Prasthanatrayi Swaminarayan Bhashyam (Study)
by Sadhu Gyanananddas | 2021 | 123,778 words
This page relates ‘Gunagrahaka-Drishti (Perceiving Virtues of Others)’ of the study on the Prasthanatrayi Swaminarayan Bhashyam in Light of Swaminarayan Vachanamrut (Vacanamrita). His 18th-century teachings belong to Vedanta philosophy and were compiled as the Vacanamrita, revolving around the five ontological entities of Jiva, Ishvara, Maya, Aksharabrahman, and Parabrahman. Roughly 200 years later, Bhadreshdas composed a commentary (Bhasya) correlating the principles of Vachanamrut.
12.6. Gunagrāhaka-Dṛṣṭi (Perceiving Virtues of Others)
In the Svāminārāyaṇa tradition, the most effective sādhanā to flourish one’s satsaṅga is gunagrāhaka-dṛṣṭi (perceiving virtues of others).[1] A devotee should always perceive well in others, to enrich oneself, and he always endeavors to find out one's own faults and vices to get rid of them. He thus is described as 'viveki', i.e., a person who is judicious and prudent. He keeps on advancing promisingly in the path of perfection (spiritual self-ascent). Therefore, one ought to see the good in the devotees of Parabrahman. Moreover, when the Guru or the preacher-sādhu points out his faults and vices, he feels happy and obliged. He thanks him and appreciates his corrective gesture, and accordingly mends his conduct to perfect the personality.[2]
Bhadreśadāsa writes:
“kasyāpi durguṇasya vārtā kadāpi anya samakṣaṃ naiva kāryā | bhaktadoṣadarśanaṃ tatkīrtanādikaṃ viṣapānamārga eveti yogimahārājaḥ |” (SSS p.366)
“One should never speak ill words of others. To perceive and speak about others faults is like to drink poison; this was the principle of Yogiji Maharaja.”
Thus, the Guruparampara always promoted this sādhanā in the tradition.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Satsangadiksha 168, 233
[2]:
Vacanāmṛta Gadhadā I/6