Universal identity is the ultimate

In the phase zero of our existence, we remain governed by our instincts. That is how most animals and other lower level beings exist. In the next level, we evolve to use these instincts to our advantage and that of our companions. But that only ensured our existence but cannot take us further.

To move further, we need to evolve intellectually. And that is where our scientific evolution stands. But mere scientific progress is not sufficient. We need to evolve further by tempering science with morality, ethicality and compassion; that is aimed not just around us and our companions, but towards the entire universe. We need to move from ‘I’ to ‘We’. 

But that is not all. The ultimate stage of evolution is to convert this ‘We’ into once again ‘I’, the ‘I’ this time is broadened in its scope encompassing the entire universe. It is the universal identity. We need to identify ourselves with the entire universe.

As ancient Indian Upanishads ask “when the ‘I’ expands to cover the entire universe, how can anyone harm anyone else, how can anyone be afraid of anyone else?  It is then; there is no ‘anyone else’ but just ‘ME’”. That is the highest level of evolution.

But this evolution probably does not happen in one step. If you want to move from New York to New Delhi, you probably need to drive to the airport, take an international flight, probably make a couple of stopovers and finally reach New Delhi. Each mode of communication is important, but none of them are ultimate. You only use them to move further. It is only the destination that is the ultimate.

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Science without responsibility can be bad

At one stage of evolution, humans unraveled the mysteries hidden beneath the gross nature. They literally “discovered” the vast potential of the immense energy that is hidden in the nature, in its subtle form namely the atom. We discovered atomic energy. But what happened then? Instead of using it for the benefit of humanity, we created atom bombs and busied ourselves in mass destruction and avoidable pain and suffering.

The problem is not with science. It is just that we did not use it responsibly. What we need is to temper science with morality, with ethics, with compassion. In other words, being responsible, ethical, and compassionate not only to ourselves and our people, but to all beings is the next stage of evolution. That would not only ensure our individual existence but our collective existence as well, while making the life of all more livable.

But our evolution has to go further. Let see that in the next post.

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Yoga demystified

Watch this very informative video on Yoga. You can get to know of things about Yoga in minutes time that you may normally need to spend hours reading books.

Mere existence is not enough

What is the use of merely existing? We need to evolve further. Evolution enables us to better deal with uncertainties in life. Without evolution, we are at the mercy of nature and its laws that may not always be in our favor.

The trio – observation, learning and adaptation - makes us better suited for existence. They may not be essential for our existence, but definitely needed to go further. This ability comes from intelligence. And we need to be more intelligent to move on. 

That is our second phase of evolution. Science is the tool in this phase of our evolution. It is not necessary that we all need to be scientists. But definitely we need to develop a scientific outlook. Otherwise, we will merely exist – and that is not too good.

But our evolution has to go further. Let see that in the next post.

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Be the master and not the slave

In the previous post we saw how our six instincts namely desire, anger, greed, possessiveness, conceit, jealously are not actually our enemies but are essential for our very existence.

 

If that is the case, why do ancient religions consider them as our enemies?

The reason lies in how we relate to them. Do we act compelled by them or do we use them as our tools?

For example, anger is generally considered to be bad. But look at how a mother acts when her beloved kid does something that can be harmful to it. She shouts, exhibits fury, and even reprimands the baby. In doing all these, she appears to be very angry with the child. But is she really? No, she often fakes those emotions just to convey the right message to the child. She is using anger to do good to the child.

Same applies to all other emotions. As long as we are not impelled by them, and we remain the real masters, they are not at all our enemies. In fact, we can use them usefully to achieve things which are not otherwise possible.

This is the first phase of mental evolution –ability to use the instincts for the betterment of not only ourselves but for others as well. 

But our evolution has to go further. Let see that in the next post.

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Desires etc. are not bad per se

Most ancient religions considered desires as bad. Especially, the eastern religions consider desire (“käma”), anger (“krödha”), greed (“löbha”), possessiveness (“möha”), conceit  (“mada”), jealously (“matsara”)  as six enemies of mankind.

But just think about it. Are these not essential, in some form or other, for our very existence?

Without sexual desire probably the beings cannot continue to exist in the form of progeny. Without desire for happiness, none of our achievements are possible. Anger is definitely needed to defend ourselves and our companions from an aggressive offender. It is greed that makes us save for tomorrow to take care of future uncertainties. Without possessiveness, we cannot probably take care of our people and belongings. Conceit encourages us to do better in anticipation of recognition. Jealousy also indirectly coaxes us to make progress so that we can be better than others.

So, none of these are our enemies per se. They are all essential and probably inalienable parts of our life. But when do they become hindrances?

Let see that in the next post.

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Yoga of devotion (Bhakti Yoga)

When I read the holy Quran for the first time, what drew my attention the most was the concept of total unquestioning surrender. Surrender to God or some supreme power is something you can find in almost every religion. Even the supposedly atheist Buddhism stipulates surrender to Buddha as a prerequisite to accepting Buddhism (“Buddham saranam gachchami”).

In Bhagavad Geetha, Krishna says

“Always think about me. Always be my devotee. Always surrender to me. If you do that, I will take care of your welfare and safety. 

I don’t expect anything from you other than total surrender. Whatever you offer to me – be it a flower or a fruit or even a leaf or mere drop of water – I accept it as long as it is offered with purity of mind and total surrender. 

So, whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you practice, offer all that to me (i.e. do them for my pleasure). Even if you abandon all other paths, I will protect you from all miseries. Do not be afraid”

Here, Krishna can be replaced by any other God or Supreme Being.

PS: For those of you who probably find it difficult to accept the concept of God, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that many a times the results of faith do not necessarily depend on the existence or otherwise of the object of faith. Besides, Krishna never said, “don’t do anything but just depend on me”. He said “keep doing what you need to, but offer that to me and take solace that I will take care of you”.

(Selected verses from chapter 9 and 18 of Bhagavad Geetha adapted suitably)

Path is not really important. But …

Imagine that there is a hill and you would like to have a view of the surrounding from the top of the hill. If you are energetic, you may climb the hill. Or you can take an uphill path that ultimately takes you to the top. You can ride on a mule and make your journey easy. Or if you can afford, you can even take a chopper and reach the top almost without effort.

But did you notice something? No matter how you reached the top, the view from the top is one and the same!

The saints, prophets, monks and rishis of every religion – whether it is Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism or ancient Indian – all reached the same top, some through faith and devotion, some through meditation and some through intellectual enquiry. All of them had a glimpse of the same view no matter how they reached there. The path they took is just a matter of suitability and convenience. 

So don’t give too much of emphasis on the path you take. Choose what is suitable to you, the one you can afford, the one you are comfortable with. If you are sincere enough, you will ultimately reach the same top no matter the path.

But watch out. You may come across people on your way, people who have never reached the top, who don’t know the path, but who merely pretend to have known, have reached, and take you on a long trip round and round the hill, never ever reaching the top!.