BRAHMANDA

   'Brahmanda' is the Vedic concept of cosmogony as compared to the physical universe that consists of stars and galaxies.The Sage Seers visualized the universe in their transcendental meditative state whereas the modern scientists, astronomers, peep through powerful telescopes like the Kec 1 Kec  2, and other electronic telescopes in the Observatories set up in Mt. Palomar and other places. What all they view is the images that are later simulated on the computers and put forth by artist impressions and images based on which theories and postulations, hypotheses, and approximations are presented. Nothing is certain and scientists ask us to wait and see! Even the massive data collected after the CERN experiment await detailed study and analysis. Nothing is certain as yet.What all is obtained in this costly experiment is an abstract version of the refracted light and colors that need a careful study and we do not know much about the different wavelengths and color band-widths as yet. There is lot more to discover in science as regards origin of stars, galaxies, planets and the life-forms, as also,  the future of mankind, or for that matter, our devi- devata, etc. In fact all these are what we hear from others or that which we get from the scriptures that may or may not be authentic! A layman is sure to get confused and, many do not bother about these things at all.  The distances mentioned in terms of billions of 'Light Years' makes no sense to him. Moreover, not all are capable of understanding science,particularly physics, quantum mechanics or subatomic particles. Even the scientists agree that the electrons move en masse at the speed of light and cannot be detected. The fermions and the bosons are such feeble subtle forces that nobody knows when mass s acquired by the bosons and when does the matter become energy again. Thus, it is almost looks like a gambling. But it is not so in the Agama shastras, the Veda and its subdivisions- Vedanga and Veda upangas. The Upanishads explain step by step how the universe is created and also speaks of the true nature of the jiva that revel in it due to its ignorance. There are the yantra mantra and tantra texts with us that are nothing but the mechanics, theories and formulae, and the technology aspects of pure science (shuddha vidya), respectively. These are supposed to be the revelations of great sages that are beyond question. Oce it is said- 'Evam Veda' it is final.
  The Tantra texts, rather, technologically speaking, in the modern scientific way, speak of 'srushti' (creation) in a clear way as follows (quoted from SKR- Tantra of Sri Chakra, pp 36-37):
   In the 'beginningless beginning', there was no law that binds creation and, as such, there was no theory, postulation, hypothesis of any kind to explain the  creation. There was "neither existence, nor non-existence" says the nasadiya sukta of Rk Veda. Second, all that existed was total silence, dark energy (darkness) and Light appeared later. There was nothing concrete and everything was amorphous, hazy, cloudy.  Today, scientists also say that clouds of gas existed before stars are born out of condensation of these mass of clouds of gas. The vedic statement- Om Ghruni surya Adityah | sums up  all these!
   Now, in order to understand the nature of the existence and the place of the jiva in this mysterious universe there should be an intelligent person jiva interested in knowing this universe. Rather, first there should be somebody to inquire in to the nature (of existence) as the subject and something (like the universe where we exist) as the object to inquire about. If there is 'no inquirer, there is nothing to inquire about' is the first principle. This brings about the dualism. Now there are two in the place of 'nothing' that became some thing form nowhere to now and here!
   This is enunciated as- 1. the principle of 'tat' (brahmn or Ishvar) and 2. the principle of 'idanta' or 'this'  jagat (objective phenomenal world); in between lies the person, jiva, who wants to know both 'this' (jagat) and 'that' (Ishvar). Thus, one became two and then three. These three come under the principle of  'triputi'  and the One brahmn or Ishvar only becomes the second, and the third principle! These are well described by Bhagavan Shree Krishna in the Gita as the Field (kshetra/jagat), 'knower of the field'- in the Kshetra-kshetrajnya yoga. Ultimately, the jnyata and jneya become only in unity consciousness.
   Hence, it is clear that there should be a person or subject with 'awareness' in the first place in order 'to know' and, this principle is the 'Ishvar'. It is called pure consciousness, shuddha vidya. Prajnyanam brahma | This consciousness brings the 'jagat' into awareness of the individual. Thus, the objective phenomena, jagat, is the creation of the chit, Consciousness (chid-rupa) This individual consciousness identifies this as 'this' and the identifier is the 'aham'. The subject 'ahamta' and the object 'idamta' thus come into existence due to 'chit-shakti',conscious awareness. However, this or 'idanta' is the condensed or individualized consciousness and this is the limitation! This limitation separates the jiva and jagat from Ishvara. Thus, a phenomenal objective world, an transitory world subject to time, space, and causality comes into existence in the individualized limited consciousness, ashuddha vidya. This is tainted by the gunas of the jiva and the out-going propensities of the senses. The inherent truth lies hidden under avidya here and the jiva goes into the visual world with awe and wonder and feels the illusory world as real and gets totally disillusioned at the end!
(to be contd.) 
 

