by Sri Bmal Mohanty
VOL No. 25
Jan. 2003

THE PATH OF PROGRESS

"Based on lectures by Sri Bimal Mohanty"

  QUESTIONS FROM THE READERS

QUESTION 1 from Ms shweta Mandhana

What is spirituality and how is it identical as well as different from the normal life that we lead ?

Ans : When we say 'normal life' or 'normal living' it is worth pondering what we really understand of these terms. Is living means simply satisfying our physical and sensual needs and pass away one day? Some may even say that I acquired name, fame and fortune, made my place in the society and hence my life was well spent.

Great as it may sound, this is a warped view of this divine gift called 'life'. When one contemplates seriously (supported by intellect and reasoning- which are other unique gifts in possession of humans only) soon it will dawn upon every one that beyond all these there is a higher purpose of life, a correct utilisation of our physical existence. That purpose and goal is nothing but to evolve into an improved higher being which is pure, perfect, puissant and peaceful.

Life with all its wonderful tools like body, mind and intellect, is a means to achieve that final goal.

Knowledge has also come to us that there is an omnipotent, omniscient and benevolent entity, the causa prima of everything (whichever way you may call or describe it) that assists us in this upward movement. This assistance is a grace that flows from that central source for the benefit of all.

Spirituality is understanding this purpose, recognising this highest entity and constantly remaining engaged to achieve this goal. Since success in this endeavor can not come without this grace, it is imperative in the context of spirituality that all our efforts must maintain a linkage with this supreme entity everytime and all the time. God bless you.

QUESTION 2 from Sri Raju Warriar

Dear Sir

Your website is interesting and thought provoking. .

Is it all right to make spiritualism as a full time profession to earn honest and reasonable livelihood.

Ans : Spiritualism is not a vaiseyika vidya or commercial science. It is the science of the very functioning of the soul in this life and lives hereafter till it reaches its fulfillment. When you share your spiritual experience and knowledge with others, it has to be done without the slightest expectation of any material benefit. One may accept bare essentials if the same is received as an offering from the other party and only if it has been done in the true spirit of offering. Unfortunately in the modern times the concept has been greatly distorted.

Spiritualism is a qualifying philosophy. It is aimed to govern every action of ours, including even breathing, eating, thinking etc. A spiritualist believes that all material gains acquired with a desire to acquire (rajasik mentality) is detrimental to one's spiritual progress. Therefore using it as a gainful profession will defeat the essential truth.

Spiritualism is to be pursued by each and everyone and not by a few selected individuals. Any normal person, in order to support himself and the family has to choose his rightful vocation and earn. Spiritualism will provide values and ethical foundation to this vocation of his. As said earlier, it is a qualifying philosophy and not a vocation per se.

However, one may ask, for those chosen few who have dedicated their lives to the total pursuit of knowledge abandoning everything else, how are they supported? In the true spirit of Sanatana philosophy it is the responsibility of sovereign or society that supports such people. What the society receives in return is the controlling guidance and protection against degradation borne out of ill-gotten prosperity.

Such people never ever come to live in great material comfort. (notwithstanding the show of opulence by many a modern day swamis and saints). What is their reward? They come to possess a vastly higher level of peace and tranquility and happiness that eludes others. God bless you.

QUESTION 3 from Ms Shashi Parulekar

read an article which relates to spirituality. Quote - Scientists claim that mind and consciousness are only a pack of neurons made up of lifeless molecules and atoms. Therefore it can be fully explained in terms of . chemistry or physics... There is no other reality than pure physical matter. A few reductionists assert that not only human consciousness but also human culture as a whole can be explained materialistically. According to them our genes do hold all our social life and all of human culture on a leash- Unquote -What are your views on this ?

Ans : That all physical bodies are made up of appropriate cells is not a new observation. Our seers have discovered this thousands of years back. They called it anu. However they went ahead to explore and describe the constitution of the total physical existence. The sum total of cells with which we are made of is only a partial explanation. The basic essence of our physical existence consists of five material elements (earth, water, energy, air and space elements) and added to it are mind, intellect and egoism. In further addition to this - and without which we simply can not exist- we have the individual consciousness as the life force (the jivabhuta), which is a reflection of the universal consciousness. Only then we become a "being". (refer also Gita 7.4-5)

The first five are gross elements(matter) and the rest are subtle elements with their degrees of subtleness.

To say that these anus are "lifeless" is wrong. As long as this life force is within us and the cells are functioning, they are all living cells. The consciousness is present in every cell or anu.

