BEAUTY IN UGLINESS

.Beauty in Ugliness

Tejinder Narang

Khalil Gibran, Lebanese philosopher narrates-- “Once Beauty and Ugliness met on sea shore. And they said to one another, "Let us bathe in the sea."  They disrobed and swam in waters. After a while Ugliness came back to shore, wore garments of Beauty and walked away.  Beauty came later, found not her raiment, was too shy to be naked, therefore clothed herself with Ugliness and walked away. To this very day men and women mistake the one for the other for they identify them from external dressed appearance. 

White Moon ( as Kolaveri Di song goes ) in black night with starry carpet appears to be a disc of beauty. The same moon during bright day is of no consequence at all.  Objectively, both beauty and ugliness have zero intrinsic worth or reality save the manner evaluated in human mind in terms of time, space and relationship between the observed and the observer.

In mysticism, “Beauty and Ugliness” delineate “spirituality and superficiality” respectively. The soul ‘beautiful’ after swimming in sea of mind and Maya, phenomenon of change and illusion, is drenched in ugliness. Explains Gibran—those (mystics) who “beheld the face of Beauty” (of marked souls) recognize the radiant spark of the Lord, longing to be one with their Creator and anoint them for Deliverance, notwithstanding their ugly garments.  Mystics also “know face of Ugliness” (souls enamored with trinkets of transient reality) and let them rejoice as a part of this creation.

REFLECTION(S) OF REALITY

Reflection(s) of Reality

Tejinder Narang

All men of God, saints, gurus, rishis, divine incarnations, messengers of God, mystics, speak of the same Universal Truth.  Do all of them have the ‘same inner experience’ at elevated consciousness?? May be or maybe not.

Indian mysticism classifies Creation in four prime planes. Pinda, Anda, Brahamanda, (physical, Astral, Causal worlds) are three cosmic states in ascending order where mind and matter are sustained by divine current. Mind and matter are progressively finer and subtler in astral and causal planes. The fourth stage is of Parbrham—the Creator/ Creative power/ unalloyed God hood

Some mystics endorse that below Parbrahm( God’s abode), “Causal, Astral and Physical” planes are mirror reflections of domains above each of them. Parbrahm- is reflected in Brahmanda; Anda (Astral) is a reflection of Brahmanda (Causal). Our physical universe (Pinda) is yet another projection of Anda (Astral) region.  Each downward reflection is sub-sublime and coarser than higher plane above it. Reason-- Divinity diminishes in descending progression with relative increase in ratio of mind and matter.

Inner experiences may be replications in human consciousness of any or all stages. Therefore all mystics/ religions validate same Divine fabric. But it may be difficult even for them to appraise the level that they have ascended—because each “cosmic state” is said to be million times more magnificent than the lower one.  Reflection(s) may be illusions but still preferable over No-Reality. Are inner mystical experiences of “Reflected Reality or “the Reality”? Truly beyond comprehension of ordinary mind and mortals!!

ONE EYED HORSE

One Eyed Horse

Tejinder Narang

“How can I be true to you and your spiritual path?” asked the disciple from a Perfect Master.  Master narrated a small story--

“An ancient Indian King bought an expensive stallion of rare breed called Teji. The horses of Teji pedigree were famous for ensuring safety of the rider by intelligent manoeuvrability when surrounded by enemy in a battlefield. This Teji horse though blind from one eye, was an elite acquisition of the King but he would always address him as “kaana”(one eyed). His courtiers also joked about “Kaana” horse.  Teji would writhe with anger for denigration of his superior lineage due to physical infirmity.  Within his heart he vowed retaliation to the King.

Soon the King had to fight a neighbouring ruler. “Teji” was determined to avenge his humiliation. In the battle, king was encircled by the enemy while fighting on his favourite horse. Teji had the option of tossing the king in enemy’s fold or to swiftly take him out of adversity. A flash came to Teji – that throwing King in enemy’s hands would be a perpetual slur on his honourable pedigree. To protect the dignity of his lineage, He quickly articulated King’s exit to safety.”

