Chapter Eight.
THERE IS NO END!
“Jnanena Akasakalpena, Dharmanyo gaganopaman; Jnayabhinnena sambuddhah-tam vande dripadam varam”(4th.c-1sl.of Mandukya Up. )
“I bow to that best among men who by means of knowledge, which is like space and non-differentiated from the object- of –knowledge, has realized the nature of the individual selves, which are again like space.”
This stanza gives ample glimpse of the Vedanthic truth that the individual- Self is itself the Supreme, All-pervading Reality. The analogy that the individual Self as well as the Universal-Self are like space, have already been discussed in the second chapter.
“Asparsayogo vai nama sarva-satva-sukhohitah; Avivado-aviruddhascha desitas-tam namamyaham.”( 4th c-2nd S)
I salute this yoga called Asparsa, taught through scriptures, the Yoga which promotes the happiness of all and conducive to the well-being of all, which is at once free from strife and contradictions.
*1 “Now salutation is made to the yoga taught by Advaita Philosophy, in order to extol it. The word Asparsa yoga in the text means the Yoga which is always and in all respects free from sparsa or relationship with anything and which is of the same nature as Brahman. This Yoga is conducive to the happiness and well- being of all beings. For, it never changes its nature. The idea of duality and change, implying loss, is at the root of all miseries. This Yoga enables us to realize the Self which is free from all ideas of change. Moreover this Yoga is free from strife, that is to say, in it there is no room for any passage- at- words, which is inevitable in all disputes consisting of two opposite sides. For this is non-contradictory in nature. The non-dualist knows that even those who come to quarrel with him are, in reality, his own Self. He does not look upon any one as his opponent. One, who knows everything as his own Self, does not contradict others, for one can not contradict his own Self.”.
Swami Ranganadhananda of Sri Ramakrishna Mission says that the theme explained above must be the Motto of the United Nations.
“Joy and sorrow are an integral part of human life and the Endeavour of the spiritual texts is to help beings develop equanimity to deal with these appropriately. When we consider material objects as source of happiness, or get attached to people, we are bound to face disappointments. We identify ourselves with the body rather than the Self that leads to the feeling of possessiveness (the sense of I and mine) with regard to people and possessions. Swami Dayananda Saraswati pointed out in a lecture, that every individual is to realize the dichotomy between the body and Self. Once we realize that we are all part of the Supreme Being and learn to shift our focus from the material and the transient to the everlasting and permanent, and then there is a gradual understanding of the world and our place in it from an impersonal and objective angle. It is the subjective approach that is the cause of all worry. That which really matters and exists is only the reality of Supreme Brahman and the Self exploration is the only worthwhile pursuit that can be a panacea for worldly miseries. The Upanishads state that fear arises from duality (Dwaitha) Fear is a major factor affecting the lives of all beings. This is because each being is differently endowed, (Physical and mental abilities, nature etc.) So when some one is seen to be more powerful, there is reason to feel threatened. A cat feels threatened by a dog while a mouse fears a cat. Human beings are a threat to the environment while they are threatened by their many worries- livelihood, boss, friends, enemies, family etc. These goals are transient, and one realizes the need to seek the ultimate goal worth pursuing, one beyond which there could be nothing higher. (Courtesy Hindu dated 1st July 2009.)
Bhagavan Sri Gouthama Buddha in his second lecture delivered at Saranath near Banaras, said that ‘This body is not Self. Self is not this and that, but the one which eliminates all this and that is Self. There is a profound meaning in this. The more you think of it the more you get enlightened. Most modern western Philosopher Bertrand Russell says ‘Whatever you see, you see yourself.” The greatest Scientist of the millennium, Einstein says “In the universe, there are particles and energy field. Both can not be true. Field alone is true. Particles are temporary manifestation of field energy only.”
Gaudapada, Sri Sankara’s master’s master, in Mandukya Upanishad karika, (verse 10) says:
“Nivritteh sarvadukhanam-isanah prabhuravyayah; Advaitah sarvabhavanam devasturyo vibhuh smritah.”
In that which is indicated as changeless and Supreme Lord, there is a total cessation of all miseries. (What else you want?) It is the One without a second among the plurality; it is known as the Thuriya, the ever effulgent and All-pervading.
