In this episode, The Bearded Mystic Podcast discusses the wisdom of Tukaram Ji, a 17th-century Marathi Hindu sant (saint), popularly known as Tuka. He was a Sant of Varkari sampradaya (Marathi-Vaishnav tradition) - that venerates the God Vitthal - in Maharashtra, India. He was part of the egalitarian, personalized Varkari devotionalism tradition. Tukaram ji is best known for his devotional poetry called Abhanga and community-oriented worship with spiritual songs known as kirtan.
I hope you enjoyed listening to the Wisdom of the Mystics series. If you want to listen to more episodes about Non-Duality and a deep dive into the Bhagavad Gita, please follow/subscribe to this Podcast.
Thoughts on the Upanishads, Conversations with the Bearded Mystic, Guided Meditations, and much more only on Patreon, Buzzsprout Subscriptions, Apple Podcast Subscriptions and Supercast.
Patreon: Support The Bearded Mystic Podcast and get ad-free, bonus episodes along with many more benefits:
https://www.patreon.com/thebeardedmysticpodcast
Buzzsprout Subscriptions: Support The Bearded Mystic Podcast and get ad-free, bonus episodes: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1800416/subscribe
Direct & Unfiltered with The Bearded Mystic is a great format to ask The Bearded Mystic (Rahul) whatever question you have in your mind. Submit your question by completing this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/53PRQ33
Join The Bearded Mystic Podcast Discussion Group on Whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GcCnyrjQwLuEPHBaVA6q9L
Be notified of my weekly virtual meditation session followed by a Q&A Discussion via zoom (Notifications only):
https://chat.whatsapp.com/DcdnuDMeRnW53E0seVp28b
If you would like a one-on-one meeting with me via Zoom, book here:
https://calendly.com/thebeardedmysticpodcast/1on1meetings
Please rate and write a review for this Podcast: https://www.thebeardedmysticpodcast.com/reviews/new/
You can follow me and contact me on social media:
Website: https://www.thebeardedmysticpodcast.com
TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdk3HPJh/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeardedmysticpodcast/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBeardedMysticPodcast/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bearded_mystic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Bearded-Mystic-Podcast
Hello and welcome to the Bearded Mystic podcast and I'm your host Rahul N.Singh.Thank you for taking out the time today to either watch or listen to this podcast episode.If you are really interested in supporting The Bearded Mystic Podcast,and you've found great benefit in listening or watching these episodes,then please do support this podcast on Patreon where you can get ad free and bonus episodes along with other benefits depending on the tier that you select.Your support means everything,and it really does help the podcast keep running efficiently and smoothly,and also widens the audience that this message can reach to.If you would like to know more about it,the details are in the show notes and video description below.On Saturdays at11:00AM Eastern Standard Time there is a free virtual meditation session along with discussion and Q&A.If you're interested in meditating with us as a community,then you can find out the details in the show notes and video description below.Please do like,comment,and subscribe if you're watching this on YouTube and if you're listening to this on your favorite podcast streaming app,then please do give this podcast a five star rating.It helps the podcast get up in the charts and allows the algorithm to bring this podcast to new listeners and also do review the podcast if you can and make sure you do follow or subscribe to keep getting future episodes.Today we will be continuing on with a series called Wisdom of the Mystics.And last month we looked at some of the poems of Bulleh Shahji,who is a Sufi mystic and there's a lot that we learnt in that episode.And today we will be looking into the poetry of Tukaramji,who is a famous Marathi poet.Someone of the bhakti tradition,in the Vaishnav tradition,so there's a lot to grasp in today's episode.So let's get started.We're going to look