The War-Zone Spirituality.

A person who thinks that it (the Atman) slays, and another who thinks that it is slain, neither of these understands. It does not slay, nor is it slain. (Gita 2.19)

War Zone

War is a quest for self. Amid the chaotic atmosphere of a war-zone came the Bhagavad Gita, the sacred spiritual scripture that the humanity had ever known. Sri Krishna, the deliverer of the message, could have chosen a serene, picturesque setting in the Himalayas, but instead opted for a battlefield. Because the battlefield is the place where the physical, mental, and spiritual forces converge. The rate of convergence of these forces is so fast that it prompts man to enquire about the fundamental questions of life.

The physical forces of the body play a dominant role in the battlefield. The instincts grow sharper, and, sometimes, men are reduced to a state of an animal to defend himself against the enemy. In a battlefield, there is a constant fear of being annihilated by the enemy. Death may come at any moment. This uncertainty, coupled with the annihilation of the body, prompts men to ask whether he or she is really the body or an imperishable substance within.

In a battlefield, the mental forces also take a toll. The modern battlefield is completely asymmetrical when compared to the earlier battlefields. In a modern battlefield, there are suicide bombers, child soldiers, drones, and nuclear weapons. As a result, there are innumerable dilemmas that appear in a battlefield. There is always a debate raging over this type of asymmetrical warfare. In earlier battlefields, there were clear combat rules in place, but in a modern warfare, the conventions are reduced only to the handling of POW's.

The modern battlefield.

 Here are some of the examples of the dilemmas that appear in a battlefield. What will you do when you are engaged in a combat with a child soldier? What will you do when your drone accidently hits a school or a hospital? What will you do when you are asked to employ the scorched-earth policy on civilian zones, and thereby depriving their resources for existence? What happens when your position is constantly bombarded by the enemy day after day, with the probability of getting hit at any moment? Men in such situations become insane and sometimes they commit suicide.

All these scenarios exact a mental toll on the soldier. Nowadays, it is commonly recognized as PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder). Before WW2, the mental illness was considered as an act of cowardice. In Vietnam War, many of the American soldiers are diagnosed with PTSD. Here are some of the stats mentioned in U.S Department of Veterans affairs.

"About 15 out of every 100 Vietnam Veterans (or 15%) were currently diagnosed with PTSD at the time of the most recent study in the late 1980s, the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS). It is estimated that about 30 out of every 100 (or 30%) of Vietnam Veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime." (http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/how-common-is-ptsd.asp)

Vietnam War - PTSD.

In a battlefield, the spiritual forces also come into play. Some soldiers get a premonition of their death before the battle, and some are simply resigned to the higher will, and so on. All philosophical questions arise in the mind. Who am I? Why do I exist? Does God really exist? Why do people suffer? What is death? Is there any life after death? Therefore, imagine the state of mind when physical, mental and spiritual forces combine.

           

Our daily lives also involve the convergence of these forces, but they remain beneath the surface. In a battlefield, the rate of convergence is so fast, and it happens above the surface. Now we will examine the spiritual solutions for the war-zone as exemplified by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita.

As we have seen that the foremost fear in the battlefield is the fear of annihilation. This fear of annihilation stems from the idea of the body, the base upon which the human beings operate. Therefore, the Bhagavad Gita begins by shifting the base from the idea of the body to the idea of the 'Atman'. Men commonly live in the idea of the body. This idea of the body is rooted in ignorance. The Bhagavad Gita begins with the statement that one is not the body but one is the infinite Atman.

The indestructible 'Atman'.

 The soul or the Atman is indestructible. Therefore, one must not fear annihilation in a battlefield. Sri Krishna says,

That which pervades the entire body you should know to be indestructible. No one is able to destroy that imperishable soul. (Gita 2.17)

Sri Krishna explains the nature of the Atman, which is opposite to nature the body. The Atman is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primordial. Sri Krishna says,

For the soul, there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain. (Gita 2.20)

Therefore, a person who thinks that he or she is the body, and attributes the action of killing, or the case of being killed, to the body, is ignorant. Because the atman can never be slain, nor it slays another.

