The Search Within

[little-self]

The fact the scientists believe: The universe is governed by laws—itself connotes—its creation is based on certain laws. If there are laws for its creation, as is being accepted, then it is a foregone conclusion that these laws were there even before its creation! The students of cosmology know that any mass that goes into the black hole, its particles do not return to our universe. For all we know, these might be joining some other baby universe! This probability looks good within the gambits of general theory of relativity.
When we accept the fact of determined laws, we automatically accept the issue of Creation: that it had a beginning. Anything that is created has its beginning. We therefore come to the same old conclusion that life is finite and its creation—physical bodies are finite too. Creation itself is finite. It was created on a ‘Principle’ and is governed on well-defined laws. How it evolved from an Infinite-Principle is not the subject matter of science fraternity, unless they function in unison with the spiritualists and try to know subtle worlds of mind-spirit-divinity!
Likewise spiritualists should also remain within their confined boundaries and should not venture into answering questions, which do not fall within their domain. Whenever the ‘thinkers/philosophers’ tried to don the role of scientists of natural sciences, they have miserably failed. Not that these two fields are separate or unrelated to each other. Only their system of education is different and unlike each other. That is why any one who is not adequately qualified in one system of science cannot be expected to, automatically, claim expertise of the other. The result of such an exercise has always been disastrous.
The l.s who is the source of these ‘work’ has also delved in the unknown fields of science and it is a foregone fact that he being a novice, he might have faltered enormously! There are countless instances of such foolish ventures, especially from the religionists, which compel the good intentioned, well informed intellectuals to keep away from their home-spun ‘theories’—which have mushroomed in as many religious sects—that they simply spurn them. Their disdain is justified. Just one example, a repetition of course:
“According to Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions, the universe was created only in the recent past. (In seventeenth century Bishop Ussher calculated a date of 4004 BC, for the creation of the universe, a figure he arrived at by adding up the ages of people in the Old Testament).
“According to St. Augustine (Book of Genesis) it is 5000 years. “But according to Vedic Scriptures, a ‘Purant’ cycle is completed in 311,040,000,000,000 years.
Just see the difference!
The ancient Indian astronomy like other disciplines of science was far ahead of the West. Rather it would not be an exaggeration to mention here that the Westerns were behaving like barbarians, while this country was reveling, both in spiritual enlightenment and material abundance. How the West treated their scientists can just be imagined by the fates of Copernicus, Bruno and Galileo! The treatment meted out to them is still fresh in the minds of the present generation of scientists. Had this fraternity taken our scriptures seriously, especially Upanishads, their ridicule towards spiritualism would have been subdued substantially. As to how much scientific methodology has been followed in decoding the spiritual ‘thought’; there is always an element of doubt and disbelief in the minds of research scholars! As their testing ground of new discoveries is the laboratory, not the spatial realms of the mind. But pseudo spiritual quacks, unlike the genius cosmologists, are presently at a premium to hazard wild ‘prophesies’, because most of the theories relating to cosmology are yet to be proved. To the misfortune of the Western scientists, the depth of insight of their ruling masters is not remotely in consonance with the new discoveries made in the fields of matter. They wasted the golden opportunity they had, for two hundred years of rule over India—for learning the sciences, this country had the mastery on. The ancient Indian ‘thought’ on matter and spirit is so deep that even the present day scientists with all the facilities at their command, cannot in their wildest imagination, touch upon the outer fringes of the vast ocean of knowledge, which this country’s masters of yore had probed in the realms of Conscious and which is immanent in matter and spirit. The basic essence of their ‘thought’ was: The innate nature of matter is conscious. This is a clear line of division between the matter and spirit: between the scientists and the wise: between the knowledge of science and Divine. Where the present theories about Creation lead to, is in fact, the starting point of the spiritualists in their Sadhna(quest)!

[little-self]

The commonly accepted theory of singularity takes the scientists to the edges of dissolution (black hole), where all physical laws fail and even time comes to a stop. This scenario indicates the end of matter. On the contrary, this is the point, from where the role of the spiritualist begins. For when matter is totally annihilated: the state wherein, not only the gross particles de-materialize, but those also which create matter, transmute into pure conscious; the science has done its job. There is nothing left of the universe or its constituents for the scientists to discover any more! The matter including its laws having reached their ultimate, have met their Nadir!
There is another theory in vogue, when all laws fail: Absolute takes over and no law applies to It since an Absolute is causeless: That state of Singularity is the Absolute. All laws, which were sustaining the existence of the universe, are regressed in That (Big-Crunch). This is the ultimate truth of matter. Again after some time—to restart the cycle of evolution, pre-determined Sankalp/will (as time has lost its relevance), Absolute re-activates its conscious—not that conscious in its pure state ever becomes un-conscious—and sets in motion those forces which starts the process of creating another replicate of Creation.
Though this is an excellent theory, it shall never be proved! It will remain only in equations. After thousands of years, when the scientists are able to erect an artificial replicate of the universe; the Principle, which sustains the Creation, would remain still illusive and hence shall never be in their hands, since the domain of physical sciences is always limited within the parameters of the universe and its creations and its laws and intelligence! Whereas the realms of Conscious and the Supreme-Intelligence are beyond the ‘concept’ of mind and its gross conscious, which is the synthesis of the Creation or the vice versa!
Howsoever far the scientific theories may take the human imagination, but these are not going to satisfy him. Man is in the search of the Ultimate Theory, not to find its dead ends. Its finiteness also shall not make him happy. Even when he is able to unveil its secrets of creation, he would not like its finiteness. He also does not want the state of either singularity or un-certainty. What he wants is its immortality, not mortality. Because only in its immortality, will he find his immortality! He simply does not want to die. He wants to live forever. This is possible only if he finds the secrets of creation’s immortality. Just look at the height of his naivety: In this finite world he wants to search the seeds of his Immortality!Whether he succeeds ultimately, only time—whose own invincibility is in question—shall determine! But it would be a futile exercise, which the humanity will realize, only after spending a good fortune; that the nature of Creation is same, from where he had begun his research: That Nature is finite like its creations. Only the Principle that keeps its wheels going endlessly, looks constant, eternal and above the natural laws!

