Poetic Rendering
Discipline is this:
to accept what comes your way
with open palms neither grasping in greed
nor murmuring in complaint.
Discipline is this:
to guard what is yours with honesty,
to take no crooked gain,
to let no deceit stain your duty.
Discipline is this:
to walk upright when the road twists,
to speak truth even when silence
would line your pockets.
And above all,
when the Sharanas of Koodalasangama arrive,
to lay before them even a king’s treasure
with a heart unburdened
this, O Lord, is the crown of true discipline.
Basavanna defines true discipline (Nema) as ethical self-governance rooted in humility, honesty, and integrity. It means accepting what life gives without greed or resentment, handling one’s responsibilities without deceit, and staying truthful even when it is inconvenient. The highest expression of this discipline is offering one’s rightful earnings even great wealth to the Sharanas with sincerity. Discipline, for Basavanna, is not mere austerity but the righteous management of one’s entire life as a sacred duty.
Spiritual Context
Core Spiritual Principle: Sovereignty Through Surrender (Svatantrya in Dasoha). True inner sovereignty and freedom (svatantrya) are achieved not by hoarding power/wealth, but by righteously governing it and then freely offering it. The “crown” is not worn on the head of a ruler, but on the heart of one who has mastered themselves. This discipline is the necessary purification that makes one a fit vessel for the divine and a worthy member of the spiritual community.
Cosmic Reality Perspective: From the non-dual view, everything is Shiva’s property (Ishvara-swamya). The individual is a temporary steward. “Discipline” is the conscious, grateful management of this divine estate according to the owner’s principles (truth, non-harm, integrity). Greed and deceit arise from the illusion of ownership (mamata). Offering to the Sharanas is the ceremonial return of the estate to the Owner’s recognized representatives.
Historical Reality (Anubhava Mantapa Context): As the chief treasurer, Basavanna here defines the ethical code for Lingayoga householders, especially those in positions of power or wealth. It prevented the community from becoming morally lax and ensured that its economic practices were beyond reproach. This public ethic was crucial for the movement’s survival and credibility, contrasting sharply with the corruption often seen in orthodox religious and royal institutions.
Interpretation
“Accept what comes… without greed or complaint.” This is santosha (contentment), the foundation. It ends the inner war with reality, conserving energy otherwise wasted in resistance.
“Guard what is yours with honesty… no deceit in duty.” This is asteya (non-stealing) and satya (truthfulness) applied to stewardship. It recognizes that one’s charge (wealth, role, responsibility) is a sacred trust.
“Walk upright… speak truth even when silence would profit.” This is dhairya (fortitude) and abaya (fearlessness). Integrity is tested and proven precisely when it is costly.
“Lay before them even a king’s treasure with a heart unburdened.” This is the ultimate test of non-attachment (vairagya). The offering is not a loss but the final, joyful release from the burden of stewardship, completing the cycle of righteous management.
Practical Implications: Spiritual maturity is measured by ethical consistency in the marketplace, not just piety in the temple. The seeker must audit their inner state (greed/complaint) and outer actions (honesty/integrity) with the same rigor a treasurer audits accounts.
The Cosmic Reality
Anga (Human Dimension): The Anga is the kingdom to be governed. Its desires, impulses, and possessions are the citizens and resources requiring just rule.
Linga (Divine Principle): The Linga is the constitution the eternal law of dharma (righteousness) that dictates how the kingdom should be run.
Jangama (Dynamic Interaction): Jangama is the daily administration of justice within the kingdom and the final act of presenting the kingdom’s wealth to the true Sovereign. It is enlightened governance in action.
Shata Sthala
Primary Sthala: Sharana. The entire discipline described is the lived expression of a Sharana. Taking refuge means ordering your entire life according to divine principles. The offering (Dasoha) to the Sharanas is the natural, culminating action of this life of refuge.
Supporting Sthala: Prasadi. The grace to live this demanding discipline to be content, honest, and fearless is a profound gift. The Sharana who succeeds in this is experiencing and expressing the state of Prasadi, where one’s life becomes a testament to grace received and enacted.
Practical Integration
Arivu (Awareness Practices): Practice the “discipline of noticing.” Notice subtle complaints, justifications for small dishonesties, or moments of greedy anticipation. Simply label them: “This is complaint,” “This is greed.” This awareness is the first step of governance.
Achara (Personal Discipline): Institute personal vows (vrata) related to your weaknesses. If prone to complaint, vow to speak only gratitude for a day. If prone to cutting corners, vow to over-deliver. These are exercises in inner sovereignty.
Kayaka (Sacred Action): In your work, embody the “treasurer’s integrity.” Meticulously honor commitments, give full value, and reject any gain that would compromise ethics. Your work is your primary field of discipline.
Dasoha (Communal Offering): Regularly and joyfully offer a portion of your time, skill, or resources to those who inspire spiritual growth (the modern sharanas). Do so without seeking recognition, as a practice in dissolving attachment.
Modern Application
“The Culture of Entitlement and Ethical Flexibility.” A pervasive sense of victimhood and complaint, coupled with a “win at all costs” mentality that rationalizes deceit and cuts ethical corners for personal or professional gain. This leads to societal distrust, personal anxiety, and a hollow sense of achievement.
This vachana is a prescription for personal dignity and social trust. It calls for a life of principled stoicism and radical integrity. It argues that true success is not what you accumulate, but the impeccable character you build and the good you enable through your honest efforts and generous offerings. It replaces the fragile crown of external validation with the unshakable crown of self-respect.
Essence
To rule the want that cries for more,
to guard the trust without a lock,
to speak the truth when lies pay score
this is the unassailable rock.
And then, to lay the treasure down
before the feet that tread the crown,
with hands made light, and heart set free
this is true sovereignty.
This vachana outlines The Spiritual Model of Enlightened Stewardship. It frames the human being not as an owner, but as a CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of a life-venture owned by the Divine. The CEO’s performance review (the final ledger) is based on: 1) Resource Management (acceptance without greed/complaint), 2) Fiduciary Duty (guarding with honesty, no deceit), and 3) Ethical Leadership (walking upright, speaking truth). The ultimate sign of a successful CEO is the graceful handing over of the entire, well-managed enterprise to the Owner’s representatives. The “crown” is the recognition of a job perfectly done according to the Owner’s manual.
Imagine you are asked to house-sit a magnificent mansion for a wise and beloved friend. True discipline isn’t about owning the mansion; it’s about: 1) Being grateful for the shelter, not complaining about the decor, 2) Cleaning it meticulously, not stealing the silverware, and 3) Fixing a broken window with your own money if needed. When your friend returns, the highest act is to happily hand back the keys, along with a gift bought with your honest wages, saying, “Thank you for the trust.” That joy and integrity is your true reward.
We all crave to be trusted, respected, and to feel that our lives matter. This vachana teaches that this is earned not by what we take, but by how righteously we manage what is given and how freely we can give it back. It addresses the deep peace that comes from a clean conscience and the profound dignity of being a person of unwavering word and deed. It asserts that the greatest power is the power over oneself, and the greatest wealth is the ability to give it all away with a light heart.
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