ELEMENTARY METAPHYSICAL IDEAS

LIST OF TOPICS

 

1. AN APPLE PIE

2. ASTONISHING IGNORANCE

3. BEAUTY AND UGLINESS

4. BELIEF AND NON-BELIEF IN THE EXISTENCE

5. BEYOND THE LIFE OF FLESH

6. BHAI MANJH AND GURU ARJAN DEV Jl

7. BIREH OR VIREH

8. BLESSED BY PITA GURU

9. BE CHARITABLE TO SELF

10.BUBBLES IN BABBLE

11.CONTRADICTIONS

12.CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN AN ATHEIST AND THEIST

13.DEATH DECIPHERED

14.DEFIANT DIVINITY

15.DESTINY AND CHANGE

16.DETACHED ATTACHMENT

17.DIVINE WILL VERSUS ACTION-INACTION

18.DIVINITY OF DREAMS

19.ECONOMICS OF LOVE AND HATE

20.EYE TO ENLIGHTENMENT

21.FORGIVENESS IN KARMIC DOMAIN

22.FREEWILL A PHOBIA

23.FREEWILL

24.FRUIT OR SEED FIRST

25.GAME OF MIND

26.GOD AS A METAPHYSICAL VIBRATION

27.GOD CANNOT BE CREATED

28.GOOD AND BAD

29.GOODNESS IS NOT ENOUGH

30.HAPPINESS IN UNHAPPINESS

31. KNOW THY LONELINESS.

32. MAGNETISM OF BAPTISM

33.MASTER AND DISCIPLE

34.MASTERLY MISCONCEPTION

35.MESSAGE OF DIE TO LIVE

36.MIND GURU VS SPIRITUAL GURU

37.MIRACLES GALORE

38.MYSTIC PERSON

39.MYSTICS INCARNARTIONS AND PATRON

40.MYTHS AND TRUTHS

41.NOTHINGNESS OF I-NESS

42.ONE -EYED HORSE. A STORY

43.OPPOSITES EXPLAINED

44.PEACE OF MIND

45.PHYSICAL PROXIMITY WITH THE MASTER

46.PRAYER CHANGES NOTHING BUT YOU

47.QUOTES FROM RULES OF LOVE BY ELIF SHAFAK

48.REFLECTIONS OF REALITY

49.RELEVANCE OF SCIENCE IN SPIRITUAL

50.SCRIPTURES AND SPIRITUALITY

51.SEEK THE PEACE WITHIN

52.SERMON OF SILENCE

53.SEWA -THE GREAT HUMAN DEBT

54.SHED THE DREAM AND AWAKEN TO REALITY

55.SPIRITUAL REGIONS

56.STUDENT VERSUS DISCIPLE

57.SURRENDER

58.THE MASTERS

59.THE POWER OF INVISIBLE THOUGHT

60.UNDERSTANDING VERSUS GYAN

61.UNVEILED REALITY CAN ONLY BE EXPERIENCED

62.WHAT IS LOVE

63.WHAT IS NOT LOVE

64.WHY GOD IS SILENT

65.WHY OF LIFE.

66.WHY WOOD FLOATS

 

AN APPLE PIE

 

An apple pie is a well-known   mouth-watering   dessert   across the world. It is made from flour, sugar, butter, and apple. The mixture of these ingredients is baked. Then the resultant product is presented as a delicious dessert on the platter.

 

Says Dr. Carl Sagan (American Astronomer, Writer, and Scientist, 1934-1996), "If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe."

 

The most critical words in the above two lines are 'from scratch'. As a scientist, Carl Sagan examined the process of making an apple pie more deeply. Flour is made from wheat grown on the earth; sugar is produced from cane sugar under certain agro-climatic conditions; cows give milk, and an apple is plucked from a tree. The earth,   its   soil, and water-- that is the source of moisture of all grains, food, and fruits-- all are the Nature gifts. A providential plan also gifts other elements like fire and air. Cows and trees are species of Nature that serve a definite purpose of this planet. Man, who has the intelligence of making an apple pie, is also designed by the Divine. Indeed one has to create this cosmic creation if an apple pie is to be made from scratch.

 

Man has no role in contributing to the underlying factors that make an apple pie's apparent ingredients. His limitations are total and absolute. Carl Sagan is hinting that man of his own can do nothing. He acts under a given set of circumstances, has limited choices, and appears to choose within the options available to him. His preferences are governed by his parentages that carry a genetic codification and social milieu of past and present. Bible also says, "the very hairs   of   your head are all numbered" ---that the destiny has predetermined all.

 

Does it mean we have no free will? The truth is that our will is subservient to His will. We can exercise our free will to the extent He permits us to do. All necessary life conditions are circumscribed in the periphery of time, space, place, day, night, sun, moon, stars, air, water, fire,   vegetation,   conditions   of   body   and   health,   social habitat, parental origin, and material paraphernalia available in this world. Hazur used to say, "At the human level we have a 'conditioned freewill'. But from the higher level,

there is no free will." None except the Lord enjoys totality of freewill— called Omni would. Mystically and scientifically, this is the fact.

 

Mystic Mirdad's cautionary advice is that "till you know the mysteries of Omni will you must not set your will against it; for surely you shall be the loser. You will come out of each encounter scarred and drunk with gall (anger/infuriated)……"

 

Jesus said, "Thy will be done".

 

Says Guru Nanak, "Tera bhana meetha lage" (In 'Your will' I rejoice— your will is sweet to me).

 

All the Mystics stress acceptance of Omni will as they UNDERSTAND that this is the Divine Law. Even an apple pie is a creation of Divine will, though man may ignorantly assume it to be his doing. Man indeed needs to create a universe if he wishes to make a pie!!!.

ASTONISHING IGNORANCE

 

Universe is matter expanding into nothingness, is what Einstein thinks of Cosmos. The questions now being debated are whether there are parallel or multiple universes?? And what is that nothingness?? Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking earlier maintained that we know Reality through theories only. Later, he argued that God did not create the universe, and the "Big Bang" was an inevitable consequence of physics laws. But what is that Bang?? Nobody has the concept of that Bang except for a theory.

Professor Michio Kaku, who teaches physics at City College New York, clarifies that with all the theories working of only 4% of the visible or felt Creation could be known. The balance 96% realm of visible/ invisible, is unknown and unexplained. Note the word "theory" ----something that has been thought of and could be modified by future revelations. The tacit admission is that science has its limitations in understanding the working of the Reality

Even if 4% is 'said to be known' by "theories", it can be safely surmised that it may be a questionable figure, and even that known fraction could be 4% or less!! The moot point is that if all the mortal beings, the wise ones, scholars, philosophers, intellectuals, scientists, and theorists do not understand the Creation's origin and operation, then what is the level of understanding of an ordinary individual? That would have to be expressed something like 0.00000000000…%. How can we claim to be the right decision-makers? How can we be objective or rational or logical when 96% of matter or antimatter is unknown. That proves that all of us are 'circumstantial' decision-makers or are 'judgmental' depending upon the time-space configurations where there is a preponderance of illusion and ignorance

The mystical view is that Reality cannot be even understood by Gyan yoga, Dhyan Yoga, or Karm Yoga (through yogic practices leading to attainment of knowledge, meditative concentration, and good Karmas.) Mystics who are personified of the "light shineth in darkness" experience Reality but can also not give it an outer expression. They are just awed by the Majestic Vision and complexity of this Grand Play. They become silent on the why, when, where, beginning, and end of what we call Reality. The simple answer provided by them is that --The One Who has created only knows about it.

How can we judge others in a state of ignorance? Mystics comment, "Yet you-- (oh man) the self-condemned, how would sit on judgment over men who are like you, already self-condemned. How horrible the judges and the judgment"? That is why the Bible says—"Judge not, lest ye be judged."

The situation is comparable to a blind leading the blind!!! There is a prayer in Sanskrit---Oh Lord, lead me from Darkness to Light. It just remains a verbal prayer for the majority of human beings. Men of wisdom realize that they are in darkness and can only "pray" for the Light

Alas, man is so feeble and helpless in his Awareness. Yet man arrogates himself with the ego of all-knowing. He acquires or understands through a series of incidences that unfold as per the fated destiny; he names it as knowledge. How gross his ignorance is!!

7                                                     ELEMENTARY METAPHYSICAL IDEAS

 

 

Beauty and Ugliness

 

Khalil Gibran, Lebanese philosopher, narrates-- "Once Beauty and Ugliness met on seashore. 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 robes, was too shy to be naked, clothed herself with Ugliness, and walked away. Men and women mistake the one for the other and identify them from dressed appearance.

 

Philosophically, "life is a dream, beauty and ugliness are part of the dream" --- All appears to be real in a dream. They are nowhere when the dream is no more. There is neither any beauty nor any ugliness. Human life, too, is a projection of a dream of seventy or eighty years. As this grand dream of life ends in the cosmic sea (of death), another drama of dream (of life on the seashore) unfolds in a new time zone. All that is seen (in the new world---the seashore) is changed nothing is what it was!!!

 

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

 

BELIEF AND NON-BELIEF ON THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

 

An            intellectual             debate            was             organized between Swami Vivekananda and Keshav Chandra on the controversial aspect of the existence of God in Kolkotta

 

Keshav was a non- believer. He forcefully argued that plants produce plants;   animals   give   birth   to    animals;    while    humans    create human beings. It is a natural progression of cell to cell. God has no role in it.     He      debated      for      three      hours      to      prove      that      God has no relevance in this cosmic existence, is merely a figment of human imagination, and challenged Godhood's very concept. Man has created God to fight his fears, anxieties, worries, sorrows, dilemmas, and weaknesses and fulfill his wishes and wants. He creates and demolishes Him in his imagination as and when he wants. How can such a God be deathless? Can such a God ever exist? It is a naivety to presume that He is both visible and invisible at the same time. How can an infinite be confined within every human being? If He is inaccessible, then He can never be accessed, and therefore the question of realizing or meeting Him is void. He continued to extend his bare and raw logic. With his gab gift, he proved to the audience that there was no such power called God. He provoked Swami Vivekananda to prove him otherwise.

 

The audience expected that Vivekananda had nothing to argue as he kept silent for fifteen minutes after Keshav challenged him to offer a reply to his points. The assemblage was equally keen to know about Vivekanand's rationale                 for                 the                                         existence     of         God. Finally, Swami Vivekananda got up, bowed, touched the feet of Keshav, and said, 'I have no answer to what you stated, but such a forceful and candid presentation can only emanate from a mind that is gifted by God. I bow to HIM                                               in                                                              you.'

 

Keshav was humbled, bent on his legs, and remarked...'." I made you (Vivekananda) lose in logic and verbosity, but I acknowledge my defeat, for such    a    humility    can    only    be    gifted    to    a    Man    of    God."

BEYOND THE LIFE OF FLESH

 

What is to be inferred from "flesh"? Simply speaking, it is the bondage to (the prison house of) body. Man's core and crux is flesh; his conception is by flesh, formed and framed in the flesh itself. Till the end of his life, all his "give and take" is with bodies of flesh. All his sufferings are when he is in the flesh. To be free from the body's pain and anguish, he must cut himself from the flesh.

How can he cut himself off from the world of flesh? That is feasible only if he is under no compulsion to reincarnate himself in 'tissues of flesh' in the future. Then his relationship with flesh ceases. It is that state of existence that is beyond the cycle of transmigration.

The prohibition on food of flesh is self-imposed by the yearners who are aware of human life's purpose and wish to pursue the path of mysticism. If one feeds oneself on flesh, he establishes an intense and intimate relationship with the flesh he digests. He, therefore, continues to be in the cycle of flesh and bodies. Mirdad, the mystic, says, "To feed on Death is to become food for Death. To live by others' pain is to become a prey for pain. So has decreed the Omni will".

Whether the feed is of flesh or vegetation, the same karmic principle applies except that the 'debt of death' of a vegetarian diet is minimal and can be settled by prayer and meditation.

Hazur Maharaj Ji often mentioned a Persian quote in Satsangs --- "Babar-ba hosh* Kun ki Aalam dubara naest. "Be fully aware (like a Lion's vigor) that human life is precious; its recurrence is rare; it should not be wasted in seeking temporal pleasures. (*Babar means a Lion; hosh means awareness).

Hazur would then add that those who have scant value of human birth and no reckoning of the future life course think-- "Babar-ba ash** Kun ki Aalam dubara naest". That this life is meant for total indulgence in physical gratification, and such an opportunity might not be available again. (**ash in Urdu/ Persian means sensations of pleasure).

The yearners of mystic reality are a breed that is the rarest among the rare. Master's devotees do not get entangled in the mire of elusive reality of 'ash'. They remain in 'hosh' always. To free themselves from the bondage of flesh in the future, they willingly abandon the ingestion of food of flesh in compliance with their Masters' teachings so that they owe no "Debt to Death". This is a small step, but indeed the foremost one, on the path of spiritualism. Says Mystic Mirdad says that this life of flesh then becomes a 'bridge to the fleshless life'.

BHAI MANJH AND GURU ARJAN DEV JI

 

 

This is not an imaginary story. It is a narration of a life of a devoted disciple whose love, humility, faith, surrender, service, and submission to his Master was absolute and total. It is an inspirational legend, which is narrated in religious discourses time and again, in one form or the other. The soul stirs, heart wrings, and tears melt as the life and time of Bhai Manjh unfolds with Guru Arjan Dev Ji(1563-1606 AD),---fifth Guru in the lineage of Guru Nanak.

It is said that it was after this sacred and revered relationship between Murid (disciple) and Murshid (Master) the disciples in Kalyug ( Iron Age) have been blessed. They will not be put to any test for assessing their faith and trust for their Masters. Even if it is not valid, after a momentary reminiscence of what transpired between Bhai Manjh and Guru Arjan Dev Ji, one is touched and moved by their relationship's intensity and candidness. One concludes that it must be a fact, for no ordinary or extraordinary mortal can pass the trial of trust if any Master decides to assess any disciple's spiritual resilience. This is an episode well recorded in history and, therefore, worth recounting. Let this be the cherished goal of all sincere disciples to attain such an attitude of humility and                                  service                          to                                  one's                             Guru.

 

The real name of Bhai Manjh was "Teertha," and he belonged to the Manjh clan of erstwhile Panjab. He was a Muslim by birth, a follower of a prominent Muslim sect 'SAKHEE SARVAR', whose shrines still exist in Pakistan. He was respected and loved by all local people of this sect and commanded a large following as a sect leader. In one of his visits to Amritsar, he heard the discourse of Guru Arjan Dev Ji on Nam Bhakti. The teachings of Gurmat stirred his psyche that he begged for Nam. The Guru advised him that he might seriously rethink his decision as he was a powerful leader of a Muslim sect and that his followers might disown him. He could also face numerous adversities in his life by switching to the path of Nam bhakti. But Teertha elected to become a disciple of the Guru, and he was blessed with Nam. Due to his past association with the Manjh clan, he renamed himself                    as                                     Bhai                                                   Manjh.

 

As the news of Bhai Manjh as a disciple of the Guru spread, his followers abandoned him; his cattle died, he lost his status as head of many villages, and poverty pounced upon him. Soon he became a pauper who owed a lot of money

to others. His wife had to work as a maid in the house of a landlord for earning their living. In such a state of abject misery and poverty, he decided to quit the village and proceed to Amritsar with his daughter for 'seva' in Guru's community kitchen called 'Langar'. Bhai Manjh daily cut, carried wood for the langar, cleaned the dishes, and served the visiting 'sangat' and did any other 'seva' he could find. The Guru, too, heard of Bhai Manjh's seva. He summoned Bhai Manjh to come to meet him in a congregation. Guru Arjan asked, "Bhai Manjh, where do you eat?" Bhai Manjh replied, "Satguru, I eat from your langar…" Guru then said, "Well then, your 'seva' or service is nothing but only a reciprocal wage- labor   relationship   of   give   and   take?   What   type   of   'seva'   is   this?"

 

Bhai Manjh got the message loud and clear--- of the essentiality of living on one's earnings. He bowed his head and said," May the Guru grant me the strength to abide by his orders". He immediately left the premises of the Guru to engage himself in the profession of a woodcutter. Bhai Manjh would daily cut three wood bundles- one for the langar seva, second for selling in the market, and the third for his home. He cooked and ate his food at home. Any profit that he would earn by selling the wood, he dispensed that for charitable purposes for his Master's                                                                                         institution.

 

His daughter would often question the rationale of the Guru for disparagingly treating him. He would always reply, "Guru is all-merciful. And He knows the best." After a few months, Guru Arjan Dev Ji asked him, "You were a man of means of wealth, assets, and affluence before you chose to be my devotee, and now you are beset with poverty. You can leave me if you so wish." Bhai Manjh replied, "Worldly wealth is temporal which comes and goes. Incomparable is this material stuff to Nam's true treasure, with whom you have blessed me. Neither a thief nor a king can claim or seize it. Please bless me with your refuge and protection, so that I might live in your will". Guru Arjan gave his blessings to Bhai Manjh             and                                                  moved                               on.

 

One day when Guru Arjan Dev Ji was giving his daily discourse in the morning to his 'sangat', a person whispered in his ears. It is said that the entire body of the Guru shook as if hit by a bolt, and he left the stage barefooted. There was commotion in the entire congregation. He received the news that a strong storm struck Bhai Manjh when carrying the bundle of wood on his head for seva on the way. In a state of low visibility, he fell in a deep well in the early morning hours.

He was calling for help to be pulled out. That was what upset the Guru, and He, along       with       his       disciples,       rushed       to       save       Bhai       Manjh.

 

A long rope was thrown for Bhai Manjh so that he could extract himself from the well. The disciples saw that despite being deep inside the well, he was trying to keep himself afloat with the bundle of wood on his head. He pleaded that his helpers might not worry about him; let the bundle of wood be pulled out first to prevent it from becoming excessively wet and could be used for the community kitchen. So, the wood was first brought out of the well, and after that, Bhai Manjh       climbed       out                          with                    the              rope's          help.

 

Guru Arjan Dev Ji was standing before him when he came out of the well. The Guru mentioned, "Bhai, you have been through much of misery and pain, lost your position, wealth, worldly honor and respect, so much so that your wife is serving as a maid. What benefit have you derived by following me and the path of Nam bhakti?" A noble soul and determined devotee as he was, he fell on the feet of his Master, with tears rolling down, and voice choked with love and emotions, he said, "When I have gained you Oh my Satguru, how can there be any      loss"?      Hearing      this,      the      Guru      embraced      Bhai      Manjh.