[little-self]

Human Nomenclature. The problem among the spiritualists and the scientists is neither very old nor of any deeper nature. Instead of considering it a problem, it is merely an aptitude aberration of looking at the same ‘object’ from two different angles. In fact this deficiency in outlook does not prevail in the ‘higher’ classes of both the fraternities. At such an elevated field of intelligence these minion distractions have no scope, as minds are then elevated to the spatial realms. Only lower minds bereft of rich thought content indulge in the vagaries of mind. Instead of probing the ultimate depth of the mind, and in the process discovering these realms, viz. Super-Mind, Higher-Mind, Illuminated-Mind, and finally the Over-Mind, we waste our energies in religious engagements. These four levels of consciousness of human mind represent different elevation states of conscious, which a subject encounters. Since this is not topic of our discussions at the moment, it is suffice to state here that nothing is beyond the scope of mind. First we have to elevate ourselves to its charted heights, only then we can attain the state of Over-Mind, which in Vedhaanthik(science dealing with spirituality) parlance, is known as the state of “Amanaka” (Mindlessness). Once the mind is withdrawn, only the principal of Aathma(soul/spirit) i.e. the Super-Consciousness exists.
Now let us pause and ponder as to which stream or ‘thought’ of Western literature has enlightened on these levels of the Conscious! Even the present day masters of gospel, belonging to various sects, are minting money and fame by befooling the innocent public, eulogizing on matters which are not distantly related to spiritualism. They merely indulge in cheap mockery of ritualism and, now, the (de-) famed practice of worship of Naam-Dhaan (guru-disciple kinship through the medium of Guru-Manthar—spiritual formula with the potency of Guru’s revelation, which he, supposedly, passes on to his disciples). Their thought content is as shallow, in their oratory, as it is absent in the Western literature of ‘spirit’—or it is that of the matter! Even in this discipline Western approach on the subject is very poor. In ancient India, there were six schools of thought (Philosophy): Nyaya-Vaishaishik school postulate “At the beginning of each Kalpa (each Creation), numbers of atoms and molecules unite to form different objects with different qualities—-“. So our seers had discovered the secrets of the origin of Creation and were fully aware of its composition of atoms and matter etc. (all this happened much before the advent of Greek civilization)
Suddenly with the advent of machine age, there has been a sea change in methodology of our education; with the result that our values of life changed too. With the introduction of gadgetry of comforts in our daily lives, our outlook towards deeper meaning of life has also shown downslide in moral standards. The reason for this is simple enough: Previously the institutes of education in secular and spiritual disciplines were in the control of the experts, who were highly specialized in their respective fields. Unfortunately their ownership has passed into those hands, whose only qualification is money. Further, advance in IT has produced a new class of ‘over-night’ billionaires. Money has usurped those fields, which it was not remotely concerned with. Today media is sitting as baron over the minds of innocent people, specially the younger generation, who cannot discriminate what type of data (knowledge), should go in their raw brains. It is not surprising that the owners of Newspapers, T.V channels, Magazines, Film productions, Satellites, Publishing houses and what not, are those very barons, who belong to jet-set class, bathing in slushy funds. It is an open secret; most of these moneyed people’s means of earning money have been of dubious nature. They hold degrees in debauchery, sex, scandal, extravagant living and open disregard, not only for law but for decency also. Then how can we expect any finer innovation from their licentious brains, which are always browsed in lower minds?
Even then nothing is lost. There is still no dearth of genuine masters in both the fields. Only their voices are lost in the din of IT czars: Similar has been the fate of present day literature. Fabulous sum of money is paid to writers on their so-called master pieces. It is really a matter of shame—for the students of literature—to even read these books, which are not fit to be considered for critical evaluation. Again it is a matter of disgrace; the evaluator class too belongs to their category. All are paid stooges. They write, what is expected of them, for a price. For the moneyed, it is their business and business for them is production of more cheap goods on cheap rates, to sell them at higher rates for pocketing hefty profits. Their products are produced on demand. They are firstly produced; thereafter their market is created by lavish advertising. For all this, only we are responsible: Those who compromise their conscience and those who encourage such excursions in serious subjects, and by those who are least qualified for the job! With the result, works of old masters, geniuses, seers have been sidelined or misdirected with the active connivance of day’s littérateurs—for a price of course—and our lost generations have paid the price either in the battle fields or in the depravity of their minds.

[little-self]

Anyway this also is not our subject at hand, or it would become a lengthy thesis, to trace the background of slavery which ultimately leads to subjugation of mind. Foreign invaders very systematically erased our system of education and polluted our minds by coercion, bribe or power. Our ancient race on earth, the proud progeny of a rich culture, was not only ancient but perfected almost every aspect of life. Nature and its sciences flourished in those times to the extent, that these are the subject matter of those experts who proclaim themselves the world leaders. But our spirit did not die, nor could it be banished by the invaders. Even though India remained under foreign rule for over twelve hundred years, its flames of spirit, codified in Vedhas, Upanishads, Brahamsuther, was kept alive by our seers, saints and great acharaaryas (teachers). The main source of Brahman Vidhya(cosmic education) —by knowing which everything else is known—are Vedhas which are called Sruthis or those texts which were originally heard or received by the sages directly from the Supreme Being in the state of heightened illumination and deep silence, and were then passed on to their disciples in an excellent oral system of teaching and learning till they were compiled by Sage Vyass. This is perhaps the greatest gift of God to man: what Aldous Huxley calls the ‘perennial philosophy’ of man’s life’. This rich legacy was passed on from generation to generation. Besides our mothers played a great role in preserving our culture, by keeping its traditions alive at their homes, even in hostile environs. The result is that we are half-baked citizens: an amalgamation of alien and of our own cultures!
Every intellectual is well conversant by now with the depth of Western ‘thought’, as it existed since its origin from Socrates (through Plato), Plato, Aristotle and the later addition of the last two hundred years. Their main thrust of quest was society and its creations: thus their extension of thought was confined within its structures. As a result, their specializations were confined to society, viz. sociology, economics, religions, psychology and passions etc. their approach toward Reality was only prophetical. At the most they delved merely on issues (not subjects) which our seers taught to their disciples in primary classes. They wasted so much of their time and energy on such trivial issues, like ‘Existentialism’, ‘Being’ etc. Had they or their hypocrite disciples in India, stepped down from their high pedestal of shallow egoism and paid a little attention to some of our scriptures, they would have discovered a gold mine of ‘thought’ contents, which far surpassed their limits of imagination.
When Hiuen Tsang visited India (A.D.629-645), he stayed at Nalandha University for five yeas. There were nearly 10,000 teachers and students in the university, some of the students had come from foreign lands like Japan, Korea, Tibet, Nepal and China. Besides free education, all students were provided free food, clothes, beddings and medicines. Imparting of knowledge—which was universal in nature—was considered an act like any other spiritual practice. There were many other universities like Vikramsila, Valabhi, etc., which imparted the same system of education to the students. And this system had been in vogue before the Christian era. Imagine the foolhardiness of the West when they try to teach us the gambits of their cultural and religious bigotry!
The l.s is not biased to West or being extraordinarily partial to ancient Indian ‘thought’. He himself, once, belonged to their class. His re-search on Indian thought began through Western writers. For him there are no boundaries, either in spiritual or secular worlds. For him there is only one caste and that is of humanity: one religion and that is of love: one language and that is of heart: One God, one Nature, one Religion, one Language and one Nation—that is, the entire humanity!
The above, observations, though not a part of our subject at hand was essential, to understand better the hollowness of our claims that we are nearing our journey’s end!
How immature of us to imagine that we are going to find the Unified ToE that would unravel the mysterious of the Creation! Or to assume, we are leading towards our perfection; both as a civilized human beings and in the evolutionary cycle!.

