THE ART OF SPIRITUAL LIVING : SPIRITUALITY IS NOT AN INQUIRY OR INVESTIGATION ABOUT EXISTENCE OF GOD. THE PURPOSE OF SPIRITUALITY IS NOT THAT OF BECOMING FAMOUS BY GETTING ELEVATED TO SAINTHOOD.
From the beginning of human history, the ideas about Spirituality included a desire to find Peace, Harmony, and Tranquility in all of man’s internal and external relationships, while man exists in a physical environment as a member of a social community or society. Both religious thinkers and philosophers have contemplated that Spirituality involves a potency associated with a Principle called Soul or Spirit. In Indian tradition, the term “ATMA” or “ATMAN” refers to Self, Body, Mind, and Soul depending upon different circumstances. In the YOGA System of India, the YOGA practice uses the term ATMA to describe Mind. The purpose of Yoga is to control the Mind and to draw it away from its attachment to sense objects. The term ‘Sensual’ refers to the body and the senses as distinguished from the Intellect, Spirit, or Soul. Sensual pertains to or it is about preoccupation with bodily or sexual pleasures. The term ‘Sensuous’ refers to a variety of things affecting, appealing to, or perceived by the senses. It implies easy susceptibility through the senses, enjoying the pleasures of sensation, and a strong appeal of that which is pleasing to the eye, ear, touch, etc., Since experience of sensual enjoyment involves the Mind, in Indian tradition, Mind is the Chief Sense Organ or ‘INDRIYA’. The term austerity describes a variety of spiritual practices. Austerity in relation to the Mind is a process that includes attributes such as Simplicity, Solemnity, Purity, and Control. Austerity aims to find Satisfaction through the use of Self-Discipline and Self-Restraint. A variety of spiritual practices like austerity, repentance, penance, expiation, and purgation involve accepting Satisfaction, a mental state that relieves the burden to take action to gratify the desires that seem to hold the Mind in a captive condition. In other words, the goal of Spirituality demands finding Contentment, Satiation, and Satisfaction in the living experience of man.
THE SIX INTERNAL ENEMIES OF MAN :
THE ART OF SPIRITUAL LIVING : INDIAN TRADITION DESCRIBES THE SIX INTERNAL ENEMIES OF MAN AS KAMA(LUST), KRODHA(ANGER), LOBHA(MISERLINESS), MADA(ARROGANCE), MATSARYA(JEALOUSY), AND MOHA(IGNORANCE + ILLUSION) OR INFATUATION . THESE BEHAVIORAL TRAITS TOGETHER CONSTITUTE THE PROBLEM CALLED DESIRE. THE WILD HORSE REPRESENTS THE SENSUOUS NATURE OF SENSES THAT EXERT POWERFUL INFLUENCE ON MIND AND INTELLECT DRIVING MAN ALONG THE PATH TO FIND GRATIFICATION OF DESIRE.
In Indian tradition, the six internal enemies of man constitute a group called ‘ARI VARGA’ and these are 1. KAMA or Lust, 2. KRODHA or Anger, 3. LOBHA or Miserliness, 4. MADA or Arrogance(Self-Pride), 5. MATSARYA or Jealousy, and 6. MOHA or Ignorance + Illusion known as Infatuation.These behavioral traits drive man onto a path of Self-Destruction. These six kinds of behavior are aspects of Desire. The Art of Spiritual Living deals with this problem called ‘DESIRE’ that takes charge of Mind to drive man to take actions that leave him restless, agitated, confused, irritable, resentful, and frustrated if the overpowering Desire is not gratified.
THE ART OF SPIRITUAL LIVING : IT IS THE ART OF MASTERY OF MIND . THE HORSE IS BRIDLED TO CONTROL IT AND TO GUIDE IT ON A PATH USEFUL TO ITS RIDER . THE UNBRIDLED OR UNCONTROLLED HORSE TRAVERSES ON THE PATH THAT SYMBOLIZES THE PROBLEM CALLED ‘DESIRE’. DESIRE IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND ACTIONS THAT ARE OBSERVED AS LUST, ANGER, MISERLINESS, GREED, JEALOUSY, AND ARROGANCE . TAMING THIS HORSE IS THE SUBJECT OF OUR STUDY CALLED SPIRITUALITY.
Behavioral Science includes any of several studies such as Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, etc., that examine human activities, conduct, aptitude, manners, and responses that are observable. In Biology, Behavior explains an organism’s responses to stimulation or environment and the observed Behavior is often described as Biotic Interactions which could be Interspecific(interactions between different groups or species) or Intraspecific( within the same group or species, or within the same organism which could be a complex living system). The term Behavioral Therapy and Behavior Modification involve the use of techniques that seek to modify Human Behavior through application of the principles of conditioning in which rewards and reinforcements or punishments establish desired habits or patterns of Behavior. In Indian tradition, the analogy of a Chariot(“RATHA KALPANA” or the Metaphor of Chariot) helps to discuss the relationships between human body, organs of sense perception(Senses), Mind, Intellect which together constitute ‘The Lower-Self’ and Soul that constitutes ‘The Knowing-Self’ or ‘The Higher-Self’.
THE ART OF SPIRITUAL LIVING : IN THE DIVINE SONG, THE BHAGAVAD GITA, PANDAVA PRINCE ARJUNA INFORMS LORD KRISHNA THAT CONTROLLING MIND IS AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TASK. REFERENCE GITA CHAPTER VI, VERSE#34.
Pandava Prince Arjuna in The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter VI, Verse#34 stated the utmost difficult problem called controlling Mind :
“Chanchalam hi manah Krishna
pramathi balavad drdham
tasyaham nigraham manye
Vayor iva su-dushkaram,”
For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate, and very strong, and to subdue it is more difficult than controlling the wind. Mind is unsteady and unbridled for it gets easily distracted by the strong appeal of things which are pleasing to the senses. Mind when left alone to act by itself, will not be able to cope with the powerful influence called Desire.
THE ART OF SPIRITUAL LIVING : INDIAN TRADITION USES THE ANALOGY OF CHARIOT TO EXPLAIN THE HIERARCHICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INERT MATTER , BODY, SENSES, MIND, AND INTELLECT. THE HORSES REPRESENT SENSES THAT CONSTANTLY PURSUE TO TAKE THE PATH OF SENSUOUS GRATIFICATION. THE CHARIOTEER MUST USE REINS TO RESTRAIN , TO GUIDE , AND CHECKING THE SPEED AND THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE HORSES.
The word DESIRE or craving involves strong, persistent, and passionate feelings to covet, wish, or long for something and it specifically suggests a longing for something lacking or needed. Craving suggests a desire to gratify a physical appetite, an urgent need that stresses intensity or ardor. The term Covet apart from eagerness, earnestness, and wanting ardently, it involves wanting something that another person rightfully possesses. The term greed and avarice describe excessive desire for having especially wealth, a desire for more than one needs or deserves. Greedy behavior involves wanting or taking all that one can get with no thought of others’ needs. Being greedy implies an insatiable desire to possess or acquire something to an amount inordinately beyond what really needs or deserves. A miser is a greedy person, who is stingy and hoards money for its own sake, even at the expense of personal comfort. Miserliness is often makes the person wretched and unhappy as there is no experience of satisfaction even though the desire is gratified. The greedy behavior that involves the habit or act of eating or consuming too much food and drink is gluttonous or gluttony. A voracious person is greedy to devour or gorge large quantities of food. A ravenous person is wildly hungry, is very eager for gratification. Ravenous may also describe insatiable pursuit for praise or social recognition. Such behaviors make the person rapacious; a person who takes things by force, by plundering, robbing or exploiting others. It leads to establishment of a pattern of behavior called predatory in which the person is waiting to seize the opportunity to take by force and is akin to an act of preying. The term lust describes excessive sexual desire especially the zeal or enthusiasm for unrestrained sexual gratification without idealized or spiritualized feelings like love, empathy, friendship, affection, compassion, respect, and commitment to defend the well-being of the person involved in the sexual interaction. The term Carnal describes preoccupation with bodily or sexual pleasures, sensual preoccupation with gratifying the bodily senses that generally involves grossness or lewdness. The behaviors characterized by greed, lust, and gluttony are acquisitive in nature as they stress exertion of effort in acquiring material possessions to an excessive amount or using people like material objects. The term grasping suggests an unscrupulous eagerness for gain that manifests itself in a seizing upon every opportunity to get what one desires. The problem of Desire is often accompanied by emotional feelings of anger, the feelings of resentful or revengeful displeasure that motivates the person to fight back at the supposed cause of the feelings. While anger is expressed in bodily language, facial expressions, words, and acts, the term rage describes a sudden, violent outburst of anger in which self-control is lost. Greed when combined with feelings of anger is often transformed into jealousy, envy, animosity in which the person is resentfully suspicious of a rival or a rival’s influence. It arouses feeling of strong dislike, hatred, ill will and hostility. The degree of a person’s susceptibility to Desire gets shaped by arrogance, or feelings of self-importance which manifests as overbearing or unwarranted self-pride. Along with arrogance comes a behavior in which the arrogant person claims or seizes things for which he has no natural right. In Indian tradition, the problem of DESIRE is manifestation of an underlying phenomenon called “MOH” or “MOHA.” Intense desires are primarily driven by ignorance, problems of sense perception, and operation of a force or influence called ‘ILLUSION’. Moha is operation of a false idea, a false conception, belief, or opinion which is not in accord with facts. Moha or Infatuation causes man’s alienation or estrangement from his true or real nature. The problem of Moha leads to obsession in which ideas, desires, emotions, etc., rule or take possession of a person and the resulting persistent desire cannot be gotten rid of by the use of reasoning or discernment.