 

Guru Arjan Dev Ji was so pleased with his sentiments that he said that "the 'seva' of Bhai Manjh has been accepted in the Divine court and that he may ask for anything that                                                    he                                                    wants"?

 

Bhai Manjh knelt and humbly pleaded, "My only submission is that in this age of Kalyug (Iron Age), the disciples may not be put to such a harsh trials to test the faith in the Master. None may have the stamina and strength to stand up to such difficult                                                  situations                                   in                                                  life".

 

Guru Arjan Dev, "So be it. Manjh is the darling of the Guru, and the Guru is the beloved of Manjh. Manjh will be ferried across the Ocean of Illusion by the power of Nam. And I bless your worldly comforts too will be restored".

 

Bhai Manjh was given the charge of preaching Gurmat in the Doaba area of Panjab-- an acknowledgment of his religious and spiritual leadership, which he enjoyed when he was the leader of Sakhee Sarvar. The landlord was impressed by the dedication of her wife.   He recognized her as his sister and gifted his

wealth.

 

The Guru thus restored the "swarth" and "parmarth"      both the material and

mystic aspects—of Bhai Manjh and his seva became an "inspiration" for others to emulate. Past, present, and future generations of the devotees of the Perfect Masters will remain indebted to him for the Divine relief of not being put through                                        any                                                                          tests.

 

The deeper meaning of this narration must be understood and imbibed. This historical account defines the path and lifestyle of a disciple, which must be adhered under the guidance and grace of the Master for spiritual salvation. The path is Nam Bhakti. The prime requirement of this path is that one must get detached from the mindset of the past. As one becomes 'mentally immune' to the material paraphernalia, the mind pursues the path of seva of the Master. The seva should be such that it is following the wishes and commands of the Master. The disciple must live on one own earnings, and wages be earned by honest means. The devotee may never forget or dilute or deter from Nam's real seva during the ups and downs of life and should keep himself 'afloat' by having faith and trust in his Mentor. It is then the Master "pulls" the disciple from the bottomless "well" of cosmic illusion by giving "rope" of his love and grace. When the disciple climbs out of 'worldly well', and Master accepts his 'seva', he embraces him   makes the soul merge with the spiritual Master. It is in this state

of   oneness   that   the   spiritual   treasure   is   'restored'   to   the   disciple.

BIREH OR VIREH —THE BLESSED MOURNING

 

WHEN Jesus pronounced, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted", he was alluding to the profound mystical experience of those suffering pain of separation from the Beloved (Lord). Mourning of soul reflects its deep distress for having lost in the labyrinth of creation, yearning to be one with the Lord. In eastern mysticism, such a feeling is called "Bireh or Vireh" and in Urdu/Persian language as "Hijr.

 

Jesus' disciples who felt fiercely sad and lonely after crucifixion witnessed him in his spiritual body after a few days ("known as resurrection of Christ), and that was the "blessing of comfort" for relieving stress of their Vireh. Lord Rama, ignoring all rishi- munis in the jungle, comforted Vireh of Shabari (Bhilini) by visiting her cottage and eating her half bitten fruits.

 

Sufi Sheikh Farid (1188-1280 AD) defines Vireh as "Vireh tu Sultan" as follows -- "Vireh—you are the feeling of Supremacy of Love, The bravest of the brave. Body devoid of Vireh is shadow of grave." At another place, Farid gives a call to a crow to notch and munch his entire corpse (when dead) save the eyes so that his hope of seeing beloved survives.

 

In Sufism, the pinnacle of love is the beholding the Beloved-- Murshid/Master –within or without. Bulle Shah (1680-1758 AD) was denied his Master's (Shah Inayat Khan) physical presence/meeting for many years due to a lapse on his part. When the anguish of isolation became utterly unbearable, he attired as a dancing girl with a small troupe of folk dancers to have a glimpse of his Master in the village fair. Shah Inayat, touched by "Vireh" of Bulle Shah, hugged him and blessed him with the "totality of Divinity".

 

One of the Sikh Gurus in emotional ecstasy despairs that "luminosity of thousands suns and moons does not dispel darkness( misery of ignorance) of self till I behold my beloved Satguru". At another place, the feeling of desolation for the darshan of Satguru equals "period of Kalyug" for momentary disappearance.

 

Another anecdote of intensity of Vireh--- a lover was waiting for his beloved in a depleted hut for umpteen years. One night the beloved Master appears in pitch darkness, and the lover is unable to sight him—the lover torches with matchstick his only hut for visibility. The beloved departed after giving a momentary glance to the lover.

 

The quintessence of Vireh is --- all is gained (spiritually) while all else is immaterial due to the transience of the phenomenal world. Vireh's insatiability brews till the state of Fnaa—annihilation of the self.

If love is the 'taxiing' state of   an   airplane,   Vireh   is   'full   throttle   take   off'. The mood in Vireh is of calm desperation, oblivion of time and space, self-absorption, the totality of physical and mental detachment. There could be tears or smile; both convey the excitement of expecting a glimpse of the Master. Here both Master and the Lord feel envious of the devotee. Blessed are those who experience Vireh.

 

 

BLESSED BY “PITA GURU” AND “DADA GURU”

 

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. In Indian terminology, the 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’ (lineage) of Derveshs.”…meaning that a chain of Masters will follow Farid. Moinuddin then beckoned Kaki to bless Farid on the mystic path.

 

Kaki bowed on feet of Moinuddin Chishti and apologized that in the holy presence of his own Master, he can not do so. Then, both Sufi saints 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” 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”.

BUBBLES IN BABBLE

 

What belongs to man? Nothing!! However, all of us remain under a delusive guidance that this body, mind, soul are "our property". This body is not by our choice. Mind and soul also come woven with the body. Thus mind and soul are also not of our selection. How can this trilogy be our possession?

All interim relationships with other bodies are also made under the mistaken presumption that they are the owners of themselves. That generates hyper delusion.

The body goes through birth, growth, decline, and death—over which one has only a limited control. The knowledge of physical formation, deformation, and reformation of all beings is constrained by medical science research. The more medical researchers have discovered, the more they realize how little they know.

Due to the body's inherent mortality, some religions suggest repetitive meditation on "that I am not the body but the soul"—beyond time, birth, and death. But this meditation is done by mind. Mind believes "I think (or I meditate)" therefore "I am (all in all), which projects another deception. How relative and limited perception of mind can be inferred from the decisions we take in life. They often go wrong, and we repent. Mind, too, creates an assortment of aberrations.

Then we explore the realm of the soul—which is said to empower the mind/body. Soul remains an object of speculation except that mystics/religions endorse it as part of eternal Divinity. The riddle of life mystifies even mystics. In the infinite vastness of cosmic conundrum, all beings have microscopic existence. Saint Kabir concluded this existentialism as "bubbles" formation that appears and disappears on water's surface for no rhyme or reason.

Bubbles in a babble, we are indeed.

BE CHARITABLE TO THE SELF

 

"Charity begins at home". That implies enabling the "soul or self" for a merger with its Origin or Supreme Self. So long as the "soul" struggles to survive in sheltered bodies of life and death, keeps on settling karmic rentals daily, creates additional karmic liabilities, how can such a distressed "being" be a Charitable? When the mind is polluted with five perversions' fire, sentiments of self-less service with humility and devotion cannot emerge.

Mother Teresa, an evolved soul, practiced compassion as a Divine Mercy as attitudinal dedication and not for public demonstration. Says Jesus, "let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly". Charity's mystic concept is the soul's emancipation rather than temporal comforts riddled with pain and pleasures.

Commercial kindness to "Rob Peter to pay Paul" carries karmic retribution. Guru Nanak's concept of service to humanity embodies three conditions: one's earnings must be honest, offered with remembrance, and gratitude to the Lord. Those beneficiaries must utilise amenities for an honest living. Donating indiscriminately to institutions of questionable integrity or exploiters or tortures of living entities is forbidden due to severest Karmic reprisal to all participants in the string. Economizing on five elements of Nature—water, earth, air, fire, ether (sky) including environmental cleanliness, frugal lifestyles are also akin to Charity.

Unfortunately, a visible charity of display of wealth is generally prioritized over the righteousness of Self. That is why such services prove to be of a limited utility. How can those who are uncharitable to their Self prove to be charitable to others?

20                                                      ELEMENTARY METAPHYSICAL IDEAS

 

 

 

COMPLIANT CONTRADICTIONS.

 

Five elements of Nature—fire, earth, water, air, and space- are mutually inimical while sustaining this firmament. For example, earth exists in waters and does not sink; water, fire, and air maintain their balance on the planet and sky does not fall on earth and stands above it without any support. In this creation--- earth, water, fire, air, and space) work for all animate and inanimate beings, despite apparent hostility.

 

Mortal frames of humans and other living beings are compounded oneness of these five incongruous entities. It is said at the time of Grand Dissolution of this universe, the water of oceans dissolve earth; fire evaporates the water; air sucks fire, and space swallows all in the air and what remains is unimagined fogginess. Why elements operate in harmony per se before Dissolution?

 

The answer is-- principle of existence' prima facie' is balanced diversity powered by "Word" or literally translated in Hindi as "shabd"-- the creative vibrations of life expression that ensures harmonious co-existence of all contrarianism. The moment it withdraws itself, no amount of natural or artificial energy of 3000Kcal or million of Kcal per day of these elemental forces can revive the mortal frame or any of the senses or any vegetation or sustain inanimate beings. All seen and unseen creation, including all elements' inherent forces, are doomed when "word" chooses to suck itself out of the creation. Aversion to clash and yet balanced existentialism is maintained in terrestrial and extraterrestrial realms because of "thy will" and not its negation.

21                                                  ELEMENTARY METAPHYSICAL IDEAS

 

 

 

CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN HE (AN ATHEIST) AND I (THEIST) ADAPTED FROM THE PUBLISHED PAPER OF SHEIKH MOHAMMAD AL-GHAZALI

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is the text of the conversation:

 

"He (i.e., my atheist friend) said: If Allah created the universe, then who created Allah? I replied: With such a question, or more likely, objection, you emphasize that everything must have a creator!

He said: Don't take me through mazes; just answer the question!

I said: You do believe that the universe was created without a creator; i.e.It is the same question... why do you believe yourself when you say it while belying others when they believe stick thereto?! Moreover, if you think a creator who has no creator of himself is a myth, then a universe without a creator is a myth, too, according to your own logic!

He said: We live in this world and feel its existence and thus cannot deny it!

I said: Who asked you to deny the existence of this world? When we take a taxi or boat or an airplane on a specific route, we do not question the car's existence, for example, instead, we might ask: does it run by itself or there is a skillful driver behind the wheel?! Hence, coming back to your question, I may say: your question is self-refuted. You and I admit an actual existence; no one can deny this. You claim that it has no beginning in relation to the matter, while I believe it has no beginning in relation to the creator. So, if you want to ridicule an existence with no beginning, you should ridicule yourself before ridiculing the people of faith!

He said: Do you mean that the two parties have the same presupposition?

I said: I will elaborate on this only to reveal and expose the void allegations on which atheism depends. The presuppositions are not the same as far as the two parties (i.e., the believers and the disbelievers) are concerned.

Consider this; you and I are looking at an erect palace; I believe that an architect has built it with the eye of an expert. You believe that some wood, steel, stones, and paint have gathered by themselves and on their own and in a specific fashion and built that palace for human beings to dwell therein.

 

The difference between our views is that if we find a satellite that orbits in the outer space, you would say it was launched by itself and without any supervision or direction from anyone. While I would say: it had to be launched by an administrative supervising mind...! The presuppositions are not the same. To me, it is the inescapable truth, while it is to you the doubtless untruth".

 

By rejecting the blind imitation and invalid logic, our age's atheists can also experience the light of reason through discriminative rationality.

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DEATH(S) DECIPHERED

 

Life and death may be well defined by the principle that matter can neither be created or destroyed, except that it changes its state of existence. Death blesses cessation of the mad race of life of man that everyone wants to win. It fulfills all conscious and unconscious cravings cherished by man to attain “peace” in his living span. Human “will” thus get gratified instinctively.

 

There exists another invisible form of death that shadows life, yet not perceived. The moment an embryo is conceived, death’s invisible penumbra accompanies life. Inhaling breath is life; exhaling is non-life, and inhaling again is the rejuvenation of life. That is the mechanism of existence. Life and death are intertwined as warp and weft. Invisible death is not an event after 70-80 years but an imperceptible occurrence every moment.

 

Life “after” death is an incomprehensible notion except the concept of 8.4 million life forms. Past life regression under hypnosis is also deemed to be delusory by many.

 

Rationally, something must shift or move out for freshness to come in. All body cells die/change periodically and are reborn to sustain existence. All that has changed and is changing is death in the process, and “now” is the transitional life. The passage of changes in birth, youth, mid-age, and old age represents unseen death(s), rebirth(s) and continuity of life just as a vibratory sine wave progresses.

 

Likewise, all beings make a quantum transformational jump in new “life format” for existentialism after abandoning the old that dies. That is how the wheel of life/ death/life rotates interminably.

 DIVINITY IS DEFIANT

God is known by His noble attributes like the truth, all-knowing, loving, compassionate, provider, forgiver, benefactor, etc. In Sufi literature, Lord is also referred to as “Be-parwah (defiant or immune to discipline)” who acts in His Mauj ( impulsive nature).

Some of the citations of God appear as a bundle of contradictions. He gifts life that is dying every moment. He projects Creation at His discretion without any accountability, while the principle of karmic retribution is applied to all. With the finest of His Creative expertise, human-made by God has, by and large, qualities with no semblance to His virtuosity. His presence is veiled in creation when He is fearless per se.

Despite being Lord of compassion, He advises Arjuna to fight and kill, so that Dharma or righteousness may prevail. As God-Man or Man-God, Jesus submits in perfect humility to gallows to re-affirm and proclaim the principle of the Word of God. To His own incarnation Rama, He assigns jungles and let the evil in Ravana game with his dedicated wife. Oxymoron is He—atheists may shout??

Mount of Sinai is reduced to ashes to evidence His presence to Moses. What was the fault of a mute mountain?? He havocs earthquakes, volcanos, and famines yet considered kind. Can such disasters be deemed a sort of developmental plan for future generations? Who knows?? Five elements of nature—fire, earth, air, water, ether—are made mutually inimical but generously sustain life.

Defiant in His way but yet maybe merciful from another perspective. Behind this façade, there must be a grand incomprehensible purpose. Not even mystics can express it. Bulle Shah should have said “Ki Jana oh kaun”—(Who He is) instead of “ Ki jana main kaun”(who am I)!!

DESTINY AND CHANGE

 

The destiny of life cannot be altered under any circumstances. Immutable it is. Period.

None would be unhappy if destiny could be managed by free will or advance intimation. Freewill and destiny are self –contradictory. Then how do we make choices? An example-it is akin to a game of playing cards. After randomly shuffling the pack, players are distributed a set of unknown cards. Players win or lose by using those limited cards/choices, depending upon constraints of emotional intelligence. At the human level, they appear to play of their own. At the Divine level, the availability of choices/cards are not in their hands; nor the intelligence or thought process triggered by a set of cards. At the human level, choices do exist. At the Divine level, they do not.

If each individual is to determine his/her destiny, the world would be chaotic. A person’s destiny is intricately interwoven with his parents, relations, society, and geographical placement. Altering any single event means interfering with the entire societal fabric.

Sufism classifies mystics in two broad groups—the first who adhere to the Lord’s “Raza” or “ahle-Raza” or those who live in absolute surrender to His will. And others who seek mercy by “Duaa” or “ahle-Duaa” category- those who pray for divine mercy with invocation if the “Lord so wishes” because the Lord knows the best. Thus both groups endorse unqualified allegiance to supremacy of Destiny/Divinity.

Now the counter fact--life is also governed by the principle of change. All that transpires or is bound to transpire shall change. Despite the incontrovertible operation of destiny, it gets replaced or changed by another set of destined conditions at any moment. Destiny and change are intertwined in the temporal realm of “illusive Reality”. However, the writer of destiny has no destiny and remains changeless.

25                                                                                          ELEMENTARY METAPHYSICAL IDEAS

 

 

DETACHED ATTACHMENT

 

 

“That which gets born, acquires multiple attributes and then dies” is the simplest definition of Maya or   Illusion   or   Conventional   Reality. Illusion appears a projection of certainty, while it is not. The litmus test of Maya is---it first provides pleasure but finally betrays   the beneficiary, leading to sorrow, suffering and repentance.

 

Mind is a genetic generator of desires, seeker of fulfillments with unpredictable outcome. Human beings get crushed between grinding wheels of Maya and mind—of illusion and infatuations—and resultant out come is unutterable misery. All forms of mind’s attachment with Maya

— beauty, bodies, richness, power, pleasure, property, friends or families are initially pleasurable and then painful. It can be reasoned that object of attachment, with passage of time, does not survive in the form when bonding was done by mind, because Nature has so contrived that all must change.

 

Since principle of change is immutable and suppression of desires can recoil as negative reaction, what could be the cure from cycle of pleasure, pain, and remorse? Mystics recommend that remedy lies in Mind’s firm connectivity with “One” that is beyond the realm of change. When mind is attached to the “One that is Unchangeable”—the Axis, where all is at perpetual peace and bliss, then it   (mind)   stays   detached from rotation, radial   and peripheral   commotion   of   worldly   wheel. This is defined as detached attachment by Mystics. This is the way to harmony in life riddled with forces of mind and Maya.

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"DIVINE WILL" VS "ACTION-INACTION"

 

 

There could be a simple question at the human level--Should Hukam or Raza or Bhana or the "Divine Will" be considered the operating principle of life, then what is the role of action? Then inaction could be the way out. God will act of His own Will.

 

No!! says Al-Ghazali. (Sufi 1058-1111, AD). He explains as below--

 

For example, when we lift the glass of water to drink, then the causative factor is the "thirst" created by the will of the Lord. The action of lifting a glass of water is not in non-conformity or non-compliance with Divine will. The One Lord-- Who initiated the sensation of thirst, has also produced water as a means of quenching that thirst.

