Seeker: I should like to know what are the essential ingredients of a genuine spiritual life. There seem to be as many kinds of spiritual life as there are people practising it and this could lead to a situation where the blind leads the blind whereby both of them fall into the ditch.
Guru: People without true enlightenment and spurred on by selfish ulterior motives are really blind and they are bound to fall into the ditch along with their followers sooner or later. People tend to identify themselves by the expectations others have of them forgetting in the process what they themselves are essentially. The starting point for a true spiritual life, therefore, is to be conscious of our true self irrespective of what the world has laid down as criteria for greatness. This presupposes a certain amount of detachment from the values of the world so that space is created for the beginning of a true spiritual life. The ultimate goal of spiritual life is union with God for which our entire life has to be steered purposefully and with dedication.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Enlightenment
Seeker: How do I proceed after reflection and meditation on words of wisdom so that I may be truly enlightened?
Guru: Here comes the fourth principle for enlightenment of a genuine seeker. As a result of constant reflection and meditation, the seeker is grasped by the inner meaning of the words of wisdom meditated upon and is dragged into action enshrining that very inner meaning. Without positive action no amount of thinking will achieve its intended purpose. That is why wise people say that not to act upon your knowledge is not different from having no knowledge of that matter.
Seeker: Does it mean that my action is my enlightenment or is it the clear understanding that was proposed as enlightenment at the beginning of this discourse?
Guru: Now we must pay attention to the fifth principle of enlightenment that deals with the transformation of the seeker whereby a new perception or understanding unfolds itself leading the seeker to become a new person in virtue of the enlightenment received. Enlightenment enters the vry core of the person enlightened where there is no difference between the reality of the person and his or her understanding. Now the seeker is a wise person as everything is seen in new and clear perspectives without being intolerant of others' views that may be quite different. Others will be able to understand the enlightened one only when they too become enlightened. Thus a wise person is bound to be resisted by people with vested interests as in the case of the philosopher Socrates or that of Jesus Christ who was accepted as spiritual master by his disciples and is undoubtedly a Mahaguru of all times.
Guru: Here comes the fourth principle for enlightenment of a genuine seeker. As a result of constant reflection and meditation, the seeker is grasped by the inner meaning of the words of wisdom meditated upon and is dragged into action enshrining that very inner meaning. Without positive action no amount of thinking will achieve its intended purpose. That is why wise people say that not to act upon your knowledge is not different from having no knowledge of that matter.
Seeker: Does it mean that my action is my enlightenment or is it the clear understanding that was proposed as enlightenment at the beginning of this discourse?
Guru: Now we must pay attention to the fifth principle of enlightenment that deals with the transformation of the seeker whereby a new perception or understanding unfolds itself leading the seeker to become a new person in virtue of the enlightenment received. Enlightenment enters the vry core of the person enlightened where there is no difference between the reality of the person and his or her understanding. Now the seeker is a wise person as everything is seen in new and clear perspectives without being intolerant of others' views that may be quite different. Others will be able to understand the enlightened one only when they too become enlightened. Thus a wise person is bound to be resisted by people with vested interests as in the case of the philosopher Socrates or that of Jesus Christ who was accepted as spiritual master by his disciples and is undoubtedly a Mahaguru of all times.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Enlightenment
Guru: When you know something, you have to use your senses like eyes, ears etc through which perception of an object takes place. This perception is already controlled by our mind and therefore the health of our mind influences our perception. Further, what you have taken in through your senses and mind is interpreted by your intellect for understanding the object the way you understand it. Now you can see that it is possible to have as many perceptions and understandings of an object as there are people with different grasping powers. This is called subjective perception or understanding. As against this the object has a compelling force to be understood objectively. This is called being grasped by the object where each one's subjectivre grasping of the object is adjusted against the reality of the object.
Seeker: Do you mean to say that only philosophers can be enlightened? What you have said above implies some kind of philosophical thinking.
Guru: Not at all! In fact some who claim to be philosophers, thinkers, scientists, wise people etc. need not be truly enlightened people. Enlightenment is something that is available to everyone provided one is willing to be enlightened and is ready to travel on the road to enlightenment. When it happens it is sudden and is automatic inspite of our long and arduous journey.
Seeker: If so, what should one do in order to be enlightened?
Guru: First and foremost, the seeker of truth and aspirant of enlightenment should create an atmosphere conducive to enlightenment. It need not be like the atmosphere of meditation and stillness created by masters like Sri Budha or philosophers like Sankaracharya as it is not feasible for everyone. What is feasible for everyone has to be created out of each one's life-situations and this has to be done by each one. Some general principles for the same may be presented here for use by those who are interested in being enlightened.
Seeker: What are those principles?
Guru: The first principle for a genuine seeker of enlightenment is to be thirsty for enlightenment. It means that the seeker should be thoroughly interested in it and is ready to take steps that will lead the person to enlightenment. The second principle is to create an environment conducive to illumination and enlightenment. People who are busy with daily routines of life can do this by adopting certain principles of action like being honest, just and decent in whatever they think, say or do. This attitude creates an atmosphere or environment from within which one may aim for enlightenment.
Seeker: I thought that such an attitude is a result of enlightenment rather than its cause as you seem to suggest.