I am the Universe [aham brahmasmi]

   The present-day scientific theories, hypotheses, postulations, etc concerning the universe are all subject to change from time to time, as and when new ideas, new discoveries, new inventions, are made. For example, the universe had a specific radius and later on proved to be an ever expanding one! Now scientists have started speaking the language of Sri Shankaracharya, jagat mythya, and say solid is not solid! Science is no more rigid. As compared to the scientists view, the Vedic view is far more clear.When the great sages pronounced - "evam veda", the  discussion ends there. There is nothing else to know, there is nothing to prove! The Sages have got the vision! That is the greatness of the Vedic pronouncements. Their vision and their pronouncements are a gift to us now and it is of almost a million years of Indian spiritual heritage, a  great contrubution to our knowledge. Further, the Veda reiterates the fact that 'the perceiver and the perceived are one'! There is only one, and no second! Ekam adviteeyam | 
   The jnyan, chit, or the pure Consciousness only exists and nothing besides it! This is the Truth. Evam vEda | The supreme Lord, Lord Almighty, is seated within all the jiva rashi and and it is He, who breathes, sees, walks, eats, and sleeps! There is none else besides Him! Whoever knows this is also unborn, eternal, omniscient, immortal, and it is this undifferentiated one is the supreme truth, 'sat'.

   The scientists also say the same thing! The 'Theory of Everything' is one such. Another is the 'Big Bang' and yet another is  the 'Black Hole'! Everything is withdrawn and projected at the will of the Lord! Bhagavad-Gita speaks about this. Bhagavan Krishna says, "kaalosmi..." I have come here as 'Kaal', and  says, "I shall devour everything!" Further, He, the Lord/ Bhagavan says, "I only exists and nothing besides Me"

  Let us see the pictures presented by the NASA regarding the Galaxies, Stars, etc. (National Geographic Magazine, Feb 003). Theses are mere computer simulations developed on the basis of the images captured by the powerful electronic telescopes set up in Mt. Palomar. These estimates of galactic distances in terms of the mind-bogging billions of Light Years (which no ordinary person ever understands) is mystifying! But, it is something very beautiful when we see the Vedic pronouncements - "tattvamasi", "aham brahmasmi", "ayam Atma brahmn", or Atmaivedgm sarvam", etc. All these are mahat vakyas, Great Statements, irrevocable truth!

    As it is often reminded in the earlier blogs here, any ordinary medical or engineering graduate has to qualify with high grades for entrance to such professional courses and strive for several years after schooling, and the CET, NET, and other tests at the +12. But, here everybody wants to know about the Vedic doctrines- 'mahat vakya', briefly in a matter of a few minutes of lectures! This attitude is surprising when we say the knowledge  of the Veda will never come from outside, but is already there within all of us! That is what is atmaivedgm sarvam | The Atma knows all. To realize this truth, one has to strive for several hundreds of lives starting from the stage of animal existence living instinctively, to become more human, and then rise to spiritul level! A person at 80 indulging in worldly pursuits cannot understand even a syllable of the Veda! 
   Thus, it is imperative that one has to spend the whole time to study the Veda and take to dhyana, dharana (contemplation) and enter into samadhi like the great sages. We will elaborate on these in the next few blogs along with some Upanishad statements, as well as, scientific inventions, discoveries, theories, and postulations.   