This presence of the life force is at the root of all "functioning of functions" of every cell. By this the eyes see, the ears listen, the heart beats, mind thinks etc. Mere physical combination of matter amounts to nothing.

The consciousness is a form of pure energy

The subtle elements are different forms of energy as also the gross elements in lessor degrees.

The modern scientific knowledge that the energy and matter are inter-convertible, was known to these enlightened seers who had deduced that source of everything (all matters) is that supreme consciousness - which is pure intelligent energy.

All the knowledge or information that has been the part of, and contributed to the formation of the cell or anu in its present form, travelling directly or indirectly from all conceivable sources over successive lives and deaths, is available with this universal source (Bramhan or supreme consciousness). Each cell is alive with this life force, which is the reflection of that supreme life force, therefore is the recipient of all the information from its source and has all this knowledge within itself.

We say - each being, within itself, contains all the information and knowledge of the universe. Yat pinde tat bramhande, has been said thousands of years back in our scriptures. This theory of information-storage over successive generations is not a new thing really.

When we say everything can be explained from a materialistic view point, it is ignorance. One has to look holistically. Matter is only an extension of the conscious energy -the chetana.

God bless you

QUESTION 4 from Sri N sengupta - Ranchi

If God is omniscient and knows everything such as what happened, what is happening and what will happen then why avatars like Rama and Krishna behaved sometimes like ignorant human beings, displayed emotions like humans? Ram was crying for Sita, Bali was killed questionably, Krishna resorted to unfair trickeries in Mahabharat. There are indeed plenty of instances where actions of The Avatars can be questioned.

Ans : All people like you who maintain a questioning mind about God's actions in this mortal world, provided this is done with open minds and with a desire to fathom the truth are indeed to be commended.

We have discussed this in the previous issues of AHWAN that this world around us is the only learning place where the Lord imparts all the knowledge to his children for their spiritual evolution and development. This world is the only laboratory where all evils are transformed into pure and good.. This world is the only work field where actions- right actions- lead to perfection. When the need arises, God descends on the earth to enhance these processes when ever things have gone beyond human efforts.

When He comes to this world stage his role is similar to an actor in play. The actor knows the entire drama, scene after scene, act after act. He knows what will happen next and how it will end.

Yet the actor goes through the scenes exactly as it should develop in the drama. He does not reveal the next scene before it is due. Even if he knows that a devastating storm shall come in the next scene, he does not stop building his castle now. Even if he knows that his long lost child will return in the end, he does not stop weeping in this scene.

Why does he do it? Because he has a purpose before him. If the drama being enacted has a purpose to entertain the audience or convey a message to sink in, he does not spoil the process by revealing his knowledge of the final outcome. If he did, the purpose and message will be lost.

The avatars or incarnations also come to this world with a purpose: Paritraanaaya saadhunaam - to protect the good, vinaasaaya diskrtaam - to eliminate evil, dharmasansthaapanaarthaaya to establish dharma back.- that is their purpose.

It is not that Rama did not know that Sita will return, yet he enacted seven chapters of Ramayana. It is not that Krishna did not know that Arjuna will eventually return to fight, yet he went through eighteen chapters of Bhagavad Gita. It is not that Jesus did not know that he will be crucified, yet he went through all the turmoils. It is through such acts only dharma gets established in the hearts of people. The drama is enacted in a manner which the human mind can conceive. - God bless you.

QUESTION 5 from Mrs Monica Bose - Kolkata

Respected Sir - I am grateful for the wonderful articles in your website AHWAN from which I have learnt so much and added new meanings to my life in a very practical way.

Sir, last week we had a wonderful gift of a baby boy in our family after long wait. May we have your message of blessings for him.

I am sending herewith a small donation towards sponsoring an issue of AHWAN so that it can continue to reach many more people. Kindly accept.

Ans: Dear Mrs Monica Bose - Thank you so much and God bless you. At the time of your happiness, if your thoughts went out to helping others, that is the touch of the Divine within you. Be grateful to Him.

For the little baby, I send this prayer :

May he grow to be able to create happiness all around with the blessings of Bramha the creator.

May he maintain and increase what he has created, as Vishnu maintains the universe.

May he not become attached to what he has created and hesitate to change and modify to even better and nobler as Mahesha changes all to the better.

May he have the grace of Lakshmi and receive all resources for all his good deeds.

May Saraswati bestow knowledge and harmony to enrich his life.

May Ganesha remove all obstacles from his path towards Divinity.

May he grow to be humble and remember The Lord's grace always like Hanuman

God bless him.

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