THE SOUL IS THE TRAVELER
Spirituality is the science and the art of remembrance. We have forgotten our original home from where we have descended to this world in which we are living now. We have become so addicted to material life and values that we no longer remember that original home of Our Father whom people call God, or by any other name. Now, before we can return to that home, there must be something that will make us remember that home. How can someone go to a place of which he knows nothing? And how can he go if he does not remember it? People talk of amnesia, but I am telling you that here we have a permanent amnesia. Therefore I told you that spirituality is the science and the art of remembrance.
In its travel back to its original homes, the soul is the traveler. The way is the life that it adopts on its way home. The vehicle is the body in which it travels through life. Looked at in this way, we see that there is nothing to be afraid of in rebirth. Rebirth is nothing but the soul changing from one, so that it can keep moving on and on upon its journey back to its original home.
It is therefore, something of a misnomer to even call it as rebirth. What is being reborn? Is it the soul? No! Because as we see, the soul exists and continues to exist. Is it the body, which is reborn? No! Because it is a new body that is created out of the elements for the use of the soul. Then what is it that is reborn, if anything? I can only say that the whole concept of rebirth seems to be and unnecessary one, if we view the matter from the above view-point, as being nothing but the change of vehicle necessary for the advancement of the soul to the Goal.
First we have to establish what is our goal. And if the goal falls something short of what we should truly aspire for, then it very often happens that our search ends unsatisfactorily. It does not satisfy us and we cannot reach the real goal because we have reduced the goal in our eyes.
The goal is to achieve the original condition that was prevailing before this creation came into being. The cycle of birth and death continues indefinitely. The problem before us is not to find out a solution of our present life but for all lives that we may henceforth have. In the wider sense, it covers the entire existence of soul in various forms – gross or subtle – at different times, till the time of Mahapralaya (final extinction).
Every time we think of something and we become attached to what we think about, an impression is formed in the mind. That impression which the thought creates becomes the parent of an action or of an activity. And when the activity is indulged in, when then the activity is under taken, the impression becomes deeper in this way, we enter into what we may call a repetitive cycle of existence. It is perhaps in this fashion that habits are formed. And as these impressions become deeper and deeper they solidify. At this stage we find that we are in a very real sense, captives of our own past.
I personally experienced about self-thoughts. I have lots of unanswered questions and wonder every time when I think of such questions like from where I came? Why I named like this? Why I have to lead this type of life style (religious oriented)? Where I will go after my death? Some of my thoughts and dreams, which I come across in the present time, state me with incidents, happened in the past. Many of the dreams are clue less and a sure nightmare, which results in high blood pressure, fast heart beat etc. there is no other way than meditation which can completely control our inner feelings and thoughts. So I decided mediation is the right path and it is the first step in my life to know about all those. Even though I’m practicing mediation for past 5 years I didn’t get answers for of my questions. Instead of that I can feel some character changes in my side. Like
(i) Not to expect anything from others.
(ii) It’s my duty to do all my works with full satisfactions and involvement.
(iii) Taking every thing in easy manner.
(iv) No tension
(v) Gaining freedom from selfishness and separateness; finding joy in helping
Spirituality is the science and the art of remembrance. We have forgotten our original home from where we have descended to this world in which we are living now. We have become so addicted to material life and values that we no longer remember that original home of Our Father whom people call God, or by any other name. Now, before we can return to that home, there must be something that will make us remember that home. How can someone go to a place of which he knows nothing? And how can he go if he does not remember it? People talk of amnesia, but I am telling you that here we have a permanent amnesia. Therefore I told you that spirituality is the science and the art of remembrance.
In its travel back to its original homes, the soul is the traveler. The way is the life that it adopts on its way home. The vehicle is the body in which it travels through life. Looked at in this way, we see that there is nothing to be afraid of in rebirth. Rebirth is nothing but the soul changing from one, so that it can keep moving on and on upon its journey back to its original home.