[little-self]

There is no doubt about the fact that every unit of creation is the creation of Nature—as of its innate/inherited nature. Each unit is involved in some creation, however infinitesimal it might be, thereby contributing in the process of evolution—which is ever on its way to complete its journey by reaching its final goal. That goal happens to be the completion of its pre-determined road map. In the ultimate maturity of each of its unit, lies its end of the road: that in the attainment of perfection in each of its constituent lies its own perfection!
Now we have to look at ourselves and the other units of Nature, to determine as to whether all are leading towards their assigned goal of perfection! But how are we are going to measure the authenticity of the tools, with which we shall determine the quantum of perfection of these ‘units’? Obviously the human intelligence, shall decide the issue! But what methodology are we going to adopt to measure the genuineness of our intelligence?
Before searching for the answer, first, we shall have to accept the hypothesis that the whole is greater than the sum total of its parts! This is based on the analogy that the ‘whole’ subsumes its components or the components are created out the whole! There are other related factors, which shall be clear later on.
The present system of measuring one’s rational intelligence, termed as “Intelligence Quotient”, is insufficient to determine factors which make life a success. Later psychologist made it more broad-based and coined it as “Emotional Quotient (EQ)”. It was done on the hypothesis that “we have two brains, two minds and two different kinds of intelligence, rational and emotional. That it is not just IQ, verbal and mathematical-logical capability, but emotional intelligence i.e. spatial capability, physical fluidity, musical capability, inter-personal intelligence, intra personal intelligence also that matters.” (Daniel Goleman). Still more research was done and it was found that these did not really help in assessing the true representation of a person! Another dimension was added in the area of intelligence, that of SQ, i.e. “Spiritual Intelligence” (Danah Zohar and Marshal). They consider it the basic foundation for an effective use of EQ and IQ.
So at last spiritual factor is being accepted by the western intellectuals! It is needless to emphasize that every Oriental child, even before he starts walking on his two tiny feet, gets familiar with such terms like, religion, spiritualism, God etc. However it is very encouraging to note this change in the Western mindset.
Coming back to our topic, even these three aspects of intelligence are not enough to understand true intelligence, which pervades in un-illuminated state, is embodied in us as well as in the cosmos, as C-I-C. The knowledge which we have acquired so far, however, is not an iota of the conscious intelligence since our method of grasping it is far too indoctrinated by the western system of ‘thought’, which in turn, keeps the mind away from true knowledge. With their system we can become efficient computers with highly developed IQ, EQ and SQ, but not wise. True knowledge is the domain of the wise. And wise are the one’s who are conscious of Cosmic-Intelligence. They are elevated to this state of consciousness, only after reaching the Illuminated state of mind. On the other hand, if all the knowledge of rational minds is put together, it would reveal, as to how ignorant we still are. Let us have a quick glance at the marvels of our discoveries!
In the field of physics, we are talking about Unified ToE today, but are unsure about the true formation of the particles! Matter, anti-matter, dark-matter, black-hole, white-hole, are high on agenda, but what about the composition of our own earth!
We have discovered the speed of light and have also developed means to regress its speed to zero. With Hubble satellite we are glancing at far off galaxies and have also stockpiled enough nuclear bombs to destroy our own planet many times over; prepared a complete map of DNA; and has also grown a human clone etc. etc.
• But can we manufacture water, even if we know its formula?
• Have we been able to reach even the fringe of our own galaxy?
• Have we discovered a single medicine, which can obliterate, completely, any disease from our planet? We have yet to discover a medicine for a common cold! (Hurrah!)
• Can we control the fury of the oceans, from wrecking havoc?
• Have we been able to control anger, greed, lust etc., which are proving fatal to our own existence?
• Crime, corruption, hunger, lawlessness—what have we done about these?