THE ART OF SPIRITUAL LIVING : THE DIVINE SONG, THE BHAGAVAD GITA, CHAPTER III, KARMA YOGA , VERSE#5 STATES THAT ALL MEN ARE FORCED TO ACT HELPLESSLY ACCORDING TO THE IMPULSES BORN OF THE MODES OF MATERIAL NATURE OR PRAKRIT. ALL HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND ACTIONS HAVE THEIR ORIGINS OFTEN TRACED TO EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENTAL STIMULI .
In The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter III, KARMA YOGA, verse #5 Lord Krishna instructs that men act helplessly according to the impulses born of the Modes of Material Nature or PRAKRIT; therefore, nobody can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment. The term ‘DRIVE’ describes any of the basic biological impulses or urges such as self-preservation, hunger, sex, etc., The term ‘Motivation’ explains the motive, the forces influencing people so as to control the making of their decisions that further provides incentive and causes a person to do something or act in a certain way. The term ‘Instinct’ describes an inborn tendency to behave in a way characteristic of a species. The behavior contributed by instincts is natural, unlearned, and is often involves a predictable response to an external, environmental stimulus. Impulsive behavior involves a sudden inclination to act, usually without premeditation. For impulsive behavior, the driving force, push, thrust, impetus and incitement to action arises from a state of mind or some external environmental stimulus. Psychologists find relationship between behavior and external environmental stimuli, Psychoanalysts define Instinct as a primal, psychic force or drive such as Fear, Love, and Anger. In Freudian Psychoanalysis, instincts are of two kinds, 1. The Life Instinct(EROS), and 2. The Death Instinct(Thanatos). Some instincts may help in a secondary or subordinate way just like an accomplice who aids or abets commission of an unlawful act .
THE ART OF SPIRITUAL LIVING : THE MASTERY OF MIND REQUIRES SOME BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL FUNCTIONS AND THE CONVERSION OF MENTAL DESIRES INTO ACTION AND BEHAVIOR . THE BLUE-COLORED AREA CALLED RETICULAR FORMATION REPRESENTS THE KNOWING-SELF OR THE HIGHER-SELF . THE CORTICAL AREAS OF THE BRAIN BELONG TO SELF OR THE LOWER-SELF .
The Art of Spiritual Living involves the Mastery of Mind to review, to guide, to regulate and to refrain man’s actions and responses to his Enemy called Desire which can overwhelm man’s ability to preserve and support his mortal existence. The coping mechanisms involved in Desire and its Gratification determine the degree of Satiation, Contentment, and Satisfaction man may obtain at any given instant of his life. Contentment and Satisfaction are the building blocks to give the living experience called Peace, Harmony, and Tranquility. I would further examine the practice called Self-Discipline, the chief ingredient of Spiritual Living in my next article.
When I write about Man as a Spiritual Being, the concern is not about glorifying people as saints. The issue is about man’s true or real nature. My theory of Spirituality is about “The Art of Knowing” that can provide tools to all people to know themselves in an objective manner. This is a simple challenge that can be accomplished without forcing people to attend Church or any other place of worship. The Art of Knowing does not involve what most people tend to recognize as spiritual practices such as Prayer, Meditation, Yoga, or Mysticism. The Art of Knowing simply involves training people to know what they know about others or about themselves. It must be noted that Life is essentially a state, a condition, or an act of knowing.
WHOLE INTUITION VS WHOLE MYSTICISM :
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : HENRI BERGSON(1859 – 1941), FRENCH PHILOSOPHER, WAS AWARDED THE 1927 NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE . HE DESCRIBED INTUITION AS THE HIGHEST FORM OF KNOWING.
Henri Bergson, French philosopher, Professor at the College de France, was awarded the 1927 Nobel Prize in Literature. His famous works include Time and Free Will(1889) and The Creative Mind(1934). Bergson’s dualistic philosophy holds that the world contains two opposing tendencies, the life force and the resistance of matter against that life force. The individual knows matter through intellect but through intuition perceives the life force and the reality of time, which is not a unit of measurement but duration in terms of life experience. Bergson considered intuition to be the highest state of human knowing and held that mysticism is the perfection of intuition. Bergson emphasized the value of intuition in scientific thinking and argued that reality is beyond rational understanding. He formulated a Theory of Knowledge in which intuition plays a central role. He contended that the expansive and creative thrust of Life explained by Darwinian mechanism. Bergson claimed that ‘Evolution’ is creative and is not based upon mechanistic principles. For similar reasons, I shared my arguments to oppose Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. I formulated my theory of ‘The Law of Creation and Individuality’ for all known living things primarily exist as Individuals with Individuality and they have no choice other than that of existing as Individuals. In this article, I would like to recognize knowing as a basic cognitive function and this biological characteristic can be attributed to a popular term called ‘Spirit’ or ‘Soul’. In this context, I would like to interpret Bergson’s views about Knowing, Intuition, Mysticism, and the Reality of Time.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : HOW DO PLANTS KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW ??? PLANTS KNOW ABOUT LIGHT, THE LENGTH OF DAY, AND THE DURATION OF DARKNESS CALLED NIGHT. THERE IS NO “INTELLECT” INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS OF KNOWING. THE ABILITY OF KNOWING LIGHT OR PHOTORECEPTION IS EXPLAINED BY PHOTOCHEMISTRY.
Intuition provides immediate understanding and it describes the ability to perceive or know things without conscious reasoning. Intuition is about direct knowing or learning of something without using the faculties of mind such as Intellect. The doctrine of Intuitionism claims that things and principles are truly apprehended by Intuition. The doctrine called Ethics describes that fundamental moral principles or the rightness of acts is apprehended by Intuition. In Biology, I would like to use the term Intuition to things apprehended by ‘Innate Knowledge’, the Knowledge that is inherent and not acquired, the Knowledge that is implanted in the Substance or Material called Living Matter. Plants know Light not because of intellectual ability but on account of an innate ability or intuitive power.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : AT A FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL, LIFE AND LIVING IS ABOUT KNOWING MATTER AS SELF OR NON-SELF. THIS IDENTIFICATION OF MATTER INVOLVES THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE MOLECULES OF MATTER . TO LEARN THE ART OF KNOWING, MAN HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOLECULAR BASIS FOR EXISTENCE .
To learn the Art of Knowing, man has to know that the physiological basis for existence is dependent upon Innate Knowledge with which the human organism recognizes matter( such as molecules of Oxygen, or energy-yielding molecules of food substances) and further exploits matter and energy to support and maintain its living functions. To the same extent, the human organism defends its own existence by recognizing the molecules as Self or Non-Self. The immune defense mechanisms that the human body uses to recognize viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and other foreign antigens involve the recognition of molecules.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF LIFE ??? CAN MYSTICISM HELP TO KNOW THE HIDDEN TRUTHS ABOUT LIFE ??? WHAT IS THE MYSTICAL INFLUENCE OF TIME THAT DRIVES THE AGING PHENOMENON ???
