The Real Nature of Man

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What is the utility, the effect, the result, of this knowledge? In

these days, we have to measure everything by utility--by how many

pounds, shillings, and pence it represents. What right has a person

to ask that truth should be judged by the standard of utility or

money? Suppose there is no utility, will it be less true? Utility is

not the test of truth. Nevertheless, there is the highest utility in

this. Happiness, we see, is what everyone is seeking for, but the

majority seek it in things which are evanescent and not real. No

happiness was ever found in the senses. There never was a person who

found happiness in the senses or in the enjoyment of the senses.

Happiness is only found in the Spirit. Therefore the highest utility

for mankind is to find this happiness in the Spirit. The next point

is that ignorance is the great mother of all misery, and the

fundamental ignorance is to think that the Infinite weeps and cries,

that He is finite. This is the basis of all ignorance that we, the

immortal, the ever pure, the perfect Spirit, think that we are little

minds, that we are little bodies; it is the mother of all

selfishness. As soon as I think that I am a little body, I want to

preserve it, to protect it, to keep it nice, at the expense of other

bodies; then you and I become separate. As soon as this idea of

separation comes, it opens the door to all mischief and leads to all

misery. This is the utility that if a very small fractional part of

human beings living today can put aside the idea of selfishness,

narrowness, and littleness, this earth will become a paradise

tomorrow; but with machines and improvements of material knowledge

only, it will never be. These only increase misery, as oil poured on

fire increase the flame all the more. Without the knowledge of the

Spirit, all material knowledge is only adding fuel to fire, only

giving into the hands of selfish man one more instrument to take what

belongs to others, to live upon the life of others, instead of giving

up his life for them.

 

Is it practical?--is another question. Can it be practised in modern

society? Truth does not pay homage to any society, ancient or modern.

Society has to pay homage to Truth or die. Societies should be

moulded upon truth, and truth has not to adjust itself to society. If

such a noble truth as unselfishness cannot be practised in society,

it is better for man to give up society and go into the forest. That

is the daring man. There are two sorts of courage. One is the courage

of facing the cannon. And the other is the courage of spiritual

conviction. An Emperor who invaded India was told by his teacher to

go and see some of the sages there. After a long search for one, he

found a very old man sitting on a block of stone. The Emperor talked

with him a little and became very impressed by his wisdom. He asked

the sage to go to his country with him. " No, " said the sage, " I am

quite satisfied with my forest here. " Said the Emperor, " I will give

you money, position, wealth. I am the Emperor of the world. " " No, "

replied the man. " I don't care for those things. " The Emperor

replied, " If you do not go, I will kill you. " The man smiled serenely

and said, " That is the most foolish thing you have ever said,

Emperor. You cannot kill me. Me the sun cannot dry, fire cannot burn,

sword cannot kill, for I am the birthless, the deathless, the ever-

living omnipotent, omnipresent Spirit. " This is spiritual boldness,

while the other is the courage of a lion or a tiger. In the Mutiny of

1857 there was a Swami, a very great soul, whom a Mohammedan mutineer

stabbed severely. The Hindu mutineers caught and brought the man to

the Swami, offering to kill him. But the Swami looked up calmly and

said, " My brother, thou art He, thou art He! " and expired. This is

another instance. What good is it to talk of the strength of your

muscles, of the superiority of your Western institutions, if you

cannot make Truth square with your society, if you cannot build up a

society into which the highest Truth will fit? What is the good of

this boastful talk about your grandeur and greatness, if you stand up

and say, " This courage is not practical. " Is nothing practical but

pounds, shillings, and pence? If so, why boast of your society? That

society is the greatest, where the highest truths become practical.

That is my opinion; and if society is not fit for the highest truths,

make it so; and the sooner, the better. Stand up, men and women, in

this spirit, dare to believe in the Truth, dare to practise the

Truth! The world requires a few hundred bold men and women. Practise

that boldness which dares know the Truth, which dares show the Truth

in life, which does not quake before death, nay, welcomes death,

makes a man know that he is the Spirit, that, in the whole universe,

nothing can kill him. Then you will be free. Then you will know your

real Soul. " This Atman is first to be heard, then thought about and

then meditated upon. "

 

- Swami Vivekananda

 

.... to be continued