Be Empty

ATMA  1

Blessing of the Almighty will turn the step of all the life in this universe

Blessed one is he who will always think ADVAITA (non duality) and will always try to be so. His action is pure, his mind is clear, and his life is sure for the good of all creatures. With the help of God’s blessing, JIVA (individual soul or self) will understand the difference and real in reality about BRAHMA (the Supreme, Ultimate Reality).

Editor's note: Brahma, pronounced 'brumm(-a)' or /brʌmə/ which here denotes the Supreme Reality, is not to be confused with Brahma, pronounced 'braama' or /brɑːmæ/ who is the Creator God of the Hindu Trinity.

Question: - If BRAHMAN is realised by His blessing alone, why then do we see that the sufferers here are many?

Lord has said: “I am equal to all the creatures; there are none whom I like or hate”. With this it is clear that the blessing of the Supreme is equally equal to all the JIVAS. Then why isn’t every JIVA having this quest to find out ADVAITA?

In reply to this, Lord Krishna has said in the Bhagavadgita: “He who approaches me whichever way, in the same way I approach him”. The person who will do UPASANA (worship) without any attachment (NISKAM) with the worldly things in mind, he alone will receive His blessing in full and will be taken to his goal – PURUSHOTTAMA (Supreme Being), BRAHMAN, Thee Supreme One. 

After attaining ADVAITA, in what way will the person be benefitted? To clear up this doubt, the benefit in return here has no compeer - that is, he will never face death and birth, which is fearful to all JIVAS in this creation. He will remain immortal, ever happy, peaceful source of peace, fountain of light and joy etc.

It is sure that there is ATMA (Supreme Soul, Self) - that is why there is creation in him - THAT I AM. He is complete, and his act of MAYA (illusion) is also complete in which I AM, within and without. Now, to this PURANA BRAHMAN, who is formless, in what way will I bow with due respect, because He is not separated from JIVA? Moreover, He is SIVAM (Kalyan Sarupa) by Himself, and is inexpressible, ABYAYA.

This world in the form of five elements is MITHYA (illusory) - this is only for them who have realised the Truth. When the whole of creation is illusion, the truth is that I AM alone. Then to whom shall I pay respect (NAMASKARA)? NAMASKARA is offered to one who is separate from me, but CHETAN ATMA (Supreme) is not separate from myself, and the world is MITHYA (illusory), therefore NAMASKARA is not possible. NAMASKARA is not practicable in one ATMA alone, hence the real meaning of NAMASKARA is to think of ATMA alone.

ATMA is Truth, and alone in all forms. Except ATMA, all things are MITHYA, which are pervaded by BRAHMA in BRAHMA - BRAHMA alone. That is why the whole creation is neither different nor non-different from BRAHMA. This creation is seen through the eye, and felt through the other INDRIYAS (senses), so this universe as a whole is separate. If this universe would have been one, like ATMA, then this creation could never be seen - but this is not the case here, so this creation is inexpressible and known as ANIRVACHANIYA. ANIRVACHANIYA means something that is quite different from real and unreal; eg. The blueness in the sky or the snake appearing in the rope etc. If this MAYA is real, then why has it got an end when the fact (Truth) is understood? And if this MAYA is unreal, then why do we feel it through our sense organs? This JAGATA (universe) is visible through the senses, but it has an end also. That is why it is known as ANIRVACHANIYA.

The essence of VEDANTA philosophy, which is meant for finding out Truth alone, is my real property, and that alone is my science and knowledge to understand MAYA and myself - which can never be beyond or separate from Me, because I am with and without form. Hence by nature I am in all and one alone.

All visible and invisible forms that you see are nothing else but Me alone, the PURE BRAHMA. I am unshakeable, pure, light of lights, covering all and nectar by nature. That I am.

I am He who is always free from the pollution of MAYA, indestructible, endless, and the pure form of knowledge. I do not know or feel this pleasure and pain at all - this is connected to the body and its elements. He who feels pleasure and pain is AGYANI (ignorant), and therefore is involved in ‘another’s DHARMA’ (duty) - Bhagavadgita III.35, - because his ignorance has not yet been destroyed. There will remain no trace of ego in him when this delusion is over, and the feeling of mineness with such a duty will end when one will rise above the stage of ego.

Never I have contact with ego, therefore I know nothing about pleasure and pain. In the eyes of such a JIVANMUKTA (liberated soul while still living) there remains nothing except BRAHMA.

There are three kinds of good and bad actions – by the mind, speech and body. These actions are not mine; I am neither subject nor object for the ego; I am beyond this - the pure Knowledge.