What is the Mystery of Life ??? Can Mysticism help to know the hidden truths about Life ??? Mysticism is the doctrine about knowing reality through intense contemplation and other secret practices that involve mental concentration. Mysticism is found in several religions of the world. The criteria and conditions for mystical experience vary depending on the cultural traditions, but there are three common attributes of Mysticism : 1. The experience is immediate and overwhelming, divorced from the common experience of reality, 2. The experience or the knowledge imparted by it is self-authenticating, without need of further evidence or justification, and 3. The experience is ineffable, its essence incapable of being expressed or understood outside the experience itself. The focus of Mysticism is not about the physical reality called existence but it is about a direct and immediate experience of the sacred, or the knowledge derived from such an experience. Mysticism is about the practices of those who are initiated into the mysteries, the practice of putting oneself into direct relation with God, the Absolute or any Unifying Principle of Life. Mystics believe that it is possible to achieve communion with God through their mystic practices. There are two general tendencies in the practice of Mysticism; 1. To regard God as outside the ‘Soul’ which rises to God by successive stages, and 2. To regard God as dwelling within the ‘Soul’ to be found by delving deeper into one’s own reality. Mysticism is extended to Magic, Occultism, and the Esoteric. Magic may involve the use of charms, spells, and rituals in seeking or pretending to cause or control events or govern certain natural and supernatural forces. Occultism is about hidden, concealed, and secret information that could be beyond human understanding. The Esoteric is about confidential, private, or withheld information that is intended for or understood by only a chosen few and as such the knowledge or information is beyond the understanding of most people. The rituals of Mysticism include meditation, prayer, and a variety of ascetic disciplines. If Mysticism is about Knowing the Secrets of Life, it does not demand the learning of Human Anatomy or Human Physiology, or any of the principles of Biology.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : HOW DOES THE HUMAN ORGANISM KNOWS ABOUT ITS OWN LIFETIME ??? THE AGING PHENOMENON IS RELATED TO MAN’S PERCEPTION OF TIME. HOW IS TIME CONTROLLING OR OPERATING LIFE EXPERIENCE ???
Bergson claimed that the Reality of Time is not a Unit of Measurement but duration in terms of life experience. How does the human organism knows about its own lifetime??? The human organism experiences the Aging Phenomenon which is related to man’s perception of Time. How is Time controlling or operating life experience ??? The physical reality called existence is controlled, is operated, or is directly influenced by events in man’s external environment, and the most important change in the environment is the alternating periods of light and darkness called Day and Night.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : THE HUMAN ORGANISM RUNS ITS LIVING FUNCTIONS AS IF OPERATED BY A PRECISE TIMEKEEPING DEVICE OR BIOLOGICAL CLOCK. MAN’S EXPERIENCE OF TIME IS RELATED TO SUN’S APPARENT MOTIONS IN THE SKY. MAN KNOWS THE REALITY OF TIME BECAUSE OF AN ILLUSION THAT CAUSES DAY AND NIGHT GIVING MAN THE PERCEPTION OF SUN’S APPARENT MOTION WHILE CONCEALING THE REALITY OF SUN’S MOTION IN THE MILKY WAY GALAXY.
Bergson may have used the term life force to describe the vital, animating Principle called Spirit or Soul. In my view, Soul is an animating Principle for it is fundamentally related to the functional ability called Knowing. Soul is a vital Principle for it is fundamentally related to the functional ability called Nutrition, the power of a living organism to exploit matter found in its external environment. The functional attributes of Soul are related to Knowledge that is inherent or Innate and not acquired as learned experience. Soul describes man’s intuitive ability to know the fact of his own existence in a given environment and to maintain that existence while experiencing the aging process under the external influence called Time.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : BLAISE PASCAL(1623 – 1662), FRENCH SCIENTIST AND RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHER CLAIMED THAT MAN IS INFINITELY REMOVED FROM COMPREHENDING THE EXTREMES ; THE END OF THINGS AND THEIR BEGINNINGS ARE HIDDEN .
While writing about The Art of Knowing, I would like to remind my readers that certain things could be hidden from the human perception and man has no ability to know things even if he knows the reality of those things. Blaise Pascal, the French scientist who founded the modern Theory of Probability had claimed : “Man is a nothing in comparison with the Infinite, an All in comparison with the Nothing, a mean between Nothing and Everything. Since he is infinitely removed from comprehending the extremes, the end of things and their beginnings are hopelessly hidden from him in an impenetrable secret; he is equally incapable of seeing the Nothing from which he was made, and the Infinite in which he swallowed up.”
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : WHICH HAS COME FIRST ??? THE CHICK OR THE EGG ??? SPIRITUALITY IS NOT ABOUT KNOWING THE BEGINNING OR THE ENDING OF THINGS. IT IS ABOUT THINGS THAT EXIST IN THE PRESENT.
Which came first, the Chick or the Egg ??? Spirituality Science is not about knowing the Beginning or the Ending of things. Spirituality is about things that exist in the ‘Present’. The Physical Reality of Man’s Subjective and Objective experience of his lifetime is a functional attribute of Soul or Spirit which gives Man the cognitive ability called Knowing . If Devotion is used as a scientific method of Inquiry, ‘The Art of Knowing’ is about Knowing Man as a Spiritual Being.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : THERE IS NO ESSENCE, THERE IS NO IDENTITY, AND THERE IS NO EXISTENCE OF MAN IF THERE IS NO UNITY BETWEEN THE THREE FUNDAMENTAL ORDERS CALLED 1. GOD, 2. SOUL, AND 3. MATTER. THE WORD “ASMI” STANDS FOR UNITY OR “EIKYATA.” FOR UNITY ALONE IS EVERLASTING AND IS ALWAYS PRESENT.
There is no ‘Essence’, there is no ‘Identity’, and there is no ‘Existence’ of man if there is no ‘Unity’ between the three fundamental orders called 1. God, 2. Soul, and 3. Matter. The Sanskrit word “ASMI” stands for ‘Unity’ or “EIKYATA” of the three fundamental orders. I want to invite my readers to join me in a discussion to interpret the terms Essence, Identity, Unity, and Existence that appear in the Indian Holy Scriptures and are variously interpreted by the major Indian Schools of Thought known as ‘Advaita'(Unqualified Non-Dualism), ‘Visistadvaita'(Qualified Non-Dualism), and ‘Dvaita'(Dualism).
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : ADI SHANKARA(c.788 – c.820?), EXPONENT OF ADVAITA OR NON-DUALISM AND THE THEORY OF MAYA OR ILLUSION.
Adi Shankara held that the Divine Soul or Paramatma, and the individual soul or Jeevatma are identical or the same. He did not account for the existence of his human body. He was satisfied by claiming that his human body does not describe his true or real identity or essence. In his view, the material world including the appearance of man is deceptive for it is the product of Illusion.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : RAMANUJA(c.1017 – c.1137), EXPONENT OF QUALIFIED NON-DUALISM OR VISISTADVAITA. HE STATED HIS GOAL OF ACHIEVING SOUL’S UNION WITH A PERSONAL GOD THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF BHAKTI OR DEVOTION.
Ramanuja held the view that God is modified by the orders of Matter and Soul. He stated that the Soul is modified by the body for the body has no separate existence from its Soul. Similarly, the Soul modifies God for it has no separate existence apart from God. His aim was to achieve Soul’s Union with a Personal God. He had not accounted for the existence of the living human being whose Body, and Soul have no separate existence without maintaining Unity with God.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : MADHVA(c. 1199 – c.1278), EXPONENT OF DVAITA OR DUALISM. HE REJECTED THE THEORY OF MAYA OR ILLUSION. HE CLAIMED THAT THERE IS A BASIC DIFFERENCE IN KIND BETWEEN GOD AND INDIVIDUAL SOULS. BUT, THE FACT OF DIFFERENCE OR DISTINCTION BETWEEN SOUL AND GOD WILL NOT ACCOUNT FOR MAN’S EXISTENCE.
Madhva maintained that the simple fact that things are transient and ever changing does not mean that they are not real. He rejected Shankara’s Theory of Maya or Illusion but, at the same time he may have failed to acknowledge that the phenomenon of Illusion could be an important basis for the reality of man’s existence on the surface of a very fast spinning object like Earth. Man’s existence demands a blissful state of ignorance of the realities of motion of planet Earth while he synchronizes his existence taking the cues from Sun’s apparent motions across the sky that generate the experience of Sunrise and Sunset.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : AITAREYA UPANISHAD SUGGESTS THAT GOD IS THE CAUSE OF ALL KINDS OF EXISTENCE.