Moral is –disciples of any religion or Masters or Gurus may be blessed with pedigree of noblest devotion but still have some inadequacies. World ignores virtues but taunts flaws. Notwithstanding the highest provocations, disciples must not deviate from Dharma— path of Righteousness-- so as not to besmirch and disgrace their spiritual institutions and Mentor Masters. 

EGO HUMBLED

Ego Humbled

Tejinder Narang

Ego and humility are intertwined in consciousness in varying degrees for ensuring survival on material plane.  Ego represents assertion of self for attainments of objectives of life. Humility mitigates over obsession with self so that others are able to live and survive with dignity. The simple correlation is –progressive erosion of ego leads to humility.

Generally religious thoughts preach denial of ego and elevation of humility to the level of extinction of identity. That cannot be the law of life as it denies existentialism conceived by the Creator.  Ego’s coexistence and consequently its substantial sublimation to humility can be narrated through following perspective--

Humble we are before our superiors and bosses.  Even though it may be a calculated humility, it confirms that nature of our mind is to become meek when faced with greater power and authority. In moments of serious introspection or self-realization or meditative concentration, when we sense that our existence is akin to a remotely controlled robotic toy with little free will or a free will   where “pre-determined conditions of Cosmic Powers apply” then ego consciousness feels truly and undeniably humbled.

Self-will remains subservient to supremacy of Supreme Will always.  Intensity of this (spiritual) understanding leads to pulverization of egotism. Ego is then humbled. Even a mountain of human ego is meek before an ant when it sights dominance of Divinity that makes the tiniest creature eat, digest, see, run and survive with extraordinary agility. At that state of humility, ego is passive. Yet both co-exist.

GOD CANNOT BE CREATED

 God cannot be Created.

Tejinder Narang

Energy can neither be created nor destroyed is an accepted scientific principle. It changes forms and flows from one place to another. God has similar attributes. God cannot be created.  For ease of human understanding, Mystics and spiritual testaments endorse that God created Himself and conceived His own power of Word (Nam, Nad, Om, Tao, Lagos, Shabd…). Then He “made” the Creation with “Word” and permeated in it invisibly till eternity. Even this becomes difficult to comprehend.

For example --A mother can explain process of conception to a little child, but child’s consciousness has to ascend to the desired level for that understanding. The child is limited and not the mother.  God-Mind relationship stands at the same footing. It will be erroneous to conclude that what is incomprehensible to mind cannot transpire. Evolution and refinement of consciousness for greater awareness is an unending process.

There are umpteen issues of which Mind is clueless. From where does the ingenuity of Mind come? Why it “thinks” the way it does specially in terms of time and space? Whether mental and sensory perceptions are preprogramed? Existence and operation of highly diversified microorganisms and sub atomic particles is largely unintelligible.   

Just as energy can be inferred, God’s expanse can be universally felt. What is not grasped by man’s perception is termed “miracle” by Mind.  And that is why Jesus’s Consciousness pronounced, “Having eyes ye see not” the abundance of His miraculous manifestations that surround us.  God and the Nature are “the Miracles” in their own right but perfectly compliant with Supreme Understanding but shall remain “Uncreated”.

SHEIKH FARID SAHIB

BLESSED BY “PITA GURU” AND “DADA GURU”—THE RAREST OF THE RARE INITIATION OF Baba Sheikh Farid

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(ALL MASTERS ARE ONE IN SHABD SWAROOP)

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Sufism mandates that a “mureed” (disciple ) be initiated  by  a living  “Murshid” (Guru/Master) for exploring inner life, while maintaining a balance in outer life. Master, the initiator is termed as “pita” (father) Guru and the Guru’s Guru is called “Dada” (grandfather) Guru.