The whole universe is Mine, likewise the energy of the creation - but this is not true in reality. The Truth is ATMA which is beyond this and one alone. Then how shall I see ATMA, directly or indirectly, when He is single? The act of seeing the one ATMA by oneself is not possible. This action is possible only when there is subject and object. Therefore ego should merge in Himself with the help of practice. On completion of this task, one realises Himself, who is the all-pervading Self alone.

OM!

“Arise! Awake! Stop not till the goal is reached!”

(Editor's Note: the above quote and much of the early part of the following piece is familiar from the writings of Swami Vivekananda, and some words may have been copied verbatim in the spirit of inspiration with which they are imbued. However, there is no doubt that TL expanded on this in his own words).

Say!!! The aim of life is my highest heaven. Repeat and pray day and night, “O Thou Lord of Gauri (Shiva), vouchsafe manliness unto me; take away my weakness, take away my unmanliness and make me a man”.

Thou! Therefore utter no words of condemnation, close your lips and let your heart open for Thee. Work out the salvation for yourself (first) and that of the whole world. Think that the entire burden of the world is on my shoulders and broadcast it for all, so that the Truth may run like fire all over the universe.

Each soul is potentially divine. This is the whole of religion; doctrines or dogmas, or rituals or books or temples are but secondary details. The goal is to manifest the divine within. Do this either by work or worship, or physique control and philosophy, by one or more or all of these; but ye must do and be free.

All expansion is life, all contraction is death. All love is therefore the only law of life. He who loves, lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore love for your sake, because it is the law of life. Our object is to understand the real Self, to do good to the world, but not the trumpeting of our own names.

I want this, that you must discard for ever, self-aggrandisement, faction mongering and jealousy. You must be all-forbearing, like mother earth. If you can achieve this, the world will always be at your feet. He who knows how to obey knows how to command. Learn obedience first, we want organization. Organization is nothing except power, for salvation. And the secret of this is obedience.

Those that want to help mankind must take their own pleasure and pain, name and fame, and all sorts of interests, make a bundle of them and throw them into the sea, and come to the Lord. This is what all the masters said and did.

Do not tarry, the time of death is approaching day by day. Do not sit idle thinking that everything will be done in time later. Mind! Nothing will be done that way. I feel extreme pain to see them leading a life of inaction.

At most you may die in the attempt. What of that? How many like you are taking birth and dying like worms every day; what difference does it make to the world at large? Die you must, but have a great ideal to die for, and it is better to die for the world, the selected aim, the great ideal in life.

A time comes when you will understand that to serve a man even by preparing a cup of boiled water is far greater than even millions of meditations. As long as ego is your deity, you cannot rise spiritually.

I love you all ever so much, my own ATMA, but I will wish you all to die for the Truth. I shal be rather glad to see you all doing with your heart’s blood. Do that and get the real food of your life. Have patience and be faithful unto death. Believe in the omnipotent power of love, and let Self bless you all.

Always try to understand the real Self, and for that go on practising your duty (like japa, meditation etc.) as you have been asked to do. I am sure if you obey and do such work honestly, mind will not be obsessed with evil thoughts. If you sit alone idly (without remembering the Supreme, the aim of life to whom you have surrendered), this will not be good on your part, and all sorts of harmful thoughts may come and disturb your mind. You are fortunate to have this human body. Pray to the evergreen Truth as much as you can, daily. If you all actually regard and want to follow the path of truth, I tell you all, honestly, according to the time and place, you must sacrifice everything, even your own body. It is much more difficult to attain anything in the run of this life without sacrifice, which you know well.

Dear selves, austerities, practice, etc. – all these things do right now. Will these things be possible later on? Whatever you want to achieve, don’t leave it now - this is the right time to do it and do it on the spot. If you will disregard and hate my word, it won’t harm Me at all, but my ATMA, remember that you are losing your valuable lifetime and for this you know the future will laugh at you. More quickly he attains the goal who practises spiritual disciplines. Therefore do the master’s work and along with that you carry on with the practice, then you will know what you are and will see your position in relation to the world.

Everything will end well for those who are truthful and rely on Truth sincerely. Everything is changeable except Truth. Therefore stand on your aim boldly and strongly until you get the Truth. Like a boat crossing the river, the boat is not full of water, it is attached to and running against the current, without any pause, to get to the bank.

Modesty is the absence of all tendency to over-estimate oneself. It is the greatest ornament of an illustrious life. It is purity of thought, character, feeling and conduct. Know that you seek, and then you seek. Nothing on earth can give you supreme joy, everlasting happiness, and that unadulterated bliss. You must always keep in mind that youth fades off like the evening flower; strength vanishes like a rent cloud, and the beauty of the body quickly gives way to ugly death. Your pleasure centres will mock at you, for you have mistaken pain for happiness and mirage for water. 

