Gian Kumar's Blog
November 15, 2013
Our Body
"Body is that temple,in which mind is the devotee to the soul, life or God residing within"
Our bodies reflect the story of our lives. Life is a ground of intelligence and energy in the form of matter and awareness. Our present structure in our personality, clearly reveals how we have been treating our body, and also the effect of mind on us. Our body and mind interact closely and influence each other to such an extent that one becomes the expression of the other. They cannot function separately, and as elaborated below, unless we respect both equally, we can never be wholly integrated individuals.
In our journey of seeking awareness for the purpose of self development or balance, I feel the start should always be from the body. Body is the temple in which God resides. As per the age old saying, ‘Healthy, wealthy and wise’, first comes health, then wealth, and after that wisdom automatically follows.
Every single cell of our body has its own intelligence, to carry out its functions and coordinate with related cells. DNA, carrier of our genetic code in these cells, has all the data and characteristics connected to our heredity, and acquired through memories and emotions. As is our DNA, so also our perception. From this perception, the mind handles the data and reveals its intention, which eventually comes out as action from the body.
Today, most alternative therapies acknowledge the body-mind-spirit relationship for effective healing. Yoga and meditation are shining examples of how this fusion between the three is required to obtain a wholesome life. More than living forever, or even longer, we would all prefer to live well. Body intelligence is the subject which takes us onto this path of healthy and preventive living, rather than an abusive and curative one. We all know that most of the money spent on research today is more for curing than preventing diseases, mainly because profits are higher and easier, when there is imbalance and ill health.
Our body has intelligence built over millions of years in mankind’s evolution. The autonomous nervous system controls some of our body functions without any conscious inputs from us, like breathing, digesting, and sleeping; it also maintains a body balance with its own intrinsic healing abilities. The miracle of our body intelligence is that it survives in spite of our abusing and bloating it.
Further, in mind-body relationship, research shows that bacteria, especially in the gut, can alter the brain and behavior, meaning emotional states change with micro biome in the body. Also, in relation to health, newer studies are revealing that exposure to diseases in the body may have a huge effect on the IQ or brain power. The reason is that we devote a great deal of energy running our brains, and when diseases crop up, they start diverting this energy from the brain to elsewhere in the body.
Our bodies degenerate with time and age, in spite of all our health supplements, antioxidants, mental or physical exercises, miracle herbs like French pine bark or super anti- age related telomeres. Telomeres are segments of DNA found at the end of chromosomes and every time a cell divides, its telomere gets shorter, making the cell gradually die. Even with all this research on replenishing the body with telomeres, it does degenerate with wear and tear, abuse, time, and individual genetic design. Due to heredity, certain diseases are already earmarked, and also the effect on our body of the pleasures and pain we go through in life, clearly certifies that if there is anything certain in life, it is death.
Today, all we need to do is to send our blood sample to a DNA profiling lab. What we receive is a report on our genomic analysis, a list of diseases you might be at risk of getting, and a personalized dietary recommendation. Then what about day to day damage being done by pollution, wrongly acquired habits and various environmental factors? The only answer I have is, technology may increase our life span, but our bodies are bound to degenerate with time. So why not live well with the right perception, intention and action, that there be health, wealth and wisdom.
The way to this awareness, consciousness or enlightenment starts only through the body, because lack of all the above are reasons for imbalance and ill health. Make peace with your body, listen to it, and become sensitive to its needs because, besides your innate intelligence and intrinsic healing abilities, it requires your love, care and appreciation. Only then will you be able to go beyond to start the journey into a state of nirvana, and reach somewhere in the limitless zone of self transcendence.Know Thyself - Unraveling the Mystery of Mind
Our bodies reflect the story of our lives. Life is a ground of intelligence and energy in the form of matter and awareness. Our present structure in our personality, clearly reveals how we have been treating our body, and also the effect of mind on us. Our body and mind interact closely and influence each other to such an extent that one becomes the expression of the other. They cannot function separately, and as elaborated below, unless we respect both equally, we can never be wholly integrated individuals.
In our journey of seeking awareness for the purpose of self development or balance, I feel the start should always be from the body. Body is the temple in which God resides. As per the age old saying, ‘Healthy, wealthy and wise’, first comes health, then wealth, and after that wisdom automatically follows.
Every single cell of our body has its own intelligence, to carry out its functions and coordinate with related cells. DNA, carrier of our genetic code in these cells, has all the data and characteristics connected to our heredity, and acquired through memories and emotions. As is our DNA, so also our perception. From this perception, the mind handles the data and reveals its intention, which eventually comes out as action from the body.
Today, most alternative therapies acknowledge the body-mind-spirit relationship for effective healing. Yoga and meditation are shining examples of how this fusion between the three is required to obtain a wholesome life. More than living forever, or even longer, we would all prefer to live well. Body intelligence is the subject which takes us onto this path of healthy and preventive living, rather than an abusive and curative one. We all know that most of the money spent on research today is more for curing than preventing diseases, mainly because profits are higher and easier, when there is imbalance and ill health.
Our body has intelligence built over millions of years in mankind’s evolution. The autonomous nervous system controls some of our body functions without any conscious inputs from us, like breathing, digesting, and sleeping; it also maintains a body balance with its own intrinsic healing abilities. The miracle of our body intelligence is that it survives in spite of our abusing and bloating it.
Further, in mind-body relationship, research shows that bacteria, especially in the gut, can alter the brain and behavior, meaning emotional states change with micro biome in the body. Also, in relation to health, newer studies are revealing that exposure to diseases in the body may have a huge effect on the IQ or brain power. The reason is that we devote a great deal of energy running our brains, and when diseases crop up, they start diverting this energy from the brain to elsewhere in the body.
Our bodies degenerate with time and age, in spite of all our health supplements, antioxidants, mental or physical exercises, miracle herbs like French pine bark or super anti- age related telomeres. Telomeres are segments of DNA found at the end of chromosomes and every time a cell divides, its telomere gets shorter, making the cell gradually die. Even with all this research on replenishing the body with telomeres, it does degenerate with wear and tear, abuse, time, and individual genetic design. Due to heredity, certain diseases are already earmarked, and also the effect on our body of the pleasures and pain we go through in life, clearly certifies that if there is anything certain in life, it is death.
Today, all we need to do is to send our blood sample to a DNA profiling lab. What we receive is a report on our genomic analysis, a list of diseases you might be at risk of getting, and a personalized dietary recommendation. Then what about day to day damage being done by pollution, wrongly acquired habits and various environmental factors? The only answer I have is, technology may increase our life span, but our bodies are bound to degenerate with time. So why not live well with the right perception, intention and action, that there be health, wealth and wisdom.
