|
|
Spirituality
In Search of God
by Pradeep Joshi
All of us wonder and think many times whether God exists and whether has
any one seen Him!. No single person has explicitly confessed, to my
knowledge that he has seen the God and he has a specific appearance,
shape and figure etc. In many photographs, paintings and stone or wood
carvings, God in his myriad forms has been always depicted as beautiful,
each like Rama or Krishna or Sita or Radha their respective spouses
having a particular attractive facial feature or appearance. Every one
believes that they are Gods or Goddesses as our minds have been so
programmed to believe so, from our childhood. We pray and worship them
as it gives us happiness and leads us to think and act in a positive
manner.
Bhagwad-Gita introduces Krishna as the Supreme Consciousness (Paramatma)
and one has to understand and believe him as the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. Arjuna is regarded as the pure Consciousness ( Pure Soul ) as a
human being. According to Upnishads and Gita, God is “Nirvikar” meaning
that he has no shape and is invisible. In order to convince a normal
person, devotees created some kind of images and paintings to depict him
as the handsome and strong. Since this is an accepted fact, one need not
say that God as such does not exist. He exists in the form of Super
Consciousness and monitors the existence of Consciousness (Atma) in the
body of every living being. The Supreme Being is “Sat Chit Anand“
and He is supposed to be the Controller over the Prakritis, living being
etc., as per Gita.
I assumed for long and came to a conclusion that there is some one like
Super Power who rules the destiny of an individual as also the entire
Universe and he guides our actions. The assumption for existence of God
is often combined with awe and amazement as to who would have created
this entire Universe or the beautiful World with mountains, huge sea
(occupying 3/4th of the World) oceans and rivers along with Sun and
Moon, innumerable stars and planets all of which have occupied a
specific field and have been assigned with a definite function or role
to play. And to our surprise, all these objects are held in balance with
a gravitational force which itself is a wonderful phenomenon. All
planets, Moon and the Earth including the stars revolve around the Sun
at a specified speed and cause day and night in their revolution around
an axis or in orbit.
The “human body” itself is an amazing creation with its varied clockwise
functions (we say some times a biological clock) with its own cycles of
ups and downs throughout the day and night. For example, the whole
digestion process that takes place in the human laboratory is a
scientific phenomenon due to which food in one’s body gets converted
into so many elements like blood, urine, stool or waste, and metabolizes
it producing a variety of natural vitamins to nourish the body and brain
on which man’s longevity depends. The food so converted gives a
continuous source of strength and energy to the human body to enable the
man or a living being to function properly. No one monitors this
scientific phenomenon that works in the human body, on its own. Only if
some thing goes wrong with the stomach or body due to a particular food
intake or otherwise, one needs to take the help of a doctor to correct
the imbalance.
Who created such a miraculous body and also put life in to it? Who
placed the breath in this body which governs the very essence of life
through its force? Sooner the breath disappears, life is dead and only a
bare body and skeleton remain. Some have wrongly termed this breath as
“Atman” which is not true. Breath is only a tool to keep the body alive
and it is temporary and as soon as death occurs, breath disappears or it
is the reverse. This theory of life does not only apply to human being
but also extends to other living entities like innumerable insects,
animals -from ant to elephant -besides a large number of species in
plants and trees. Who is the originator of the seed that creates life
into all these living entities? Who at all created these living
entities? Since we did not find any logical answer for existence of
these living beings, we found solace that there must be some “Super
Power” playing the role of a Creator! If we assume there is a Creator,
the question arises who created that Creator. These thoughts were no
doubt, mind boggling to me over a period of years.
Recently however, I came across a theosophical group which came up with
some answers which deserve to be considered dispassionately as there is
a semblance of some logic. Let me describe what I understand from their
explanation. According to this group, there is no one like God in
existence! Since no one has seen a God or a Goddess in any specific form
or appearance, it would not be right for us to make an assumption of
their existence. Even the scientists and the younger folks would always
wish to have some kind of proof to believe the existence of God or
Goddess. What one sees and believes is, that some one in the past
created a beautiful image of a particular God and Goddess and we
believed it in good faith and worship them which helps us to lead a
devotional path and gain inner peace.