The Universe and Us

    The most beautiful aspect of creation is the illusory one, ie 'the Universe we live in'. This Universe is now better known as the 'multiverse' since it contains not one universe, or hundred, thousand, or a million, but 700 billions of them in a vast and deep endless space. But, here again, the term ' space' is something that does not exist at all! It is yet to be defined in concrete terms as to what is 'space' since there is no such thing as 'space' at all! The scientific version of the term 'Space' and the objects found in it, such as, the galaxies, stars, the sun, earth and the moon (go loka, surya, soma, anala) are all objects created by our own mind! These are all imagination, images created in our mind, thoughts, ideas, postulations and what is constructed by us! Now, the scientists have also started speaking in the Vedic tradition! Jagat mythya brahmn satya | They, too, agree that these pictures of galaxies, stars, obtained from the powerful electronic telescopes like the Hubble Telescope at Mt. Palomar are the computer simulations and the statements made on the basis of these images are all mere hypotheses, postulations, theories and nothing sure is established. They finally conclude that 'nothing is certain'! See National Geographic Magazine, February 2003 for a detailed account of Galaxies.  

   Now, we present here the views expressed in scientific periodicals and Magazines as well as the Vedic Texts so that we can have a clear idea about 'the world we live in'.

Embodiment of the Soul

    Let’s remember the fact that the jiva that takes an elemental body may appear in any form anywhere on this earth. Further, the jiva taking repeated births may appear in its next life in any form, anywhere without any restriction, whatsoever. It may continue to work to fulfill its desires in the subsequent births, too. Hence, Varaha Mihira may be reborn as Galileo, who in turn, may be reborn as Tyco Brahe, Johannes Keple r,and Isaac Newton, or Stephen Hawking or just a cat or a dog. Nothing prevents the jiva from taking repeated births with new names and forms. Bhaskara may be reborn as Columbus, Magellan, or Vasco da Gama, provided his desire is to physically go round the earth and see for himself the nature of this world which he could not do in the previous birth! What prevents anybody from taking birth anywhere is a matter of its (jiva’s) desire and attachments, vasanas, only, and nothing else. The Jiva may move freely since it has no bodily restrictions. Hence, all our understandings are based on sheer ignorance of the reality of existence. Ultimately, neither there is birth nor death, but transformations of matter and spirit! 

     Thus, there is need for rethinking on all these divisions and distinctions of lands, peoples, their languages, cultures, and traditions. The reality is that nothing is real here. Everything is just the nature of the Mind to divide and disintegrate, dissect and differentiate. This is not the true nature of the jiva. The jiva is in the grip of the fickle mind and its ego rules it. If the buddhi takes over and rules the mind with the help of prajnya, the jiva will be in a position to enjoy its duration of earthly stay and make way for a return journey at the earliest. But, how to get back is the problem.

  The embodied soul, once assuming an elemental body is destined to stay here. This is the understanding of Sri Madhvacharya that prompted him to state that “there is no salvation to the earth-bound jiva” and it can never utter the word ‘aham brahmasmi’. But, there is nothing wrong in the mahat vakya, the ultimate principle. Whether a student passes the examination with a 100% score or not, the goal is already set. It is left to the jiva to attain to the state of perfection. Sri Madhvacharya probably had in his mind only the fishermen of Udupi and Malpe. But, did he not visit Sringeri nearby and take the darshan of the Divine Mother Shree Sharadamba seated on Shree Chakra or even Sudarshana for that matter. The Divine Mother Sharadamba at Sringeri near Udupi blessed a number of devotees with profound knowledge and salvation, liberation, but do the Vaishnavaites turn a blind eye and deaf year to all these?

   It is quite strange that the disciples of Sri Madhvacharya never utter a word about these fundamental instruments of creation and liberation. Sharada-Chatushtiya or Shree Chakra, inner sacrifice (antar-yajnya) or Transcendental Meditation (atindriya dhyana) are not practised by those who loudly profess so much of devotion, Bhakti. Actually, it is said that Bhakti and Jnyana as anyonya had two off-springs by name Viveka and Vairagya. When Jnyan deserted Bhakti due to its ego and intolerable behaviour adhering to ritualism and sensuousness, the kids- Viveka and Vairagya also left. This is the sad predicament of the jiva, too.