at the first poem.I'm going to go through a few lines each time and explain.Vishnu manifests in the masses is the faith of the Vaishnav.Any discrimination is unholy deceit.Amazing lines already by Tukaramji.We must see this Formless Awareness manifested in all.He says here Vishnu manifests in the masses.If you think Vishnu is separate,the world is different,we've got it wrong,that's what Tukaramji is saying.He says the whole existence contains this Vishnu.Who is both Saguna and Nirguna and this is the faith of the Vaishnav.Now,what's interesting here is that you can be a Advaitin,Vashishta Advaitin or Dvaitin,and you still can have the highest ideal as Vishnu.Why?Because Vishnu is that One Supreme Reality that truly is.Some say that he is separate,others say it's just this One.If we then discern and discriminate that anybody or anything is different to Vishnu.Then we have done deceit.We have been deceptive.We have tried to fool others.We are trying to hide the truth.This is unholy deceit,he says.In fact,the fact that Tukaramji calls it unholy deceit shows that it is completely against the spiritual principle to say that Vishnu is separate to the masses.Hence,we must see everything as this Sat-Chit-Ananda or Vishnu.We must see,witness,experience Brahman in everything.Then he says,pray,listen you all,devotees of the Lord ensure each of your deed to be truthful.You know,Tukaram Ji is very respectful,very nice,very kind.And even though he's talking about people who've committed to unholy deceit,he still humbly says,pray.That's humility.That's,for me,a perfect ideal to have.You know,he says,Pray.I still,still,you know,out of respect.He bows.Then he even says to them,You are devotees of the Lord.Who's the Lord?Vishnu.And he's saying you are devotees of the Lord.And so if you claim that you are following the Lord and you believe in Vishnu,regardless if you're a non dualist,dualist,or qualified non dualist,it doesn't matter.If you claim you love the Lord,should this not be shown through your conduct of your behavior,of your actions?You say you are one with the truth.You say you want to know Brahman.Yet if your actions are something else,then what's the point?No matter what you say,it doesn't matter.What you do is more important.People see what you do.So every deed that we do must be done in the awareness of the truth.This is what Tukaramji is talking about.We must make sure that every action of ours is full of honesty.Absolutely filled with honesty.So that whenever somebody looks at you,hears you,witnesses your actions,they should take someone,that one person,to experience the truth itself.That's how high one's actions needs to be.Then he says,never nurturing ill will for any living being is the essence of worship of Lord and the creation.Remember,Lord and the creation is one.So how can we have ill will for others?How can we think of ill things for others?How can we desire ill for others,desire bad things to happen to others?Therefore,we should never nurture this.We should never let it grow.If we see it growing,we must defeat it straight away.We must get rid of it as soon as possible.So we must not desire for anything bad to happen to somebody.We want them to be happy.It doesn't matter who they are,we must be wishing them the best.You know,even if somebody does real bad to you,I've had that happen to me.There are people who have treated me badly too.And my Guru always says that,no matter what,wish them the best.Even if it means you wish them the intelligence to do the best.Still,wish them the best.And if we do this,then this is equal to worshipping the Lord that has manifested in this existence.This is true real worship when we see all as the divine and therefore we discern with that awareness of the truth.Then every moment becomes worship.Every moment.Tuka says we all are but organs of one body.All the joys and sorrows are born by the being.This diverse and wonderful,magnificent,wondrous manifestation,where the one appears as the many,is just like the many organs in one body.It's not separate.No organ is separate to the body,when they're all together,they're called the body.Therefore,existence is many,but Brahman is one.This existence is one,but appears as
Untitled:
the many.
