DIFFERENT PLANES

      We often talk about different planes in Vedic Religion. We all can see and feel the PHYSICAL LEVEL or the Physical Plane . But then we have ASTRAL PLANE AND ALSO CAUSAL PLANE. And then in other way, we talk on different levels of planes - some call it 7 and some call it 14. So the question comes up. as to if we have different planes then why we cannot see or feel them.? 

    That brings me today's blog. I was wondering about astral plane or subtle plane. In out talk on 3 different bodies we had talked about Physical Body, Astral or Subtle Body and Causal Body. These are the the 3 planes for the ENTIRE UNIVERSE. There is Physical Universe that we see around us consisting of the the earth and Sun and the Moon and the stars and galaxies and so on. We have ability to perceive it with our senses. But the Astral or Causal universe is  not visible. The ASTRAL plane is the plane where everything which is Astral is there - just like Physical plane is where everything that is physical is there. The attachment between Physical and Astral is not as firm as is between Astral plane or body and Causal plane or body. The CAUSAL BODY AND ASTRAL BODY CAN NOT BE SEPERATED as Astral body exist only due to Causal body. These planes are not far from our physical plane, but are mingled with it. But sine there is no physical element in those planes ,we cannot feel it and perceive it and so are not aware of it , even though it is right HERE . 

    I have often given example of computer to explain these planes or bodies. We have computer which consist of Hardware , soft ware and a power source. The Hardware cannot function unless it has software and both cannot do anything without power supply. So the hardware is the PHYSICAL BODY. It is is needed to EXPRESS the Software . But software is useless if it does not have hardware. But Both hardware and software are useless until they have  POWER SOURCE the electric power or batteries etc. The same way physical body is useless without astral body - the mind the intellect, ego and CHITTA. And they both are useless without the, Causal body which is fuel for them to work .So the Causal body could be considered as the Battery  in computer. IN MY VIEW THE GOD OR HIS / HER REFLECTION IS THE ULTIMATE POWER which charges the causal body . 

   So the different planes are her and intermingles but since they are not physical we cannot perceive them.

AVATAR OR DEVINE REINCARNATION

       In Vedic religion, there is a concept of reincarnation of God . All the living beings have reincarnation and that is not optional . Everyone who is born will die and after death everyone will have to be reborn. There is no choice . But when the GOD reincarnates to help the human beings , that reincarnation is called AVATAR . In Geeta Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that he is GOD and he is reincarnated to help mankind. So in Hindu religion, we have 10 AVATARS in all before the universe ends. So far we have had 9 and , 19th will be there sometimes in future . Some believe that the 10 Avataras are in reality evolution of life . The first is MASYA - FISH ,second is KASYA - TURTLE ,third is VARAH- BORE, fourth is NARASINH-HALF MAN - HALF LION, fifth is VAMAN- SHORT MAN , sixth is PARASHURAM- MAN WITH WEAPONS ,seventh is RAMA- IDEAL KING ,eighth is KRISHNA- 9th is BUDHA and tenth is or will be KALAKI . 

     As one can see from aquatic to amphibian to land animal followed by half animal - half man and then with progression rest of them till KRISHNA , which was considered COMPLETE AVATAR . In complete AVATAR , the Lord Krishna knew that he was GOD in human form.

    But then the confusion arises as we often say XYZ is AVATAR OF God -DATTA OR GANESH etc. So again we have different types of AVATARAS . They are -

AVESH - In this form of Avatara , the God enters the human body and that person has qualities or energy to perform certain things , which otherwise would not have been possible in human form AVESH means entering or possession . 

PRABHAV- In this type of Avatar, there are qualities of the God which has origin from the GOD and the source is not Human being but it is the God , but that human being is not GOD . This could be considered as PARTIAL AVATARA. 

VAIBHAV - In this type of AVATATARA, we have wealth or  Grandeur or TEJ . This is suppose to be MORE COMPLETE .

PARAVASTH- This is complete form of reincarnation or the so called TM stage. In gthis form they have all the qualities and power of the GOD.

    If one loks at PARASHURAM- RAM AND KRISHNA , one can see the difference as KRISHNA WAS COMPLETE AVATAR. 

त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षम तत्व असि - TWAMEV PRATYAKSHAM TATW ASI

     त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षम तत्व असि -This is the beginning of ATHARVASHIRSH . This is the STOTRA for Lord Ganesh and the first line is त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षम तत्व असि . When people talk about the meaning of it they have standard explanation. YOU ARE THE TATWA . It is true but I feel that the line means little different. In Sanskrit 2 different words are use -PRATYAKSH and APAROKSHA . The meaning of AKSHA is EYES. 