 

Thus there is no divergence in the Will the Lord and Divine Grace—that enables action. The notion of devotion is that man is an instrument of compliance with the soul's requirements as ordained by the Lord.

 

There is no concept or idea of inaction in understanding the working of Divine will. The Hukam is -- the man must act according to the best of his physical and mental capabilities (Vivek) and accept the outcome with gratitude, whether it is consistent or inconsistent with his wishes or desires.

DIVINITY OF DREAMS

 

 

“Dreamer’s Dictionary” mentions snake visualization in sleep as impending “unfortunate circumstances” unless “snake “is demolished in the dream. Longtime back, this scribe dreamt that his body was tightly clenched by a coil of a very heavy-bodied cobra and was struggling to get release of its grip. When fighting with this monstrous snake, he shouted in a dream for God’s help. Instantly the snake disintegrated into pieces of soft cotton rags and disappeared into nothingness.

The material world is a snake that clutches body/ mind and, consequently, the soul in   “unfortunate   circumstances”.   Unless   there is a Divine intervention, the human frame is helpless to unshackle itself from the pull of physical/mental entrapments and continues to suffer in the spinning wheel of karmic creations. Right or wrong, this is the explanation that can be given to that dream.

If the world is a dynamic dream and human life a passing illusion, what is the purpose of living on this physical plane? The punch is that in this world and consciousness of human form only, man is blessed with grace for experiencing spirituality and self-realization. Unless one knows the dream of life, one cannot appreciate the Reality. Just ask a person who has just woken up after a dream, and he will confirm this as the truth. Thus, dreams are a play of Divinity for differentiating the Reality— because verbal or written explanations cannot capture this phenomenon.

ECONOMICS OF LOVE AND HATE

 

We remain confused with the concept of love and hate. Sometimes it appears that we love an idea or an object and sometimes the same love stands transmuted into hate. The mind creates circumstantial love and hate situations.

 

First of all, everyone loves one’s self more than anybody else. Even personal hate is a reflection of love for one’s self. The next step is-- when it is said that “I love so and so”, then it logically means that “I do not love others or lack love for so and so”. Love gets differentiated and slotted. If love leads to a division or silos—then the very basis of love is destroyed.

 

When we profit physically, financially, or emotionally in our daily activities, we say it is love; when we lose, we call it hate. If one gives a tip to a taxi driver in the USA, he replies to the customer that “I love you”—this is the level that love has been reduced. Love is barter for exalted ego, and hate is traded for low self-esteem. “Love and hate” at the human level lacks objectivity and may be understood as infatuations that the mind internally categorizes as profit and loss.

FROM EYE TO ENLIGHTENMENT

 

In our daily activities, whenever we are faced with any complex problem, our finger automatically moves to a midpoint of the forehead. Here, according to sages or yogic beliefs, the soul and mind are knotted together. The hidden astral knot is the spot from where the mind receives power from the soul. The more the focus of the soul's power on the concentrated mind, the simpler becomes the understanding of any complexity. The "Tilak", the "Bindi", the "Saffron mark"—all on the forehead-- are symbolic of that PowerPoint.

 

Jesus said, "if therefore thy eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." He is referring to the third invisible "single" point between the two eyes. Two eyes represent duality. Activation of "singleness" is a condition precedent for divine consciousness. A single eye is also termed as "Divya Chakshu"—the eye that can see intrinsic reality.

 

Usually, the opening of Shiv-Netra (third eye) of Lord Shiva (depicted on the forehead between the two eyes) connotes cosmic destruction. Since that "opening" is mythological, it is a belief based upon faith as destruction and regeneration are complimentary. Shiva means auspicious, propitious, benevolent, and gracious. The logical derivative--- opening of Shiv- Netra signifies the destruction of illusion (Maya) and the dawn of enlightenment.

 

Reference to Light (in a single eye) by Jesus is not merely understood or confused with a spectrum of seven colors. The mystical parable is that those who experience flashes of Light within are well on their way to the attainment of higher consciousness. The index of spiritual progress is the "change" felt within "self" rather than any external mutation. The difference between a student and a seeker is that the former is instructed by teachers/professors and aspires to recognize his educational and professional worth in a presumptive time frame. The latter is guided by a mystic Master/ Shepard and gets transformed from "within" when the time comes.

 

"When will the time come?" is the natural question. For example, when a long tunnel is drilled in a mountain range, no light can be seen from the other side. It will be wrong to conclude that no progress has been made in piercing the hill. When an aspirant puts in meditative efforts at the third eye, the drilling in the mountain of karmic illusion commences.   In   Biblical terminology --- "Knock, and it shall be opened unto you".

 

But the moot question is -- can personal endeavors of disciple/seeker be ever sufficient for spiritual results? Human efforts are just a drop in the ocean.

30                                                  ELEMENTARY METAPHYSICAL IDEAS

 

 

 

 FORGIVENESS IN KARMIC DOMAIN

 

 

A Sadhu mediated by sitting on a stone for 50 years. God appeared and demanded that Sadhu seek forgiveness of his sinful karma. Sadhu claimed that he is free from all sins. Lord replied that 60 kg of his body weight was borne by stone for 50 years in the recent past. If that liability is to be squared up, stone must sit on Sadhu's head for that much time. Unless Sadhu seeks forgiveness from stone and stone in turn grants clemency, Lord mentioned that He would have to turn him (Sadhu) into stone and let stone become a sadhu for karmic settlement. A stone cannot forgive because of its inherent inanimate level, the Lord in His own subtle manner settles the karmic burden.

 

Thus, Nature compulsively intervenes. Therefore, the Sadhu must pass through the devolutionary process in lower species/animal/bird/ insects until he degrades to a stone level. Simultaneously stone must evolve in ascending scale as human being into devout Sadhu in an indeterminate time frame. Nature will then match time, space, and process for the reversal of karmic account.

 

Yet there could be odd situations. if one kills or murder another being, the dead person cannot show compassion or forgiveness. The intervention of Divine design then squares up the result of the extermination.

 

When men question unpredictable unexplained occurrences in life, they forget that Nature settles all actions, including sanskaras (impressions) in the vastness of time and space. Atonement through forgiveness is the compassionate discretion accorded to man by the Lord, provided such an atonement is accepted in the Divine Court.

 

Lord may also facilitate forgiveness of sins committed voluntarily or involuntarily by repentance through His Sons or Saints. Bible says – “[Jesus] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins". Finally, a third party's intermediation determined by God becomes imperative for unsettled matters.

 

 

 

FREEWILL--- A PHOBIA

 

 

Two mega-events of life-- that can be easily observed and identified-- are entirely beyond human freewill. They are –when one is born and when one dies. Birth is not by choice, and neither death is. There is no free will at these two pertinent points. How can free will exist in the intervening period of life—when the beginning and the end are both remote controlled. Even each breath brings us closer to death. Some describe life as a process of slow suicide in unawareness. None can stop aging by freewill. We remain unaware of this most astonishing cosmic phenomenon. But we still carry within ourselves aura of illusion of total freedom of self.

 

What is doubt? What is fear? What is uncertainty? What will happen tomorrow? Our helplessness, joys, sorrows, meetings, and partings-- are manifestations of lack of free will? No man would have had any problems had he be free to act in the manner he desired. Neither this world would have been chaotic had we been conferred with the power of free will.

 

We do not choose our parents, place and time of birth, brothers, sisters, society, country, and world surrounding us. We live within this fundamental framework. The concept of I was born of my parents, brothers, country, and so on are brand names for existence on this plane. But man is just a puppet placed randomly amid other puppets.

 

In most formative years, our learning is unawareness, which transforms itself into our so-called limited awareness. We walk because of gravity. Our hearts beat without our will. We breathe because of air. We see because of light. We need "conditions" for every activity. In life, "conditions apply".

 

We are not even free to love. Love is the gift of the Beloved. The lover reacts to the beloved's beauty, while the heart's emotional quotient is the play of mind. We cannot hate unless the object of hate instigates us.

 

If we believe in destiny, then there is only Divine will. Human will and Divine will cannot co-exist. Their mutual existence is a contradiction of the concept of destiny. "Human will" is an illusion, "Divine will" a reality.

Due to five passions that the human mind harbors—Kam(lust), krodh(anger) lobh(greed), moh(attachment), and ahankar(ego/ false sense of pride), the cosmic design has ensured that man is devoid of free will. Otherwise, man would have plundered Nature and wrought destructions to others by greed of acquisition to nurture his infinite ego.

 

Our senses, brain, and mind are preprogrammed hardware without our consent. Can we think or a thought drop, let alone act-- without this hardware. Five elements of Nature, the sky, the sea, sun, moon, stars, and all that visibly and invisibly exist around us are a gift from the Unknown. Call it software of some sort. Our actions are reactions to cosmic paraphernalia. At best, Mystics says that there is a conditioned, free will at the human level. However, there is no free will from an Absolute point of view. That is why mystics comment, "What is there to be proud of ?"

 

Roman Governor Pilate glorified his supremacy to Jesus by saying that he has the authority to save him or crucify Him. "What is the wish of Jesus"? he asked. Jesus replied, "You have no authority except what is given to you from "Above".

 

Freewill is phobia except what and when given from "Above".

FREEWILL

(BABA Ji 29.11.2014 NEW DELHI)

In life, we make choices. The free will we believe are the choices we make. These choices lead to actions. These actions or karma then govern the future course of our lives. However, our choices are based upon limited or conditioned free will. The Lord has given us Vivek or the power of discrimination for making these choices. But our freedom to make choices depends upon the awareness we have.

For example, if a person is sitting in a room and is asked where the light is coming, he will perhaps mention the tube-light of that room. If he is asked to come out of the room- in the open-- he can observe the sun, moon, and stars as other sources of light. That person was not wrong when he mentioned tube-light but was ignorant about the other light sources.

Thus this limited awareness or the Gyan creates limited thoughts, choices, and actions. We are afraid of entering a dark room. But when the room is lighted, the fear of going into the room is automatically eliminated. If our actions are governed by ignorance or limited understanding, we cannot have freedom of action or absolute freewill. At best, we can have limited freedom of action.

Our thoughts also depend upon the nature of understanding. Although thought is not directly related to action, but repetitive force of thought compels us to act. And we cannot live without thoughts or thinking. “Eliminate the thought”—is not the solution, because the mind stores all thoughts. The mind remembers all-- right from inception-- and nothing can be erased from the memory of mind. Those who are aware of computers know that even if you delete something or everything from the computer, it can still be retrieved.

The thoughts that drive the mind are impressions of past lives, parentage, society, religion, country, etc. When thoughts are not in our control, how can we act freely? What type of freedom we can have when the mind and Maya influence us. We do not live here (in freedom). We exist in this world. What is the pattern of our lives? We take birth, grow up, work, and live through life struggles, and then death takes over. The same cycle is repeated again and again. We are born in a place and surroundings of not our choice and come here with an unknown stimulus. From the highest perspective, we have no freedom. Even if everyone is given the freedom to act, the world would be a chaotic place.   The real freedom can be attained once we go beyond the domain of mind and Maya.

For that real freedom, Bhajan –Simran is recommended so that all over karmic account is erased. Someone asked Bade Maharaj Ji, is there a way other than Bhajan-Simran. He replied that there are two paths to attain absolute freedom. First of surrender and second of Bhajan –Simran, but He added that the path of Bhajan-Simran or Nam Bhakti is the easiest and the simplest.

Absolute free will and freedom is possible when we attain salvation or Mukti and get rid of body-mind perpetually by devoting our time and attention to Bhajan-Simran and living the lifestyle as explained at the time of initiation.

FRUIT OR SEED- FIRST?

 

“Fruit or seed which came first?” is a primordial puzzle and defies conventional wisdom. There are many unanswered questions, e.g. --“Who” created God? Mystics/Scriptures define—Creator is Self-created. The cause and effect are self-created. Life accompanies Death or to say that Life and Death are intertwined. Thus fruit and seed too are knotted and co-exist. Next inquisitiveness is “why this Creation” and “why” we first come and then go? Many presume this is His play. Another perspective is that we have already come and gone but are a part of the projection of a cinema that unfolds in time in a movie hall space.

 

Scriptures    define    “How”     Cosmic     conundrum     is     contrived. “Nirakaar” (formless) with his vibrational creative power of Ekankar or Onkar or Omkar equivalent to “Word” of Christianity or “Kun” of Islam or “Shabd” of Sikhism or “Tao” of Chinese projects all causal/astral/physical planes. His presence and power have perpetual co-existence.

 

Then who came first? Whether Maya, Trinity (Triloka)—the powers of transient births (Brahma), sustenance(Vishnu), and judgment/ unprecedented change (Siva), followed by subtle/ physical planes of consciousness, and after that, male/ female and vegetation, etc.??The answer -- Nirakaar “instantly” manifested the Creation. “Fruit and seed” have concurrent origination. Only a feeble entity requires interval/time for growth and development. All Pervasive Powerful Will is time untimed and space unspaced.

 

His Will to “be” is the action and is the attainment, simultaneously. Sure, fruit and seed or Life and Death are inseparable. Limited consciousness of humans see short spells of this Grand Mystery in time frames of come and go. That is why; holistic Reality remains vague to individuals. Devoid of time and space, existence is Oneness.

Game of Mind

 

 

A mature person knows that all power and instrumentation of man is embedded in the human body itself. The outside world is felt and inferred by the inner mechanism of the mind. The apparent reality of the physical world is the result of the perception of the human mind. Conversely, the mind can think of and be with the objects that it has perceived or can imagine. That is why it is said that you become what you think. It is all the game of mind. The external scene and internal phenomenon are intimately interlinked.

 

The states of mind over which one has no control are dreams, delusions, emotions, sentiments, judgments, hallucinations, imagination, etc. The exact working of these psychic states at the conscious level cannot be known or deciphered precisely. But it is equally valid that these too wear a garb of reality so long as the mind is absorbed in them. That is why the heartbeat changes, blood pressure, and other symptoms manifest in such mental states.

 

Writing the above paras aims to reiterate that man's outer and psychic states are an integral part of inner mental activity. Think of money, wealth, position of power, infatuations, etc. its ripple effect will be experienced in mind. If mental activity   drivers   work   for   this transitory world, their experiences and acquisitions will only be of that nature—purely transient and temporary. At some point in time, all that one thinks will materialize. The inner world of dreams, desires, and cravings is projections of what was thought in 'the eternity of time' but cannot be recalled now by the mind. We feel trepidations of fear, insecurity, and some strange feelings in and around us. The memory fails to recollect the chain of our thoughts of past and even present life. Since 'time' has an unfailing memory, it delivers to us all we wished and craved.

 

When one thinks or craves or yearns for God or the Master, the mind starts working at that elevated level. Mind and Master then have a conscious connectivity. Then the 'conscious' power of mind is directly proportional to the faith and conviction that one carries for the Master or the Lord. The philosophies of all Perfect Masters stress constant remembrance of the Lord by the seeker. That faith will provide strength to live through the immutable process of destiny with equanimity. He will then feel His presence within and around too. And after this world, that very remembrance

of the mind and faith will take the soul back to the Lord and the inner Master. Kabir Sahib says---

 

Simran Se Sukh Hot Hai, Simran Se Dukh Jaaye, Kahe Kabir Simran Keeye, Saiin Mahine Smaaye.

 

That simran brings happiness and comfort; Simran gets rid of pain and sorrows. Says Kabir, with simran you become one with the Master.

 

Baba Ji repeatedly says ---

 

Jisda Parmarth Ban Gai, Usda Swarth Ve Ban Gaya".

'When spirituality is attained, all personal goals are attained too. And the Simran is the key to it.

GOD AS A METAPHYSICAL VIBRATION

 

Mystic Mirdad proceeded to the stable and spoke kind words to a sick cow for her wellness. The disciple asked Mirdad, how can a cow understand Him? Mirdad replied— what matters is the "vibrations of words" and not the words. After a while, the cow responded in good health.

 

Any name or "Naam," say Gopal—— a word (Shabd in Hindi) uttered from the mouth and heard through ears becomes an audio frequency that identifies the person Gopal in mental consciousness. Likewise, the process of seeing is the conversion of light frequency to cognitive energy in consciousness. Only a consciousness in vibratory mode can decipher frequencies and not a dud consciousness. Sanctified "vibrations of words" can be resonations or "dhun," also termed as "Shabd Dhun" in Indian spiritual thought.

 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by Him," says Holy Bible. Without the Word, existence cannot be imagined. The "Word" or "Shabd" may be a mystical connotation, yet an expanse of infinite vibrational energy.

 

Five elements of nature—air, fire, earth, water, ether—are energies generated by atomic or subatomic particles' oscillations. All beings, including humans, are a mixture of these five elements, representing a compounded form of vibrational energies.

Heartbeats are the most prominent rhythmic pulsations of a body. Light, sound, thoughts/ communications, changing seasons, planets, etc. are all vibrational diversities signatures. Vibrations are thus seamless connectivity of life and (to what we infer as) non—life.

Perhaps too, God is boundless, powerful, and primal vibration from where currents of various frequencies descend to manifest in subtle/gross forms. Unity and diversity are interwoven while suggesting sublime intimacy of spirituality and science.

 GOD CANNOT BE CREATED.

 

Energy can neither be created nor destroyed is an accepted scientific principle. It changes forms and flows from one state 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 power of Word (Nam, Nad, Om, Tao, Lagos, Shab). 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 conception to a little child, but the 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. The evolution and refinement of consciousness for greater awareness is an unending process.

 

There are umpteen issues of which the Mind is clueless. From where does the ingenuity of Mind come? Why it “thinks” the way it does, especially in terms of time and space? Whether mental and sensory perceptions are preprogrammed? The existence and operation of highly diversified microorganisms and subatomic particles are mostly 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 the 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 Creation are “the Miracles” in their own right, entirely compliant with Supreme Understanding. God, though remains “Uncreated,” while the Creation exists at the discretion of its Creator.

GOOD AND BAD –DO THEY EXIST??

