Karma of capitalist students and religious masses wavering in the contradictions of many scriptures
--- In adishakti_sahaja_yoga@yahoogroups.com, "jagbir singh"
The Sunday Times October 29, 2006
Students of karma capitalism
US business schools are lining up for courses that will help
tomorrow's executives find their inner peace. Dean Nelson reports
from New Delhi
THE young executives — among America's brightest and best — cast off
their shoes and sat cross-legged at the feet of a tall 80-year-old
man dressed in flowing white robes. Like disciples in the presence
of a prophet, they hung on his every word. And they stared with
concentration as their teacher wrote on a white flip-board the
bywords to business success: concentration, consistency, co-
operation.
For the members of the Young Presidents' Association, meeting in New
Jersey, this was no ordinary leadership seminar. They were being
imbued with the values of the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta, by its
most venerable proponent, Swami Parthasarathy.
It was only one example of how America's business schools and
corporations are turning to the teachings of Hindu gurus and the
wisdom of Lord Krishna for guidance for their budding hedge-fund
managers, investment bankers and venture capitalists.
Greed may have been good in the 1980s but karma capitalism is now
being seen as illuminating the way to long-term business success.
Companies are turning to gurus and swamis to transform stressed-out,
one-dimensional executives into well-balanced bosses whose inner
peace will keep them focused, productive and profitable.
On the syllabus at Harvard, Kellogg, Wharton and Ross business and
management schools is the Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduism's most
sacred texts. Also known as the Song of the Divine One, the work
relates a conversation between the supreme deity Krishna and Arjuna,
a warrior prince.
Its sentiments are being used to bring out the best in the next
generation of business leaders. About one in 10 professors at these
institutions are of Indian origin, and although opinion among them
varies widely, some of their common themes are gaining a wider
audience. The most influential is that business leaders should aim
for a higher purpose rather than simply amassing a fortune.
Why is not clear, but political goals like social justice and
corporate social responsibility seem to have become business
aspirations for many companies and schools. And for many, the
methodology of achieving them includes developing more rounded
executives with a strong spiritual sense of who they are.
A number of leading Indian academics such as Ram Charan, CK Prahalad
and Vijay Govindarajan have emerged as gurus who can bring about
this change, while more populist teachers like Deepak Chopra have
created global business brands advising top executives on how to
change their lives.
Parthasarathy, who runs his own school of Vedanta Hindu philosophy
in Mumbai and still bats regularly for his college cricket team, is
the guru of gurus. Parthasarathy was the heir to his family's
shipping business, but turned his back on the family firm after
studying at London University.
He began studying the Bhagavad Gita, and has spent the past 50 years
building a multimillion pound empire through explaining its
practical benefits to wealthy corporations and executives.
He has recently returned to India from America where — in addition
to the Young Presidents' Organisation — he lectured students at
Wharton Business School and executives at Lehman Brothers in
Manhattan. His tours are booked well beyond next year, and will
include Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia.
While traditional business teaching has used the language of war and
conquest, Parthasarathy uses the Bhagavad Gita to urge his students
to turn inwards, to develop what he calls the intellect, by which he
means their own personal understanding of themselves and the world,
and to develop their "concentration, consistency and co-operation".
Parthasarathy, or Swamiji as he is known to many of his followers,
uses the Bhagavad Gita and its "Vedic laws" to inspire his students
to raise their aim from earning a crust to focusing on higher
spiritual or business goals.
The Gita, as it is known, is the Hindu text in which Lord Krishna
reveals himself as Supreme Being to Arjuna as he toils in moral
confusion on the battlefield. In the script, Krishna explains to
Arjuna that his soul will endure beyond his life, and that
enlightenment comes through shedding the ego, and focusing on
the "immortal self". He explains the importance of devotion, action,
meditation and knowledge and teaches that real leaders cast aside
emotions that interfere with sound judgment, and put their duty
ahead of their personal fortunes.
Parthasarathy's long-term friend Gopichand Hinduja, who with his
brothers owns Gulf Oil and Ashok Leyland Trucks and is listed as the
seventh-richest man in Britain, said he is one of several gurus who
have increased his knowledge of the Gita and in turn helped their
family business.