    When we are talking about a proof -in general talk or legally, we say that 'I saw it with MY OWN EYES . So when we talk about something being REAL , we talk about SEEING IT. For us the eyes or seeing it is 100% proof of something being real. So when we say the first line, it means that YOU ARE THAT TATVA WHICH IS SEEN BY THE EYES. When we talk about the BRAHMAN or the TATVA it can not be perceived by any of the senses .By definition whatever is perceived by the senses is not BRAHMAN. So here we are told that something that we cann0ot perceive by senses , becomes visible for out understanding, and that is LORD GANESH So here we are talking about SAGOON and NIRGOON . The word SAGOON mean- One with GOONAS or qualities and NIRGOON means one without GOONAS. The BRAHMAN has no GOONAS as the GOONAS is belonging to PRAKRUTI . But when we want to see the TATVA or BRAHMAN , then it becomes ONE WITH GOONAS or SAGOON. 

  So in this line is telling us that if one wants to SEE the BRAHMAN then Lord GANESH  IS THAT.

MOKSHA -WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE GETS MOKSHA

    We have often heard the terms like NIRVAN, MOKSHA - FREEDON etc. But what exactly happens with that stage ? We know and many accept that when we have desires and we die -or our ASTRAL AND CAUSAL bodies leave the Physical bodies , then we call it a death. But we still have 2 other bodies namely Astral or SUKSHMA SHARIR and CAUSAL or KARAN SHARIR . So all out desires are stored there and ten when we found suitable new physical body, we come back to fulfill our desires and exhaust our VASANAS. Noe suppose that one has exhausted ALL THE VASANAS AND ATTACHMENTS , then what happens to the 2 bodies - ASTRAL and CAUSAL bodies. If the astral body has MIND -INTELLECT WGO AND CHITTA - can it sustain without the physical body ?

   The answer is not simple and there are different thoughts and responses given by different people. One of the examples that was given by YOGANAND , was by giving example of ocean water , which is enclosed in a bottle and that bottle is put in another bottle and these 2 are put in a third bottle . The bottles represent  2 bodies and the water in the bottle represents soul - consciousness or reflected consciousness. So the outermost bottle breaks at the time of death and the soul the water with 2 remaining bottles remain. The consciousness pervades everything or everything is happening IN THE CONSCIOUSNESS . So only way OUR CONSCIOUSNESS - REFLECETD will merge in universal consciousness , is when the all the bottles are broken . Think of these bottles are thrown in ocean  and even though the water inside the bottle is same as one in ocean - they remain separate . Once the ALL 3 bottles are broken , then the water from inside the bottle mixes with water from ocean. 

    THEN THERE IS NO  SEPERATE EXISTANCE.

   This is one way of thinking. The other way is that there are different levels of existence in ASTRAL WORLD. Some say 7 levels and some say more . But basic understanding is that when one loses STORAGE IN CAUSAL BODY -SUKSHMA SHARIR -of the VASANAS - IMPRESSIONS - SAUNSKAR - then one goes higher and higher . Once we have exhausted the VASANAS, then we are at highest level and we have  ACHOICE as to stay there as separate from the universal consciousness or become one with it. Those EVOLVED SOULS who want to help others can stay and come back and teach. Again this is one of the concepts. Hope this makes readers think even if don't have all the answers.  

ब्रह्म सत्यं जगत् मिथ्या-Brahman (the Absolute Reality) is True, the World (Jagat) is Illusory/Mithya

    This line or the verse has been said to us many a time  and we have difficulty in understanding it. The complete line is 'The individual soul is nothing but BRAHMAN'

But our experience does not go with this. We live in this world and we experience all the things around us like trees and mountains and rivers, fruits and many things in nature . We also experience the man made things like clothes and buildings and we have family and we have job and so on. So how can be the BRAHMAN can be the ONLY TRUE? This apparent paradox can be explained by definition of what 'REAL' or TRUE or REALITY.

    We call something real, when it does not change or one which is CHANGELESS. When I look at the table or chair , yes it is there and it is real in the usual sense -it is not figment of out imagination. But when we talk about real or not real , we use some other criteria . The table is there for now and it will appear unchanged for tomorrow. But would be unchanged in next 1 or 2 years ? Certainly not . It will change ,it will get warped if made of wood and get rusted if made of iron. So it CHANGES and then disappears . So everything that we see and experience CHANGES with TIME . The BRAHMAN is the only thing that does not change with time. So that is why we call the BRAHMAN as the only reality. 

   The other explanation which is rather difficult to digest or accept , is that the entire universe is nothing but a dream and we are players in the dream. If I have  dream - my entire dream is made by ME and the events that are happening are all CREATED by me. And when I wake up, everything that I see in my dream, is gone. The character in my dream are not aware of my existence  and MY world like my job, my home , my relatives etc. There is no way the dream characters have any idea or concept of the dreamer's so called real world. The same thing can be applied to US as character in the BIG DREAM.

     So if we are the characters in CREATER'S dream then we are not real. I understand this explanation but have hard time accepting it and I feel that when we talk or reality, we are taking about 'UNCHANGING' and limitless - No limits of DESH- KAAL - VASTU, means Location-Time -Identity. We all have these limits and only BRAHMAN has no such limits. The chair that I am sitting on is HERE and not THERE , that is limitation of location. It is here now and may not be there tomorrow -this is limitation of Time  and it is Chair and not table or computer -is the limitation of Identity. 

