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by
Sri Bimal Mohanty
VOL
No. 107
January : 2010
WORLDS WITHIN THE WORLD
QUESTIONS FROM READERS
QUESTION 1 FROM SRI SATYANEMANA
We see many innocent people being victimized frequently by various modern problems including but not limited to corrupted politicians, …. religious conversions, terrorism …. and so on, and yet common folks, especially Hindus are still bearing these tortures with patience and yet stay quite without much pro-active measures to counteract this injustice. What are your suggestions to improve this overall situation and your best advices to these common folks and victims and the entire Hindu community?
ANSWER:
I sympathise with you as it is quite natural to be reactive to the various social problems of the type you have mentioned. Every body demands immediate direct action. But it will be wiser to look at the roots and especially from a spiritual point of view.
It is naïve to think that such problems exist only in present times and things were very different in other ages. As a matter of fact such problems –may be in different ways – confronted the humanity in all ages.
It is also not true that a solution is not known to us. From the beginning of civilization, the solution has been staring at us all the time.
To most people it may sound too idealistic or impractical but the solution to humanity’s problems lies in what our scriptures prescribed ‘dharma rakshati rakshita’. Adhearance to dharma, a spiritual approach to life, is always the solution.
How does it work? If we believe in our itihasas and puranas, we are told that in olden times people were happier. The society provided better environment to living. Why was it so?
The same solution was available to people then also. But our glorious heritage is that, people then were more dharma abiding and their understanding of the spiritual approach to life was not only strong but also vigorously practiced. They lived by their faith and conviction. Their happiness sprang from there.
With time this faith and pursuit of dharma at individual levels ( and thereby at collective levels) was continuously sacrificed. We named it advent of Kaliyuga. We (at least most of us) simply disintegrated within.
What is the solution? It is with each individual where the revival has to be made. Instead of blaming some one else or something else, it is worthwhile to pause and introspect. Efforts at vyasti level gets reflected at samasti level.
Until individually we return to practice dharma and cultivate a spiritual approach to life, it is futile to seek a change for the better.
Ofcourse amongst us there are any number of cynics who ridicule this ancient wisdom. But there are a growing number of people who sincerely believe that spiritual way of living is the way life is meant to be lived. There is no other way – nanya pantha vidyate. One has to have that faith and conviction.
Experience shows that, those who even partially adopt spiritualism by practice, lead a comparatively peaceful life or are mentally more equipped to manage adversities.
‘Dharma rakshati rakshita’. How much do I follow dharma? That is the moot question.
ANSWER: SEE EMAIL
QUESTION
2 FROM Mr MICHAEL ALTHERR
"This endeavor of remaining all the time engaged (Yukta) in practical application of the knowledge, differentiates between human living and animal existence." -Quote of your words, Sir.
Now I think … animals and men alike are part of the great unity in diversity that forms life. Animals too "remain all the time engaged in practical application of the knowledge".
ANSWER: There is no dichotomy or wrong perception whatsoever. If you have been following the various discussions in AHWAN as recorded in the previous articles, it has been constantly emphasized that whether humans, animals, plants or any physical form, all are extentions of the same Brahman and all are part of the same process of yajna that guides their souls to their final destination.
But depending upon their consciousness level, their stage of development or spiritual evolution varies.
Moreover, every soul exists in its multidimensional character i.e. physical, mental and psychic. (Please read ‘Dimensions of our existence’ Parts 1 & 2 in AHWAN September and October 2006 issues.). Animals and other lower forms, though also constantly ‘yukta’ in yoga are predominantly conscious at their physical level of existence – what you call practical application. Their mental and psychic level of development is yet to reach the level of the unique form of human beings. They are grossly dependent on the nature (prakrti) which continuously protects and assists them in transcending to the higher dimensions.
But the human form is so far the most developed form which potentially has the power to not only take assistance from nature, but to augment the yoga process using its developed mind, will and intellect. But the journey for all is the same.
I hope you will be inclined to go through all the articles in AHWAN systematically to understand the essence of sanatan philosophy.
QUESTION 3 FROM PROF ANUGRAHA BISWAS
Everything in this creation perishes and dies. Yet we say Brahman is this creation and he is imperishable. How to understand this?
ANSWER:A tree dies, a fruit perishes yet the principle lives on. Brahman is that truth principle. So is jagat. But the principle is jayati gachati iti. Jatasya hi dhruvo mrtyuh, dhruvam janma mrtasya ca. That principle is Brahman principle that lives on. The practical implication is to understand that such a principle exists and make to work for development.
When Brahman manifests as the phenomenal world, it is not a whim to remain manifested. It is with a purpose. Through the dynamics of ever-changing manifestation it delivers the message for the jiva the futility of relying on impermanence and seek out the never-changing truth as the source of happiness and end of misery.
When this truth dawns upon the jiva’s mind, he discards the world around for all its worth. That is because he has understood that manifestation and mutation are all aparihArya i.e inevitable to fulfill that purpose, therefore not worth worrying about. Then he goes for Satchidananda- the absolute truth, its realization and the eternal bliss that ensues from this realization. That is mukti, that is mokshya, that is liberation.
QUESTION 4 FROM SRI A L RAWAL
I am more bothered about the physical rather than spiritual problems of Indians. If physical problems are solved spirit can care of itself. Take care of your pennies, your pounds will take care of themselves - they say.
ANSWER: All While your comments are to be appreciated and many feel likewise, the sanatan philosophy holds that the origin of all our physical problems lies in our misunderstanding of the source of all our thoughts and actions. When the esoteric view of life, its objective and purpose and the universal principles are understood, one becomes better equipped to deal with the fall out problems. We get often overwhelmed by the physical circumstances and give no time to find answers for the ‘whys’, ‘whats’ and ‘hows’ of the problems at the source and remain miserable. The sanatan wisdom has long concluded that a spiritual approach to life provides a solution for all life’s problems. It is the way life is meant to be lived. In various articles in AHWAN we have tried to discuss and understand this wisdom which has guided our thought process from the first dawn of human consciousness.
QUESTION 5 FROM SRI VISHNU GUPTA
Respected Sir! In my office we have people who think and act always wrongly. I try to avoid them but working in the same office it is not always possible to avoid their company. How to tackle such situations?
ANSWER:
Normally every one thinks that one should always keep away from bad company. However the spiritual approach to such situations is somewhat different. The world is made up of both good and bad. Both are necessary for building up our character. Wishing that all bad elements will somehow get lost is only wishful thinking.
Dharma is quite clear headed in these matters. Man lives in the midst of opposites. Whether one gets overpowered by evil or by goodness depends on one’s mental strength and attitude developed through practice of dharma. People with no dharmic or spiritual background are basically weaklings manipulated by others. They easily get swayed away by external influences.
A spiritual approach to life is to understand both good and evil, the effect both have in life and decide which approach is desirable. For a man of steady wisdom (sthitaprajna) both bad company and good company are seen in the light of mere variations in their mental disposition. Neither good nor bad should be allowed to master your emotions and influence your independent decision. Dharma alone teaches equanimity.
DharmAcaran or righteous conduct as one’s life style, helps to shape one’s ability to take rightful decisions.
Instead of avoiding, get involved with all kinds of people and test yourself thereby. Are they influencing you or are you having a positive imprint on their minds? In time people always notice someone who lives by dharma, displays the characteristics of dharma. Even people of questionable frame of mind get attracted to such people, who himself remains untainted.
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Sri Bimal Mohanty 2000