The way to this awareness, consciousness or enlightenment starts only through the body, because lack of all the above are reasons for imbalance and ill health. Make peace with your body, listen to it, and become sensitive to its needs because, besides your innate intelligence and intrinsic healing abilities, it requires your love, care and appreciation. Only then will you be able to go beyond to start the journey into a state of nirvana, and reach somewhere in the limitless zone of self transcendence.Know Thyself - Unraveling the Mystery of Mind
THE POWER OF ZERO
Have you ever wondered who invented the number zero? Can you imagine mathematics or, say, science without using or encountering zero? The number or word zero makes our lives so smooth and easy—in fact, we simply cannot function without it.
According to Wikipedia, Babylonians were the first people to use this symbol, but not as a true zero because it was not used independently or as the end of a number. The concept of zero as a number and not merely a symbol is attributed to India, where most of the numerical system first originated and practical calculations were carried out using zero. Indian scholars used the Sanskrit word “shunya” to refer to zero, which means void, empty, or nothing. What is mystifying about shunya is that when a number is raised to the power of zero, the result is one. Similarly, if we are raised to the power of shunya or nothingness, we become one—a unity or oneness. Let us delve into this mystery and learn how powerful our zero is, especially with the metaphysical realm around it; by itself, it may be nothing but when attached, it is everything.
Today, zero serves as a placeholder, taking its place between or after numbers in our counting system. Zero comes in after nine to “roll over” and is a definite number, so we cannot say that it is nothing. We may say it is neutral as it quantifies any numeral, positive or negative. For example, if we combine zero to -1, the number goes up to -10; similarly, +1 becomes +10 and so on. In metaphysics, too, we cannot define zero as nothing because the absence of something is still a thing, for instance, air in space or in the sky. Therefore, we can say that zero is a link or connectivity, which on its own may mean nothing but does correspond to something when connected.
Zero may mean emptiness; however, at the same time, it is a perfect balance between positive and negative, forming equilibrium. Alternatively, it is infinite, as it has no beginning or end. It is neutral. It quantifies an integer when attached to it, whether positive or negative. The number zero is as alive as any other number because without it there would be no mathematics, algebra, or even science.
Zero is mysterious. As I mentioned, even the absence of something constitutes something. In eastern philosophy, this something, nothingness, or emptiness of shunya is considered a cosmic void, where all existence emerges from shunya, coming out of nothing and dissolving back into nothing. In other words, it is the pure presence of everything, like the sky. The sky itself may be empty but it is the pure space where everything comes and goes—yet, the sky remains the same. The state of shunya in Hindu philosophy, aside from its numerical meaning, is also understood as a state of all-pervasive Brahmn, the ultimate reality that is always present in the universe, which becomes alive or comes into existence only when it merges with the mind and body consciousness.
As per the Vedas, the sacred texts of the Hindus, within this shunya or zero lay the philosophy of existence. What we call zero or nothing is in reality the source of everything. From this very shunya, referred to as absolute zero, manifests the whole universe—it is called Brahman, where all-pervasive Brahmn (awareness), the supreme energy, prevails. Both Brahmn and shunya are similar, as both emerge from emptiness and are nothing, until they merge and manifest. One reveals its presence by joining with matter and becoming the mind, and the other manifests itself by quantifying other numerals.
Both Brahmn and shunya are un-manifested energy, lying in the emptiness of nothing. A stand-alone zero is nothing; it manifests the moment it combines with other numerals. In the same way, Brahmn, awareness, or cosmic intelligence remains neutral on its own and manifests by flowing out of the cosmic emptiness, joining matter by entering the mind. Thus, it becomes quantified and later becomes qualitative depending on its usage by any individual, positive or negative. Therefore, the state of shunya and the state of awareness (Brahmn) are the same—both are nothing on their own but are also the sources of everything.
The quality of the mind or its intellect is dependent on awareness manifesting with it. Only then, the mind is said to be conscious, just as zero is dependent until it combines with other integers. This is how we become different from other solid objects. It is the reason why God—who is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent—is a synonym of awareness, present in every single cell of ours, allowing us to presume that we are God ourselves. What is projected from the mind is nothing more or less than what is projected by the Lord himself. Both come from the same awareness, meaning from the same origin or source. Therefore, I as a body/mind/matter am zero and my ego is zero, being limited. However, when I merge with all-pervasive awareness, I rise in divinity and come nearer to its origin, finally to reach to the level of the Lord himself.
Science today has realized that everything is energy. The entire universe is like a web, tied together by a common invisible energy in the form of different vibrations, frequencies, and wavelengths into a single interconnectedness. We are all manifestations of the same energy. This energy or awareness is eternal and forever changing, relative when we are in ego consciousness and absolute in purity. Virtual atomic particles appear out of empty space or shunya and exist before dissolving back into empty space.
In every aspect, our physical reality is just a manifestation. We may see it in different forms, but it is a single universal energy that encompasses everything and being that we can imagine all that exists—not in isolation but in one continuum. This energy comprises electrons, protons, and neutrons. Just as a fish exists in an ocean, we exist in this big ball of energy, space or shunya. What appears solid is only because our senses are capable of perceiving the frequency of its wavelength. We do not see or feel what our minds cannot perceive in this continuum. We can only see disjointed parts of the energy of different objects as solid forms through our limited perceptions. Therefore, the sense of individuality is merely a perception of our limited mind. This is the theory Einstein explained—matter and energy are interchangeable; they are essentially one. When matter is broken down to its miniscule form, it is the same as energy.
Centuries ago, philosophers postulated that all physical existence was composed of five basic elements: earth, fire, water, air, and space. Science today reframes this same concept: matter with energy, space with time, and intelligence or awareness with consciousness. Science views consciousness as the second level of awareness in experience, vaguely referring to the same as an epiphenomenon of electromechanical reactions forever flowing through the topology of space.
Whether this intelligence-cum-consciousness forms a common link with matter and energy has still not been confirmed. Neither have we been able to prove that human beings are connected to one supreme self, God, or a greater creative force. As of now, this remains a matter of belief. Eastern philosophy proclaims that matter (energy) has the quality of existence (“sat”) and when one achieves the highest levels of consciousness (”chit”) by merging oneself with the absolute awareness or reality, either with yoga or some other discipline, then one attains bliss (‘anand’). This is equal to becoming the supreme self or creative force, for example, Jesus Christ, Lord Buddha, Lord Krishna, or Prophet Muhammad. To provide further clarification, I have given below a detailed explanation of what I have gathered in my quest to solve this mystery.