    So these are the some of the explanations of the statement that the Brahman is only REAL 

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पुर्णमुदच्यते THE MEANING

                                         ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पुर्णमुदच्यते

                                     पूर्णश्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥
                                         ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्त

This is the MANTRA in the ISHAVASHY UPANISHADA. The meaning of this is done by many and it differs and it causes the confusion . The meaning is THAT IS COMPLETE (OR INFINITE)ANDTHIS IS COMPLETE AND THIS COMPLETE COMES FROM THAT COMPLETE  AND THAT COMPLETE CONTINUES TO BE COMPLETE

      The confusion or question is , what is THAT and what is THIS . and everyone has their opinion And then how can complete remain complete when you take out complete. The answer is the way we consider origin of universe

   I think THAT is BRAHMAN and THIS is the UNIVERSE which includes living and nonliving things, Known and UNKNOWN things The BRHAMAN is infinite and complete is very well known. It is described as STYAM , DNYANAM, ANANTAM . The meaning of ANATAM is - one which does not have end or one which is INFINITE.As we have talked everything that we SEE has 3 limitations, namely DESH-KAAL -VASTU ,meaning PLACE - TIME AND IDENTITY. But the BRAHAMN does not have this limitation and is limitless in space and time. So this Mantra states that THAT which is complete THIS world which is complete comes out .But THAT complete REMAINS COMPLETE. 

    The entire univers - seen and unseen comes out of the BRAHMAN. One can state this in many different ways . One can give example of DREAM WORLD . The dream world -may contain people , at different places and and may have animals , plants and nonliving things - but all COME OUT OF THE DREAMER and the dreamer is not reduced and has no loss .The dreamer continues to be COMPLTE as he was before he had dream. The same way the BRAHMAN continues to be COMPLETE or INFINITE even after THIS UNIVERSE comes out of it.   

WHAT IS SOUL?

      The other day  I was checking my messages on a group chat, I and there was a news of someone passing away. This was followed by RIP-RIP-RIP by many. Then someone texted me asking me as to what is the concept of soul in Vedic religion and what happens to soul after death - death of physical body. Then we had exchange of texts and I thought of doing this blog. What I thought was what I told him and that is what I am writing here.

      The soul is a reflection of the CONSCIOUSNESS. So then the question comes as to where is this reflection and what happens to it after the death. How can it be carried from one life to other life. The reflection is not ORIGINAL THING , but still has the properties of the original thing. Let us take example of the Sun. When the Sun is reflected in a mirror, the reflection has the qualities of the Sun ,it has heat and also light .If we use lens to concentrate the image of the sun, then we can burn a paper.. But it is not real SUN. If we have a mirror, we will have a reflection of anything including the sun. The same thing can be applied to the human body. As one may recollect, we have 3 bodies namely physical body ,astral body  and causal body - STHUL SHARIR-SUKSHMA SHARIR AND KARAN SHARIR . The physical body dies at the time of so called death. But the 2 other bodies - Astral and Causal bodies are carried from one life to other. The IMPRESSIONS of our lives and KARMA are stored in CAUSAL BODY. And that is why we have rebirth. The Reflection of the Consciousness is in the CAUSAL BODY and the Astral body . As long as we have the MIRROR of these bodies , we have existence. This is THE SOUL-THE REFLECTION OF THE CONSCILUSNESS . This is the light - energy or the cause why we can think -act have intellect etc Without the fuel of this CONSCIOUSNESS , ONE WILL NOT HAVE ANY VALUE TO THE 2 BODIES. This can be compared to electricity. The computer works - the AC unit works -the Heater works and so does the light bulb. None of them can function without electricity . But the electricity ITSELF does not heat or cool or give light etc. The same is true of the reflected consciousness. IT ITSELF DOES NOT DO ANYTHING . But for mind to think , we need the consciousness. ASLONG AS THE MIRRORS OF ASTRAL AND CAUSAL BODIES ARE THERE there will be reflection and the SOUL IS THERE as an separate  entity - separate but still dependent. The only way we can have MUKTI or FREEDOM is when we have broken the CAUSAL BODY MIRROR. The astral body exists due to causal body  and causal body is there as we continue to accumulate KARMIC IMPRESSIONS. So now you know ,how to achieve NIRVANA and what is the SOUL. 

THE OBSTACLE TO FREE WILL

         We often talk of  Free Will and say that we have free will and we should use it . All our legal system and ethical thought process is based on Free Will .I have free will to drive within speed limit . I have a free will to not steal . I have free will to not beat someone. If I don't us it then I am liable for my Actions and then the punishment that follows . This is legal. The same hold true of ethical issues. I am suppose to tell truth . I am suppose to not cheat and so on . The Law of Karma , is based on free will and every action has reaction. So in spite of that , we see people that do not act in right directions. So what is the reason behind it - why do people do  not DO RIGHT THING ?

