Sathya Sai Vahini - Post 19

Swami writes,

 

Gross and subtle bodies

 

The body is composed of cells, which are made up of atoms. The atoms are also physical phenomena. They are fundamentally inert matter (jada), composite and unfeeling. The Vedanthins speak of a subtle body, separate from this gross body. That too is physical. It is the centre of subtle skills and force. It is in this body that all the subtle mental feelings and agitations take place. Each force can work only through some medium or other, which is physical. 

The same power that operates the gross body works through the subtle processes of thought. They are not two different entities. One is the subtle form of the other, that is all.

What is the source of these powers? If we delve deep, we will find that there are two things in nature: space (akasa) and the life force (prana). Space is the source of all the gross and subtle material one encounters; when the life force contacts it, due to the impact the space principle transforms itself into either gross or subtle, in varying proportions.

The life force is omnipresent, like space. It can also penetrate everywhere and everything. Like the blocks of ice that water becomes and that float and move about on water, the life force acts on space and bodies appear. 

The life force is the force that moulds the space into various forms. The gross body is the vehicle of the life force that it has shaped out of space. The subtle body is of the form of thought, feeling, etc.

When the subtle body is transcended, the awareness of the Reality becomes manifest. Just as fingernails persist as part of our gross body, however often we pare them, so too the subtle body is an integral part of one’s makeup.

 

Introspection

 

Just now the author finishes one line on the next hanuman chalisa talk coming up on 8th Feb wherein, he hurriedly writes what emerges from within. He is mentioning the essence of  what came from within which he noted down for that talk- “ One may argue that Prana or Life force enlivens mind/senses etc. but can the life force bestow “awareness” or “knowing “ or “feeling”?? It is the consciousness / pure awareness that lends itself to enliven life force and through that, the mind, senses and due to this borrowed “awareness”, mind /senses can be “aware”.

Believe him  brothers and sisters, there was absolutely no plan of picking up the enxt part of SSV for writing the post today but somehow the author picks up and just read what Swami has written about the life force above and what is Swami’s last line in today’s SSV part?

“When the subtle body is transcended, the awareness of the Reality becomes manifest.”

Author swears, this is much more than a mere coincidence. Swami proves that it is He who gives the intuitive thoughts for each talk/session by giving the same thought w.r.t. to the upcoming hanuman chalisa talk and giving the same in the SSV part today.

It is overwhelming. The thought which came up related to the upcoming talk, came just 5 minutes before, he notes it down and then opens the SSV part to take up for the current post and Swami  talks about the same “ life force” and then the need to transcend the life force, the subtle body, to “KNOW” the reality (Consciousness)!!

Swami has talked about Gross and subtle body in today’s post.

Let us read what the sage from Ananda Kutir writes about the three bodies, in the form of a question answer session between a disciple and his master.

 

"The Three Bodies & their Enumeration

 

(The individual experiencer is a consciousness-centre enveloped by several layers of matter existing as the factors causing objective awareness in it. The analysis of these layers or bodies is necessary to ascertain the nature of the true Self.)

 

Hari Om. Om Sat-Guru-Paramatmane Namah.

 

Disciple: How many bodies are there in an individual (Jiva)?

 

Guru: There are three bodies in every individual (Jiva).

 

Disciple: Please name them.

 

Guru: The physical body or the gross body (Sthula Sarira), the astral body or the subtle body (Sukshma Sarira or Lingadeha) and the causal body or the seed body (Karanasarira) are the three bodies.

 

Disciple: Please illustrate them.

 

Guru: The shell of a tamarind corresponds to the physical body. The pulp represents the subtle body. The seed corresponds to the causal body. Ice represents the physical body. H2O represents the subtle body. The Tanmatras or root-elements correspond to the causal body.

The Gross Body

 

Disciple: What are the components of the physical body?

 

Guru: The physical body is composed of five elements, viz., earth (Prithivi), water (Apah), fire (Tejas), air (Vayu) and space (Akasa).