A person who believes that it (the eternal essence) slays, and another who believes that it is slain, neither of these understands. It does not slay, nor is it slain. (Gita 2.19)

Ignorance

Next comes the dilemma that one faces in the battlefield. Arjuna, in this case, had to face his teachers, brothers, friends, and relatives. Should he kill them or not? Arjuna faints at this emotional sight and pleads his case to Sri Krishna to be relieved from the battlefield. He insists that killing brings many undue consequences. He says it is better to give up the kingdom altogether. He insists it is better to renounce the world completely and take up the life of the renunciate. Here is the catch. Because Arjuna is ignorant of both the way of the world and the way of the renunciate. So what is the solution?

The solution is performing action combined with detachment and middle path. Sri Krishna offers the solution of detachment to the different practitioners of religion. This is the prescription for the practitioners of Bhakti. 

But those who worship Me, giving up all their activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, having fixed their minds upon Me, O son of Pritha—for them I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death. (Gita 12. 6-7)

The Bhakti yoga involves surrendering all the actions to God. Sri Krishna offers many simple alternatives. He says, 'Keep your mind on me (Gita 12.8) or just work for me (Gita 12. 10)'

Path of Bhakti

 For the practitioners of Yoga self-exertion and mind control is the key. Sri Krishna says,

One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well. (Gita 6.5)

A practitioner of yoga should always engage his body, mind and self in relationship with the Supreme; he should live alone in a secluded place and should always carefully control his mind. He should be free from desires and feelings of possessiveness. (Gita 6.10)

path of meditation.

Then there is the path of Karma yoga – Yoga of action. Yoga of action doesn’t mean attachment. It is not completely going down either. It is just striking a balance in between. Men often think that simply by abstaining from work that they can attain liberation. But it is not the case. Sri Krishna says,

Not by merely abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from reaction, nor by renunciation alone can one attain perfection. (Gita 3. 4)

The reason why it cannot be done in that manner is due to Prakriti. Prakriti coupled with gunas forces men to work. Even for the maintenance of the body movement is essential. Therefore, one cannot abstain from work altogether. Sri Krishna says,

Everyone is forced to act helplessly according to the qualities he has acquired from the modes of material nature; therefore, no one can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment. (Gita 3.5)

Perform your prescribed duty, for doing so is better than not working. One cannot even maintain one’s physical body without work. (Gita 3.8)

Therefore, men should engage themselves in work and work must be performed for the sake of sacrifice and detachment. Also, one must give up the fruits of all actions. Sri Krishna says,

Therefore, without being attached to the fruits of activities, one should act as a matter of duty, for by working without attachment one attains the Supreme. (Gita 3.19)

Work without attachment.

 There are so many paths enunciated in the Gita and in each path Sri Krishna gives the best possible way in which men could arrive at the Atman. By arriving at the Atman, all dilemmas can be removed completely. Therefore, a combat soldier requires not only physical training but also requires spiritual training. A soldier with only the physical training is like an animal. Men with spiritual training can fight better.

The combat soldier is involved in active duty and engaged in the world. But imagine the great souls who have given up the world completely. The rate of convergence of the physical, mental, and spiritual forces is much higher than that of a soldier. The combat soldier experiences these conditions only in a combat zone, but for those who have given up the world completely, experience this combat zone at every moment in their lives. Because they have to shift their base from the idea of the body to the idea of the Atman completely.

Therefore, any kind of war, secular or spiritual must be fought with the idea of the Atman and not with the idea of the body.

Thank You.


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The Gross and the Subtle forms of Spirituality.

Spirituality is a progression from the gross to the subtle phenomena. It is a progression from a personal to an impersonal ideal. The grosser forms of spirituality are nothing but the expression of the subtle forms of spirituality. Nevertheless, it is the subtle form of spirituality which brings more tangible peace for the mankind. Here, we will examine the evolution of spirituality from the gross to the subtle forms.

The majority of people think of God as something extraneous from the real subject within. They conceive an external God, which is far removed from the real subject within. The grosser forms of spirituality involve appeasement to these external Gods. These forms of spirituality generally appeal to the sense organs.

One of the most common examples of this form of spirituality is to set up loudspeakers with a deafening noise, venting up high in the air, the musical numbers of Gods and Goddesses. The children, who prepare for exams under these conditions face a tough time and had to forget the prospects of obtaining good marks in the subject.

Loudspeakers.

Next, comes the vacation, when men visit their personal Gods in far-off places. They carry utensils, cooking ingredients, and accompany an innocent creature for sacrifice. They believe that their personal fortunes will be doomed if they don't offer a sacrifice to these Gods. They are countless such examples which mark the gross forms of spirituality.

The appeasement. 

