Prasanthi Vahini

Dear Readers! From today onwards, the stream named Prashanti Vaahini, the ‘Stream of Supreme Peace’, will flow through the pages where until now the ‘Stream of Divine Love’, the Prema Vaahini, was flowing. May this stream of Prashanti put down the burning fires of Ashaanti (unrest), Ajnaana (ignorance), Anyaaya (injustice), and Anaachaara (irreligion) that is consuming you, and may it slake your thirst! May it shower on you Shaanti (Peace), Santoshha (Joy and happiness), and Saukhya (Contentment)!

There are many people who are not aware of even the meaning of the word, Prashanti. It is as the backbone to each individual, and for the Saadhaka (Spiritual aspirant), it is as the very breath. The word Prashanti is taken by each to mean something different; many feel that they have Shaanti (peace) when some worldly activities and desires are satisfied! But, that is not Nija-shaanti (Real peace); it is but a Kshhanna-shaanti (temporary, short-lived peace). The syllable ‘Pra’ in Prashanti means, expanding (blossoming); and ‘Shaanti’ means absence of kaama (desire) and krodha (anger). So, Prashanti means to expand the absence of kaama and krodha. Man should consider Shama (controlling or calming of the mind) as an important part of his life. The Saadhaka (Spiritual aspirant) must be constantly engaged in practising and developing Shama. What does the Saadhaka strive for? Fulfilment, is it not? Shaanti is that fulfilment. This Shaanti is the innate nature of Man. Viveka (discrimination), Vairaagya (renunciation) and Vichakshhana (discernment, keenness of intellect) are the unique features of man and Shaanti is the force which fosters these qualities; this Shaanti is but a phase (aspect or portion of the whole) of the Aatma itself. It is also said that Shaanti is similar in nature to Aatma in all its activities, strengths, and fruitions. Just as the Aatma, it too has no beginning or end, no blemish can mar it. It is equalled only by itself. It cannot be compared with any other.

Shaanti must be manifested in feeling, word, posture, and deed; Manas, Vaak, Kaaya, and Karma in the same uniform equal measure. Then, Shaanti becomes Prashanti, the ‘Real Shaanti_’. Bereft of such Prashanti, one cannot hope to get either laukika (worldly), aamushhmika (heavenly), or kaivalya (absolute unity) bliss. Shaanti is the nursery (i.e., birthplace) of all happiness and joy. Tyagaraja (a great saint and composer of Carnatic music) knew this, for, he sang, “_Shaantamu leka saukhyamu _ledu_” - meaning, “Without Shaanti there can be no Saukhya (Contentment)”. All men need it, whoever they are, be they Daantins (ascetics - ones who have complete mastery over their organs of senses and actions) or Vedaantins (highly learned scholars or philosophers).

World cannot sustain even for a moment without Shaanti. Absence of mere anger cannot be taken as Shaanti. The winning of a desired object and the satisfaction one gets then, should not be confused with Shaanti. The Shaanti that has once manifested, must not be shaken subsequently for any reason. That type of Shaanti alone deserves to be called, Prashanti. Prashanti has no ups and downs, it cannot be partial in adversity and complete in prosperity. It cannot be one thing today and another tomorrow. Maintaining the same even flow of Aananda (Bliss, joy) always, that is Prashanti.

“Prashanti Vaahini” tells you and makes you understand how to earn it, how it can be utilised, and what its attributes are. Every single Saadhaka (Spiritual aspirant) has the legitimate right to experience this Prashanti; and there is a path by following which it can be earned.

The world today is suffering from selfish politics, Anaatma (substanceless or non-self, i.e., world related, everything other than Self) arguments, and heartless competition. This is indeed a disgraceful state of affairs. Man has completely forgotten his fundamental divine nature. At such a crisis, the thing that is most urgent is Shaanti and Prema (Love), these two being the universally pervasive principles.

The world today appears as a patient suffering from the disease called Dushtta-svabhaavam (Evil nature). Right kind of vidya (Learning or education) and training in Neeti-shaastra (Science of Morality) are the drugs which will cure this dreaded disease. No other drugs can cure this disease. We must bring Shaanti to the world which is suffering from this disease. To get Shaanti, Prema (Love) is the only weapon. The fuel Prema yields the divine flame of Shaanti. Two things, unity of all mankind and spiritual intellect, are mainly needed to bring about Loka-shaanti (world peace).

Aatma saadhana (Discipline of the Self) is the basic foundation for successful living. Through that alone can man attain real and lasting Shaanti. And, without Shaanti, there can be no happiness. Shaanti is the very nature of the Aatma. It is never associated with a greedy heart full of desires. It coexists only with a pure heart. Shaanti is the distinguishing mark of Yogeeshvaras (Master Ascetics), Rshhis (Seers), and Sat-puruushas (Noble and Good Men). True inner peace does not depend on external conditions. It will flee away from the selfish, and the sensual. It does not like to be in the company of such persons. True Prashanti is the characteristic of the Inner Aatma, Wonderful, Unshakeable, and Permanent.