Guru: Such an attitude is not proposed as the cause of enlightenment, but rather as its environment from within which true enlightenment becomes possible. Since we are bound to do some action, it is our look out to see that we are not getting entangled in its harmful aftereffects that will necessarily follow any selfish action. Thus our actions, speech and thought itself should be pure and unselfish in order that an environment for enlightenment is created.
Seeker: Given an environment for enlightenment what should one do for real enlightenment?
Guru: Our third principle is about mastery of mind that should lead us to genuine enlightenment. Left to its own devices, the mind will completely be distracted and will be led into wild imaginations and harmful thoughts leading us to act in very irresponsible ways. Thus, it is necessary to control the mind so that we are its masters and not the other way around. This is done through reflection and meditation on words of wisdom of great masters or gurus. The ultimate in words of wisdom can be seen in the Word of God found in Scriptures of religions.
Seeker: Do you mean to say that only philosophers can be enlightened? What you have said above implies some kind of philosophical thinking.
Guru: Not at all! In fact some who claim to be philosophers, thinkers, scientists, wise people etc. need not be truly enlightened people. Enlightenment is something that is available to everyone provided one is willing to be enlightened and is ready to travel on the road to enlightenment. When it happens it is sudden and is automatic inspite of our long and arduous journey.
Seeker: If so, what should one do in order to be enlightened?
Guru: First and foremost, the seeker of truth and aspirant of enlightenment should create an atmosphere conducive to enlightenment. It need not be like the atmosphere of meditation and stillness created by masters like Sri Budha or philosophers like Sankaracharya as it is not feasible for everyone. What is feasible for everyone has to be created out of each one's life-situations and this has to be done by each one. Some general principles for the same may be presented here for use by those who are interested in being enlightened.
Seeker: What are those principles?
Guru: The first principle for a genuine seeker of enlightenment is to be thirsty for enlightenment. It means that the seeker should be thoroughly interested in it and is ready to take steps that will lead the person to enlightenment. The second principle is to create an environment conducive to illumination and enlightenment. People who are busy with daily routines of life can do this by adopting certain principles of action like being honest, just and decent in whatever they think, say or do. This attitude creates an atmosphere or environment from within which one may aim for enlightenment.
Seeker: I thought that such an attitude is a result of enlightenment rather than its cause as you seem to suggest.
Guru: Such an attitude is not proposed as the cause of enlightenment, but rather as its environment from within which true enlightenment becomes possible. Since we are bound to do some action, it is our look out to see that we are not getting entangled in its harmful aftereffects that will necessarily follow any selfish action. Thus our actions, speech and thought itself should be pure and unselfish in order that an environment for enlightenment is created.
Seeker: Given an environment for enlightenment what should one do for real enlightenment?
Guru: Our third principle is about mastery of mind that should lead us to genuine enlightenment. Left to its own devices, the mind will completely be distracted and will be led into wild imaginations and harmful thoughts leading us to act in very irresponsible ways. Thus, it is necessary to control the mind so that we are its masters and not the other way around. This is done through reflection and meditation on words of wisdom of great masters or gurus. The ultimate in words of wisdom can be seen in the Word of God found in Scriptures of religions.
Enlightenment
Our format would be one of question and answer in matters of spirituality starting with the basic topic of enlightenment. The seeker after truth would like to be enlightened from the Guru about spiritual life. Our format would help the seeker to ask and Guru to reply.
Seeker: I have heard of the need of enlightenment in a genuine spiritual life. What is enlightenment?
Guru: Enlightenment is clear understanding of things as they are as against our predilections and imaginations. In philosophical terms, we may say that enlightenment enables us to grasp reality as opposed to appearance.
Seeker: Does it mean that I do not live in a real world and what I know is mere appearance?
Guru: Here you have to be clear about your idea or concept of what is real and what is mere appearance. A mirage in a desert appears to be real to the thirsty traveller and yet on reaching the spot or on closer inspection, it turns out to be mere appearance. As long as he merely turned his gaze to the mirage without moving closer to it for further inspection, it was real for him and yet in fact it was only an appearance. This appearance of water has its relevance only because there is real water in this world with which the traveller was previously acquainted. Thus, appearance has no standing of its own as it depends on reality for its very existence.
Seeker: How can I distinguish between the two so that I be enlightened by a grasp of reality?
Guru: Grasp of reality is a two-pronged process whereby more than your grasp of reality, you are grasped by reality.
Seeker: I do not understand what you are saying. Can you explain it further?
Seeker: I have heard of the need of enlightenment in a genuine spiritual life. What is enlightenment?
Guru: Enlightenment is clear understanding of things as they are as against our predilections and imaginations. In philosophical terms, we may say that enlightenment enables us to grasp reality as opposed to appearance.
Seeker: Does it mean that I do not live in a real world and what I know is mere appearance?
Guru: Here you have to be clear about your idea or concept of what is real and what is mere appearance. A mirage in a desert appears to be real to the thirsty traveller and yet on reaching the spot or on closer inspection, it turns out to be mere appearance. As long as he merely turned his gaze to the mirage without moving closer to it for further inspection, it was real for him and yet in fact it was only an appearance. This appearance of water has its relevance only because there is real water in this world with which the traveller was previously acquainted. Thus, appearance has no standing of its own as it depends on reality for its very existence.
Seeker: How can I distinguish between the two so that I be enlightened by a grasp of reality?
Guru: Grasp of reality is a two-pronged process whereby more than your grasp of reality, you are grasped by reality.
Seeker: I do not understand what you are saying. Can you explain it further?
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