Self-Realisation: Cosmic Vision Alone Reveals the Truth

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Self-Realisation: Cosmic Vision Alone Reveals the Truth

By Ashutosh Ji Maharaj

 

True realisation takes place on knowing and seeing God in His

transcendental form. It is a metaphysical experience within the human

body. The manifestation of inherent divinity is in reality the

revelation of the divine self of man. This is not different from the

Supreme Self that permeates even the tiniest particle in the

universe. It is accessible to all human beings.

 

It is upon this trans-sensuous experience that we become truly

religious.

 

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita , " Neither by study of the

Vedas nor by austere penance, nor by charity, nor even by rituals can

I be seen in my transcendental form, Arjuna " . In an earlier verse

(4.34), Krishna tells Arjuna that this para- vidya or knowledge of

the spirit can be imparted by a wise seer and an illumined soul

alone. Such a sadguru does not stuff your mind with prolific

description of Atman and Parmatman , but one who takes you beyond the

different paths of realisation.

 

Mere reading and recitation of religious texts and scriptures does

not make one learned, nor does it help in attaining salvation. Adi

Shankaracharya in the Vivekchudamani says: " Without taking the

medicine, by just repeating the name of the medicine, no malady can

be cured. Likewise, without practical perception and experience,

merely repeating the words, no one can attain salvation " . Both the

Kathopanishad and the Mundaka Upanishad say: " The Supreme Brahma

cannot be attained just by reading the scriptures and listening to

religious discourses. God can neither be attained through the mind

nor by logic. He is accessible only to those who have a strong

craving to know and unravel the Supreme Secret and essence of God " .

 

Sufi saint Bulleshah asked, " One may have read many scriptures and

may have a large collection of books but if there is gloom in the

heart, without grace of murshid (guru) , how can supreme bliss and

fulfilment be possible? " Adi Sankara in the Vivekchudamani further

said, " No matter how sweetly one talks, how elaborately one explains,

how expertly one interprets the Vedas, if that truth is unknown,

salvation is not possible. The Vedas speak of the inner world which

cannot be perceived by mind, intellect and sense organs " .

 

The Gurbani emphasises that one should not limit oneself to reading

only but should also strive to know and attain Him. Even the 18

Puranas and the four Vedas have not been able to unravel the mystery

of God. Had not Ravana , the demon king, mastered the Puranas and the

Vedas by heart? We need to rise above dogmatic and ritualistic habits

and follow the path shown by the Shastras to attain salvation.

Reading the holy scriptures, recitation of mantras and hymns and

singing of devotional songs alone cannot make us 'religious'. In the

bargain, we only end up being arrogant and grow disdainful of others.

 

No doubt, our holy scriptures give us a vivid account of the glory

and splendour of the omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent nature of

the Supreme Being. The divine play in various forms at different

times enacted by the Lord in his many incarnations in human garb on

this Earth in His Saguna Swarupa are not presented simply to

demonstrate his playfulness but have a definite purpose and meaning

for all of us. The immanence and transcendence of the Supreme Brahman

in human embodiment cannot be understood by mere intellect and logic.

This is comprehensible only to those who have known and seen His

cosmic vision.

 

The many incarnations and manifestations of divine power are

classified as nimit avtaars and nitya avtaars. Every nimit avtaar had

a definite purpose. The nitya avtaars in the form of saints and sages

have always remained on earth to provide direction for a meaningful

life. As a natural corollary, India abounds in holy scriptures that

provide a deep insight into the immanence and transcendence of God.

 

The life of every individual is an unstable mixture of pairs of

opposites. For most of us, everyday life is replete with trials and

tribulations of varying degrees and magnitude. While the thoughtful

among men seek to know the meaning and purpose of life, the ignorant

ones just grumble and talk of a ''cruel'' God whenever in distress.

Human life has a higher and nobler purpose and the destiny of a human

being is to move higher up in the cosmic order to reach perfection

and to realise the permanent and Supreme Bliss in the Realm of God.

The religious books themselves exhort human beings to know and

realise the real aim of their life and not just confine themselves to

ritualistic reading and recitation of scriptures.

 

Self-Realisation: Cosmic Vision Alone Reveals the Truth

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