 

There have been perennial human desires to experience goodness in life of pleasure, profit, power, property, good health in preference to negative situations of poverty and scarcity, pain, loss, illness, etc. to what we call bad times. Though the principle of diversity and contrarianism is in-built in the cycle of life, it provokes another question whether God is naïve or partisan or imperfect in conceiving the very concept of human existence. This query needs an answer which is as follows:

The ignorance conceives such contradictions of the human mind; they are relative and subjective depending upon the individuals and their states of mind. Many examples could be cited-- A sick person will be miserable, but a doctor and pharmacist are pleased with the fee/money they earn. A misery benefits the other. An earthquake may be a disaster for many, but it creates additional demand for the reconstruction; this could be good for the industry's new business and profits. Attachment to the children is natural and pleasing, but any adverse circumstances could be painful for parents. Money and wealth are a source of comfort but worrying about them is hugely nagging. Position of power is deemed a success in life, but the fear of losing the power or acquiring arrogance of ego under that same power, are the negative aspects. Can we decipher whether the night is good or bad? Both day and night have their relevance. Life, its various stages, and death is a process which is the best in its integrated format. Had death been eliminated, the earth would be a jammed packed and crowded place of inhabitants praying for air to breathe. In all instances above, the certainty of the opposites is visible and rightly ordained. From the highest perspective, the concept of right and wrong lacks understanding of the Creation's working.

What is the Truth and how to get out of these ups and downs of life? There are no opposites but just events. The only Truth is the humble submission to Divine Will to live in a state of equipoise and equanimity. In the first verse in Jap Ji, Guru Nanak Sahib appears in the form of a querist and the respondent,

which may provide some understanding. Q-- "�कव स�चअयार् होवई �कव कूड़े तट

पाल"?? A--"हुक्म रजाई चलना नानक �लख्या नाल"!! Simple translation is Q- "how

may I know the Truth (of the Creator and the Creation)? A-- Abide by the His "Hukam".

"Divine Ordinance" or हुक्म manages the affairs of this Creation. Hukam manifests as the "Raza"—the way it pleases Him. When a person accepts life situations with love and gratitude, then the divisive aspects of good and evil, right and wrong, positive and negative, virtue and wickedness are rendered

meaningless. Those who deny acceptance of "Raza"— encounter process of pleasures and pains, or sequential opposites in the spectrum of life and this world.

At Divine Level, there is no contradiction. At Human-level, the delusion exists because man imposes self-will over Omni will.

If so, be the case, then what is the role of human effort (with its gifted intelligence) to overcome impediments of life. Yes, efforts are to be made in the "right direction" without losing the sense of balance. The means of correction should not pinch the goodness of human consciousness. The result needs to be accepted with gratitude because we are unaware of the destiny and destination the Supreme Reality has designed for each human being.

GOODNESS IS NOT ENOUGH

 

The highest goal of spirituality is salvation-Mukti to go beyond the cycle of transmigration. Destiny dictates man's timing of oneness with the Lord. Nevertheless, each person walks the path of his concept of spirituality.

 

Many believe that goodness in life or right karmas equals Godliness and spirituality. They pursue the path of righteousness and a noble code of conduct to attain immortality. That remains their self-professed philosophy. They emphasize loving one and all, forgiveness, earning by honest means, living a life of contentment, having a charitable disposition, restraining anger, controlling passions, and resisting carnal desires. They do not hurt others, remain humble, do not cheat, and worship the Lord as per personal convenience. These are some of the many moral crutches they walk upon for oneness with the Lord. Their technique or method divides the mind into two parts--- a higher mind and lower mind. Higher mind acts as the teacher or a Guru, and the lower mind a seeker or a disciple. The higher mind admonishes and guides the lower mind's thought process to work for the highest objective of life. The playground is the domain of minds. This self- conceived mechanism creates an invisible relationship of a 'Mind Guru' and a disciple within themselves and claim that they follow no Guru.

 

Mystics say that karmic nobility is not sufficient for Mukti, though it a prerequisite and a great help in attaining Mukti. Good karmas may yield great or heavenly dividends, but they do not take us beyond the cycle of birth and death. This present existence is not the beginning and end of life. Life has been in cyclic motion in diverse species for eons, and enormous karmic activity has consciously or unconsciously taken place. Some actions were right, others wrong, but all kept the soul in the transmigratory mode. Man or his mind may have no idea about them, but these deeds are all well recorded on the universal mind's hard drive and have to fructify as the time unwinds the karmic film like a cinematic projection. By design, the human mind does not possess the power to recall its length, totality of karmic burden, ways, and means to clear the karmic debt. Until karmic storehouse is cleared, Mukti is impossible, though pleasures and enjoyments in various planes of existence can be experienced.

Good deeds of this life cannot erase the sins of the past. Bible says that the karmic principle is—"-an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him". Debits of the previous lives cannot be written off by credit of good karmas or through asceticism or worship by self-induced thought process of mind. The goodness of this life may have its advantages now or later, but the danger is that when a person starts assuming that he has turned truthful, humble, noble, right, sincere, etc., he creates a wall of ego that veils his vision of Reality. Furthermore, if one's own technique and effort attain something, that object becomes lesser or smaller than the person who worked for that attainment.   How can God's grace be lesser than a human? How can infinite be contained finite? Helpless is a human being in meeting Him of his own. Gurbani says—

 

Mystic philosophy is emphatic that Saints, Masters, or Gurus carry Divine mandate to guide and advise the seekers and bless them to be in tune with God's 'power of God'—called Nam. Divine Guru is the one who takes the disciple from illusion to Reality, from darkness to light and beyond the domain of mind and Maya. The Guru invokes and catalyzes the human mind's power through Nam and takes full responsibility for arranging to square off all times' karmic debt. When the karmic bondage remains no more, the soul is freed from Mind and Maya's clutches and merges with its origin. That is when Mukti or salvation is achieved.

 

Another metaphorical view is that the path of righteousness and goodness mentioned in the preceding reading merely helps in having rich fertile soil and the environment. Unless the seed is sown, even the fertile soil with the best fertilizer cannot yield any crop. Master is the sower of Nam's seed, and He makes sure that soil of mind is rightly conditioned for the germination and the growth of fruit—that is, the redemption of the soul.

 

The seeker chooses whether he wishes to opt for mind as his Guru or abide by the Guru who carries the Divine Grace! The subtle difference is that Divine Guru is met by the fated destiny and mind Guru by its own choice.

Happiness in Unhappiness

 

 

In moments of happiness, a doubt flashes whether this joy will survive. “Ácche din ayenge” is a whiff of happiness, but —what, if they do not? Efforts, worries, fears in pursuit of happiness make life uneasy. A healthy person may not be wealthy, and cheerfulness is diminished. Furthermore, “Sukh” soon changes into “Dukh” and vice-versa, and life swings as a pendulum in two extremes. These are some inferences of happiness in unhappiness.

 

Divine design configured through karmic principle mandates that the human body be an abode of pleasure and pain. Out of sheer necessity, these must prevail. Thus, the expectation of lifelong bliss is a hyper delusion because life is not designed that way. For example, an automobile can run slow or fast but cannot fly—because it is not structured to be airborne.

 

People chase Godmen or perform austerities for riddance of disease, acquisition of wealth, position, comforts and relationships, etc. Even if such goodies are blessed, they may soon degenerate into ego, jealousy, losses, betrayal, disputes, etc. Is an obsession for happiness wrong? Certainly, Not. However, non-acceptance of unhappiness is “the wrong” and painful.

 

Neither the purpose of Godmen or religiosity is to make this world a heaven. Nor this world has or can be a paradise despite spiritual saints, sermons of scriptures, and prayers. They merely make this existence a tolerable habitat.

 

Nanak Dukhiya sab sansar, so sukhiya jo nam adhaar—says Guru Nanak---all in this world are unhappy except those who have abiding faith in His Word. Man must accept fait-accompli of His inscrutable Will with firm conviction so that adversity is borne with relative ease. Unhappiness shadows happiness all time. In utter helplessness, Man survives just by “acceptance” alone.

 

 

KNOW THY LONELINESS

 

“My dear friends, there are no friends,” whispered Aristotle. Merely self- delusion is to expect that any ‘relationship’ or ‘friendship’ will last a lifetime. All connections finally dissolve in the cosmic ocean of time and space. At birth, family is the closest. Friends in schools/ colleges are heartthrobs. Later, fondness of colleagues, loving intimacy with wife and children, societal connections appear to bind us. A time comes when such unions terminate physically and mentally. Even emotional bondages evaporate before we are graved or cremated. We also remain oblivious of billions of being who habitat this creation.

 

The very body and mind we love and nurture with food, fun, comforts, and attachments also give prior warnings of abandonment by natural aging or illness with no recourse. Nature has Laws. One of them is what must meet, must separate too. “Separation” gets initiated the moment “meeting” commences. All associations and dis-associations are pre-determined plots beyond human understanding. Had it been otherwise, we would have never switched off these connections. Soul en-caged in body-mind combo is disinterested in temporal phenomenon. Hence loneliness and feeling of emptiness troubles in introspection. Our bodies, minds, and souls go their own away in nothingness. How utterly helpless we are.

 

If this is the immutable Law, then are we to remain aloof from all those surrounding us? Answer, No. We need to “act” as co-passengers in a train, yet be prepared for separation without remorse when passengers board and de- board at different stations. Some leave us, and to some, we shall leave. That is the journey of life in loneliness, which appears crowded. Why so?? Cannot be answered.

MAGNETISM OF BAPTISM

 

“Be positive” is the mantra for stability in human life. Negativity saps the energy of the body, mind, and soul. The soul’s DNA is “Providential Positive Pole,” and its descent from that “positive plane” to lesser positivity or relative negativity in this temporal habitat has encouraged assertion of agony and fear in daily life. The reversal of this process through mystic’s intermediation is called “baptism” by which a soul in the “human body” attains perpetual ascension to embryonic glory.

 

The compound of life like H₂O with positive and negative attributes (valences)- is neither good nor bad. Till both elements merge back to their respective origins through molecular disintegration, water continues to exist in multiple forms: moisture, steam, clouds, ice, or back to water. Likewise, humans or sub-humans mutate and suffer in various life forms until the mind and soul merge back in the Universal Mind and Supreme soul.

 

“Many are called, but a few are chosen,”…. says Holy Bible. Baptism or initiation is the Supreme Soul’s or a Perfect Master’s mystical kiss to a chosen human soul—a “sheep” lost in the labyrinth of creation-- by attuning His inner attention with pure Divinity outwardly, and it may be a focused within the physical body. An aspirant remains unaware of this gnostic phenomenon. That alludes to the positive pole of magnet touching an iron piece for induction of magnetism. The soul slept under the spell of mind is sensitized for initiating its journey towards the “Providential Pole”. Spiritual progress depends upon the intensity of the yearning of the aspirant. Finally, this sets the soul free till eternity.

MASTER AND DISCIPLE

 

Why is there a need for 'discipleship' and a 'Master'? Who is the 'disciple 'and who is the 'Master'. Mind is the disciple, and the Supreme Self is the Master. The mind needs a 'body' to follow and understand. The Supreme Self also needs a 'body' to communicate. Man already has a soul, mind, and body that wishes to learn the Supreme Self's mystery.

 

When a man is ready to be a seeker, the Lord, in His grace and compassion, wears a 'cover' of a Master in a soul, mind, and body to reveal the path that may enable the seeker or a disciple to access Him. The Lord's human form is meant to give 'guidance' as man cannot acquire such instructions by his endeavor. In a man, the mind is lost in illusion and is 'blind' to the Reality, and a 'blind' cannot lead the 'blind'.

Maya's conundrum is a vast area of 'darkness'—devoid of Reality—in which the 'blind' sees no light. Master, the Lord in human form, is the light and the guide that lovingly leads the seeker from the 'darkness to light' ---the light of knowledge and enlightenment'. There is a famous Vedic/Upanishad prayer in Sanskrit, which reads

as follows:

 

'Asto Ma Sat Gamaya --- (OH LORD)Lead me from the Unreal to the Truth. Tamso Ma Jyotir Gamaya --- Lead me from the Darkness of Ignorance to the Light of Knowledge

Mrityor Ma Amrutam Gamaya --- Lead me from Mortality to Immortality'.

 

Bulle Shah describes this inter-se relationship of light and love very candidly---

 

‘Uasda       mukh       ek       jot       hai,       ghunghat      hai                                                                                                sansar. Ghunghat    mein    vo    chhip     gaya,     munh     per     aanchal     daar. Unko        hi        milta         hai,         jis         se         uas         ki         preet, Munh       dikhlave       aur       chhipe,       chhal       bal       hai       Jagdish, Paas          rahe          har          na          mile,is          ko          biswa          bees’.

 

HIS face is a LIGHT, and this creation a VEIL. His LIGHT is hidden inside the

VEIL of creation. He meets who LOVE Him. He plays the game of hide and seek. Lives near, yet inaccessible......................................................... this is the truth.

49                                                  ELEMENTARY METAPHYSICAL IDEAS

 

 

 

MASTERLY MISCONCEPTION OF PROXIMITY WITH MASTERS

 

 

Many seekers of Living Gurus crave for proximity with their Masters for transcendental attainments. The presumption that spiritual progression requires physical proximity has little relevance because spirituality cannot be "taught" but "caught" through meditative concentration as preached, rather than any external affiliation. Otherwise, spirituality gets reduced to religious ritualism of visiting or living near holy places.

 

Mystics lead an inner life of Divinity, unknown to disciples in outer life. The so- called nearness has the inherent hazard of being misled by an aspirant's human perceptivity and relativity, thereby doubting the Master's Divinity, reducing Him to a common man, culminating in lack of faith in Him and straying from the noble path.

 

Mystics too allude to allegorical forewarnings—Is a teacher not pleased with his students' hard work for educational excellence than having them around? A fire's warmth can be captured from a distance, but proceeding forward for physical proximity may inflate the seeker's ego, akin to entering flames of self- destruction and blocking own progression. Another comment -- If attainment of "radiant light within/ or inner awakening is the goal, then searching with a lamp on one's hand in daylight is self- induced delusion.

 

A Guru was asked-- that sometimes disciples approach Him with manipulative intentions, hiding facts, and the truth. But He compassionately assists them. The Guru clarified that He responds to the way facts are presented to Him, but any seeker's craftiness will have its karmic retribution. That individual shall surely meet his nemesis.

 

The operation of karmic law is in no way diminished because of personal proximity with any Master, neither any spiritual benefit accrues.

MESSAGE OF DIE TO LIVE

 

In death, a person not only perishes physically, but there is also cessation and relinquishment of all that he has done or achieved in his lifetime. His desires, wishes, wants, prejudices, passions, likes, dislikes, relationships, and cravings are buried or burnt with him—emotions of Love and hate exit. True or false cannot be inferred. Fears of all kind fly away. Necessities of life are reduced to nil. One is not envious of anyone, nor do others envy him. There are no friends or foes, no bank accounts, no creditor, or debtors. Beauty or ugliness do not tempt or repel. Good or bad, pains or pleasures cease. The concept of comparison collapses. Luxuries of life, cars or airplanes, etc. are now a thing of the past. Time and space cease to exist. Neither illusion nor reality exists.

 

Elements of Nature can not trouble the inert body. Water, earth, air, fire, and thoughts bring no pain or pleasure to him. All doctors, physicians, surgeons, and their medicines that worked in flesh and blood are redundant. Man now stands above all disorders and diseases—as if all have been conquered.

 

Death is an excellent reliever of all pains, pleasures, tensions, loneliness, old age crisis, and frustrations of life. Inner conflicts of body, mind, and soul are put to rest perpetually. Man is at peace with himself. Death is an excellent gratification of that unconscious craving that a man cherishes throughout life for peace and contentment. Death indeed is an extraordinary phenomenon that reduces all beings into nothingness. However, it does not eliminate the certainty of a new birth on this planet earth or a celestial region or a life in eternity.

 

Death of all physical and mental paraphernalia can lead to a new life---nay a new birth--- in the realm of spirituality. In Mysticism, the burden of the past baggage must be shed, buried, or burnt. Unless one is covered with a 'blank white sheet', the color of spirituality cannot be dyed and seen in the mystic art.

 

The disciple is Divined when he has no thought or existence of the self— when in a state of total self-annihilation. A Punjabi poet describes the

condition of the devotees of a Satguru as if their heads are 'technically' beheaded----

“Satguru sunaya si tere school vich, Bees te tees di fees koi na,

Jadon mein gaya pahli  jamat ander,

Padan valleana de dahDn (body) te sees (head) koi na".

 

Oh my Satguru, I hear that all teachings are freely given in your school of Mysticism (without fee of twenty or thirty rupees). But when I arrived at the primary class of your school, I noted all students are learning with beheaded heads (total surrender of their minds and bodies---given everything they had.")

 

In a similar vein, Guru Gobind Singh challenges the 'potential lovers' of the Lord to bring their heads on their palms if they wish to play the game of Love (with the Lord)---

“Jo tau Prem khelan ka chao,

Sir (head) dhar tali (palm of hand) gali meri aayo"

Kabir Sahib challenges death in his mysterious ways and says that 'death does not deter me; it is the source of supreme bliss---a way to eternal life'. “Jis marne te jag darre, mere mann anand;

Marne te hi payyea pooran ParmaNand.

The physicality of death is merely a symbolism of dying within. It is not the 'death' per se but the total reversal of attitude of 'mind set' that is prerequisite for the path of spirituality".

Jesus has termed it as being 'born again,' He says, (to Nicodemus),..."Unless ye be born again, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven." And "that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of spirit is spirit." Being born into spirit means to attune oneself with the Divine Word, the Shabd, Om, Waheguru, Tao, Ram-Ram, or that mystic power to whom mystics have termed "Divine".

Unless the process of 'death' of body and mind is known and imbibed while living, spiritual regeneration is not feasible. That is the message of death.

MYSTICAL MARKET --MIND GURU V/S SPIRITUAL GURU

 

 

Yearners of mystical reality have multiple options—but two of them are prominent. The first school of thought pursues logical dictates of Mind of Righteousness, and the second one adopts a technique of an Adept who has actualized that reality.

 

This first category believes that good karmic record/nobility of conduct can check vagabond fancies of Mind and lead them to immortality. Their technique creates an abstract division of Mind in two parts--- "higher" and "lower" Mind. Higher Mind acts as "Guru" and the lower Mind as "disciple". Higher Mind admonishes and guides the lower Mind's thought process to work for the highest life objectives, including jap, tap, puja, and all worship forms. This self-conceived mechanism creates an invisible relationship of a "Mind Guru" and a "disciple" within themselves and believe that they follow no Guru.