We are aware that our body, thoughts, knowledge, and sensory organs all exist with their own limitations. We hear the frequencies that our ears can process—but we also know that a dog can hear much higher frequencies. Similarly, the eyes of a bat or viper function differently from and better than human beings’ eyes. Therefore, we have our body and mind limitations, with different levels of consciousness within us. I, as a body-mind, may have limited power and knowledge but the power of shunya, as described below, goes beyond the mind into limitless energy.
Sages from ancient India measured time through the concept of one’s individual time called ‘kshana.’ This is not chronological or psychological time. Kshana is the time between two thoughts, differing from person to person. This empty time between two thoughts, this space of nothingness or emptiness, was also referred to as shunya. During this time, you are in a “no-mind zone”—being away from the thought processes of the mind, you are in union with the absolute energy continuum or the cosmic void. Kshana is that moment of presence in which you are face-to-face with the cosmic intelligence, void, or shunya. Therefore, again, shunya can be presumed to be that idle awareness eternally flowing in the cosmos; when it merges with matter, it brings existence or life into force or reality, in the form and content called consciousness.
In our world of dualities and dichotomies, an average person’s thoughts churn with no logical sequence. Thoughts are always dancing in our minds, from the past to the future and back again. At one time we may be thinking of great ideas and concepts, then we may jump over to fantasies or may flash upon what we could have done or recall what someone else did to us, and so on and so forth. If we pen these thoughts down even for a short while, the result will seem like a crazy person’s diary! It is impossible to suppress thoughts—trying to do so only leads to more thoughts.
Try watching your thoughts as an observer, without getting involved, and see the difference. They will resemble clouds moving in the sky, having no involvement with us. Your mind will gradually slow down and your heart rate will fall, allowing you to enter the gate of a no-mind zone. This stilling of our mind is called meditation; through this divine pleasure, you touch base with the ultimate awareness in a no-mind zone, far beyond your active mind.
Kshana is the space between your thoughts where you are truly aware of your real self. In the case of an active, average, dual-minded person who is constantly involved in the vicious cycle of pleasure and pain, with the mind being agitated or excited, the space or time between two thoughts is very little. In the case of an enlightened or aware person, however, thoughts are no longer a bothersome impediment. The person remains longer in a no-mind zone and becomes a master of observing his or her own thoughts rather than getting involved—then, kshana is longer and more blissful.
Meditation takes you toward a longer Kshana, into that emptiness where you become calm and peaceful inward as well as outward, showing positive changes in your mind and body. Scientists are now discovering this mental state and acknowledging that meditation is the elixir of life. In this state, the body and mind do not decide the quality of who you are. You touch base with your source, the basis of all creation referred to as God. This is what meditation is: to become a part of shunya, to know life beyond limitations and the sphere of what is physical, to experience the source rather than the mere outer surface of life.
This cosmic void is the origin and source of creativity; it is said that not a single thought emanating from the mind can be from this void. Thought is merely an expression of the mind explaining what it has already acquired, whereas creativity is a reflection of the supernatural, a spontaneous flash of intelligence originating from the no-mind zone to merge with the mind. Therefore, the mind or “I” in its thoughtful condition can neither create nor meditate, probably because the mind is meant to plan, analyze and calculate the end results. This is why many important events take place in our lives unexpectedly. It is the empty mind, the pure experience of the cosmic void that is most creative—not the result-oriented, thoughtful mind.
Deep meditation, as explained by yoga, is a combination of contemplation, meditation, and samadhi(merging with your source); it is the highest stage in meditation, in which a person experiences oneness with the universe. This is the stage or bliss that sages in India practice to achieve complete self-mastery. Scientific studies have shown the direct effects of intense meditation on DNA and gene expression. The positive effect of meditation at the cellular level in the human body helps delay the process of aging by increasing telomerase activity. Telomerase is an enzyme that repairs DNA. Every time a cell divides, its telomeres becomes shorter and once a cell runs out of telomeres, it cannot reproduce anymore and dies. Telomerase is an enzyme that reverses this process and enhances the longevity of life. A research team at the UC Davis Center of Mind and Body concluded “… purpose in life is influenced by meditative practice and directly affects both perceived control and negative emotionality, affecting telomerase activity directly as well as indirectly.”
Research on dreams and sleep has shown deep sleep is necessary for our well-being; it helps rejuvenate the body and mind by producing 4-7 Hz theta waves. These electromagnetic waves maintain the body’s health by producing and replicating good DNA. In deep meditation, too, the same alpha and theta waves are produced, acting in the same manner.
All this tells us how important it is to possess control over our senses, limit our desires and attachments, and contemplate our thought processes to attain that silence within, traveling beyond the mind into the emptiness of this pure energy.
Most scientists and doctors have some belief in a higher power or some creative force that transcends science; however, they do not yet have a way to ascertain the physical reality of this concept. Alternatively, as we mature, we realize that life is like a large prison where we are prisoners of our own thoughts, actions, and deeds. The higher the level of goodness within us, the more we become selfless, accept all that comes our way, and realize that this world is an illusion where we are to transcend further. Whenever I have completed a good deed, the reward has eventually reached me (even though it may not come from the same source), making me realize that you reap what you have sown. One also realizes that positivism, giving, love, faith, truth, detachment, and fearlessness are all akin to godliness. You need to become aware of the depth of the saying “God helps those who help themselves,” which further signifies that God is within you.
When we peer into the atomic world, the whole universe is like a web, tied together invisibly, with rhythm, harmony, and symphony. There is beauty and infinite space, where all of the planets, stars, solar systems, and galaxies dance in a unique order, despite moving at great speeds. Quantum physicists claim that the whole cosmos is one inseparable inter-connectedness and the ancient Hindu Upanishads (philosophical texts) consider this divine or Brahman, a Sanskrit word signifying the supreme ultimate reality that does not change with space and time. The statement that Brahman rises above everything implies that the soul is the innermost core or energy and consciousness is the highest truth of awareness (Brahmn), and the self or soul is nothing but the same as God, when we transcend from our relative, illusory, or dual life into the absolute in awareness. This means Brahman is not created from something, but is ever flowing and is created from the reality of its own being, by combining as matter, when in slow vibration. In Aristotelian terms, Brahman is both the material cause as well as the efficient cause of creation.