Aitareya Upanishad claims that Consciousness is God or Brahman and it states that all existence is supported by Consciousness. To that extent, Consciousness can be defined as the awareness of the fact of one’s own Existence. In my view, the ‘Essence’ and ‘Identity’ of a thing can be described if, and only if the thing had a past ‘Existence’, or is existing in the present, or has the potential ability to exist in the future. Essence and Identity are predetermined by the requirement called ‘Existence’.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : THE TERM SOUL OR ATMAN HAS TO BE INTERPRETED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE REALITY OF MAN’S EXISTENCE THAT NEEDS A BODY THAT IS DIFFERENTIATED, HAS A FORM AND APPEARANCE THAT HELPS MAN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PERSON AS “I AM.”
If the universe is accounted by three distinct or separate orders such as God(“BRAHMAN”), Soul(“ATMAN”), and Matter, man represents the single, harmonious effect called ‘Unity’ or “ASMI.” The terms such as Soul or “ATMAN”, or “JEEVATMA” may have to be used to explain the fact of ‘Unity’ and the manifestation called ‘Existence’ by which the thing called “I” gets its name, and form, becomes differentiated and can be recognized as “I AM.” I want to categorically claim that it will be of no help or use if terms such as Soul, Atman, and Jeevatma are narrowly defined to simply describe the Essence or Identity of man. I would like to direct this discussion towards the importance of ‘Unity’ or of the term “ASMI” which means always present, and ever existing. Thus ‘Existence’ becomes the defining feature or chief attribute of all things and without the fact or reality called ‘Existence’, no truth can be known, and things have no Identity or Essence.
MY IDENTITY – MY CONNECTION – REBBAPRAGADA – KASTURI – SARVEPALLI – CONNECTION:
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : MY IDENTITY AND MY CONNECTION. I CALL MYSELF AS ‘REBBAPRAGADA’, BUT MY MOTHER BELONGS TO THE ‘KASTURI’ FAMILY. THIS IS A PICTURE OF KASTURI BROTHERS. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, 1. DR. KASTURI NARAYANA MURTHY, M.D.(MY MATERNAL GRANDFATHER), 2. KASTURI. SESHAGIRI RAO( MARRIED TO MRS. RUKMINI, DAUGHTER OF DR. SARVEPALLI RADHAKRISHNAN), 3. KASTURI NARASIMHA RAO, 4. KASTURI RAMACHANDRA RAO, 5. KASTURI SOMESHWARA RAO, 6. KASTURI KRISHNA RAO, AND 7. KASTURI SIVAPRASADA RAO(FAR RIGHT).
I am able to recognize and describe the ‘Identity’ of my maternal grandfather and his brothers for man always comes into existence with an original form, and gets a name for it can be clearly differentiated from all other men. My maternal grandfather’s younger brother was married to Mrs. Rukmini, daughter of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. This ‘Connection’ with Sarvepalli family is important for several reasons. Most of my readers of this blog post in India can easily identify the person who existed as Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He served as India’s first Vice President for two consecutive terms from 1952 to 1962, and served as India’s second President from May 13, 1962 to May 13, 1967. Apart from being a statesman, Dr. Radhakrishnan is recognized as an Indian philosopher and had published 56 books. His most popular books are Indian Philosophy, two-volumes and The Principal Upanishads(1953).
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : I RECOGNIZE THE IDENTITY OF THIS PERSON AND DESCRIBE HIM AS DR. SARVEPALLI RADHAKRISHNAN FOR MAN ALWAYS EXISTS WITH A DIFFERENTIATED FORM THAT IS GIVEN A PROPER NAME. THIS INDIAN PHILOSOPHER HAD INTERPRETED INDIAN SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT IN SEVERAL BOOKS THAT HE HAD AUTHORED. IN MY OPINION, HE DID NOT EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY AND EXISTENCE IN HIS ANALYSIS OF THE MEANING OF GOD(BRAHMAN) AND SOUL(ATMAN OR JEEVATMA).SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : DR SARVEPALLI RADHAKRISHNAN’S MOST POPULAR BOOK, INDIAN PHILOSOPHY MAY NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE MEANING OF MAN AS A SUBSTANCE AND FAILS TO DESCRIBE THE BASIS FOR MAN’S PHYSICAL REALITY IN THIS WORLD.
Man must understand what it is to be a Substance and what it is to Exist. The Indian traditional thoughts about man tend to divide man into two categories; 1. The Sentient Soul or the Conscious Being, and 2. The Insentient or the Physical Being that is unreal, constantly changing, perishable, and leads a mortal, transient, or evanescent existence.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : IN INDIAN TRADITION, IT IS OFTEN CLAIMED THAT THE HUMAN BODY IS PERISHABLE. THIS REQUIRES CLARIFICATION. CHEMICAL ELEMENTS ARE NOT PERISHABLE. IT IS THE FORM, AND APPEARANCE THAT IS SUBJECT TO THE NATURAL LAWS OF AGING AND DEATH.
The above statement that claims that the universe consists of a combination of the perishable and imperishable may need further clarification. It cannot be entirely true for the Chemical Elements that constitute Physical Matter cannot be destroyed or they are imperishable. Indian tradition describes man as “DEHA”, the physical body which is often compared to an empty vessel or house which is distinct, and separate from an entity called “DEHE”, or “DEHINAH”, the indweller, the embodied being, the tenant who occupies a place of dwelling or residence. The indweller of the physical human body is identified as Soul, Atman, or Jeevatma. This separation of Body/Mind, and its Soul into unrelated, or independent entities poses huge problems if I have to account for the physical reality of man’s Subjective and Objective Existence in the present world, the world that exists today as a self-evident truth.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : MAN’S EXISTENCE BEGINS WITH THE ACT CALLED CONCEPTION, THE UNION OF ORIGINATING PRINCIPLE OR SEED WITH EGG CELL. LORD KRISHNA CLAIMED THAT HE IS THE ORIGINATING SEED OF ALL TYPES OF EXISTENCE.
Man’s existence in the world begins with the act called ‘Conception’, the Union of the originating Principle or Seed with Egg Cell. In the Divine Song of The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter X, verse #39, Lord Krishna claims that He is the Originating Seed of all types of Existence and hence it must be understood that the fact of Existence requires an Original Cause, an Original Purpose, and an Originating Seed or Principle.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : MAN’S PHYSICAL EXISTENCE DEMANDS THE OPERATION OF AN ORIGINAL CAUSE, ORIGINAL PURPOSE, AND AN ORIGINATING SEED OR ORIGINATING PRINCIPLE.SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : INDIAN HOLY SCRIPTURE “YAJUR VEDA” EXPLAINS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN EXISTENCE AND GOD(BRAHMAN).
If God is viewed as the fosterer of the People, and if God is explained as the Originating Seed that accounts for man’s existence, God, and man’s physical body cannot be separated into separate parts.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : GOD(BRAHMAN) IS DEFINED AS THE FIRST CAUSE AND MAN’S EXISTENCE BECOMES THE SINGLE, HARMONIOUS EFFECT OF THAT ORIGINAL CAUSE THAT BRINGS UNITY BETWEEN THE THREE ORDERS CALLED GOD, SOUL, AND MATTER.SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : THE CAUSE, THE ORIGIN, THE ESSENCE, THE IDENTITY OF MAN HAVE A SINGLE PURPOSE FOR THERE IS ALWAYS UNITY IN THE BODY OF GOD WHO IS THE CONTROLLER.
For God(Brahman) is defined as the ‘First Cause’, man’s physical existence can be accounted as the single, harmonious “Effect” of that Original Cause that brings Unity between the three orders called God, Soul, and Matter.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : THIS FERTILIZED HUMAN OVUM OR EGG CELL BEGINS THE LIFE JOURNEY OF MAN. FROM THE BEGINNING, THERE IS UNITY BETWEEN, BODY, MIND, SOUL, AND GOD.
