Sathya Sai Vahini - Post 13

 

Chapter V.

Basic Belief

For centuries, the Eternal Universal Religion (Sanathana Dharma) had to meet determined opposition from Islam. Political subjection to Muslim dynasties added to the problems.

The cry “Allaho Akbar” rose to the skies and challenged the very existence of Indian culture, which had been fostered for ages by seers. No other nation suffered as long and deep from such fear. But the eternally fresh and vital dharma of this land stood the test, and even today, the Eternal Religion is as potent and valid as ever. It is ready to meet any challenge from any new quarter. 

From the signs of the times, it is evident that this culture is today dominant and powerful; why, it is prepared even to march forward and expand its area of constructive influence. Expansion is the sign of “life”, isn’t it? 

This day, the principles and practices laid down in Indian (Bharathiya) culture and the attitudes and feelings enshrined in it are not lying low within the boundaries of this subcontinent. Whether we like it or not, they cross over to other lands and establish themselves there. The main ideas, the essential outlooks penetrate the literature of those peoples and permeate their thought processes. In some lands, among some peoples, they have even won dominant roles, with no opposition. For, India (Bharath) is offering an invaluable body of spiritual wisdom as its contribution to the peace and prosperity of the world. This contribution is more elevating than that of any other country. It is more necessary, more basic, and more precious than what any other nation can give.

This fact is becoming clearer to all mankind. The ancients of this land were not averse to examining other problems, too. They tried, like other peoples, to unravel the mysteries of external nature. Even in this field, through the exercise of sharp intellect of these ancients, this amazing nation achieved results that are beyond the fondest dreams of people in other countries.

Never-changing supreme Reality the supreme end of education, the highest purpose of instruction, is to make one aware of the “universal immanent Impersonal”. This truth is loudly proclaimed in the Vedas. The seers and sages of India courageously entered upon this adventure. The ever-changing aspects of nature, the appearance and disappearance of its working, may be a fine subject for study.

But the ancients of India proclaimed that the science of the “transcendent Principle” that permeates the universe, of the unchanging Eternal, of the embodiment of everlasting, ever-full bliss (ananda), of the residence of unaffected undiminished peace, of the ultimate refuge for all time of the individual (jivi) — that science is the highest knowledge that one must gain.

The knowledge of the principles governing objective nature can at best provide one with food and clothing. It teaches ways and means of gaining them and leads to exploitation of the weak by the strong. If the people of India had bent their energies to discovering the secrets of the world, they could easily have acquired mastery. But, very soon, the people of India (Bharath) recognized that this search was secondary and that the prime position should be assigned to the spiritual.

They decided that pursuing the secrets of external nature was not the real sign of Indians. This resolution brought glory to this nation. Others cannot even approach the fringe of this problem. Like Prahlada of the legends, Indians have been able to survive ordeals of fire and escape unhurt from the torture of ages. Those who had no spiritual outlook or aspiration were not reckoned as Indians (Bharathiyas).

Many in foreign lands believed that Indians were more politically minded, an inference that was misleading. They felt that only a small fraction of Indians were spiritually oriented. But India always insisted that a spiritually directed way of life was the first and foremost duty of every Indian. Whenever the chance offered itself, after discharging this duty, Indians felt that they should collect and confirm the spiritual potency that they had. This was exactly what happened in the past.

In those days, national integration meant the concentration and commingling of all the spiritual forces and urges that were scattered among seekers all over the land. In India, the word “nation” meant the grouping together of hearts that beat time to the same song and that responded by similar vibration to the same spiritual call. The basic truths that this faith expounded were as broad as the sky, as eternal as creation. Those truths were described in many subtle ways and commented upon very closely and deeply. But, as a result of the very breadth of the vision that discovered them and laid them down, it was inevitable that many faiths emanated on the basis of the beliefs they encouraged.

Essence

There are no expressions available for today’s post in addition to what Swami has written.