Another way of looking at it is that Saguna is Nirguna.The many attributes of Brahman is actually the attribute-less one Brahman.So Tukaramji concludes that all the joys and sorrows that we face,instead of seeing them as created by something else,see it as born by that One Being,which is Vishnu or Brahman.Once you see it as from the divine then you're able to rise above joy and sorrow.Easy.The interesting thing here is that Tukaramji practiced this.Literally,his wife was against his devotion.She totally did not like it at all.And she would scold him.She would curse him out.But he remained untouched.He still remained in the love of Vitthal.He still remained in the love of Vishnu.He never let that go.Therefore,whatever we receive from this life is nothing but prasad,an offering a boon from the Lord.This is the beauty of devotion.Now let's go to the second poem.Words are the jewels that our homes are filled with.The tools that we strive with are but of words.See,the words that we express of the divine are the jewels that are valuable to a devotee.We all value those holy words that allow us to transcend,that make us truly rich in the true sense.So this home,this mind is where these words of the divine are housed and they live there,they dwell there and with every remembrance,our mind is filled with the divine words.All we think of is the divine words.So everything we do,whether it is bhakti,meditation,or even discussion of this knowledge,of this Gyana,it is all done through words.Wherever we go,somewhere words are always involved,and this is what he's saying,that the very tools that you strive for,for this ultimate realization is nothing but words.This is what they are.Then he says,words are the source that sustains our life.Wealth of words we give away to one and all.So to communicate with others about this Lord,we have to utilize words.There's no other way.Yeah,if I want to speak to you about the Divine,I'm doing it through a podcast.If I stayed silent,would you truly understand?Unless you're a great mystic like Ramana Maharshi,then maybe your mere stillness will be a teaching.Even with Ramana Maharshi,he still used words.Whether it's through a book,whether it's through his personal guidance,words were used.With these words we sustain our life too.You know,if we are hungry or thirsty,or if we need something,we do it through words,you know,literally in terms of a material level,but even spiritually,if we're hungry for this truth,if you need something to sustain our way of being,our mind,then yes,we are thirsty for the truth.We are thirsty to be in that company.So it is what sustains life too.And most of all,it's those words that truly help us to connect to divine.Those are the words that are the source that sustains life.So whenever we hear the Guru speak,and when they share their knowledge with us,that is what sustains our life.Therefore the Guru's words always sustains our life,because we honour it with the highest of all.What do we see the Guru as?Brahman.So whenever we speak of the divine,then we give away our words,and these are the words that are beneficial.We share this with one and all,we share this with everyone,and we do not discriminate at all.We do not say,this person deserves it,this other person doesn't.That's not the way a true person is.The wealth of words we give away to one and all.We give everyone this true wealth,this true valuable words,which is of this one Brahman.Then Tuka says,Behold,Word is the Lord.Let us praise Him,worship with words.Tukaramji concludes how we do need to observe how the Word itself is the Lord.When you say Brahman,the Word takes you to the truth.When you say Nirguna,it takes you to the Word.It takes you to that awareness.When you say...Nirakar,it takes you to the experience of awareness.If one tells you to be in awareness of Formless Awareness,automatically it's the words that help,the words that point.So that's why it says the words are the Lord itself.And whenever we remember the name of the Lord,whichever name we use.We are also being in the awareness of the Lord.So use all the words that are possible to praise the Lord.Thank the Lord,thank this Brahman in every moment.Worship him with your words.Your words are like garlands that you keep putting on your Ishta Devta,onto your Bhagwan,onto this Brahman.So don't just limit the words to what is spoken,but you can even consider your thoughts that appear as words.And most of all,worshipping with your awareness.The more you worship in with your awareness,the more you will be in that state of Ananda,the more that you will be in that state of blissfulness.In poem three.Without looking at anything,I saw everything.Very powerful words.Without looking at anything,I saw everything.So within this nothingness,one sees this vast existence.And sometimes,maybe we are not focusing on anything,but we are able to perceive this Brahman that is all around.So for example,someone will say,you're looking at nothing here.There's nothing here.What are you praising?Why are your eyes filled with tears?Why are you filled with devotion?There's nothing here.You're not in a temple.You're in this vacant space.But that person sees everything.Like Tukaramji.I saw everything.This is what he says.I saw everything.The vast expanse of Brahman is viewed,is perceived.And he does it without looking at anything.Nothing needs to remind him of this truth.Nothing needs to bring in that experience.He is always in that experience.He says,became part of every being,me and mine cast away.Wow!This is everything.When we truly understand that this Brahman has manifested in every being.Nobody is separated from this Brahman.So if nobody is separated from this Brahman,when there is only that,that vamasi,or you,then where can there be me and mine?If there is only you,if there is only Tat,this,that,then what else can there be?If Brahman is in every being,including the body and mind that I have,that you have,that everyone has,then what is me and mine?How can I say this is my body,this is my mind?It is all belonging to this one.And therefore,what Tukaram Ji is saying is that I reject,I refuse all your labels,all your identities because they take me away from the vastness of being.I don't want any of that.Then he says,took without taking,hands and legs having laid to rest.Everything is Brahman's alone,nothing is attached to me.All wealth,all labels,and this body is Brahman.Took without taking,meaning even though one consumed,one didn't take anything,meaning once karma wasn't accumulated,so that person is truly surrendered when they surrendered this me and mine,what happens?They're allowed to enjoy everything,then their karma is complete,they never accumulate any karma,this is what this is saying,Therefore now they can relax.This body and mind is at peace.They can work but the body and mind is in the remembrance of the Lord and always in rest.Hence he says,hands and legs having laid to rest.There's nothing more for them to do.They may go to work but it's not them working.They are not the doer.Hence they let go of karma.They surrender every action.Consumed without eating,tongue savoring taste.So I'm always fulfilled in life.Because one is always in awareness of Brahman,this is what Tukaramji is saying Consumed without eating,I'm consumed by this I'm filled up.I haven't eaten anything according to you but I'm full,I'm complete.One is not chasing any desires,one is not chasing any wants.It doesn't matter what is happening,they do not desire anything.They do not care about what they're going through in life.They're not wanting anything.Many are always chasing their desires and their wants and despite getting what they want,getting what they desire,they still do not feel satisfied.Once one desire is met,the next one appears.Then the next one,then the next one.Even if somebody doesn't have any of these things,one still enjoys the world.One still enjoys life.One is still happy with life.Everything contains the Lord,so why should the tongue abstain?This is what he's saying.Let him enjoy every taste of the world.He will be fulfilled regardless.Meaning all he is tasting,all he is taking in is this one Brahman,that's all.Then he says without uttering words,made known that was hidden.Brahman has not said a single word,but everything is understood.All that needs to be understood is understood.Sometimes not a single word has to be said,but a single glance,a single gesture.And that's enough.A single sign,a single point like we mentioned in the previous episode with Bulleh Shah Ji.That is more than enough.Then all that was hidden is seen,discovered.Experienced,witnessed,without uttering words made known that was hidden.Just simply being has made one discover it.Through this manifest existence,this Formless Awareness is seen and this is the result of taking Brahm Gyan.When we truly have taken Brahm Gyan,when we have truly acclimatized and truly absorbed this Brahm Gyan then in this manifest existence,we see that One Truth.Simple.Look how simple Tukaram Ji has made it.Look how amazing it is.Without uttering words,made known that which was hidden.What we thought was hidden,is right in front of our faces.This is what Tukaram Ji is saying.Then he concludes in saying,without ears hearing,Tuka says,came to mind.Despite this Brahman being formless,it hears everything.It is able to hear the worship,the prayers,the chants,the things that we think God does not listen to.This is always listening.And this way is how Brahman came to the mind.This Brahman is comprehended without the five senses and it's beyond the five senses.Hence it says without ears hearing,Tuka says,came to mind.This truth.He didn't have to hear the words.The ears didn't have to physically hear anything.We are automatically reminded.We are automatically in the remembrance of this One.We don't have to do anything specifically to make it happen.For example,a lot of people when they hear a chant,then they remember God or the truth.When they hear a scripture,then they remember that there is this truth.He's saying without me even hearing anything,this one comes to my mind.So Tukaram Ji is guiding us in this whole poem that it's about going beyond the senses and to enjoy whatever the senses produce and to see them as a pointer towards the Divine.That's all we have to consider.Then the fourth poem.Without comprehension,why to memorise.Vainly straining,over repetition A bit tongue in cheek,but it's true.Many people read their scriptures,but they never take any time to pause.They just read it,recite it,and whenever they are in a discussion,they roll it off their tongue as if it's something they know.Just because you memorize words does not mean that you comprehend the words.Many will read,but how many stop to wonder upon its meaning?Many people go and listen to Kathas by these so called Kathavachis,who do Vākya on the discourses on these texts.But do they ever talk about the meaning?No.Do they ever take you to the truth?No.We just say,wah,listen,look how wonderful they speak.Look how wonderfully they recite the scriptures.Such people we are praising today.What,what is wrong with us?These people,they strain their voices and their own eyes for no reason.Look at what the Tukaram Ji is saying,vainly straining.Why are they doing this?They're straining their voice,they're straining their eyes for no reason.They've not comprehended this truth,they're not getting themselves closer to this one.They just do this repetition and they forget contemplation.There is no need to rememberize anything,if it hasn't taken its place in the heart,if we are just memorizing for the sake of it,it means nothing.When it takes place in our heart,when it truly fulfills our heart,then it matters.So it's really important that we first must comprehend the message.Otherwise,there's no value in praising a scripture,in praising a poem,in praising anything that you adore.First,we must comprehend.This is very important.Then he says,repeating incessantly,meaning has none.All the meaning instead,internalize.Let's repeat this,repeating incessantly,meaning has none,all the meaning instead internalize.People will keep on repeating the stories,they will keep repeating the text incessantly,they won't stop.They'll keep reading,reading,repeating,repeating,repeating,and they'll be proud of their memory.Look how much they memorize.Look,I know the scriptures,but ask them to give the meaning,you'll find them for the first time dumbfounded.They won't be able to say a word,or they'll give you such an answer even you are dissatisfied.And you know the person is a crook.But how many people ask?Many people just do kaan-ras.Meaning,just enjoyment of hearing.Not enjoyment of thinking.Intellectualizing.This is very important in spirituality.In fact,if you really want spirituality to be simple,intellectualize first.Do not go into faith first.First intellectualize,then go towards faith.This is very important.If we think faith will get us there,it will take you a bit more time.It will get you there,but guess where you have to go?Intellectualize.Intellect must be used,as he says,internalize,but let me first say that even if people claim they know the meaning,check how much they love this truth.For that is more important.And some people are so cunning that if you ask them for the meaning,they will say,why do we need to know the meaning?Love the Lord,that's more than enough.That's more important.Love God,that's more important.Love Krishna,that's more important.Love Ram,that's more important.Why do you need to know the meaning?Why are you wasting your time in such things?This is what they will say.Stay away from such people.Run away.You see them from a mile away,go the other way.Take a detour.Even if it takes your destination a few minutes longer,do it.Or call them out.If you're daring enough.Respectfully,of course.Be nice.So what do we need to find?He says all the meaning instead internalize.Once you hear the scriptures,once you hear the chanting of the mantras,once you hear these important teachings,internalize them first.Internalize the meaning,then you will be able to understand.Being able to quote the scriptures means nothing.If you can remember shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita,well done.But I'm extremely proud of you if you understand the meaning.If you can give me the gist of it and I can feel that it is Sri Krishna speaking to me,you've done your job.That's it.That's what I'm looking for.That's what everyone else is looking for.They're not looking for people who can just quote the Bhagavad Gita or the Ramayana or Yog Vasistha or any other scripture.A lot of people say the Bible is the word,but if you do not feel Jesus,then what quality does that word have?But if you read the Bible,you internalize,and you feel that it's Jesus words when you explain it to another and that other person feels Jesus,then you're talking.But most people who are Christian cannot do this.Same with any other religion,not just Christianity.When somebody just recites the Japji Sahib,it's one thing,but when somebody tells you its meaning and you feel that it's Guru Nanak Dev Ji giving you that meaning,that Guru Nanak Dev Ji is speaking,then what more do you want?So practicing it,contemplating upon it,internalizing it,integrating it,is more important,for that is the essence of bhakti.Then he concludes,Tuka says,only if visited by meaning,until and unless,don't speak a thing.Tukaramji is very,very clear here,that only if you're visited by meaning,only if the meaning is settled within you,then speak,otherwise don't bother.Don't bother.There is no need to speak if we don't understand the meaning of the scriptures.Best not to say anything.The scriptures is meant to show us our true reality which is this Formless Awareness.Nothing more.It's meant to show us that Vishnu is the only thing.If this hasn't been understood then every word said from the