Anarthas and Asana - Sri Vinod Baba Ji Maharaj

 

When a sadhak starts doing bhajan, he is faced with many difficulties (Anarthas). These come in every sadhak's life. (As explained in Anarth Nivritti Part 1) The Dushkriti Jata Anarthas are:

• Laya,
• Vikshep,
• Kashay,
• Rasaswad and
• Apratipatti

Through numerous lives we have done many pious and sinful activities. The unjust and sinful actions' results are the Dushkriti Jata Anarthas. In the initial stages of bhajan, these Anarthas trouble the sadhak. The five types of Dushkriti Jata Anarthas are as follows:

• Laya: As soon as the sadhak sits with the japa mala (chanting beads), Nidra Devi (Goddess of sleep) attacks him. During bhajan, satsang, kirtan, pooja, etc the sadhak tends to fall asleep. But as soon as he gets up from bhajan, he doesn't feel sleepy anymore. Even if someone asks him to sleep, he isn't able to do so but as soon as he tries to do bhajan or listen to kirtan or Hari Katha, he feels sleepy again. This oversleeping is an Anartha caused by sinful activities in our past lives. They do not let the sadhak perform actions of Bhakti easily.

• Vikshep: When the sadhak tries to sit for a prolonged time on the Asana (the seat where he regularly performs bhajan), something would happen or he would simply feel like leaving the Asana and go somewhere. Sometimes, it's as if someone is pushing him away from the Asana, saying, "Go, go, go!" It becomes very hard to sit on the Asana. If the sadhak forcefully sits on the Asana, he feels hot and sweaty or simply uneasy. But if the sadhak leaves the Asana, immediately he is back to normal. Due to this, the sadhak is unable to sit still on the Asana and wanders here and there. Sometimes, he thinks, "Let's go to Vrindavan for a few days" or "Let's visit Navadwipa Dham or Chaar Dham (four main spiritual places in India) or simply go for a parikrama." In this way, he wastes his precious time but he is unable to stabilize his Asana. (Visiting places of pastimes of Radha Krishna or doing a parikrama is one of the 64 parts of Bhakti. But the point to be noted here is that the intention behind these actions should be conscious mood of devotion and not uneasiness of mind due to Anarthas.)

For stabilizing your Asana, you have to sit on the Asana, no matter what. Whether you like it or not, sit on the Asana and do bhajan. There is nothing outside. The sadhak has to turn inside (into his inner world). Even if you go to a spiritual place, you will see the material world mostly. Shri Narottam Das Thakur says:

"Tirtha yatra parishram, kevali moner bhram, sarva siddhi Govind charane"

(Prem Bhakti Chandrika)

Meaning: The journey to pilgrimage places is just physical labour. Nothing can be achieved by wandering here and there, it is only an illusion. Everything worth achieving is achieved at the lotus feet of Sri Govind.

This is why, the sadhak must practice sitting on the Asana, whether he likes it or not. Gradually, the Asana will be stabilized.

"Abhyasa-yoga-yuktena chetasa nanya-gamina, 
paramam purusam divyam yati parthanuchintayan"
(Bhagvat Gita)

Meaning: He who meditates on Sri Bhagwan, whose mind is constantly engaged in remembering Me, undeviated from the path, he is sure to reach Me.

• Kashay: The six inner enemies - lust, anger, greed, delusion, pride and jealousy - attack the sadhak as soon as he tries to sit on the Asana. The sadhak eagerly sits on the Asana with the plan of doing bhajan with full concentration but as soon as he takes the japa mala in his hand, he remembers how someone had talked rudely to him. Now he becomes angry and mentally abuses the other person. Although he is chanting Harinaam, his mind is not in Harinaam. Similarly, lust, greed, jealousy, etc all attack him during bhajan. He is unable to concentrate on bhajan and chants Harinaam mechanically. Sometimes, he just stops chanting because he needs to react to what made him angry immediately!

• Rasaswad: The sadhak starts remembering things of past during bhajan for seemingly no reason. Maybe he simply remembered an event of his childhood and started laughing. These Anarthas come just to distract the sadhak from bhajan in any way possible.

• Apratipatti: Disinterest in bhajan. Many say they can't concentrate on Harinaam. Harinaam is said to be so sweet and blissful, but in the early stages of bhajan, the sadhak finds it dull and boring to just sit and chant Harinaam. As long as there are Dushkriti Jata Anarthas, it is difficult for the sadhak to find interest in bhajan. But even in this condition, he must sit on the Asana and chant Harinaam. In this way, he would be able to get over his Anarthas quickly and soon find the sweetness in Harinaam. 

The sadhak must also try to associate with enlightened souls and do bhajan as they say. Taking shelter of the lotus feet of the enlightened souls, the sadhak must do bhajan in solitude, whether he likes it or not. The sadhak who leaves his Asana, faces an incredible amount of difficulties in the spiritual life. Except for service to Guru, Gauranga and Vaishnavas, the rest of the time should be sincerely utilised for doing bhajan on the Asana. Even during seva, the sadhak must chant Harinaam incessantly. In this way, he will be able to get over these Anarthas quickly and progress in Bhakti path.