Just quoting few important aspects covered by Swami in today’s portion, below

“No other nation (other than Bharath) suffered as long and deep from such fear. But the eternally fresh and vital dharma of this land stood the test, and even today, the Eternal Religion is as potent and valid as ever.”

“India (Bharath) is offering an invaluable body of spiritual wisdom as its contribution to the peace and prosperity of the world. This contribution is more elevating than that of any other country. It is more necessary, more basic, and more precious than what any other nation can give.”

“Never-changing supreme Reality the supreme end of education, the highest purpose of instruction, is to make one aware of the “universal immanent Impersonal”. This truth is loudly proclaimed in the Vedas.”

“The knowledge of the principles governing objective nature can at best provide one with food and clothing.”

“If the people of India had bent their energies to discovering the secrets of the world, they could easily have acquired mastery. But, very soon, the people of India (Bharath) recognized that this search was secondary and that the prime position should be assigned to the spiritual”.

“India always insisted that a spiritually directed way of life was the first and foremost duty of every Indian.”

“In India, the word “nation” meant the grouping together of hearts that beat time to the same song and that responded by similar vibration to the same spiritual call. The basic truths that this faith expounded were as broad as the sky, as eternal as creation.”

Love.

 

Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

 

Sathya Sai Vahini - Post 12

 

God at the core of our Self

There is no need to seek truth anywhere else. Seek it in people themselves: they are the miracle of miracles. Whatever is not in humanity cannot be anywhere outside. What is visible outside people is but a rough reflection of what is really inside! 

The ancient belief was that God (Iswara) ruled over the world, with Himself being outside it; the Indian seekers tested this belief through spiritual practice (sadhana) and revealed that God was and is in the world and of it. This is the first contribution of Indians to the spiritual world. 

God is not external to people but is their very inner core. They declared that it is impossible to remove Him from the heart where He has installed Himself. He is the very Atma of our Atma, the soul of our soul, the inner Reality of each.

Bharath: unique region of God-loving people

Those who desire to grasp the supreme vision of Vedantic philosophy have to understand a few fundamental ideas. Philosophy is neither a book nor the work of one person. The supremely great Manu named this India as the region of Brahma (Brahmavartha), the spiritual area where the quest of the ONE immanent and transcendent Principle originated and succeeded. 

The festive cavalcade of saints engaged in the quest began its march over the continents from this India (Bharath) itself. Like mighty rivers from huge mountain ranges, the stream of spiritual discipline (sadhana) for the discovery of the higher truth sprang from this land itself. This land announced to the world its spiritual message with the confidence and courage of thunder blasts emanating from the womb of clouds.

When inimical forces blasted into India, this holy land bore the brunt of the blow; it had to present its heroic chest before the attack and absorb the initial impact. Many times this land had to bear these invading thrusts and suffer fierce injuries. Yet, this land has not fully lost its fame and glory and its steadfast strength on this path.

From this land, Nanak the Great, the embodiment of equanimity and compassion, preached his highly wonderful message of love. His all-embracing heart blossomed in this land. The children of this land, inheritors of this culture, spread their arms to receive in loving embrace not only the Hindu or Vedic world but the Islamic world too.

Among those who shone as heroic supporters of the Hindu culture unto the last, the foremost was Guru Govind Singh. Undeterred by tortures that forced him to shed his own blood and the blood of his own beloved, deserted by those for whom he had undergone such torture, he did not utter a word of blame against his compatriots, but entered the Deccan and gave up his life, as the king of beasts does when his heart is hurt. May that great one’s fame persist forever on earth. Such eminent leaders render the whole of mankind indebted to them, for they serve the best interests of all people everywhere.

Essence

In the initial part of today’s post, Swami re-emphasizes the same truth which He had written in an  earlier para also. 

Swami reveals that God is not outside you, God is not apart from you, there is no separate God outside you, whom you have to search, go, reach and attain. God is within you, as Atman, the SELF.

