== ABOUT ONE'S LIKING AND ATTAINING HIM-- PART 2 ==
Namaskar,
In this grand expressed universe, there are so many beings of all shapes
and sizes who do so many things. Everyone has their own liking and
disliking. Everyone has their own preferences and distastes. This is the
natural pattern of this worldly existence.
And side by side people put immense emphasis on the fact that such and such
engagement or activity is enjoyable whereas another is not. In this way so
many judgements are cast about various pursuits. Some like reading whereas
others like videos; some like kiirtan whereas others like VSS camps; some
like having chapati & subjii (vegetables) whereas others like going to
McDonalds; some like sadhana whereas others like bowling.
Like this people have their own preference and liking. And accordingly they
will sing the glories and treasures of their favourite items and vehemently
cry out about those things which they despise. This is the way of the world.
Eds Note: Here is part 1 on this topic:
http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/12/about-ones-liking.html
MIND IS THE CAUSE
And the peculiar thing is that people never stop to think that it is they
who are the cause of their liking or disliking-- not the activity itself.
They do not realise that it is their own mind which is the reason behind
their enjoyment of a particular activity or not.
Mano karoti....
Baba says, "It is the human mind which is the cause of bondage or
liberation. If the mind is in bondage, the person is also in bondage.
Similarly, if the mind is liberated the person is also liberated. After
all, it is the human mind which engages in auspicious actions." (NHNS-1)
Here the point is that one's preferences in this world are first and
foremost based on the quality or status of their own mind. A crude mind
will like crude activities whereas a subtle mind will like subtle
activities. Everyone's standard is different and accordingly they find
physical engagements or psychic pursuits that are pleasing and appealing to
them.
Yet all the while they think that activity itself is great or bad when the
reality is that it is their mind which has a particular sort of attraction
and liking, or not.
And one other point is that since the mind is always changing-- always
going up or down, always contracting or expanding-- that is why people's
own interests and passions change. What one likes today one may or may not
like tomorrow. And what one did ten years ago what may not have the
slightest interest in that activity now.
So behind one's liking or disliking, one's own unit mind is the cause-- not
the activity itself.
ABOUT NOT LIKING OR NOT LIKING SADHANA
And this same rule applies to sadhana as well.
There are many who tell that sadhana is boring and dry and that they prefer
to do something else with their time-- like computer games or running etc.
Should we therefore put the blame on sadhana. Of course not. Because we
know well that there are many others who sing about the sweet ecstasy and
divine enchantment of sadhana. So it is just a matter of the quality of
one's own mind.
Here-- with regards to the intuitional practice of sadhana-- the key point
to remember is that it is the most subtle of pursuits for the human mind.
Why? Because Parama Purusa is that most subtle Entity. And the whole
practice of sadhana is based on the aim of getting Him. So to engage in
that endeavour of sadhana one needs a subtle mind. This every sadhaka knows.
MICROSCOPE AND BACTERIA ANALOGY
However for the common people the whole thing-- the whole pursuit of
sadhana-- is just a mystery. But one way of explaining it is as follows:
If in the science lab one tries to see bacteria with the naked eye then one
will quickly become bored and frustrated. Because bacteria are too small to
be seen by the human eye. Rather a microscope is needed to see that
bacteria. So with the help of that microscope one can deeply engage in
experiments with those bacteria etc. And one can make all sorts of
observations. Then looking at that bacteria will be interesting and
captivating-- all because one has a microscope to see.
WHAT IS NEEDED TO ENGAGE IN SADHANA
Similarly to see Parama Purusa it needs the help of a refined mind--
pointed intellect and devotional longing. Otherwise sadhana will be boring
and one will prefer to do something else. So it is not the activity of
sadhana that is the problem per se-- just one needs a proper instrument to
engage in that art of meditation.
Here one has to remember that trying to do sadhana is itself the best
practice for really doing sadhana. It is one's attempt in sadhana that
allows the mind to become a proper tool for practicing sadhana and diving
into that supreme bliss. That is why Baba encourages and guides us in
countless ways to regularly do our sadhana and related practices. Because
by this way the mind will become more and more subtle and eventually one
will gain success.
Here in full colour Baba Himself explains this endeavour.
Baba says, "The Supreme entity is durdasha. In the case of Parama Brahma
human beings cannot see Him as easily as they can see the external objects
with help of their eyes because He is 'Oran'niiyan mahato mahiiya'n'. That
is, He is smaller than the smallest, yet greater than the great. To see
subtle molecules and atoms one requires the help of scientific instruments.
Just as one requires an intellectual and scientific vision to conceive of
atoms, one needs a spiritual vision to know the Supreme Entity. To attain
Him human beings have to take recourse to shravana (constant hearing),
manana (constant ideation) and nididya'sana (constant meditation). The
Supreme Entity is Gurha, that is, He is lying hidden in the innermost
recess of the human entity. To attain Him one must penetrate deep within
oneself, and for that the development of an introversial outlook is
essential an extroversial outlook will be no assistance. What we call
inanimate matter with our extroversial vision is actually a conscious
entity if analysed with an integral outlook." (TK-3)
QUALITY OF MIND
So by practicing sadhana and engaging in subtle pursuits then one will
develop that desire and capacity to more deeply dive into the sweetness
sadhana-- true meditation. Then the mind will be subtle enough for that
divine exchange which occurs in the intuitional practice of sadhana. This
is Baba's explicit guideline in so many discourses.
So none should think that meditation is permanently beyond their grasp or
out of their reach etc. And one should not fall into the delusion that true
sadhana does not really exist. One should not give up in this way.
We can think of it this way: A human being can contemplate so many things
which an animal cannot. Similarly what a spiritually elevated soul can
perceive and meditate on subtleties which an ordinary human cannot.
So one's duty as a sadhakas is to make the mind more and more refined so
that it can easily and smoothly drift into that subtle, blissful world of
sadhana.
ONE CAN ATTAIN HIM WITHIN
Here Baba guides us that He lies within an that it is human dharma to
attain Him. And by His grace all will get success in this mission-- all
will experience that eternal bliss of Parama Purusa. This is His expressed
guarantee.
"Tilesu Taelam dadhineva Sarpih".
Baba says, "He is there in you as the oil is in the oilseed. Crush the
seed through Sa'dhana' and you get the oil. Separate the mind from
Cognition or Consciousness; and see that His resplendence lightens up your
whole inner being. He is like butter in curd ; churn it and He will appear
from within. Churn your mind through Sa'dhana' and Parama Purus'a will
appear like butter from curd. He is like a subterranean river in you.
Remove the sands of mind and you will find the clear and cool waters within."
"Thus it will be seen that for all creatures there is only one
desideratum and it is Parama Purus'a. Move inward and you will attain Him--
What will you say to Parama Purus'a then ? What should be your prayer ? It
should be "O Lord, lead me on the correct path. Let not my intellect be
distracted from the path of Truth." You are all the children of Parama
Purus'a. You will certainly attain Him. You will not deviate from the path
of Truth. To attain Him is your birthright. The meaning of Ga'yatrii
chhanda is this-- 'O Lord of this resplendent light that pervades all, let
not my mind, my intellect, deviate from truth. Show me the way. Lead me on
the correct path. I meditate on thy Divine Effulgence so that my intellect
is guided towards You'." (SS-19, 'Salvation & Devotion')
Namaskar,
Manomohan
Eds Note: Here below is the link to part 1 of this topic:
