Chapter IV
Be unaffected by illusion
The intellect (buddhi) in us is the witness of all
things in this objective world. These worldly things limit and colour the
intellect; they affect it and mould it into consciousness (chaithanya). Illusion (maya)
is only the intellect as affected by everything, as warped and twisted by the
impressions of everything. Therefore, the spiritual consciousness that is
unaffected by illusion —i.e. upon which the world has failed to produce any
impression— is the Lord (Iswara).
Therefore, the person
who is striving to reach the stage of the Lord must be unaffected by illusion,
unimpressed by the world! How can one remain so unaffected? Through analysis,
ratiocination, fearless inquiry, and pure reason. To acquire this analytical
reason (viveka), sharing in the task
of promoting the welfare of every being in nature is essential.
Introspection by a
devotee
The very essence of the above has been
covered elaborately in the last 2 satsanghs on Moksha Gita, while the subjects
Maya and Avidya were dealt with. They are available in the youtube channel.
Even when a Jiva is gripped by Illusion
or avidya, he continues to be divine in essence. So, this contradiction
of being divine and existing as totally non-divine is the struggle which
a human being carries with him for several births till the time he takes to
spiritual path seriously, as Swami mentions as “ person who is striving to
reach the stage of the lord…..”
First, good qualities; later, the absence of qualities
The passing show, this
world (jagath), is based on illusions
(maya). That is why it is branded
“false”. But do not conclude that mere recognition of the falsity of the world
or an awareness that one has certain shortcoming will lead one on the higher
path and take one to the highest truth.
Without a good character
full of sterling qualities, one can never achieve progress in the spiritual
field. Progress depends on the worth and quality of the individual, just as the
harvest depends on the fertility of the field. Upon such a worthy piece of
land, sow the seeds of sterling qualities and irrigate with the waters of
reason and analysis; the plentiful harvest will be ready in due time!
On lands where the
seedlings of good qualities are not planted and tended, useless weeds multiply;
and where orderly gardens could have been formed, thorny bushes create a jungle
of impenetrable confusion.
Even if a person,
through perversity or blind conceit, has thus far not cultivated good
qualities, the person can at least make a try or make efforts to secure them!
If this is not done, the excellence of life cannot be tasted and life is a
waste; its worth is nil. The mind, by sheer force of these opposing forces,
gets lost in false values and is unable to develop along the right lines. Such
a mind, turned away from good, might cause indescribable evil. All progress won
by the spiritual aspirant might be destroyed by such a mind in an unguarded
moment, like a spark falling on a keg of gun powder because of a moment’s
negligence!
Introspection by a
devotee
Every human being, born on this earth,
dying and getting reborn, at some stage or the other, in some birth, must
realize the need for turning Godward or turning inward, bury his past
non-divine or demonic life and get seriously into the spiritual path, develop
good qualities (Sadhana chatushtaya) and evolve from Animal man to Man man
first, before aspiring to be a God man or God’s Man.
Bringing in Swami’s lines here is most
appropriate.
“If this is not done, the excellence of
life cannot be tasted and life is a waste; its worth is nil.”
Swami Krishnananda writes,
It is the rise of the lower being to the
higher being. It is the efflorescence of the higher being in us from the seed
of the lower that we are. It is the internal growth of our total personality to
the universal perfection of the Absolute from the little seed which is
implanted in us. The seed contains the vast banyan tree, as we know. Likewise,
the eternity of the Absolute is present in the little cell of our body, which
looks like almost nothing. Who can imagine that a huge banyan is contained in
an insignificant seed which is not even properly visible to the naked eye?
“Repent ye, for the hour has come,” said
Christ. The hour has come for us to repent for what we have done – not merely
outwardly, but inwardly in our conduct and character. It is the time for us to
repent wholeheartedly and weep that we have committed blunders sometimes
knowingly, sometimes unknowingly.
Love.
PS - There may be
a temporary delay of few weeks in Dhyana vahini posts due to some personal
reasons. Efforts would be to keep posting some important quotes of Swami or
other realized masters during these days.
Love.