Swami writes, “They declared that it is impossible to remove Him from the heart where He has installed Himself. He is the very Atma of our Atma, the soul of our soul, the inner Reality of each.”

The spiritual journey begins with searching for God outside us, it may even be necessary in the early stage in our spiritual sadhana, for, our mind is ever tuned to searching for things outside. So, we also search for God outside us.

However, as we progress in our sadhana, we must evolve, in our intense contemplation on God/SELF to that level where, God is no more outside us as an object of worship/object of attainment.

God/SELF is the supreme awareness within us, with which, we are pursuing, seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, thinking, searching and experiencing all other objects in the world.

The light in a room enables us to see all other objects in the room, but with that light, we cannot see the light itself. It is that light which illumines us within and it does not need another light to illumine it.

We read in Atma bodha, 

स्वबोधे नान्यबोधेच्छा बोधरूपतयात्मनः ।

न दीपस्यान्यदीपेच्छा यथा स्वात्मप्रकाशने ॥ २९॥

 

SWA-BODHE NA ANYA-BODHECCHHAA

BODHA-ROOPA-TAYAA AATMANAH

NA DEEPASYA ANYA-DEEPECCHHAA

YATHAA SWAATMA PRAKAASHANE

(To know the Self, needs no other knowledge, for, one’s own Self is of the form of knowledge.  A lighted lamp does not need another lamp, to make it visible as it illumines itself)

Let us start with the understanding that we cannot avoid the reflection of consciousness. It is the way we have been created. We cannot change that, and we will get nowhere if we deny this fact.

All we can do is to say that we are not the Jiva, the individualized being. Our strategy for escaping from our self-made prison is to dissociate ourselves from the body, mind and intellect as much as possible.

Therein lies our only practical recourse for liberating ourselves. If we did not have the “I”- sense there would be no problem in the first place. But it has happened like that, it is unavoidable. So the only way out is to feel we are the Supreme Self, and not this Jiva.

In this process our greatest instrument to accomplish this is the intellect. We have to use its power of analysis, of thought construction, of decision and command over the rest of the body’s components to the ultimate. 

In this verse we are given the assurance that once we have done that part of the Sadhana, using the intellect, the Self will reveal itself to us.

It is not in need of ‘any other lamp’ to show itself to us.

There is a classical, oft-repeated example of 10 friends   trying to ensure that all of them have reached the other side of the shore after swimming. 

One by one, each of them starts counting heads, misses counting himself and finds only nine in the row. Each one's heart sinks. The tenth man is MISSING!! Dasamo Nastaha!! 

A wise man, a sanyasi, passing that side asks them the cause of their weeping and understands their predicament and first assures them that the tenth man is ALIVE and AVAILABLE. 

Then, he makes all of them stand in the row and counts all ten people and proves to them that all ten are safe and available. 

When each person has counted the other nine, the wise man takes that person's fingers and makes it point out to himself (the one who has counted the other nine) and says, you are the tenth. 

Here, this "you are the tenth" is to be understood as the grand mahavakya, “Tat Twam Asi” / That though Art.

The very fact that the identifier is identifying and proving the existence of all others is proof of his own existence. No further proof of his existence is needed.

I have to check the existence of others but not of myself. I am myself the proof of my existence. Atma is the original Consciousness – which is ever evident. All of us experience it.

“Na Deepasya Anyadeepeccha”

There is no need for another lamp to light one that is already lit. In the same way there is no need for anything to light the Self, that is, reveal the Self to us, because the Self has this capacity built into it. It is self-luminous.

When all the things that conceal the Self from us are removed, It shines forth by Itself. 

All our Sadhana is to undo all the harm that has already been done in numberless births of ignorant living. 

Once we can grasp with our intellect the knowledge of the condition of the entrapped Jiva, then alone can we take the steps to remove the veils one by one and permit the Self to shine through.

At the end, Swami glorifies the selfless service and sacrifice made by great spiritual leaders of the great country Bharath such as Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh.

 

Love.