Man’s physical existence begins with the stage called ‘ZYGOTE’, the fertilized human ovum or Egg Cell. This single cell grows, multiplies, and fully differentiates to develop all the tissues, organs, and organ systems that are parts of the human body. The human body is the “Effect” of an Originating Seed, and cannot be considered as an empty vessel or an empty dwelling that is apart from its resident or indweller.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : THE SINGLE FERTILIZED EGG CELL RAPIDLY DIVIDES AND DEVELOPS INTO AN EMBRYO THAT IMPLANTS ITSELF INTO THE TISSUES OF MOTHER’S WOMB TO FURTHER SECURE ITS OWN EXISTENCE. THE EMBRYO IS CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT OR REALITY OF ITS OWN EXISTENCE.
The Single, Fertilized Egg Cell is conscious of its own existence and the developing Embryo on its sixth day of existence implants itself into the tissues of Mother’s womb to secure its own further existence.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : THE NEWBORN BABY ALWAYS ARRIVES INTO THE WORLD WITH AN ORIGINAL, UNIQUE, DISTINCT, AND ONE OF ITS OWN KIND OF GENOME THAT HAS NEVER EXISTED IN THE PAST AND WILL NEVER EXIST AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.
The Newborn Baby always arrives into the world with an original, unique, distinct, and one of its own kind of genome that has never existed in the past, and will never exist again in the future. Every man who is born can only exist as an Individual with Individuality. Every man can be identified as a specific individual. The Law of Generation and Propagation is based on the principle of Creation that always causes the production of original objects that cannot be further duplicated. For man’s form, and appearance is always associated with differentiation, man’s identity can be easily described by attaching a proper name.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE : MAN’S EXISTENCE IS GOVERNED BY THE ETERNAL LAW OF AGING. MAN EXISTS WHILE HE PASSES THROUGH VARIOUS STAGES SUCH AS BOYHOOD, YOUTH, ADULTHOOD, AND OLD AGE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN FORM AND APPEARANCE.
The word ‘Essence'(Latin. Essentia) describes that something which makes an entity what it is; intrinsic, fundamental nature, the most important quality of something to constitute its essential being. Essence is used to describe the inward nature of anything that is important to know its manifestations that can be physically observed. The word ‘Spirit’ or ‘Soul’ are often used to describe the ‘true’ or unchanging principle of man for man’s physical identity is not constant. The term ‘Identity'(Latin. idem) means the same(Sanskrit. idam). The Latin word identitas is related to Latin. essentitas and hence Identity and Essence are always related and they help to know the thing or entity that they describe. Identity is about the condition or fact of being the same, or exactly alike, sameness or oneness. In modern times, identity is about the condition or fact of being a specific person or thing. Whereas the term ‘Individuality’ describes the sum of characteristics or qualities that set one person or thing apart from others. Individuality is the condition of the Individual who exists as a single, separate, or particular thing. For man, his Individuality sets him apart from all other men. The term ‘Existence'(Latin. existere, or exsistere) is about the act of existing, the state, or the fact, or the reality of actual being. Existence demands that the thing or entity must come forth, stand forth, to manifest, living, or being alive. The term ‘Unity’ implies the state of being united to make something complete in itself, the quality or fact of being a totality or ‘Whole’. Unity is used to signify a Complex, the product of a Union of related parts, or an arrangement of parts that will produce a single, harmonious effect. Unity is thus concerned about the ‘Effect’ it generates while a thing could be made up of diverse elements or individuals. For human body is constituted by trillions of Individual, and Independent Living Units called Cells, the ‘Effect’ called ‘Unity’ is of fundamental importance to know man’s ‘Essence’, or ‘Identity’ that is manifested by his ‘Existence.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE: THE GREAT MYSTERY OF CHIDAMBARAM – “CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM”:
What is the Greatest Mystery about Man and his Earthly Existence? Man has a Physical Form and Appearance that can be easily recognized by any observer. But, man’s Life has Mental, Social, and Moral Dimensions that can establish man’s identity and essence in terms of Mental, Social, and Moral Being. The Mystery is about man’s Spiritual Dimension. If man is a Spiritual Being, how can we investigate and explore the Spiritual Dimension of man’s Life? How can we prove that man has a Spirit or Soul? We have a fairly good understanding of man’s Physical Form and its earthly mortal existence. Does man exclusively belong to the Earthly or Immanent Realm? Does man have an existence in a Realm other than Earthly Realm? How can an Earthly Being enter the ‘Transcendental Realm’? If Earth is a Material Realm, is there an Immaterial Realm’ where the Beings exist without Physical Matter or a physical Form with Appearance? Both God, and man are manifested on Earth with a Form and Appearance that can be easily recognized and described. And yet, there is something that is unknown about the Spiritual Form and Appearance of both God, and man in an extraterrestrial realm. I would like to invite my readers to visit CHIDAMBARAM in India to explore the Mysteries of Human Life and Human Existence.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE: IN BOTH CHRISTIAN AND INDIAN TRADITIONS, EARTH IS THOUGHT TO BE THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE. IN INDIA, CHIDAMBARAM IS THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE. THE PLACE IS VIEWED AS THE CENTRE OF GEOMAGNETIC EQUATOR OF PLANET EARTH. THE GREEN HORIZONTAL LINE REPRESENTS THE GEOMAGNETIC EQUATOR.
Chidambaram, South Arcot District, Tamil Nadu State, southeastern India is the Center of the Universe as per Indian tradition and the local legends or the “PURANA” of this historical City which has the famous early Chola Dynasty 2nd century B.C. bronze idols. The name “CHIDAMBARAM” is derived from Tamil words, Chitt meaning wisdom, and Ampalam meaning atmosphere. The Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, known as Lord Nataraja or Lord of Dance, is in Chidambaram. The purpose of Lord’s manifestation in Chidambaram is that of showing the way for man’s release from bondage to ignorance as man is trapped under the powerful influence of Illusion which controls man’s earthly existence. Chidambaram may provide man with the necessary Knowledge and Wisdom to recognize all the Dimensions of Life and verify if man could be a Spiritual Being who may have the potential ability to exist in a Transcendental Realm apart from the transient or ephemeral earthly existence which is operated by a Natural Law that demands the death of everything that is born or arrived on Earth.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE – CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM: LORD SHIVA KNOWN AS LORD NATARAJA IS THE PRESIDING DEITY AT CHIDAMBARAM WHICH IS VIEWED AS THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE. IT COULD BE AT THE CENTER OF EARTH’S GEOMAGNETIC EQUATOR. THE PURPOSE OF LORD’S MANIFESTATION AT CHIDAMBARAM IS THAT OF SHOWING THE WAY FOR MAN’S RELEASE FROM BONDAGE TO IGNORANCE.
Chidambaram is a place of interest for it may have the clue to a hidden or concealed truth. It is often described as “CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM” or the Mystery of Chidambaram. Lord Shiva has physically manifested at this place to remove man’s ignorance and to utterly destroy man’s forgetfulness and heedlessness. Man exists leading a conditioned Existence that is fundamentally formulated by the experience of Cosmic Illusion. This blog post examines ‘Chidambara Rahasyam’ or the Great Mystery of Chidambaram and it explains that the Illusion is generated by the fundamental distinction between Essence and Existence.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE: CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM – THE GREAT MYSTERY OF CHIDAMBARAM. LORD NATARAJA DESTROYS MAN’S IGNORANCE TO RELEASE MAN FROM THE INFLUENCE OF COSMIC ILLUSION.
Lord Nataraja, Lord of Dance is seen dancing on the figure of a dwarf, the person is named ‘Apasmarapurusha’. The word “PURUSHA” means man. The word “APASMARA” means forgetfulness, lack of memory, heedlessness that leads to mental ignorance. The “ignorance” refers to man’s alienation or separation from Knowledge about his true or real nature and man basically exists in a condition of Ignorance due to the lack of understanding about his true or real-self and the world and the universe in which he exists. Lord Shiva is the source and the Cause of all movements or motions in the Cosmos. In Physics, the Cause of Motion is not explained and is not discussed. While Physics formulates the Laws that govern the motions of material bodies, Physics cannot account for the phenomenon of Motion that can be observed among the Living Bodies. Life exists in a constant state or condition of motion, and at the same time, the Living Thing is constantly driven towards a destination called ‘Death’ when the motions that are characteristic of Life cease to exist. This arrest of motions of Life is accompanied by a dissolution of the Physical Form and Appearance of the Individual Living Thing. The purpose of Lord Nataraja’s Cosmic Dance is that of releasing man from his attachment to ‘Form” and “Appearance” that shapes man’s ideas of his own Identity. Man describes his Essence visualizing his Identity that is derived from Form and Appearance. To understand the nature of true Identity, man has to explore the basis for the condition called Existence. At Chidambaram, man is encouraged to explore and investigate Existence by drawing inspiration from the Form and Appearance of Lord Nataraja and His Cosmic Dance. The gestures of the Dance represent Lord Nataraja’s five activities called “PANCHA KRITYA”; 1. Creation, 2. Protection, 3. Destruction, 4. Embodiment, and 5. Release. Man ultimately needs LORD God’s Compassion for the ultimate Release from his bondage or Conditioned Existence. To explain the reason for this Dependence upon LORD God’s Mercy, Grace, and Compassion, I suggest the use of ‘Devotion’ as a valid method of Scientific Inquiry.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE: IN INDIAN TRADITION, GOD EXISTS IN BOTH TRANSCENDENTAL REALM AND IMMANENT REALM. WHEN GOD IS PHYSICALLY MANIFESTED ON EARTH, IT WILL BE CORRECT TO CLAIM THAT EARTH IS THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE. LORD NATARAJA’S BIG TOE IN THIS TEMPLE IS THOUGHT TO BE AT THE CENTER OF EARTH’S GEOMAGNETIC EQUATOR.
