by Sri Bmal Mohanty
VOL No. 10
 April 2001

CHAPTER ELEVEN – TRANSFORMING OURSELVES

"Based on lectures by Sri Bimal Mohanty"

  QUESTIONS FROM THE READERS

QUESTION 1. (paraphrased) – From Dr J.B.Ratti- New Delhi ( jbshiv@ndf.vsnl.net.in)
What is time? …..

We have been …..told…that TIME is like a wheel - KAALCHAKRA. ………….. time actually moves in a forward straight direction to an unending destination. What is the deep metaphysical or physical meaning of 'KAALCHAKRA' ?

Answer - ‘Time’ in spiritual sense has a much wider connotation. A simple understanding is that Time is a convenient backdrop against which events are observed. It has no influencing power of its own. The events themselves dictate time- its division, its passage and its identification. To give a simple example, sunrise is an event and so is sunset. The intervening periods are days and nights. Time is identified and divided by these events for convenience with other events getting superimposed. Since natural events dictated by natural laws have more or less unerring periodicity, they are convenient reference points and ‘time’ simply provides a base. Logically time should lose its significance if there were no events at all. This assumption is important to remember.

However, the Sanatana spiritual philosophy is never satisfied with one answer if all possible doubts are not cleared. It goes on probing. The great question is: “Is cessation of all events at all a possibility?”. It says – the answer is definitely “no”. It will be a contradiction of terms of the concept itself of “Bramhan”. Bramhan is ever active. Even the so called cessation of action in Bramha ratris (nights of the Bramhan) there is existence and where there is existence there is action and events. Logic follows that in that case there has to be “Time” to continue to provide the backdrop.

Then Time becomes eternal.

But there is only one eternal in the midst of all transience. That is Bramhan alone. (Nityaanityaanaam) Hence Time must be an attribute of Bramhan Himself. The, in the spiritual mind it assumes a higher significance. Time is one with Bramhan. If it is part of Bramhan the potency and power of Bramhan becomes also its power. That is what we say ‘Time is all powerful’.

Now about the linear and cyclical movement of time.

In the grand design of the creation, the underlying principle is cyclical. Sristi (i.e coming to exist), sthiti ( exist) and bilay (dissolution into another form of existence). The so called days of Bramhan (period of manifestation) are followed by nights of Bramhan (the period of non-manifestation). And the cycle goes on. Against the unimaginable vast expanse of cycle of events a small section will indeed appear as linear. (To an ant’s eye view the earth is flat and not a sphere).

QUESTION 2. (name withheld)

When will different religions stop fighting with each other?

Answer - When do I express intolerance and spread hatred about another faith? ----- when my confidence in my own faith is tottering.When I see weakness in my own self and am unable to find reasoning in my own actions and thoughts, I often express aggressiveness and offence. Any faith evolved out of ultimate truth is beyond vilification.It does not get devalued.Those who show intolerance - no matter to which faith they belong- need sympathy and our prayer so that The almighty may help them to see light.

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