Life in all its Grandeur

   The term 'LIFE' has different meanings for different sets of age groups and gender types. Different people have different notions and get different experiences as they move on with age. Some see half cup full while some others see half empty. There are different perspectives of life. For some it is all a bed of roses and some, just thorns. May be, there is a divine plan in shaping lives in a particular way. But, it is certain that people should learn from their experience and use proper discretion and always look to some higher power that be for guidance. 

 Each one enjoys or suffers as one thinks. The wise people do not attach much importance to day-to-day trivial things. some make a big mountain of a mole hill. Some are never happy inspite of possessing and getting whatever they want. There is an in-built craving that can never be satisfied. Some are happy with what they get and do not hanker for more. Hence, 'Life' is something that we cannot just generalize. Moreover, each one faces life as it comes and lives his/her life. There is no set rule or condition, albeit there is family, social and community norms. Children imbibe some traits from family traditions, but soon drop them. It is only for a short duration of life that the children are dependent and follow (some may not) some family tradition. Some may not have even parents or guardians to look after them! Under these conditions, no wonder most of the children grow up under prevailing conditions, circumstances and situations that they are in. Hence, it is all uncertain how children are influenced and grow up. Many unfortunate children get into bad company and get ruined. Very few are lucky enough to grow up in sheltered and protected environment. All these ultimately speak in the nature of of society and government that we have! It is the duty of every citizen and the State to protect, help and support, even provide food and shelter to the needy children and help them to grow up as good citizens. This is very important in these days of cross-border terrorism, vested Missionary agents ruining the hapless ignorant children. The role of religious institutions like the Mutts (matha), temples, and ashrams become more important today.

  India is at crossroads today and various powerful agents are busy destroying the very basis of our faith as a Hindu society. Some perverted pseudo intellectuals have discovered 'Hindutva' and want discussion on sanatana dharma, the age-old and everlasting religious faith. Hindu dharma is indeed universal one, that envelops the entire humanity. Most of the Europeans love Indian tradition, culture, and even try to adopt to it. Some get married in Indian style and some stay in the Indian ascetic way of life! Hinduism seeks to unite the world as one family, advocates universal brotherhood, piety, compassion, love, respect and regard for the fellow living beings (just not humans). The principle of Sanatana Hindu dharma is one of equanimity (samatvam), peace (shanti), and work for progress of entire society, State and nation. The entire world is treated as one family (vasudhaiva kutumbakam).

 One should rise to the occasion and strive for unity amidst all diversities of ideologies, languages, religious faiths, and ways of life.

What is Life?

 The term 'Life' has a deeper meaning and connotation than we actually know! The very word is made of 'L' for Light, 'I' for Intelligence, 'F' for Force, and 'E' for Energy. Indeed, Life is Life-Force, Prana or 'Pranic Energy'. Light and Creative Intelligence are inherent aspect of Prana (Life) of any living being (jiva). Life force circulates all over the body- from head to toes. The human eyes are eulogized in the Veda as 'akshi purusha'. One can see oneself in the pupil of the person whom he/she is seeing! So, one exists in all, and all exist in One! One can see objects even in darkness! Once a teacher asked the students: How do you find your way when you enter your dark room? The students said: We will find the electric switch and put on light. Again, the teacher asked, how do you find the switch in dark? The students said that they can find the switch by habit, moving our hands on wall till we touch the switch. Our sense of touch (sparsh jnyan) has intelligence to locate the switch in dark. We can walk holding the wall and find the switch. So, the teacher said, your touch can guide you. He asked, how do you find if some person is already there or not in the dark room?  The students said, we can call out loud and find out. So, touch (sparsh) and sound (shabhda) are useful in locating the persons and things in dark. 

 It is surprising how blind people live! It seems that they possess some sort of intelligence, extra-sensorial power, a sixth sense, and live mostly by this. But ordinary people have to struggle a lot in life even for small things like these.

    Now, when we come to day-to-day life of ordinary people, life is full of uncertainties. Nobody knows what lies ahead and how to tackle the problems that arise. Nothing is known about the next step and every step has to be taken carefully, one at a time, judiciously. Starting from childhood, we learn elders by observation, hearing and seeing how they work. Later on, we learn much from schooling. However, all these are of lesser importance when we face the real life. Only a few gifted ones realize how an unknown powerful force takes us by hand and take us all through life. The 'divine forces' governing our lives, may be, it is destiny, luck, blessings of elders, God's grace, or just the fruits of previous action. 

  It seems that most of the time, what we get in life is already determined by our action (karma), be it of the past (prarabhda), accumulated over time (sanchita), or the forthcoming (agami). It is said in our epics that we take repeated births in order to settle our accounts (RuNa). This is like our relation with the Banks where we take loan or keep our Term Deposits. We have to run to Banks till we settle it and close the account. Our Life is governed by the same set of Laws. The Bhagavad-Gita has clearly stated that one has to take repeated births unless the living being attains oneness, sayujya, with Him. There is a verse that clearly states that "Anyone can overcome this limitation and get redeemed from rebirths ('punarjanma na vidyate'). 

