5.3 Sorrows and Sufferings - Can we ever find release from them?

Sorrows and sufferings are part and parcel of everybody’s everyday life. There is none who has endured them willingly nor has anyone escaped them wittingly.

Nobody wishfully invites sufferings either. The more we wish to escape, the more vigorous/ virulent the suffering becomes. It is as if fate has ordained/ orchestrated our sufferings.

Is everyone ordained to suffer?

Actually suffering is universal, though everyone tried by adversity is inclined to claim pre-eminence in sorrow. This is because things felt (being mental) are more intense than things heard or seen (being physical only).

From the lowliest (plants) to the highest (Celestials), from the meekest (beggar) to the mightiest (Kings), from the least-evolved (microbe) to the most-evolved (humans), everything/ everyone suffers.

It is utter folly to believe that some never suffer. Even the most powerful people experience misery (war, old age, burden of administration, fear of death, bereavements, pain of injury/ separation…).

It is also sheer foolishness to assume that a few in this world are always happy. It is true that all in the world are sometimes happy, but there is none in the world who is always happy. 

Misery is felt as joy many times because of fantasy. (An officer slogging out at the office, though suffers, yet imagines all the joys that he will have when he makes a career break-through!).

Why is suffering inseparable and indispensable aspect of life?

Suffering is to convey to us that we cannot, nor should we, expect to find permanent peace/ happiness in this world/life.

Suffering is to make us evolve emotionally. We are then able to face the torrents and turmoils of life with balanced disposition.

Suffering helps us to ‘measure’ our spiritual progress. Unlike a journey in the physical plane, a Spiritual ‘journey’ does not involve Space/ Time; hence, there are no conventional modes for a seeker to ‘measure’ his progress. Suffering is a unique/ universal ‘sign-post’ that indicates:

How much we have purified ourselves (from the amount of suffering)

How much we have evolved spiritually (from the attitude to suffering).

By feeling attached to them or by attaching undue importance to them we suffer. 

Suffering is to make us turn away from this world of transience and turn towards an existence of eternity.

If happiness be the norm, then individuals will stay tuned/ glued to lower order (worldly) happiness and never look/ strive for higher order (transcendent) peace – a peace, from where there is no return.

How do the wise ones deal with suffering?

Actually world is bad for Ajnanis, but then they run after it. It is because they chase changing fortunes or deceptive mirages and consequently suffer.

It is good for Jnanis for it raises them higher and higher to the divine stature. Wise ones understand that suffering, like pain, is only an outward sign of an underlying malaise (karma, at the perceptible level, and delusion, at the causal level). 

Hence, they work on the cause, and not its worrisome consequences.They face suffering as it comes and what it brings. World and sufferings are indeed blessings in disguise for them.

The attitude of every faithful is reflected in the statement of Kunti, who, despite being the mother of 5 valiant/divine children and a close relative of Lord Krishna, had to undergo untold/ unending agonies.

At the end of the tragic episodes, she implores Krishna, “Lord, let more and more misery befall us (Vipadah Santu nah Shathvathah)!”

Obviously, she was referring to the fact that only because of the misfortunes, they had the fortune of beholding the Lord in their midst!

Also, an enlightened person considers the earth as a Karma Bhoomi – a place where Karmas are redeemed. He does not desire/ deem it as a heaven/ haven of enjoyment (Bhoga Bhoomi) which would otherwise consume his accumulated Punya.

Instead, he prefers to exhaust his bad Karmas through sorrows and sufferings, privation and deprivations. This is a sure and faster way to reach God.

Can we find release from sufferings?

The long arm of fate, it is said, can’t be stalled with a mere wish or meager will. We need to counter its effect with understanding, efforts and attitude.

Only a naïve person would assume/ expect that his day/ life would be free of sufferings.

A sensible person would expect a past issue/ memory, which was presumed buried-for-good, to rear its head anytime. 

He would expect a present condition/ relationship to turn sour/ sickening anytime.

He would expect a new issue/ sorrow to throw him off-balance anytime.

Many times it is not so much the suffering that is the problem as is our unpreparedness. When we are immersed in pleasant happenings, we feel that happy days are here forever. 

