by Sri Bimal Mohanty
VOL No. 45
November. 2004

QUESTIONS FROM READERS
QUESTION 1 from GENEVIA GUILLORY, LA.

What does it mean to approach someone on a spiritual level and to approach them on a physical level?

ANSWER:

When the objective world – in which we live- looks at a person or an object, what we see is almost always the physical or vital identity of that person. The modern, so called scientific approach, forces us to see, feel and understand, what only our surface senses can understand. The knowledge of every object at this level is so very limited depending upon the physical limitations of our sensory tools. What our eyes can see, ears can hear or hands can touch, is all that matters and we seldom venture to go beyond our senses. The powerful physical sense organs retain their absolute control, unless and until we have trained our minds to transcend their limitations.

A spiritually developed mind looks at things very differently. Whether it is a person, or an animal or even a plant, all individual ‘beings’ are not really mere physical entities. We are all a combination or blend of three separate existences i.e. physical, psychic and spiritual. These are three broad catagories with many layers in each category. In each level of our existence we have different levels of consciousness that our minds have attained, that regulates us. At each level we have different understanding of truth consciousness and different interplay with it.

At one end of the spectrum we have gross, physical, material consciousness and at the final end we have the consciousness of absolute knowledge of the true self, the Paramatma, The Brahman or the Divine.

At the lowest physical level, obviously because of the limited consciousness imposed upon our minds by our sensory tools, our knowledge of everything and everyone is partial, subjective and defective. At the other end, at the highest spiritual level our knowledge is total. We pass through intermediary levels as we progress spiritually.

When two persons approach each other with only partial truth and defective knowledge, the understanding and appreciation of each other is also partial and defective. We never see the true self or true nature of things.

The outcome is misunderstanding and this is the origin of all conflicts. This is the reason for all the woes of the world.

At the spiritual end of the spectrum however with full, or near full consciousness or knowledge, there remains no scope for conflict. The true knowledge essentially relates to ‘oneness’ of everything, hence, is the realm of harmony and peace.

That happens to be the basic difference between physical awareness and spiritual awareness. At physical level there is divisiveness and separateness. Individual interests and selfish possessiveness predominate. The spiritual view point teaches us that everyone and everything are essentially parts of the one ‘whole’, all connected in a matrix, interdependent on each other. That is the moot point.

‘When oneness is perceived who conflicts with whom?’ the scriptures declare. The spiritual journey of man is the journey to discover this oneness.

More we look at persons and objects from the spiritual view point, more we eliminate chances of disharmony and conflict, as we see everyone as the limbs of the same body, or mere extensions of one entity.

This is achieved through Yoga, which is nothing but evolution of mind from physical to spiritual, from mundane to divine, from separateness to oneness, from ignorance to gnosis.

QUESTION 2 from SRI S K DAS

Tell me something about Transcedental Meditation.

ANSWER

At the outset, one must try to understand what ‘meditation’ is all about, before one tries to understand hundreds of such adjectives that are attached to it. Many spiritual teachers give different connotations to that central subject to attract attention, and persons without clarity of mind get enamoured. What name you give hardly helps.

By concept and character ‘meditation’ has to be transcendental, meaning thereby, the process by which the mind raises itself, or transcends from a lower level of ignorance to a higher level of knowledge. That is the purpose of meditation. If it does not, then one is merely fooling oneself.

One must know what meditation is all about and why and how one must meditate. With understanding, the mind naturally elevates itself. The importance is in the central purpose and its effectiveness.

The overriding purpose of all existence- this entire creation- is to evolve spiritually to that ultimate level of perfection, the SatchidAnanda. This is achieved only by the grace of that omnipotent, omniscient all loving entity that we name Brahman, God, Allah or whatever. The only path to receive this grace is to meditate on Him, to know Him and to surrender to Him. Nanya panthA vidyate. No other path exists.

As one meditates, the veils of ignorance, misunderstanding keep vanishing away as mist is dispelled with sun shining. The truth descends and the meditator ascends in the knowledge ladder. The science of meditation is all about how it happens, what else happens etc.

This ascension or transcending is the very character of spiritual meditation, adhyAtmachintan.

It is strongly recommended the reading of the following issues of www.ahwan.com.

‘On Meditation, Parts 1,2,3 & 4’, July/Aug/Sept/Oct 2001 issues.

‘Preparations for Sadhana Parts 1,2,3. & 4’, June/July/Aug/Sept/Oct 2002 issues.

