Part IX – Remain in Mahasunya
(Stanza 9: Samadhi )
Stanza 9 marks a very important transition in Muktabai’s teaching. Until now, she has purified the seeker’s conduct, emotions, relationships, and vision. Now she begins addressing the subtle obstacles of the spiritual path itself—concepts, labels, identities, arguments, and ego born from spiritual understanding.
Stanza 9
Sandi Kalpana Upadhi, Teecha Sadhula Samadhi ||1||
Vadh Ghalava Kavanala, Awagha Dwaitacha Ho Ghala ||2||
Pude Umjena Kai Udhatachya Kali Pai ||3||
Ekh Mann Chesta kari, Bhute Bapudi Shejari ||4||
Awagha Tshwarachi karni, kai Tethe Kele Koni ||5||
Punha Shudha Marg Dhara, Tati Ughda Jneshwara ||6||
Stanza 9
सांडी कल्पना उपाधी । तीच साधूला समाधी ॥१॥
वाद घालावा कवणाला । अवघा द्वैताचा हो घाला ॥२॥
पुढे उमजेना काय । उधटाच्या कळी पाय ॥३॥
एक मन चेष्टा करी । भूते बापुडी शेजारी ॥४॥
अवघा ईश्वराची करणी । काय तेथे केले कोणी ॥५॥
पुन्हा शुद्ध मार्ग धरा । ताटी उघडा ज्ञानेश्वरा ॥६॥
Clip the chatter in the mind, dissolve in the bliss of the soul. Must you continue the debate when there is no ‘other’ left to fight with? Pointless to think of tomorrow: the bird that flies will come to rest. Minds prance about when, alas, people need people. Life moves by itself. It is futile to ask: who moved it? So walk again on the way of the Pure and Open the door, dear Brother!
Translation
Verse 1
Abandon all imaginations and limiting identifications (upadhis); that itself becomes Samadhi for the saint.
Verse 2
With whom is one to argue? All arguments arise from the realm of duality.
Verse 3
The arrogant understand nothing beyond themselves; pride obstructs true understanding.
Verse 4
One restless mind creates mischief, while innocent beings nearby suffer because of it.
Verse 5
All is truly the working of Ishvara; who can claim individual doership therein?
Verse 6
Therefore, return to the Pure Path. Open the Door, O Jnaneshwara.
Cast away every label and imagined identity; For the Saint, that alone is Samadhi.
Why quarrel, and with whom? All disputes are born of duality.
Pride closes the eye of wisdom, and the arrogant miss what lies beyond.
One restless mind creates turmoil, while innocent hearts bear the consequences.
All unfolds through the Will of the Divine—who then can claim, “I alone have done this”?
Therefore, return to the Pure Path once more; Open the Door, O Dynaneshwara!
- “Sandi Kalpana Upadhi”
This opening line is pure Advaita.
Kalpana
Mental constructions, Ideas, Concepts, Stories, Assumptions.
Upadhi
Limiting adjuncts. Identifications such as:
- I am a scholar.
- I am a saint.
- I am a devotee.
- I am learned.
- I am superior.
- I am inferior.
Muktabai says:
Abandon them. Not because they are sinful. But because they conceal Reality.
Vivekachudamani Connection
This is one of Shankaracharya’s central teachings.
Throughout Vivekachudamani, he repeatedly explains that the Self is mistakenly identified with:
- body,
- mind,
- intellect,
- caste,
- status,
- profession,
- role.
These are all Upadhis.
Realisation occurs when these false identifications are removed.
Muktabai expresses in one line what Shankara develops through hundreds of verses.
Relation to Bhagavan Nityananda
Bhagavan rarely encouraged identity.
He did not emphasise:
- sect,
- caste,
- status,
- scholarship,
- spiritual rank.
His teaching repeatedly points toward:
Nijaswaroopa
The Real Nature.
The moment one clings to identity, one moves away from Nijaswaroopa.
He used to say, “Here, there is no Guru, no disciple. No Caste, no Creed or Race. No Sex or Form. No Ashram or Sampradaya. ‘This One’ is ever free, self-sustaining, independent, and standalone.
This is why Bhagavan says:
“Sabh Mithi.” –“Empty & Meaningless”
All identities eventually dissolve.
- “That Itself Is Samadhi”
तीच साधूला समाधी
This is a remarkable statement.