Sheikh Farid (1172-1267A.D.), of Multan (Pakistan) had the rarest privilege of getting initiated by His own Master, Sufi Saint  Bakhtiar Kaki and Kaki’s Master Moinuddin Chisti of Ajmer , whose Dargah is revered by followers of all faiths till date.

After attaining proficiency in Islamic studies, Farid met Bakhtiar Kaki in Delhi when his own Master, Moinuddin Chishti, was also present. Looking at Farid, Moinuddin Chishti remarked, “Farid is the lamp that will illuminate ‘silsila’ of Derveshs.”…meaning that a chain of Masters will follow Farid. Moinuddin then beckoned Kaki to bless Farid on mystic path.  

Kaki bowed on feet of Moinuddin Chishti and apologized that in exalted presence of his own Master he can not do so. Both Sufi saints, then, sat down with full solemnity and initiated Farid, later known as  Baba Farid, into secrets of inner life.  

History does not record any such “ one time spiritual endowment” that was bestowed upon any saint by PITA GURU and DADA GURU. Who was Farid’s Master? Both! as all perfect masters  are one in “shabad swaroop”.

SACHA SAUDA- TRUE BARGAIN

SACHA SAUDA—TRUE BARGIN OR TRANSACTION OF TRUTH OR RIGHTEOUSNESS

PREFACE---What is Sacha Sauda? Or the True Bargain. The two words are a mystical parable. They define the deepest intimacy of interaction and relationship between the life of Man and God.  All terrestrial and extra-terrestrial life is a gift of God. Humans, at the top creative excellence of God out of 8.4 million species, are capable of understanding this phenomenon.  As a gratitude to His Divine munificence, humans need to respond in a manner that this gift is returned to Him, otherwise indebtedness arises. This debit balance has to be squared failing which both pain and pleasure continue interminably in the cycle of transmigration. Jesus said that all of us born in “sin”. How can a new born have sinned? He refers to the inequity that is created by the act of Life and the use of material comforts of Nature that help us survive. Bargain ends when the Self merges back with the Divine in a state of Oneness.

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GURU NANAK’S SACHA SAUDA – at the age of 18 years, father of Guru Nanak wanted his son to get involved in business. He gave Nanak a few rupees to start the business. Instead he spent the money in serving the poor and the needy. Nanak saw the light of the Lord in all and he gave whatever he possessed, through the grace of the Lord, to those who were deprived of some of the basic necessities of life. On return He mentioned to His father that he struck the “sacha sauda” by helping the poor. Apparently it may appear to be an act of charity but allegorically it means that I give Thee what YOU have given to me.

DEBT TO GOD IS SETTLED BY “SACHA SAUDA” – WE MAY be rich and famous but mega debtors we are. It is not a financial or a monetary liability but a very subtle debt that is debited the moment we are born. The arrears need to be settled during this lifetime through Dharma or Sacha Sauda, the principle of righteousness.

Hindus scriptures mention four types of debts (karza or rinn in Hindi) that a man must settle in life----

1)          Pitri rinn (debt to parents): As small children we are weaklings — need attention and support all time. We are reared by our parents/elders with love and affection. As we grow up and turn out to be stronger, parents age and become physically weak. We are therefore obliged to attend to their welfare in old age. Even if a person gives charities of millions of dollars, but neglects old parents/elders — Pitri debt is not paid off.

2)          Dev rinn (debt to gods): The gods mean the five elements of Nature; the life sustaining forces — water, air, fire, earth, ether (intelligence) and all that is edible. They are the energies of life in this world and it becomes obligatory upon all men that they contribute to the welfare of this material plane, including one's family and society, by moral integrity and sense of discrimination. All the positive contribution that is made in this world by all of us means mitigation of debit of Dev rinn.