We never imagine of a day when the wheels-of-fortune would turn a full/ half circle and catch us scurrying for cover. And the feeling that reigns supreme in our mind then is: ‘Why me’ and ‘Why only me’? 

(Cf. Murphy’s Law: If a thing can go wrong, it will go wrong)! This is not to make us cynical or withdrawn, but to make us prepared for every eventuality and emergency.

Hence, afflictions (for example, stub-born partners, snobbish in-laws after marriage) have to be anticipated. 

Sorrows have to be pre-empted (for example, control of sugar/ sweet in-take much before diabetes strikes, especially if one is genetically predisposed to it).

Suffering is to be alleviated through consulting/ counselling (for example, seeking Specialists help/ sufferers’ web community/ counsel of a senior/ mentor to tackle a much-expected-but-missed promotion). 

In fact, almost all sorrows are not new to mankind, or peculiar to an individual, nor do their solutions need rocket-science.

Managing sufferings:

We suffer on account of ignorance of Universal Law/ Truth. 

The Truth manifests in 3 levels or layers and they form the basis of our sufferings: World (Adhibhautika), ‘I’ (Adhyatmika) and Cosmic (Adidaivika).

We never have complete understanding of these 3 layers of existence and consequently suffer. 

Suffering during life-time and Death at the end of it are gentle reminders for every moment or instance of ignorance of this Truth.

How Adhibhautika causes Suffering: Not knowing the way nature operates, we divorce ourselves from natural life-styles (junk-food/ sedentary life/ city-life) or indiscriminately destroy the natural order of things (deforestation, wild-life extinction). 

In every stage and step of life, we live not in harmony with nature or natural order of things.

How to overcome Suffering due to Adhibhautika: When we are friendly with anyone or anything, it reciprocates friendship – that is Law. 

When we understand Law, it is helpful; when we don’t, it works against us (e.g. Traffic rules). 

When we conform to the natural order of things, when we live in harmony with nature, they cease to give us problems. They cause minimal suffering.

Refusing to accept reality never helps; but confronting it works wonders.

How Adhyatmika causes suffering: The type, frequency and intensity of suffering by each individual vary! 

What differs/ aggravates is the extent/ depth of cognition and the assertion/ aggression of Ego.

A coconut tree suffers as much as a human due to rain/ storm/ sun/ insects (natural calamities), axing/ deforestation (man-made calamities). 

Yet, it does not cognize its ‘suffering’ because its Ego is dormant; hence, whether it ‘sees’ a friend (farmer) or a foe (wood-cutter), it is indifferent.

Due to this, the tree is able to take ‘suffering’ in its stride. A coconut tree does not cognize suffering – It may experience it, but cannot express it.

An animal may cognize suffering. Hence, it is able to experience it but may not be able to express it.

A human being fully cognizes suffering – he alone is able to experience it as well as express it. It is the Ego which cognizes suffering.

Also, Ego successfully manages to shift the cause of the misery onto God.

It makes the sufferer believe that it is due to God’s wrath we suffer, making Him responsible for our struggles.

It also makes people around itself to suffer. It is like a dictator who punishes innocent lives for a tragedy in his long-past personal life.

How to overcome the Suffering due to Adhyatmika: Most of us are over-sensitive to suffering. Even a small wound can be a source of great mental trauma.

Overcoming suffering is essentially raising our tolerance level to suffering – higher the tolerance, less is the cognition of agony.

We also need to prepare/ cultivate our mind with Equanimity.

Asking, ‘Why, me?’ does not help to alleviate the suffering.

Nor is asking ‘Why not me?’ makes the problem disappear into nothingness.

However, the latter converts the catastrophe into philosophy. When we develop this maturity, our ability to handle an issue multiplies manifold.

We cannot change our suffering as it is out of our control; but surely we can change our Attitude to suffering, as it is in our hands.

No suffering lasts a life-time; hence, facing them with ample fortitude and challenging them with right attitude works wonders.

How Adidaivika causes suffering: Creation is a co-operative Effort between Individuals and Creator. What God produces through Nature, the food (Annam), Jeevas consume. Similarly what Jeevas produce through their Actions (Thoughts, Speech, Deeds), the Creator consumes.

Just as we expect the food we consume to be pure, so also our actions, which are food for God should be pure.

