Vidura’s Wisdom

   By: Dubagunta Sankaraiah   

At an age when unethical ways of life have become rampant, Sankaraiah said we need to follow Vidura’s advice.

In 1985 we conducted ‘Akhanda Sainama Sapta Saptaha’ that is chanting ‘Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai’ for 49 days at Vijayawada and it was a magnificent program and all of us could feel Lord Sainath amongst us. Somehow some Sai devotees out of jealousy had spread rumors that there was mismanagement. I was a little disappointed at the turn of events. I went to Shirdi for solace.

Sri Sivanesan Swamiji told me not to bother about these things and Sai Baba is blessing me throughout. At this juncture, he described Vidura’s Clossal Wisdom. In Kali Yuga, there is no hesitation in crossing ethical lines for mudslinging on the good work rendered by others. The purpose of human existence is dominated by the extraneous appeal of momentary pleasures, material gains, and body consciousness, resulting in an impermanent understanding of the meaning of true joy. The urge is so great that people endeavor to quench their thirst for slandering others throughout their lives, instead of seeking true wisdom as something that will reveal the true purpose of human existence.

The ethical and moral degradation in the process is pushing all boundaries of civility and adversely impacting the collective good. Sri Sivanesan Swamiji quoted the Upanishads have that in Kali Yuga, Adharma and unethical behavior would prevail on three wheels, and dharma and ethical behavior would prevail on one wheel. Therefore, the imminent need is to attain consciousness of the illusion of material existence.

Vidura in the Mahabharata, though he was on the side of the Kauravas, was always narrating the
Dharma Sukshmas — the ethical narratives, to Dhritarashtra. But all his efforts were in vain as Dhritarashtra succumbed to the lure of temporary glory.

When Vidura was given a boon by Krishna offering huge wealth, Vidura wisely chose:
Anayasena Maranam Vina Dynyena Jeevanam; Dehante Teva Sannidhayam Dehime Parmeswara. He pleaded for a peaceful exit from this surreal world and a life of dignity without dependence.

Vidura professed that these are the only two needs that a soul could aspire for without compromising self-respect, grace, and dignity.

Therefore, we need to try to acquire true wisdom to realize Atman, Self, and seek the attainment of moksha, liberation, as opposed to hankering after worldly pleasures through ‘Nama Smaran’. The anti-propaganda executed in my case is also Lord Sainath’s play, is nothing but the domination of Maya, illusion, which constantly depletes the spiritual energy.

Sri Sivanesan Swamiji advocated conscious detachment. The abundant flow of God’s grace to the earnest appeal is glaring in the Gajendra Moksham, an instance in the Bhagavata Purana, in which, the mighty elephant king ultimately realizes the fallacy of the mortal soul’s momentary capabilities in overcoming the dangers lurking all through its journey in Mrityuloka. Therefore, he wanted me to aspire for synchronization of Atman with the Paramatman, with total surrender to Lord Sainath and in the process acquire the spiritual vibrations, energy, and direction, as Vidura found for himself in the chaotic war of Kurukshetra.

Rest all is the realisation of the abundance of Sai Baba’s love towards me in this cosmic existence. This acquisition, therefore, is revered, and not based on material or body consciousness.