by Sri Bmal Mohanty
VOL No. 13
Aug 2001

CHAPTER FOURTEEN- ON MEDITATION - Part 2

The Benefits of Meditation - on the body and vital breath

"Based on lectures by Sri Bimal Mohanty"

  QUESTIONS FROM THE READERS

QUESTION 1. - From Dr Surendra Suralkar -Kalyan

 Why have I taken birth, for what purpose is this life for me?

Answer -
        You , and all created entities in this creation are indeed the chosen ones come to existence to carry out specific and ordained tasks by the Lord in the running of this creation. In the grand design of this divine organization, each one of us is an active agent. We constitute the creation as well as the active agents (nimittas) through whom the Lord runs the universe. That is how important the responsibility each of us has.

Articles III and ArticleII (Understanding our own position and Understanding the creation) on the pages of AHWAN are recommended for reading to get more insight on this.

QUESTION 2. - From Sri M N Ramesh - Bangalore

 Can you provide some illustrations to prove rebirth?

Answer -
This interesting concept of using births after births as opportunities for upward development, is a profound breakthrough in spiritual understanding in Vedantic philosophy. ( Also believed by some other philosophies like Buddhism etc).

In this context reading of the article V and article IV o\in the pages of AHWAN, (Work determines progress- concept of many births and a question of continuous development) are recommended

The knowledge of previous births can only be logically inferred and is not apparent to minds, which have not achieved complete detachment. Detached souls like Lord Krishna and Buddha were aware of their previous births. This is for our own good too. Imagine if an impure and desire driven mind becomes aware of another person being the cause of injury and conflict in the past life to him. The demonic desire of anger and revenge will drive him to commit sins and lead him to the path of degradation. But once the mind has achieved complete dispassion, detachment, is enlightened and realized Bramhan, the past becomes known. Negative desires do not influence and only positive lessons are derived.

QUESTION 3 - From Sri Navin R Shetty - Mumbai

When we know that God is omnipresent, why do we have to visit places of worship and go on pilgrimage to be with Him?

Answer -
You are quite right in your thinking. However we do not go to these places to be with God. The purpose of going to temples, and other places of worship in all religions is different. We are driven by Bhakti. Bhakti is synonymous with Love. When you love some one and not in his physical presence, you are automatically driven towards his statue, a photograph or any other physical object that is associated with him and reminds you of him. You lovingly clean the photograph, run your palm over the statue or do all kinds of psycho sensual acts that makes you feel happy, calms down a disturbed mind etc. It is very psychological.

There is also another very strong reason. Affirmation of faith or belief - although a personal matter- is greatly strengthened when done collectively. When thousands of minds focus on a single thought or an object or place associated with a thought it affects every one whoso ever is connected. Places of worship are such points of focus.

However all these are relevant when we are all at the initial stages of our spiritual journey. These are props at the lower level. When the truth about Bramhan is realized and the mind has developed spiritual maturity what good are these? You see the Lord every where and in every thing. Isavasyam sarvamidam yat kincha jagatyam jagat.

QUESTION 4 - From Sri Navin R Shetty - Mumbai

We understand that we can not even blink without God's approval. Then how can we explain the barbarian acts committed by human beings?

Answer -

While everything in the creation moves eventually at the dictates of Prakrti there is a certain uniqueness as far as human beings are concerned. We are the only form of creation, possessing a developed intellect giving us flexibility within the boundaries of the Divine laws. This is exercised by us through our mind (buddhi), discerning power (viveka), and the ego or active agent (ahamkara). As long as we do our ordained task in conformity with the divine laws the nature assists us. But whenever we defy the divine laws we perpetuate misery and come under the corrective influence of nature.

The buddhi, viveka and ahamkara are greatly influenced by our sense organs. They quickly fall for what ever brings immediate pleasure to these sense organs. Due to inadequate knowledge, being under the cloud of ignorance, man becomes a victim of preyas ( temporary immediate pleasure) and shuns shreyas ( the eventual permanent happiness). We become violent against anything that comes in the way of acquiring of preyas. This is all the result of gross ignorance. Ofcourse the benevolent Lord provides us opportunities after opportunities to atone these mistakes, but the remedy lies in quickly realizing the difference between preyas and shreyas. Idealistic as it may sound, that happens to be the only way.

Till such time the sufferor as well as the inflictor of suffering, both suffer.