"The Bhagavad Gita can make people better decision-makers. If you
just close your eyes and be silent, that gives you the inner
strength to focus. It's nothing to do with religion but inner
confidence. This has transpired from Vedic law and scripture," he
said.
"We know him [Parthasarathy] very well. He uses meditation, yoga and
relaxation to ease stress. The world is becoming faster, and people
have hypertension. There's no swami or guru we haven't met or tried
to understand. In general, each one has some benefit. Vedic law has
helped us as businessmen. There are many examples. All of us follow
the Bhagavad Gita. Every time you read it you understand more and
get more depth.There is no problem in the world to which you do not
find a solution there."
Parthasarathy, however, is sceptical about his new role as guru-in-
chief to America Inc. "The business community has appreciated my
line of approach. But nobody knows what I'm talking about, just bits
and pieces. I'm saying they need to develop their intellect, not
simply their intelligence, which is just knowledge from external
sources, to help earn a living.
"Your intellect is your capacity to deal with the world, which is
dormant in you. I ask people to think. People are doing business,
but they don't know why," he said.
"You've got to set targets for yourself. They could be material or
spiritual. I'm not interested in business. I'm interested in
teaching people what life is about. We have to add self-realisation
as a target, to know yourself. We have a spiritual target and all
these business jokers have a material target."
He is sceptical of the prospects of many of his business students
benefiting from his teaching. "Not a single soul has understood. At
Kellogg, nobody understood. They said it was inspiring. They think I
will help them make more money. It's hype," he said.
Gopichand Hinduja said his students could learn as much from their
guru's business practices as their spiritual teaching. "Some of
these swamijis are now richer than many of the businessmen," he
noted.
Wisdom of Krishna
GREED IS BAD
"You should never engage in action only for the desire of rewards,"
Krishna says. Acting on worldly desires leads to failure. Do well,
and good things will come.
BE FAIR
Enlightened leaders are compassionate and selfless and they "treat
everyone as their equals". Followers will rally round them and
follow their example.
ACT RATHER THAN REACT
Leaders accomplish "excellence by taking action", Krishna says. A
leader's actions today can become the "karma" that influences his
status tomorrow.
SEEK HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS
Leaders should view problems within their larger contexts. In other
words, show sensitivity to shareholders, employees, partners and
neighbours.
Students of karma capitalism
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8209-2426391,00.html
>
>--- In adishakti_sahaja_yoga@yahoogroups.com, "v_koa"
> wrote:
>
> Is it just me, or does this seem a lil bit out of context to you?
> By out of context i mean using the gita's teachings as a way to
> make money or enhance performance for the purpose of making
> money. Sure Krishna's teachings are priceless and very deep and
> relevant for everyone, but i fail to see how they can be summed
> down to such a degree that the purpose of them (knowledge to grow
> spiritually which has nothing to do with money) can be easily
> assimilated by people as good business strategy instead of great
> spiritual wealth and information.
>
> However, maybe i'm cynical and maybe these people will take these
> teachings to heart and actually develop balanced business
> practices, which would be super good for everyone, and at the very
> least develop a different outlook on life, but i'm not sure that's
> what this is.
>
> Any comments?
>
> Kyyan
>
Dear Kyyan and all readers,
"Students of karma capitalism" is a very positive step in the right
spiritual direction for those deeply immersed in this material world.
Parthasarathy is trying to get the business elite to grasp the
meaning of Self-realization and strive to attain it as their souls
will endure beyond this life, and that enlightenment comes through
shedding the ego, and focusing on the "immortal self"." This takes
years of devotion, action, meditation and knowledge. And when you
have all the protective and comforting wealth at your disposal then
that material security should give you the peace of mind to seek the
spiritual wealth to attain immortality as well. After acquiring an
abundance of both material and spiritual prosperity these are the
people whose economic clout, professionalism and self-enlightenment
can make the most impact to slow down a rapidly accelerating
material world. It is a win-win blessing of tan (physical effort),
man (mental apparatus) and dhan (material wherewithal) for those
with wisdom. But rare is the soul who, after attaining Self-realization,
recognizes the bountiful fruits of past rebirths and uses tan, man
and dhan to serve both humanity and the Divine. Most are deluded by maya as the
addictive intoxication of money, power and status daily drives their
consciousness to seek and accumulate ever more.
