Chaithanya

The feeling of “I” and “Mine” has caused considerable amount of pain and suffering to the humanity. When the feeling of “I” boosts our ego, the feeling of “Mine” develops attachment. We belong to the exclusive club and we like uniqueness in presenting ourselves and exclusivity in possessing things. Even in casual conversations, we mention that we like something unique about a particular person. In businesses, people do ask “What is your unique business proposition?” or “What are the differentiators?” I have heard people talk about their collectibles passionately that there are only 50 unique pieces made. When men talk about what is so unique about their cars, mobile phones, watches, etc., women talk about their jewelries, designer dresses, hand bags, etc.

When we refer to our body or mind, we ask, “My body is hurting” or “my mind is cluttered”. Who is “My’ here in this statement is often not understood by us because we don’t seriously inquire “Who am I?” as suggested by Bhagawan Ramana. We also passionately refer to our spouse and children as “My wife/husband” and “My children”. If we are not this body or mind and then who are we? When we refer to as “My”, what are we referring to? We fail to understand that our body and mind are transient and tools that are gifted to us for one life time similar to our spouse and children.

[FONT=&quot]Bhagawan Sri Ramakrishna said “The feeling of ‘I and mine’ has covered the Reality. Because of this we do not see Truth. Attainment of Chaitanya (Divine Consciousness), is not possible without the knowledge of Advaita (Non-duality). After realizing Chaitanya one enjoys Nityananda (Eternal Bliss). One enjoys this Bliss after attaining the state of a Paramahamsa”.
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[FONT=&quot]If we find the Truth, we become righteous and if we become righteous, we understand the power of love. If we love every life around us, we achieve peace and if we achieve peace, we understand the value of non-violence. But how do we find the Truth? Maya is clouding the bright light that emanates from the Truth. If we remove the veil of Maya such as “I” and “Mine”, the Truth will be revealed. Many take the path of worshiping the power of divinity in different names and forms but duality continues as long as we have the concept of “divinity over there and I am over here”. It helps us to discipline the mind but eventually we have to realize that power of divinity is omnipresent and whatever is helping the conditions of the nature (Macrocosm) is also helping the individual life (Microcosm). Can we study the scriptures and make our way to understand the Truth? Well, we can investigate to find the Truth in the scriptures but again it is limited by our own comprehension.
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[FONT=&quot]Unless one experiences the Truth, one can’t comprehend it. Our life consist of set of tools such as Body, Mind and Intellect (“BMI”) and series of experiences would become a waste unless there is a bundle of principles evolving out of the tools and experiences. Experiences are invaluable only if we get the lessons out of them. We have to move away from exclusivity and uniqueness into inclusivity and expansiveness. We have to sanctify our thoughts, words and actions understanding this inclusivity and expansiveness. Life of ours is created for a reason and that is to learn Truth and the only way to accomplish that is to experience and recognize it.
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[FONT=&quot]The education has no value unless it produces results for the welfare of the community around us. Going to the place of worship dressed up well and listen to the sermons is meaningless unless we recognize the sufferings of the people living on our way and do something about it. Hands that serve is holier than the lips that pray. We need to narrow down our mind to focus on the welfare of the community and expand our heart to feel and help the people in need. Shrugging of uniqueness and exclusivity to feel and experience the Truth and get on Chaithanya by seeing the oneness of all creations is the purpose of life.[/FONT]

 

Dear @Suryakala,

Thank you for your first response and appreciation. I always value your feedback.

Viswa

 

Dear Smt. Jayasala:

How can I accept a stalwart who had spent many years studying scriptures as ordinary mortal? In fact, I learn more from your responses. Frankly, I know my limitations and whatever I write is to elicit responses from stalwarts like you. This kind of interaction makes me feel happy and learn more as to how to apply whatever knowledge I gain from such responses in real life. Let all the praise go to the One that makes me delve into such thoughts so that I remain not overwhelmed by the burden of "I" and "Mine".

I can't explain in words how eloquently you have presented that true devotion can take someone to the end goal. You reminded me about "Markada Kishora" and "Marjala Kishora" concept. In one situation, the Lord trusts the devotee like the Monkeys jumping between the trees trusting their young ones that their strong grip on their mothers would keep them safe as opposed to devotees trusting the Lord as in case of the kitten trusting the cats to negotiate small holes carrying the kitten in their mouths. The end result of Bhakthi should increase the feeling of Oneness with the divine like Meera or Gopikas without which Bhakthi is not complete.