[little-self]

Almost in every sphere of science, except information technology, our knowledge about Nature is still limited. And with that, we want to access the totality of knowledge! Obviously the resultant intelligence would also be very limited. Unfortunately this is exactly, we are doing. With this limited background of knowledge, we are attempting to know the source of our creation! And imagine with this tinted ‘intelligence’ we also want to know its Creator! Just look at our plight that we hardly know anything about our satellite the moon. Merely putting a few footprints on its surface is of no significance as there are countless galaxies yet to be explored. We just about know nothing. Our knowledge about elements is even poorer. Our climate, vegetation and our lives are dependent upon them, we are helpless. If we are miserably ignorant about the systems of functioning of our lives, and about the natural forces which control, not only our lives, but also this planet earth which sustains us, then what scope we have of knowing the fundamental ‘factors/force’ which created Nature/Creation? Not that we should desist from our search or research, the moot point is that our knowledge about ourselves and of Nature’s forces, is so limited that we should not claim to ‘know’ about the One, who is still, much beyond the ken of our imagination. To know of Him or about Him or His authenticity, we shall have to first equip ourselves well with the knowledge of natural laws and its forces that sustain them; only then we shall be qualified to venture into our quest to know about Divine or Its divinity. This can be attained through the knowledge of Brahman Vidhya only.
To our misfortune and fortunately for many, spiritual scholarship—not knowledge (illumination) —has been usurped by a neo-breed of preachers, who of late have suddenly mushroomed with the advent of television. In ancient times there used to be saints and sages like Kabir, Bhagath Ravi Dass, and Swami Vivekanand, Adhi Shankaraachaaryaacharya, Ygnayavalk, Ashtvakar, Vedh Vyaas etc., who were the Self-realised souls. The west too had many thinkers like, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, who interpreted Reality in their own classic way. But these masters did not commercialize their divine mission. God or Divinity is not a saleable commodity, as no one can hope to possess or patent It. The most agonizing part is that these commercial merchants of self-proclaimed patented fiefdoms befool every one on the name of God and collect hefty ‘donations’. These pseudo masters are ages away from Self-realisation, much less Divine-realisation. Like Church’s renaissance period of turmoil and forceful imposition of its will, present day preachers are willfully driving away the public from Religion and assembling them in small pockets of sects, whose foundations are laid purely on flimsy ground of self-glorification. Their preaching do not stem from the self experience of Self’s realization and hence, not believable or scientific! As a result people with scientific bent of mind, are getting further alienated from spiritual path. This class of preacher hold second grade SQ, not worthy of serious attention.
Similarly, scientific institutes too have been usurped by the business community, whose only motive is to earn more and more profits and that too in these fields, which get them quick buck. Almost entire scientific research is being wasted in the inventions of useless materials, which is mainly for the annihilation of human race itself. Nothing constructive is being done for its ‘development’ as a well cultured race. No efforts are made to develop such means, which could make life happier or at least livable. Rather all energy is directed towards its imminent destruction.
Are we worthy of being called a civilized human race, if more than 80 percent of its population is being, willfully, deprived of even basic needs of food, water, clothing, medical aid and a decent shelter? It’s really a shame!
Then why are we hankering after a mythical God, whose ‘existence’ has never been proved during the entire history of mankind! Only a handful of so-called realised souls ‘spoke’ about Him. It is only their ‘words’ which bespeak of their revelations—which could be suspect! Ever since his origin, man is engaged in mutual annihilation, as well as the destruction of Nature’s flora and fauna. His chief activity has been, and still is, to make war machines, kill others, possess all resources of Nature and lead his brethren to starvation. On the other hand the so-called spiritualists too, have been waging wars in the name of their religions and for usurping and forcefully converting others or killing them. India has been a witness to such inhuman acts. However in our country’s history, there has never been any war or battle fought in the name of religion, even if their number far exceeds the total number of all the religions in the world put together! Has any one heard of a war between Janis and Buddhists; between orthodox Sanathanis and the Janis? On the other hand, the Muslim and Christians have waged wars, not only amongst themselves, but ventured to far off lands to convert people or face death.
Is this spiritualism to try to expand religions through forcible conversion and genocide?
Is science meant only for discovering methods to obliterate human race or for the subjugation of weaker nations, and make the powerful more rich and poor still more poorer?
This is no spiritualism, nor is it the purpose of science. If we are engaged only in such nefarious activities and divert our energies only in the subjugation of weaker sections, then both science and spirituality are irrelevant and we are nothing but the playthings of our inhuman negative tendencies.

[little-self]

Our intent in probing these two subjects is simply to elucidate that human knowledge is miserably insufficient to tackle at the core of these subjects. Let the scientists continue with their research for another thousand years, and perhaps then they might be able to get few glimpses of the Creators’ wonderful realms and may understand the Supreme-Principle of Creation. The simple fact to be understood is that our research is leading to invisible (subtle) particles. From mammoth planets, stars and galaxies, we are going beyond sub-atomic fields. Though we are moving from gross material world to matter, atoms to sub-atomic, and now to invisible neutrino, there are still many more layers of particles, far too subtle, that need to be unraveled.
Then should it be assumed that the scientists should not try to ascertain the authenticity of the spiritual field, and confine themselves to their own field of physical sciences!
They have every right to seek knowledge of any field, but no fraternity of any discipline, without an adequate ‘enlightenment’, should wear the mantle of those fields with which it is not remotely familiar. Any specialized knowledge can provide us enlightenment of that subject. Any masquerading or half-hearted intrusion would be disastrous. Scientist’s field is physical world, and it is so vast that it might take them eternity to acclimatize. By that time, they may not have to seek help from the spiritualists, as they would have, in all probability, got the answer themselves: That the knowledge of Nature is hidden in its Principle—Divinity!
Spiritualism on the other hand is also narrowly focused. It is highly individualistically selfish, as it seeks the realisation of ones’ own Self. Besides the hoard of self-proclaimed spiritual masters, is at best, nothing more than scholars of scripture; and that too very few amongst them. Except for erecting palatial mansions in the name of Ashrams, they are least qualified to uplift the spiritual standards of their followers, or disseminate fruits of their spiritual attainments! They are not familiar with what they preach. They cry hoarse telling their followers to control their senses, while their own greed is conspicuous by the lavish living in the mansions, which are built by the money they had usurped from their followers. The biggest hoax they play is their total ignorance of Nature’s system. We are born with our senses, along with the so-called negative tendencies. Why we should make so much noise of these ‘faculties’ which came natural to us! What comes as natural, why do we try to project them as un-natural! If there is sun shine, there is rain too: if there is pleasure, there is pain too. All the five senses and their traits are natural. Even lust, greed, anger, envy and attainment, are the natural traits of our senses. Then why so much of negative projection of them! Their negative obsession about these is perhaps reflective of their own deficiency in their character. They possess all material luxuries, which are the fruits of these tendencies; then how they dare to forbid their followers to desist from possessing them? They are married, have children and often continue to indulge in physical intimacy (lust= according to them!). Even after assuming Gaddhi (peership) of Guruship, they loot their followers and fill their own coffers: possess fully air-conditioned palaces, cars (greed): they create division in society in the name of religion, resulting in communal riots (anger): they criticize the masters of other religions (envy), and shamelessly display their wealth, power, follower-ship (pride).
Compared to them, the sham class of renunciates, who outwardly profess to be devoid of these tendencies, are less conspicuous, at least in public eyes! It is more in vocal cards than in material projections! Thus the persons, who are themselves attached to their selves, cannot be expected to raise themselves above the influences of their negative tendencies.
Why cannot we just be normal human being, as we are, acknowledging the existence of both positive-negative aspects of our being? Why should we fight over those factors, which are part of us or vice versa? Great hypocrites we are!