Happiness is the goal sought by every human mind. The means employed is the enjoyment. Man demands a total satisfaction, not sense gratification. Desires create mental agitations and a mind agitated is a mind in sorrow. By removing desires, the thoughts subside and a quiet mind itself is a glow of happiness. ‘No desires’, is a state of thoughtlessness, a state of infinite bliss, the Self. One gets plenty of enjoyment by acquiring the manifold objects of the senses. Surely one can not be happy without renouncing them all. Lesser the desires, the agitations are less and more the Joy. The desire-less one has no praise for the calm nor blames the wicked. Contended and same in happiness and misery, he finds nothing to be achieved. Desires procreate thoughts and thought flow is mind.
Before I conclude the compilation of the spiritual knowledge, from scientific and spiritual literature, let me share with you a portion of modern science from a book “The Tao of Physics.” Written by Prof. Fritjof Capra,of Berkeley University, U.S.A. Tao means “the divine way” in Chinese language. Till the 19th century, the classical physics was based on the concept of solid, indestructible particles moving in the void. In the early part of 20th century, advent of Einstein’s Theory of relativity and Heisenberg’s ‘Principle of indeterminacy, ‘quantum mechanics’ and other rapid developments in Cosmology and sub-atomic nuclear physics brought about a radical revision of this picture. In these ‘quantum field theories’, the distinction between particles and the space surrounding them looses its original sharpness and the void is recognized as a dynamic quantity of paramount importance.
Prof. Capra says*6 “Matter and empty space-the full and the void-were the two fundamentally distinct concepts on which the atomism of Democritus and of Newton was based. In general relativity, these two concepts can no longer be separated. In Einstein’s theory, then, matter can not be separated from its field of gravity, and the field of gravity cannot be separated from the curved space. Matter and space are thus seen to be inseparable and interdependent parts of a single whole”.(Poorna madah; Poorna midam.)
Prof. Capra continues*6 “Hence the concept of ‘quantum field’, that is, of a field which can take the form of quanta, or particles. In these ‘quantum field theories’, the classical contrast between the solid particles and the space surrounding them is completely overcome. The quantum field is seen as the fundamental physical entity, a continuous medium which is present everywhere in space. Particles are merely local condensations of the field; concentration of energy which come and go, thereby losing their individual character and dissolving into the underlying field. In the words of Albert Einstein: “ We may therefore regard matter as being constituted by the regions of space in which the field is extremely dense…..There is no place in this new kind of physics both for the field and matter, for the Field is the only reality.”
“The concept of physical things and phenomena as transient manifestations of an underlying entity is not only a basic element of the quantum field theory, but also a basic element of Eastern world view Like Einstein, the eastern mystics, (Vedantins of Hinduism, Taoists of China and Sufi mystics.) Consider the underlying entity as the only reality; all its phenomenal manifestations are seen as transitory and illusory. This reality of the Eastern mystic can not be identified with the quantum field of physicist because it is seen as the essence of all phenomena in this world and, consequently, is beyond all concepts and ideas. (Modification of mind is a concept.) The quantum field on the other hand, is a well defined concept which only accounts for some of the physical phenomena. Nevertheless, the intuition behind the physicist’s interpretation of the sub-atomic world, in terms of quantum field, is closely paralleled by that of Eastern mystic who interprets his or her experience of the world in terms of an ultimate underlying reality. (Sat.) Subsequent to the emergence of the field concept, the physicists have attempted to unify the various fields into a single fundamental field which would incorporate all physical phenomena. Einstein, in particular, spent the last years of his life searching for such a unified field. The Brahman of Hindus, like the Dharmakaya of the Buddhists and the Tao of the Taoists, can be seen, perhaps, as the ultimate unified field from which spring not only phenomena studied in physics, but all other phenomena as well. (Kshetrajnam cha api mam viddhi sarva kshetreshu Bharata-“Know Me as the knower of field in all the fields” Sri Krishna Bhagavan in Gita ch.13. )
In the eastern view, the reality underlying all the phenomena is beyond all forms and defies all description and specification. It is therefore often said to be formless, empty or void. But this emptiness is not to be taken for mere nothingness. It is, on the contrary, the essence of all forms and source of all life. Thus the Upanishad says: “Pranam vai Brahman, Cum brahman, kham Brahman”.- Chandogya Upanishad.)
Brahman is life. Brahman is joy. Brahman is the void….Joy verily, that is the same as the void. The Void, verily, that is the same as Joy.
