E = m.c2

   E = m.c2 is the Title of a book, a scientist's inquiry into the true nature of existence. Sri Virarajeshvara, an IBM computer scientist, worked in USA, returned to India and settled down in his ashram near Hosur 22 KM from Bengaluru. His spiritual quest ended with his samadhi in 2016. His autobiography reveals how he was disappointed with the worldly existence, particularly when he witnessed the attitude,behavior, life of the people in the West. He remained a bachelor and wandered all over the world. Often he returned to India leaving his job and searched for the real meaning of life. He met almost all the famous Swamis in remote corners of India and had discussion with them. He was a yoga expert and was unhappy the way yoga was taught in the yoga institutes. Finally, his book is quite a revelation. He had a clear understanding about spiritual attainments. He narrates how 'Atma-jnyan' is attained and it seems he was an attained soul.

   There are many scriptures that specifically deal with 'Atma-jnyan'. Atmopanishad, Maitrayani Upanishad; Bhavanopanishad, and many others deal with Atma-jnyan. The Bhagavad-Gita is, indeed, a very beautiful scripture that ultimately leads a spiritual seeker to spiritual attainment. What is required is total faith; even blind faith will do. Unless there is firm faith and devotion no spiritual attainment is possible. Bhagavan assures that He will redeem all those who surrender to Him with full faith. The Lord demands total devotion. He would appreciate if the jiva drops all its desires and works its way according to His will. Any doubt in Him will not redeem the jiva. He, the Lord, is all powerful, omnipotent (sarvashakta), all-knowing (omniscient) and shall liberate us from ignorance. If we do not trust Him, it is our fate! When He, the Lord, is always looking at us and taking care of us, if we do not even look for Him and pray, we are so ungrateful that we do not deserve His grace. samshayatma vinashyati |  

   There are some who argue that Bhagavan is no where to be found and it is foolish to talk about all these! Well, there is no answer to the queries of non-believers. The so called believers, too, have not been able to convincingly explain all these spiritual matters. In fact, this spiritual quest is not concerning any third person, a hypothetical seeker. There is no seeker besides one's self. I should take the medicine if I am suffering from any ailment. Somebody need not work for me in this matter; so also in this spiritual quest. However, Sri Ramakrishna took on himself redeeming the non-believer Girish Upadhyaya, a great stage artist whose drama Sri Ramakrishna, personally enjoyed; he was so impressed with his talent, felt so sad at the way of his life, that he took pity on him and tried to initiate him. Finally, he became such a fan that he worked one hour extra in meditation for the sake of his redemption! It is stated that it is more beneficial if one can pray for others.

    This world is full of skeptics, non-believers, and doubting Thomases. It is none of our concern to worry about someone else, an other jiva, that is enjoying a worldly life and does not bother to know its inner strength and weaknesses. It is too early to expect it, too. One cannot think of a jiva to develop an other-worldly (paaramarthika) interest and work for it. All jivas are moving in a long journey and each one has reached a certain station in its life. Only a few jivas have reached or come nearer to their destination, only to take another birth soon; and, none ever thinks of a return journey towards the home departing from the earth once and for all. In fact, the jiva has to become pure enough like a photon, a spark of fire, discarding all that one has acquired.