Next, comes the form of spirituality which appeals to the intellect. It involves reading books and listening to spiritual talks. If the speaker is an illumined soul, it will have a marked effect on the subject. But, if the speaker is under the domain of ignorance, it will not have a lasting effect on the subject. Only those phrases, commandments, poems, and lectures uttered by an illumined soul remain. The rest naturally move to the recycle bin.

Therefore, men, who progress along the path of spirituality, must not judge the intellect to be the end aim of spirituality. In fact, real spirituality is infinitely larger than mere reading and lecturing. Lecturing without illumination is a kind of a nuisance to the world. It shatters the peace both within and without.

Next, comes the highest form of spirituality which lies within the subject. This form of spirituality always comes from a formless source. It comes from an eternal voice. Sri Krishna in Gita, Buddha in four noble truths, and the message of Swami Vivekananda, all constitute this eternal voice. In fact, Swami Vivekananda once said that he is the voice without a form. Though these men had left their physical body ages ago, their ‘eternal voice’ continues to help humanity even in this age, and in the ages henceforth.

The highest form of spirituality is too subtle to comprehend and derived from an impersonal ideal. This impersonal ideal is completely devoid of a 'name and form'. Everything merges into 'One absolute Brahman'. Absolute silence marks the highest illumination since the duality is completely absent. The illumined souls preserve absolute silence unless they have a spiritual mission on earth. There are many illumined souls who transmitted spirituality by silence. A mere touch or a look will redeem the humanity itself.

The real source of spirituality has always the subtle origins. They either come from an eternal voice, or from the prayer of the great souls. They come from the outcome of the deep meditation within. The great souls have all obtained illumination through this method. Buddha obtained enlightenment in a forest, Jesus obtained illumination in a desert, and Sri Ramakrishna obtained illumination in a temple.

Deep meditation.

Therefore, the gross form of spirituality exhausts the energy within because of the outward flow of energy. The intellectual form of spirituality, without accompanied by illumination, is futile. The real form of spirituality comes from an impersonal ideal and accompanied by a deep meditation within.

Thank You.

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Types of Religious Gurus.

The Tamasic Guru:

The Tamasic Guru is the one who incites his disciples to violence. He incites his disciples to commit the acts of arson, riots, sacrilege, and violence towards other religious faiths. By committing such acts of violence, the Guru promises liberation. Such a Guru has a very gross and barbaric idea of understanding his religion. Do not be swayed away by such Gurus who promises liberation through violence. Liberation is actually attained by the opposite of violence .i.e., the love of all beings.

The Tamasic Gurus vie for political power. They provide safe refuge to the terrorists. They store a cache of arms and ammunitions at sacred places. They lure poor and innocent men by providing monetary benefits and by providing religious sanction for the acts of violence. Therefore, beware of such Gurus.

Inciting Violence.

The Rajasic Guru:

The Rajasic Guru is the one who advertises himself. Such a Guru is more concerned about his titles, attire, paraphernalia, and empty rituals. The Rajasic Guru seeks money, power, and position in the society. The spiritual illumination is completely lacking in such Gurus, and they try to illumine others. It resembles the condition of a blind leading the blind. They preach half-baked and half-digested truths. They twist the real path to spirituality and offer shortcuts. They believe in acquiring powers and magic. The attachment to the world is not completely gone from such Gurus.

Such a Guru makes ridiculous statements that he is an incarnation of such and such a God. Such a Guru mixes freely with the opposite sex. And as a result, they get caught while committing the acts of sensuality. Therefore, beware of such Gurus who advertises himself.

Beware.

The Sattvic Guru:

The Sattvic Guru neither seeks advertisement nor seeks money. The Sattvic Guru is illumined, as a result of his intense spiritual disciplines. But the illumination is only confined to the one aspect of the Brahman. Nevertheless, the Guru has attained the state of intense purity. They do not mix freely with the opposite sex. They preach the real path to spirituality. The Guru has intense love, sympathy, and compassion for the suffering ones. They do innumerable welfare activities for the benefit of the humanity.

The Sattvic Guru shows the way to God. Therefore, one has to approach such a Guru with high regard and reverence for spiritual welfare.

The Guru beyond the three Gurus:

They are the God-men and great Avatars who come down to the level of humanity to teach spirituality. They are perfect, and the knowledge of non-dual Brahman is inherent in them. Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, and Sri Ramakrishna are such Gurus. They appear very simple in the exterior but they can turn the world upside down by their immense spiritual power. Sri Rama was an exiled prince, Sri Krishna was a cowherd, and Sri Ramakrishna was a temple priest. But their spirituality shook the entire world.