  Hence, there is always a way out. Trust in Lord with full devotion and faith. That's all. All problems appear like mountain and disappear like the retreating waves! But, the ignorant jiva gets shattered at the very first blow! There is no easy way of escape from the prarabhda karma, and one has to suffer. It is also important to note that we learn from all these scriptures how to evade or avoid the future problems. It's better that we plan now for a total redemption and look for God's grace to avoid coming again to this mrutyu loka. First, we should realize that there is nothing to enjoy here for one who is really wise. This earthly existence is one of limitations of time, space, and causality. So we should work for our early departure, clearing all our dues and see that we never return here. Nothing prevents us from working for a total liberation, mukti. Chant the name of Sri Hari Narayana till He hears you!

Religious Faith

The Biblical statement is that the human evolution started a few minutes before 12 and, as such, it is still in its infant stage. It is thus. immature, childish, and even harmful for peace prosperity, and progress of mankind. There is no remedy for this. One has to wait. At present, people think, talk, and act as though they are programmed by a set of software adopted by the brain. There is a set pattern in thinking in society, amongst world leaders, and even in the day-to-day normal human interactions and transactions of people. it may take several centuries to fully command the rich potential of the human race. There is a lot to sacrifice by the present generation to gain or attain peace, and progress in human society. Each one seeks his/her personal interest first. this may seem to be selfish. In fact, there is no set pattern, rules and conditions or even guidance for an assured way of human development. What all the great saints and sadhus preach and practice such as renunciation, vairagya, nirasakti yoga may seem to be just seeking an escape from drudgery of routine worldly existence and may not be suitable for human development since they are of negative nature seeking liberation, mukti.

  Hence, the question remains. What is the alternate for the present way of life that is branded as sensual, illusory, and leading to disappointment, or lack of fulfillment?

  As at present, there is no answer. It seems there is no light at the end of the tunnel! This is the understanding of most of the learned spiritual teachers. They are not negative in their approach, thoughts or understanding of this world. It's true that we are all in a death-knell, mrutyu loka, where everything has a beginning and end, comes under the limitations of time.

 This worldly existence is full of desires and wants that are insatiable. Hence the tunnel (of life) is dark (of ignorance), too long and endless. There seems to be no redemption, unless we surrender to the higher powers that govern us. The great teachers are of the opinion that surrender, sharanagati, is the only answer. This is the principle advocated by Sage Yamunacharya and his disciple Ramanuja. This is vishishtaadvaita. In this perspective, both dvaita and advaita principles seem to be of little value. Another advantage of this vishishtadvaita tattva is that it is based on pure devotion. For common people who are illiterate, ignorant, it is of no use to advise study of scriptures. At the end of dvapara yuga (3599 B.C.) people were more devoted and enamored and carried away by the very sweet name of Krishna and attained liberation. Thus, mere devotion too will work! Devotion may also lead to knowledge!

Sudarshana Chakra

  Lord Vishnu is depicted as the Savior and is shown with a conch (shankha), wheel (chakra), goad (gada), and Lotus  (padma) in His hands. The significance of Sudarshana Chakra is very interesting and highlighted here. The wheel called Sudarshana is the Shakti aspect. Devi Shree, Lakshmi says, "This supremely profound shakti of mine, manifested with a predominance of tejas is as bright as multimillions of suns, moons, and fires in profusion. This shakti, Lakshmi, is identical with the disc named Sudarshana which destroys enemies. This highly powered weapon made of fire belongs to Vishnu." (L.T. p 139).  Its essence is prana. All weapons and all shakti arise from this Sudarshana (Chakra). "No single act on the part of Vishnu can (be performed) without  (the aid of ) tis (Sudarshana). This (shakti) is identical with Vishnu's resolve  (to become active) and starts functioning at the moment of creation. She (Lakshmi) adheres to to her disc-form (chakra) even when sustaining and absorbing creation." (ibid,)

 Thus, the entire process of creation, sustenance and dissolution is associated with Sudarshana disc. She, Devi Lakshmi, says, " This supreme kriyashakti born from a part of myself, belonging to Vishnu  and identical with agni, pervades (the whole creation) from Brahma (the Creator) to a tuft of grass (trunakashta)  in six different courses of creation.  (ibid, p.159).

  The Sudarshana chakra contains all the letters (syllables/akshara). It is represented as a wheel, chakra of Creation and it the axle contains the pairs of tarika and taraka mantra belonging to Vishnu. The sixteen svara letters (alphabets) possess the light of Sun (Surya) and Moon (Soma) occupy the hub of the wheel. The twenty-four letters from ma to ha (occupying the spokes) reach the inner circumference. The letter ksha (varganta) appears round (like pinda) and extends up to the periphery in Sudarshana. 