There are thus very few of the business elite who can understand
Self-realization. Most probably do not believe in rebirth/afterlife,
or are too busy making money to care, or do not have the
time/technique to silence the materialistic thoughts that keep them
trapped/deluded in that maya. Parthasarathy admits that all his
efforts to enlighten have failed, perhaps implying that even a small
measure of success would have brought substantial spiritual benefits
to both the business elite in particular and humanity in general. In
other words, the Self is realized after years of devotion, action,
meditation and knowledge, not over a week crash course or two; that
enlightenment comes through shedding the ego, and focusing on
the "immortal self"; that real seekers put their duty to the Divine
and humanity ahead of their personal fortunes. They would have
eventually realized that knowledge to grow spiritually has nothing
to do with money, but that humanity can benefit both materially and
spiritually from those business elite applying the lessons of Self-
realization inthe corporate world. In other words, spreading the
Cosmic Consciousness of Self-realization for the benefit of humanity.
>
> Parthasarathy, however, is sceptical about his new role as guru-in-
> chief to America Inc. "The business community has appreciated my
> line of approach. But nobody knows what I'm talking about, just
> bits and pieces. I'm saying they need to develop their intellect,
> not simply their intelligence, which is just knowledge from
> external sources, to help earn a living....
>
> He is sceptical of the prospects of many of his business students
> benefiting from his teaching. "Not a single soul has understood. At
> Kellogg, nobody understood. They said it was inspiring. They think
> I will help them make more money. It's hype," he said.
>
Does that mean the religious folks are better off spiritually? Do
the religious institutions direct them to attain Self-realization?
Have the religious masses been enlightened over the centuries? ....
That is hardly the case. On the contrary, the emphasis seems to be
prayer, rituals, bhajans and hearing stories. In other words,
attention is always projected externally by the priests and the
masses follow blindly.
i would want to quote from the Bhagavad-Gita about a topic that, as
far as i know, is not discussed by the priests and pandits. Perhaps
then we will be more forgiving of business students not
understanding Parthasarathy’s teaching:
When thy mind leaves behind its dark forest of delusion,
Thou shalt go beyond the scriptures of times past and still to come.
When thy mind, that may be wavering in the contradictions of many
scriptures,
Shall rest unshaken in divine contemplation,
Then the goal of Yoga is thine.
Juan Mascaro, The Bhagavad Gita 2:52-53
Shri Krishna proclaimed this priceless prophecy of contradicting
scriptures thousands of years ago because He foresaw that
disagreements and controversies of future scriptures would confuse
and delude humankind. When He spoke these words there was only the
Sanatana Dharma. There was no Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism,
Christianity or Islam, and no Torah, Dhammapada, Bible or Qur’an.
Yet He prophesied that the texts of religious organizations - the
scriptures of times past and still to come - would contradict one
another.
This is the exact situation today and only now we have the technological means and speed
to confirm scriptural contradictions. In these modern times there are
so many scriptural discrepancies that the minds of seekers are
deluded and in doubt. Those genuinely looking for Truth in various
scriptures and religions are confused and sometimes shocked by what
they find.
Every religion is tainted with falsehood and discrepancies. Every
house of worship is perverted and corrupted. Every guru is teaching
his or her own version of Truth. Only fools and fundamentalists do
not feel disturbed if the 'truth' they are preached is contradicted
by other messengers and scriptures. Their blind faith does not
question glaring falsehood as the herd instinct gives them security
in numbers.
A billion Catholics claim that the five billion pagans will be
tormented in the Inferno. A billion Muslims swear that more than
five billion infidels will burn in hell. The few million Jews affirm
that the rest of humankind may jump in the lake as far as their
jealous god is concerned.
