Shastra

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Shastra = Scriptures / science related to God.

What is a Shastra ?

Scriptures are like guides and maps. Some person might have seen some truth, which might have been recorded, which becomes shastra.

Why is it important ?

Over years a vast literature has come into being due to different persons seeing truth and put into words. The seeming contradiction between those words are due to the limitations of the language. The scriptural evidence is there to corroborate the experience. Before experience it acts as a guide. Let us say we are following a Guru. How to know he is speaking the truth. Very simple, just cross verify with the scriptures. Question should be why are we following such and such Guru ? It is not what he speaks, that we should observe. Has be been living the scriptures.

Living the scriptures

The life of a saint is a living example of scriptural statements. Each of his action is according to one of the statements of scriptures. One learns by observing. This has been the experience of even animal kingdom. A lion cub observes its mother and learns to hunt. Similarly a Guru has to show by his behaviour the good qualities. This can only be possible by close observation on the part of Sishya.

What are the dangers of Shastra ?

Learning of shastras can be an intellectual trap. Take the example of the sentence 'One should do charity'. Now how many books, examples are sufficient to prove that one sentence. If a person shows by his behaviour that quality, the next person will be inspired by him. 'One should educate others, teach etc' is another example. It is easy to say, but difficult to practice.

So shastra also has a limitation. One can get lost in the endless debates as to which book is correct and forget to do their practice (sadhana).

Shastra is theory, and Yoga is practice.

Hari Om

In Guruseva