Thus, we are the authors of our suffering – the causal factors are buried in history/ our Karmic past.

Acts committed or omitted over the past visit us as if demanding an explanation or commanding their expiation.

In fact, Jeeva takes on a body time and again only to experience the torments of any or many of its accumulated Vasanas. This is how divine design unfolds.

How to overcome the Suffering due to Adidaivika:

The number and frequency of sufferings of individuals may not vary much. What varies is the type and intensity.

We have no say over the type of suffering, as it is an outcome of our Prarabdha Karma. However, with every suffering, we exhaust our bad Vasanas.

As we exhaust bad Vasanas, we become purer. As we become purer, we move closer/ dearer to God.

(cf. Uddhav Gita: Lord Krishna to Uddhav, His dear friend of childhood days, before the latter bids adieu, ‘Such of those whom I want to take unto me, I take away their wealth and other possessions’).

God makes us poorer, so that we become purer.

Intensity of suffering can be attenuated and accelerated through Expiation/ Repentance/ Retribution (Prayschit) and Attitude.

Repentance: Feeling sorry for an injury/ injustice committed is the most elementary step in repentance. The sentiments should be expressed verbally or mentally.

Though it is an apparently uncomplicated exercise, yet, in reality, it needs tremendous courage to practice it. On repentance, we are not excused from the wrong-doing; nor are we excluded from future ones.

Laws of the land won’t forgive one who regrets. The affected/ associated individuals may or may not forgive one who relents.But God is pure compassion; hence, as soon as we express remorse, it is forgiven. 

The Karmic residues will not disappear on repentance, but their intensity and timing will be more bearable.

Continence (Vrat): It is a voluntary foregoing of comforts as a retribution for sinful acts. It is not the physical suffering (of deprivation) that is important but the mental attitude (of retribution) that makes a difference in the net-result.

Pilgrimmages (Punyathirth): Visiting holy places, most of them in remote locations, helps a sufferer in many ways. 

The pilgrim undergoes many hardships – it is like substituting an unknown (future) calamity with a known (present) hardship. 

It also helps a sufferer in diverting the attention from an existing/ potential problem with positive feelings.

Undoing our past is outside our ambit; but, atoning for our commissions and omissions works wonders.

Once we are at peace with these forces, the intensity of sufferings becomes bearable.

This is the reason behind the chanting of Peace Invocation (Shanthi Mantra) (cf: Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ‘AUM Shanti, Shanthi, Shanthi’. Peace (Shanthi) uttered 3 times is for making peace with each of these three forces).

Is this Knowledge of suffering and Knowledge of happiness not sufficient enough – Why should I continue to experience them?

If someone makes two separate statements:

1. Truth alone triumphs (Satyam eva Jayate);

2. Sugar is Sweet

Almost all of us tend to believe in Statement 2. It is because we have experienced the truth behind Statement 2.

A statement becomes valid and meaningful to us, and also a way of life, only when we experience the truth behind it.

Until then, a statement or a declaration (even if it is from the highest authority – the Scriptures) remains mere Knowledge – i.e Indirect Knowledge (Paroksha Jnana).

When we realize the Truth embodied, enshrined, enjoined in this Knowledge through experience it becomes Direct Knowledge (Aparoksha Anubhuti).

Hence, it is turmoil and its triumph alone which completes our experience.

Thus,

· Suffering is an inevitable and inescapable aspect of life.

· It is true that in every suffering, God plays a Part (as the author of Law of Karma);

· But it is also true that in every sufferer, God plays the Partner.

5.2 Belief, Knowledge, Experience – how they aid/ail Truth-seeking?

The wise say that the path to Truth of God/ Knowledge of Self is too tough to tread and too rough to traverse. 

It is because the Truth is hidden partly by design (of God), but mostly by default (of individuals). 

The design of God is in the form of ignorant Jeeva, which consequently wanders in the wilderness of existence (Samsara).

The default of individuals is in the form of insentient mind, which consequently wanders in the wilderness of thoughts (Chanchal).

Normally, ignorance/ insentience do not let the individuals behold the Truth.

What influences our thought process?

Our thought process is greatly influenced by our: 

Belief, Knowledge and Experience.