If any historian ever carries out a research of the scriptural
contradictions he or she will understand the meaning of blind faith,
misrepresentation, forgery, falsehood, and fundamentalism. The
Torah, Bible and the Qur’an have so many contradictions, some even
defying history, that truth loses its meaning.
”But save for these laws regulating caste there is no other unifying
element in all Hinduism. There are two major sects in the religion,
and at least fifty-seven sub-sects, each seeking to attain salvation
with the aid of its own gods and ceremonies. Christianity, which is
even more intensively divided, is at least united by its unanimous
recognition of the uniqueness of Jesus. Hinduism has no such common
doctrine. It is true that about 300 A.D. an attempt was made to
create such a doctrine by combining the three main Hindu gods into a
universally acceptable trinity; but the attempt failed dismally.
Brahma, the chief god in that trinity, never became popular save
with the priests and philosophers. He was not nearly concrete enough
a deity for the plain folk to grasp and believe in and now there are
only a couple of temples in all of India that are devoted to his
worship. And Vishnu and Shiva, the two other gods in the trinity,
always remained distinct and separate, continuing to attract
distinct and separate followings.” (www.easternreligions.com/)
“The Jesus Seminar attempts to change that through its conferences,
press releases, books, webpage, etc. The goal is: "to bring the
quest of the historical Jesus of Nazareth to the center of a global
forum." That is, to extract what the participants have concluded to
be the actual words and actions of Jesus from ancient writings, and
present these to the public.
Their conclusions differ greatly from what Christian denominations
have historically taught. They are also in major conflict with the
current beliefs of most present-day conservative Christians. Fellows
of the Seminar do not regard Christian Scriptures as inerrant. They
do not believe that the authors were uniquely inspired by God.
Rather, they view the Bible as a very human document, composed by
writers who actively promoted their own theological beliefs (or
those of the group to which the writers belonged). The Seminar sees
within early Christian writings the evolution of religious thought.
The fellows study this over the approximately 18 decades from the
time of the execution of Jesus (circa 30 CE) to about 310 CE. They
see many passages in conflict with each other and with the
historical record.” (www.religioustolerance.org/)
”For centuries Muslims have been taught to believe that the Qur'an
has been preserved in its original Arabic form since the beginning
of time itself, and preserved intact from the period of the "sending
down" of the book to Muhammad, right on down till the present. They
have been taught that the text which we read now was uniquely
inspired, in that there were no intermediary agents who could
possibly pollute the integrity of the script.
At the same time they have also been taught that this suggested
textual perfection of the book proves that the Qur'an must be the
Word of God, as no one but Allah could have created and preserved
such a perfected text. This sentiment has become so strongly
established in the Muslim world that one will rarely find a Muslim
scholar willing to make any critical analysis of its content or of
its structure, as to do so would usually be detrimental to his or
her health. However, when an analysis is made by a Western scholar
upon the Qur'an, that analysis is roundly castigated as being biased
from the outset, and even "satanic," and therefore, unworthy of a
reply.
But that does not stop the analysis from being undertaken, for the
Qur'an when held up to scrutiny finds itself lacking in many areas.
As we have already discussed, we find problems with its sources, its
collation, its literary makeup, its supposed uniqueness, and
problems even with its content. It is not difficult to find numerous
contradictions within the Qur'an, a problem which Muslims and the
Qur'an has attempted to alleviate by conveniently allowing for
the 'law of abrogation.' But even more devastating towards the
integrity of this supposed perfect 'divine book,' are the numerous
errors which are found in its pages. It is therefore to those errors
which we will now turn in our continuing quest to ascertain whether,
indeed, the Qur'an can claim to be the true, and "perfect" Word of
God, as Muslims have so often maintained since the very inception of
their faith.” (www.debate.org.uk/)
http://adishakti.org/prophecies/27_scriptures_have_contradicted.htm
So how can we make the mind, that may be wavering in the
contradictions of many scriptures, rest unshaken in divine
contemplation? How do we attain Self-Realization that Shri Krishna
talked about (and all scriptures and messengers are in agreement
i.e., seek His Light/Presence/Self within)? Before doing so it is
crucial that this deep and difficult subject be first understood
properly.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE
AUTHOR: SHRIRAM SHARMA ACHARYA
Publisher: Yugantar Chetna Press,
Shantikunj, Haridwar, India(U.P), India, 24911
Translated by Shree Narayan Pandya
The WWW reprint is for free distribution
The Philosophy of self knowledge
Is it not anomalous that man collects more and more information
about the outer world and matters relating to it, but remains
ignorant about him-self? He ultimately goes astray and roams in vain
for want of knowledge of the form and nature of self. The search of
inanimate nature is necessary for getting material facilities but it
is all the more necessary to know the power by which they are used.