scripture carries no weight.It carries nothing.As simple as that.Only understanding gives power to the voice that recites and explains the meaning of the scriptures.We have to truly understand.Only when we are visited by meaning,only then should we speak.Otherwise,there's no value in speaking.If it's just recitation,don't bother.And you see,look,look at the state.I'm now going to talk directly to Sanatana Dharma,which is what I belong to.People attend talks that just are reciting the scriptures,that are just telling stories.But if you talk a bit of philosophy,how many people want to know?How many people are truly after it?How many truly want to be educated?There is no value in going somewhere,listening to something,enjoying it then,and then when you go back to your life,you're miserable.If that's your idea of spirituality,then I'm sorry you're not spiritual.You're just meeting a desire,that's all.If you truly are being spiritual.Then look for that perpetual happiness,that what you listen to brings you happiness and when you leave you're in happiness.You live your life in happiness.247,you're in Ananda.That is true spirituality.Then we go to the last poem of the day.If you become God,you'll make others too.Doubt not this even a bit.This is something we should not doubt at all,and these words by Tukaram Ji,they're worth contemplating upon,worth understanding,internalizing the meaning.If you see yourself as Brahman,and you know that this is what you really are,this is your true identity,then this is what you will make others,it's like as if By midas touch,whatever you touch,you know that whole thing about whatever that person touch turned into gold.Likewise,whoever listens to your words,whoever speaks to you,whoever interacts with you.The moment you talk of this Brahman,they automatically become Brahman themselves.This is how easy it is.This is what the true Guru does.This is what my Guru has done for me.You see,the world has constantly been reminding us that we are this body and mind.Anywhere you go,you're bombarded with advertisements of how to deal with your sickness,how to live a better life,how to live more comfortably,pay your taxes,do this,do that,do that.You know,they get you busy with a body and mind.Yet the true saint says,yes,you have a body and mind.But you are this pure consciousness itself.You're not the body and mind,you just have a body and mind.But you are pure consciousness itself,you are Brahman itself.Therefore realize what you are and share it with others openly.Let there be more people that awaken to their own Brahman nature.This should be the goal.So do not doubt this for a second.Once you understand what you are,share it with others,be open about it.But only when you know.Until you truly become this one.Once you truly internalize it,then share.Don't do it prematurely.I've seen many people prematurely announce things.They're no longer on YouTube.They've taken down their channels,but many have done this.Oh,I realized a non dual Lord.Next minute the non dual Lord has deleted their YouTube channel.How many start a podcast,and how many keep it?Very few,therefore,all I've got to say is once you've become this One,then share.Once you're completely convinced and that nobody can take you away from this non dual reality,only then share,when you're completely convinced,completely embedded in this Truth,otherwise don't.So like it says,if you become God,if you become,only if,then you'll make others too.Don't doubt this even for a bit.Your mere being will express this.Someone sees you,they will see this very truth resonating within you.They will see it emanating.That's,you don't need words.It's literally how you feel.People literally will feel that from you.They see you,they will automatically trust you.They see you,they automatically know you're truthful.Then he says,if you become evil,you'll make others too.Doubt not this even a bit.The same applies if you think you are this body and mind.This is why it's meant by evil.Because if you think you're the body and mind,then you will be attached to people,to things,and there'll be greed,then there'll be jealousy,then there'll be anger,there'll be attachment,there'll be lust,there'll be all these things,where you will live a life that is impure.Then our deeds will cause harm to others one way or another.So that's what you will share.Yeah,you would share with others be greedy,hustle more.I I listened to one thing the other day where it said if you want to be a millionaire It's okay to sleep for two hours.I'm telling you If,if being a millionaire is that much worth you just sleeping for two hours and you put your body through that pain,what is the point of being a millionaire?If your body is suffering,if your mind isn't at capacity,this hustle culture that we live in is totally strange.I am very much against this type of culture,but that's all they know.That's all they share.They're not millionaires themselves,but they teach these things,hoping to become millionaires.You buy their course for500,and they tell you it's worth50,000,and they'll fool you,and you'll be fooled.So,let's,um,adapt this poem a bit.If you become a fool,you'll make others too.Doubt not this even a bit,this is what is for the hustle culture people.They are fools and they are fooling you,fooling me.I