Carl Sagan, a great astronomer and cosmologist who played a leading role in the American space program at NASA, wrote extensively on this ancient Hindu cosmology, using his now-famous phrase—“the great cosmic lotus dream.” He also referred to the bronze statues cast in the eleventh century in the Chola temple in India: “The most elegant and sublime of these bronzes is a representation of the creation of the universe at the beginning of each cosmic cycle—a motif known as the cosmic dance of Shiva.”
To sum up, let us travel into the zone of cosmic void called shunya through meditation and experience the taste of this bliss. This will deeply change our mindset, bringing in calmness, balance, and serenity. Aside from chronological and psychological time, we have individual time, which is the space and time between two thoughts; we should try to understand this to realize the ultimate truth and reality of our existence. Shunya or emptiness will provide us a glimpse of our origin, beyond our questioning minds, and make us aware of where we come from and what we will finally disintegrate into—the supreme concept described earlier in detail as absolute awareness, a void called shunya-zero.
According to Wikipedia, Babylonians were the first people to use this symbol, but not as a true zero because it was not used independently or as the end of a number. The concept of zero as a number and not merely a symbol is attributed to India, where most of the numerical system first originated and practical calculations were carried out using zero. Indian scholars used the Sanskrit word “shunya” to refer to zero, which means void, empty, or nothing. What is mystifying about shunya is that when a number is raised to the power of zero, the result is one. Similarly, if we are raised to the power of shunya or nothingness, we become one—a unity or oneness. Let us delve into this mystery and learn how powerful our zero is, especially with the metaphysical realm around it; by itself, it may be nothing but when attached, it is everything.
Today, zero serves as a placeholder, taking its place between or after numbers in our counting system. Zero comes in after nine to “roll over” and is a definite number, so we cannot say that it is nothing. We may say it is neutral as it quantifies any numeral, positive or negative. For example, if we combine zero to -1, the number goes up to -10; similarly, +1 becomes +10 and so on. In metaphysics, too, we cannot define zero as nothing because the absence of something is still a thing, for instance, air in space or in the sky. Therefore, we can say that zero is a link or connectivity, which on its own may mean nothing but does correspond to something when connected.
Zero may mean emptiness; however, at the same time, it is a perfect balance between positive and negative, forming equilibrium. Alternatively, it is infinite, as it has no beginning or end. It is neutral. It quantifies an integer when attached to it, whether positive or negative. The number zero is as alive as any other number because without it there would be no mathematics, algebra, or even science.
Zero is mysterious. As I mentioned, even the absence of something constitutes something. In eastern philosophy, this something, nothingness, or emptiness of shunya is considered a cosmic void, where all existence emerges from shunya, coming out of nothing and dissolving back into nothing. In other words, it is the pure presence of everything, like the sky. The sky itself may be empty but it is the pure space where everything comes and goes—yet, the sky remains the same. The state of shunya in Hindu philosophy, aside from its numerical meaning, is also understood as a state of all-pervasive Brahmn, the ultimate reality that is always present in the universe, which becomes alive or comes into existence only when it merges with the mind and body consciousness.
As per the Vedas, the sacred texts of the Hindus, within this shunya or zero lay the philosophy of existence. What we call zero or nothing is in reality the source of everything. From this very shunya, referred to as absolute zero, manifests the whole universe—it is called Brahman, where all-pervasive Brahmn (awareness), the supreme energy, prevails. Both Brahmn and shunya are similar, as both emerge from emptiness and are nothing, until they merge and manifest. One reveals its presence by joining with matter and becoming the mind, and the other manifests itself by quantifying other numerals.
Both Brahmn and shunya are un-manifested energy, lying in the emptiness of nothing. A stand-alone zero is nothing; it manifests the moment it combines with other numerals. In the same way, Brahmn, awareness, or cosmic intelligence remains neutral on its own and manifests by flowing out of the cosmic emptiness, joining matter by entering the mind. Thus, it becomes quantified and later becomes qualitative depending on its usage by any individual, positive or negative. Therefore, the state of shunya and the state of awareness (Brahmn) are the same—both are nothing on their own but are also the sources of everything.
The quality of the mind or its intellect is dependent on awareness manifesting with it. Only then, the mind is said to be conscious, just as zero is dependent until it combines with other integers. This is how we become different from other solid objects. It is the reason why God—who is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent—is a synonym of awareness, present in every single cell of ours, allowing us to presume that we are God ourselves. What is projected from the mind is nothing more or less than what is projected by the Lord himself. Both come from the same awareness, meaning from the same origin or source. Therefore, I as a body/mind/matter am zero and my ego is zero, being limited. However, when I merge with all-pervasive awareness, I rise in divinity and come nearer to its origin, finally to reach to the level of the Lord himself.
Science today has realized that everything is energy. The entire universe is like a web, tied together by a common invisible energy in the form of different vibrations, frequencies, and wavelengths into a single interconnectedness. We are all manifestations of the same energy. This energy or awareness is eternal and forever changing, relative when we are in ego consciousness and absolute in purity. Virtual atomic particles appear out of empty space or shunya and exist before dissolving back into empty space.
In every aspect, our physical reality is just a manifestation. We may see it in different forms, but it is a single universal energy that encompasses everything and being that we can imagine all that exists—not in isolation but in one continuum. This energy comprises electrons, protons, and neutrons. Just as a fish exists in an ocean, we exist in this big ball of energy, space or shunya. What appears solid is only because our senses are capable of perceiving the frequency of its wavelength. We do not see or feel what our minds cannot perceive in this continuum. We can only see disjointed parts of the energy of different objects as solid forms through our limited perceptions. Therefore, the sense of individuality is merely a perception of our limited mind. This is the theory Einstein explained—matter and energy are interchangeable; they are essentially one. When matter is broken down to its miniscule form, it is the same as energy.
Centuries ago, philosophers postulated that all physical existence was composed of five basic elements: earth, fire, water, air, and space. Science today reframes this same concept: matter with energy, space with time, and intelligence or awareness with consciousness. Science views consciousness as the second level of awareness in experience, vaguely referring to the same as an epiphenomenon of electromechanical reactions forever flowing through the topology of space.
Whether this intelligence-cum-consciousness forms a common link with matter and energy has still not been confirmed. Neither have we been able to prove that human beings are connected to one supreme self, God, or a greater creative force. As of now, this remains a matter of belief. Eastern philosophy proclaims that matter (energy) has the quality of existence (“sat”) and when one achieves the highest levels of consciousness (”chit”) by merging oneself with the absolute awareness or reality, either with yoga or some other discipline, then one attains bliss (‘anand’). This is equal to becoming the supreme self or creative force, for example, Jesus Christ, Lord Buddha, Lord Krishna, or Prophet Muhammad. To provide further clarification, I have given below a detailed explanation of what I have gathered in my quest to solve this mystery.