The question often arises is- who is man? What is the form or shape
and aim of life? What is proper utilization of the world connected
with one's life and its achievements? If answers to these questions
are over-looked a kind of self-forgetfulness prevails. There can be
no serious assessment of the system of life when the inner-self
assumes a state of illusion or a state of unconsciousness. The
incitement of passions then takes the form of motivation. Just as
living beings other than men indulge in different activities
initiated by their sense organs to satisfy their hunger and sexual
lust, the daily routine of human being also becomes the same. It
becomes a part of one's nature to follow general routine. A kite
disengaged from its thread, and leaves fallen from the tree fly
aimlessly here and there. In the same way life is lived just for
passing time. There being no higher ideal to be followed, a man
cannot get real pleasure of life and he is unable to take any
important initiative. In his craze for material happiness man's
inner-self keeps on burning in the fire of unrest and
dissatisfaction. The fatigued frustrated life is spent in weeping
and lamenting. This is because on account of man's ignorance of his
own potentials, he is unable to determine the goal of his life. The
coordination of matter and life, of inanimate and animate is
responsible for the existence of body. Though separate, they are so
closely interlinked that one does not exist without the other. Body
without life becomes not only inert but starts rotting. It
ultimately culminates in extinction by its funeral ceremony.
This is about the terrible plight of body without life. The other
side is also similar. Life-force may overcast in the sky like air
but it is not possible for it to display its identity in the
material world or to fulfill any desired purpose. There is no direct
utility of body without life and of life without body. This fact
explains how they are inter-linked with each other.
Coordination between physical and subtle, inanimate and animate
prevails extensively in this universe. The smallest unit of matter
is in the form of wave. The existence and control of consciousness
has been found out in between these atomic vibrations. Its skillful
activities can be seen working at every step in the form of
universal harmony on the basis of science of ecology. There are
other innumerable evidences in which a most powerful, mysterious
world of consciousness can be seen inter-woven with the material
world. Just as there is existence of energy and motion in matter so
also in life, feeling and thinking are seen acting and reacting in
different forms.
Man fulfills his various purposes in material world by understanding
the nature and use of matter. But it is surprising that the soul,
although intrinsically interlinked with the original power of the
world of consciousness, remains totally ignorant of the very fact
which is responsible for its rise and fall. Body is matter and so
its convenience can be considered to depend on matter. The physical
power needs physical knowledge for all its achievements. Without it,
it cannot pull on and maintenance is difficult. As such, it is
reasonable to realize the importance of physical science and make
use of it. But it should also be realized that all the needs of life
cannot be fulfilled merely by physical science making available all
the requisite materials. Consciousness has its own form,
purpose, program, strength and grandeur If one remains ignorant
about it, he lives only physical life. Is it not a misfortune that
the individual power of entire consciousness remains dormant with
only a portion of it, hardly one per cent, in use and the rest lying
idle, inactive and neglected?
In spiritual scriptures indications, directions have been given at
every step 'know thyself, awaken!'. The entrant of a spiritual field
has to think and meditate with concentration on formulae
like "Atmanam Vidhdhi-Atma-wareygyatavya". So much has been
propounded about the importance, reaction and attainment of 'atma-
gyan' that nothing else has been regarded to have excelled this
achievement. The utility of knowledge of the self is far more
important than that of the outer world. Material achievements will
be misused and create several complications unless the persons who
avail them have keen prudence and farsighted vision. It is not
enough to have a good car. If the driver is unskillful, several
troubles may have to be faced. Even without resources a man can
always be happy and contented if the aim of life is before him. But
in the absence of prudence and inner power of discrimination, his
condition even with plenty of resources will be that of a monkey
with a sword in hand who beheaded his master for a fly which was
sitting on his nose.