This theosophical group assumes that from the very beginning of this
World, there was already available a scientific infrastructure, in the
form of a cosmos as well as human body which were totally equipped or
endowed with certain characteristics and functions. For example, the Sun
and Moon or the planets are the permanent features and move on their own
fixed axis or orbit and have a certain impact on the living beings or
the plants or animals, due to their movement. The earthquakes and
volcanoes, rains and sunshine take place as per the system, which is
already inbuilt in them. One can not come to the conclusion that these
were created by God, as some one like God who is the embodiment of doing
good things in our perspective, would not be causing any destruction due
to the occurrence of earthquakes, volcanoes or Tsunamis! The group
therefore concludes that God was neither responsible for creation of
this scientific infrastructure nor is He interested in destroying them.
If one affirms that God is responsible for all these occurrences, then
who created the God or the Super Power himself?
In Bhagwad-Gita, Nature is explained as “Prakriti” and the living entity
is explained as the superior Prakriti. Prakriti is always subordinate
controlled by the Supreme Lord or Consciousness. The living entities are
considered as parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord and this is clearly
mentioned in the Seventh Chapter of Bhagwad-Gita. Material nature itself
is constituted by three qualities; the mode of goodness, the mode of
passion and the mode of ignorance. Above these modes, there is eternal
time and by a combination of these modes of nature and under the control
and purview of eternal time there are activities which are called
“Karma”. In every field of life, we enjoy the results of our work or we
suffer the results. This is called “Karma”.
Ishwara ( the Supreme Lord), Jiva (the living being) prakriti (nature),
kala (eternal time) and karma (activity) are all explained in
Bhagwad-Gita. Out of these five, the Lord, the living entities, material
nature and time are eternal. Karma only is not eternal. The
manifestation of world is accepted as real, but temporary. It is likened
in to a cloud which moves across the sky or the coming of the rainy
season which nourishes grains. As soon as the rainy season is over and
the clouds go away, all the crops which were nourished by the rain dry
up. So, this material manifestation takes place at a certain interval,
stays for a while and then disappears. This cycle of material nature is
eternal. This material nature is the separated energy of the Supreme
Lord or Consciousness as per the Gita. ( Source; “Bhagwad-Gita as it
is” by Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada).
An important view accepted by different religions is about the life in a
human body or any living animal or plant is that, there is a “Soul”
besides the body and this Soul is incorporated in every living being.
That Soul is invisible, shapeless, indestructible either through fire or
any thing, and it is a permanent phenomenon that pervades not only
within one’s body but throughout the Universe. Therefore, the “Body dies
but not the Soul!”. This leads us to re-incarnation theory which has
been accepted in several religions including Hinduism. This is a
philosophical expression in Upanishads or Bhagwad-Gita, according to
which Body is only an outer cover for the soul similarly as a clothing
to a physical body. Each person therefore is in fact, a pure Soul ! If
the body dies, soul always remains permanent and may in its rebirth,
take the shape of a human being or an animal, insect or even a plant
depending on the result of “Karma” i.e., actions he/she has performed in
the previous life. “Karma Phal” is a cause and effect. Good actions
result in to good “Karma Phal” that is, fruits of good deeds and on the
contrary, bad deeds only lead to unhappiness.
Who are then Lord Rama and Lord Krishna whom we all worship and pray for
our peace of mind and bliss? They were themselves “ Pure Supreme Souls”
and they took birth in the form of human beings and underwent sufferings
and demonstrated how bad deeds or actions can result in grave situations
and how good deeds can result in a happy or comfortable state of living.
Although every living entity has a pure soul but he or she does not
realize this fact. A person is rather unable to realize as he is totally
engrossed in materialistic pursuits in his life and he never tries to
find out who one is. “Whom am I ?’’ is a moot question asked by the
great Philosophers like Ramana Maharshi, Vivekananda, Ramakrishna
Paramhansa or even Adi Sankara. One needs to realize that he or she is
primarily the “Pure Soul” and his body is only an agent clothing this
soul, to play or fulfill a defined role in life. When once he realizes
this cardinal principle, he is proceeding towards attaining
self-realization. Self realization is defined as one getting into a
devotional path i.e., (Bhakti Marg ) and he is in the process of getting
into Jnana Yoga (Intellectual Yoga) which when perfected releases him
from the bondage of taking rebirth in the World. He is then considered
fit to get release from this mundane world and merge into the Super
Consciousness in a perfect state of bliss without reverting back to the
earth in the form of a human being, animal, insect or a plant. There is
also a belief that depending on the degree or level of good deeds one
has performed in one’s life span, one will take the shape of a human
being, animal, insect, bird or a plant.