  There is nothing superior to Knowledge- “nahin jnyanena sadrusham” is the fundamental doctrine enunciated by Lord Shree Krishna in the Gitopadesha. The Bhagavad-Gita advocates samyak-prajnya, ‘unity consciousness’, and showers the elixir of oneness- advaitamruta varshini! However, the jiva suffers from avidya, a cover of nascence, and dwells in dualities due to ignorance of its true nature. Thus, there is no end to ignorance of the jiva. Those who stick to a particular philosophy, siddhanta, will get stuck at that level and will not move to higher levels of consciousness during their life. Hence Krishna advises Arjuna to:

   ‘Transcend all limitations, acquired qualities- gunas, and surrender to ME. He says, sarva dharman parityajya maamekam sharanam vraja | “Worship Me only, adore Me, I shall take care of you (yogakshemam vahamyaham | give you what you want and protect what you have, do not worry (maa shucha |)”. Let there be no doubt about it”.

  The soul or Atman, a stellar particle that was pristine pure with atomic weight of less than that of Hydrogen, got embodied, and it is now so embedded in the mire of earthly existence that it has become too gross and heavy to rise above the earth’s surface, let alone exit the earth’s dense atmosphere after leaving the gross body in death. The forces that bind the soul to the jiva are very subtle like desire, attachment, anger, ego, and instincts, etc. If it has to gain escape velocity it should become so pure and pristine as it was before; its arrival here as energy, spirit, an electrical spark, a photon, is now gross matter. Atman or soul is just not only energy, but the knower of energy, the source of consciousness, and bliss. It is sat, chit and ananda. It is power and has creative energy, knowledge, technology, information, and ability to transform one into another in multitudes of varieties and functions.

  There are a number of scriptures that give us some rough idea about the origin of the universe, its true nature, and the fate of this world at the end, delusion or mahapralaya. The nature of our existence on this earth or terrestrial base and the way the human life has developed over the ages on this planet is quite an interesting study. The Bhagavad-Gita, too, gives us some details as revealed by Bhagavan Shree Krishna and the same has been repeated by many commentators. As stated by some saints and sages, “this universe is not real; it is a transient one and all that appear here are under the grip of maya, meaning, time, space, and causality and thereby subject to decay and death. However, the human form evolved over time is a rare gift of God and it has a definite purpose”. But, people do not understand such statements. Not all people are happy and successful here. It is still a wonder why some people seem to enjoy life while most of the people suffer from hunger, poverty, and misery. There is no well laid path to success and happiness. But, still people stick on to some principle and eke out a living, hoping that one day it would be all joyful. But, that day will never come! The whole life turns out to be an endless struggle for existence. Nothing gives us everlasting joy, peace, or happiness. Disgusted with this, some people become depressed and commit suicide; and, to end life in frustration and depression is as sinful as living in ignorance.

    It has been repeatedly said by some saints that ‘this human form is a rare gift of God and it has a definite purpose’. However, people do not understand such statements. Not all people are happy and successful here. It is still a wonder why some people seem to enjoy life while most of the people suffer from hunger, poverty and misery. There is no well laid path to success and happiness. But, still people stick on to some principle and eke out a living, hoping that one day it would be all joyful. But, that day will never come. The whole life turns out to be an endless struggle for existence. Nothing gives us everlasting joy, peace, or happiness. Disgusted with this, some people become depressed and commit suicide; and, to end life in frustration and depression is as sinful as living in ignorance.

    There comes in the life of every jiva a time when it is shaken out of its slumber, the land under its feet sinks, and it is left shattered to pieces, or made to stand stark naked in the middle of the street, or completely wrecked like what has just happened in the worst floods of Jammu and Kashmir recently. This is the turning point when it, the jiva, turns to the supreme Lord almighty for help and begs for redemption, mukti, or moksha. Many people commit suicide on the face of disappointments, loss, trouble and turmoil, incurable diseases and suffering pain, or seek the guidance of a teacher. Even the rich and powerful, prosperous people are free from depression! This is the time when the jiva seeks liberation from the shackles of repeated births and deaths. May be nobody thinks of God unless he is put in the crucible of fire of life.