Thank you for educating me with that wonderful poem written by poetess Subadra Kumari Chowhan. What can be a better gift to the Lord than Atmanivedhanam? If Bhakthi results in understanding Advaitha Siddhantha, it serves its purpose. Stressing on the significance of sincerity, purity of mind and devotion in worship, Lord Sri Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita (9th canto sloka #26),"Patram pushpam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati tad aham bhakty-upahritam ashnami praytatmanah" which means whoever offers Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, that I accept, offered with pure-mind and devotion. My Guru in His discourse gave the following explanation for Bhagavan Krishna's Teachings as follows;

"What is 'pathram'? It is not the ' leaf' that you see around you. The inner meaning is that your body itself is the leaf. Flower is not the one in the plants but it is the flower of your heart, "Hridhaya Pushpam". 'Phalam' is not the ordinary fruit but 'Manophalam' (the fruit of your mind). 'Thoyam' means water but what is referred to here is not the water from the river or tap. It refers to the tears of joy welling up within you from a sincere and prayerful heart."

I take your response as words of encouragement for a seeker and I pray to the Lord to humble me with your kind words.

Viswa

 

Dear Syamala,

It is not a difference of opinion and it is the Maya that makes all of us think there is nothing wrong in the feelings such as "I", "Mine" and "Attachments". It is our mind that makes us believe that we are the body, mind and intellect and is permanent in nature. Only way we can successfully come out of this Maya is by asking questions which is what you have done here.

I am sure you contemplated on a thought of why this world came into existence. I have heard the reasons explained by my Guru as well as Rev. Berg in his book, "Nano Technology the mind over the matter". God wanted to love and be loved. He decided to replicate One into many and hence created this world. However, the world would not separate from Him as His Satwic Guna is so strong. Therefore, He created the life that is capable of receiving His Love and Grace. That is why we have Tamosic Guna (Indolence) to be selfish and receive Love and Grace. Still the life was not happy as it is difficult to receive Love and Grace without doing any action. Moreover, life was reluctant to receive Love and Grace without giving anything in return. Therefore, God created the third Guna called Rajasic (Passion) that would help them perform actions with commitment and intend to give something back. Therefore, a life is moving from one Guna to another constantly. Whenever, Satwic Guna dominates, the urge to merge with the God is very high. When Tamosic Guna dominates, the life is having an inner feeling of unrest needing assistance and is ready to receive Love and Grace and whenever the Rajasic Guna dominates, the life is ready to perform action with a thought that it would get results with the Grace of the Lord. This three Gunas are in every cell of each life in the form of Proton, Electron and Neutron, one element that is capable of giving, one element that is capable of receiving and one element that is capable of receiving with an intent to give. This explains why love is the only ingredient that sustains this world.

That is why learned people suggested three paths to liberation known as Bhakthi Yoga, Karma Yoga and Gnana Yoga, each one helping those who have predominant Tamosic, Rajasic and Satwic Gunas.

The Truth is everyone of us came from the same source and every life we see around us is nothing but reflection of our own Self. Unfortunately, saying this does not bring that awareness. Unless one experiences this, one does not understand this Truth.

I am giving below some of the select quotes of the Man of the Century Albert Einstein who is arguably one of the best scientist the world has produced in a century.

"A human being is a part of the whole, called by us Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest-a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole nature in its beauty."

"The human mind is not capable of grasping the Universe. We are like a little child entering a huge library. The walls are covered to the ceilings with books in many different tongues. The child knows that someone must have written these books. It does not know who or how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. But the child notes a definite plan in the arrangement of the books—-a mysterious order which it does not comprehend, but only dimly suspects."

"The finest emotion of which we are capable is the mystic emotion. Herein lies the germ of all art and all true science. Anyone to whom this feeling is alien, who is no longer capable of wonderment and lives in a state of fear is a dead man. To know that what is impenetrable for us really exists and manifests itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, whose gross forms alone are intelligible to our poor faculties - this knowledge, this feeling ... that is the core of the true religious sentiment. In this sense, and in this sense alone, I rank myself among profoundly religious men."

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity."

"Only a life lived for others is a life worth while."

I am sorry about this long response. I hope the above information helps in your quest to know the Truth.

Viswa