     We often see diabetic person , who eats too many sweets and then gets elevated blood sugar . or person with hypertension eating too much salt . The obese person not doing exercise of diet control. My answer is that we all are guided by our PREVIOUS KARAMAS and the impression that they have created . I have often used term 'the circle of mind'. When we do an action , that leaves impression and that impression leads to a desire and that desire leads to new action. I see a pizza and i eat it - the action. My action leads to impression, I like it or I hate it . This impression leads to desire - I either want to eat it -if I like it or I want to avoid eating it if I hate it . This desire will lead to an action or either eating it or avoiding it . If I eat it , I have again impression and that leads to desire and so on. This is circle of mind. The problem is that these impressions are not only from present life , but are from many previous lives and actions that we have done in past lives. So these guide us in our present life. In spite of KNOWING right action and having a Free Will to do the right action, my previous impressions lead to my new action being NOT RIGHT. This is the main opposing force. So we have free will and we can and should act in right way , but our karmic impressions tell us to other way and do wrong things - eating sweets or not exercising or eating too much or drinking alcohol etc. Not all of us have enough FREE WILL to counteract these forces . If we all did , then we all will be slim and trim and follow the laws.

     

THOUGHTS AND KARMA

   The origin of thought is  s deep question. I wrote  a blog on PATANJALISUTRAYOGA.BLOGSPOT.COM .In this blog I want to expand on that thought. We have thousands of thoughts and what is the origin of thought . In my other blog I talked about PARAA-PASHYANTI -MADHYAMA AND VAIKHARI as 4 languages in Vedic religion. But I think ALL our thoughts are  related to our KARMA. Without a karma and impression that it causes we will have no thoughts. Say I see a cake and I have desire to eat it. The Karma in this particular thought is 2 folds . One is me SEEING THE CAKE . The Karma could be done by any of the organs of actions - KARMENDRIYE .In past I had tasted the cake - the Action or Karma of putting the cake in my mouth and then tasting it . I either liked it or hated it and so that lead to my DESIRE to eat the cake or not eat it. My previous experience from my previous Action leads to having a thought .If one has diabetes , than even though there is Desire or thought of eating and enjoying it , he will not eat it . So the thought or origin of the thought to eat comes from experience of the taste of cake  and the thought of NOT EATING it also comes from experience of having raised blood sugar with eating. So our desires come from our Karma - Actions. If we had never tasted the cake there would not be thought to eat it and if we had not had experience of elevated blood sugar -no thought to avoid eating it would have come. 

   Our thoughts also come from our previous experiences even when we have not had any direct experience. If I see a red stove - I know that the hot stove coil will be red and so I will avoid it . But here my mind compares the redness that I see with my previous experience of having had burns with hor stove or someone telling that red stove is hot and so avoid it. The thought to avoid comes from my previous Karma. 

If I see a tiger my previous experience direct or indirect from reading about tiger - will lead to thought of running away as quickly as possible . But a child of 2 years age who has never seen a tiger or had education about tiger will not have thought of running away. In fact it may think of tiger as LARGE CAT that he has seen and his thought would be to pat it . Again previous karma leads to the thought. 

   So all thoughts come from our own Karma. 

WHY WE DO NOT REMEMBER PAST LIVES EXPERIENCES?

      In Vedic religion, we have concept of reincarnation. We believe that our present life is shaped by our past lives experiences , but we do not remember the experiences . So why is is it that we do ot remember last life  and how can we learn from our mistakes or bad behavior if we do not KNPW or remember why we did in last lives. If we remember  previous lives , it will add the confusion to our present life. Our relationships may be different in present life than  last life. But we do have IMPRESSIONS of our past lives . 

   The answer is that the impressions of our Karmas and our actions and our experiences are stores not as EXACT MEMORY like in our present life. If I see a person , or a dog , I will remember him or it as a person with certain name , certain look and certain voice and behaviors . The same with dog . This is stored in our physical brain  and so we do have PHYSICAL MEMORY and we can recall in THIS life. But when we die , our physical body is destroyed  and this PHYSICAL memory is gone . But our ASTRAL body and CAUSAL body are still there , and the effects of our karma - experiences - progress -is all stored in that body, especially causal body. Say a person likes donuts or cakes ,in present like , If he is hungry, he may want to eat sweet , he will like to eat cake or donuts . But that liking for cake or donuts will be stored in astral body - causal body unit after the death of physical body.in a ABSTRACT FORM . Love for sweets and not as a specific sweet thing . So in next life , if he is born in America , he will love cakes and candy and ice cream. But if he is born as Indian in India then he may love Indian sweets like SHREEKHAND - JALEBI OR LADDU ETC. If he is born in some other cultures , he would like that culture's sweet things . 