[Alvin Pepler]

The most important of all topics these days. Seneca in his letters and Ernst Cassirier have answered these questions better than anyone I've read this far. I can not go on as long as some have here. I can only speak in terse, simple, monosyllabic responses. Really.

[little-self]

Most of our scriptures, especially Puuranas, have been written, mainly to highlight negative aspects of life, to prevent humanity from falling in moral quagmire. Likewise other religions, have given also undue priority to these tendencies. This is very negative attitude and it projects wrong picture of human nature. On the one hand it is given to understand that human origin is from bliss (Anandh); at the same time his birth is attributed to sin! The human mind has so much been tarnished that a new subject, of psychology, had to be invented to understand its dark side. Religionists are not far behind: Major thrust of their ‘talks’ and teachings, is devoted to detail out the panacea for the control of our senses. They are simply not aware about the distinction between control and understanding: There is no such thing as control of senses. It is simply the understanding of our capacity of conscious knowledge, which gives us the awareness of our limitation or the extent of our knowledge.
We are the product of Nature and inheriting its qualities is natural. There is so much power in its elements that it gets released in a variety of dimensions. Like our progenitors we react, rebound and resound in the same manner. If somebody attacks us, we instantly react back and retaliate. Without going into these natural reflexes, we should spend some time to understand our mindset and its conscious aspect. In fact it has been so thoroughly discussed in my book, “Quest In Reality”, that any discussion on senses, mind and intellect, will only be a repeat.
The present masters should endeavor to inculcate in their followers, the techniques of self-analysis, discrimination, self-assessment and self-enquiry, so that by understanding ones’ ignorance and deficiencies, one could strive to remove them. This simple exercise would help them in maintaining equilibrium of mind. If one is an enquirer, his first priority would be to supplement the deficiencies through self-enquiry and keep equilibrium of mind. Weaklings would always tend to fill the gaps of deficiencies or weaknesses, by usurping other people’s assets. This would create, only chaos instead of balance. Enlightenment of knowledge is attainable, not by snatching it from others. It is possible only by the extension of ‘thought’, after removing the ignorance. Each mind is the repository of the totality of knowledge and only its activation, i.e. enlightenment is required. But we do quite opposite to it. The so-called preachers (Kathavachhic) and ‘thinkers’ (imposters!) are nothing better than poor scripture readers, instead of being genuine interpreters. Their only field of gospel revelation is related to senses. Scientists too are equally responsible for encouraging negative aspects of life. Their entire energies are directed in the discovery of self-destructive forces and gadgets.
What better could be expected from these elite groups of intellectual-junkies, who preach junk ‘philosophies’, whose relevance had lost sheen in their own times. We are not genuinely concerned about the advancement of science; fruits of earlier research are with us. In what way, these are used is not the question! But our object is the core of matter—the spirit. Our destination is nothing short of Brahman-Divinity-God. And to reach there or better to attain that level of enlightenment, worldly intellect is of no use to us. It is Aathmik-Jnaan (Athamboth=Self-realisation) that would reveal to us the Divine that is immanent in our Self, yet hidden in our puny-self. This celestial goal is attainable through our mind. For the scientist too, it is the mind which shall lead them to the threshold of Creation. The mind is vested with such powers, it pervades the entire cosmos. At the same time, it can constrict itself inward and delve the very depths of consciousness. The self-created barrier between the inner and outer conscious is because of IQ, EQ, SQ trinity, which are not the true measuring standards of our intelligence.
Then what are those standards which can, firstly establish the existence of ‘Conscious’ and thereafter discriminate exactly the level of its elevation or enlightenment?
So much has been written on this subject, now its review gives repulsion to the educated class. We have come to understand the present class of masters, who are not qualified to speak on the subject, much less pass on any enlightenment to their followers and our own limitations of intellect, to tackle this subject. Just as the scientists are after the ToE, every conscious brain is anxious to enquire the source of his origin, or why/how of our universe’s existence! The cause of confusion on the subject is due to the ignorance of imposter class of philosophers, thinkers, religious masters, who without, themselves being ‘conscious’ of the subject, shell out parroted sermons which have been etched on their brains by equally ignorant masters or by the ‘suspect’ scriptures.

[little-self]