In Indian tradition, it is explained that God exists in both Transcendental Realm and Immanent Realm. Hindu Scripture, “ISA UPANISHAD” that comments on “SHUKLA YAJUR VEDA” in verses 12 to 14 makes the following recommendation: “He who knows at the same time both the unmanifested and the manifested, he crosses over death through Knowledge of the manifested and attains immortality through the Knowledge of the Invisible Absolute.” It is very important to know and understand LORD God as a Physical Being that has fully manifested on Earth. If LORD GOD is physically manifested on Earth, it will be correct to claim that Earth is at the Center of the Universe. From a human perspective, the center of activity is planet Earth for Life seems to be very unique or special to this small planet in the vast universe made of stuff called Physical Matter.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE: THE GOLDEN TILES COVERING THE ROOF OF LORD NATARAJA’S TEMPLE IN CHIDAMBARAM INSPIRE US TO REFLECT UPON ESSENCE OR FORM, AND APPEARANCE AND ITS DISTINCTION FROM EXISTENCE.
The roof of Lord Nataraja’s temple in Chidambaram is adorned with golden tiles and it inspires man to reflect upon the distinction between Essence and Existence. What is Essence? What is Existence? We can describe the ‘Essence'(What you are) by attaching a variety of names. Man may describe his Essence in a number of ways which may include references to his physical or morphological appearance, age, sex, ethnicity, race, language, religion, culture, region or national identity, education, occupation, social or political affiliation and other attributes like achievements and accomplishments. It is important to know the attributes of the Physical Elements that constitute the Living Matter using which man develops all the structures of his physical body. Man’s Physical Being experiences the problem of mortality, whereas the Physical Elements of his body are imperishable, indestructible, immutable, immortal, eternal, and even could be considered to be “UNBORN.”
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE – CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM: ADI SHANKARACHARYA FOUNDED THE INDIAN SCHOOL OF THOUGHT KNOWN AS NON-DUALISM OR ADVAITA. HE HAD VERY FORCEFULLY CLAIMED THAT HIS PHYSICAL BODY AND MIND DOES NOT DESCRIBE HIS TRUE IDENTITY. HE LAID A GREAT EMPHASIS ON IMMORTAL AND ETERNAL EXISTENCE.
Adi Shankaracharya founded the Indian School of Thought known as ‘Advaita’ or Non-Dualism. He vehemently opposed the idea of attaching his Identity to his physical body or mind. For example, he wrote, “ManO buddhyaHamkaara, Chittani na aHam; na karnam, na jihvaa, na cha ghraana netre; na cha Vyoma Bhumir, na TejO na VaayuH; Chidaananda RuupaH, ShivOaHam, ShivOaHam.” He had formulated a view about his true or real Identity that basically excludes all the four types of mental functions, the Five Elements of Nature, the five organs of Sense Perception. He made an attempt to overcome the problem of transient Existence that makes man a Mortal Being. Shankara forces people to avoid using Form and Appearance to describe Identity or Essence as they are not constant and keep changing all the time. Shankara demands total perfection while stating his real Identity. That perfection is characterized by Immortal or Eternal Existence. Man’s existence in the world is of varying durations called Lifetime and this Life-Span is a product of his conditioned existence. Shankara attached utmost importance to Everlasting Existence and in the context of that Everlasting Existence, he calls himself “SHIVA.” While I truly appreciate Shankara’s insistence about man’s existence in a Transcendental Realm, we may have to still account for man’s earthly journey. In man’s earthly life, the ‘Essence’ is not recognized until the thing called man begins existing. The thing called “I” is recognized and is known if, and only if it begins to exist; and “I” that exists can be stated as “I AM”, the “I” as an existing being. It must be noted that the fact of Existence always precedes Essence. In the statement, “Aham Brahma”,(“I AM BRAHMA, THE ULTIMATE REALITY”), or “SHIVO AHAM” (I AM SHIVA) the thing called “I” is not Brahma or Shiva. The statements such as “Aham Brahma” and “ShivO Aham” would be wrong if they do not qualify that the thing called “I” is in existence and is specifically known as “Aham” or “I Am.” The term ‘Brahma’ or ‘Shiva’ is perfect and complete in all of its aspects as it is the basis for both Essence and Existence. Hence the word ‘Brahma’ or ‘Shiva’ brings unity between matter, energy, and the physical form constituted by Physical Elements that have the attributes like imperishability or indestructibility.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE – CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM: LORD KRISHNA IN THE DIVINE SONG CALLED THE BHAGAVAD GITA EXPLAINS THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE. HE EXPLAINS THE POWERFUL INFLUENCE CALLED “COSMIC ILLUSION” OR “MAYA” WHICH CAN BLOCK MAN’S PERCEPTION ABOUT HIS TRUE OR REAL SELF.
Lord Krishna in the Divine Song called The Bhagavad Gita explains the distinction between Essence and Existence. He explains the powerful influence called “Cosmic Illusion” or “MAYA” which can block man’s perception about his true or real Self. Lord Krishna in Chapter X, Vibhuti – Vistara Yoga, verse 39, claims, “I am the generating seed of all existences. There is no being, moving or unmoving(Chara -Acharam) that can exist without Me.” The term ‘atman’ and ‘Paramatman’ must be used in the context of Existence and not that of Subjective Essence that involves the thing called “I.” Lord Krishna gave this clarification to explain that the fact of Subjective Essence by which various kinds of Living Things are known do exist for they all share a common, or undivided Principle that is Imperishable and establishes the fact of Existence as a Physical Reality. The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter XVIII, Moksha-Opadesa Yoga, verse 20:
The knowledge of one who sees in every living entity, though divided into innumerable forms, one undivided spiritual nature, that knowledge is to be understood as being in the mode of Goodness. One undivided, imperishable reality is seen within all diverse living entities.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE – CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM: LORD SHIVA’S ESSENCE IN THIS IMAGE IS DESCRIBED AS “ARDHANARISHWARA”, HALF-MALE AND HALF-FEMALE, A PERFECT UNION OF MATTER, ENERGY, AND THE ENERGY CONTROLLER.
Apart from all the diversity among the numerous living entities, the LORD God Shiva manifests Himself in a variety of Forms and each Appearance has its own reason, and serves a specific purpose.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE – CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM: LORD GOD SHIVA HAS PHYSICALLY MANIFESTED HIMSELF ON EARTH DURING DIFFERENT TIME PERIODS OR YUGAS FOR SPECIFIC REASONS TO SERVE A SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR EACH APPEARANCE. AS LORD NEELAKANTHA, HE SAVED HUMANITY FROM THE DANGER POSED BY AN EXTREMELY NOXIOUS SUBSTANCE.SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE – CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM: LORD SHIVA OFTEN CALLED LORD GOD “MAHESHWARA” IS THE PROTECTOR, AND CONTRIBUTES THE MENTAL EXPERIENCE OF EQUANIMITY AND BLISS.SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE – CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM: LORD SHIVA AND GODDESS PARVATI MANIFEST THEMSELVES AS EMBODIMENT OF ALL VIRTUES AND BESTOW THEIR MERCY, GRACE, AND COMPASSION THROUGH THIS APPEARANCE.