Between them, they confuse and confront us every moment of our life. The confusion arises because there is only a thin/ blurred line separating one from the other. The confrontation arises because for progress in life, we need a fair amount of each, whereas an overdose of one could actually make us static or even regress.

Hence, if they are not regulated, they wouldn’t let us behold the Truth. Fortunately, they have a beginning and an end; hence, they can be inured/ influenced to get over the morass of existence (Samsara Chakra).

Belief: We acquire belief due to other’s influence or due to our perception/ conception. Even a non-believer is a believer; the difference is that the non-believer believes that the believer’s belief is not believable.

Both their belief systems are anathema to scientific as well as spiritual truth-seeking. Also, anything (knowledge/ experience) which disturbs or disputes a firmly held belief (for e.g. flat earth) is not easily accepted.

Knowledge: Knowledge is acquired through a systematic process. Mere learning is not knowledge. For example, if we know the word ‘sugar’, does it amount to knowledge of sugar? Because we can read the syllables in the word sugar does not make us an expert in the knowledge of sugar.

Knowledge is different from words/information. Words/ Information understood (i.e. their content as well as the context) is knowledge.

Experience: In the above-cited example, suppose we do acquire knowledge of sugar due to extensive reading or intensive researching, can we claim that we had experience of sugar? The answer is still an emphatic no because Experience is different from knowledge.

A father, for example, can acquire a truckload of knowledge on the nuances of motherhood; yet, it is only the mother who is privileged to undergo the delight and drama of being a mother!

Truth: From the truth perspective, believers as well as scholars are right only at the elementary or relative point of view but not in absolute sense. Truth alone is absolute.

Belief is untested knowledge, with or without the validity of truth. For example, many scientists ‘believe’ black hole exists, though the truth of its existence has not been confirmed.

Many scientists ‘believe’ that speed of light is the highest we can reach, though the non-existence of its opposite has not been confirmed; both are, therefore, speculative knowledge only.

Knowledge is untested experience, with or without the validity of truth. For example, Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity of 1915 remained a hypothesis, until a program of precision tests in 1959 concluded its truth.

Once experienced, knowledge becomes truth, until then it is only a belief. Knowledge is a tad lower than experience as it is sometimes based on speculation/ hear-say.

Experience is Belief/ Knowledge being tested, with or without the validity of truth. An experience (e.g. an apple falling down) may confirm the validity of truth (i.e. Gravity), but truth’s non-Knowledge (i.e. ignorance before Newton’s discovery) or non-experience (e.g. jet-flying, which defies gravity) may not imply its (i.e. gravity’s) invalidity.

The Principle of God best exemplifies these contrasting thought-processes – whereas majority has belief in God, most people have no knowledge or experience of God. Non-knowledge and non-experience of God hampers Truth-realization.

Due to this belief, we visit temples, where we believe we can have ‘dharshan’ of God. Many of us perform worship-rituals with the belief that God will be obliged and amazed with our endeavor (hence, we make it as grand and as elaborate as possible).

Some of us recite Mantras even without understanding their metre and meaning, with the belief that God will take note/ shower blessings in response.

Many people have knowledge of Scriptures, which dissects and dilates on the principle of God.

Few people may have had the experience of some aspects of God. But rarely do we find a person who is merged in Supreme consciousness. 

People stuck with an overdose of beliefs are gullible and are targeted by unscrupulous manipulators.

People stuck with an overdose of secular knowledge are vain (Vidya Mada) – they cannot move forward on spiritual knowledge or experience.

People stuck with an overdose of secular experience (especially pleasurable ones), never aspire for spiritual experience.

How Belief-Knowledge hampers Truth-seeking, while Experience hastens it:

· Belief is the easiest to acquire, but most difficult to let go!

· Experience is the most exacting to undergo – it is the worst task-master, but also the best lesson-teacher!!

· Knowledge is in-between. It is easy to possess/ correct when experience confirms it, but difficult to master/ modify, if belief contradicts it!!!

· Truth is independent of belief or knowledge, whereas personal experience is ranked only a notch below Truth.

Understanding the dynamics of Belief, Knowledge and Experience:

To understand the dividing lines between them, let us consider two persons crossing a river and coming across a rickety bridge.