They can transmit spirituality just by a word, or a touch, or by a mere glance. They transmit palpable spirituality to men. The spiritual message of such Gurus is everlasting. Such Gurus are omnipresent though they leave their mortal body. One must surrender to such all-mighty Gurus for redemption and liberation.

The eternal Gurus.

Thank You.

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Gods and Weaknesses.

The idea of God is very difficult to understand. Men always understood God from the position of weakness and not from the position of strength. Men always prayed to God when they were weak. The primitive men were weak because they could not defend themselves against the forces of nature. They were always at a fear of being decimated by nature, and, therefore, they formed Gods which represented the forces of nature. When men desired dominions, they formed the idea of warrior Gods and offered sacrifices to them. Fear is one of the factors which drove these men to God. Fear is nothing but the idea of the body. The idea of the body is nothing but ignorance. The man is 'One Absolute'. When a man understands his real nature, fear vanishes, together with the idea of duality. Here, we will examine the cases when we prayed to our Gods, and we will examine the idea of God from the position of strength.

Primitive man.

The introduction of Gods in our lives began in a chaotic way. The day of introduction of Gods began with tonsuring of the head and puncturing of the ears. The day was marked with cuts, wounds, and bleeding. The only consolable thing we got back was a candy and a toy. We visited temples located in far-off places and came back exhausted. We took a forcible plunge in the water bodies around the temples, gasping for breath. We rolled down the corridors of the temples. We tied threads of all colours in our bodies.

OMG!

It was an introduction of our Gods in our lives without our consent. The above-mentioned rituals were performed to seek protection from God and ward-off evil spirits. It is the idea of fear which again prompted the man to seek God. The idea of fear comes from the idea of injury, and the idea of injury comes from the idea of the body. The idea of body is nothing but ignorance. The man is the infinite spirit. The man is the infinite Atman. Since, the man holds the idea of the body, which is a form of weakness, man seeks protection from an outside agent in the form of a God.

The Gods suddenly sprang up in the form of saviours during our examinations. The devotion took to a feverish pitch when we were writing our board exams. What an idea of weakness! The man is fear of losing his exams, and, therefore, takes an external agent for help. The fear of failure in life prompted the man to seek God. The story continued when we were wanting a job and success in the job interviews. All prayer for saving oneself shows how ignorant a man is. It shows his ignorance about his real nature, which is infinite.

Prayer before board exams.

The next popular idea of God is to pray for wealth. This is the idea which prompts millions of people to visit temples in high hills. Man behaves like a beggar not knowing his kingly nature. This is the root of all evils reducing man to the level of the material. The man is ignorant of his infinite nature and, seeks deliverance through wealth. Jesus said, ‘It is very easy for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a wealthy man to follow the path of spirituality’. All prayer for wealth is nothing but the idea of weakness.

The next popular idea among the aspirants of spirituality is to pray for liberation. What an idea of weakness! What an idea of duality! The man is 'One Absolute'. How can there be liberation in one absolute? The prayer for liberation is for protecting oneself in another world. It is for protecting the identity of name and form in another world. Man after liberation goes to Brahmalokha, and where he resides with God for an indefinite time. This is just another idea of preserving oneself in another world. A man prays for wealth for protection in this world, and man prays for liberation for protection in another world.

Once, Swami Vivekananda had this idea of liberation and approached his Guru Sri Ramakrishna. Sri Ramakrishna was completely displeased with the idea. He said, ‘I thought you are a like a big ship who can ferry millions of souls to the path of liberation, but now you are behaving like a commoner praying for petty liberation’. He said, ‘liberation is a petty idea, and that there are much higher states than that’. Swami Vivekananda had one of his great lessons in his life and understood that even prayer for liberation constitutes selfishness. The higher idea is to work for the liberation of all.

Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.

Remember, whenever we pray to God for something, it is due to the outcome of ignorance of our real nature. Even the idea of liberation constitutes ignorance. The man is One Absolute. The idea of liberation is the outcome of duality. How can there be a duality (liberation) in ‘One’? It cannot be.

Therefore, understand God from the position of strength, and not from the position of weakness. All ideas of seeking God for wealth, health, and liberation constitute weaknesses. Grow more than that.

Thank You.

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