The 'Rishi' of "Shweta-shwetaro-pnishada" describing what can be the
most important question of pursuit for man clarifies-"Kim karanam
brahma kutah smajata; jeewam kena kwacha samratis thada...”;
meaning, "O Learned Maharshis! Who is 'Brahma', the main cause of
this universe? By whom we are born and living and in whom are we
established? Under whom do we live and feel happy and afflicted with
sorrow?"
If this question is sought to be answered and the need of self-
knowledge is felt, one will have to ponder first as to "who am I and
why am I living"? The 'Rishis' who had realized the self had deeply
pondered and meditated on this question and the conclusion to which
they had arrived are extremely important and capable of guiding
those aspirants who are eager to attain self-knowledge. The
scientists who analyze and describe the power of atom regard it as a
small indivisible unit of matter. What is soul? It is a small unit
or fraction of the supreme power. It does appear that atom has its
own independent power but it is not different from that all-
pervading extensive energy to which it owes its existence. Infinite
rays of one sun pervade the entire atmosphere. There are infinite
waves in the ocean. It does appear that rays and waves have their
independent existence and are different from each other, but if one
probes deeper into the truth it will be known that unity in them is
real and the apparent difference is artificial. Independent images
of sky appear in different pots but in fact all these images owe
their existence to the vast celestial sphere of the sky as a whole.
Bubbles are seen spouting and disappearing in water. Several whirl-
pools are seen in the running currents of water. These bubbles and
whirl-pools are in fact merely momentary movements of flowing
currents in water though they appear to have their independent
existence. The soul appears to have independent existence but it is
in fact, by its nature, a part and parcel of omni-present
consciousness.
The spiritualists have, on the basis of this conclusion, declared
that we are mere fraction of universal consciousness. The whole, or
the entirety is the basic power and we are just a spark of it. The
individual and the whole are integral and indivisible. One should
see, understand and regard himself in all and all in him-self. Ones
own good should be considered to lie in the good of all. The
happiness and sorrow of one another should be considered one's own
happiness and sorrow. A man travels beyond the limits of his narrow
self and gets inspiration for self-enlargement by regarding rise and
fall of others as his own. Selfishness dependent on individualism
decreases as soon as a person crosses the limits of narrow-
mindedness. He then starts feeling himself as an integral part of
the universe as a whole and thinks in terms of collective good. He
takes pleasure in following the activities of common good.
Everyone loves himself. When this affinity gets linked with any
living being or material object, he starts loving it too. If our
feeling of one-ness with others is more limited, we will be regarded
as backward to that extent from a spiritual point of view. One who
limits himself to his body and family alone, cannot enjoy the
pleasure of self-enlargement He limits himself in a narrow field.
With widening of this field the narrow limits of affinity will also
widen. The entire humanity will be its own, and his family will
become a very large one indeed. The spiritual progress of a man can
be judged by the extent to which he has expanded his self.
The result of unity of soul and God, of 'jeev' and 'Brahma', of the
individual and the whole is that all the qualities of the latter are
found in minute form in the former- the 'jeevatma'. All the
characteristics and qualities of God which are available
in ‘jeevatma’ can be awakened and developed by sticking to spiritual
disciplines. There are thus full prospects of the soul reaching the
level of God. A spark has the potentiality to become a fire in the
forest. A seed incorporates in itself the structure of a huge tree.
A tiny sperm, which is not perceptible by naked eyes, contains the
absolute form and nature of a human being. A small atom incorporates
in it the entire solar system. It is, therefore, clear from this
fact that the original power of 'jeev' is equivalent to that of God.
It is possible for everyone to materialize this possibility in his
life time. The greatest reward and fulfillment of human life lies in
realizing the self and achieving perfection.