We are aware that our body, thoughts, knowledge, and sensory organs all exist with their own limitations. We hear the frequencies that our ears can process—but we also know that a dog can hear much higher frequencies. Similarly, the eyes of a bat or viper function differently from and better than human beings’ eyes. Therefore, we have our body and mind limitations, with different levels of consciousness within us. I, as a body-mind, may have limited power and knowledge but the power of shunya, as described below, goes beyond the mind into limitless energy.
Sages from ancient India measured time through the concept of one’s individual time called ‘kshana.’ This is not chronological or psychological time. Kshana is the time between two thoughts, differing from person to person. This empty time between two thoughts, this space of nothingness or emptiness, was also referred to as shunya. During this time, you are in a “no-mind zone”—being away from the thought processes of the mind, you are in union with the absolute energy continuum or the cosmic void. Kshana is that moment of presence in which you are face-to-face with the cosmic intelligence, void, or shunya. Therefore, again, shunya can be presumed to be that idle awareness eternally flowing in the cosmos; when it merges with matter, it brings existence or life into force or reality, in the form and content called consciousness.
In our world of dualities and dichotomies, an average person’s thoughts churn with no logical sequence. Thoughts are always dancing in our minds, from the past to the future and back again. At one time we may be thinking of great ideas and concepts, then we may jump over to fantasies or may flash upon what we could have done or recall what someone else did to us, and so on and so forth. If we pen these thoughts down even for a short while, the result will seem like a crazy person’s diary! It is impossible to suppress thoughts—trying to do so only leads to more thoughts.
Try watching your thoughts as an observer, without getting involved, and see the difference. They will resemble clouds moving in the sky, having no involvement with us. Your mind will gradually slow down and your heart rate will fall, allowing you to enter the gate of a no-mind zone. This stilling of our mind is called meditation; through this divine pleasure, you touch base with the ultimate awareness in a no-mind zone, far beyond your active mind.
Kshana is the space between your thoughts where you are truly aware of your real self. In the case of an active, average, dual-minded person who is constantly involved in the vicious cycle of pleasure and pain, with the mind being agitated or excited, the space or time between two thoughts is very little. In the case of an enlightened or aware person, however, thoughts are no longer a bothersome impediment. The person remains longer in a no-mind zone and becomes a master of observing his or her own thoughts rather than getting involved—then, kshana is longer and more blissful.
Meditation takes you toward a longer Kshana, into that emptiness where you become calm and peaceful inward as well as outward, showing positive changes in your mind and body. Scientists are now discovering this mental state and acknowledging that meditation is the elixir of life. In this state, the body and mind do not decide the quality of who you are. You touch base with your source, the basis of all creation referred to as God. This is what meditation is: to become a part of shunya, to know life beyond limitations and the sphere of what is physical, to experience the source rather than the mere outer surface of life.
This cosmic void is the origin and source of creativity; it is said that not a single thought emanating from the mind can be from this void. Thought is merely an expression of the mind explaining what it has already acquired, whereas creativity is a reflection of the supernatural, a spontaneous flash of intelligence originating from the no-mind zone to merge with the mind. Therefore, the mind or “I” in its thoughtful condition can neither create nor meditate, probably because the mind is meant to plan, analyze and calculate the end results. This is why many important events take place in our lives unexpectedly. It is the empty mind, the pure experience of the cosmic void that is most creative—not the result-oriented, thoughtful mind.
Deep meditation, as explained by yoga, is a combination of contemplation, meditation, and samadhi(merging with your source); it is the highest stage in meditation, in which a person experiences oneness with the universe. This is the stage or bliss that sages in India practice to achieve complete self-mastery. Scientific studies have shown the direct effects of intense meditation on DNA and gene expression. The positive effect of meditation at the cellular level in the human body helps delay the process of aging by increasing telomerase activity. Telomerase is an enzyme that repairs DNA. Every time a cell divides, its telomeres becomes shorter and once a cell runs out of telomeres, it cannot reproduce anymore and dies. Telomerase is an enzyme that reverses this process and enhances the longevity of life. A research team at the UC Davis Center of Mind and Body concluded “… purpose in life is influenced by meditative practice and directly affects both perceived control and negative emotionality, affecting telomerase activity directly as well as indirectly.”
Research on dreams and sleep has shown deep sleep is necessary for our well-being; it helps rejuvenate the body and mind by producing 4-7 Hz theta waves. These electromagnetic waves maintain the body’s health by producing and replicating good DNA. In deep meditation, too, the same alpha and theta waves are produced, acting in the same manner.
All this tells us how important it is to possess control over our senses, limit our desires and attachments, and contemplate our thought processes to attain that silence within, traveling beyond the mind into the emptiness of this pure energy.
Most scientists and doctors have some belief in a higher power or some creative force that transcends science; however, they do not yet have a way to ascertain the physical reality of this concept. Alternatively, as we mature, we realize that life is like a large prison where we are prisoners of our own thoughts, actions, and deeds. The higher the level of goodness within us, the more we become selfless, accept all that comes our way, and realize that this world is an illusion where we are to transcend further. Whenever I have completed a good deed, the reward has eventually reached me (even though it may not come from the same source), making me realize that you reap what you have sown. One also realizes that positivism, giving, love, faith, truth, detachment, and fearlessness are all akin to godliness. You need to become aware of the depth of the saying “God helps those who help themselves,” which further signifies that God is within you.
When we peer into the atomic world, the whole universe is like a web, tied together invisibly, with rhythm, harmony, and symphony. There is beauty and infinite space, where all of the planets, stars, solar systems, and galaxies dance in a unique order, despite moving at great speeds. Quantum physicists claim that the whole cosmos is one inseparable inter-connectedness and the ancient Hindu Upanishads (philosophical texts) consider this divine or Brahman, a Sanskrit word signifying the supreme ultimate reality that does not change with space and time. The statement that Brahman rises above everything implies that the soul is the innermost core or energy and consciousness is the highest truth of awareness (Brahmn), and the self or soul is nothing but the same as God, when we transcend from our relative, illusory, or dual life into the absolute in awareness. This means Brahman is not created from something, but is ever flowing and is created from the reality of its own being, by combining as matter, when in slow vibration. In Aristotelian terms, Brahman is both the material cause as well as the efficient cause of creation.
