Hindu article-Nature of Reality

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Nature of Reality

 

 

CHENNAI, FEB.11 . Hinduism is not a polytheistic

religion as according to the scriptures there is only

one transcendental Reality (Brahman) and all gods are

His different manifestations. The state of this

Supreme consciousness lies beyond the three familiar

states of waking, dream and sleep and hence

metaphorically called the fourth state. The Bhagavad

Gita gives an analytical description of the Supreme

Being and posits that He is present everywhere. Then

why is He not apparent to perception?

 

This can be appreciated with the analogy of the

knowledge of presence of butter in milk, which we are

unable to see, as it is all-pervasive. Hence it has to

be extracted from the milk through a laborious process

by heating the milk, cooling it and then setting it to

form curd. Then the curd is churned till the butter

separates. The path to gain knowledge of the Almighty

also requires a certain procedure. The spiritual

aspirant first pursues worldly life as a householder

with its trials and tribulations and this can be

likened to heating the milk. In the next stage one

retires from active life to spend the time in intense

spiritual pursuits. This is akin to cooling the milk.

Scriptural study, which is an intellectual activity,

can be compared to the churning of the curd and the

butter to the resulting knowledge of the Reality.

 

In his lecture, Swami Parthasarathy said the majority

of people had the herd instinct and followed what

everyone did. But in life one cannot afford to be

complacent without reflecting on questions like where

one is heading for in life. Such existential questions

will eventually lead one on the spiritual path. Lord

Krishna explains the nature of the Reality in the Gita

by personifying Brahman. This is necessary to

highlight that this state is beyond the three states

of consciousness familiar to man. To a person who is

dreaming what he perceives seems real till he wakes

up. Human predicament is also similar and a

transformation in consciousness is necessary to grasp

the truth. He reiterates, "He who knows Me in reality

as unborn and without beginning and as the Supreme

Lord of the universe, he among men overcomes delusion

and is rid of all sins." The principle that makes man

perceive, feel and think is the Self (Atman). The Self

is encrusted with desires, which cloud its divine

nature. Just as a brass vessel will shine after it is

cleaned so also knowledge will remove man's ignorance

and enable him to realise his spiritual nature.

 

 

Copy Right:The Hindu-Daily

 

 

 

 

 

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