   Some people admit that they have made a mess of their life. This means, they know they have committed mistakes, knowingly or unknowingly. Whatever the reason, there is always some problem and the solution has to be found out. These problems are of one’s own making and solution lies within his domain. The solution cannot lie outside. But, some people think that these human problems have persisted since the days of Adam and Eve. Every jiva is linked to every other and its environs. The very Adam with Eve (of two extreme principles of Male and Female- the Fire and Water principles, Agni and Jal tattvas) in the Garden of Eden by itself a problem without solution! We forget the fact that God had forewarned Adam not to ask for a company; he cautioned Adam even before granting his wish and asked him to rethink about his request for company (of Eve). But, alas, Adam insisted in having one, whatever the consequences. In fact, Adam went back to the Lord and returned the gift (Eve) twice, only to beg and get her back again. The result is here to see!

    Some great thinkers quote scriptures and speak of lofty principles such as dharma, moksha, etc. They say, life is worth living only when a certain path of dharma is followed and certain rules and regulations are strictly followed. They suggest certain path of salvation and advise us to follow rituals. But, there are so many paths here that no one knows for sure which one is the right one, or the best. It is only the daring, who are willing to take risk, ready to tread the unknown, break the tradition and willing to take a new path, face adverse conditions and serious consequences or even failure, take a new untrodden path and leave a trail that are sure to be amply rewarded at the end with rare gifts such as peace, unbounded joyfulness (mahat-anand), supreme bliss, Liberation (mukti) from further embodiment, and immortality. ‘Free will’ is given to all so that they can choose path suitable to them. There are as many paths as there are seekers.

Iha and Para

    Our existence on this planet is almost a miracle! It has no logical or rational explanation. Mysteries surround our birth and death. So far, no plausible explanation is forthcoming for our existence. It seems ‘no purpose is served merely eating and sleeping, whiling away time in seeking joy in extraneous things’. Moreover, all our thoughts and actions, attitudes, behaviour, problems of hunger, disease, old age and death are not in our hands. Life is full of and probabilities. Nothing is certain here. What we see and believe may not be true at all! Things have to be seen in the background of an unstable earth, a vast expansive universe that is ever on the move, a universe of no known magnitude or dimension, and of illusory nature bound by Time and Space. In fact, this Time that creates Space by its movement is by itself an illusion! If Time is illusion, the space created by it as well as the objects that fill it and endure are also illusion. Illusion of illusion is delusion. Thus, there is no end to this delusion, ignorance.

    We, as the humans, should realize the fact that we are nothing but specks of dust, star-dust, at tha! These jivas or vibrant life-forms are like sparks of fire flying out of flames. Once we realize ‘who we are’, where do we come from, and where do we go from here when we die, or how we give up one mortal body and take another soon after, the ‘Reality’ dawns on us. We are truly the spiritual entity- the atman, embodied in an earthen shell like a pot made of clay susceptible to leakage and breakage. Symbolically, a pot filled with water is broken at the time of cremation of the dead bodies. This signifies the fact that the inside and the outside separated by an earthen shell is no more, and everything is one! 

    However, the purpose of our existence is yet to be defined. The ancient scriptures are our best guides. But, we neither have the complete texts of these, nor do we ever understand their coded language. The story of the arrival and departure of a jivatman on this planet is narrated here. It is an autobiography of the soul. Thus, the soul only speaks here. It is an intuitional knowledge obtained from parame vyoman in yogic trance.