Scientists have devised a system of cosmology, by whose study a student becomes qualified to initiate research on the subject. This system is based on theorems, axioms, postulates, definitions, formulas, laws and equations, which their best brains invented after years of study and research. The educated brains require similar systematic approach to the subject of spirituality. They are least interested in the mythological tales of Puuranas, but a subject which is purely based on proven theories. This is the biggest lacuna in today’s teachings of our masters. They go on repeating old gospels, which do not stand the test of present day intelligence. These masters try to hide their ignorance under the guise of their superfluous high profile ‘spiritually-illuminated-self’! Their main contention is that spiritual illumination is an inner experience, and hence not demonstrable: Because the very act of demonstration tantamount to miracles, which are forbidden by their religions/sects or by their masters, on the ground, these ‘acts’ promote egoism. Fool’s paradise, they live in—these hypocrite breed!
In India alone there are millions of people who are followers of these masters. But it is a funny state of affairs that not one of them lives up to the teachings of his master, in practice! After donating thousands of crores(billions), what these innocent people get in return!
This ‘Tamasha’ (jokers’ tricky play) has been going on since centuries, and it will go on, because religion is an inner demand of our conscience, which these thugs exploit for their own personal gains. Then the question arises, should religions be banned or shunned? What good these religious places do, for the welfare of the society? In case, neither the religions nor its places of worship bring any transformation in the general character of their followers, then do they have any relevance in society?
The answer is a Big NO!
No religion or its place of worship has ever improved general well being of a nation, society or an individual, either in the promotion of moral values or in being civil! Let this topic be left for the readers to decide.
Then should it be assumed, the efforts by the divine men since centuries, have been a waste, as the mammoth structures they raised in the process, have become adjunct! On the other hand, these personae claim, had it not been for them, humanity would have been an uncivilized race. History speaks otherwise. There have been more than 5500 major wars in the recorded history, because of these ‘beings’ or their ‘philosophies’. They live in fool’s paradise if they believe, but for them, there would have been no human race!
They had been the perpetrators of fission instead of fusion in the society. History again refutes their version and presents compelling evidence, that these ‘religious’ crusaders instigated these fissions in society. It is useless to waste time on their adjunct theories as these are like the ruins of ancient monuments, which are to be eulogized for the dead past, whose only pride is these ruins!
Conditions are not as alarming as the angels of death have made them out to be. The science fraternity too aligns with them, because they are mere tools in the hands (read employment) of few rich industrialists. Poor nations have no industrial base worth the name, as such all war machines are manufactured by the developed (read rich) countries. It is these countries who are instigating the fission in these wretched nations, who have, only recently, been freed from the yokes of slavery by these very countries after centuries of subjugation, and now are arming them with these war machines at exorbitant prices, instead of food, to fight among themselves. And these fools are fighting and killing each other, instead of using that money to provide basic necessities, to their poor citizenry. The funny thing is that this poor gentry of these nations is firm believer in God, whereas the wealthy nations have put on hold their morals, decency, civility—what to talk of divinity or spirituality. The religious lobby does more damage by feeding illogical and irrelevant doctrines to these poor people. What good these mere doctrines, philosophies, or ‘thoughts’ can do in the present times, whose relevance was more conducive in ancient time, when moral values were the ‘official currency’! Some divine ‘revelations’ were experienced, centuries ago, by some divine men, during trances of meditation. These ‘revelations’ became fundamental principles of those religions, which were formed by their ‘revealers’. Thus in each age, new systems of ethics, morality and spirituality were established, which were, purely based on the ‘revelations’, which in each case took the form of religions. The contents of all the revelations were almost the same and their main thrust was in the transformation of the social orders of the times. How those ‘revelations’ are supposed to hold water in present age, is beyond conception

[little-self]

In our age, with the advancement of science in almost all spheres of our life, old structures of religions built on flimsy pillars of untried doctrines, are being systematically demolished. With the mapping of all the forty six chromosomes, it would be finally established; that conscious is nothing but the shield of electromagnetic field of activated memory cells. Genetic code would dispel the scope of “free will”. Thoughts, intentions, emotions and other mental ‘aspects’ would prove to be nothing but artifacts of brain’s functioning. We are merely biological machines, whose behavior can be predicted. We do not act intentionally on our own volition, but only react to various kinds of stimuli. That all forms of art, science or thought processes are not due to some instinctive or divine intervention but the ‘by-product’ of the semi-liquid grey matter housed inside the cranial cavity, which was programmed to react blindly to emotional triggers impinging upon its sensory apparatus. This is the future scenario, which the religionists are going to confront, if not immediately but certainly in a hundred years from now or even earlier!
For the spiritualist, it would further uplift their already sagging morale, because the above scenario would only vindicate their ‘doctrine’ of pre-determination; that everything is pre-ordained! Whether it is on account of biological reasons or ‘Karmic’ cycle, it is all the same for them! There is absolutely no doubt that we are an efficient biological machine, evolved from equally efficient Nature, whose creation (origin) is the result of an equally efficient Cause (Intelligence). What sustains this efficient creation is the subject matter of spiritualists as well as of the future scientists, whose research would impel them to treat inner (spiritual) and outer (ephemeral world) sciences as one. The scientists of the Nature, however are in for a pleasant surprise, since at the end of their research, is the likely revelation: For their welcome are standing, the spiritualists with open hands! A spiritualist’s first lesson, which he learns at the start of his Sadhna of inward journey, is the elevation of his mind to Conscious—which incidentally would be the ultimate goal of the scientists too. Whereas conscious is the first step for Self-realisation, the end of scientist’s research would be the discovery that “matter is conscious”!
Why there is no co-ordination between these two streams of disciplines is not because of any lack of reciprocity, but because of the difference between the tools, which they deploy in their respective fields, which are equally different in shape and structure: Though their subtle composition is similar and of one substance, i.e., of ‘conscious particles’. The world is physical in form, so its projection is physical. We also are physical. So it is natural for us to use only physical tools to probe its (world) depths for its understanding and learn about its creations. On the other hand, mind-intellect-wisdom trilogy is not physical. It is mass-less, hence subtle. Search for its substance, naturally require only non-physical (subtle) tools—that is, ‘conscious’ itself. This conscious of worldly acquired knowledge is in its lowest state of gross. Since it is not in its original state of pure-consciousness, it cannot be taken as the right tool, for our search of Self-realisation, which is in its own state of purity. A spiritualist, attaining this state of pure-consciousness, requires a great regimentation over his body-mind-intellect regimes, through which he has to pass before reaching the ultimate goal. These media are the corollary of our ancient scriptures, viz. five life sheaths, five vital breaths, five senses of perception and five sense organs. For a complete mastery over these physical implements, the application of five D’s, Dedication, Discipline, Devotion, Discrimination, and Determination, is most essential. Supplementing these are Self-confidence, Self-satisfaction, Self-sacrifice to finally attain the ultimately, Self-realisation.
This mind boggling list of disciplines makes clear that the qualifications required of a spiritualist are even more stringent than of a scientist. Even the entire life is span is short to master the senses. That is the reason that our present day masters, are unable to bring about any transformation in the lives of their followers, since they themselves do not exemplify what they teach. They do not practice what they preach. This is the most conspicuous blemish in their general character. What a joke that these ‘revered’ names of our society are conducting short camps to teach their followers the methodology of Meditation, Yoga, TM and what not! Breathing in a particular fashion or doing some sham body exercises, won’t teach us those disciplines, which require mental, intellectual, emotional and spiritual ‘Sadhna’(exercise). These disciplines of Sadhna are sacred. We should not try to demean their very purpose for a morsel of comfort and pride. Humanity has a rich heritage, which should not be lost for a penny. The precious gem of life has no price in worldly wealth, as it is the most sacred possession, which has a purpose, a goal to attain and the final mergence! Our misfortune is that we are unaware of our inheritance, as we are incapable of understanding our potentialities! We have to patent the divinity that is latent in us. This is the simple goal, which the scholars, thinkers and the Punditry has made so complex for us.

