Sunday 9 October 2016

The 'Self' and 'An Other'

  The 'Self' is the core of the substance, 'the Atman'. It is the sub-atomic particle, a photon, a particle of "Light'. This is the electromagnetic, atomic energy, Gravity, and the strong and the weak force that governs the entire universe, as well as, the jiva! There is a fifth invisible force that activates all these four forces. This Light, self-effulgent, an eternal, undiminishing, and all sustaining one is called parabrahman. It is smaller than the smallesst and larger than the largest. anoraniyan and mahatomahiyan | It is the Veda, the entirety (Circumference, the cosmos/brahmanda) that encompasses everything, as well as, the vyasa (Radius) that connects the center/ the focus with the circumference. It is the paramtman, as well as, the Atman!
   The phenomenal world of objects is 'an other' that is perceived by the Atman, if at all it is interested in it! It is an other, besides and an objective, transient, and phenomenal one. It is not the 'Self' as many think of. It does not belong to the 'Self.' although it appears so! It (the soul/Atman) can exist without our involvement in it. It simply does not exist if we do not realize it; so also, the objective world does not exist unless and until we entertain it. Hence both the world and the self are an enigma unless we realize what is what!. We will never realize the two without a guide, a Guru. In fact, we have nothing to do with the world, an other, an outsider, unless we, ourselves, get involved in it. As long as we do not take cognizance of it it remains outside our purview. But, we are forced to take cognizance of it. It is due to the inherent powers of our mind, buddhi and the senses that we take cognizance of it and thus believe in it as an 'existential reality' due to our ignorance. We suffer due not to the world but due to our ignorance.
    There is no need to unnecessarily get involved in it. But, we still do it. It is due to our senses, buddhi, vibrant mind (chanchala chitta), our ego, and lack of proper guidance from learned jnyanis. We get into this illusory or 'make-believe' world and suffer. One can live happily without being dependent on any external support. But it requires full control over the senses and discipline. The jiva suffers due to ignorance of its true nature. When the jiva closes its door to the external world and turns inward its journey towards the Self.It perceives the Him in the inner sanctum sanctoram of his heart where the Lord is seated. It is a long journey and only one in a billion will ever aspire for it and starts the inward journey.  Once we reach there where there is 'nothing' to perceive and reach a point beyond which there is 'nowhere' to go, it is attainment of the pure state. The jiva has realized its goal, This is redemption to the jiva that was repeatedly taking birth on this earth, a mrutyu loka, where all that is born has to suffer hunger, thirst, old age, illness, and death besides run after desires and look for things that are incapable of giving happiness. All that exists here are transient. Our senses are guided by illusory things and insatiable.
   When a child is born little does it know where it has come and what is it going to do? Its true nature in this state is one of pure state! It has no name (nama), form (rupa) or quality (guna). It is given a name and it takes a form, that goes on changing from time to time from childhood to ripe old age and nothing is certain. All the qualities it displays is one of the environment- physical and cultural. All these are the acquired ones and there is nothing of its own. In fact it reaches this same state when it reaches a ripe old age after 95 or 96 when it forgets what all that happened to it the whole life! It is back to square one. If this is the case, what is it that one has attained by name, fame, wealth, and all that? One should realize this before it is too late. This is what is called realization. Realization is what is real humility, living a life of absolute sense and sacrifice. The true nature of the being should be clearly understood and kept in mind all through life. There is no need to assume and act and suffer later. But this is not easy. One cannot keep quiet, unmindful of social responsibilities. As one grows older, there is bound to be lots and lots of cumbersome affairs happening and sometimes, things go out of one's control. All jivas suffer due to this simple fact that things go beyond one's control. Then, what is the remedy?
   Remedy to all karmaklesha are given by Bhishma pitamaha lying on the bed of arrows who says that "chanting the name of 'Rama' will erase all bondage". Bhagavan Shree Krishna says, "surrender to Me, I shall redeem you." Those who trust in Him will have no problem.  

No comments:

Post a Comment