Carl Sagan, a great astronomer and cosmologist who played a leading role in the American space program at NASA, wrote extensively on this ancient Hindu cosmology, using his now-famous phrase—“the great cosmic lotus dream.” He also referred to the bronze statues cast in the eleventh century in the Chola temple in India: “The most elegant and sublime of these bronzes is a representation of the creation of the universe at the beginning of each cosmic cycle—a motif known as the cosmic dance of Shiva.”
To sum up, let us travel into the zone of cosmic void called shunya through meditation and experience the taste of this bliss. This will deeply change our mindset, bringing in calmness, balance, and serenity. Aside from chronological and psychological time, we have individual time, which is the space and time between two thoughts; we should try to understand this to realize the ultimate truth and reality of our existence. Shunya or emptiness will provide us a glimpse of our origin, beyond our questioning minds, and make us aware of where we come from and what we will finally disintegrate into—the supreme concept described earlier in detail as absolute awareness, a void called shunya-zero.
November 14, 2013
Guru Vs You
I recently gave a few comments negating the need of a guru and most of the replies of course were against my ideas in such thoughts. Since, this is a delicate subject, going against the norm, allow me to elaborate my opinion on this subject.
There is no denial of the fact that the word ‘Guru’ is a very esteemed and respected word, more to be worshipped than otherwise; as he is the source to remove your ignorance in taking you towards God. Translated from Sanskrit; ‘Gu’ stands for spiritual ignorance and ‘Ru’ for that luminous knowledge of the spirit, which dispels ignorance. We all know that in spiritualism, the role of a guru is imminent, from learning yoga to tantra.
It is only a guru who can remove that darkness surrounding us from desires, accumulations and sentiments. The basic difference between a teacher and a guru is the teacher will educate you about the outside and the guru is supposed to take you inwards. A teacher will develop your intellect whereas a guru will make you realize that intellect. A guru then himself, needs to beSelf-aware and realized about the illusions of our materialistic world. Besides his spiritual knowledge, he needs to practise what he teaches; he needs to be worthy enough to impart sacred scriptures of our heritage. He needs to be highly selective in accepting his ‘shishya’ who should be inwardly devoted to respond to such transmission; not in bragging but in actual practise. When both these conditions are favourable, then only a guru and ‘shishya’ may dissolve into one.
First, let us take the case of devotees. In the earlier days a lot many shishyas graduated into gurus to serve mankind in removing their ignorance from the drudgery of existence. They did not have books or the internet to attain knowledge about their inner reality. Today, most of us study from self-help books and listen to discourses from various gurus and consider ourselves to be spiritually awakened.
In such cases, it is basically only our intellect which evolves in understanding but not our inner self. This is why most of us can speak and write beautifully, but when it comes to spiritual living we are awfully behind. Only a realized spiritual guru who is capable of personal interaction and devotion to any individual soul may hasten this process in making a disciple realized. Otherwise, as I mentioned in my comment, instead of say three years, in the absence of a realized guru it has been more than a decade and I still remain a seeker. Until the realization dawns, there is nothing to seek, for what you seek is only a desire; when you yourself are what you seek.
Here are some lines from the link of:- http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.inf... bhakti-yoga/the_need_of_guru.htm
"Fools dwelling in darkness, wise in their own conceit, and puffed up with vain knowledge, go round and round staggering to and fro, like blind men led by the blind." — (Katha Up., I. ii. 5). The world is full of these. Every one wants to be a teacher, every beggar wants to make a gift of a million dollars! Just as these beggars are ridiculous, so are these teachers
The great Swami Ramakrishna always said that the true guru is within each one of us. He himself was self-realized and without a guru. The true guru is innate in the form of our witnessing self called the consciousness. We only require to be truthful to our inner self. No one can help you on being yourself when the job of any guru is primarily to teach you, in knowing your own self. That is what spiritualism is all about; live your inner spirit and awaken to the reality.
Do we need a teacher? Yes! Someone needs to teach us, about who we really are. A well known story in the spiritual field tells us, that once ten men had to cross a river. They swam across and the leader after reaching on the other bank started counting and only nine were there. The leader kept on counting again and again but could not discover the tenth man. Not realising that mere knowledge of counting and seeking in blind action is not going to reveal the tenth man. A teacher is required to reveal to him that he himself as the leader is the tenth man. The world of materialism is so engrossing and powerful that mind is fully absorbed in relishing what he desires. Someone needs to tell you that there is no sense in seeking blindly; until you are made to realize what you have been seeking is what you actually are.
Yes! A teacher is required to make us spiritually intellectual. But beyond that your own awareness, indulgence, experience and realization is what is going to transform you towards that oneness which spiritualism is all about. When the knower (Self) becomes the known (subject), knowing (mind) disappears. But a guru is different; his job is not only to provide that higher knowledge on this subject but to make you practice with inter personal relationship how to transcend beyond into realization.
When the Guru dissolves in the shishya in total bhakti and devotion, knowledge disappears and you realize enlightenment. A Guru is that person who is self-realized to impart that ‘sankhya’ (Knowledge of self) to make you realize that you are ‘caitanya’ i.e Awareness, which by itself is actionless, changeless, timeless, spaceless and limitless. Such Gurus as you may agree are definitely in short supply.
Since childhood we are groomed into being dictated how to think, eat, live and behave, by our teachers, parents and community. So much so, that our future is also all planned out as per our parents’ wishes. This is why we notice that most of us are dependent and weak always requiring a pillar to lean. Our personality is divided, lacking confidence and we are ready to follow anybody just by hearing from the mass that he or she is great. There is a lack of inner reasoning and common sense, with a hollow ego we go on praising others, while remaining ignorant in not being able to understand and practice what we speak and write.
Consciousness can exist only in the self and manifest only in the mind through awareness. This develops your inner ability in creating your personality, individualness and is what and who you are. Do not depend, lose or waste this individuality in proving to others you are spiritual; you are a wonderful self, please realize in awareness of your own presence.
No one can help you to be your own self, but yourself. Find a real Guru, who will help you in being yourself, who will make you aware what you had forgotten and centralize in reviving you back again to what you really are. This is what real meditation is, to be able to live from one moment to the next in awareness; for which you really need no one but yourself.
Kindly allow me to paste what I have already commented regarding this subject:-
Gian posted a response on Atmamaya Raja's blog Who requires a GURU and How to find HIM?
"You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul" ........ Swami Vivekananda.
Spiritualism is only in the living with self-knowledge, self-awareness, self-experience and self-realization."