 

Mind and intellect analyze thoughts and actions for acceptance or rejection or reaction. Suppression is built up; arrogance that "I am noble" roots in. History records that Rishi, Munnis with "Riddis-Siddis" dissipated their powers for ephemeral pleasures as repressiveness recoiled back when exposed to the world outside. The karmic cycle continues, though miraculous powers and higher states of consciousness may be attained.

 

The second system seeks a Guru as they feel the Mind projects an illusion of wisdom. Says Osho, "Going to a Guru means "I" am fed up by my thinking. "I" cannot think by myself. "I" am troubled by my self, and "I" have come to "leave" that "self." At this stage, a seeker is ready, and a Guru appears. Bible says--- "A good Shepard ( Master) knows his sheep (marked souls). They recognize his whistle and flock unto Him".

 

Said Jesus, "Many are called, but a few are chosen." All cannot be marked for redemption, as this creation has to continue. It is the Perfect Master who gathers marked souls worthy of His Grace, though seeker(s) believe otherwise. A blind man cannot come out of darkness unless helped by someone with eyes.

Adi Granth mentions: "Brilliance of thousands of suns and moons cannot dispel the darkness of ignorance of Mind. That can be removed only by Grace of the Guru. "What is Grace? It is the Creative Power's sublime touch to the "marked" seeker by the Guru, called Initiation or mystical engineering. Creative Power is "Om", "Ram Nam," 'Satnam' "Word", "Hukam" or "Thy will" or Kun (in Arabic).

 

When Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father except through me", He reminded the Cosmic Law that a Mystic alone could provide Divine touch. The story of a princess who is awakened after many years from a deep slumber by the kiss of the prince allegorically means that "Master Prince--Guru" gives a "mystic kiss" to "princess-- soul" ( seeker), fallen asleep under the spell of illusion of Mind (evil) to awaken her up.

 

Abiding by "Thy Will" eliminates "I-ness". Material cravings diminish; inner pull multiplies; "meditative numbness" (sunn samadhi) of Mind is attained. Mind and soul finally reunite with their Essence.

 

Those who prefer Mind as Guru attain powers that Mind's domain can provide. And those who surrender to Spiritual Masters, melt in spirituality that their Masters have attained. "Aad Guru namah, Jugad Guru namah, Satguru namah, Sri Gurudeva namah" are chants of gratitude for Spiritual Masters of all times.

MIRACLES GALORE

 

Witness the diversity and enormity of apparent miracles -- Earth does not sink into sea; Sun does not burn the Earth; Sky stands above Earth sans pillars; Air carries water (as moisture). All-stars and planets in space are in perfect configuration, maintaining a distance-- not colluding. All planetary bodies remain under the spell of gravity without pull and pain. Seasons, rains, days, and nights come and go without our prayers. Seed smitten within the fruit for that same tree is a riddle.

 

How does a cow produce milk from grass and fodder? From dust sprout grains with digestible minerals and vitamins, to sustain life.   Hardware and software of digestion and nutrition from an ant to an elephant cannot be replicated works in perfect coordination. How fire enters as the latent energy hidden inside the wood? How unexploded energy of crude oil lies embedded peacefully in deep recesses of Mother Earth? Man itself is the greatest mystery. Every breath is a miracle. The heart rhythmically beats all time in unawareness. Human thought travels and imagines faster than the speed of light.

 

Likewise, “Life”-the cycle of birth, growth, decline, and death—is a humbling experience. Each moment and every phenomenon appear as a reality but, in fact, an illusion. Happenings of constant change in unawareness surround us. Their supply is so   abundant   that   we   fail   to   grasp   and   appreciate them. Introspection and appreciation are lacking. Man must be merely grateful for the infinite mysteries that support our existence. “Having eyes, ye see not”— was genuinely pronounced by Jesus.

MYSTIC PERSON -- BY HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN

Below is a beautiful description of a Mystic Person given by Piro- Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927), the   revered   Indian   Master who brought Sufism to the Western world. (FROM “THE INNER LIFE AND THE PURPOSE OF LIFE” BY HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN)

================================================================

“Mysticism is not a thing which is learned; it is a temperament.

 

A mystic may have his face turned toward the north while he is looking toward the south; A mystic may have his head bent low and yet he may be looking up; his eyes may be open outwardly while he may be looking inwardly; his eyes may be closed, and yet he may be looking outwardly.

The average man cannot understand the mystic, and therefore people are always at a loss when dealing with him. His “yes” is not the same yes that everybody says; his “no” has not the same meaning as that which everybody understands. In almost every phrase, he says there is some symbolical meaning. His every outward action has an inner significance. A man who does not understand his symbolical meaning may be bewildered by hearing a phrase, which is nothing but confusion to him. A mystic may take one step outwardly; inwardly, he has taken a thousand; he may be in one city and maybe working in another place at the same time. A mystic is a phenomenon in himself and a confusion to those around him. He himself cannot tell them what he is doing, nor will they understand the real secret of the mystic for it is someone who is living the inner life and at the same time covering that inner life by outer action; his word or movement is nothing but the cover of some inner action. Therefore those who understand the mystic never dispute with him. When he says “go,” they go; when he says “come,” they come; when he comes to them, they do not say, “do not come,” they understand that it is the time when he must come; and when he goes from them, they do not ask him to stay for they know it is the time when he must go.

 

 

Neither the laughter of a mystic nor his tears are to be taken as any outward expression, which means something. His tears may perhaps be a cover for very great joy; his smile and laughter may be a cover for a very deep sentiment. His open eyes, his closed eyes, the turning of his face, his glance, his silence, his conversation, nothing means the same that one is accustomed to understanding. Yet it does not mean that the mystic does this purposely. He is so made; no one could purposely do it even if he wished, no one has the power to do it. The truth is that the soul of the mystic is a dancing soul. It has realized that inner law, it has fathomed that mystery for which souls long, and in the joy of that mystery, the whole life of the mystic becomes a mystery. You may see the mystic twenty times a day, and twenty times he will have a different expression. Every time his mood is different, and yet his outward mood may not at all be his inner mood. The mystic is an example of God’s mystery in the form of man”.

MYSTICS (SANT SATGURUS), INCARNATIONS (AVATARS), AND PATRON SAINTS

 

Based upon Baba Ji's English Satsang at Bhatti (Delhi)

There is one God. Since He is unlimited, He cannot be captured through our limited mind and understanding. From time to time, mystics have emphasized some of the domain of His energies by different attributive and descriptive names. In Christianity, there is a concept of the trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Then, amongst Christians, there are Patron Saints representing diverse energies of Nature, to whom people worship or pray for physical and mental well –being.

In Vedic philosophy too, there is one God and have the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh—as Creator, Sustainer and Destroyer, and many other Devi-Devtas. They all are "Bhoog Joonies". This trinity has no power of its own, but each of them draws energy from the Lord for managing the Nature. Just as in a State, there is one Chief Minister. Then there are many Ministers under him with various portfolios, who exercise powers delegated to them by the Chief Minister. When they manifest themselves on   the   physical plane (in human form), these energies are Incarnations (AVATARS), who are rewarded for their exceedingly good Karmas. They are within the cycle of 84 while they yearn to merge with the Lord.

Good karmas do not provide deliverance because we gather ego and then commit wrong actions. And in this Karm Pradhan domain, until all Karma is settled, Mukti or Salvation is not feasible. It is commonly said, "Tapo raj te

rajon narak. तपो राज ते राज� नरक

By(penances and charitable

donations/work, we may attain the highest degree of comforts in next lives, but after that, we are consigned to hell through the perversity of actions in the form of Kam, Krodh, lobh, Moh, Ahankar(lust, anger, greed, attachments, and ego)—which are   essentially   negative   attributes.   The   cycle   of   actions and reactions and their consequences continue, and therefore   EVEN GOOD KARMIC RECORD KEEPS US BOUND to the circle of birth and death.

Human beings are "Karma Joonie," which, as per the law of Creation, can attain Salvation. Incarnations have to reincarnate as human beings for attaining

Salvation. That is why it is said—"Is dehi ko simre dev"— इस दे�ह को �समरे देव Kabir Sahib; P 1159 SGGS (even the gods long for this human body) because "so dehi bhaj har ki sev" सो दे�ह भज हर क� सेव (so meditation on the Lord in human body truly serves Him).

Hazur used to give an example of a person in prison. A kind-hearted and compassionate person will think that in winter, the prisoner does not have warm clothing. So he may provide him with warm clothing to make him comfortable. But he is still in prison. Another person may provide good food. Yet another compassionate person may not want to make his life in prison comfortable instead of being keen to free the prisoner from imprisonment. The most generous benefactor is the one who frees the prisoner from imprisonment. Then in Satsang, we have heard another illustration—a small child having fallen in the drain of dirty water. Someone can try to clean the water of the drain or clean the drain itself, but the better option will be to lift the baby out of the drain.

Incarnations (Avatars) of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh-- Creator, Sustainer and Destroyer, devi- devta and patron saints, it is so believed, may help us improve our lot in this world with material comforts but cannot provide Salvation. One has to choose. Is it better to continue in the cycle of birth and death of 8.4 million lives or to get eternal redemption? We have been given "Vivek" to opt for what is good for us.

A question is often asked why persons who commit all wrongs are better off in this world than those who pursue righteousness. Those who appear better off in this world are bound to this world and Creation. And those who settle their karmic accounts by living in the Will of the Lord, despite difficulties in present life, earn entitlement for Salvation.

The Law of Karma is so precise that unless all Karma is done in Nishkam (�नष्काम) mode, --that is, without expectations of results—karmic burden continues to accumulate, and we become accountable for them. For example, a mother's love for his child is by and large Nishkam (�नष्काम) —but it still has some degree of selfishness of expectations from the child for looking after her at a later date or during old age. The ideal and surest way of doing Nisahkam

Karma is that "THY WILL BE DONE". The objective of Mystics is to "liberate" their devotees from the cycle of action and reaction. That is the real freedom. It is quite different from the constitutional freedom. It is the freedom from the cycle of action and reaction and their consequences (of reincarnation time and again). It is not easy and is not a bed of roses.

That is the fundamental distinction between the Mystics and Incarnations/Patron Saints.

Human life's purpose can best be served by being a seeker of Salvation in preference to praying for material comforts on this earth. However, the option lies with us.

 MYTHS & TRUTHS

 

Spiritual aspirants sometimes take a vow of silence (Maun varat). They believe that speech diverts focus from the Divine. But they forget it is the “mind that keeps on jabbering” within even if vocal cords are sealed. The digression from the Divine continues.

Those who wander as a hermit for the Truth fear that the pull of the world might trap them. If fear is the basis for the inquisition of the Truth, then it is best not to be a seeker of the Truth. In lonely habitats, the mind is suppressed, and when ascetics revert to the real-world, passions override again. Many rishi/ Munnis became victims of moral degeneration. If some sadhus acquire siddhis/ siddhis, they tend to consume them for name and fame. All attainments stand negated.

Some prefer the life of scientific inquiry. For them, spirituality may be a hallucination while scientific evidences prove. The facts being that both paths relate to “inquiry” through research and complement each other. Science improvises the world and creates an enabling environment for research within body—temple of living God-- for self- realization. Meditative concentration is not feasible in poverty, hunger, disease.

Recently Physicists discovered the “God particle,” which empowers subatomic activity of the cosmos. Saint Kabir described cosmic relationships as drop and ocean (boond and Sagar). Hindu texts indicate it as Atma and Paramatma. “God particle” or “drop” is encapsulated in time and space, while God/ Ocean is beyond time and space. This conscious realization is termed spirituality and alludes to the entwined nature of science/mysticism.

Spiritual realization in the human body defined as “ocean in a pitcher” (gaggar mein sagar) by Kabir Sahib and other perfect Masters is determined by Divine grace (Kripa) when coupled with love and devotion. The role of intellect (buddhi or Gyan) and efforts is vital but not the decisive factor.

NOTHINGNESS AND I-NESS

 

The journey of the soul is cyclic- from "nothingness" to "ego of I-ness" and back to "nothingness". Bulle Shah, Panjabi Sufi mystic, amusingly chides the Lord about this game of contradictions. He says that when Lord conceived of the universe, souls were not willing to participate in Creation. Lord urged them to experience the planet earth in bodies with a solemn promise that He will Himself redeem them out of cosmic entanglements. And souls agreed. (Recall Jesus said--no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father)

The Lord played a game, says Bulle Shah. He appears on this physical plane from time to time in the garb of a human body. Souls are unable to distinguish Him from the rest. How can spiritual beings with human consciousness trust someone who is not recognizable? Many times, they are fooled by demi-gods. That indeed is a breach of trust. Why, souls' question, the ferocity of Mind, and Maya are imposed on them, while their inherent attributes are Godly.

In Human form—as a Guru or a Saint/Son of God / Master/ Messenger -- He preaches them to shed all perversions of Mind, get rid of karmic cycle, come clean for merging unto Him, which are all excruciating encounters with deviousness of world. Furthermore, none can "rightfully" express or assess Creation's experience in the realm of relativity and remains lost in this wonderland of Creator with many unresolved questions. Upon the merger with the Lord, I and I-ness exist no more. Nothingness prevails at the end.

What a game?? Even if it is won—the self is annihilated!! If the game is lost by sustaining I-ness, the sufferings of souls continue to multiply.

 

 

STORY OF A ONE-EYED HORSE

 

An ancient Indian King bought an expensive stallion of a rare breed called Teji. The Teji pedigree horses were famous for ensuring the rider's safety by intelligent maneuverability when surrounded by the enemy on 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 the "Kaana" horse. Teji would steam with anger on the 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 neighboring ruler. "Teji" was determined to avenge his humiliation. In the battle, King was encircled by the enemy while fighting on his favorite horse. Teji had the option of tossing the King on the enemy's side or swiftly taking him out of adversity. A flash came to Teji – that throwing King in the enemy's hands would be a perpetual slur on his honorable 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 and flawed temperaments. The world ignores virtues but taunts flaws. Notwithstanding the highest provocations, sewadars must not deviate from Dharma— path of Righteousness-- so as not to besmirch and disgrace their spiritual institutions and Mentor Masters.

LIFE OF OPPOSITES

 

 

 

Shadow of opposites accompanies the moment soul wears robes of mind and body. Death tethers life unseen at birth. The process of life expanding into the zone of death is termed “living being”. Saint Kabir describes the world as “village of the dead”—“yeh murdon ka gaon”. That is the law of contrarianism for continuity of creation. Day dies for night and vice versa; winter withers into summer and so on. Breathing “in” is “life,” and breathing out is “death”. Waking is life; sleeping is unawareness of life. Euphuism is “Die to live”. Devoid of opposites, cosmic paraphernalia would be stagnant.

 

All “meetings” end with “separations”, though this imminent divide remains invisible. “Wealth, beauty or power”, generally perceived as instruments of pleasures, carry collateral “fear of loss”. Poverty and loneliness are excruciating experiences, yet catalytic for working hard to attain satisfying achievements for the Self. Love and hate run parallel. Often worldly love is the mind’s infatuated possessiveness that finally mutates in hate/dislike (negative love) as perceptions of lover and beloved alter with time. Contraries are inherent in our socio- psychological canvas too. Lord Krishna and Kurvas, Lord Ram and Ravan are mythological references of Good and Evil existing concurrently.

 

Mind is a “demand machine” and expects all demands to be “supplied”. It fails to fathom the consequential outcome of “opposites” of this demand/supply relationship. In introspective awakening, the Self realizes that body/mind are contaminated energies of Maya (Divinity+ matter) and that opposites are merely inertia in transition to understand Non-Reality. For some, this may realization may translate into voluntary detachment from transient matter. But that also cajoles humans to explore the “Realm of Truth” bereft of opposites.

 

"THE PEACE OF MIND -- ADVISORY OF MYSTIC MIRDAD

 

A reference is taken here from one of the chapters of the "Book of Mirdad" (published- 1962) of Mikhail Naimy, a Lebanese writer.

 

Prince of Bethar governs a prosperous kingdom.   His neighbor, another king, wishes to wage war on the Prince of Bethar to loot his wealth. Bethar approaches Mirdad, the mystic, to help him avoid bloodshed. Mirdad questions Bethar to define his priority. Does he really need peace? What prevents him from having peace? How much are his riches worth? Bethar declares that he is very emphatic of 'no-war' with his neighbor. He wants peace at all costs.

 

Much to the dislike of Bethar, Mirdad finally tells him to gift all his riches ("rubbish all his riches") to the rival king. The net value of his material wealth is minimal for ensuring peace that will save many lives and properties in both the states. When Bethar's opponent realizes that the value of your' riches is rubbish', he will figure out that this war is not worth that trash. That is the only way to peace.

 

Mirdad preaches that Bethar has no option but to fight a battle within his mind and self to salvage both states from a potential conflict.   Once he frees himself from the burden of his wealth-- peace and prosperity will reign in the region. This dialogue in the book is described as follows---

 

"MIRDAD: Did you not say you would have peace?

Prince: Aye, peace would I have.

MIRDAD: Then, do not fight.

Prince: But my neighbor insists on fighting me, and I must fight him that peace may reign between us.

MIRDAD~ You would kill your neighbor that you may live with him at peace! How strange the spectacle! There is no merit in living at peace with the dead. But a great virtue it is to live at peace with the living. It is your throne, your wealth, your glory, and the things to which you are a prisoner that your neighbor wants to fight you. When you have cast them out upon the rubbish heap, your neighbor will halt his march, and sheath his sword, and say unto himself-"were these things worth a fight, my neighbor would

not have cast them away upon the rubbish heap."

 

Blinded by his power and ignorance, Bethar called Mirdad a lunatic and was chained by his men.

 

Our minds and actions chase transitory trash of treasures and peace we seek. Peacemakers must fight a battle within their minds to achieve calmness.

 

Leaders of nations threaten each other a war for potential peace. Both need to resolve their internal conflicts before they can talk about peace. Will the current and future generations remain in perpetual fear of 'Mutually Assured Destruction'—MAD phenomenon for the peace, where the survivors will envy the dead.

