Upasana
in true sense
Recognizing that all living
beings comprised in the whole universe is so many manifestations of the Lord,
salute them all with joined palms compatibility with your external position or
mentally bow down to them with devotion. Never harbour ill-will towards any
living being whatsoever nor speak bitter words to anyone nor pain anyone’s
heart; but treat everyone with respect, love and civility. This constitutes a form of Upasana (sitting by the
side of the Lord).
All that you have in the
form of learning and intellect, food grains and wealth, plenty and prosperity,
has been vouchsafed to you for being devoted to the service of the Lord.
Minister by means of it to all—the destitute and the Brahmanas, widows and
alumni, human beings and animals, birds and ants seized with terror and
despondency, knowing them to be so many manifestations of God, without feeling
proud of it and respectfully offering to them what (really) belongs to them.
This constitutes another form of Upasana (sitting by side of the Lord)
A tongue has been vouchsafed
to you as a means of singing and loudly uttering the divine and sweet names and
praises of the Lord, and a pair of ears as an instrument of hearing the names
and praises of God being sung or loudly uttered. Therefore, holding your tongue
back from condemnation and applause, disputation and controversy, uttering
falsehoods and bitter words, harmful and idle talk, keep it engaged in
constantly singing or loudly uttering the names and praises of the Lord and
continue at all times to drink with your ears with eagerness and joy the names
and praises of the Lord being sung or loudly uttered. This too constitutes a
form of Upasana(sitting by the side of the Lord).
A mind has been vouchsafed
to you as a means of getting disentangled from the trap of all hankerings and
cravings, banishing all thoughts of the world and contemplating on the form and
excellences of and the truth relating to the Lord; and reason has been
vouchsafed to you to enable you to make it determinate and devote it to God.
This is what is meant by offering your mind and reason t God. This is what the
Lord expects of you. Therefore, with an undivided mind constantly think of God.
This too constitutes a form of Upasana(sitting by the side of the Lord).
A corporeal frame has been
vouchsafed to you as a means of ministering respectfully to your elders, the
ailing and the helpless, as so means of ministering respectfully to your
elders, the ailing and the helpless, as so many manifestations of God, of
worshiping Gods, the Brahamanas and the wise, of protecting the oppressed and
gratifying all. Therefore, keeping your body under control, continue with your
body to accomplish the work of ministering, rendering bodily service to and protecting
all according to their needs. This too constitutes a form of Upasana(sitting by
the side of the Lord).
Human life has been
vouchsafed to you as a means of realizing the truth relating to God, securing
God-vision or developing love for the Lord, which is difficult to develop. This
constitutes the supreme goal of human existence and to make an all-out effort
to the best of one’s ability for the attainment of this goal, remaining
constantly on the alert, constitute the paramount duty of man. True Upasana
consists in remaining scrupulously engaged in discharging this obligation.
Contrary to this, all endeavour made in the vain hope of acquiring enjoyments
or pleasures, counting on them and craving for them, constitutes an error and
is tantamount to suicide. Therefore, completely giving up the false hope of and
longing for enjoyment or sense-gratification, keep your human life constantly
devoted in every way to the means of God-Realization—to any type of Upasana in
the form self-knowledge, action for the sake of God and worship of God
according to your circumstances and liking. This constitutes the best use of
human life and in this lies the fruition of human existence. This is true
Upasana or sitting by the side of the Lord.