Prakruti and Purusha

       purushah prakrutibhyo hi bhukte prakrutijangunan |

  Meaning, the purusha and prakruti are the constituents of everything like the seed and its tree! The jiva is occupied by the Atman; in other words, the 'Atman' has created its shell, body. The body experiences the quality of nature. The jiva is made of nature (the elemental prakruti) and, thus, experiences the quality of nature. In other words, the humans exhibit the quality of nature, prakrutijan gunan, the qualities born out of its food, air, and water. It is not the quality of the purusha, but it is the quality of the nature.

   the terms 'purusha' and 'prakruti' are the attributes of a single entity, a mass of energy in some form and function, that too the qualities attributed by our intelligence! there is neither a 'purusha' nor a separate prakruti apart from purusha in the strict sense of the terms! It may be stated that the 'purusha's inherent energy only manifests as ''.  ''purusha' (person) is the one who enters the 'pura' (body). The Vedic doctrine is tat srushtva tadevanprvishat |  meaning, "Having created creation, the Creator entered it". The Creator is none other than the 'purusha'  and the creation is the 'pura'. It is the same as the core of the substance and the 'Atman' in the 'jiva! The jiva is made of flesh and blood in a skeletal body and the prana inheres it!

    The entire universe consisting of galaxies, stars and their planets and satellites, some of the stars producing their planets and satellites, the basic building blocks are primarily the gaseous elements. The elements and compounds, minerals and rocks (soil) and water go to make all that we see as the earth and its myriads of life forms, as well! Thus, the 'pura' is the universe and the core of the substance is the purusha aspect 'Energy' (particle of hydrogen/oxygen?), for us for all practical purposes here. Thus, there is nothing but hydrogen, oxygen,carbon and their compounds such as carbohydrates and hydro-carbons that go to make the life forms, as well! 

   The entire universe is nothing but 'Energy'.  All that we know here is nothing but 'Energy'.  Energy is basis of all that exists. This aspect of 'Energy' is the central theme of all scientific studies. may it be a biological, chemical or physical constituent it is the energy at the core of the substance that gives it some existence. It is the Sun at the center of the solar system and it is the solar radiation as energy that creates the paraphernalia of all this earthly existence. It all starts with hydrogen, helium, oxygen nitrogen, carbon and the like that go to make the building bricks here.

    

Desire, Fulfillment or Disillusionment

  The Buddha arrived at the conclusion that 'Desire' is at the root of all unhappiness. But he did not elaborate on the aspect of desire, its origin and fulfillment or disillusionment. The mute point is "Whose desire is it, after all?" The scriptures make these points explicitly very clear and explain the concept of creation and narrates the process of creation in great detail. Let there be no confusion as to the source of creation. It is the desire of the supreme Lord, His will. He desired. He willed. He thought, "He thought, He is One, and decided (desired, willed) to become many!" eko'ham, bahusyam | Thus, the entire universe, the cosmic entity is the product of the desire, will, decision of the Lord. One may ask who is this Lord? The supreme Lord, the 'One' is variously described by the jnyanis, the learned saints, Rishis, the knowledgeable ones as 'That' (tyat), brahmn. It is clearly stated as: tad brahmaa, tad vishnu, tad sarvam, tat paramam padam | Everything is 'tat' (That) inexplicable One! sarvam khaluvidam brahma |

   Bhagavan Shree Krishna sates in the Gita Creation is His will, magical powers, His prakruti and it is His yoga maya and even tells Arjuna; Look at my yogamaishvaram! pashya me yogamiashvaram |    There is no doubt that everything we see, hear, experience here is the yogamaishvaram of the Lord! But, then the question arises as to 'what this karma is and why this suffering of the jiva? It is the misconception that the jiva undergoes karma and the sufferings or joys and miseries of life. The jiva does not have anything of its own since everything is 'His' and 'Him'? The Lord goes on to make it clear that "He only exists and nothing exists besides Him!" He, the Lord, promises to take care of us if we realize this truth and surrender to Him, see yogaksemam vahamyaham | But, we do not know Him, His ways, or His will and our ego will not permit us to surrender to Him. Here again, this ego, our ahamkar is also not ours! It is 'ahanta', the Self-ness! It is the Rudra Shatiya (Rk Veda Mandala VII) who resides in us. His own divine plan, the purpose of life, is to make us realize the truth! 