  So we do have memory of previous life , but in an abstract form - like love for music - love for dog or animals, or scriptures - art - acting - music etc - BUT ALL IN ABSTRACT FORM.

CAN ANY ONE EXTEND LIFE BY JUST BLESSING ?

      We often say that out life expectancy is PRE DETERMINED . When we are born, it is determined as to when we are going to die. The term that we use is 'IT WAS TIME'. But then we have also heard when a Sage or highly evolved Yogi blesses someone and they have extension of life. We have heard that Jesus Crist has brought back to life a dead person . The same thing we have heard about many others in India like Sai Baba or Yukteshvar or some other Yogi. So if the life is limited and we are to die when it was predetermined at the time of birth, how can ANYONE EXTEND THE LIFE . 

    The life duration is based on the collection of Karma that are going to come to fruition with which we are born with. We have millions of Karmas that we have collected over period of thousands of life. Not all of them come to fruition in this life. But based on our Intense desires -attachments - VASANA or emotions - relations we are born certain environment- family- society. So when they are FULFILLED or exhausted, then the life ends. Once we understand this principle or accept it , then it is easy to understand my explanation.

    The highly evolved souls or the so called SAGES or Yogis, have power to borrow the fruits of Karmas that were not included in this present life and bring them to PRESENT LIFE for fruition. Once we have the fruits that can come alive in THIS LIFE , this life is extended. In short theses Yogis can BORROWES from FUTURE LIFVES. It is almost like we going to casino and we run out of money and then we go out and get MORE MONEY from bank . The bank is our STORED KARMAS- so called SANCHIT KARMA. 

DHARM YUDHYA AND DHARM

     In Indian or Hindu - VEDIC religion , we have one of the scriptures named BGAGAVAT GEETA . Most of the people that know anything about Hindu know he GEETA . When there was a war in between 2 sets of cousins ,namely PANDAVAS and KAURAVAS , one of the great warriors from Pandeva was Arjun. When he was standing in the battlefield, and saw all his relatives and friends that were on the opposite side , he was discouraged and dropped his weapons down and decided that he was not going to fight and KILL his relatives and friends and teaches etc. At that time Lord Krishan who was his charioteer, gave him a discourse on the religion and told him that this is DHARM YUDHYA - religious war and he must fight. The question that many have pondered is what is religious war ? 

       In any was  both sided FEEL that their side is righteous and they are right in fighting war. We can talk about any war - for Indians British and Indians  and if you go back the King Shivaji and Muslim king Auragjeb. The war that is going on in the middle east each side feels that they are right and the other side is wrong. As outside observer we van have same type of opinions. So how can any war be called DHRAM YUDHY?

    I feel that we have to define DHARM ,which is translated as RELIGION. But there are other meanings to the word DHARM. When we say wood floats in water and Iron sinks because that is their DHARM or quality. The conventional use of Dharma is religion and not quality. But when one takes in to account the meaning as the quality then the whole thing becomes different. The quality of SOUL or the reflection of the GOD is to be free . We call the soul enclosed or limited to the body as JIWATMA and it is free and limitless , but due to ignorance , it feels it is limited to the physical body. The physical body and the subtle body limits the ability of the soul to be free. So the DHARMA of soul is to be FREE and LIMITLESS  and does not have limits of DESH-LAK- VASTU meaning LOCATION -TIME AND SPECIFIC IDENTITY. So the DHARMA YUDHYA is that of soul with bodily limitation that come with physical body - with it's 5 organs of perception and 5 organs of action and the subtle body -mind intellect and ego . The sole is free but it is covered with ignorance and that limits it and one has to let it be free and that fight is the fight which is described in GEETA . 

    The war did happen but what Geeta is describing is the religious war HAPPENING IN OUT  as described above 

  

CHAKRAS AND 5 GREAT ELEMENTS -PANCHAMAHABHUTE

     We have known and often talk about the CHAKRA ,SOME TALK ABOUT 5 and some talk about 6 or more . But we all have heard of the CHAKRAS and location. The Chakras that we talk about Chakras and we know the locations . One must know that there are actual nerve plexus and think that they are the real CHAKRAS. But in reality the CHAKRAS are in astral body or SUKSHMA SHARIR . The Chakras are in Astral spine and they are located close to the physical spine nerve plexus. 

  The lowest one is called  Muladhar chakra and is in the are of lowest part of the spine - coccyx area , There are nerves and they do seem to correspond to that area nerves. It is associated with the element of EARTH and is related to excretion. The next one is in SACRAL area nerves  and that is called SWADHISTHAN CHAKRA and is related to the great element of water and it is related to procreations. The next one is in Lumbar area . This is called MANIPOOR  and is related to the great element of FIRE And it is related to may be hunger or power and control of the power. The next one is called ANAHAT and is located at thoracic spine - heart level . It is related to the great element of VAYOO or AIR , This is related to heart - love . The next higher one is called VISHUDHA . It is related to great element of AKASH or Ether  or SPACE. This is located at cervical spine or throat  area in physical body. The 2 higher ones are ADNYA CHAKRA and the  SAHASTRA. 