There is nothing impossible on earth for a man of strong will-power, therefore do not forget the real goal of your life, the true object that you seek, and the sole purpose for which you live your life here.

When shall we get peaceful life?

A peaceful life comes only through proper understanding of Truth, where both the world and yourself are lying. Final emancipation through the realisation of the union of yourself and Truth alone is the goal of our life, but this is very difficult for those who are very selfish and too much on all sides for the world. However it is possible and can be achieved by the honest, fixed and obedient aspirant, by practising strenuous and constant SADHANA (practice).

He who will not follow this real path will not try to understand the actual value of life, and that the pursuit of any other end is full of pain and unhappiness. Moreover, such an unbalanced mind, for the whole of life and after death will face again and again the horror of rebirth. Hence one should not forget one’s target, the aim of life, at any cost, and should always try to get freedom from worldliness and duplicity.

Is life evil?

(The real and unreal life)

Life as such is not so evil, but the evil consists of the delusion and danger to which life leads. The good life, which is in conformity with the Truth or Real Self, should therefore be free from the operations of hatred, delusion and falsehood, in all their forms of manifestation. The righteous life should be lived with honesty, self-restraint, mental peace, absence of agitative activity, fortitude, faith in Truth, and concentration of mental consciousness.

Life can be divided into two categories: 1. Real life, and 2. Unreal life. The creation of Truth is full of wonders and vast - without any break it is coming and going in full pelt, always in new and fresh form, like the running of a river. Therefore Truth is the greatest mathematician, engineer and scientist of all time. Man is the highest form of creation because man is the treasury of knowledge. Truth has filled up the whole creation within man and revealed itself before him as the real life. But see the strange path of men, few of whom when they step inside the world follow the path of real life while the rest unfortunately forget themselves and lead the path of unreal life.

They are the real men who have understood the reason for their birth and duty. They are the lover of VIDYA (pure knowledge), worshipper of Truth, and such a liberated soul becomes fearless. They transcend all sorrows and attain eternal and unshakeable bliss. Such a great soul moves in the world only for our good. Such a person, though living for others, will never entertain the idea that he lives and moves for the sake of the world, much less will he say so. The eyes get sanctified through the sight of such persons; the tongue gets purified through conversing with them, and mind gets purified through thoughts of them. Thousands and hundreds of thousands of such persons have appeared on earth from time to time. If any boon has to be sought from the Truth, let us pray thus, “O Truth! Give us the strength and wisdom to follow in the footsteps of those exalted souls whose glory You yourself sing!” They are equal for all and are the true representatives of Truth.

Now let’s come to the unreal life. The word ‘unreal’ itself will sound unpleasant to those who want to lead the real life, worshipping Truth. This is because we are all here from the Real, and we are Real for the Real, but our friends who do not want to tax their brains for this fact (the real life) and desire much in a dream to get the best food for ever, prefer to lead the unreal life. They never bother for the Truth and do not want to follow the eternal rule. They are the real father of pride, selfishness, error and jealousy etc. They are totally blind about the mental (supreme) power. They are the grandfather of egoism and their minds are full of evil deeds. They are mad always for the worldly objects. They keep pious tongue and profane heart. Their heart ever remains fully drenched in worldliness.

Even so, Truth gives them a chance to correct themselves in every step of their intoxicated lives, with innumerable examples. For example, “Dear self! Believe that life is nothing except Myself (Thee Truth) - whether it is real or unreal - but be sure that real is the path of everlasting peace whereas unreal is the path of grief. Therefore try to recognise Me and you will certainly understand and remember what is really dearest to you".

Listen! The world seen in a dream vanishes as soon as you wake up and open your eyes. So persuade yourself that you are passing through a dream-state - whatever is revealed to your senses is nothing but the creation of a dream. As soon as this dream is over, the Reality (Self) will automatically flash upon you. Believe my word that all the things that appear and disappear or have and end are unreal - made with the stuff that dreams are made of. What meets the eye has no existence in Reality - the dream is bound to terminate. As soon as Thee eyes are opened it will come to an end.

Here it may be asked, how is it that the eyes have not been opened till today? This is my reply – that you have never thought over this matter or tried to do so this far, therefore you couldn’t recognise this world to be a dream. The determined mind is unshakeable, therefore impress upon it firmly that the world is a dream. Even if it appears to you as real, continue believing that it is nothing but a dream. If you will practise like this with full confidence, it is certain that the outer covering of Truth, this dream, will definitely turn into ‘pat-pastiche’* one day and Truth will be revealed to you.

Each of the methods suggested above are helpful in attaining blessedness. Of course it is true that practice may require time, but these are equally conducive to supreme good.