"My comment is more of a personal opinion in this regard, with an elaboration from both sides.Soul is that witnessing self which guides your intellect and thoughts in balancing between separatism and oneness.The soul is awakened through awareness, especially in the spontaniety of your now, to experience and realize out of your own mind.
A guru of today, will relate to you his experiences; where as a commoner neither can you personally meet and learn from him nor can you debate; whereas gurus of those Vedantic times days were realized beings and had fewer disciples than of today having millions of followers. What I notice; some visit a guru in the hope that he may grant what he desires, which probably to him God has denied. Second, in others I see visiting gurus out of fear of all the wrong deeds they may have done, e.g., politicians and wealthy businessmen. The small percentage of remaining few like myself are asked by their subordinates, when I arrive or during leaving, from their ashram; how much am I ready to donate.
I am yearning for that day when I get attracted to guru who will awaken me to the advice given by my ancestors that a Guru is above God, as he is the only one who may take you towards that direction. Allow me to post, another comment on the same subject, which attracted contempt from some readers on my feelings towards this blind following which I notice today."
"Gurus of our ancient days were far different, as earlier the sense of teaching was to convert a student into a master. But, today the intention is to make blind followers in the realm of idealism so that they remain ignorant and continue to sing glories of how great their guru is. In such cases, what I notice is that such disciples keep gossiping on the knowledge of various experiences of their gurus, in ego-consciousness instead of practising all those realistic spiritual methods to experience and realize within themselves.
What we see today is more of a spiritual mask towards spiritual business, in disguise of seeking materialism or projecting yourself as wise. The spiritual leaders, as we see today are dressed up, branding themselves, in saffron clothes and long beards, mainly for the rich, but majority of their followers are the commoners in huge numbers blindly following in the hope of receiving salutation from their grief of need or despair. Probably it is for this reason, spiritual leaders preach to their followers; talking about extremes in levels of reaching super-consciousness, soul, Brahman and the Supreme reality or in abolishing desires etc., further inflating their ego giving a sort of an excuse to impress upon others that they are nearer to God. When under no circumstance can we eliminate neither desire nor ego from our mind?
As long as mind is there; desire, ego and separatism will prevail. These have no meaning in day-to-daylife of a common man who has to first provide food, clothing and shelter to himself and his family and then fulfil his needs, wants and comforts. What good has such preaching on Spiritualism, religion or the love for God has done as of now, except increase the number of followers? This is true for both religion and spiritualism being an utter failure, besides providing abundant riches to those proclaiming as the messiah of this subject, except in providing only temporary relief from their suffering. Besides, what one reads from here and there, that preaching’s of spiritualism today is one of the richest avenues in making wealth or involving in nefarious activities. The reason for my reservations on Spiritual gurus and religion has certain specific reasons which I would like to elaborate, especially to those who are not in favour of my opinion.
The question first arises, why do we need a spiritual guru? Today as I see, most knowledgeable gurus have immense number of followers to the extent that I once read on the back cover of one book “………….has reached out to an estimated 300 million people worldwide through personal interactions, public events, teachings.”Please tell me where do I stand in such a long queue of followers? Moreover, how many have seriously benefited or realized their spirit in a wholesome manner? Ninety per cent of followers that I see in India are the weak, poor or the common man, who follow mainly in the hope that the guru will be able to somehow grant many of their immediate desires what God has not been able to do. So he starts considering the spiritual guru above God. The second lot are those, who through their wrong deeds have developed fear in them, by which they have worries and anxiety requiring psychiatric treatment. Remaining, say one per cent is seekers like us, who are desirous in awakening our soul, spirit or awareness towards spirituality.
A personal interaction for this is required and do you think I stand a chance? No! I need to be filthy rich or powerful; to attain that attention of the guru, to devote time and effort for me. This is the prime reason; I abandoned my search for a realized guru, and had to make double the effort to learn whatever I know on Spiritualism, through my own self-knowledge, self-experience and self-realization.
Aum Tat Sat."
There is no denial of the fact that the word ‘Guru’ is a very esteemed and respected word, more to be worshipped than otherwise; as he is the source to remove your ignorance in taking you towards God. Translated from Sanskrit; ‘Gu’ stands for spiritual ignorance and ‘Ru’ for that luminous knowledge of the spirit, which dispels ignorance. We all know that in spiritualism, the role of a guru is imminent, from learning yoga to tantra.
It is only a guru who can remove that darkness surrounding us from desires, accumulations and sentiments. The basic difference between a teacher and a guru is the teacher will educate you about the outside and the guru is supposed to take you inwards. A teacher will develop your intellect whereas a guru will make you realize that intellect. A guru then himself, needs to beSelf-aware and realized about the illusions of our materialistic world. Besides his spiritual knowledge, he needs to practise what he teaches; he needs to be worthy enough to impart sacred scriptures of our heritage. He needs to be highly selective in accepting his ‘shishya’ who should be inwardly devoted to respond to such transmission; not in bragging but in actual practise. When both these conditions are favourable, then only a guru and ‘shishya’ may dissolve into one.
First, let us take the case of devotees. In the earlier days a lot many shishyas graduated into gurus to serve mankind in removing their ignorance from the drudgery of existence. They did not have books or the internet to attain knowledge about their inner reality. Today, most of us study from self-help books and listen to discourses from various gurus and consider ourselves to be spiritually awakened.
In such cases, it is basically only our intellect which evolves in understanding but not our inner self. This is why most of us can speak and write beautifully, but when it comes to spiritual living we are awfully behind. Only a realized spiritual guru who is capable of personal interaction and devotion to any individual soul may hasten this process in making a disciple realized. Otherwise, as I mentioned in my comment, instead of say three years, in the absence of a realized guru it has been more than a decade and I still remain a seeker. Until the realization dawns, there is nothing to seek, for what you seek is only a desire; when you yourself are what you seek.
Here are some lines from the link of:- http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.inf... bhakti-yoga/the_need_of_guru.htm
"Fools dwelling in darkness, wise in their own conceit, and puffed up with vain knowledge, go round and round staggering to and fro, like blind men led by the blind." — (Katha Up., I. ii. 5). The world is full of these. Every one wants to be a teacher, every beggar wants to make a gift of a million dollars! Just as these beggars are ridiculous, so are these teachers
The great Swami Ramakrishna always said that the true guru is within each one of us. He himself was self-realized and without a guru. The true guru is innate in the form of our witnessing self called the consciousness. We only require to be truthful to our inner self. No one can help you on being yourself when the job of any guru is primarily to teach you, in knowing your own self. That is what spiritualism is all about; live your inner spirit and awaken to the reality.