"Mantrarupini"

 Devi "Shree" is 'mantrarupini'. Devi Lakshmi says, "In the supreme space ( parama-vyoma) I exist as the divine, total and original I-hood adorned with the garland of aksharas, (sounds and letters of alphabets) spanning all space." This is akshare parame vyoman of the Rk Veda! We may deduce from this statement how space is already filled with knowledge- sounds, sllables, words and the meaning of words that create objects meant by the word? By the way, this 'I-hood' (aham-ta) is the very embodiment of Shree Hari Narayana! Lakshmi is not distinct form Shree Hari. Lakshmi is the manifest aspect of Shree Hari Narayana and exhibits all the qualities that we attribute to Him, such as, sarvajnya, sarvantaryami, sarvatantra svatantra, sarvavyapi, As mantrarupini, Lakshmi is the 'Garland of Letters, (akshara maala). The vowels a to am and aH are full of creative power. The consonants starting from ka to na create the pancha bhuta, and the panca indriya to experience them. the Letters- ya, ra, la, va are the turbines, the wheels of energy (shakti chakra) that can be activated in meditative trance (samadhi yoga). The syllables sha, Sha, sa, ha are the very life breath and the sounds of air we inhale, and exhale everyday, supported by the 36 000 nadi (devata) on each side of our heart. We can activate the chakras and gain power/control over the elements. Each syllable lam, vam, ram, yam, ha, Om, so'ham are to be meditated upon (each one may take at least 6 months of incessant meditation)! Thus, the entire mechanism is in-built within us from muladhara (at the end of the spinal cord) to sahasrara via svadhsihtana, manipura, anahata, vishuddhi, ajnya. Thus, mantra japa paves the way for our spiritual development.  Devi Lakshmi says that the mantra is the mode of expression of the universe She has created!

  Mother Lakshmi says, "I am known as the mother of all mantras bestowing both prosperity (yashas) and liberation (mukti/moksha). All mantras surge up like waves from me, the ocean as it were, of Consciousness (chit-sagara). These forms of sounds, lovely as concentration of consciousness and bliss (chit-ananda), evolve out of me as their substratum and repeatedly flow back to me." In fact, when we utter the sacred sounds in praise of Devi, there is vibration (of sound) and resonance that reflect, resound or echo as if from the soul (Atma) to supreme soul, (Paramatma)! This is the efficacy of the mantra. However, the sacred sound or mantra remains just sound (shabhda) is not effective unless it is charged by the flow of energy from the 'guru' (a higher power). This is shaktipaata. Sant Jnyaneshwar gives sixteen ways of this flow of energy, shaktipaata in his Commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita. A mantra may just contain a syllable or a few syllables, a phrase, or a whole sentence. It should be conveyed by an attained guru through whisper in the ear (as it is imparted by the father to son at the time of upanayanam),or imparted sitting close to each other (upa vishat). A mantra is also called 'taraka' (protector) since it protects us.

 

The True Form of the Jiva

  Devi Lakshmi, called 'Shree', narrates how She has created the Universe and the 'true form of the jiva' to Shakra, Indra (See Lakshmi Tantra Ch. 13). She says, "O Shakra, the Anugraha shakti is traditionally known as my fifth power, besides the other five- ichha, srushti, sthiti, laya, tirodana. She assures that She will bestow Her 'grace' on Her ardent devotees, the moment they look to Her for it. She laments, but these jiva are deluded by avidya. This avidya is not actually ignorance, but knowledge covered by desire for worldly pleasures that are insatiable. This avidya is subjected to the (illusion) asmita and overwhelmed by by My anugraha shakti called tirodhana.  These jiva rise and fall and are subjected to bondage in the three realms of their existence. The more a jiva is evolved, the more it gets involved in worldly pursuits and some try to escape this! Only a pure sattvika person transcends the material body.

  To quote Lakshmi Tantra, "Broiling in their own deeds, aaaaa9they, the jiva) are in the very centre of the hot coal that represents mundane life; they inveterately seek happiness but  (instead), owing to ignorance, get crushed by misery. ".... ..  they continuously pass through an endless chain of birth. Inextricably enmeshed in the miseries of the body, senses, mind and intelligence through the results caused by certain deeds or some previous actions (prarabhda karma phala)  jivas are ever subjected to recureent births and deaths and undergo affliction through systematic exertion...."

  These indulgences of the jiva "engender in me endless compassion for these jivas.  I obliterate their sins and ensure that such jivas escape beyond the clutches ofmisery. (this is Her anugraha!)

However, "The precise moment of the descent of this anugraha shakti is known only to Me. It cannot be brought about by human effort, or by any other means." (See also Ka. Upa. 2.23)