What we mostly see around us as
spiritual seekers or teachers of yoga are not what they should be, with exception,
of course. Self-Realization (Atma
sakshatkara) is not easy. Those who have attained to this highest state of
spiritual state, pure consciousness,
do not have any interest in worldly affairs for they have crossed the Mental-mental state of evolution
and have stepped into Spiritual realm
(See Aurobindo) after discarding conscious awareness of their mundane
existence, albeit, they spend time here till they cast off their physical body.
They live a life of absolute bliss unaware of the happenings to other
earthlings. This should not be construed as a selfish way of life since these
blessed souls have been emancipated, redeemed, or liberated! They rejoice in
Brahmn consciousness.
Sri Krishnananda, Shivananda Ashrama, Hrishikesh, says: “Nothing that
comes from outside is of any help in attaining to the knowledge of the Self.’
In fact, thousands of teachers and preachers go on talking and talking without
any substance. Many do not know what they are talking about. This can be
verified from their life style. If some boast of 50,000 followers, some boast of
400 ashrams all over the world; some say, they have never read a scripture in
their life but still talk like “devil quoting the scriptures’. The truth is
very simple: “If i suffer from stomach pain, i only should take the medicine”.
Unless i learn to sit in a place for just two minutes a day nothing is
possible. The first step is taken when you take a crash course in
Transcendental meditation and ashtanga yoga. It must be remembered, the
first four steps of Patanjali yoga sutra such as yama, niyama, pratyahara and Ishvara pranidana can never be followed
in this life.
It seems impossible to attain to Samadhi remaining in worldly life,
hearing lectures on philosophy, religion and spiritualty. This is the reason
why some serious seekers leave everything and rush to Himalayas and undergo
tremendous hardships. We want bed-tea and timely breakfast, lunch and dinner
and friends to chat, and at the same time aspire for enlightenment! Lo! There
are gurujis and swamijis who advice to stay in family, develop anasakti yoga,
get vairagya. The result is riding two horses (suti and asuti) at the
same time. Contemplation, dharana and Samadhi are very important for attainment
of atma jnyan and emancipation. This
needs solitude.
An attempt is made here to present
altogether a different version of our understanding of the universe, and our
place in an ever-changing universescape in the light of recent findings in
physical and biological sciences, as well as, the ancient scriptures. In fact,
even the existing scientific theories are subject to change, but not the
findings in Vedanta. What is so special about it? It is intuitional knowledge (shuddha vidhya) derived from a
transcendental state, meditative or contemplative mode is samadhi, that needs
no proof (pramANa).
Some people believe in things
happening, luck or fate, divine will ruling the jiva’s
life and work while others assert that they are their own masters!
According to the Gita, things should happen by will of God! The Lord says, it is my lila! Jnyanis say,
“Oh Lord, not a blade of grass stirs without your will”;
na trunamapi chalati te na vinaa |
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