   It is also interesting to know that these Chakras have colors and TOGETHER they form white color. The color assigned to each one is Muladhsr is RED , Svadshistatn CHAKRA  is orange , the Manipoor is yellow , ANAHAT is Green , Vishudhha is blue and ADNA Chakra is Indigo in color and SAHASRSRA is Violet . The 7 colors that make the WHITE COLOR are assigned to the 7 CHAKRAS. 

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WHICH FORM OF GOD I WOULD SEE IF I EVER SEE THE GOD?

      I have been watching many videos on NONDUALITY or ADWATYA and find sometimes we find ourselves wondering as to WHAT IS REAL. On one side great people like Shree Ramakrishna  and Vivekanand and many others , talk of nonduality and everything HAPPENING in the consciousness. And then same people are worshiping Kali and other Gods which have forms and GUNAS or qualities. On one side we have formless - God which has no Gunas or qualities- so called NIRGUN- NIRAKAR god and then we have ISHVARA which has form and qualities - so called SAKAAR - SAGUN. So the question arises as to if I see GOD , which form will I see -would it be Lord Krishna , Lord Rama, Lord Ganesh or Lord Shankar .Are these Gods real and have a Form ? or is it out imagination and we have created these Gods in OUR IMAGE and Imagination?

     The answer is given by some . Most of the time not too many have answered this questions . My answer is is GOD WILL APPEAR TO YOU AS WHAT YOU WANT GOD TO BE. According to Sarvapriyanand , the image of the God that we worship is not an imagination but that form of God has appeared and has helped , blessed etc. So at Transactional level - VYAVAHARIC LEVEL, these Gods are REAL and not an imagination. And so it is perfectly fine to worship them in the FORM and still believing that ultimate is God is formless  and has no qualities. At spiritual level - so called ADHYATMIC LEVEL - may be at higher level the God is formless .We can say the at BHAKTIMARG - Devotional Path, the God has FORM AND QUALITIES  and at DNYAN MARG OR Path of Knowledge, HE is formless.

But the GOD IN FORM IS REAL AND HE OR SHE IS WHAT YOU WILL SEE IF AND WHEN YOU SEE THE GOD 

THE 3 GUNAS AND CAST SYSTEM

    One of the black mark that Indian or Hindu society is that of the caste system . Th MANU SMRUTI , as I was told has also mentioned the Cast system and the inheritance . If a  higher class man is married to same class woman, she gets higher percentage of his property than the lower cast women who is also married to the same man. So we as society have decided that the cast system is based on birth . In Bhagwat Geeta also there is mention of cast system. One of the shloka states that 'even Shudra and women can achieve me ---"So we have cast system and that was based on the birth and not on QUALITIES that one has . 

   The cast system is based on or is supposed to be based on what qualities one has and should not be based on which family one is born. This is related to 3 Gunas. The 4 casts are BRHMIN, KSHATRIYA,VAISHY AND SHUDRA. The Brahmin is supposed to be higher cast and Shudra is suppose to be lower cast. But in reality the basis for this classification is , on predominance of 3 Gunas. When the SATWIC Guna is dominant and  the Rajasic is less prominent and Tamasic  is minimal then the person is BRAHMIN. The the Brahmin are suppose to be teaches and priests and may be in professions which help people . They are not Fighters or soldiers and certainly not business people.

   When a person has prominence of Rajasic Guna and some of Satwic Guna and very little Tamasic Guna, then that person is kshatriya . These are soldiers or fighters . They do have Tamasic Guna proportion more than seen in Brahmins but Rajasic is much more and Satwic is less than seen in Brahmin.

   When the person has predominant Guna of Rajasic and less of Satwic and some of Tamasic , then they are VAISHYA or businessman . The Satwic is less than seen in Kshatriya and certainly much less than Brahmin , and Tamsic is much more than seen in Kshatriya. 

   The Shudra cast is suppose to be determined by predominance of Tamasic Guna . They do have some Rajasic and some Sattvic , but much less than Kshatriya and Vaishya casts. 

   The interesting part is that in reincarnation, one is reborn to fulfill his or her DESIRES and so one who is addicted to alcohol is likely to be born in family where alcohol is easily available and consumed . So the person born in  a family of one cast is more likely to have same Guna proportion as mentioned above , though there are exceptions. So though the cast should not be determined by the birth family cast, many may have same attitude and so they are menially and by birth belong to the same cast. 