 

Disciple: What are the seven primary essences (Sapta-Dhatus) of the physical body?

 

Guru: Chyle (Rasa), blood (Asra), flesh (Mamsa), fat (Medas), bone (Asthi), marrow (Majja) and semen (Sukla), are the seven primary essences of the physical body.

 

Disciple: What are the Shad-bhava-vikaras (six modifications of the body)?

 

Guru: Asti (existence), Jayate (birth), Vardhate (growth), Viparinamate (change), Apaksheeyate (decay), Vinashyate (death), are the six modifications or changes of the body.

 

Disciple: What are the links with which the body is connected?

 

Guru: The body (Deha), action (Karma), love and hate (Raga-dvesha), egoism (Ahamkara), non-discrimination (Aviveka) and ignorance (Ajnana) are the seven links of the chain of Samsara (world-experience). From Ajnana (ignorance), Aviveka is born. 

 

Aviveka is non-discrimination between the real and the unreal. From Aviveka is born Ahamkara or egoism; from egoism is born Raga-dvesha (like and dislike); from Raga-dvesha Karma (action) arises; from Karma the body or the Deha is produced. 

 

If you want to free yourself from the pain of birth and death, destroy ignorance (Ajnana), the root cause of this Samsara (world-experience), through the attainment of the Knowledge of Brahman or the Absolute. 

 

When ignorance is removed, all the other links will be broken by themselves. This physical body of yours is the result of your past actions and is the seat of your enjoyment of pleasure and pain.

 

Disciple: Why is the body called Sarira or Deha?

 

Guru: Because the body decays (Sheeryate) on account of old age, it is called Sarira. Because it is cremated or burnt (Dahyate) it is called Deha.

 

The Subtle Body

 

Disciple: What is the composition of the subtle body?

 

Guru: The subtle body is composed of nineteen principles (Tattvas), viz., five Jnana Indriyas or organs of knowledge, five Karma Indriyas or organs of action, five Pranas or vital airs, Manas or mind, Buddhi or intellect, Chitta or the subconscious and Ahamkara or the ego. It is a means of enjoying pleasure and pain.

 

Disciple: When will this subtle body get dissolved?

 

Guru: It gets dissolved in Videha Mukti or disembodied Liberation.

 

The Causal Body

 

Disciple: What is the causal body (Karana Sarira)?

 

Guru: The beginning less ignorance that is indescribable is called the causal body. It is the cause of the gross and the subtle bodies.

Disciple: How can I transcend the three bodies?

 

Guru: Identify yourself with the All-pervading, Eternal Atman. Stand as a witness (Sakshi) of all experiences. Know that the Atman is always like a king - distinct from the body, organs, vital breaths, mind, intellect, ego and Prakriti - the Witness of their attributes.

 

Love.

 

Sathya Sai Vahini - Post 18

Do not allow anyone to divert you away from your innate nature. Be immersed in your God, in your own imaginings and feelings, in the bliss that springs from your own heart, and in the delight derived from your spiritual exercises (sadhana).

When others try to prevent you from doing this, whatever plans they weave and whatever contrivances they employ, resist them at the cost of your own lives. Do not deny yourself that divine awareness, that divine ecstasy. This exhortation echoes through the stream of spiritual values of the Indians (Bharathiyas).

Pull down the barriers that stand in the way and obstruct the free flow of the culture of this land, which confers such sweetness and strength. Clear the channels through which it flows and cleanse them. Then it can follow its course, unimpeded.

Sai’s resolve and the message of God’s love

Sai has willed that this country, India (Bharath), has this spiritual discipline (sadhana). For too long a time the theistic dharma of this land has stopped moving. For too long a time its characteristic has been static. Now, it has to be made dynamic. It must vitalize the daily life of every human being. It must enter and fructify the palatial king’s dwelling and the lowly huts of the poorest in the land.

The theistic dharma is the treasure of everyone; everyone has the right to inherit it and benefit by it; having been born as a human, one has a valid claim to share it. For this reason, Indians have to take it before every door and welcome everyone in every home to share it.