All different forms of life including persons whom we may call Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, and Prince Arjuna or Partha are to be known because of that imperishable Principle(avyayam) that is chiefly concerned with Existence, and thus there is unity or oneness while the thing called “I” is variable.
Rudranarasimham, Rebbapragada
On Saturday, November 1, 2014 9:55 AM, Krishna G Misra wrote:
Surrender to THAT ‘i’
‘i’ is a variable. ‘i’ does not know what it is. ‘i’ cannot be known. ‘i’ is never known because it is a variable.
‘i’ becomes body, ‘i’ becomes mind, ‘i’ becomes things which it owns, ‘i’ becomes anything. but ‘i’ is none of those which it represents and is independent of those too.
Krishna says ‘i’ am Krishna. Parth says ‘i’ am Parth, This means, ‘i’ is Krishna and Parth both, but Krishna and Parth differ. Krishna carefully says ‘i’ am Parth and Parth is ‘i’ .
‘i’ am 1, ‘i’ am 2 but 1 and 2 are different. every one of us says ‘i’ am A, ‘i’ am B but not knows the ‘i’ , the universal self.’i’ is a UNIVERSAL variable. anyone is ‘i’ but those who it represents are not that ‘i’ .
On Sat, Nov 1, 2014 at 7:20 PM, R.Rudra Narasimham wrote:
What is spread all over the body?
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE – CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM: THE MANDUKYA UPANISHAD SPEAKS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP OR CONNECTION BETWEEN SOUL AND THE PERFECT ENTITY CALLED BRAHMAN WHICH COULD BE INVISIBLE OR UNMANIFESTED.
We may try to interpret verse #17, Chapter II, Sankhya Yoga of The Bhagavad Gita. It says the imperishable, or indestructible soul pervades or permeates(“tatam”) the entire physical body. The soul or atma is spread all over the body or influences the entire body, or the symptom of soul or atma is present in all the parts of the body. In Chapter XIII, Kshetra – Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga, verse 34 says that, Just like Sun who illuminates the entire world, the soul within the body illuminates the entire field of activity of the physical body by consciousness. Hence, consciousness is the proof or symptom of the presence of the soul or atma. For the soul is present, we can show respect to the feet or the toe as the Essence illuminates it and thereby we recognize that the part is present. In other words, I am trying to suggest that we may not search for Atma or Paramatma in our minds or brains, it is simple and easier to find it in the feet with an attitude called devotion.
On 31/10/2014 12:03 am, “Krishna G Misra” wrote:
Sri Rudra ji,
I respect your thoughts. It truly is devotion.
Rudra means explosion and this explosion of param atma makes the two jivatma and Prakriti which means shiv and Parvati. These two are actually one but appear as two or Rudra in dance firm called manifested universe or samsara or tandav.
Prakriti is law bound and called mind and body and atma or spirit is free but focus at its goal called bhakti. These two opposites are like car and driver where car is law bound nature and driver is goal oriented atma shiv.
In bhakti the tandav dance of Shiva Parvati or Rudra becomes araudra or peace and this is yoga or bhakti or inseparable state.
Bhakti is goal of Shiva in Rudra state to become peaceful or araudra state.
Your name Rudra is world intending to realize its source RAM the param atma.
On 30/10/2014 11:47 pm, “Krishna G Misra” wrote:
Bhakti means integration and bibhakti means disintegration.
Which once established cannot be separated in bhakti.
In terms of self-awareness it is recollecting memory of the universal self or param atma.
On 30/10/2014 11:33 pm, “R.Rudra Narasimham” wrote:
What is Bhakti?
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE – CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM: IN INDIAN TRADITION, DEVOTION OR BHAKTI IS A VALID METHOD OF INQUIRY TO KNOW THE MANIFESTED, AND THE INVISIBLE OR UNMANIFESTED ABSOLUTE TRUTH.
I am addressing the problem or concern about separating body from mind. When I write about the experience of Ananda and Krupa, I am stating that there is unity between the Spirit, mind, and body without which the experience is impossible. If Krupa is a divine manifestation of power and energy, man has the ability to experience the uplift it provides for it uplifts both body, and mind. To same extent, Bhakti or Devotion is an experience that involves the Spirit, mind, and body. I cannot perform any devotional service if there is no unity between the Spirit, mind, and body. In fact, Indian tradition suggests that Bhakti is a method of Inquiry to experience the Reality while the Reality is not known to the organs of sense perception.
On Thursday, October 30, 2014 8:23 AM, Krishna G Misra wrote:
Chitta is chitra or picture. In English this is called perception. Perception of an object or event will differ from one and another observer and by same observer at different mental states. This is why people have conflicts. Yoga is removal of any variation of chitta as Patanjali says.
Ahankar is strength of association of an observer with its chitra or perception. Buddhi is bodh or tool of making and removal of chitta or perception.
Kripa is giving unconditionally and without restrictions and without obligation. Recover of krioa cannot expect or imagine it because lord is kind without any measure. Your Sanskrit verse is a perfect statement.
Ram Chandra krioalu bhaj man
Krioa is not what can be asked because it is grace if God and none can imagine its intensity. Ability of person is irrelevant because krioa can bypass all hurdle.
On 30/10/2014 9:30 am, “R.Rudra Narasimham” wrote:
What is Krupa?
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE – CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM: LORD GOD IS JUST ONE AND THE SAME AND YET MAN KNOWS HIM BY DIFFERENT NAMES. IN INDIAN TRADITION, THE NAME RAMA IS THE PERSONIFICATION OF THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH OR THE ULTIMATE REALITY. LORD RAMA IS THE SOURCE OF KRUPA OR COMPASSION FOR HE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFE JOURNEY IN HIS PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION AS A HUMAN BEING.
The four aspects of mental activity are described as Manah, Chitta, Buddhi, and Ahamkara. Chitta is the function associated with Krupa, Karuna, or Daya. But, the experience of Krupa is not a mere mental experience. The experience is shared by the entire body. It is not a simple subjective experience. It is an objective experience that can be verified by an independent observer.
The hymn suggests that the experience called Krupa is Great for it can give the ability of communication to the mute, and the disabled person can cross over obstacles such as mountains. The Lord known as Madhava is specifically described as the fountain of eternal bliss and joy. The idea is, when a person experiences Krupa or Compassion, the experience comes with a sense of joy and happiness. Very often, we get a chance to personally experience the reality of Krupa. When we recognize the experience called pain, and suffering in the lives of others, it evokes an instinctual response of kindness and compassion that practically helps us to provide physical assistance to the person who is experiencing pain, and misery. That feeling of compassion is powerful and is very uplifting and it gives the necessary energy and stamina to perform a challenging task with much ease and no strain. During natural calamities, we witness people coming out to give assistance and help to total strangers and work tirelessly. The entire human body is transformed. The provider of help, and the recipient of help experience a sense of joy when actions are performed under the influence of Krupa.
On Wednesday, October 29, 2014 2:32 PM, Krishna G Misra wrote:
Mind has seven colors or Man -Sat Roopa. Mind is like light which appears colorless but it includes seven colors while objects that have actually no colors appear in colors of that colorless yet seven colored light. Mind is just that light which has seven patterns but is invisible. Objects are seen in color not because objects own any color but because of the mind of seer or who sees it. A thief can recognize a gold necklace but an innocent child cannot. This means that same necklace is valuable to a thief but not to another observer. Rose is red when two observers see it in same sun light but when sun light does not exist rose is not seen let leave its red color. When one observer has colored glass and another by naked eyes they both will see same rose in different colors. Mind has seven colors a. Information b. Imagination c experience d. Memory e. Knowledge f dream or subconscious g intuition. Experience is one of seven colors of mind but it lives for short time and memory of it stays longer. For example you drink milk and it takes 10 minutes but memory of milk remains a life time. Similarly each colors have different depth of thoughts and with which we or different observers make perceptions differently for same object. I am traveling and cannot describe it as I would have wanted but I hope you can discover it by your self.
On 29/10/2014 11:32 pm, “R.Rudra Narasimham” wrote:
What is Experience?
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE – CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM: WHAT IS EXPERIENCE? IF GOD IS INVISIBLE AND IS UNMANIFESTED, HOW DO WE RECOGNIZE THE EXISTENCE OF GOD? IN MY VIEW, GOD IS EXPERIENCED AS PEACE, HARMONY, AND TRANQUILITY THAT IS BEST SYMBOLIZED BY THE LETTER OR SYLLABLE CALLED “AUM” OR “OM.”