  Again I FEEL THAT CAST SYSTEM IS BLEMISH ON HINDU SOCIETY AND BIRTH SHOULD NEVER DETREMINE THE CAST, BUT THE QUALITIES SHOULD DECIDE IT 

THREE GUNAS AND HUMAN BODY

     We in Hinduism ir Vedic religion talk about 3 Gunas. So how do they come to existence and what do they represent? The answer is in the Vedic concept of Origin of Universe. As I have stated in some of my blogs , the Universe has no REAL END. The cycles of Beginning and End continue for eternity and there is no first cycle and there will be no Last cycle. So when the universe end EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE goes to a Singularity . At the start of New universe, there is a disturbance in the 3 GOONAS or 3 Qualities , which till then were in balance. I would not go through the stages of development of the universe , and human body or so called BHOOTAS. But just mention as to what comes out of each Goonas. 

  The TAMASIC GOON COMBINES WITH 5 Great elements - 5 MAHABHUTASA and that leads to the substrate for the 5 sense organs ,namely the SOUND(SHABDA) TOUCH(SPARSH), TASTE (RAS),LOOK (ROOP),AND SMELL (GANDH).Remember that the Mahabhootas are changed when they are involved in formation of Universe - and Bhuootas. 

  The SATVIC GOONA combines with 3 Great elements or MAHABHUTAS and the leads to 5 Sense Organs and ANTAHKARAN . There is no suitable word for this Sanskrit word. 

   The RAJASIC  GOONA combines with 5 Great Elements or PANCHMAHABHUTAS and then it produces the 5 Organs of ASCTION or KARMENDRIYE. They are HANDS . LEGS , PROCREATION , EXCRETION and SPEECH . 

तमेव् प्रत्यक्षं तत् त्वं असि -YOY ARE THAT

  तमेव् प्रत्यक्षं तत् त्वं असि  is from Ganpati Atharv Shirsh .and that is first statement after bowing done to Lord Ganesh and many of us say it but never think about it. So I thought of doing a small blog on it तम् त्वत् असि is very well known , famous line in Hindu scripters and was stated in CHHANDOKYA UPANISHADA. UDYALAK who is father of SHWETAKETU and is teaching him about THAT PRINCIPLE which is PARAMATMA or BRAHAMN and he states that YOU ARE THAT. So he is telling son that you are not body -mind -intellect , but you are THAT. Now in the line that I stated above , there is one more word , which is प्रत्यक्षं. This means 'AS SEEN BY EYES'. So now the statement is you are that which is seen by eyes . The BRAHMAN is not something that ca be seen -the word BRAHMAN means VAST . But we also have other qualities , principle of which is one which cannot be perceived . So if we can see it - it cannot be BRHAMAN . But here they are telling us that BRAHMAN which can be SEEN is Lord Ganesh or the form of BRAHAN that for out understanding or convenience is nothing other that Ganesh which is visible to human eyes .

   In Patanjali Sutra Yoga there are different proofs or PRMANAS that are described . They are 3 proofs .PRATAKSHYA -ANUMAN AND AAGAM . When we are talking to someone about a story , we often say that 'I actually saw him doing such and such or drinking  alcohol or beating someone etc. . So when we actually SEE something , we are sure that it is REAL But that may not be 100%  The second type is 'conclusion When we see smoke , we conclude that there is fire. But not all smoke means fire. The mirage does not have water and not all that looks like snake is snake - the typical old standard example So the conclusion could be wrong and deceptive But we still believe that when we see something , it is real .The last one just to complete - is AAGAM. This is what is told by enlightened souls or Lord himself . So now one knows that for practical purposes what we see is what we believe and so the worj PRATI AKSHYA - AS PER (SEEN BY ) EYES . 

BRIEF HISTORY OF ORIGIN OF UNIVERSE

   The universe has origin even in the physical concept and so it has origin in all the religions. The Christianity states 7 days or the origin and what THE GOD took 7 days to create universe. In Hindu or Vedic concept the whole thing is cyclical and there is no real beginning or end as such. It may be compared to the Mario brother's original video games -where the screen continues . So there is no real beginning of the TIME. As I have mentioned in some other blogs , the Time is not part of ultimate reality the BRAHMAN and so one cannot ask what was BEFORE that. 

  But here I am going to try to talk about origin of one of the cycles as the universe starts and end and starts again. At the end of the Cycle everything ends in singularity and everything is in balance . All the BHUTAS-JIVAS-Life are dormant and the 3 GUNAS the qualities are dormant and in perfect balance . Then there is some disturbance, so called GUNASHOBHINI. The DORMANT or quite state is called ALINGA AWASTHA. . The LINGA means sign -so at this stage there is sign or characters to it or may be qualities to it. With the disturbance, and imbalance of 3 GUNA So, the qualities , The state of universe with disturbance is origin of or called MAHAT TATWA. This is LINGA AWASTHA. and that is origin of I-NESS or AHANKAR. The universal I-NESS is AHNAKAR and limited to individual body is called ASMITA .JIVA is reflection of the CHAITANYA and is covered by AVIDYA or Ignorance. The 5 great elements combine with TAMOGUNA and that starts 5 TANMATRA .namely SHABDA -SPARSH-RASA-ROOP-GANDH-sound-touch-taste-appearance-smell.These 5 things are objects of 5 organs of DNYAN-perception. So, the TANMATRA form is called AVISHESH AWASTHA .