Looking at the condition of the bridge, and due to compelling reasons to cross over, they develop a belief that the bridge is safe for passage. Based on the belief, one of them makes an attempt to cross over. After reaching the opposite side, the belief (that the bridge was safe) becomes knowledge and a truth for him.

For the second person, the experience of the first person reinforces his belief and becomes knowledge, but not yet a personal experience.

Yet, when he crosses the river, let us say, the bridge falls apart. He would then lament that what he believed was not true; also, his knowledge was incomplete as he couldn’t assess the condition of the bridge post the first person’s usage.

Thus,

· For acquiring belief, knowledge or experience is not necessary (as it can be based on hear-say or instinctive feeling).

· For acquiring knowledge, personal experience is not necessary (as it can be based on second-hand experience or intellectual reasoning).

· For acquiring truth, personal experience (or intuition) is necessary.

The truth in the above example was that the bridge was good enough for only one person to pass through, though both the persons had different, and diametrically opposite experiences:

For the first person, the truth would always be that the bridge was safe. (However, if he was a witness to the second person’s fall, he would correct his earlier belief / knowledge). 

For the second person, his personal experience reversed his belief and corrected his understanding. (However, it is also possible that he might fail to correct his knowledge if he was busy bemoaning his failure or begrudging other person’s feat).

Though experience can lead us to Truth, it cannot substitute it!

What aids Truth-seeking?

While commencing the journey, Belief indeed is necessary; else, we will stand all our life on the river-bank trying to acquire knowledge – that of rope, metallurgy, bridge-construction, structure-stability, wind-direction, water-flow, etc. to unravel truth. However, an overdose of such belief retards the reasoning-abilities.

While continuing the journey, Knowledge indeed is necessary; else, we will waste all our time and efforts in re-inventing wheel. However, an over-dose of such knowledge makes us only an arm-chair expert which cannot guarantee safe passage.

While concluding the journey, Experience indeed is necessary; else, we will miss the proof of the pudding by a broad margin. However, an overdose of pleasurable experience in secular pursuits will diminish our yearning for spiritual experience.

In sum, for a seeker, experience is the best bet/ greatest gateway for exploring Truth.

Thus,

·    Belief is not knowledge, nor is it truth (though sometimes       it may be, out of coincidence)!
   But it is essential in the initial stages of scientific/ spiritual    enquiry!

· For knowledge, personal experience is not mandatory!!
   Shared experience of others can be a good starting point!!   However, possession of even majority-accepted or master-    acknowledged knowledge need not be the truth!!

· Also, second-hand knowledge, even if it is from the highest    authority, is only an indicator of truth, but not the truth,        the reason why even thorough knowledge of the Vedas (the    ultimate spiritual authority) is only considered lower              knowledge (Apara Vidya)!!

·    The validity of Truth is independent of one’s belief or            knowledge!!!
   It is attainable by personal experience!!!   Knowledge tested/ experienced leads us to truth!!!

·  Truth is known only on experience, not otherwise!
    Truth alone prevails or is final (Satyameva Jayate)!!!    Truth Realization is the reward par excellence in our             secular/ spiritual quests.

1.2_Spirituality – An Introduction

Spirituality refers to the science & study, the precept & concept, the truth & nature of Spirit, the Soul. 

Of the Body-Mind-Jeeva instruments every individual is endowed with, body, a physical entity, is fairly easy to know. 

Mind, the astral entity, is a puzzle to pursue. 

Understanding of Jeeva, the causal entity, is not in the ambit of everybody’s capability. 

Soul is off-limits for everyone except enlightened-souls. 

Hence, most aspirants consider the study of Spirituality as exotic/ esoteric & conveniently keep it for the later/end part of their lives!

Actually there is no aura of mystery in understanding the science of Spirituality. 

Yes, it does demand a different orientation as our mind is ‘programmed’ to look at everything with a logical frame of mind 

(Our mind firmly believes in what it sees as existing; conversely it assumes that what it does not see as not existing. 

Our intellect refuses to accept what is beyond its grasp even if it were true! 

It even vehemently refutes the oft-proven fact that its abilities are limited by evolutionary & environmental factors!! 

Many were the protagonists who even went to gallows for proposing what did not appeal to the logic of the day though the truths propounded were later accepted as path-breaking!!!). 

Disengage conventional logic for a moment and the Truth shines by itself.