Apart from matter and energy, we have to account for ‘experience’. There is an entity who has the experience of the various manifestations of matter and energy. Man studies matter and energy for he has this ability called experience. Mechanics, Statics, Dynamics, Acoustics, Optics, Thermodynamics, Electricity, Magnetism, gravitation and others are of interest for they are involved in giving man the experience called ‘equilibrium’ while he is at rest or in motion. While a number of varied forces are acting on man, the experience called ‘Ananda’ or Bliss, or Joy is possible because of the operation of a Fundamental Force that can be called ‘Love’. But, Love is a force that cannot be expressed as a mathematical formula or equation and cannot be experimentally verified for it cannot be measured to ascertain its quantity in numbers. In Indian tradition, God is called Sat, Chit, Ananda. The reality called Energy will have no relevance or importance if there is no experience of the same.
On Wednesday, October 29, 2014 12:58 AM, Mukund Apte wrote:
Please note that Modern Science has confirmed that the Universe is only filled with Energy in various forms. Even thoughts are energy and the matter is nothing but consolidated form of energy and so whether we consider metaphysics or solid material, they are the same thing; Energy. When matter dies or get destroyed, it merely gets transferred to different form of Energy.
On Wed, Oct 29, 2014 at 10:12 AM, R.Rudra Narasimham wrote:
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE – CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM: IN INDIAN TRADITION LORD BRAHMA IS THE LORD GOD CREATOR. PHYSICAL MATTER, THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS OF MATTER HAVE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES LIKE IMPERISHABILITY OR INDESTRUCTIBILITY.
Matter is the stuff with which this universe is made. In science, matter is studied as elements, simple mixtures and compounds. In Indian tradition, we describe spirit or soul as immutable, imperishable, immortal, unborn, and even uncreated( for man has not created any kind of matter or spirit). The thing called Spirit or Soul is Divine because of those attributes. To the same extent, matter has divine attributes. Matter is immutable, imperishable, immortal, unborn, and uncreated. We know that planet Earth has existed for a very long time and yet the elements retain their essence without any change. Life is existing on Earth for billions of years for the elements have the divine attributes just like the spirit and soul. When we say that the body is perishable or when we say that man is a mortal being, we are simply speaking about the form that we recognize as a specific thing. The matter that constitutes the form escapes death and mortality.
On Tuesday, October 28, 2014 11:22 PM, Krishna G Misra wrote:
There is a natural order in every form or matter and yet in reality each order is unique and distinctive. Absolute has no difference because it is non real like zero but from it all reality like 1 2 3 emerge. Forms of matter are real or relative and therefore have an order in their unique way very much like atomic movements in orbit of elements in periodic table of elements or planetary movements.
Temples or home or any other creation are too forms of matter and spirit or in other words metaphysical structures.
On 29/10/2014 3:03 am, “R.Rudra Narasimham” wrote:
In India, houses, and temples are often built after consulting experts of Vastu Shastra. The materials used for construction mostly wood, stone, and clay do not have strong magnetic properties. Iron and Cobalt have strong magnetic affinity. Gold has none. We need to explain the location of temple according to the local tradition and local story or Purana.
On Monday, October 27, 2014 11:45 PM, Krishna G Misra wrote:
Vastu shastra literally means material science. It deals with structure and functions for environment but the consciousness is its maker.
On 27/10/2014 11:20 pm, “R.Rudra Narasimham” wrote:
What is Vastu Sastra?
The architecture, the design, the layout, and other features of Chidambaram Temple must be explained quoting the relevant parts of Vastu Sastra. If the Temple’s location is chosen using the Laws of Magnetism or Electromagnetism, there must be a statement in the Vastu Sastra in the choice of location. There must be evidence to show that the builders made the requisite calculations and used a formula and devices to select a predetermined site.
It is simply incorrect to claim that the human body has nine apertures. For example, the body has millions of pores or apertures through which secretions like sweat, and sebum are excreted. Human body cannot maintain its body temperature(thermoregulation) if these pores are absent. In fact, there are people who suffer on account of problems associated with these openings. There is no merit in making unwanted comparisons with human body. Breathing is a vital function and the rate of respiration is a highly variable number and depends upon several factors including the environmental factors. It must be noted that Gold is a precious metal but that metal is useless and plays no role in human physiology. To that extent, iron is more important in the physiology of human respiration. Iron Deficiency can lead to disease and death. I would use Iron and not Gold if I want to make any connection between the structural element and human physiology. Similarly, there are numerous blood vessels and it would be silly to make a comparison without naming the vessels the architecture may represent. Then, the direction of flow and the specific relationships between the vessels becomes an issue. Kindly name those Nine Shastras and I would be surprised if the name Physics or Magnetism would be listed among those Nine.
In India, the traditions that relate to the worship of Lord Shiva have specific legends called ‘Sthala Puranas’, the story that is related to the specific geographical location. All the Jyotir Lingas are known by their stories. Chidambaram has its own story and the story is not about magnetism or electromagnetism.
On Monday, October 27, 2014 4:20 AM, Mukund Apte wrote:
The Vedas meaning Knowledge teach Scientific Knowledge only. And our people, such as ऋषि-मुनी and आचार्य have expounded all science in clear terms for people to follow. The Modern Science is now slowly confirming these facts. But they also have not ‘proved’ on their own everything that these great people have done. I do hope Modern Science will be able to reach the Vedic level of science soon enough, because Modern Science by their ‘inventions’ and Discoveries’ have created so much pollution in the environment as well as soil that we may not be able to sustain life on the planet for very long. The Scientists however as yet not understanding this position and polluting the earth more and more by their Scientific offers to man.
Scientists like Prof Einstein and now Prof Fridtjof Capra did express their faith in Vedas and Hindu शास्त्र and उपनिषद् and Prof Capra has started revealing the contents in the scientific manner since last 20 years.
On Mon, Oct 27, 2014 at 12:50 PM, Arvind Chaubal wrote:
Subject: Chidambram Temple
After 8 years of R & D, Western scientists have realized that at Lord Nataraja ‘s big toe is the Centre Point of World ‘s Magnetic Equator.
Our ancient Tamil Scholar Thirumoolar has proved this Five thousand years ago!
His treatise Thirumandiram is a wonderful Scientific guide for the whole world.
To understand his studies, it may need a 100 years for us.
Chidambaram temple embodies the following characteristics :
1) This temple is at the Center Point of world 's Magnetic Equator.
2) Of the "Pancha bootha" i.e. 5 temples, Chidambaram denotes the Skies. Kalahasthi denotes Wind. Kanchi Ekambareswar denotes land. All these 3 temples are in a straight line at 79 degrees 41 minutes Longitude. This can be verified using Google. An amazing fact & astronomical miracle !
3) Chidambaram temple is based on the Human Body having 9 Entrances denoting 9 Entrances or Openings of the body.
4) Temple roof is made of 21600 gold sheets which denotes the 21600 breaths taken by a human being every day (15 x 60 x 24 = 21600)
5) These 21600 gold sheets are fixed on the Gopuram using 72000 gold nails which denote the total no. of Nadis (Nerves) in the human body. These transfer energy to certain body parts that are invisible.
6) Thirumoolar states that man represents the shape of Shivalingam, which represents Chidambaram which represents Sadashivam which represents HIS dance !
7) "Ponnambalam " is placed slightly tilted towards the left. This represents our Heart. To reach this, we need to climb 5 steps called "Panchatshara padi "
"Si, Va, Ya, Na, Ma " are the 5 Panchatshara mantras.
There are 4 pillars holding the Kanagasabha representing the 4 Vedas.
8) Ponnambalam has 28 pillars denoting the 28 "Ahamas "as well as the 28 methods to worship Lord Shiva. These 28 pillars support 64 +64 Roof Beams which denote the 64 Arts. The cross beams represent the Blood Vessels running across the Human body.
9) 9 Kalasas on the Golden Roof represent the 9 types of Shakti or Energies.
The 6 pillars at the Artha Mantapa represent the 6 types of Sashtras.
The 18 pillars in the adjacent Mantapa represents 18 Puranas.
10) The dance of Lord Nataraja is described as Cosmic Dance by Western Scientists.
Whatever Science is propounding now has been stated by Hindu Scriptures thousands of years ago!
Whole Dude - Whole Concept 