[little-self]

Latent.Patent. For those, whose minds are always nagging them about the ‘existence’ of God; there shall never be a satisfactory answer or a solution! Even if they are presented with conclusive proofs of the existence of ‘POWER”, which is beyond the system of natural laws and is capable to manifest projections in a trice from thin air, whose production in normal course would take days, months or years, and that too with the available infra-structure of modern gadgetry—would be a ‘event’ beyond imagination!
Why religions have survived, is not due to some innovations in the existing ‘philosophies’ or by the erudition of their masters! The only reason for their uninterrupted survivability has been the public exhibition of ‘supernatural powers’, by their masters. Had it not been so, no religion had ever been established, by the reverent masters, single handedly in each case. Whether scholars, elites or the atheists believe it or not—they may deny the existence of these institutions—but the fact of their existence is before us. The doubting minds and the fringe sitters flock en-block to witness any new spectacle of Divine-power, being exhibited through the medium of a ‘person’. Only those religions have survived the ravages of history and mans’ bestiality, who have been rejuvenated by the periodical ‘dosages’ of Divine-energy’ by the advent of Divine-personages. Their display of super-natural powers can be consigned as myth by some, but the irrefutable evidence left by these special “persons”, compel the present day scientists to pay due regard to their ‘acts’. The Church is the best testimony, in giving full credence and acceptance to these divine persons and their divine powers e.g. Mother Teresa’s beatification—on the basis of ‘miracle’—is the latest example. India is special in spiritual field and is considered a holy land, wherein only the incarnation of God in human form takes birth. Even now such ‘advent’ has taken place!
If the rationalists are suspicious about these ‘events’, it is not their fault entirely. There are two main reasons which breed suspicion. The first is of their own making: without, first, acquiring the requisite qualifications—as in general fields of education—they try to tackle a subject for which they are least qualified. No rational mind would criticize or condemn an opponent without the application of logic. That is possible if the condemner is equally—if not better, proficient in the subject of his ire. On the other hand, very few persons can claim to be authentic masters of spiritualism. The term ‘master’ is used in spiritual Sadhna(exercise), because it is the only subject in which perfection is possible! Otherwise in all subjects relating to the ephemeral world, mastery over Nature is not possible: even the knowledge or the tools discovered so far are insignificant to acquire mastery in any one of its aspects. For the acquisition of latter’s expertise, usage of physical tools is essential, as the object of enquiry as the Universe is also physical, and the tools devised from it are of the same nature. Whereas in case of spiritualism, only the tool of self-inquiry is employed! True spiritualism is the path of enquiry (Aathmik-Vidhya) of knowing the Self. It is not the science of Nature, but the ‘knowledge’ of the Self. The tools employed in both the cases, is intelligence— the mind. In spirituality the term intelligence gets transformed into wisdom; in science it retains its basic identity. Acquired knowledge is intelligence, whereas spiritual Jnaanam is wisdom, the real intellect.
Now we have to look at the qualification of an intellectual—a spiritually elevated soul, a Jnaani, a Super-Conscious entity. This is of prime importance, as the learned fraternity would demand to know the degrees earned by these spiritual personas, as a mark of their authenticity. Like scholars, there are many learned persons, who have complete mastery over scriptures. They are as proficient in their fields as any scholar of general education. But there are very few, who are quite adept in the knowledge of the Self. The simple reason being it involves a dedicated life, entirely devoted to the pursuit of spiritual Sadhna. It is not a part time education. It is whole time commitment, which requires of the seeker, understanding (mastering) his senses-mind-intellect-ego, and finally the Self—which is his true self, the inner-Self. How do we distinguish such a Jnaani at different levels of his elevation! Nothing difficult or doubtful imposition about it! Like natural science, inner science too has its levels of elevation, which are easily discernable.
Before coming to that, let us again be clear about the purpose of this research or search. At least the l.s is very clear in his aim and purpose. Even his path is clearly defined, for he knows, not only the purpose but the end goal of the search. It is in that direction, he is making this attempt. In the process, there might have been endlessly turbulent impediments, but the ‘reward’ has been worth it. He is as content and self-contained, as a vessel full of water, or the other way round (both connote the same condition). There is hardly any sound of gurgling of noisy thoughts; or for that matter any kind of thought! Seriously speaking, there is no more any desire—to seek more or know any more! As everything—the l.s, need to ‘know’— is clear and without any blemish of doubt!

[little-self]