It is therefore, something of a misnomer to even call it as rebirth. What is being reborn? Is it the soul? No! Because as we see, the soul exists and continues to exist. Is it the body, which is reborn? No! Because it is a new body that is created out of the elements for the use of the soul. Then what is it that is reborn, if anything? I can only say that the whole concept of rebirth seems to be and unnecessary one, if we view the matter from the above view-point, as being nothing but the change of vehicle necessary for the advancement of the soul to the Goal.
First we have to establish what is our goal. And if the goal falls something short of what we should truly aspire for, then it very often happens that our search ends unsatisfactorily. It does not satisfy us and we cannot reach the real goal because we have reduced the goal in our eyes.
The goal is to achieve the original condition that was prevailing before this creation came into being. The cycle of birth and death continues indefinitely. The problem before us is not to find out a solution of our present life but for all lives that we may henceforth have. In the wider sense, it covers the entire existence of soul in various forms – gross or subtle – at different times, till the time of Mahapralaya (final extinction).
Every time we think of something and we become attached to what we think about, an impression is formed in the mind. That impression which the thought creates becomes the parent of an action or of an activity. And when the activity is indulged in, when then the activity is under taken, the impression becomes deeper in this way, we enter into what we may call a repetitive cycle of existence. It is perhaps in this fashion that habits are formed. And as these impressions become deeper and deeper they solidify. At this stage we find that we are in a very real sense, captives of our own past.
I personally experienced about self-thoughts. I have lots of unanswered questions and wonder every time when I think of such questions like from where I came? Why I named like this? Why I have to lead this type of life style (religious oriented)? Where I will go after my death? Some of my thoughts and dreams, which I come across in the present time, state me with incidents, happened in the past. Many of the dreams are clue less and a sure nightmare, which results in high blood pressure, fast heart beat etc. there is no other way than meditation which can completely control our inner feelings and thoughts. So I decided mediation is the right path and it is the first step in my life to know about all those. Even though I’m practicing mediation for past 5 years I didn’t get answers for of my questions. Instead of that I can feel some character changes in my side. Like
(i) Not to expect anything from others.
(ii) It’s my duty to do all my works with full satisfactions and involvement.
(iii) Taking every thing in easy manner.
(iv) No tension
(v) Gaining freedom from selfishness and separateness; finding joy in helping
others
(vi) Improvement in concentration.
MEDITATION
Meditation is not about doing something; rather it is all about doing nothing; just being in silence, experiencing sheer emptiness and enjoying it
But enjoyment too is a mind-oriented experience. Both joy and sorrow are experienced by mind, and anything done and experienced by mind falls out of the category of meditation. It is our mind that causes all mental and emotional diseases. Not only do we suffer because of mind but also we bring suffering upon others also due to its ignorance. All doing is from the mind, by the mind, but meditation is coming out of the mind. Meditation is being with our true self; having able to control on all activities of mind, senses and making the right choices for us.
(vi) Improvement in concentration.
MEDITATION
Meditation is not about doing something; rather it is all about doing nothing; just being in silence, experiencing sheer emptiness and enjoying it
But enjoyment too is a mind-oriented experience. Both joy and sorrow are experienced by mind, and anything done and experienced by mind falls out of the category of meditation. It is our mind that causes all mental and emotional diseases. Not only do we suffer because of mind but also we bring suffering upon others also due to its ignorance. All doing is from the mind, by the mind, but meditation is coming out of the mind. Meditation is being with our true self; having able to control on all activities of mind, senses and making the right choices for us.
Though meditation is usually recognized as a largely spiritual practice, it also has many health benefits. The yoga and meditation techniques are being implemented in management of life threatening diseases; in transformation of molecular and genetic structure; in reversal of mental illnesses, in accelerated learning programs, in perceptions and communications beyond the physical, in solving problems and atomic and nuclear physics; in gaining better ecological understanding; in management of lifestyle and future world problems.
No comments:
Post a Comment