QUESTION 3 from Ms KAREN STANBERRY

I am currently studying the mantra of the two birds in the Mundaka Upanishad. Please can you explain to me in simple terms what each bird represents and how the lower bird reaches the stage of the higher bird.

ANSWER

: Your interesting question is one such, which stirs the interest and imagination of many.

The knowledge of adhyAtma (spiritual knowledge), or Brahma jnAna (knowledge about the supreme spirit) is indeed not easy to grasp. Our ancient seers use various analogies to help seekers to use their own intuitive power and explore the truth for themselves. The three beautiful mantras( 3.1.1, 2 and 3) from Mundaka are good examples.

Since they are analogies, although the esoteric meaning remains intact, the interpretations vary from persons to persons. But the good news is, after a little assistance and deep contemplation, the truth invariably reveals itself. You will find that too.

Here is how we try to explain this analogy of the two birds.

The final deduction (nirnay)of the sanAtan philosophy is that, the ultimate objective of all souls is unbroken bliss, happiness and peace (Ananda). This bliss or Ananda flows only from the realization of absolute truth of all things, or knowledge thereof. This is defined as satchidAnanda,- the truth, its realization and the ensuing bliss. Thus the entire journey of the soul is the journey towards that knowledge-goal, from a state of ignorance about the truth to the state of absolute consciousness of that truth, or gnosis. Every creature is in a state of ignorance and striving towards absolute knowledge.

However the philosophy also declares that the Lord or Brahman is the omniscient entity, the sum total of all knowledge. The philosophy again declares that all creatures originate from that single source which is the Brahman. All individual souls within the individual bodies are extensions of Brahman, the ParamAtma or the supreme soul. Therefore the souls within us are all intrinsically, contain all the knowledge or the truth consciousness as Brahman is.

So, wherefrom comes this concept of ignorant soul, which the individual souls are? It is explained this way.

Although we have within us the presence of the absolute knowledge or gnosis, we are ignorant or unaware of this treasure. This absolute knowledge or truth is presently hidden or veiled behind layers and layers of mental desires or vAsanAs acquired through constant hankerings after sense gratification. In simple words, as long as we run after superficial sensual pleasures, permanent happiness remains out of our reach. These veils of mental desires obstruct us from reaching out to the absolute truth consciousness and knowledge of things, and therefore the causes of our ignorance. The soul that has reached to that knowledge level, is knowledgable and the soul still within the grip of these mental desires, is therefore, ignorant. As long as we have not lifted these veils of ignorance, we do not know the real truth about things as that Supreme Self or ParamAtmA knows. Without this true knowledge, we keep on desiring the sense dictated worldly pleasures, which can not give permanent happiness. That is the cause of all our miseries and unhappiness.

So, all of us indeed have two levels of existence. One which knows and the other which is ignorant. My knowing self is constantly trying to raise the level of knowledge of this ignorant self and deliver me from my self-inflicted miseries. This is the conscience or the inner voice within me.

Whenever we make mistakes, this conscience or inner voice warns us, reminding us of our ignorance and the hidden true nature within us. Those who listen, and act upon it, deliver themselves from their miseries, raise the knowledge consciousness and go towards bliss. The knowing self holds itself as the example.

This concept is represented by the analogy. The two ‘self’s are like the two birds. They are sayujA meaning, come from the same stock. The tree is the physical world within which both live. The ignorant self runs after the worldly pleasures. Finds out that they do not provide permanent pleasure and bring in stronger desires and more misery. He becomes muhyamAna- grief smitten. Then like the warning of the conscience, he becomes, at times, aware of the other self, the knowledgeable and adorable (justam) one. That reminds him of the Lord (isam purusam), the omnipotent one (kartAram), the Brahman, the original source of real bliss(Brahmayonim) and by that, helps to recover his balance of mind (sAmyam upeiti), and see beyond misery (vitashoka).

So it is all about removal of ignorance and acquiring the true knowledge. From that level everything is seen clearly in its true character. Seeing this, the mind does not get perturbed.

How does one reach that higher stage? By being a Yogi. Yoga is the path.

(Please keep reading the various articles in www.ahwan.com. I hope that will further add to our understanding) – God bless you – Sri Bimal Mohanty 6.11.04

QUESTION 4 FROM SRI SANDEEP KUMAR

Who is Guru? By knowing everything would you know Him?

ANSWER

We have discussed on various occasions and I would recommend the reading of the following:

AHWAN Vol 37 March 2004 issue.

Readers’ question answer portions of Vol 21 (July 2002), Vol 22 (Aug 2002) and Vol 38 (Apr 2004) issues.