What is Spirituality?

Spirituality is awakening/ illumining our Spiritual essence. 
It is the seeking/ realizing of our True nature. 
It is comprehending the Unity of existence.

It is never a direct search for God (the truth of/ knowledge about God is incidental to the ‘search’ for Truth). 

In fact, it is never a seeking for anything other than ‘Self’. 

It is also not even a search in the conventional sense because we can only search what is ‘lost’; the ‘object’, i.e. our inner ‘Self’, was never ‘lost’.

Similar to material existence, mere knowledge of the Truth does not amount to Its experience. 

We need a path & process which we can trudge & tread to ‘experience’ the Truth – the process of Spiritual evolution!

Thus Spirituality can be defined/ summarized as that which helps ascertain:

• The validity of World, the reality of God and the relevance/role of ‘I’
• The true nature of ‘Self’
• The process of evolution which awakens/ illumines our spiritual essence.

Spirituality is concerned with the Truth (Self/ God), its apparent manifestation (as World) and its ambiguous perception (by ‘I’, the seeker).

·       Truth is One, One only & One without a second (Ekam eva adviteeyam Brahma).

·       Truth is One, but Its manifestation (by the Creator) is myriad & manifold (I am One; let me be many (Eko’ham, Bahu Syam))

·       Truth is One, but Its perception (by the created) is manifold & mystified (Truth is one; the wise call it by many names (Ekam Sat, Vipraa Bahuuda Vadanti)).

Spirituality is all inclusive – it accommodates a believer’s convictions as well as a disbeliever’s confusions. 

The Vedas even declare, “Who really knows? Who can presume to tell it? …Even the Gods came after its emergence …!”^NS 

Many individuals squabble about the possibility/impossibility of God.

But everyone including the non-believer has to acknowledge the fact that they exist (Sat). 

The very fact that we accept our existence as real means we are aware of our existence. Therefore, Consciousness (Chid) (= awareness) must be our real & true nature. 

This acceptance/awareness of our own existence is the starting point for spiritual pursuits. 

In the final moments of enquiry/ exploration what matters is not whether God exists or not; what is important is developing an understanding of the Unity of Existence. 

Scriptures declare that Spiritual seeking is difficult & demanding. (Cf. ‘Learned ones say that the path of spiritual life is difficult; it is sharp like a razor’s edge (Kshurasya dhara nisita duratyaya; durgam pathas tat kavayo vadanti) ^KU1.3.14). 

It is so because, Mind veils (Avarna) our true nature; and without mind, we can’t begin the enquiry! The so-called effort/care needed in walking the razor’s edge is only to overcome the propensities of a ‘programmed’ mind. Once ‘unconditioned’, mind becomes our ally in our spiritual pursuits.

In fact, the self-effulgent Self doesn’t require the insentient mind for realizing Its true nature. Wise men say, Self is realized when one is blessed by Self only (Ishwar Anugrahad eva pumsam advaita vasana) ^KU.

This is the acme of experience, enlightenment & ecstasy – the realization of the Unity of Existence & our True Nature (SatChidAnanda swarupa).

The sum, summary & substance of our enquiry is to develop an understanding of our spiritual/ True nature. The query starts with the realm of World, continues with the sphere of ‘I’, and ends in/with the domain of God.

The Scriptures verily proclaim,

“He who knows God, is verily God (Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavati)”^KU.

"One who knows God, attains the Supreme (Brahmavid Aapnoti Param)”^TU.

“By knowing It alone, Individual Soul (Jeeva) transcends death; there is no other way for this (Tameva viditvati mrityumeti; nanya pantha vidyate ayanaya)”^{SU 3.8}.

Thus,

•      Being God is our natural state!

•      Being human is unnatural!!

•      Not knowing this Truth, we suffer as if ordained by fate!!!


The Essence of Spirituality:

Basic Truths

Everything is verily God only (Sarvam Khalavidam Brahman).

God alone is Real and Truth (Brahman Satyam); World is unreal (Jagat Mithya); Individual Soul is none other than the Universal Soul (Jeevo Brahmaiva Na parah)

Creation is an outcome of Maya weaving its web over Brahman.

Creation manifests as the tangible Nature aspect & intangible Life aspect.

