by Sri Bimal Mohanty
VOL No. 36
February. 2004

ATTEMPTS TO DESCRIBE BRAMHAN - Part 10

"Based on the lectures by Sri Bimal Mohanty"

QUESTIONS FROM THE READERS

QUESTION 1 from –Sri Kanubhai Sarkar

World was having, say one crore population, before few decades and if we have come as a result of Re-Birth / as a result of Karma, then how this billions number have come today

ANSWER: Thank you for this question as this will clear some misunderstandings on the tricky issue of population and the theory of rebirth. When a soul is reborn, - which it has to, in order to complete its karmic effects and proceed in its evolutionary progress- it has to be embedded in a form or a body. Whether a human body, or a dog , reptile or a worm, all these are various forms only.

What kind of form a soul will acquire on rebirth entirely depends upon the outcome of his karma in this life, and the residual influence of all the karmas of the past lives.

The form that every soul gets, is thus self acquired and is at that point of evolution the most suitable for its continuing journey. No one (excepting the realised souls) can remember what bodies it has had in the past nor can predict what he will have in the next life. Everything is dependent on his conduct here and now. There are countless forms and variations available. These are indeed countless tools in the hands of the jiva (individual soul), which it has to use for its efforts to evolve. ( You may please read 'Concept of many births', 'Work determines progress' and 'A question of continuous development' in the previous issues of AHWAN.)

Apparent explosion of one species, or collapse or extinction of another does not prove anything. In the eternal scheme of the divine will these are mere temporary phenomena, as illusory as the forms themselves. It is only a matter of perception. The needed forms will always be there.

The ignorance of man makes him see as threat, whenever he perceives a danger to his own selfish comforts. The man sees too many of his own species to be a threat to himself. So he wants less competition. He declares them to be superfluous and unwanted (barring himself ofcourse.). He has the same feelings towards any other form or species, which ever it may be, and will not hesitate to eliminate them.

It may sound contrary to common perception, but the proliferation of the human kind, is not a threat to its existence. But man's ignorance in understanding the situation and his incapability to deal with it, his foolish reaction to the problem dictated by his selfish greed is the problem.

In the vital and mental plane, human form is, as of today the highest developmental achievement of the nature. If so great a potential can be channeled to work for the divine purpose, literally the haven may descend upon the earth. Evolution of a higher species of humans, ( akin to Sri Aurobindo's concept of supramental) will be its outcome.

( A small point here is the extreme counter-argument by some, that this advocates in favour of reckless breeding and uncontrolled sex. This is another aspect of ignorance from the spiritual viewpoint. Sex is necessary for continuation of species. But it is also a part of the divine scheme of things controlling every aspect of the creation mode. Therefore even this action is not sanctioned if performed without a profound sense of responsibility and understanding.)

QUESTION 2 FROM Ms Sarita

Can we see the god ?

ANSWER: Has any body seen God? Yes, every one has and seeing Him all the time. Reflect upon your life, your experiences in life involving directly you or any one else. It is easy to see the presence of God while one is going through adverse situations or situations of great exhilaration.

We see God all the time but unfortunately do not notice him.

Think of a time when you were in dire straits. Every thing seemed lost and you were in the midst of gloom. Then something came up. The clouds cleared. Things got sorted out and today you are where you are. It is the presence of God beside you that brought this about. Every one has such experiences in life.

Think of a very dear and near one of yours. Think of something great happening to him or her, beyond the limits of expectation. The presence of God was there.

Think of a momentous transformation coming into the life of some one. Cure from an incurable disease or freedom from the clutches of drugs, evil people or any of such kind. Remember the relief to all. The presence of God was there. Consider a time when a dear one has been so sick and at the verge of dying. When all hope has been lost, by some unseen hand the events turned and the sick child fought back to life. At that precise time God was right in front whether one noticed Him or not

Look at the miracle of sprouting of a seed in a barren land, the successful struggle of a handicapped, the faith of a desperate, the sounds of music, the beauty of nature, the kindness of a mother. The presence of God is there.

Mother Theresa used to recount a real life incident. When she had no food for her inmates not knowing how to feed them the next morning. And then some unseen hand left sacks of flour at her door step in the night. That was God's presence - whether anyone noticed or not.

We talk of all the happy things because it is easier to see them with a positive frame of mind. But even in extreme difficulties, great calamities and severe sufferings, the presence of God is there.

It takes knowledge to understand that. But God was and is there. Every one sees God every moment of life. Only few notice him. In the darkness of non- knowledge, (ajnanata) our eyes remain shrouded. Bring in the light of knowledge and all is revealed.

The Isavasya upanishad proclaims that Isavasya sarvamidam - Lord's presence pervades all. Therefore we always look within and around us and ask where is God?

So where is the catch? The catch is all of us have seen Him but only a few have indeed realised that they have seen him.

We see things in two ways. One way is to have a pratyaksha darshan or direct vision and the other is to have a parokshya darshan or the intutive vision. Gross things are usually visible through direct vision, using our bodily organs - the eyes. All bodily organs have limitations of capability. But very subtle objects require going beyond the limits of the sense organs You need the help of mana , Buddhi and viveka or the mind, analytical faculty and the inner intelligence to get at the true meaning of subtle and very subtle objects.

We see God every moment of our life. Yet we do not see him. Why? Because to see God one must stop relying on the limited bodily indriyas or sense organs and depend on the intuitional feeling.