The best utilization of this rare, God-gifted human life is to
proceed ahead in the direction of this great goal, lead an ideal,
pious, saintly life and to utilize one's physical, mental and
material achievements more for benevolent purposes of doing good to
others, and minimum for one's own self. God has given additional
intellectual wealth to man in comparison with other living beings.
Why has he been so partial? Answer to this question becomes clear if
one understands the ultimate goal of human life. It will be
considered to be a misuse if men were to spend their additional
wealth in fulfilling their personal selfish ends.
Mind and body are two wheels, or two horses of the chariot of life.
Both of them remain active like faithful servants according to the
inner faith and desire. Body is inert. It has no independent power
or desire of its own. The senses have also been constituted by the
five elements. Mind also does not think on its own will. It weaves
thoughts according to inner inspirations and merely fulfills its
directions. Prudent persons think and act uniformly but vicious
persons do not do so. The mind and body remains quite detached in
both these circumstances. It is the inner-self which is at fault
because the underlying 'sanskars' bring out good and bad
motivations. The meaning of' ‘Atma-gyan' is to touch the depth of
the inner soul, to reform ones own habitual evil tendencies, and to
create such faith and experience as to feel that he is 'sat-chit-
anand', an integral part of God- the omni-potent. Perfection is our
goal. An awakened soul, having realized his own self, crosses
all the narrow barriers of selfishness and visualizes himself in all
and all in himself. He acts and thinks keeping in view the public
good and welfare of mankind as a whole. Righteousness and idealism
are reflected in all of his activities. Such self-realized persons
feel immense, infinite pleasure and satisfaction though materially
they may be hand to mouth. This is such a state about which
the 'rishi' of Brihada-ranyak Upnishad says "Atmano va are darshnena
shra wanena matya vigyane-nedam sarva viditam". (It is such a
perfectly conscious blissful power which, if realized, everything is
realized and nothing remains to be realized.) "Ya evam vedaham
brahma smiti sa idam sarva bhavati" (One who has realized the self
becomes omni-present, because his experience is co-existent with the
entire universe). No sooner a man awakes from sleep, the state of
dreaming comes to an end. In the light of the knowledge of the self,
one feels that the world does not exist beyond the soul. Bhagwan
Buddha became a divine man as soon as he realized the self. It was
the result of self-awakening on account of which he saw the light of
himself in everyone.
The Philosophy of self knowledge
Shriram Sharma Acharya
In conclusion I will quote Swami Vivekananda.
”Religions of the world have become lifeless mockeries . . .
If there is ever to be a universal religion, it must be one which
will have no location in place or time, which will be infinite like
the God it will preach, and whose sun will shine upon the followers
of Krishna and Christ, on saints and sinners alike; which will not
be Brahmanic or Buddhist, Christian or Mohammedan, but the sum total
of all these, and still have infinite pace for development; which in
its catholicity will embrace in its finite arms, and find a place
for every human being, from the lowest groveling savage not far
removed from the brute, to the highest man towering by the virtues
of his head and heart above humanity, making society stand in awe of
him and doubt his human nature.
It will be a religion which will have no place for persecution or
intolerance in its polity, which will recognize divinity in every
man and woman, and whose whole scope, whose whole force, will be
centred on aiding humanity to realise its own true, divine nature.”
i think Swami Vivekananda is also telling us that we can only
understand our own divine nature by Self-realization. For millennia
religious institutions and sects have never been able to give Self-
realization, and never will. The day you realize your Self you will
never step into any temple, gurdwara, church, synagogue or mosque to
seek the Divine. If you still need to do so then be assured you still
have not realized your Self yet ................ just like the countless millions
of religious masses over the ages.
But when your mind leaves behind its dark forest of religious
delusion,
You shall go beyond the scriptures of times past and at present none
to come.
When your mind, that may be wavering in the contradictions of many
scriptures,
Shall rest unshaken in divine contemplation and Silence,
Then the goal of Self-realization and assured liberation is yours.
In the Age of Kali Yuga there seems little difference in the future
karma of capitalist students and religious masses wavering in the
contradictions of many scriptures.
Jai Shri Ganapathi,
jagbir
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