Levels of Existence

   The living beings (jivas) have evolved over time in different forms and acquired the qualities of the earth and its environs. The driving force behind all the living beings is the same. This life-force or prana is the same all the land and aquatic beings, plants, birds and insects; there is no difference between an ant and an elephant! But, the humans never give their attention to this aspect and treat them different. The discrimination between man and man is the real crux of the problem in this world. The basic instincts are the same for all. However, in the case of the humans, they display different levels of mental development and each jiva and each clan behave differently. Anthropologists have gone into these aspects and have traced the development of humans over time and place. It seems the case of India is peculiar here. There were great civilizations in the past and many have disappeared without any trace. The Indus Valley civilization gives some details. The distinct ethnic races, languages, habits, food and dress and other cultural traits of different races are worth a careful study. The modern scientific developments have greatly influenced on the thinking of man. Thus, we find the jivas struggling for an existence still finding it difficult to cope with the changing times. In this background, the question of spiritual development remains a remote possibility for the humans. Most of the people are not bothered about all these and simply accept life as it goes on and Bhagavan Krishna addresses them as mudha (fools), pashu (animals).

   The span of a human being is about 120 years in this kali yuga. It is said that people were taller and lived longer, say 1200 years in dvapara yuga, 12000 years in treta yuga, and 120000 years in satya (kruta) yuga. It is stated that King Pruthu ruled for a Million years and shed light wherever he went! These are narrated in the epics and probably true, too. Each one of these yuga had a God-head in the persons like Rama, Krishna, Buddha, and many great sages also lived in these times. It is possible to attain to the state of God-head by mere contemplation on God-head is the principle! yad bhavam tad bhavati is the rule.

    In the initial stage the child is in the protection of the elders and they imbibe the qualities, sanskar, of the parents and guardians. Some of the qualities are inherited through genes, some re imbibed from the environment, and some under strict instructions of the teachers. Some of the people cross these limitations and establish their own and live differently taking to extreme ways, may be, not approved by the society. All these do not make any sense in the long run since all die miserably in old age and sickness. The time available for any spiritual practice is too short and it is difficult to redeem the soul at one go. Dissolution is the rule than an exception. People are miserable and seek some solace from learned ones. "But, all are sailing in the same old and dilapidated boat that is caught is a storm and there is no way out", says Krishna Bhagavan in the Gita.

    Hence, there is need for satsang, svadhyaya, nidhidhyasana, japa, tapa, yoga or trnascendental meditation.