also got trapped into the whole,uh,hustle culture,law of attraction,manifest this and all that nonsense.It's very nice thinking,but in reality,life says something else.Hence,this is the ignorant way of creating destruction.This way of being will create destruction.What's the point of getting a million dollars,a million pounds,a million euros,a million rupees,if in the end,your children don't respect you,your spouse doesn't respect you,people in society do not look at you with respect.Yes,you inspire a few people on TikTok by saying some really vacuous and vacant words.They have no meaning at all if you really analyzed what was being said.There's a good parody right now on TikTok where Someone says something as if it's of substance,but really it's,you know,it means nothing.For example,they say something like if2plus2equals4,then3plus1also equals4.And literally all the,and people get inspired by stuff.They share this stuff.And what this person is showing on TikTok is how ridiculous these sound bites are.And yet we celebrate them.So this is really,so don't think it's only people that say harmful things.It's also people that stop you from being truly spiritual.So don't doubt this for a second.Then in the concluding verse,Tukaram Ji says,Tuka says,the image seen in the mirror,reflection of self,most certainly.This is true advaita vedanta,true non-duality.Tukaramji concludes the beauty of the synthesis between bhakti and gyana.Devotion and wisdom,and I will add here,do not fall under the trap of just following one of them where you say,only Gyana is good,or only bhakti is good.For example,Brahma Kumaris,they say Gyaan is supreme.Yeah,they say they give Gyaan.And they say whoever does Bhakti is wrong.It's blind faith.Whoever does Bhakti is not doing something complete.The problem with this is that you will find that they do certain practices that's also Bhakti.They won't tell you that it's bhakti.If you say that to them,they will deny it.But what they do is bhakti,they get up4:00AM I mean,I,I rate it actually.They get up early in the morning to do their meditation,to listen to the murlis that their Baba gives,i rate them.They,they do that,but that is bhakti,that is committing to some rituals.And then,on the other hand,then you'll have other people like in ISKCON.Where they'll say,Bhakti is everything.Yet,they will do two hour talks on the story in the Bhagavatam.So,each one will say,do not have,Gyana does not get you there you need Bhakti,you need to remember the name of the Lord.That person is just as blind as the other person who says that all you need to do is have Gyana.Both are needed.So don't fall under the trap of just following one.You must integrate bhakti and Gyana together.Very important And as he says,the image that you see in the mirror is nothing but Brahman itself.Tuka says,the image seen in the mirror,reflection of Self most certainly.Recognize your own divinity,recognize your True Self.What he's really saying is that God made man in his own image.This is really what he's saying.And he says the image seen in the mirror,reflection of Self,most certainly.That this existence is nothing but a reflection of this one Brahman or Vishnu.Now,let me go back to the biblical verse of God made man in his own image.I often always add that yes,we may say that God made man in his own image,but man has fell in love with the image and forgotten that he is God.And that's the state of not just Christians,but everywhere.We have forgotten our own divinity.We refuse to believe our own divinity.This is how bad it's got.Therefore in the true sense of Advaita Vedanta,we see that this Saguna is just a reflection of this Nirguna.This whole world,this whole Sat,this whole existence Is nothing but Chit,is nothing but consciousness,nothing but awareness.This Maya Is nothing other than this Nirguna,this Nirakar,this Formless.Therefore let's all be comfortable in knowing that whatever we see is nothing but this One Lord,this One Brahman,this Oneness,this Formless Awareness Itself.And this is the end of today's episode.
Rahul Singh:
If you liked what you heard and liked what you watched,please do share this podcast with your friends and family who may enjoy this content.Do follow me on social media to keep getting updates.Join the Bearded Mystic Podcast WhatsApp community group to continue the podcast discussion,details are in the show notes and video description below.If you would like to support the Bearded Mystic Podcast as we discussed earlier,do check out the podcast Patreon page.Your support means everything,and it helps this podcast keep running.Details are in the show notes and video description below.Please do rate this podcast five stars and do give a review either on your favorite podcast,streaming app or on our website.Details are in the show notes and video description below.Please do like and comment on this video and subscribe to this YouTube channel.Do follow or subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast streaming app.Thank you very much for listening to this episode.Let's end with the Shanti mantra and the Soham mantra.Soham Soham.I am That.I am That.Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti Aum Peace Peace Peace Namaste.
Here are some great episodes to start with. Or, check out episodes by topic.