For most of the learned, it is not clear as to what spirituality is, and why should anyone make any endeavor to know it! This word has been tarnished so much that even its very mention in the modern social circle, creates revulsion.
Who amongst the scholars, laymen or devils, wouldn’t want to know about the secrets of birth and death? Who wouldn’t try to overcome the fear of death, and find some way out, to escape from it? But to escape from the clutches of death, there is only one way and that is to escape from birth! If there is no birth, there is no death. It is a negative hypothesis, though as who wouldn’t want to be born! If there is no birth, there is no ‘being’, and there is no world even. There is birth, because there is life. If there is life, there is a variety of life: This universe, the moving cosmos and their final annihilation too. One can conquer anything in this ephemeral world, but not death. There have been great conquerors, warriors, sages and Godmen and the Avathaars God In Human form), but none escaped death!
So for as death is concerned, no theory coming from any celestial source, has been of any solace! Because death is not a hypothetical theory, belonging to any caste, creed, religion or region! It is the eternal terminator. It annihilates everything, anything that permeates in the Creation. Even subtle particles are not safe from its invisible tentacles. All religions and their classic theories are, merely, trying to mitigate the pain of its final sting. Even their creators were its prey! Then how could they preach about a ‘Thing’ (The final Terminator), which did not spare them even! Nobody can offer solution of a problem, whose prey they themselves are! As nobody has conquered so far or has come out of it alive, so nobody is qualified to tender advice or offer escape routes from its inexorable clutches. It is so obvious; no proof is needed for its authenticity. No Manthar, formula or a secret code is required to overcome this impending ‘event’.
It is an act of physical termination of body, which sustains on invisible substances, such as, life-current (conscious plus energy) and its allied elements. After going through endless permutations, Nature has been able to plant ‘human’ on planet earth. Would scientist be able to create replicate of the Original-Seed (Particle), which will, automatically, set in motion evolutionary cycle and create a parallel Nature? We can wishfully hope so! This ‘model-creation’ would be the creation of human mind—as each invention has at its back, an inventor and his intelligence. Every scientific theory, formula or equation is the off-shoot of a brain/mind: intelligence being the base—the source of human ingenuity. But human intelligence, besides being very limited, is solely dependent on Nature. All kinds of inventions and discoveries are the result of the understanding (being aware) of Nature’s principles. Whatever Nature has revealed so far is our ‘intelligence’. Nature and its Intelligence—its creational Principle—if ever it be possible to realize it, would be a mirage for human intelligence! Because like Nature, human beings too are the products of a third ‘agency’! Nature as it is made to understand—is its own cause. How very convenient to accept this proposition, but difficult to digest. Without conscious, Nature is gross. Without conscious, it is as good as dead mass. There has to be a Super-Cause, behind the ‘cause’ of Creation. Had Creation been Absolute—then it is easy to understand its Eternal nature. But it is not so! Creation is ephemeral, phenomenal; it is ever changing, so it is not Absolute. What seems to be eternal, unchanging, is the Principle that makes it create-sustain and dissolute. That Principle has to be known, discovered and replicated, so as to establish the suzerainty of the human mind over matter. A mind boggling proposition! No?
Human beings have the ingredients which make him empowered to unravel these secrets: As he is born with these traits, which are the cause of Creation! Hypothetical! No, again!

[NikolaiI]

Really great, quite wonderful and beautiful.

[little-self]

Four Conditions
Of Mind.Before going into this non-scientific subject, let us have a look at the following gems of wisdom. These may sound highly exaggerated and illogical, but the source from which these are coming, is impeccable—hence completely reliable. The intellect of the intellectuals, would reel and thunder, but the fact remains, all the four conditions of the mind, are genuine and attainable in practice.
“In human beings there are four levels of conscious of mind:
Super-mind.Related to body consciousness.
(Principle of Aathma)
Higher-mind.Thought consciousness.
Illumination-mind.That which transcends five elements.
Over-mind. Super-conscious, principle of Aathma.
(Mindlessness)
Humans will reach the stage of totality only when one attains the level of Over-mind. There are energy currents in human body from top to toe. The body itself is a generator.
Super mind is related to body consciousness. The consciousness (principle of Aathma) that pervades the entire body is called body consciousness. The body consciousness becomes ‘thought consciousness’ once one reaches the level of Higher mind. The body consciousness works only at the physical level, whereas the thought consciousness can travel up to any distance. That is why thought consciousness is termed as Higher mind.
Then comes Illumination mind. When one attains this level, there will be a current of from nail to hair. A worldly person will not feel any pain when his nails are clipped, but after attaining the level of Illumination mind, one feels the shock when one tries to clip the nails. There is reason why the ancient sages and seers used to grow their nails. The thought, words and deeds of the one with Illumination mind are suffused with Divinity. That gives rise to a very powerful “three phases” current in the body. Such persons will have current in their hair. You can feel the shocks when you touch their hair. The electricity present within spreads all over the body because of the pumping of the heart: the doctors say that the lungs purify the blood with oxygen and send it to the heart. But actually, the life force present in the lungs becomes current through vibration. The current can travel to a great distance. Each time the heart pumps, the blood travels a distance of 12000 mils in the body. How can we say? When we join all the blood vessels in the body, both small and big (arteries, veins, capillaries etc.), they cover a length of 12000 miles. Just as a generator can illumine a bulb connected to it even at a distance of 100 miles, likewise the current originating from the lungs can travel a great distance. Thus the power of the Illumination mind!
At the level of Illumination mind, mind undergoes a great change and become a subtle life force. The subtle force has three powers that are related to life, mind and wisdom. No scientist, a doctor or an engineer can understand this. You can give rest to any limb of the body but not to heart. The heart continues to function even in your sleep. Which doctor or a scientist can understand this? The eye looks so small but there are 13 lakhs (thirteen hundred thousands) nerves in it. Who has made it?
The Illumination mind constitutes the casual body. It transcends the worldly thoughts and feelings. There is no trace of desires, anger, greed, pride and jealously in it. Its level is reached only when all worldly thoughts are subdued. In order to control the worldly thoughts, one has to reach the level of super-mind. Super mind is nothing but superior mind, that which transcends the mind. The fundamental basis to attain Super-mind is to cultivate super-love; meaning to love without any desire. Once you start sharing your love with every body, then the world would become one family. After expanding your love in this manner, control your external thoughts and turn inward. Then you attain the state of Illumination mind, where there are, absolutely, no thoughts, no action.
Body has death but not the mind. Mind is responsible for everything. So fill the mind with pure and selfless thoughts. Then you will attain the state of Illumination mind. Gradually one goes beyond this state and attains Over-mind. In Vedhaanthik parlance, this is known as Amanaska (Mindlessness). Once the mind is withdrawn, only the principle of Aathma i.e., super-consciousness exists.
People think that the body is able to move because of the circulation of blood and the functioning of nerves. But when one reaches the state of Illumination mind, blood circulation stops. You may think the body becomes redundant without blood circulation, but super blood starts circulating and makes the body function. When the body is circulated by Super blood, it becomes superior in nature. In this connection the Upanishads declare “God pervades the body in the form of essence”. Then all one sees, does become divine. One who understands the truth that everything is within, alone can experience bliss. All that one learns from books is nothing but the reflection, the reaction and resound of the inner being.” Baba.