The Taoists ascribe a similar infinite and endless creativity to the Tao and again call it empty. ‘The Tao of heaven is empty and formless’ says the Kuan-tzu, and Lao Tzu uses several metaphors to illustrate this emptiness.”
(This portion of knowledge, I received from the speeches of swami Ranganadhananda of Sri Ramakrishna Mission., on Vivekachoodamani)
No doubt it is extremely difficult, if not impossible to grasp the subtle concepts of quantum field theories and the theory of relativity of Einstein. So also it is almost next to impossible to understand the profundity of Self Knowledge. But what you gain when you can at least understand even technically the knowledge of Self is infinite bliss. If you can realize Self, then there is nothing more you need do. “Brahmavid brahmaiva bhavathi” the knower of Brahman becomes Brahman. Lord Krishna says:”Bahunam janmanam ante, jnanavan ma prapadyante; Vasudeva sarvam iti, sa Mahatma sa durlabhah”
At the end of many births, the man of knowledge directly reaches Me, realizing, “Vasudeva is all”. Such a great soul is extremely rare. How many Mahatmas have you seen during the last sixty years? I have seen only one Mahatma, Mahatma Gandhi. Out of billions of people, only a few hundred might have climbed Mt. Everest.
Technological advances on cosmic scale have helped us even to land on moon and study and understand the cosmic play. Similarly expansion of Knowledge field at the speed of light can help us at least to technically grasp the profundity of Self knowledge also known as Atma -Vidya or Brahma Vidya. Let us at least take a few steps, and then the divine spark in us will help us to proceed further. Our elders have said that if we take one step, God will take hundred steps to reach us. Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and Brahma Sutras are our nuclear powered submarine cum space ships.
However, let us try to understand subtleties of field of Self knowledge from our simple day to day observations of Nature. You go to a calm beach resort and sitting in a comfortable position try to observe a bubble on the surface of a wave in the ocean. If you can not afford to go to a beach resort, just close your eyes in a calm, closed room and imagine that you are sitting in a calm beach and observe the bubble. We are experts in imagination. We have already talked about this special attribute of human beings. Now the bubble on the surface of a wave, the wave and surf associated with it and the ocean all are only water. Only the name and form differ. If the wave subsides then, only ocean remains. Bubble, wave, surf and ocean are all made up of water only. Swami Vivekananda says: “I may be a bubble in the ocean. What if! The entire Ocean is behind me.”
Astavakra Maharshi, Master of king Janaka, of Ramayana fame, about 35 thousand years back said: “Yatha na toyato bhinna tarangah phena budbudah:Atmano na tatha bhinnam visvam atma vinir-gatam.” As waves, foam and bubbles are not different from the waters, so the universe, streaming forth from the self, is not different from the Self. He further says in Astavakra Gita: “Mayya nantha maham bhodhav ascaryam jeeva vicayah Udyanti ghnanti khelanti pravisanti svabhavatah.” Wonderful! Marvelous! In Me, the limitless ocean, the waves of individual selves, according to their nature rise, jostle about, play for a time and disappear.
Adi Shankara in Vivekachoodamani says: “Mayyakhanda sukhambodhou bahuda Visva veechiya; Utpadyante vileeyante mayamarutha vibhramat” “In me the ocean of unbroken bliss, endless waves of the universe are created and destroyed by the play of the storm of Maya.”
When the surface of the bubble is exposed to the heat of cosmic radiation, water evaporates and the water vapour runs towards Sun. When Sun moves away, (Sun does not move. Only earth moves and relatively we see as if Sun has moved away. All the information that your sense-organs convey may not be the correct knowledge. Hence discrimination, ‘Viveka’ is required.) cool breeze starts moving and water vapour condenses and carried away by strong winds. In its journey it gets contaminated with dust and becomes a black cloud. When the clouds meet congenial atmosphere, clouds start raining and water again takes the shape of water bubbles. Though you can not observe water bubbles in the pouring rain, you can infer their presence by the formation of ‘rainbow’, which is due to the refraction of sun rays through the water bubbles. Rain drops may fall either in the ocean and complete the cycle, or it may fall on the Himalayan mountains and become ice, or it may fall in a roadside gutter of Hyderabad. In course of time all the water runs into Ocean, whether it takes one birth (janma) or ‘bahunam janmanamante’, after various births, as each transformation is taken as a birth. Only we do not talk of rebirth or re-incarnation for water bubble since they are simply bubbles. What if! Whether they are bubbles, foam, waves, water vapour, rain drops or Ganges water, Himalayan ice or ocean, it is always water and water only. Due to difference in space and time, water takes different shapes and names. Water uncontaminated is pure, odourless and colourless. Chemically it is always H2O. It has taken its birth billions of years ago, after the formation of hydrogen and oxygen elements. Both Hydrogen and Oxygen are the progeny of primordial soup, which is nothing other than the primordial energy, the infinite, non dual, homogeneous ‘Divine energy- Sat-Chit-Ananda’.