Many believe that Shaanti is the absence of non-dissent. Aadhyaatmika aunnatyam (Spiritual eminence), Aananda (Bliss), and wisdom that comes by natural understanding too are encompassed by Shaanti. Genuine Shaanti is won by the control of the chitta-vrttis (tendencies of the mind). Then it can be called Prashanti. The experience of that Prashanti flows as the ‘Stream of Peace’, Prashanti Vaahini. By calming the mental agitations that surges like waves, and by levelling the swirls and whirls of likes-dislikes, love-hate, sorrow-joy, hope-despair, Shaanti is earned and maintained without disturbance. Shaanti is of the nature of the Aatma. Aatma is present in everything. Both the body and mind are perishable. They both are composite things. But Aatma is Chiranjeevi (Immortal, Imperishable); it is all-pervasive, it is very subtle and thus it is not something which can be known by ordinary intelligence or knowledge. In fact, Aatma is the very source and spring of all knowledge and intellect. Paripakvata (Maturity), Svechchha (freedom), Chiranjeevatvam (Immortality), Shaashvata Paramaananda (Eternal Supreme Bliss), Shaashvata Shaanti (Eternal Peace), that which shows the way to attaining these, is Jnaana (Spiritual wisdom, higher knowledge). He who is carried away by the vagaries of the Indriyas (senses) cannot attain the Aatman. Brahman is the One, Unchanging, in this changing world. The effulgence of Aatman is not tarnished by the external transformation or changes or modifications. The body is not the Aatman. The Aatman is, really speaking, nothing positable. It is neither this nor that. It can be said to be only It, the Aatman, the Brahman. Brahman itself has become Satya (Truth), Prema (Love), and Veluturu (Light); It is manifested as Shaanti, Jnaana, and Paramaananda (Supreme Bliss). Through any of these paths, you can attain Brahman. Have no doubt about that! It is the Truth!

The Aatman is not these Panchendriyas (five senses), nor Manas (mind), nor Buddhi (intellect), nor the Praana (vital breath), nor the Jeeva-shakti (life-force). It can only be described as what it is not, not by what it is. No one can say it is thus, etc. If anyone says it is thus and thus or it is this or it is that, we can take it that he does not know a wee bit of it at all. About something unknown, much can be said; anything, any name can be ascribed to it. In short, the Aatman cannot be communicated by words. It is impossible to describe it, whoever may try. The natural state or nature of Brahman is the ‘Unsurpassing Supreme Peace’. Aatma-jnaanam (Knowledge of the Aatman or Brahman) destroys Bhrama (illusion), Anumaana (doubt), haste and sorrow. Aatma-jnaanam is eternal peace. It brings purity and happiness.

Aananda (Bliss, joy) is the innate nature of Man. But, the pity is, he is searching for it everywhere except where it is available. Aananda is not something lifeless and inactive. It is a life full of Chaitanyam (Spirit or activeness). Aananda is the law that governs this entire universe. Shaanti is the authority that enforces the rule of Aananda. Being concealed, it is Shaanti that bears everything. Such stable, unchanging Shaanti cannot be known by the ever-wandering mind or the outward-bound senses. It can only be experienced, personally, through the natural state of Jnaana. The Jnaana of Shaanti is the most precious treasure. He who grasps that which is immortal, that which cannot be destroyed, that which is not modified, he is the enjoyer of Shaanti. He too is immortal.

Shaanti is a shoreless ocean without any surface agitations. Life with Shaanti is said to be the pure life. Shaanti is the light that illumines the world. Having it, is having all. Everything shines by its shine only. It leads to the understanding of only one thing and not two; and that is Brahman. It is the duty of everyone to know that Brahman and attain Saakshhaatkaaram (Realisation). This is the true essence of the purpose of human life. Vedaanta teaches about the all-pervading Aatma. But, Shaanti is the fundamental source to recognise the all-pervading (abundant) Prema (Love). It should not be assumed that the very idea of peace itself is an aspect of discipline. It (Shaanti) is a discipline for leading an organised life.

The mind of man is pure as a blank sheet of white paper when he is born. As soon as he starts thinking and feeling at the dawn of the intellect, he initially follows on the lines of the moral principles. The body depends on Praana (Life-force). Praana depends on the activities of the mind and the desires that agitate the mind. As a result, his behaviour, practices, and conventions start changing that obscures what is right and truth, and disrupts his Ekaagrata (One-pointedness of the mind). Therefore, the mind must first be calmed and quietened. Then only can the body be healthy and the intellect be sharp. The mind occupies, at one time, only a single object, not many. Mind is nothing but a bundle of thoughts, desires, fancies, imaginings and the rest. In fact, the mind has inside it, in a nutshell, the entire history of creation. It has the characteristics of Maaya (Delusion) as it has the power to mould, shape and create man. The mind is the Kurukshetra battlefield where good and bad, right and wrong contest for supremacy. Iron has to be beaten flat by iron alone. So too, the inferior, low mind has to be shaped better by the superior mind alone.

The nature of the Shaanti, this Prashanti Vaahini - the ‘Stream of Peace’, is to shape the inferior, low mind into a superior mind. Drink deep the waters of this Stream, the waters of discipline indicated therein; immerse yourself in it and become cleansed. May its coolness refresh your sorrows and your pains, and quench the fires of sin!