kundalini (contd.)

  When it is said, the awakening of kundalini leads to enlightenment by the sudden bloom of the thousand-petal lotus in the head (sahasrara) it means the divinity inherent in the person manifests and thereby the person is elevated to a higher level of consciousness, i.e., daiva prajnya. Thus, it is clear that the humans are endowed with power of reaching the ultimate by yoga sadhana. Many determined sadhakas take to any hardship in order to attain this highest level of existence on the earth in human form. They retire to secluded places and take the help of attained persons, siddhi purushas and practice hatha yoga, kundalini, and fulfill their desires of attaining to the full stature possible in this life. Most of us are happy and contented in this worldly life getting some name, fame, wealth, power and before even we think of what else, we die miserable! Why die miserable? This worldly life is a miserable one due to sickness, old age and death. This is the question that bothers any sensible person. With all the worldly attainments, laurels, accolades, the poor creature lies paralysed, or suffering from alzheimer, dementia, cancer and such other ailments. People who see them pity and say, "what a life for such a great man?"  

   In fact, this is exactly the problem that made Siddhartha Gautama go in search of answer. He wanted to know why the people suffer and what is the remedy. He was a prince- young, married, had a small child, and could have enjoyed his life. But, he woke up at the middle of night and left the palace, wandered in the forests for several years and... they say, he attained 'nirvana'. We do not know what is nirvana.  Does this  nirvana means death, mukti, moksha, eternal peace? Who knows? The enlightened person, the Buddha, never spoke a word after that (nirvana / enlightenment)! He became a sakhya muni, a friendly sage in silence. He used to give darshan for an hour in the evenings and people of all age-groups, young and old, used to sit around him in silence and disperse, happy and joyful. A statue of the Buddha delivering His sermons in silence is placed in Darjeeling. Lo, who are the devotees? The deers, the elephant, the peacocks and birds! 

  We do not know whether he really found any solution to the problems of sickness, old age and death and even today we suffer. But, we do not understand the fact that it is the ignorants, the egoistic ones, the people who are clinging to the sensuous life and aggrandizement of physical or intellectual prowess that suffer, and not the wise (jnyanis). It is here we find answer to the worldly, mundane problems. It is definitely possible to overcome the problems that bother us by taking recourse to satsang and spiritual discourses, yogabhyasa, scriptural studies (svadhyaya), dhyana, dharana and finally a state of equanimity (sthitaprajnya). It is very important to know the secret of life and purpose for which the human form is given to us by the grace of God. It is reiterated here that "Paramatma only shrinks to the state of jivatman, takes any form He likes, and runs the errands for His own Self. He, the Lord wants to experience what He has created. He is conscious of His own Self and Conscious of the other He only has created. When He becomes conscious of the other, the world begins; when He becomes conscious of His own self, He goes to yoga nidra. He, the Lord, is Narayana; He takes a journey as a jiva on the earth. He uses our physical body as a carriage, a Taxi Cab, sits in it as paramatman and runs the jivatman all around; finally, He leaves the carriage, our physical body on the way side and departs as Shree Krishna did at the end of the dvapara yuga. 

  This journey of the jiva on the earth is called nara yana, narayana. Many a great saints like Ramadoss shouted from the roof top addressing the passers-by saying, "You mad ones, (hucchappagaliraa in kannada), do not waste your life. the birth human form (manava janma) is given to you (with a purpose) by the divine grace."  But nobody listened to him. They even said, this old man has gone mad.

   Shree Krishna says, "Arjuna, a person may take birth in any lower form like insects, birds and animals due to his thoughts, actions, and deeds, or may even attain to Me".  Do we understand this statement of the Gita?