Do we need a teacher? Yes! Someone needs to teach us, about who we really are. A well known story in the spiritual field tells us, that once ten men had to cross a river. They swam across and the leader after reaching on the other bank started counting and only nine were there. The leader kept on counting again and again but could not discover the tenth man. Not realising that mere knowledge of counting and seeking in blind action is not going to reveal the tenth man. A teacher is required to reveal to him that he himself as the leader is the tenth man. The world of materialism is so engrossing and powerful that mind is fully absorbed in relishing what he desires. Someone needs to tell you that there is no sense in seeking blindly; until you are made to realize what you have been seeking is what you actually are.
Yes! A teacher is required to make us spiritually intellectual. But beyond that your own awareness, indulgence, experience and realization is what is going to transform you towards that oneness which spiritualism is all about. When the knower (Self) becomes the known (subject), knowing (mind) disappears. But a guru is different; his job is not only to provide that higher knowledge on this subject but to make you practice with inter personal relationship how to transcend beyond into realization.
When the Guru dissolves in the shishya in total bhakti and devotion, knowledge disappears and you realize enlightenment. A Guru is that person who is self-realized to impart that ‘sankhya’ (Knowledge of self) to make you realize that you are ‘caitanya’ i.e Awareness, which by itself is actionless, changeless, timeless, spaceless and limitless. Such Gurus as you may agree are definitely in short supply.
Since childhood we are groomed into being dictated how to think, eat, live and behave, by our teachers, parents and community. So much so, that our future is also all planned out as per our parents’ wishes. This is why we notice that most of us are dependent and weak always requiring a pillar to lean. Our personality is divided, lacking confidence and we are ready to follow anybody just by hearing from the mass that he or she is great. There is a lack of inner reasoning and common sense, with a hollow ego we go on praising others, while remaining ignorant in not being able to understand and practice what we speak and write.
Consciousness can exist only in the self and manifest only in the mind through awareness. This develops your inner ability in creating your personality, individualness and is what and who you are. Do not depend, lose or waste this individuality in proving to others you are spiritual; you are a wonderful self, please realize in awareness of your own presence.
No one can help you to be your own self, but yourself. Find a real Guru, who will help you in being yourself, who will make you aware what you had forgotten and centralize in reviving you back again to what you really are. This is what real meditation is, to be able to live from one moment to the next in awareness; for which you really need no one but yourself.
Kindly allow me to paste what I have already commented regarding this subject:-
Gian posted a response on Atmamaya Raja's blog Who requires a GURU and How to find HIM?
"You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul" ........ Swami Vivekananda.
Spiritualism is only in the living with self-knowledge, self-awareness, self-experience and self-realization."
"My comment is more of a personal opinion in this regard, with an elaboration from both sides.Soul is that witnessing self which guides your intellect and thoughts in balancing between separatism and oneness.The soul is awakened through awareness, especially in the spontaniety of your now, to experience and realize out of your own mind.
A guru of today, will relate to you his experiences; where as a commoner neither can you personally meet and learn from him nor can you debate; whereas gurus of those Vedantic times days were realized beings and had fewer disciples than of today having millions of followers. What I notice; some visit a guru in the hope that he may grant what he desires, which probably to him God has denied. Second, in others I see visiting gurus out of fear of all the wrong deeds they may have done, e.g., politicians and wealthy businessmen. The small percentage of remaining few like myself are asked by their subordinates, when I arrive or during leaving, from their ashram; how much am I ready to donate.
I am yearning for that day when I get attracted to guru who will awaken me to the advice given by my ancestors that a Guru is above God, as he is the only one who may take you towards that direction. Allow me to post, another comment on the same subject, which attracted contempt from some readers on my feelings towards this blind following which I notice today."
"Gurus of our ancient days were far different, as earlier the sense of teaching was to convert a student into a master. But, today the intention is to make blind followers in the realm of idealism so that they remain ignorant and continue to sing glories of how great their guru is. In such cases, what I notice is that such disciples keep gossiping on the knowledge of various experiences of their gurus, in ego-consciousness instead of practising all those realistic spiritual methods to experience and realize within themselves.
What we see today is more of a spiritual mask towards spiritual business, in disguise of seeking materialism or projecting yourself as wise. The spiritual leaders, as we see today are dressed up, branding themselves, in saffron clothes and long beards, mainly for the rich, but majority of their followers are the commoners in huge numbers blindly following in the hope of receiving salutation from their grief of need or despair. Probably it is for this reason, spiritual leaders preach to their followers; talking about extremes in levels of reaching super-consciousness, soul, Brahman and the Supreme reality or in abolishing desires etc., further inflating their ego giving a sort of an excuse to impress upon others that they are nearer to God. When under no circumstance can we eliminate neither desire nor ego from our mind?
As long as mind is there; desire, ego and separatism will prevail. These have no meaning in day-to-daylife of a common man who has to first provide food, clothing and shelter to himself and his family and then fulfil his needs, wants and comforts. What good has such preaching on Spiritualism, religion or the love for God has done as of now, except increase the number of followers? This is true for both religion and spiritualism being an utter failure, besides providing abundant riches to those proclaiming as the messiah of this subject, except in providing only temporary relief from their suffering. Besides, what one reads from here and there, that preaching’s of spiritualism today is one of the richest avenues in making wealth or involving in nefarious activities. The reason for my reservations on Spiritual gurus and religion has certain specific reasons which I would like to elaborate, especially to those who are not in favour of my opinion.
The question first arises, why do we need a spiritual guru? Today as I see, most knowledgeable gurus have immense number of followers to the extent that I once read on the back cover of one book “………….has reached out to an estimated 300 million people worldwide through personal interactions, public events, teachings.”Please tell me where do I stand in such a long queue of followers? Moreover, how many have seriously benefited or realized their spirit in a wholesome manner? Ninety per cent of followers that I see in India are the weak, poor or the common man, who follow mainly in the hope that the guru will be able to somehow grant many of their immediate desires what God has not been able to do. So he starts considering the spiritual guru above God. The second lot are those, who through their wrong deeds have developed fear in them, by which they have worries and anxiety requiring psychiatric treatment. Remaining, say one per cent is seekers like us, who are desirous in awakening our soul, spirit or awareness towards spirituality.
A personal interaction for this is required and do you think I stand a chance? No! I need to be filthy rich or powerful; to attain that attention of the guru, to devote time and effort for me. This is the prime reason; I abandoned my search for a realized guru, and had to make double the effort to learn whatever I know on Spiritualism, through my own self-knowledge, self-experience and self-realization.
Aum Tat Sat."
