Q & A

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

I have tried to explain broadly, from my understanding

of hindu scriptures, mainly the Bhagavat Purana and

some Upanishads. The interpretations are my own.

 

1.The existence of the universe is said to be due to a

'desire' born in the Universal Spirit or Purusha. This

can be seen as an energy emanated out of spirit. Out

of this desire was born Prakriti or nature. Nature in

turn is said to have created other levels such as

Mahat, ahamkar and the other worlds including the

physical worlds. The reason for this desire and the

consequent creation itself is said to be 'Leela' or

divine amusement and is said to happen again and again

endlessly.

 

2. There are said to be seven different levels of

existence which were created in the process. These

are, Bhur, Bhuvar,Svar, Mahar, Japa, Tapa and Satya

in an ascending order of divinity. These can be seen

as worlds or realms existing in concentric circles

extending outward from the divine centre with Satya

loka being the innermost and the other worlds one

beyond the other to the lowest at the outermost

circle. The realms are grosser as we go outward and

more subtle as we proceed inward.

 

3. My personal understanding is that Jivas or

individual spirits have emanated outward from the

Divine centre, like rays from the sun, and having

picked up energies from all the seven worlds in the

process, have been covered in seven concentric layers

or sheaths. These sheaths creat the illusion(maya)

and ignorance (avidya) that we are subjected to. The

jiva thereby gets trapped in the lowest form of life.

Then as the emanation is drawn inwards(through divine

grace or kripa) the jiva slowly loses these sheaths

layer by layer by taking on appropriate bodies to suit

the level at which it is. This results in the jiva

entering several lower forms of life before it takes

on a human form in which it becomes capable of

reaching even the Satya loka.

 

4. When a human being dies, depending on the level at

which his consciousness exists at that point of time,

he will go to that realm and return again to earth in

a suitable body to carry on the process of removing

the ignorance.

 

5. There is nothing called 'true' knowledge. Any

knowledge that makes a jiva progress to higher realms

is true knowledge for that jiva. Like children

studying in school, true knowledgs is that which helps

the child go to the higher class. The knowledge that a

child in high school may have is not relevant to the

child in primary school. Knowledge is to be uncovered

layer by layer as we progress upwards.

 

6. That which makes us go to higher levels is 'right'

and that which prevents us from going to higher levels

is 'wrong'. Right and wrong are relative ideas and not

absolute. In this context, 'Sva Dharma' or 'one's own

path' is relevant. If we follow our Sva dharma we

will be right even if it is wrong according to someone

else's dharma.

 

7. History is only a record of different individuals

(mostly famous persons) performing their dharma (duty)

in the stage of life. While we should learn from the

ideas & experiences of persons before us, it should

not hold us back. As per the theory of karma &

reincarnation, we are largely the same people whom we

read about in history, only in different bodies.

Except for those who reach Mukti or salvation, the

others will come back in the future to read about

today as history.

 

Thanks & regards.

 

Sriram

 

 

 

--- Vivekananda Centre <vivekananda

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> Answers on Hinduism

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> I am preparing for a class in which I am to discuss

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