   Now, what all are this life's trouble and turmoils are of our own making due to lack of knowledge and will to surrender to Him. It seems as though the supreme Lord has taken a journey in different forms and functions to experience His creation here. tat srishtva tadevanupravishat | It is His will, He takes different forms and experiences as the enjoyer (bhoktru), as also, the enjoyed (bhogya). He is the sacrificial Fire and He only is the havis, offered to the Fire. 'Agni' and 'svaha' |

   Now, as to the main questions, "whose karma" and "who suffers", the answer is: "it is the jiva and not the jivatman that suffers!" The jiva is a biological, physical entity of flesh and bones, and the jivatman is the spiritual entity of 'pranic energy' derived from the subtler-most source, almost invisible, as if a non-existent entity! The spiritual entity manifests as the physical entity in the form of radiation, vibration, waves and sounds. Thus, the joys and sufferings are that of neither the physical body nor the soul. It is the creation of adjuncts such as the mind, the intellect, the ego, and the senses that act and react with the brain cells. Although the joy and sufferings are not that of the Atman, or the Soul, it is stated that the Soul is experiencer, bhoktru, in the Gita! However, it cannot be denied here that the Soul is an embedded spiritual entity, and it is this Soul, Atman, that gets itself embodied due to ignorance, avidya, as per the scriptures. This ignorance, avidya, is not actually lack of knowledge, but it is the knowledge covered by attachment, ego, desires, anger, pride and prejudices, greed, selfishness, etc. like the bright light covered by a, ornamental cover or sunshine overshadowed by a passing chunk of cloud. The knowledge dawns when ignorance is shed off, the light shines when the cover is removed, or the sun shines as soon as the cloud passes! So also, the jivatman becomes happy and blissful as soon as it realizes its true nature.
   The jiva, as a physical entity, seems to suffer due to its actions driven by the desires. It is the unbridled freedom given to it by the Lord that prompts it to act ignorantly, senselessly, whimsically, and suffer the consequences of its action. The jiva has absolute freedom to think and act since He, the Lord only is seated within it and gives it the freedom! The Supreme Lord is free and, so also, is the jiva embodied by the Atman. So whom do you attribute all these karma, action and reaction, and the consequent joys and miseries? These are beautifully explained in the Gita- Ch. 13 verse 21.

   Hence, the jiva should realize its true nature of existence and evolve into a divine state of existence! There is no blame game here, as it is karma that one suffers or enjoys as a result of the frivolous mind, and its attitude and behavior. It is ultimately dharma that prevails. It (dharma) is the right way of living- right thoughts, right action, and right way of life. It is all about sadguna, sadvichara, sadachara and sat-sanga that help us. 

   Fulfillment lies in the attainment to the truth, realization of the 'Self', Atma sakhatkara. Disillusionment lies in worldly aspirations and the futility that accompanies it even when the desires are fulfilled! There is no end to our desire or its satiation. There is a gap between the time one aspires, desires, works hard for it, and the time the desire is fulfilled. Time eats away the fervor, the joy of attainment. Hence no worldly attainment is joyful permanently. At best, it may give some satisfaction, joy or happiness momentarily. No permanent happiness ensues from worldly attainments. Permanent bliss is attained from the realization of the Self.  The Gita says, "One who is established in the Self is equanimous, the happiest!" Atmanyevaatmano thishthah ... ...tasya prajnya pratisthitaa|

Rashtra Dharma

The great epics of India highlight the principles of Rashtra dharma, the fundamental principle of national interests and the rights and duties of citizens. The Court that sentenced the fmr CM Lallu Prasad  remarked that he did not discharge his national duty well! Now it has become a fashion (a passion) for some pseudo-intellectuals to denigrate the nation where they live. These people think it is progressive to find fault with everything the ruling party does and say that it is prerogative to oppose since the Constitution gives freedom of speech? The Parliamentarians in the Opposition are the worst lot who forget that they are the citizens of the Country first and the Government is a legally elected one! They even forget that the right to frame the policies and programs and to govern the country rests with the majority party? They do not hesitate to call a group of people as such and such if they do not support their line of thinking, particularly when they are anti-national in thoughts, words and action?

