Knowledge (Jnyan), Light, and Life

   If we go back to the time when the creation was in its formative state according to the nasadiya sukta of Rk Veda, there was "neither existence, nor existence at the beginningless beginning". Further, "there was darkness kaalarnav, also meaning 'dark water' for ignorance) everywhere", and "pure consciousness only existed" as "chit" (Consciousness). This 'chit' is the manifest form of "sat" that existed as brahman at all times! This "brahman" is unborn and nobody knows what it is! This brahman is variously defined by the learned yogis who have personally visualized it. Hence it is the visioning that helped them to know, to understand and experience the brahman. These visionaries have clarified that brahman can be visualized in transcendental meditative mode and cannot be expresses by thoughts, images, and words. There is no name, form, and function, as yet, and thus, it, "THAT" ('tat') remains beyond expression. However, it is everywhere since it has pervaded the entire creation. In fact, the universe, or brahmanda is only a minuscule particle of what 'brahman' is!

   This 'brahman' is the first ever unmanifest 'nothingness' to emanate from that dynamic silence (mahattanta shanta, shuddha-vidya). From this unmanifest brahman emanated sat, chit and ananda. This 'sat' (existence) was 'asat' (non-existence) since it was obscured. This obscure nature of 'sat' is 'asat'; 'sat' and 'asat' are not two, but one unmanifest manifestation of brahman only.
  'One' only manifests as 'an other' is the fundamental principle. And, as such, all dualities such as knowledge and ignorance, light and darkness, day and night, are not two but one that appears in the absence of the other.There is interesting episode here.

  Once, Darkness (nisha devi) went to brahman and complained that 'Light' (prakasha) is troubling her, not allowing it to appear in its presence. Brahman called 'Light' and asked why he, the Light, is troubling her, 'nisha', the 'Dark', and asked why not allow to coexist? 'Light' simply said, "Sir, it is her ignorance, her true nature, to complain against me. In fact, she darkness, nisha devi, runs away wherever and whenever I make my presence, as per your will." This is exactly the situation here. Whenever Light, Knowledge, sat, truth prevail darkness, ignorance, asat, untruth disappear!

   But the riddle still remains! How come Light comes out of darkness (just like the Sun appearing from the horizon on the morning after a New Moon night)? How did Light appear when there was only darkness everywhere? How did Light particles, photons, appear in Dark Matter in the cosmos? In fact, as we all know, the Sun is always there. But, darkness hovers and covers half the earth when the sun sets in the evening; and, again, light, sun beams, appear when the sun rises again, the next morning. Little do we understand how stars twinkle in the vast space of darkness! How could there be vast dark space between stars and galaxies. All these are of paramount importance in understanding how the earth, its varied life-forms, and all the paraphernalia appeared.The fundamental questions are still unresolved and many of these remain a mystery forever!
   Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has given a very beautiful explanation in this regard. He has analysed the Rk Veda mantra, particularly, the agni sukta and has enlightened as to how the entire universe is evolved and agni pervaded the universe. All that we see is nothing but agnim in one form or the other. Agni Deva only appears as the Sun in the heavens (Svar), the Moon or Soma in the sky (bhuvah), and anala (agni) on this earth. He, the Lord Agni, appears as Vaishvanara in all the jivarashi and lightens the jiva as the vishva in the daily routine activities. He is also the tejasa in the dream and praajnya in the deep sleep state. He is the Light, the heat, the chit, chiti, chetasa, chaitya, chetana, and all that exist!
  Hence, we are none other than Light only. Our Life is nothing but Light, Intellect, chit-shakti and Force (Vital- airs or prana shakti) and Energy (chiti, chetana, chaitanya).

   When the jiva turns its interests away from the phenomenal objective world and turns inward to contemplate on brahman, it gets enlightened. This 'enlightenment', revelation of its true inner Self, clears all the doubts; but, this happens only to that jiva which seeks enlightenment through contemplation on brahman and consistently works for it. Other jivas remain in darkness.
    All the jivas are normally born in ignorance, live through ignorance, and die in ignorance. Only a jiva or two among the billion or, may be, a few among the trillions, ever seek enlightenment and work sincerely for it!