In Bhagwad Gita, Lord Krishna sermonizes Arjuna to get ready for getting
into the battle of Kurukshetra for killing the Kouravas or his near
relations, step brothers, his teachers, etc. because they are destined
to die in his hands because of their deeds “ karma” in their past lives.
Here, the enemies are destined to die in the hands of Arjuna on one
hand, and Arjuna himself is required under his “karmas” to perform the
unpleasant duty of killing his own kinsmen. There is a strange
contradiction involved in these actions as it is difficult to
distinguish what is a good deed and what is a bad deed. According to
Lord Krishna, Arjuna has been enjoined to take the role of a killer as
the bad deeds of Kouravas have only one recourse i.e., to get killed
from a near relative like Arjuna. Krishna advises him that in order to
extricate the subjects from the tyrannies of Kouravas, they need to be
annihilated. Arjuna therefore, is expected to perform this duty as
enjoined on him by the destiny. The question that arises is how his
action is not considered as something evil?
Possibly, the answer is that Arjuna has to take rebirth in the world
several times till such time he prepares himself fully towards Bhakti
Yoga and Karma Yoga to finally merge with the Super Conscientious Soul
(of Paramatma).
Krishna while explaining the rationale behind killing the enemies and
for Arjuna not feeling sorry for the killing is that no killing really
takes place as the Pure Soul is permanent and it is only the body that
is destroyed. The spirit of soul still exists and takes another form of
a living being. According to the same theory, one should not lament on
one’s death as his Pure Soul always exists and remains all pervasive.
One has to accept death as it is a natural phenomenon after birth or
rebirth and it is inevitable.
Some one gives the analogy of a butcher who when born did not know what
his role would be but is destined to take up the role of a butcher
required to kill or sacrifice animals. Similarly, a hangman is required
under the law to hang people sentenced to death by the judiciary as per
the administration of criminal justice. Although he kills the people, he
is performing a duty and is not committing a wrong action. Whether one
likes or not, the duty assigned has to be performed sincerely. Again,
the duty assigned to him depends on his own “Karma” in his past life.
Another interesting story narrated by a theosophical group is about a
thief or a robber who wrongfully deprives an innocent person with a
valuable thing. Here, the thief is not considered as doing wrong thing.
But, the man who has lost his valuables needs to console himself that
the article that was robbed did not really belong to him. He would have
owned or possessed it in his past or present life, through a wrong doing
like cheating. This does not mean that the thief should not get
punishment for his theft but the loser should not repent for the loss as
the object really did not belong to him nor was it the result of his
honest deed in the past or present life. The causes and effects of one’s
actions are none other than “ Karma” and the “Phal” i.e., the fruits or
results of past deeds.
Similarly, a postman carries letters for the clients and he is not
concerned with the contents of the letters he delivers. He may be
carrying either good news or bad news of a death or loss for the client.
His job just enjoins him to do his duties as assigned to him. In the
same way, Arjuna is not concerned with the grief that results to him due
to his killing his kinsmen in the battle. Because it is a duty he has
been enjoined to perform. As per Lord Krishna, Arjuna has to know that
it is the role or duty he is required to play in his life, fighting the
battle, as his pure soul remains unaffected due to the action performed.
Some of these thoughts I received from different quarters had their own
implications but without sitting on a judgment over them, I felt like
incorporating them as new strands of thoughts into my repertoire. I
continue to treat myself as a student learning the subtle implications
of Hindu Philosophy and I may have still to go a long way to really
understand them fully!.
Also, a question is prominently asked in Vedic literature starting from
Upanishads- 5000 years ago. Who Am I? I am nothing but “Atman” which
also means “ Pure Atman” i.e., Pure Consciousness of a subtle body; but
which is an integral part of “ Super Consciousness” i.e., “Brahman”. In
other words, God exists within us and our individual souls in the entire
world constitute the “total consciousness” of Brahman. Shankaracharya ,
a well known intellectual Saint of 8th Century, draws a beautiful
analogy between the “Atman” of subtle body and “Brahman” to an ocean.
Ocean incorporates all waves in it and all waves constitute the ocean.
Both are inseparable but both provide a conclusion to “Absolute Truth”
about “Individual Atman” and
“Brahman” i.e., “Super Consciousness”.