3)         Guru rinn (debt to master): Spiritual mentor who leads us to the path of spirituality or moksha. He describes the purpose of life, is an anchor and support. In this life riddled with maya and illusion, Master leads us from spiritual darkness to enlightenment. We have to pay off this debt by bhakti — meditation and living a life as instructed by him.  

4)         Brahm  Rinn (debt to Lord): there is not much difference between the Guru Rinn and Brahm rinn. When we merge back with the lord through the grace of the Guru, Brahm rinn is squared off.  Said Jesus, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me”.  
 Guru Nanak Sahib describes the essence of divine realisation or divine fusion in one word — ‘Gurprasad' — the one realised through grace (prasad) of Guru.

 Genesis: By living a balanced life of truth, service, devotion, and meditation as per the directions of the spiritual mentor one can strike the Real Bargain----the Sacha Sauda and fulfil the purpose of human life.

BABA JI'S SATSANG IN ENGLISH AT DELHI 1.12.2012

BABA JI’s SATSANG IN ENGLISH-- NEW DELHI 1ST DEC2012.

SPIRITUALITY IS HAVING YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE. (THIS GIST IS FROM MEMORY RECALL)

EVERY religion has two aspects--Spirituality and teachings. Teachings are the means of experiencing spirituality. Teachings never change. With the passage of time traditions are built around teachings.   Teachings have withstood the test of time, while traditions continue to change from time to time. Traditions are dos and don’ts of time. They are not the gospel truths and they are not sacrosanct. Traditions are meant to facilitate following of teachings. However we blindly follow the traditions without understanding the real purpose of those traditions.

A Buddhist monk had a cat that used to run all over him whenever he would sit for meditation. He advised his fellow monks to tie the cat so that he might remain unperturbed.  This was done daily. The monk grew old, passed away and a new monk took his position. Now, whenever the new monk would sit for meditation, the cat was again tied. Finally, the cat died too and then a new cat was found for the same purpose. Now the cat has nothing to do with the meditation but the tradition became that unless cat is tied meditation is not possible. The tradition became a ritual. When rituals overtake teachings, it is all the more dangerous.

Today, when we celebrate Diwali or Holi, we are unaware of their religious significance.  For most of us, Diwali means distribution of gifts and Holi is for fun and frolic. So the festivals have become an annual ritual.  Traditions have taken over the religions and teachings are taking a back seat. All religions declare that there is one God and we need to worship Him. Religions were created for the man; man was not created for the religions. We worship God because we need  Him in our daily life and want to realize Him.

When we sit in meditation we feel nothing is happening. It is just like a shopkeeper saying that first a customer must come and then he will open the shop. That way he can never do the business. Every shopkeeper has to open his shop first and then wait for the customers to come. If the shop is closed, no customer will come. So a person, who is needy and cares for his family, will open the shop regularly and then can expect buyers to come for making his daily living. The same is true with our relationship with Divine. We need Him badly. If we daily meditate and be receptive then we can build that relationship with Divine.

The moment the Lord has given us human birth; he has blessed spiritual legacy in equal measure in each one of us. It is not that Mystics have more and others have less. Mystics have realized that Divinity while we have yet to experience that. The parents give the legacy to the child who has matured. For others, parents wait till such time they also grow for taking over the responsibility. No one can take away what He has given as our legacy.

The purpose of these Satsangs and discourses is not to answer our questions but to provoke us to think so that we might find those answers within ourselves. That will be the true realization of the Divine legacy. Scriptures are the spiritual experiences of the mystics and past masters. They cannot become our experiences by reading them. We need to have our own experiences. Otherwise our faith will be on shaky grounds.

If I tell you that this is the sweetest thing on the earth, you might accept that as a matter of respect for me. But there will always be a lurking doubt. That doubt will vanish after you have yourself tasted the sweetness. Meditation is means of tasting that sweetness and of having that relationship with the Divine. That will provide real faith and understanding within. This also helps in settling karmic accountability comfortably. It is therefore important for us to build that relationship with the Divine through love and meditation.