    Hence, it is important to define the principle of nationalism. First, the land we have inherited is more important than the land where we go in search of livelihood. Second we owe a duty to land where we earn our livelihood and necessarily we should obey the laws of that land. It is needless to say that we must obey the laws of the land where we are born and where we live. Dharma lies in respecting others right, as good as our own? So there is no place for dissension whatsoever when it comes to the laws of the land! It is heretic amounting to treason to think and act against the laws of the land, the rulers of the land and the lawful citizens of the land where we live? Rights are subject to duties and there are no specific exclusive rights to anybody, any group when it comes to dharma, Dharma is divine law and all the subjects are expected to follow it. Dharma protects only those who abide by dharma. Others perish. 

   There are fools who say people and their rights are more important. There can be no people without land and land can be there without people. So obey the natural law. It is the basic understanding that the people of the land are subject to the laws of the land (framed by the locals, not the invaders?).

   Hence, the scripture of Manu or, no Manu's dictates, it is necessary for every citizen to obey the laws enacted by the Parliament.

FREEDOM

   'Freedom' is a very sacred precious word.Every living or non-living being loves freedom so much that one's freedom becomes a bondage of the other! A river seeks freedom from its banks, so also, a tiny creature seeks freedom from capture and enslavement. Even a tree bleeds when somebody cuts it! What is this 'freedom' that is so precious, so sanctified and enshrined in all constitutions or dharma shastra. No one shall cross his/her limits, maryada, to restrict the freedom of others. One's freedom is bound by the Rule- 'that far and no further' . One can stretch his hands or legs only to such extent that it does not touch others! Hence one must know that there is no such thing as 'unbridled freedom'.

   There are three important types of freedom one can exercise. One, the freedom of the physical existence. The body has its own limitations and it works within that. Second, the mind is almost always free, but certainly it works within certain limits. Third, the soul is totally free and never gets entangled in any sort of existence! This third freedom is the one that every jiva relishes,aspires, and wants to enjoy not knowing that it is already 'free' due to avidya, nescience.

   As long as the jiva is apart of the cosmic existence it has no freedom whatsoever! Anything happening anywhere in the cosmos affects it! This is how the jiva is a product of nature and has no free existence on its own. Social contract theory explains how "Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains!" There is no absolute freedom in the social, economic, political spheres of life and one can never hope to enjoy that. freedom is limited in all these spheres.

  When it comes to the mind, there is no such thing as freedom here at all! Only a yogi, who controls the mind is free. He is the master and all his senses, mind, intellect, ego surrender to him and he rules it from the seat of the soul! This is real freedom. There are many examples like Ashtavakra, Avadhoota, Raikva, etc who have demonstrated what freedom is! This level of understanding is necessary to live free and die free!
    Now, as to the means of attaining absolute freedom, the ancient scriptures give us detailed description about all these.  the fundamental basis of freedom is sacrifice. sacrifice, tyaga,  is very important. freedom lies in sacrifice. the entire universe runs on the basis of sacrifice, yajnya, tyaga. Be free by getting rid of all thos that bind you. these include attachment, ego, greed, avarice, jealous, etc. It is stated that knowledge brings freedom. But knowledge also brings bondage. One has to give up what all that is acquired since birth in order to be free as the jiva was before its embodiment and embedded state. Hence freedom lies in sacrifice.
   Whoever is established in the Self is free. A person of equanimous mind 'sthitaprajnya', the one unperturbed by the external happenings is really free, happy and joyful for ever. 

Secularism

   Hindu dharma knows only one thing. It is all-inclusive and follows the doctrine of the entire world as one family- vasudhaiva kutumakam. Further, the Hindu dharma advocates equality, fraternity, justice and oneness. Those who landed in Malabar, Kerala, Goa, Orissa, or Bengal coast have stayed here due to this 'dharma', kindness of our people. India offered food and shelter to all those who came here as refugees, sharanarthi. But the perverted ones misused the goodness of our people and made some of our own natives as refugees!. This is the bane of India. Too much of goodness is bad. But, we still follow our dharma and pay for  it?

  The term 'secularism' has become a convenient tool in the hands of some mischievous politicians, They neither know the meaning of the term, nor do they practice it. What is important here is to know that the term 'secularism' is used by those who are not born in Bharata. These secularists are the grand children of the invading tribes,foreigners who ruled India for several hundreds of years coming from Western Countries! It is this 20 per cent of Indian citizens who are not native born who talk of secularism. We the hundred crore Hindu population never use this word. It is the ploy of the pseudo-Gandhis who wanted to stay in power despite their minority in the country. So, beware of these tricks played by dirty Congress???   