     This spiritual study, like any other discipline calls for determination, steadfastness, keen interest, focused attention, concerted effort, and serious practice of yoga, and devotion to Guru. There should be a sense of purpose in life in order to attain to the highest level of existence and enjoy supreme bliss that is possible for any human being. Spiritual journey is more arduous than the journey in the material and sensuous world. Material world is also hazardous full of uncertainties, failures, disappointments, disillusionment, and frustrations. It is endless, with countless wants, insatiability, cravings for more and more, and finally, ordained to repeated births and deaths. The spiritual path is no less unpredictable and hazardous- full of unknown twists and turns and glaring mysteries, secrets, and coded secret words (mantra) that may often lead to doubts and disbeliefs, and sudden loss of faith and interest.

   Another hazard of this spiritual journey is that the sadhaka moves slowly away from the lower, ‘here’, the physical, material, concrete, the sensible, logical, rational and sensuous gibbering towards the higher, ‘there’, metaphysical, spiritual, abstract, nonsense, rather senseless(?), and silence. Worldly people are prone to treat this as madness. Most of the teachings of Great Masters are based on these principles and still people run to them! It seems paradoxical that people want solace in times of their distress and look to these renunciates, but do not want to follow their teachings in their daily life! For instance, if one tries to become a Swami Raghavaendra Tirtha, one should strictly follow in his footsteps and take to sanyas at the early age. If one follows his footsteps, the first casualty would be his wife and the next, his mother. As we know, Raghavaendra Swamy’s wife Saraswati Bai committed suicide and mother died in distress. In fact, most of the cases of mystics there are untold misery and sufferings before reaching to higher spiritual power. Moreover, nothing such as success is guaranteed here.

    The teachings of Acharyas like Shankaracharya, Madhava (Vidyaranya), or Badarayana will never be understood unless one experiences the way of life they lived. Shankara experienced untold misery and things have changed over time. It seems thus impossible for a common man to come to spiritual field, adhyatma, giving up the hearth and home, sensuous worldly life. Nobody wants to leave the cosy life of comforts and take to a life f a recluse and severe askesis (tapas). Hathayoga is out of question. Even those who have tried and succeeded to some extent have suddenly fallen from grace!

     What we mostly see around us as spiritual seekers or teachers of yoga are not what they should be, with exception, of course. Self-Realization (Atma sakshatkara) is not easy. Those who have attained to this highest state of spiritual state, pure consciousness, do not have any interest in worldly affairs for they have crossed the Mental-mental state of evolution and have stepped into Spiritual realm (See Aurobindo) after discarding their mundane existence, albeit, they spend time here till they cast off their physical body. They live a life of absolute bliss unaware of the happenings to other earthlings. This should not be construed as a selfish way of life since these blessed souls have been emancipated, redeemed, or liberated! They rejoice in Brahmn consciousness.

   The most important point to be noted here is what Sri Krishnananda, Shivananda Ashrama, Hrishikesh, says: “Nothing that comes from outside is of any help in attaining to the knowledge of the Self.’ thousands of teachers and preachers go on talking and talking without any substance. Many do not know what they are talking about. This can be verified from their life style. If some boast of 50,000 followers, some boast of 400 ashrams all over the world; some say, they have never read a scripture in their life but still talk like, “devil quoting the scriptures’. The truth is very simple: “If i suffer from stomach pain, i only should take the medicine”. Unless i learn to sit in a place for just two minutes a day nothing is possible. The first step is taken when you take a crash course in Transcendental meditation and ashtanga yoga. It must be remembered, the first four steps of Patanjali yoga sutra, such as, yama, niyama, pratyahara, and Ishvara pranidana can never be strictly followed in this life. Nobody can ever attain to the last state of  Samadhi remaining in worldly life lecturing on philosophy and religion. This is the reason why interested persons leave everything and rush to Himalayas and undergo tremendous hardships. We want bed tea and timely breakfast, lunch and dinner and friends to chat, and at the same time aspire for enlightenment! Lo! There are gurujis and swamijis who advice to stay in family and practice yoga. The result is riding two horses (suti and asuti) at the same time. Contemplation, dharana and Samadhi are very important for attainment, atma jnyan and emancipation.

 Hence, one who  is enjoying the material benefits cannot ever think of the supreme bliss that brings eternal peace and happiness without any external support. the paramarthika cannot be attained without giving up the aihika.