   The 3 GUNAS are TAMAS-RAJAS-SATWIC . The RAJASIC quality - the activating quality combines with 5 Great elements and form 5 organs of ACTION or KARMENEDRIYE. The SATWIC GUNA and 5 Great elements (PNCHA MAHABHUTE) combine and gives rise to 5 organs of Perception -DNYANEDRIYE. plus something called ANTAHKARAN. This state is called VISHESH AWASHTHA .

 There is relationship of 5 Great Elements and 5 organs of perception which will be discussed in different blog. Hope this has not put reader to sleep. 

SO THE 4 STAGES ARE ALING-LINGMATRA- AVISHESH- VISHESH .

FOUR PURUSHARTH IN HINDU DHARMA

     In Hindu Dharam they have described 4 PURUSHARTH. The word Purusha does not mean male . It is suppose to be for EVRYONE. The Purusha here is meant to be the SPRIT and Dharma i is religion. The meaning of the word DHARMA can be different when used in different context. When we say that the wood floats in water or iron sinks in water -we say that that is it's DHARMA or GUNADHARMA . Her the term Dharma is used as quality. Like sugar is sweet. The Dharma is also used as in question -religion as in what is your religion. Her we are talking about religious FAITH. Then comes the same word used as in ARJUNA was asked to KILL KAURAWAS as that is HIS DHARMA . Here we are talking about JOB or occupation. We also state that being a father or mother we have certain dharma. Her we are talking about the responsibility as parents.

   In Hindu religion we are told to follow 4 PURUSHARTH one of which is DHARMA. The next one is ARTH ,then KAM and lastly MOKSHA 

     The DHARMA in this context is righteous behavior. This is related to the other 2 PURAUSHARTH. The ARTH is money - certainly includes gold ,silver , diamond , house , car -all the the things that needs money. But getting money or earning money must be done in RIGHT WAY. We must follow righteous path. One should not make money doing bad things - stealing, lending money with outrageous interest or sex or drugs , alcohol sell etc. So we need money to survive and it should be our goal to get it but it must be done in RIGHT WAY. 

   The next one should be combined with ARTH , as it is called KAM. KAM means desires . pleasures , enjoyment. So all have that and we should do it. some one may have pleasure in eating , enjoying watching movie or even having sex. But again we need to do it with RIGHT WAY. The God has created universe with beauty and we should enjoy but  do it in RIGHT WAY and not wrong way. Indulging in any of these sense organ pleasure is not good . We should not have lust and attachments with theses things. So again when we want good food or music etc. we need money and so the ARTH and KAM go hand in hand. 

   The last is MOKSHA or NIRWAN - freedom from the cycle of life and death. The goal of human life should be to get free from this cycle. Most of us do  not even think about it till we are old. The we have few more things to be fulfilled in out bucket list and then we have attachments with grandkids . So most of us do not do anything till we die and then get another birth. When we are in doing ARTH - KAM , and doing that with DHARMA , we should think of MOKSHA . And if we do things in moderation , without attachment and righteous behavior then MOKSHA is not far away or difficult.

   These 4 PURUSHART are some what connected to 4 ASHRAMA - namely BRAHMACHAR,GRUHASTH, VANAPRASTH AND LAST SANYAS. The studentship then family and then retirement and then renunciation. ARTH and KAM are related to Family life and GRUHASTH. The last 2 are related to trying for Moksha or NIRVAN .  

ONE MORE WRINKLE IN CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE APPERENT WORLD

    I am kind of interested and some what baffled or confused by different descriptions of the Consciousness. Every time I listen to someone . who is supposed to be authority on theses things , I get more confused. I understand , but at the same time have more questions. The same people that tell us that we are not the (physical ) body , subtle body - mind intellect or ego, and we are not even the causal or KARAN Sharir, seem to act as if they don't believe in what they said. If I am THAT BRAHMAN, how can we meditate or worship deity and at the same time talk about NONDUALITY. Then we are told that at VYAVAHARIC or Transactional level it's different than at Spiritual level. 

    To add to this confusion , they talk that the BRAHMAN or CONSCIOUSNESS is not PERVADING everything . but EVERYTHING is happening INSIDE THE CONSCIOUSNESS ,like our dream. This is new wrinkle to our understanding. In our dream WE control the things the characters and the story line and the same way everything is happening INSIDE the consciousness.   

   I have a simple mind and I can understand the example given of Light. The light makes me see things around me. The light DOES NOT do anything to make things . Even if there is no light the things are there but we cannot see them . If we remove a thing from our surroundings, nothing will change in Light. So Light does not do ANYTHING but it makes us SEE things . 

   This leads to 2 questions . If I am BRAHAMN then what I am mediattiong upon or worshiping . and secondly if everything is happening INSIDE the consciousness , then who is DREAMING or who is controller?