~*~
I found an
appropriate verse in Bhagwad-Gita while reading this great book of
knowledge, recently. Lord Krishna says as under:
" Neither
the sense of acting; nor actions, nor connections of cause and
effect comes from the Lord of this world. These three arise from
Nature". – Bhagawad-Gita 5:14
Here, the God
himself says that he is not the creator or doer nor is he the enjoyer,
and he has no connections with the cause and effect- what we call as
"Karma Phal". At the same time, He is also not a destroyer of things.
All creations in the Universe are due to the scientific circumstantial
evidence or "Nature" as termed by Lord Krishna, but it was that way, it
existed right from the beginning.
God does not
also create any worries or problems for any one nor he finds a remedy
for them. Ultimately it boils down to the fact there is some thing like
"Karma Phal" for which man himself is responsible for his good and bad
actions. Good actions lead to his enjoyable state and bad ones lead to
suffering. He has to himself correct the course of his life.
God himself is a Super or Supreme Consciousness whereas man can only
claim to achieve real consciousness and merge with Him, when only he
proves through his cycle of births and deaths that he has throughout his
existence in every life done only very good things. For this purpose, he
has to go through Karmayoga, Bhakti Yoga and JnanaYoga finally and the
last stage only makes him fit to merge into the Supreme Consciousness.
To demonstrate this process, God as a Supreme Consciousness transformed
himself into an ordinary person ( namely Rama and Krishna )and went
through all struggles in life and perhaps, and I cannot comprehend
whether he also had to go through Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana
Yoga- to reach his status as Supreme Consciousness. This seems to be
more implicit than is explicit from what we discern from reading the
Vedantas.
It is also interesting for us here to compare "Pure Atma" i.e.,
"Shudhatma" with "Paramatma" to understand what is pure consciousness
(as a man's maximum achievement ) and Supreme Consciousness as a supreme
God Head.
We always need to research more and more on the Vedantic literature to
comprehend what Gita preaches, or what Mahabharata describes, in the own
words of Lord Krishna. The scope for learning is endless and unlimited.
October 8, 2006
About the Author
The author is engaged in community
service over the last 20 years. He reads spiritual literature
extensively and is always keen to know more on the subject. He is merely
a student in the study of spirituality and this write up represents his
views on this difficult topic. He is open to corrections or any comment
that add to his thoughts and knowledge! He can be contacted on his
e-mail;pradjoshi@aol.com
Top
|
Spirituality
The Week of October 8, 2006
Goodbye America? N-deal Setback may be Tip of
Iceberg! by Rajinder Puri
India's Leadership Crisis : Impact on Defense and
Politics by Gaurang Bhatt, MD
Presidential System of Government for India
by Dr. Subhash Kapila
Always Yes to Planned Murder by Terrorists by
V. Sundaram
Parliament Attack: The Clemency Chaos by
Nagesh Padmanaban
Indo-Pak relations: It’s time to end the relations
by Dr. Deepak Pawar
Dengue Et Al: A Billion Terrorists Strike
by Col. Rahul K. Bhonsle
SPAC: Special Purpose Acquisition Company by
Deepak Dahiya
Railway Safety is No Accident! by Arya Bhushan
Empires and Dust: Travels in Modern India -
III by Ashish Nangia
Distressed Habitation by VK Joshi
Dal: A Lake or a Polluted Pond? by Naira
Yaqoob
A Matter of Faith by Naira Yaqoob
In Search of God by Pradeep Joshi
Mahisasura-Mardini: The Sacred Narrative of Durga
Ma by Aparna Chatterjee
Is Hero Worship still there? by TA Ramesh
Pandit Shyamaji Krishna Verma: Salutations to a
Great Revolutionary by V. Sundaram
Secret India at war celebrates its re-invented
past by Marc-Olivier Parlatano
Creation of a second capital of Karnataka in Belgaum
by Niranjan Babu Bangalore
The Future History of Taiwan by William R.
Stimson
Sex Workers Take Charge by Usha Revelli
New Day Dawns for Child Servants by Mini Sharma
From Tashkent to the World by Albina Belevich
A Circle of Peace by Stephanie Hiller
Text Books for Change by Deepti Priya Mehrotra
Happy Dusshera! by Glory Sasikala Franklin
Where Myths & Superstitions Heal by Anil Gulati
Of Birds, Bees, Beasts and Other Animals by
Julia Dutta
When I was Pin-ned down! by Prakash Pathre
The Witty Side by Melvin Durai
|
|