IS PHYSICAL PROXIMITY WITH THE MASTER (GURU) NECESSARY FOR SEVA?

(With inputs of Bhai Gurdas)

Sometimes disciples feel that if one can be physically close to the Master, Seva can be performed with greater devotion, or perhaps spiritual benefits can be derived faster. But that is not so.

Master is not limited by time and space, while the human mind and its perceptions are. Babaji often repeats that His grace is not a function of sitting near Him. Grace can be transmitted at the Master's discretion to a person thousands of miles away while the one sitting next to Him may be kept bereft of it.

Physical nearness with Master can lead to self-deception by appraising Him as a human being, thereby negating one's faith and belief in His Divinity.

Bhai Gurdas (1551-1636AD), who was closely associated with three Gurus

— Guru Ram Das, Guru Arjan Dev, and Guru Hargobind, the fourth, fifth, and sixth Masters of Sikhism. He has appropriately commented on the vulnerability of physical proximity with the Master from his personal experience.

Being a personal companion of the three Gurus and writer, preacher, and religious figure, he perhaps for a moment ignorantly fumbled in understanding the profoundness of the infinite glory of the Guru. He suffered the physical separation of the sixth Guru due to his elusive and subtle ego. Through an intricate incident with Guru Hargobind, which is well recorded in history, it made him realize how arduous and complicated Guru Bhakti/Sewa could be as Guru is beyond human comprehension.

The essence of Bhai Gurdas comments is—"The presumption that spiritual progression requires physical proximity of the Master has little relevance. Only a few privileged ones can enjoy his close association. The concept of nearness has an inherent hazard of being misled by the aspirant's human perceptiveness and relativity, thereby, making the Master an accomplice of his imperfections, culminating into lack of faith in him."

Bhai Gurdas further renders his explanation thus: "A swan safely picks pearls from the sea so long as it is perched on its bank, but loses both its food and life

by diving deep in the waters. The warmth of a fire is best availed from a distance but proceeding forward in flames is self-destruction. The disciple's objective is to acquire inner consciousness to experience Divine light to accomplish a spiritual journey. But searching with a lamp on one's hand in daylight "outside" is self- induced delusion".

The one who is privileged for extraordinary companionship of the Master may also be ballooned with self-generated ego and presumptive preference of access to the Master, thereby diluting his devotion and impairing his progression.

The way to eternal home lies in abiding his instructions by being true to the practice of Word that is his natural form. Master's real Seva can be done from anywhere without any anticipation, expectation, and reward.

PRAYER CHANGES NOTHING BUT YOU.

 

The real purpose of prayer is to elevate us from physical to spiritual. It is a silent yearning of the soul for Oneness with the Lord. However, our daily prayers are wishes and desires of physical, mental, and material wellbeing. We presume that the Lord has forgotten us or is ignorant about our requirements and needs to be reminded for action. Questions a mystic, "Do you remind God the hours for the sun to rise and for the moon set in?"

 

Such a Lord-- If He cannot be a Knower, how can He be a Giver?

 

Life is riddled with the fear of the unknown, constant transition, and illusion. Just as our existence is shadowed/ threatened by death all the time, acquisition of wealth, power, position, family comforts, etc. are intimately mingled with fear of losing them. All that is gained is threatened to be lost. How can what is based on fear be a source of bliss? We pray in unawareness of our wish list's consequences without realizing that affluence, authority, attachments, etc. push us into another cycle of intense misery.

 

Given the profanity of human passions and greed, if Lord were to accept all that we pray for, the world would have been torn into chaotic pieces. Lord, in perfect Wisdom, kept absolute power of dispensation at His total discretion.

 

Prayers of a set of words, when the heart is absent, and lips are moving have limited results and satisfy our egos only or help vent to the stress of daily life.

 

The real prayer is done in solitary intimacy with the Lord. It might have tears of emotional turbulence of heart—a blessed sadness of separation from the Heavenly father. When a child holds the hand of Heavenly Father, he has nothing to fear from the mystery and mess of life.

 

Can prayer alter the events of life? The answer is "No" and "Yes". Destinies of human beings are karmically interwoven. For example, a person falling sick has to be attended to by doctors/nurses/ family members/pharmacist,

so sickness creates karmic interaction of the patient with others connected with the healing process. Illness cannot be prevented, as the Karmic matrix cannot be interfered with.   But "Yes"— prayer, provides spiritual strength to mind for abiding in "Thy Will" and this facilitates that period of illness be lived through with patience and fortitude. Prayer thus reduces the severity of distress, and to that extent, the course of life appears to have altered.

 

Prayer works as "gum boots"/"protective gear" against painful periods of life. Essential elements of prayer are gratitude and forgiveness. That makes the mind merciful, compassionate, humble, truthful, helpful and transforms the sentient being internally. Once human consciousness is pious and benevolent, the outer world also responds likewise. So, it is the change within that changes the attitude and relationship with the world that brings harmony and tranquility in life.

QUOTES FROM THE BOOK “FORTY RULES OF LOVE” BY ELIF SHAFAK

 

(A NOVEL ON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SHAMZ TABRIZ AND RUMI)

 

 

 

1.     The moment you start looking for Love, you start to change within and without.

2.     It’s easy to love a perfect God, unblemished, and infallible that He is. What is far more difficult is to love fellow human beings with all their imperfections and defects. Remember, one can only know what one is capable of loving. There is no wisdom without Love. Unless we learn to love God’s creation, we can neither truly love nor truly know God.

3.     Whatever happens in your life, no matter how troubling things might seem, do not enter the neighbourhood of despair. Even when all doors remain closed, God will open up a new path only for you. Be thankful! It is easy to be thankful when all is well. A Sufi is thankful not only for what he has been given but also for all that he has been denied.

4.     God is busy with the completion of your work, both outwardly and inwardly. He is fully occupied with you. Every human being is a work in progress that is slowly but inexorably moving toward perfection. We are each an unfinished work of art, both waiting and striving to be completed. God deals with each of us separately because humanity is a fine art of skilled penmanship where every single dot is equally important for the entire picture.”

5.     Where there is Love, there is bound to be heartache.”

6.     Be thankful for every thorn that others might throw at you. It is a sign that you will soon be showered in roses.”

7.     You can purify your body   through   fasting   and   abstinence,   but only Love will purify your heart.”

8.     Each and every reader comprehends the Holy Qur’an on a different level in tandem with the depth of understanding. There are four levels of insight. The first level is the outer meaning, and it is the one that the majority of people are content with. Next is the—Batini –the inner level. The third is the inner of the inner. And the fourth level is so deep it cannot be put into words and is therefore bound to remain indiscernible.

9.     The Qur’an is a gushing river. Those who look it from a distance see only one river. But for those swimming in it, there are four currents. Like different types of fish, some of us swim closer to the surface while some others swim in deep waters down below.

10. There are three more currents. The second one is deeper than the first, but still close to the surface. As your awareness expands, so does your grasp of the Qur’an. But for that to happen, you need to take the plunge. What happens when you take the plunge?

11. “The third undercurrent is the esoteric, Batini, reading. If you read the Nisa with your inner eye opens, you’ll see that the verse is not about women and men but about womanhood and manhood. And each and every one of us, including you and me, has both femininity and masculinity in us, in varying degrees and shades. Only when we learn to embrace both can we attain harmonious Oneness.”

12. The universe is one being. Everything and everyone is interconnected through an invisible web of stories. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all in a silent conversation. Do not harm—practice compassion. And do not gossip behind anyone’s back—not even a seemingly innocent remark! The words that come out of our mouths do not vanish but are perpetually stored in infinite space, and they will come back to us in due time. One man’s pain will hurt us all. One man’s joy will make everyone smile

13. This world is like a snowy mountain that echoes your voice. Whatever you speak, good or evil, will somehow come back to you. Therefore, if there is someone who harbors ill thoughts about you, saying similarly bad things about him will only make matters worse. You will be locked in a vicious circle of malevolent energy. Instead, for forty days and nights, say and think nice things about that person. Everything will be different at the end of forty days because you will be different inside.”

14. The past is an interpretation. The future is an illusion. The world does not move through time as if it were a straight line, proceeding from the past to the future. Instead, time moves through and within us, in endless spirals. Eternity does not mean infinite time, but simply timelessness. If you want to experience eternal illumination, put the past and the future out of your mind and remain within the present moment.

15. The true Sufi is such that even when he is unjustly accused, attacked, and condemned from all sides, he patiently endures, uttering not a single bad word about any of his critics. A Sufi never apportions blame. How can there be opponents or rivals or even “others” when there is no “self” in the first place? How can there be anyone to blame when there is only One?

16. If you want to strengthen your faith, you will need to soften inside. For your faith to be rock solid, your heart needs to be as soft as a feather. Through an illness, accident, loss, or fright, one way or another, we all are faced with incidents that teach us how to become less selfish and judgmental and more compassionate and generous. Yet some of us learn the lesson and manage to become milder, while some others end up becoming even harsher than before. The only way to get closer to Truth is to expand your heart so that it will encompass all humanity and still have room for more Love.”

17. While everyone in this world strives to get somewhere and become someone, only to leave it all behind after death, you aim for the highest stage of nothingness. Live this life as light and empty as the number zero. We are no different from a pot. It is not the decorations outside, but the emptiness inside that holds us straight. Just like that, it is not what we aspire to achieve but the consciousness of nothingness that keeps us going.”

18. Once there was an artisan who had a bitter assistant who was cross-eyed to boot. This assistant always saw double. One day the artisan asked him to bring a jar of honey from storage. The assistant came back empty- handed. “But, Master, there are two jars of honey there,” he complained. “Which one do you want me to bring?” Knowing his assistant too well, the artisan said, “Why don’t you break one of the jars and bring me the other one?” Alas, the assistant, was too shallow to understand the wisdom behind these words. He did as told. He broke one of the jars and was very surprised to see the other one break, too. (“Your father and I are one. If you break me, you’ll break him as well.” –SHAMS)

19. In this world, it is not similarities or regularities that take us a step forward but blunt opposites. And all the opposites in the universe are present within each and every one of us. Therefore the believer needs to meet the

unbeliever residing within. And the nonbeliever should get to know the silent faithful in him. Until the day one reaches the stage of Insan-i Kâmil, the perfect human being, faith is a gradual process and one that necessitates its seeming opposite: disbelief.

20. This world is erected upon the principle of reciprocity. Neither a drop of kindness nor a speck of evil will remain unreciprocated. Fear not the plots, deceptions, or tricks of other people. If somebody is setting a trap, remember, so is God. He is the biggest plotter. Not even a leaf stirs outside God’s knowledge. Simply and fully believe in that. Whatever God does, He does beautifully.”

21. EAST WEST SOUTH OR NORTH makes a little difference. No matter what your destination, just be sure to make every journey within. If you travel within, you will travel the whole wide world and beyond.

REFLECTIONS OF THE REALITY

 

 

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?? Maybe 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 the Parbrham—the Creator/ Creative power/ unalloyed Godhood

 

Some mystics endorse that below the 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) reflects Brahmanda (Causal). Our physical universe (Pinda) is yet another projection of the Anda (Astral) region. Each downward reflection is sub-sublime and coarser than the higher plane above it. Reason-- Divinity diminishes in descending progression with relative increase in the ratio of mind and matter.

 

Inner experiences may be replications in human consciousness of any or all stages. Therefore all mystics/ religions validate the 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 a 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 “Reality”? Truly beyond the comprehension of ordinary minds and mortals!!

RELEVANCE OF SCIENCE IN SPIRITUAL CONCEPTS

The twentieth century's ideas of linkages with efforts and results, infinity, convertibility of matter into energy and vice-versa, understanding of relative motion and relativity, electromagnetic radiations, visible and invisible spectrums of light and sound, and environmental insights have expanded man's vision of interdependency with Nature. That indicates the Oneness of man with the rest of the Creation, thereby endorsing the Universality of the Lord.

Psychoanalytical studies and science have proved that what we think or believe may not be right either for us or comprehensively. The query of "who I am" and the necessity to "know thy self" have pertinent relevance perpetually.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN "EFFORTS AND RESULTS."

So far as the concept of "efforts and results" is concerned, SCIENCE AND LIFE has two distinct narratives. In a technological application, input (effort) must yield the required output (result), subject to certain mechanical or electrical losses, within a predefined time and space. In Life, efforts may or may not yield any results, or there could be no perceptible outcome, in a desired Time and Space. In simple words, this means that Karma performed may not yield results as anticipated. Moreover, Good Karma for me may not be good Karma for others, while bad Karma may be settlement of past karmic debt.

For example

a)             Charity may inflate ego-self, or charitable disposition may create dependency in others.

b)             Likewise, seeking profitability—which is good -- may incur loss for others— which may then be exposed to retribution. (Islamic jurisprudence prohibits levy of interest on any loan contract because it provides "unearned profit to the lender" and imposes "an unfair obligation on the borrower." Though this practice may or may not be followed now in Islam, it reflects the sensitivity of "haq halal kee kamye"—the emphasis on honest earnings.)

c)               A claim that I am a truthful person-- may inflate the ego, thus negating the very seeking of the Lord that requires elimination of "I".

Science is logical and can be understood with our current level of awareness. Life is also a science but yet mostly unexplored and, therefore, unpredictable. A higher level of consciousness is needed to comprehend Life.

 

 

INFINITY OR THE ONE, ARE IDENTICAL IN UNDERSTANDING---

 

 

The first word that the Guru Nanak Sahib mentioned in Mool mantra was Eko— the One (ੴ—in Gurmukhi). There is only One and only One power. "La Illah ill Allah" also implies that save the One; there is none else.                                                                                                      Any concept of duality

or "Duja" or Dvait or Shirk is wrong and misleading. All that exists in Him and Him alone. The diversity is an illusion. When the Guru or the Prophet Mohammad spoke about the One –it means absence of two, three, four, and five and so on. "1" or One is not a numerical representation of God. Numbers are relative to each other; the One is absolute without a second.

This "1" or One is symbolic that God is beyond the limitations of measurements and                  evaluation. Another                                     example—in    our    day    to           day                                   living,                 we     apply mathematical logic say for 4+4=8. But in mystical understanding, that defies logic, and we will have to presume 4+4=1 because each of four things is born out of  the  action  of  one  that  is  infiniअteन-नत.  Another way of understanding infinity in a limited manner is taking Sun and giving light—yet its light is not diminished daily. The energy in the Sun is thus an infinite source of energy.

In a scientific equation, the expression would be of "infinite" + "infinite" = "infinite" and "infinite-infinite" = "infinite". Infinity added with anything, or anything subtracted from infinity is still infinity because none can still be counted and there is no theoretical end to infinity. Nothing can be added or subtracted from the infinite One. It is absolute Oneness of the Divine with no religion, race, or gender.

Endorsing the notion of Eko—Kabir Sahib says—एक कहे तो है नह�ं दो कह� तो गार ,जेसे को तेसा कहे ,कहे कबीर �वचार// Kabir says he is at a loss to count Him. He is what he is.

Mystics have defined this as a transcendental experience - -- जैसे म� आवे खसम क� बानी तेसड़ा कर� �ान वे लालू—Guru Nanak; कह कबीर हम धुर केभेद� लाये हुकम हजूर�

–Kabir sahib

 

 

ONE CAN BE MANY—EXPLAINED SCIENTIFICALLY

Billions of people, creatures, vegetation, hills, and oceans—all that is seen and unseen- are projections of the boundless and infinite One. The illusion of many is also an experience projected by the One. For example, if an object is seen in a mirror, it replicates itself as an image. If thousands of mirrors are kept in a room, one will reflect as thousands of such images. Thus a single object is transformed into thousands of images. That is just an analogy of how one can be many at the same time. Five elements of Nature— ether, air, fire, water, earth—are made by the One, the EKO. All other things have their origin in them.

 

 

GOD AS AN ENERGY AND MATTER ARE MUTUALLY CONVERTIBLE

Energy solidified is matter, and matter unsolidified is energy. In 1905, Einstein proved that energy and mass of the matter are related. He developed the equation, E = mc2, _ where E stands for the energy, "m" its mass of the matter, and "c" the universal constant, the velocity of light. This seemingly simple equation changed the world of physics. It suggests that mass and energy are mutually convertible and indestructible. Thus, all we see as matter is primal energy undergoing constant change and manifesting itself as matter without diminishing.

There is no mortification of matter and energy—though it may appear to be so. The concept of indestructibility enunciated in physics has a parallel in ancient Indian philosophy. Each particle of matter has a soul, the spark of Divinity-- with varying degree of consciousness-- that cannot be destroyed –it can only change to a new level of awareness in different forms. For example-- कण कण            म�               भगवान         है

For example -- Bhagwad Gita says that the soul is indestructible as energy. Divine energy as a soul and then soul working in tandem with mind, matter, and five elements at various planes signifies the One Lord. The expanse of the latter is both perceptible and imperceptible. THUS MAYA is the experience of witnessing the changing matter into energy and vice versa. We deem lifeless or beings of lesser consciousness a living matter because of its intimate connection with the Supreme being. A stone is not lifeless—it has a spark of fire embedded into it. Likewise, water is not lifeless as it is the very basis of all life forms. Air provides Life to all beings; thus has Life impregnated into it. Sun, Moon, and

other planets are forces of Nature that sustain Life. Conclusively there is nothing lifeless as everything has its origin in the Primal Life—God or the Primal energy.

 

 

SCIENTIFIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENERGY AND MATTER ELABORATED.

The energy generated equivalent to one atom bomb called "Little Boy" dropped in Hiroshima in 1945 was (64x1016 Joules). Thus about 0.70 kg of mass of matter (uranium in this case) is required to carry out explosive destruction, which is said to come out of 15500 tons of TNT (tri nitro toluene—an explosive). That illustrates how much energy is stored in the matter if converted atomically.

Therefore, mind boggling how much power is made available by the Lord for sustaining this Creation. Lord is Omnipotent in all respects. He has done all that is to be done. He need not act in phases or parts because He is always empowered to do and the done. That is why He is an effortless doer. The movie is already made, and we are watching it in the conundrum of time and space.