  We do not realize the greatness of the human form in which we are living. The human form is the ideal one to pursue spiritual practices such as asanas, pranayama, samadhi and bring all the dispersed energy (vital airs/pranas) and turn it towards God and attain God-hood. The Upanishads say that the human form only enables a person to get back to the divine status from which it arrived here on this earth where it suffers hunger, ailments or sickness, old age and death, Moreover, even if the Puranic Gods and Goddesses like yama, indra, etc of lower ranks (not the Vedic Gods who elemental ones) want to attain to the highest 'brahman' they have to take a human form and take to spiritual practices (see kathopanishad). Thus, strict practice of ashtanga yoga sutras such as - yama, niyama, pratyahara, Ishvara pranidana, asana, pranayama, dharana and samadhi are essential to make our life meaningful, and our journey on this mrutyu loka is to end. Everyone can become immortal in the sense that he/she need not fear death and there will be no rebirth (punarjanma na vidyate, assures the Lord Krishna. The most important and that too immediate benefit is good health till the last breath and a very peaceful death without being dependent.Everybody wants a peaceful death and nobody wants to strive for it. We have seen some divine soul simply passing away without any suffering!

  We can definitely make our old age happy, joyful, and peaceful if we take to Shree Krishna's advice to Arjuna in the Gitopadesha seriously. First, one should be aware of 'who he/she is" ; this is jnyana, viveka and vairagya. There is no way out but to realize the self through yoga as advised by Lord Shree Krishna in the Gita. One should give up sensuousness and attachment to worldly life, at least after 70 years of age. It is absolutely essential to give up all wealth (keeping a little just for survival, day-to-day needs for oneself). This will bring ample peace. This happened to Rockefeller who met Swami Yogananda paramahansa. When Rockfeller complained of his sleeplessness Swami asked him, who he is. Rockefeller told him that he was the richest man in USA at the time. Swami advised him, "then give away all your riches, you will be happy". In fact Rockefeller said all these Indian yogis are fraud, they want our wealth and went away. After two days he contemplated on what Swami Yogananda had said, and soon realized that all his problems were rooted in this wealth. So next day, he came back to Swami, paid his respects and placed the pen and a signed check leaf and asked Swamiji to write any amount he wants and gave away his mansion to him for the yogada ashrama (see Autobiography of a Yogi by Swami  Paramahansa Yogananda).
    Our attachment (moha) is our problem. Our desires are our problem. We see many lying in ICUs on ventilator on oxygen and food given through pipes. The jiva is suffering (albeit, there is no consciousness) but the life-force, prana, is not leaving the body, and rich people suffer more! Doctors and Hospitals also take advantage and fleece them.

  Then, why not start spiritual journey? Take the first step with satsang, meet wise people who are not interested in worldly affairs, gossip, and spend their time always reading and talk about divine aspects and scriptures.  Half the problems are solved. Although one cannot avoid death, at least one can keep his/her conscience clean by 'yajnya' (sacrifice) dana (donations) and tapas (dhyana/ meditation) as advocated by the Lord (Bhagavad-Gita).  These spiritual practices will bring immense peace and happiness in old age.
  Unfortunately, a person, however intelligent, successful in worldly life, or willing to take to yoga, will not think of these spiritual aspects of life during his prime life time, particularly when he was healthy, fit to take to yoga, and repents later. It is the karma that prevents! It is  the Lord's privilege to bestow His grace and jnyana, viveka and vairagya to whoever He wants. It is all due to  purva punya, daiva anugraha, adrushtha, and may be, his/her ardent desire to seek mukti. When the seeker is earnest and his desire is towards redemption his cries will be heard! "You seek, ye shall get" says the Lord.  Remember: "yoginaam brahmaa bhavati sarathi"- like Lord Shree Krishna driving the Chariot of Arjuna.

  However, there comes a "turning point" in everybody's life. There is divine intervention, a total change comes, and such persons will not turn back! It is for this divine intervention, Lord's grace, anugraha, that we should pray the Lord. Chant the name of the Lord and walk into the realms of God. There is a beautiful Marathi abhang: "koi Shree Hari bhaje ...  ..  ..parama pada pavega" beautifully sung by Bharata Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. This is available of youtube. The Lord dances in front of him who prays or chides Him. See in youtube and hear Sant Nama Deva and Brahmananda's abhangs in Marathi sung by Bhimsen Joshi. The highest level of Bhakti mixed with jnyana will redeem one and all. Kundalini rises without any effort and brings sahasrara level of consciousness, daiva prajnye and this is fulfillment, purushartha sadhane..  .