Our ancestors have conceptualized the above theme into a beautiful verse: “Akasam patitam toyam yadha gachchati sagaram; Sarva jeeva sanskaram smasanam prathigachchati.” Just as all the water in the sky, reaches Ocean; all ego centric Jeevas reach the grave yard. In the grave yard you observe the ash. The ashes of Mahatma Gandhi and a road side terrorist look the same. When once the individual ego reaches the graveyard, after it is burned it turns into ash and no further individuality is recognizable. This is a fact and any one can verify it. Science is the knowledge, verified and verifiable.
The entire spectrfum of living and non- living beings, starting from single cellular amoeba to most intelleigent and evolved divine humans; and the cosmic dust particle to the entire universe; can be broadly divided into two groups.(1) Known and (2) Unknown. The ‘Known’ constitutes the entire universe comprising of galaxies, stars, earth, water, air and all living and non living beings. In vedantic language they are clasified as ‘ Annamayad’ products of food and allied materials like air, water and fire. Lord Krishna in Bhagavadgita says:Annadbhavanthi bhutani” They are subject matter (object), for our scientific and philosophical study. They constitute ‘lower prakruthi’the inferior part.( The higher prakruthi, other than this by which the entire life is sustained. B.G. ch.7-4sl) They (annamayad) are born from the food/allied material and are subject to birth, decay, death. They are products of earth, water, air and fire and go back to them like water goes back to water and air to air.
The ‘Unknown’ is unknown to us through any of available sense organs/objects/instruments.They are other than ‘known’ and hence are not finite and are not subject to birth and death.’Unknown’ is the home for ‘Atman’ consciousness, Omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent God/Eswara/Consciousness/ higher prakrithi of Lord Krishna.
Every sadhana/practice, whether scientific or spiritual, leads a man from the ‘known’ to the ‘unknown’. As long as you are in the regime of ‘known’, you can not know the ‘unknown’.As long as you are in darkness, you can not be in the light.You have to transcend the ‘known’ , to know the ‘unknown’. Ultimately the evolved sadhaka realises that both ‘known’ and ‘unknown’ are one and the same, non-dual ‘Parabrahman’/ Atman. “Neha nanasthi kinchana.!”
The entire spectrfum of living and non- living beings, starting from single cellular amoeba to most intelleigent and evolved divine humans; and the cosmic dust particle to the entire universe; can be broadly divided into two groups.(1) Known and (2) Unknown. The ‘Known’ constitutes the entire universe comprising of galaxies, stars, earth, water, air and all living and non living beings. In vedantic language they are clasified as ‘ Annamayad’ products of food and allied materials like air, water and fire. Lord Krishna in Bhagavadgita says:Annadbhavanthi bhutani” They are subject matter (object), for our scientific and philosophical study. They constitute ‘lower prakruthi’the inferior part.( The higher prakruthi, other than this by which the entire life is sustained. B.G. ch.7-4sl) They (annamayad) are born from the food/allied material and are subject to birth, decay, death. They are products of earth, water, air and fire and go back to them like water goes back to water and air to air.
The ‘Unknown’ is unknown to us through any of available sense organs/objects/instruments.They are other than ‘known’ and hence are not finite and are not subject to birth and death.’Unknown’ is the home for ‘Atman’ consciousness, Omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent God/Eswara/Consciousness/ higher prakrithi of Lord Krishna.
Every sadhana/practice, whether scientific or spiritual, leads a man from the ‘known’ to the ‘unknown’. As long as you are in the regime of ‘known’, you can not know the ‘unknown’.As long as you are in darkness, you can not be in the light.You have to transcend the ‘known’ , to know the ‘unknown’. Ultimately the evolved sadhaka realises that both ‘known’ and ‘unknown’ are one and the same, non-dual ‘Parabrahman’/ Atman. “Neha nanasthi kinchana.!”
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