NONE OF OUR EXPERIENCES ARE ABSOLUTE

SCIENCE HAS led us to conclude that we are imperfect observers. Human awareness is limited to the extent it is structured to function in this Creation. Unless there is a fundamental God gifted "Elevated Awareness," we will not be able to capture anything except what our senses experience. The senses are vital for transmitting signals to the cerebral consciousness, but the human awareness reads these signals with inevitable conclusion and understanding. Thus, the soul or the inner consciousness is crucial for understanding the Self than the outer frame of the physical body and senses. Science evidences this fact. As an illustration, consider the following examples--

1                                             Sitting at home or anywhere, we feel that we are stationary. Logically we are rotating with earth and also circling the Sun. This movement is relative to other objects. That can be observed from the fact that day is changing into night, and night progresses towards the day.

2                                             We see the sky as blue, but at night it is black. The incidence of type light changes the color. Likewise, the sea appears to be blue, dark blue, black depending upon the time of the day.

3                                             We may feel   the   air   touching   our skin—but   do   not   feel the moisture in the air. But air and moisture are co-existent in any familiar environment—though we may not be conscious of this phenomenon.

4                                             We may claim that we walk. Unless earth and gravity are there, it is impossible to walk. We cannot walk on water because of a lack of friction and surface tension to support the weight.

5                                             We feel we are growing daily, while we are dying every moment.

6                                             We feel that we see because of our eyes or hear because of ears or speak because of mouth/ tongue. A deeper understanding will reveal that it is fundamental consciousness gifted to us that sensual currents are transmitted to the brain, and thoughts flow from subtle planes. Then coagulations of ideas take place, which prompts us to act.

 

 

7                                             It is commonly said that 85-90 % of work is done by human eyes but consider the inbuilt constraints on our seeing. For both eyes combined (binocular) visual field is 135° vertical and 200° horizontal. A microscope can see more details. Telescope increases the capacity to watch distant objects.

 

 

8                                             Do we see all colors or not? Many animals can only see black and white. We can watch a limited spectrum of light and colors.

 

 

Thus all our experiences are relative and not absolute.

Can we "know" ourselves by our ten Gyan and Karm Indriya or the ten senses of touch, taste, seeing, hearing, and smelling (Gyan) in addition to the use of moving, grasping, speaking, reproducing, and eliminating (Karma). These inner and outer outlets of mind and body are very fickle, prone to change and forced by the direction of Pralbdh Karma.

Also, every moment there is a change taking place within the mind and the outer environment. So long as outer and inner Self is in harmony, we feel momentary happiness that gets vitiated as soon as there is a conflict between the outer environment and the physical frame resulting in sadness or anguish. All these ten senses are an integral part of the mind and body. Unless, tells Socrates we know the soul—which is the eternal Self—the eternal happiness or bliss cannot be experienced.

When we know the soul or the eternal Self, then all of us realize that there is no "you", "he", "we", "they," and "me". All are a string of One. If "you" or "he" or "they" are hurt, I too will be hurt. If I am happy, then you, too, will be happy.

The entire narrative that is expanded above can be summed up or compressed in one liner verse of Baba Bulle Shah—

इलम� बस का�रय� यार, इको आल्फ़ तेरे दरकार ॥

Shed the baggage of diversified knowledge--- except the Understanding of the One.

SPIRITUALITY AND SCRIPTURES

 

Spiritualism is the foundation of “Scripture-ism” and not vice versa.

 

Divine revelations experienced by mystics within their consciousness are not based upon the study of Holy Scriptures. Spirituality cannot be captured by intellectual gratification/recitations of sacred compilations. However, they inspire the fulfillment of the soul’s yearning for Divinity, peace of mind, and fathom mysteries of life and death. Religious thoughts are a means but not an end to experience spirituality.

 

All sacred anthologies mention two aspects prominently—to follow righteousness and that humans can have a spiritual experience. Barring a few, most of us falter. Truthfulness, compassion, honesty, humility, living in His will, etc. are usually shunned in daily life, notwithstanding intense allegiance to theological beliefs. Defiance is justified for “being practical” in the world. Some individuals are troubled by the dichotomy between life and faith. Unless “healing touch” is experienced by mind and soul within through reverberations of “Word” (the Divine power) or the “Music of Spheres” or “Nam”, mind’s perversions cannot be reined. Scriptures state the technique of accessing “Word”. Understanding of methodology without its application defines the difference between Religion and Spirituality.

 

Ascension of Self to the highest Awareness that purifies profanity of mind through meditative concentration on “Word” is the Spirituality. That is symbolic of dirty water in a tumbler diluted to purity by pouring pure fresh water. Higher Awareness dispels the darkness of the lower mind; deepens discrimination for righteousness and serenity in life. Otherwise, life swings randomly from virtuosity to vices or survives in confusion -- despite self-professed scriptural literacy.

 

SEEK THE PEACE WITHIN

 

All messengers of God, Divine incarnations, Spiritual Masters, Saints, Sufis, and Saviors, of past, present (and of future), are worthy of the highest veneration and gratitude for gifting humanity secrets of working of creation and defining the God-man relationship. They also outlined that life necessitates a balance between the physical and spiritual aspirations of man. Humanity has immensely benefited from them and will continue to do so. Despite spectacular enhancement in the "material aspect of quality of life, "the conundrum of mental tension/depression has multiplied, thereby negating scientific attainments' comfort. Perhaps the spiritual aspect of life that can rein mischief of mind remains neglected.

 

Spiritual wisdom preaches of One God (monotheism), His infinite pervasiveness, and His realization can be attained in the human body. Serious seekers who practice sublime submissions of their Masters/scriptures do reap rich rewards by experiencing elevation in consciousness, inner peace of mind, and comfort of an anchor in their lives.

 

Followers, who perpetuate ritualism and read holy gospels like a cookery book— without cooking the dish- cannot take much advantage of spiritual inheritance. How so ever Glorious or Greatest their Master may be that if these followers fail to improve their spiritual lot during present life, they need to introspect what benefit accrued to them from their Gurus' Greatness. Hope of any benefits in future lives is a self-deception.

 

Some seekers expect that their Spiritual Masters (past or present) are duty- bound to ensure their physical (swarth) and spiritual (parmarth) well being. Wrong!!. A student has to apply his mind for passing examinations, though teachers provide instructions, motivation, guidance, and encouragement. "Spiritual meta-physics," like any science, is a path of severe contemplation and experimentation. A scientist studies and discovers the secrets of "atom/ sub-atomic" particles in a laboratory. An aspirant has to meditate in the human body's complex laboratory as per instructions of His Master/scriptures to comprehend the intricate relationship between "atma", parmatama, mind, and body. Unless this is experienced -- knowledge, understanding, conviction, and faith cannot be gained. With

 

faltering faith--- we live with doubts, devoid of a loving heart, cannot face adversities of life, and blame Saints/Saviours for our condition.

 

Another school of thought argues that present Spiritual Masters should correct all negativity and evil of this planet. The answer is simple. Like Lord Rama, Krishna, Moses, Jesus, Prophet Mohammad, Guru Nanak, Kabir, and many others, the greatest Saviors of the past could not convert this world into "an island of peace". How can the mystics of present-day and age achieve that?

 

The creation has to be imperfect if it has to continue. The moment it becomes perfect, it will cease to exist. Therefore Great Masters are not mandated to interfere with the working of the creation. They urge seekers to research "within" the human body's laboratory by meditative concentration to seek answers to their questions. Spirituality cannot be taught but caught. And those who board the flight of faith improve their "parmarth"—and their "swarth" too gets rewarded.

SERMON OF SILENCE

 

 

The intensity of perversions within us is much more than the severity of environmental pollution. The chaos in the world outside is a projection of greed and violence raging within our selves. The human mind is a bottomless pit of passions, prejudices, envy, greed, desires, and infatuations. With all that, we seek peace “within”!! What a mindless plan we have. The ills of the world cannot be cured unless the mind is free from congenital diseases. The path of Silence is one of the prescriptions.

A statue of Buddha manifests three things— Silence, meditation, and stillness. His posture (mudra) and composure were his teachings---be silent and experience. Buddha did not define God as He felt—neti, neti, neti---not this, not this, not this. God is Silence if Buddhism is to be believed. Buddhists sit in front of statues of Buddha to replicate the art of Silence and meditation to quell antics of the mind. Their conviction is that inner peace and Divine bliss can be attained through meditative Silence.

Biblical inference to Silence can also be sighted. Jesus said to Pilate (Governor Of Rome), “I bear witness to the Truth. Pilate asked,” What is Truth?. Jesus remained silent. Pilate. “Away with him! Crucify him.”    Jesus implied that “Voice of Silence” is the Truth. Gnostic gospel of Silence was beyond the comprehension of the Roman Governor. Pilate crucified the Son of God and the Truth but resurrected them eternally.

When a hungry child sees a bottle of milk in the mother’s hand, he or she becomes quiet. If the milk is to be ingested, Silence is a must. The same is valid with the Divine milk. If the Lord is to be experienced, then the aspirant must be calm and quiet.

“Ek chup sau sukh”--- (if one remains silent, it helps in hundred ways) is an oft- quoted phrase. The other meaning could be “God is Silence” (“Ek—the “One” is “Chup”— Silent), and provider of infinite bliss. A Panjabi mystic boldly proclaims--- “Jithe raula, othe Nahin Maula”---- “wherever there is noise, God is absent…..” Jithe Maula, othe nahin raula” and where God is, noise ceases to exist.

If God is Love, then He can best be felt in privacy and Silence. The moment Love is expressed in speech, the candidness of Love is demeaned. “Speech is at best an honest lie”, says mystic Mirdad, “out of thousands words, only One that need in Truth be uttered. The rest but cloud the mind, stuff the ear, and irk the tongue.”

In Voice of Silence, one can converse with Lord in secret whispers. His presence can be sensed. Silent prayer coming from the heart helps in inner communion with the

Lord. That helps to live through a period of adversity patiently without a whimper. Silence is beyond the realm of understanding and misunderstanding.

Ironically, when death silences us, others call “Ram Nam Sat Hai”, though this realization should have dawned within us during a lifetime.

Silence of science (SOS) may not be reckoned to subdue perverse thoughts of mind so that life necessities can be serviced harmoniously.

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THE GREAT HUMAN DEBT

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 debited when we are born. The arrears need to be squared off during this lifetime through Dharma, the principle of righteousness recorded in all religious scriptures. Our scriptures mention four types of debts (karza or rinn in Hindi) that a man must settle in life.

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 become 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.

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. It becomes obligatory upon all men that they contribute to this material plane's welfare, including one's family and society, by moral integrity and sense of discrimination. All the positive contribution made in this world by all of us means mitigation of debit of Dev rinn.

Guru rinn (debt to master): Spiritual mentor leads us to the path of spirituality or moksha. In this life riddled with Maya and illusion, the 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.

Braham rinn (debt to lord): At birth, life is purity personified and full of innocence. After childhood — when we acquire worldly knowledge, power of reasoning and logic, manipulation of intellect and mind — we get debased from the spiritual perspective. The life of spotlessness gets spotted. Debt to the lord is created. That can be reimbursed by being pure again.

It is through the grace of guru that the spiritual sheet can be made spotless. Bhakti, blessed by guru, can repay arrears to the lord. 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 realization in one word — 'Gurprasad' — the one realized through grace (prasad) of guru.

 

SHED THE DREAM AND AWAKEN TO THE REALITY

 

(“ZINDGI EK (KARMIC) KHAWAB HAI”.)

 

The movie "INCEPTION" is a science action film about dreams. It makes a profound statement on Vedic and Mystic beliefs. "Duality" exists in this creation— Reality at the soul's level, illusion/dream at the level of mind. The movie confirms two stages—a "Dream state" after a long sleep that awakens to the "Reality experience". That is the "journey of the soul" from inception to the End.

 

The essence of the movie is grasped in finishing frames. Otherwise, the entire project is a powerful puzzle. Dreams are an indeterminate hypothesis of symbolism and, therefore, incomprehensible.

 

Dreams are experienced when Self (Dom-the hero) is asleep. When the Self (Dom) is fully awake, dreams cease, and the mind (the concept duality) dies (rendered paralytic or immune). The most compelling dialogue of the film is, "All these (men) are dreaming, waiting to be woken up."

 

What is dreaming?

 

Symbolically, all beings are in cosmic dream / karmic incubator experiencing each other dreams simultaneously (read: entering each other minds/dreams) or having karmic inter-activity. For example, each family member has his dream karma and yet interferes with others' dreams. The same is true for the society and the world. This karmic wheel (Pralabdh- present destiny; Kriyaman-future destiny in the making; and Sinchit—storehouse of past karmas)    is the "spinning top," and that is what can be inferred from "Inception". There are 8400000 life forms (cycle of eighty-four), all in various stages of evolutionary dreams. Unless awakened, this dream cycle gets extended ad infinitum, and the "spinning top" never stops.

 

What is awakening?

 

In the film, the "landing" of the aero-plane is the spiritual jolt of awakening, and Dom realizes that he has been through multiple layers of dreams in a long flight. The "landing" is the Reality and the "flight of dreams," an illusion.

Likewise, when a mystic nudges man with a jerk of Spirit (of Reality), he comes out of a dream and is woken up/reborn mystically. Jesus said--- "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus ( a ruler of Jews)

questions-- How can a man be born when he is old?" Jesus--- "That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is Spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again" (John 3:1). This birth/ awakening of the Spirit is to be "born again".   Sufis call that act as a "completion of initiation" by the Master.

Man is woken up briefly at the time of death and realizes that all that was experienced was nothingness, as the film shows at End. Since humans have a massive backlog of unfulfilled desires, they again lapse into other life forms – another dream-- The continuity of the dreams into dreams continues till eternity-- that is what "Maya Jaal" (web of illusion) is.

 

But the question is, why two states—dream and awakening? The answer perhaps is "unless one experiences illusion, the Reality cannot be appreciated".

 

 

 

PLANES OF SPIRITUAL HIERARCHY

 

 

Mystics and seekers experience higher "states" of consciousness as they ascend the path of spirituality. These are termed in the Vedic system -- Pinda, Anda, Brahm, Parbrahm, and Parmatma. Jesus defined them as many "mansions" in the house of "my Father". Sufi Dervishes says them as "Tabaks/aalams," and the last stage is called "Mukame Haq" (abode of Truth). In Japji (verse 34-37), Guru Nanak Sahib classified spiritual awareness in four sub-divisions-- Dharam, Gyan, Saram, and Karam Khands (regions)-- originating from the fifth region--- Sach Khand. Esoteric experience of any mystic cannot be captured or written, but here is an intellectual description as understood ---

 

1.     Dharam Khand --Realm of Morality or Righteousness/ Pinda. Our physical plane, of seasons, days, nights, wind, fire, earth, and water; ruled by laws of action and reaction. Here all beings are judged by karmas. "As shall you sow, so shall you reap". 'Dharam Raj' is the judge of all actions. Messengers of Lord/ perfect saints are stamped (authorized) with Divine grace (to assist seekers). Mind and Maya weigh heavily on Soul.

 

2.      Gyan Khand --Realm of Spiritual Knowledge/Anda/ – A subtle (sukhsm) plane, with finer fabric of mind and Maya, where an understanding of working of creation up to the Dharam Khand is attained. The explosion of Gyan(knowledge) provides sublime bliss. This domain is inhabited by gods, goddesses, deities, and "Angels of the Lord" of Biblical depiction. Cosmic creations invisible to human eyes are experienced. (Lord Krishna provided spiritual vision to Arjuna to glimpse His "Visvarupa" as projection of other incredible creations.) Adepts comment astral enticement of this domain is so intense that it might endanger an aspirant's further progression.

 

3.     Saram Khand - Realm of Brahm ---- This is the point of origin of Universal Mind, where the operational mechanism of Gyan Khand is made known. Intuitive consciousness, intellect, and understanding of mind and Maya are shaped here. Some scholars mention it as 'the domain of inexpressible splendor," in which Soul feels humbly overwhelmed. Others refer to it as 'Realm of effort', (Shrm Khand )

 

where heroic souls shed last traces (residual sanskaras) of I-ness (Ego)

-- Kam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh Ahankar for journey upward.

 

 

4.     Karam Khand – Realm of Grace/ Parbrahm ( Here Karam is a Persian word meaning grace.)-- this is beyond three regions of mind and Maya where souls are "Blessed with Divine Grace". Melodies of Nam/ Bani,/ Nad/ Dhun/ Word/ resonate with full force. Souls, who have conquered pull and power of three lower regions, abide in this plane

 

5.     Sach Khand - Realm of Truth/ Parmatma ----the Soul's true home, infinite region of eternal Truth, abode of formless Lord where He presides and surveys. Here His will or the doctrine of Hukam reigns supreme for compliance in all realms. (Perfect Saints maintain that souls at this stage cannot be pulled back to the lower creation.)

 

Divine hierarchy underscores that Mind and Maya are active in three realms

-- up to Brahm. When grace is showered in Sach Khand, Soul merits Mukti or salvation, merging with the Lord.

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STUDENT VS SEEKER

 

What is the difference between a student and a disciple (shishya) or a seeker? A student is guided by a teacher and a disciple from His Guru or Master. The former seeks comfort from the Creation, where everything is believed to be in commotion. The latter is desirous of union with the Creator, where all is said to be at peace. Amongst many others, these represent visible dissimilarities.

 

Professor(s) provide multi-disciplinary instructions in science, economics, history, etc., while a Mystic Master only invokes simmering yearning of merger of Self in an ocean of Oneness. A scholar acquires employment, status, wealth to “make a carrier in the life of professional excellence. A “shisya or a true seeker harbors no societal elevation, nor does he pray for perishable possessions to limit the limitlessness of Divine grace. A scholar feels wiser with educative experience; a seeker strives for Reality and not wisdom.

 

External change in a student can be inferred as he grows “tall in stature” while a disciple is slowly transformed internally and invisibly. A pupil pursues life through the logic of “winning” and “losing” where “Profit” is happiness and “loss” a misery. A seeker concludes that life cannot be goggled or resolved through mathematical equation — yet a mystery to be lived through.

 

Teacher(s) educate through laboratories and educational aids. Spirituality cannot be taught but initiated through the Grace of Master. Mysticism secretly sows the seed of “Celestial Word” in “shishyas” heart and nourishes it in His inscrutable ways for generating Love with the Lord. That creates “Karmic connectivity” of Shishya with “Word or Omni will’ for “experience of Eternal Union” with the Lord. For the Law is-- you go where the “Will’ is.