Just as the air that we breathe in God’s creation is available to all, the dharma of the awareness of God and His power and mercy has to be available to all.  Indians must hold on to this wide outlook and the universality and unity of this message.

The conflicts between disparate faiths and beliefs will disappear of themselves and peace and love will be restored on earth. Imagine a house full of darkness for centuries. You may enter the house and pray to the darkness to leave the premises, or shower abuse on it for days, or frighten it by threatening force.

The darkness will stay; it cannot be diminished at all. It will not yield to your tactics. It cannot be scared out. But light a lamp, and it will flee that instant. The lamp of wisdom can save a person from age-long darkness.

One must recognize this truth and, once it is recognized, shape life accordingly. People have an immensity in them; this is the core of Indian (Bharathiya) thought. It is really a mystery how anyone came to regard themselves as condemned to fall! A person might strike us as demonic or divine; in both, the Atma is the reality to the same extent.

You can’t say the Atma is less in one and more in the other. When faults are found in someone, you have to conclude that there are deficiencies in behavior, that is all. Don’t conclude that there is no divine Atma in that person.

As a result of the company one keeps or the inefficiency of the society in which one grew, faults have grown. They are not native to one’s nature, which is Atmic. You have to provide the person with good company and beneficial surroundings and persuade them to enter them. On no account should you condemn the person as a born incorrigible and keep them apart.

 

Essence

 

In the first part, Swami insists on facing all challenges which surface in the spiritual path.

Swami Sivananda Maharaj writes on obstacle in Spiritual sadhana,

 

 

“On the spiritual path you must be prepared to meet with hundreds of failures. In the beginning it may appear to be very hard, thorny, precipitous and slippery. It is the razor path. You will fall down many times, but if you are sincere and earnest in your practice, you will rise up quickly and walk again with more zeal, boldness and cheerfulness.

Ever stumbling block will become a stepping stone to success or ascent on the hill of spiritual knowledge. Every fall will give you additional strength to rise up to a greater height on the ladder of yoga. Do not lose sight of the goal. Do not miss the ideal. Do not be discouraged. You will soon get spiritual strength from within. The indweller will guide you and push you up.

Trials are to strengthen aspirants. You will grow quickly if you can adapt yourself to any kind of environment and circumstance. If God gives trials, side by side He also gives new strength, patience and fortitude to bear the trials. There is no reason to lament. Say once more, “Thy will be done.” All the saints and sages, prophets and seers had to pass through tremendous struggles and severe ordeals before they reached the goal.

Your spiritual growth is gauged by the extent of your victory over external circumstances and environments, troubles and difficulties, adverse conditions and antagonistic influences. A yogi always keeps a balanced mind in all conditions of life and at every moment. He is adamantine because he stands on a firm basis – the eternal, unchanging, immortal soul – and so he is called steadfast.

Doubts or uncertainties are great obstacles on the path of self-realization, even for an advanced student. Be firm and unshakeable in your faith and conviction to transform yourself. Face these passing obstacles and allow nothing to disturb you. Again and again the battle must be won.

To grow in yoga is not an easy matter. Sadhakas must take to the path sincerely. Always feel that you are just a beginner and strive diligently to acquire the primary virtues of kindness, charitableness, patience and forbearance. Be ready to serve others with humility and put up with provocation and abuse without retaliation.

Remove harshness and rudeness from your nature. Courtesy and politeness must become part of your very essence. Then alone the hardened heart becomes softened and good sentiments and spiritual energy arise in it. Where there is kindness, humility and purity, spirituality springs up, saintliness shines, divinity descends and perfection manifests itself.”

We will focus on the second part of Swami’s writing in the next post.

 

Love.

 

 

Anandamayi Ma

 

  

Either melt by devotion the sense of separateness, or burn it by knowledge-for what is it that melts or burns? Only that which by its nature can be melted or burnt; namely the idea that something other than your Self exists. What will happen then? You come to know your Self.

 

Anandamayi Ma