Prarabdha and Effort

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Prarabdha and Effort

I have read as much as possible the books written on Ramana Maharishi

and more in the "Maharishi" newsletters. Through my research I came

to the conclusion that according to his teachings there is a

succession of rebirths for the individual self; that is, as long as

the ego is not dropped, there will be rebirth. This teaching of his

on reincarnation is confirmed when he mentions that some individuals

realized the Self in a short period of time while others struggled

long because he said it was their "prarabdha." Even the reason for

leaving his home at sixteen he explained as his "prarabdha."

So here is my confusion: when I began reading related Advaitic

teachings of other teachers I learned that there is only

Consciousness, and everybody (they call it "body mind organism" is

preprogrammed by karma and thus there is no free will. Therefore,

there is no rebirth and no reincarnation. I have no problem believing

that there is only Consciousness or the Self and there is no free

will. However, preprogramming is the part which I am struggling with.

According to the teachings of Ramana Maharishi, as I understand them,

this preprogramming (or no free will) is only because of the

prarabdha or past karma. But according to other Advaitic teachers

there is no such thing as rebirth and at death there is no difference

between a realized person and an unrealized person, i.e.,

individuality dissolves into the Consciousness, regardless or whether

he or she were realized or not.

Did I miss something from the teachings of Ramana Maharshi regarding

rebirth? Is sadhana worth an effort if the end result is the same?

Please help.

Devotee in California

 

Of course these writings of Advaitic teachers you have read are bound

to cause some confusion. According to the creed of Advaita known as

Ajatavada there is no birth or death, no liberation or bondage and

not even an individual. The one Supreme Reality alone exists. Those

who can immediately grasp the absolute truth of these statements and

realize it have nothing more to do with the body, the world and

duality. But such a one is extremely rare. For the vast majority,

dedicated, one-pointed effort is required.

About realization the Maharshi has said: "If we can attain it or be in

it, it is all right. But one cannot reach it without effort, the

effort of deliberate meditation. All the age long vasanas

(impressions) carry the mind outwards and turn it to external

objects. All such thoughts have to be given up and the mind turned

inward. For that effort is necessary, for most people."

By such statements that you quoted we shouldn't be lulled into

thinking we are already liberated. In a delusive way we may think it

is so, but vasanas will continue to rise, attraction and aversion

will continue to cloud our vairagya and viveka, detachment and

discrimination. You will have to control the mind by Self-enquiry or

any other method and allow it to sink into the Heart.

Editor

 

THE MAHARSHI

November/December 2004Vol. 14 - No. 6

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Produced & Edited byDennis HartelDr. Anil K. Sharma

 

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