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SURRENDER

 

In mysticism, surrender connotes shedding the "unreal" for the" real". All that is changing or subject to change is unreal, and the changeless one is the Real, and it is that Reality that an aspirant or a seeker yearns for. The surrender to the Lord and the Master is a condition precedent for attaining purity of body, mind, and soul, where Nam's nectar has to be experienced for attaining salvation. But the "process" of surrender is what matters as the progression in spirituality. Guru Nanak" s sahib in a state of trance, as a trader vendor would stop counting at tera tera tera— analogous to the count thirteen. That all is thine—"keh Nanak sab teri vadayee koi nam na jane mera". He takes renunciation to the level where no one knows him. Baba Bulle Shah says—Chal bulleha us jagah challeye , jithe sare hovan anne; na koi sadi jaat pachane na koi sanu manne.---let me be at a place where all are blind to my existence.

 

Is reclusiveness or living in a monastery or isolating oneself from society's living stream is deemed renunciation of the self?? Is it not that the mind has to be in a state of self-denial rather than the body?? Does it extend to banishing thoughts ?? Is it the ego that has to be done away with?? Some have belief in assigning all actions in the name of God as the surrender. They elect themselves the doer—does that qualify for the resignation of the self?? Is service or Seva to the Master and Sangat leads to surrender?? Is the mentality of servant or slave be classified as abandonment of ego consciousness. To be humble, charitable, truthful, compassionate, righteous, and religious, etc. …. Can that be regarded as climbing the ladder of surrender?

 

Any judgmental view on any of the above "processes" can be debatable inconclusively as all arguments are within the domain of mind that can coin justifications to prove a point. Einstein's view is --"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." When the mind is rooted in attachments that have to be negated, only those who transcend the realm of mind and Maya can answer this riddle of surrender.

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THE MASTERS

 

 

First, man craves physical well-being and material comforts; second, he prays for peace of mind, and third, he desires a relationship with the Divine. First and second options dominate humanity; seekers of third option are scarce. Natural Law supplies and fulfills all such demands.

 

Some Masters sent from Higher Regions offer physical and material comforts to their followers. "They are of the world; therefore, speak of the world and the world hearth them". (1 John 4.5) Their disciples remain in a transmigration cycle because the karmic principle mandates that what is desired or meant to be squared up must be done in multiple life forms for this creation's sustenance.

 

Masters of the second option also emanate from still superior Consciousness. They propagate to their flock "peace of mind" through Holy Scriptures, worshipping, good deeds, and charities. They keep the world a tolerable habitat, preserve the balance of good and evil and offer solace to inmates of this "worldly prison" to be content with their lot. Their followers also return on the earthly plane to reap rewards of their right actions in better environments where spiritual yearning may spring.

 

Perfect Masters—the third option-- are God in human form. {"We are of God; he that knoweth God heareth us: he that is not of God hearth, not us. (1 John 4.6)".} They know their sheep. The sheep listen to the Whistle of Word. Such Masters unshackle these "elect" souls from "cosmic prison" through Divine "intimacy" attained by meditative concentration. One goes the way where the Beloved is. That is eternal redemption-- where pain, pleasure, and peace, etc. are irrelevant.

Can a person find a Perfect Master? Not by choice, but by Grace.

THE POWER OF INVISIBLE THOUGHT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE.

 

Can you imagine that the very thought of buying a car stirs a tremendous amount of activity in this world?

 

We immediately start using the telephone to find out its price, delivery, quality, etc. We toil hard to earn more money or apply to a bank for the loan amount. A new demand for a car is registered with the dealer that is passed on to the manufacturer. The car company then shores up its inventories of steel plates, engines, auto components, tyres, glass, air conditioners, electrical and lighting systems, etc. Its procurement, engineering, production, and marketing divisions also get activated to service ‘the thought of buying the car’. That, in turn, generates additional demand for iron ore, coal, silica, chemicals, metals, rubber, plastics, and so on. That is followed by the transportation of these items by road, rail, sea, or air—as the case may be. Trucks, rail cars, ships, or aircraft are used for this very purpose. Drivers, pilots, captains of the ship, and laborers are engaged and paid for.

 

When the car reaches the dealer, its sale and service division is put into action to deliver the vehicle. The bank, income tax, sale tax, transport departments also have work to do. Additional demand for fuel is also created. This puts the refineries into action. Many friends and relatives may genuinely rejoice with your new vehicle, while others might envy the acquisition. Endless could be the enumeration of all the happenings that occur when an activity is thought of and we decide to act according to that thought process.

 

A thought jolts all. It demonstrates that fundamentally all of us are connected. Be it other men or beings, materials or machines, entities inert or active, and all elements of Nature and phenomenon have ‘inter- connectivity’ whether it is understood or not. Thought is a thread of that part of Universality. This realization of Universality is the Reality, while the feeling of individual existence is Maya—illusion.

Moreover, a thought transforms itself into virtually countless activities and responses that are incomprehensible. The paradigm of ‘thought of purchase of a car’ symbolizes the power of a hidden thought when a desire for a material object springs up in our mind.

 

Imagine what happens when you think of the Lord with devotion and pray for Him in meditation. All cosmic forces work silently and indeed for you.

UNDERSTANDING VERSUS KNOWLEDGE(GYAN)

 

 

GYAN means knowledge which can be googled or researched. But such knowledge creates relative and a limited understanding of our curiosity. As an example, light dispels darkness. For a child who is afraid of darkness, lighting a lamp is an act of fascination. However, a young man carries a torch to rid the fear of darkness.   An adult realizes that darkness is the absence of light. The level of brightness can be increased with the intensity of illumination. Still, higher Understanding maybe that light is an “energy” of nature.

All living and non-living beings are also “energies” with different frequencies. Consciousness, too, is energy. Our consciousness is human at this   point.   All   living   and   non-living   beings   may   have    active    or passive energies of consciousness.

Thus, Gyan is gross thinking or thought of lower Mind. Understanding is refinement of Gyan by application of higher Mind. Gyan is egoistic. Understanding brings humility upon realizing that all of us are micro-specks in the grand hierarchy   of   Creation   or   Supreme   consciousness,   with invisible connectivity and interdependence.

Mind is a blend of pure divinity mixed with delicate, subtle, and gross matter. The Mind, as a mirror, depending upon its purity, reflects physical or mental perceptions. A polished mirror replicates perfectly. Deeper appreciation of Gyan or knowledge is directly related to the evolved state of Mind.

Mind’s receptivity blossoms when scrubbed clean. Mystics preach cleaning Mind with spiritual soap of soul, which is the essence of Primal power in meditative concentration that enables it experience “I am He” or Tat-avm-asi. Duality between You and Me ceases. It then attains “sojhi”—the inner realization which is exceptionally intense than mundane knowledge. That is termed Understanding.

 

 

 

UNVEILED REALITY CAN ONLY BE EXPERIENCED MYSTICALLY AND NOT RATIONALLY.

 

The soul’s inclination is always towards its Real Self, and there is always inner yearning to experience the Supreme Being or the Supreme Soul. Such a longing, either in the manifest form or otherwise, consummates most of us because we are indoctrinated in various religious profiles by parental upbringing and societal influence, since birth without our knowledge and consent. The soul has no religion, but the mind and body get anointed with faith, belief, and reasoning. Humans thus forget their flawless and immaculate state of being, which gets suppressed by programmed family values that guide their psyche.

 

A child born through Hindu parentage is prone to abide by Hindu scriptures, worship in temples and rituals; a Christian will follow Biblical testaments and Church; a Muslim will live by five pillars of Islam, the Quran and praying in Mosque and so on. A Sikh will pay bow before Guru Granth Sahib and worship in a Gurdwara.

 

Religious labeling gets stamped in our thinking and behavior. Likes and dislikes of individuals are tutored by historical event of the past and their artificially imbibed belief systems. Often, nationalism is sermonized and defined by the line of thought described by the past incarnations of gods-goddesses or mystic masters in various holy books. Individualistic veneration is more for the sanctity of the books or idols and fulfillment of our material or mental comforts’ wishes than for any perceptive inner experience of the unveiled Reality. We see the relationships and the World with colored prism of distorted transparency. Priestly class and clergies provide self-styled interpretation of their convenience for extending the borders of each religion. Ancient history testifies that past mystic masters’ successors have carried out religious imperialism in defiance to their teachings’ essence.

 

It is also true that mystic masters of current time and space (call them Gurus, Sufis, Saints, etc.) invoke mystical teachings of old scriptures. They provide very introspective narratives based upon their inner revelations to the seekers keen to experience Divinity within the human body.

 

At the same time, the World has always been full of philosophers, thinkers, theologians, scientists who revealed their wisdom by applying logic to

understand God’s cosmological metaphysics, world/creation, and man—which is usually described as “ontology”. Even though the ontological experience is of elevated state of mind, which can be testified by rational reasons of known parameters –it “may” not be deemed compatible by mystic masters who are or were blessed with inner working of metaphysical mysteries.

 

Since the pinnacle of spiritual domain at the human level is incomprehensible than what is known, Imam Al-Ghazali, an Islamic mystic of the 11th century, differed with many Greek, Christian, and Islamic theologians. He maintained that reason could not be the determining factor for explaining God’s origin and working of His creation. Reason can be unreasoned and re-reasoned. Reason can also be imaginative and self-etermined. His views were-- Unless reason is consistent with inner revelation, it cannot testify the Truth’s litmus test. Some of his books –“The Revival of Religious Sciences and “Incoherence of Philosophers” have challenged the supremacy of ancient logicians’ narrative.

 

GHAZALI attempts to harmonize the highest mystical experience with logic of the day and age, which is variable. A scientific rationalization could be found at a particular point in time by intelligentsia (aql). Still, if that may be inconsistent with the (naql) or realization of inner unveiled Reality, then such a rationalization will still be found wanting in the realm of the Truth. The purpose of human life and its pursuit should be to attain high moral values that assist the soul for experiencing the Ultimate Reality.

WHAT IS LOVE?

 

If "God is Love", then "I love you" is a statement of self-contradiction. Here the word "love" is interposed between "I" and "you". Love cannot be a separator of "I" and "you". Love is not a derivative of "I" for "you". Love cannot be fractionalized or fictionalized,

 

Love that is bartered as "give and take" or that "comes and goes" like a cloud or is measure "more or less" negates "Law of Love". God is eternal and infinite. That which changes cannot be Divine.

 

In Punjab's folk love lore of Heer-Ranjha, Heer proclaims she is lost (in thoughts of) Ranjha; "Heer" has ceased to exist. Only "Ranjha", the beloved, exists. Another Punjabi/Sindhi legend of "Sohni-Mahiwal" mentions that "Sohni" dies in a stormy river while swimming across to another embankment to "be" with her beloved Mahiwal. Both stories suggest man's persistent quest for God. In the game of Love, you lose all to win, and if you win, you are no more. A perpetual loser can only be a lover.

 

Sufis and Mystics raise Divine Love to a new dimension. Lover and beloved are neither apart, nor do they meet. It is Oneness all the time in oblivion of time and space.   They stand in denial of their own existence. Love, for them, is not an experienced effort but a Cosmic phenomenon. An ancient legend of 9th-century Mystic Mansur of Persia records-----

 

Husayn ibn Mansur al-Hallaj, the Sufi, in a trance of Divine intoxication, wandered into the central market of a Persian city surrounded by his followers and shouted words that were deepest in his heart ana'l-haqq - I am the Truth, I am God! "I am the Reality," or as Vedas and Upanishads say, "Aham Brhamasmi" (I am the Braham). Sufis say Mansur spoke in a state of Fana- Fil- Allah (Arabic words)-- where a Sufi's ego-self is annihilated and is attuned with God.

 

Sometimes He spoke, "his only self was (God), to the point that he could not even remember his own name." His statement was, of course, considered blasphemous by the then King, though he was preaching that

God could be discovered within one's own heart. Mansur was imprisoned as his utterings contravened Islamic law of 'Sharia.'

 

According to the legend, Mansur's disciples were allowed to speak to him in the prison cell and begged him for his last words. He advised, "The only thing that is important is love." They asked him, "What is Love". He answered: "You will see Love today and tomorrow and the day after tomorrow." And that day, his hands and feet were cut off, and the next day they put him on the gallows and burnt, and the third day they gave his ashes to the wind.

 

Love's pinnacle is total unawareness of ego-self while living; when "I" and "you" of body and mind cease to exist and vanish in Cosmic consciousness. That Love is God. Jesus spoke of "Love thy Lord" and went the same way. Many other mystics may have dissolved likewise as historical records are rare.

WHAT IS NOT LOVE?

 

 

 

Love is not an emotional surrender of one’s own self for possessiveness of other (s). The passionate feelings that rise as tornado and then ebb down are attributes of change and, therefore, elusive. Since God is Love, any changing phenomenon and impermanence defies Love. Says Kabir Sahib, “that which comes momentary and disappears readily is devoid of Love. Blissfulness of 24 hours only, is Love”. The effect of devotional prayers to the Lord, ecstatic dancing, tears, and peace of mind that many experience during discourses or chanting is temporal, which wears off when encountered with the real world outside. It leaves us mystified and empty of Love, belief, and faith that surged within at that time.

 

“Love thy neighbor as thyself,” Jesus proclaimed. Two fundamental concepts are ingrained here. First-- “neighbor” is not the one who lives across the street or adjoining wall.   The   entire   world   –is “thy neighbor”.   Second—loving as “thyself” is the pinnacle of protection and affection to our own body, mind, and soul, genetic inheritance of all humans. That is why one is naturally averse to hurting oneself and reacts for personal and emotional security. Unless the essence of being one with others extends universally— Love is a misnomer.

 

We generally barter our softest sentiments for personal welfare or acquisitions from the Lord, whether materialistic or metaphysical. Calculated or cultivated conditions of altruism are not loved. Love is not the game of mind that tends to divide but of the spirit that seeks to unite. All that does not transcend duality and is immutable, selfless, spiritual and spontaneity of Divine Grace-- is not Love.

WHY IS GOD SILENT?

 

We profusely thank God for good things in life. We also fault God and others for pain and agony. Both aspects emanate from the Divine plan, but the mind perceives them as positives or negatives due to the personal power of discrimination of mind. Deeper introspection reveals that all that is felt or transpires is neutral in Nature and meant to balance the cosmic existence.

 

Water is part of the sustenance of life. We are almost 60% water/blood in circulation. But if one identifies water as a causative factor of urination only, it signifies poor understanding. Likewise, food is digested for nutrition and vigor but produces human excreta too. Fresh air is inhaled, and stale is exhaled. Medically, the smooth functioning of digestion and evacuation system is an endorsement of wellness. Extreme weather conditions, floods or earthquakes, etc. which are otherwise tormenting, are mind-boggling acts of ecological, geological, and biological equilibrium. There is a definite purpose for all activities. So-called good or bad are thus interwoven in myriad ways incomprehensible to the mind.

 

Therefore, be it pain or pleasure—all events are meant for sustenance of infinite Ladder of Life. Whether individuals understand underlying realities matter little in the super-scale of Grand Hierarchy. Our needs and greed determine personal preferences. Prayers change nothing but our own mind in accepting whatever is ordained.

 

If God were to speak/advise each of us that He means the best for each being in the Creation, the mind would have rejected God’s decrees on the premise that God is ignorant of what is right for each entity. God thus chose to work in Absolute Silence.

 WHY OF LIFE ?

 

When God decided to experience Life, He fractionalised Himself into souls; clothed them with mind and bodies and created multiplicity of active identities for mutual interaction. Finally, He disrobed them and made them fade into dormancy of oblivion of Oneness.

 

In intervening period, Man- the excellence of Lord’s creative expertise amongst all species-- and his life are embroiled in unsavoury contradictions. He is chained in thoughts, resultant actions and circumstances which are not his making. Fear of loss of happiness leads to unhappiness; wealth and power come with anxiety, envy and sleepless nights. Body continues to wither till it vanishes. All academic and professional acquisitions are buried in grave.

 

Advice to man is--forgive all who hurt him, seek forgiveness for his egotism/ arrogance and be grateful to God for his cosmic creation. Right and wrong, he realizes, are relative states of mind. Truth remains elusive.

 

With powerful pull of physical world, man’s conviction in spiritual contemplation and Divinity remains flippant.   Doubting Thomas, he remains. As life burdens him, he accepts Divine Will with inner remorse and reluctance. Intellectually he knows there is no other way.

 

The greatest mystical paradox of life is to get out of trans- migratory cycle of bodies to know Life. Sufi Bulle Shah says Lord tricked souls to experience life; gifted them mind of five perversions, karmas, pain of His separation, and fear of death and promised that He will personally redeem them. Whenever Lord appears in human form as “Son of the Father” for redemption, He largely goes unrecognised, misunderstood, and misconstrued by masses. Man thus remains tied to cycle of transmigration.

 

Why of Life is akin to experiencing feel of water in a mirage of a desert!!

104                                                   ELEMENTARY METAPHYSICAL IDEAS

 

 

 

 

 

WHY WOOD FLOATS?

 

 

Wood floats on water as per the buoyancy principle defined by Archimedes-- that the water displaced equals the weight of the wood. That is, the scientific theory of floatation even extended to other objects.

 

But a mystic's paradigm is spiritually unique as his transcendental vision decodes the Creator's intricate working. He deciphers that if a wooden plank falls in a river stream, the water acts as its gracious and unconditional savior from sinking as it (the water) has nurtured and nourished tree (wood) from inception till end. When crafted as a ship sailing in the seas, the same wood of tree shears and cuts across water streams even when the water waves are mercilessly knifed, trimmed, and sliced. Yet seawater humbly surrenders, does not arrogate itself with right of retribution, let the ship sail swiftly for it remembers that it is an integral part of veins of wood.

 

This concept alludes that the Lord is not an absentee landlord who forgets creation after creating it. He remains the prime nurturer within and without. Even when we submerge deeper in this cosmic labyrinth, His Nature is of perpetual protective savior. Despite human beings' wooden egotism, He is a gracious Lover, humble Giver, and Forgiver by supporting/sustaining all with bountiful Nature without intent of reciprocation for need or greed.

 

That is why perhaps deep within all hearts, feeling and craving of seeking Him haunts-- in awareness or ignorance.