Happiness

Human evolution is clearly explained in all the shruti and smruti Texts.The very idea of creation itself is a joy. The supreme Lord Himself explained: 'eko'ham, bahusyam | meaning, "I am One and shall become many." Thus, He manifests in multifarious forms. Now, the problem of happiness, joy or misery has to be exclaimed in the light of the scriptural sayings. Human form is not the ultimate in the evolution. It is almost the middle one- starting from the lower germs and worms, viruses, insects, and the like to the fish, frog, and monkey and man, to higher and higher manes or pitrus, devi devata, Rishis, and the trinity- Hari, Hara, Brahma! (see Ch. XV Verse 1- 'urdhvamula ashvatham...'). All these creations come within the clutches of time, space, causality and will not give any enduring happiness. There is always a change involved here. This is what is explicitly stated in the Gita by none else than Bhagavan Shree Krishna. He Himself manifests in different forms as per vibhuti yoga!

   Thus, the state of human evolution is one of gross, mundane existence. There are subtler aspects that are to be clearly understood. Now, the question of happiness is one of the mind and the senses. The body is a gross entity and has no intelligence and experience on its own. Happiness is not that of the hand while eating, or of the legs while walking to a concert or cinema hall. The senses and limbs work as per the direction of the mind and the ego. Unless the mind shows any interest there is no action on the part of the body. Hence the Gita lays emphasis on mind control, yoga.

   It is also stated that the joy or happiness experienced by the jiva at human level with the gross body may be one as compared to 100 of the manes/pitrus who have been promoted from gross to subtler (body-less but anthahkarana- mind and feelings intact!) state. This is the reason why we perform certain rites regularly for the departed souls of elders to get their blessings! The happiness of the devi devata is also a hundred times more than the pitrus since they too have anthahkarana towards the jiva rashi. The happiness of the jnyani, Rishis and saints and sadhu who revel in higher conscious devoid of human aspirations and worldly sensuous joy is said to be a million times more! Most of the learned spiritual aspirants take to yoga and stay in samadhi to experience this bliss as much as possible. These jnyani have realized that no permanent joy, happiness, or bliss can be experienced in a fleeting world of time! All relations are mere ploy! No happiness can come from worldly relationships. So, Bhagavan advises us to keep away from desires, withdraw mind and senses from worldly joys and go to a solitary place and meditate on me, regularly. This will give immense happiness.

  Hence, one should aspire to reach the state of mahat ananda or Brahmananda experience the eternal happiness, instead of the sensuous, whimsical temporal joys invariably accompanied by its opposite of misery!    

Destiny, Luck, Hard Work or Divine Grace?

   Life is an enigma. Little do we know when we take birth 'Where', 'Why' and 'How'.  Certainly it is not just a chance but a well designed way with a purpose that one is born! The fundamental principle is that "Atman knows all. Atmavaivedgm sarvam | There are many advocates of 'karma theory' who firmly believe that it is prarabhda karma that dictates life. as far as one can think it is the cause and effect, besides the 'Will' of the Lord work in designing life. It is the desire, will, resolve that takes shape in action that promote a life. Many a lives are stunted in growth, twisted and turned of, or even cut off! What governs life is thus left to an unknown factor- 'destiny'. However it is also true that the jiva takes a journey on this planet by sheer divine will since every minute detail of the jiva's sojourn is encrypted, well written in the horoscope! So there is nothing to be left to chance here?

   Now, may be, the life and work of a jiva is of no consequence? It is just a biological entity. Yes. it is true true that a jiva is a skeletal body and a mass of flesh and blood. The growth and development of the body may be attributed to food, environment and genes. The subtler aspects of mind and moods, intelligence, ego, desires and dreams, the thoughts, ideas and actions cannot be attributed to the physical body, not even to the brain. It is a complex system governed by divine will. In the Vedic sense, it may be said that the supreme Lord only takes a journey through different forms as per His will and desire and runs through without leaving us any clue as to the questions raised above.The Lord only knows why He creates and enters it as prana, prajnye, manas, buddhi, ahankara and presents a picture of the world we witness. There is no plausible explanation to whatever happens here since the Lord has all the prerogatives. Time is the healer of joints whether he gives us joy or happiness, success or failure, or whatever is His will. kaalaya tasmai namah | This is not in any way an escapist view.