| |
|
|
|
|
Articles |
Glossary |
Questions |
Home |
by
Sri Bimal Mohanty
VOL
No. 69
November 2006
THE
CONCEPT OF SEEKING GOD’S FAVOURS
Based on the lectures by Sri Bimal Mohanty
QUESTION 1 FROM Mr SHOUKAT NAWAZ
What is difference between life & Alive? Please explain
ANSWER: Yours is indeed a very interesting question. Before we ponder over the question of ‘life’ and ‘being alive’, we should clear some basics. If we have a life and are all living entities, what is the purpose of all this in the first place? Why have I a life and why am I living?
Thousands of years back, the sanAtan philosophy first contemplated over this and arrived at the conclusion. There is one and only purpose for every one in this creation. It is to work our way through to the state of absolute gnosis, shedding all our imperfections on the way and attain the state of blissfulness. We name it Satchidananda – the absolute reality, its realization and the ensuing bliss. (please refer also ‘Understanding Deathlessness etc. Part 3 in AHWAN April2005 issue)
From that point of view, for the jiva or individual soul, ‘life’ is the sum total of all our efforts, experiences, process and movements while we proceed towards that pre-ordained goal.
(An important point to remember is that life is not limited to our physical dimension only, but pervades all other dimensions like mental, psychic etc – please refer to ‘Dimensions of our existence in AHWAN September and October 2006 issues)
By common dictionary meaning, ‘living’ therefore should mean the ‘verb’ derivative of the noun ‘life’. However spiritualism attaches some added importance to it.
Being ‘alive’ is not an intellectually satisfying explanation when we mean simply existing and going through the motions. The true concept of living is to rise above the mundane existence, and actively and intelligently pursuing to move towards that goal. Life gets fulfilled when this process takes us forward and is wasted when we deviate from that purpose and goal.
This constant endevour to progressively evolve into a state of ‘higher being’ is what is known as ‘yoga’.
Life fulfils its purpose and living becomes worthwhile, only when we live in yoga, i.e constantly conscious of life’s purpose – the satchidananda.
Progressive life is living as regressive life is dying.
QUESTION 2 FROM Sri SUDHIR KALRA
Very few people really understand scriptures. … in my humble opinion, many swamis themselves are not highly knowledgeable and in some cases, they ….contradict in my judgement our scriptures.
ANSWER: One should not get perturbed by the presence of such people. In one context one should indeed be grateful to them. It is presence of ‘ignorance’ and ‘apparent unacceptables’ in life, which really strengthen the determination and quality of one’s own sadhana. Look at it yourself. Seeing things as they are in your search, has it not given you more understanding and clarity of thought listening to them? Once we are engaged in search of truth, it is amazing how seeing untruth in its true character makes the truth shine clear and bright in our minds. Strange are the ways the Lord uses to re-establish truth. No one appreciates ‘light’ who has not experienced darkness. We are all at different stages of our evolution- as you are, so are they. Where they are, so were we once upon a time. All have to pass through various stages of consciousness. Take everything as they are presented to you and as the scriptures suggest draw your own inspiration and knowledge with the grace of the Lord with you. The game or the process is so fascinating when you think of it.
QUESTION 3 FROM Ms HELION FELIX
As paramatma is never in ignorance at any point… there is no meaning to Paramatma and Jiva both being one either in the conditioned state or liberated state. If they were one, then we would not be in ignorance in the first place.
ANSWER: It is the apparent truth and needs only some explanations looking from the spiritual view point.
Indeed there is no essential difference between Paramatma and the jivatma. Jivatma is the extended aspect of the Paramatma and is endowed with the same qualities of its source.
It is also true that the Omniscient Paramatma being never ignorant at any time, the jivatma also possesses within itself the same Gnostic character. The displayed ignorance of the jivatma is due to the wrap of condition under which the jivatma struggles to regain its original and inherent character.
Examples like dust covered mirror or smoke enveloped flame ( vide The Bhagavad Gita 3.38- dhumenAbriyate vanhih yathA Adarshah malena ca)) are quite telling and easy to understand. A mirror is intrinsically possesses its characteristic of showing clear reflection and never loses it. But the condition of dust covering, until removed will not allow it do so and will always make it appear different and not of the same quality as the original mirror. So is the case with the flame engulfed in smoke.
The ignorance in the first place is the result of our exposure to the world and our attachment with the worldly pleasures under the influence of our sense organs which produce kama (desire), lobha (greed to possess), moha (delusion about true reality) etc. These are temporary conditions and do not reflect the true nature of the jiva. Ralisation of this liberates us. The purpose of Yoga is to overcome these conditionalities and attain mukti or liberation.
QUESTION
4 FROM Sri
ANUGRAHA SATAPATHY
Why there is lapse of so much time in individual souls attainment of liberation? Can this time element be eliminated?
ANSWER:
No, it can not be eliminated but certainly can be stretched or compressed. Remaining in yoga and the individual’s quality of participation determines that. It is the time that bridges this difference. Time is the distance between ignorance and knowledge. Time is the distance that ignorance travels while getting transformed into knowledge. Ignorance is a character of the individual self – the jiva. Knowledge is the character of Brahmhan. The jiva’s destination is Brahman. The jiva is always in motion towards its destination. Time is the wheel that keeps the jiva in motion. It chronicles the progress.
What is true for the individual jiva is also true for the entire creation.
