. Get away.
“‘You fellow! Prostrate before me and save yourself. Take the holy waters from our lotus feet and save yourself. What other Vedantic enquiries are required than serving us? All your desires will be fulfilled if you worship us. Do not serve any one else but us. You fellow, if you do not give all that you have to one of the people here, do not come to us. Look! One person never cared for us. We therefore said that he should live no longer. He was thereupon reduced to ashes. In the same manner another person lost all his wealth and still another fellow received upadesa from us and never cared for us and therefore got reduced to ashes subsequently. Who could know about our greatness except great people like ourselves? We
know the past, the present and the future. We protect the world at all times. We earned a good deal of money and gave it away in charity. We know the desires that are in the minds of each and every individual. Those desires come and stand before us. We know when a particular person is to get into trouble and when another person is to get huge wealth. In this manner we surely get to know future happenings. I am a Siddha; I am Ishwara. Who is there higher than me? All must serve me. It is only through me that persons could get their desires fulfilled. If they do not try to get their desires fulfilled through us, they will fall into the well of sin. They will soon be guilty of sinning against the Guru. Take care’.”
With some more things like this the chapter concludes with the remarks: “Feelings like raga and dvesha are the causes of retarding the progress of the spiritual aspirant and so those who are anxious to attain moksha, must practise ‘Self- enquiry’ and give up those feelings. If any one observes practices like sravana, manana, etc. he may not gain moksha during his life time, but those practices will not go to waste. He will get into uttamaloka (higher life) through that, attain chitta suddhi and will be born as a Brahmanishta and, by repeated practice of sravana, manana and the like, attain Jnanam in due course.”
After Venkataratnam finished reading this chapter, Bhagavan looked at the devotee who had originally asked the question and said with a laugh, “Now, sir. You have heard everything, have you not?” The devotee said, “Yes. I have heard. But there it has been stated that when there are obstacles, a person will not attain moksha even if he practises sravana, manana, etc. It has also been stated that those practices will not go to waste and will lead him to higher life. But what happens if one does not practise sravana, manana, etc. but continues one’s malpractices?”
“That will be the cause of his ruin. Have you not heard of Nahusha who lost his empire and remained as ajagara (boa constrictor) for ten-thousand years?” replied Bhagavan.