The Nature Principle

The Nature principle (Prakriti) is constituted of primal qualities, Tamas, Rajas & Sattwa.

Their eternal interactions & their infinite combinations produce the universe of endless & countless names & forms.

The Life Principle (Soul)

•  The Life principle (Purusha) animates entire creation.

• Even after its association with Prakriti, the Soul never becomes a participant; It only remains a mute Witness (Sakshi) in its Absolute Essence & an experiencer in its Relative Aspect.

Jeeva

• Though the Life principle is universal, yet, when it associates with Nature, it appears to be individualized (Jeeva).

• Primal Ignorance (Ajnana) is the cause & core of (individualized) self. It is beginningess (Anadi).

Bondage

• The identification of Self with Body and Physical World causes its bondage.

•  Bondage is aggravated by Karmic acts & alleviated by Dharmic acts.

The Law of Karma

•  The ‘bound’ Soul gets subjected to Law of Karma.

• Immortality is reached when the Soul is free of Karmic Residues.

•  Law of Spirituality is not influenced by Law of Karma; on the other hand, it influences its operation through Birth, conducive environs and compassionate preceptors.

The Law of Dharma

•  Dharma is what holds life & existence.

•  A Jeeva following the tenets of Dharma finds liberation at the fitness of time.

Body & Mind

• The Mind is the cause for Bondage & Liberation of Soul (Mann eve Manushyana Karan Bandh Mokshoah).

•  'Killing' Mind by a conscious process libertes it.

Liberation

• Ignorance can be overcome only by the Knowledge of enlightenment – no other means and path liberates the Jiva fully.

• Liberation is not like reaching another place or plane of consciousness – there is no Space, Time & Causation factors involved.

•  Liberation is simply realizing the Oneness with God – He, who knows God, is God himself (Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavati). It is not ‘Becoming’ but ‘Being’ – It is only a Self Revelation/ Realization.

The Paths

•  The ultimate goal of all our lives and that of all Yogas is that God is there, I am here and we must be united to become One; The paths may differ but the goal is always the same.

•  God is seated in the seat of Consciousness in every human being (Eashwarat sarva Bhootanam hriddesherjuna tisthati); To realize God, we have to just turn within.

•  The wise, therefore, do not search for God anywhere else in the material world.

•  Initially the Jiva has to be told that “You are verily That Supreme Brahman” (Tat Tvam Asi); The Jiva on removal of Ignorance realizes that It verily is the God (Aham Brahman Asmi).

•  Liberation takes place either gradually (Krama Mukthi) or instantly (Sadyo Mukthi). It can take place either when we live in this body (Jeevan Mukthi) or after shedding it (Videha Mukthi).

• Spiritual seeking consists of Rational aspect – the Intellectual understanding (Jnana Yoga); Emotional aspect – the feeling of kinship with God (Bhakti Yoga); Volitional aspect – the desire to perform action leading to God-realization and the attitude with which they are done (Karma Yoga).

Individual Experience

•   Realization is an Individual experience.

• God cannot be understood from reading books alone (Shruti); 
    It cannot be realized by Experiment and Logic (Yukti); nor  can it be learnt from the teaching of a teacher alone  (Vidya). It can be attained only by personal experience      (Anubhava).

Practice (Abhyasa)

• Spirituality lays great stress on Individual efforts   (Prayatna).

• Even if Gods themselves come and give sermon   (Upadesha), we still may not develop Wisdom.

•  We can attain endless joy only if we have the yearning  & if we put in corresponding Practice (Abhyasa  adramate yata dukkaantam cha nigachchati).

God’s Blessings (Anugraha)

•    Self-realization is not attained as we reach a city, etc.         Since there is no reaching or attaining It, there is no ‘path’   leading to It. By Intellect or mere Intelligence, this goal       can not be reached (Upa Naisha tarkena matir apaneya).

•   Enlightenment/ Experience comes to those and only when     the Individual Self decides to reveal Itself (Ishwara             anugrahaadeva pumsum advaita vaasanaa).

•   Grace (Anugraha) of God is bestowed on us after we have   reached the limits of self-effort.

•   God’s blessing (Anugraha) automatically follows Practice  (Abhyasa). The experience (Anubhava) automatically          follows Blessings (Anugraha).