Muktabai is not describing Samadhi as:
- trance,
- visions,
- mystical experiences.
She says:
Freedom from false identification itself is Samadhi.
This aligns beautifully with both:
- Advaita Vedanta,
- Chidakasha Geeta.
Chidakasha Geeta Connection
Bhagavan repeatedly says:
Destroy mental modifications.
Destroy imagination.
Become pure.
The state beyond imagination is the state of Truth. He used to say, “Beyond Sunya (zero), there is Mahasunya (absolute zero)”. State of Pure Existence.
Muktabai calls that:
Samadhi.
- “Why Argue?”
वाद घालावा कवणाला
This is one of the signs of spiritual maturity.
The immature seeker says:
My path. My Guru. My philosophy. My tradition.
The mature seeker sees:
Truth cannot be established through argument.
Vivekachudamani
Shankaracharya repeatedly warns against mere intellectual debate.
Scriptures exist:
not to win arguments, but to remove ignorance.
Debate can sharpen the intellect. It cannot reveal Brahman.
Relation to Sudha Bhavana
Sudha Bhavana unites:
- Bhakti,
- Dnyana,
- Compassion.
The argument separates. Love unites.
The Heart seeks understanding. The ego seeks victory.
- “All Arguments Belong to Duality”
This is pure Advaita.
Argument requires:
- me versus you,
- right versus wrong,
- victory versus defeat.
All of these belong to Dvaita.
The moment one perceives:
Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma
the desire to conquer another’s opinion weakens.
- “The Arrogant Understand Nothing”
उधटाच्या कळी पाय
Muktabai now identifies the true obstacle.
Not ignorance. Not a lack of scripture. Not a lack of ritual.
Pride.
Pride closes the door.
Humility opens it.
Bhagavan’s Teaching
This is why Bhagavan constantly emphasised:
Nirmal Maan
Pure in Heart, You Be
A proud intellect cannot enter Chidakasha.
The doorway is too small for ego.
- “One Mind Creates Mischief”
एक मन चेष्टा करी
This is a psychological masterpiece.
The world is often disturbed by: not reality, but one agitated mind.
A restless mind creates:
- misunderstandings,
- quarrels,
- jealousy,
- fear.
Then innocent people suffer.
Relation to Nishchal Maan
Bhagavan’s teaching of:
Nishchal Maan
becomes relevant here.
A still mind blesses the world. An agitated mind disturbs it.
- “All Is Ishvara’s Doing”
अवघा ईश्वराची करणी
This is one of the highest teachings of surrender. Muktabai is not promoting fatalism.
She is pointing toward:
Non-doership
The ego says:
I did.
The saint sees:
Ishvara alone acts through countless instruments.
Vivekachudamani Connection
This reflects Shankaracharya’s teaching regarding the dissolution of:
Kartrutva (doership)
Bhoktrutva (enjoyership)
The Dynani acts. But does not claim ownership.
Bhagavan Nityananda
Bhagavan constantly referred to Himself as:
“This One.” or “Here”
Not “I.”
Not “Me.”
Not “Mine.”
This points toward freedom from doership.
- “Return Again to the Pure Path”
पुन्हा शुद्ध मार्ग धरा
This line is deeply significant. Even advanced seekers stumble.
Muktabai says:
Whenever:
- pride appears,
- arguments arise,
- identities solidify,
- agitation returns,
simply return to the Pure Path.
Do not despair. Do not become discouraged. Return.
Relation to Sudha Bhavana
The Pure Path is none other than:
Sudha Bhavana
The purified Heart.
Whenever one strays:
return to purity.
Whenever one falls:
return to simplicity.
Whenever one becomes confused:
return to the Heart.
Essence of Stanza 9
If Stanza 8 taught:
“Become an ocean of peace for the world,”
Stanza 9 teaches:
“Do not allow even spirituality itself to become another identity.”
Muktabai’s message is:
- Abandon labels.
- Drop spiritual pride.
- Avoid arguments.
- Renounce doership.
- Return to humility.
- Return to purity.
- Return to the Heart.
Then, she says,
“ताटी उघडा ज्ञानेश्वरा“
“Open the Door, O Dynaneshwara.”
The final door does not open through learning, status, debate, or identity. It opens when all Upadhis fall away, and the seeker rests in the pure, limitless Chidakasha that Bhagavan Nityananda calls our true nature.
