Spreading the Message of Pure Love in the New World/2 - Prof. G. Venkataraman

Human Being = Body + Mind + Atma / Soul

Which of these three entities should a human being really identify himself or herself with?

Swami’s answers thus:   WHO AM I?

Am I the Body? I am not the Body; I am different from the Body.

Am I the Mind? No, I am not the Mind; the Mind is different from me.

I am not the Body, I am not the Mind; and then who am I?

I am the Atma!

The Atma which is essentially God present as the Indweller.

We know our Body came from our parents and is made up of atoms which come from the Universe. Hence, the body of every human being on Earth gets connected to the physical Universe as a whole. Likewise all creation is made up of atoms and all these atoms can trace their ancestry all the way to the Big Bang, (which is supposed to mark the birth of our Universe?)

The subtle entity called the Mind plays a crucial role and is the bridge between the Atma and the Body. The Atma is supposed to be infinite and everywhere. How come then it can hide within the confines of a small human body?

The best way to understand this concept is to look at the clouds in the sky, they are interspersed randomly across. Clouds are just water vapour made visible. But where there are no clouds, there is still water vapour present everywhere in the atmosphere. We now understand how the Atma can be everywhere and also inside us. In other words, just as a particular cloud has only a portion of the water vapour that exists in the whole of the atmosphere, so also we have a “portion” of the Universal and all-pervading Atma within us. This “portion” is coupled to the Mind and Body, and that is why the human is often referred to as the embodiment of the Atma. 

Why the Atma is more important than the Mind and Body

The Atma is embodied and is not quite free. Swami draws an analogy to a balloon. There is air within and outside of a balloon. If the trapped air within the balloon has to join the air outside, then you need to burst the balloon. What this tells us is that though there is the Atmic aspect within us, it cannot give full expression to itself because the Atma is bound or entrapped by the Mind and Body. This precisely is where Swami question, “WHO AM I”? becomes very important.

As the Atma is God, clearly God is our Master or Conscience and that is why we must give importance to the Atma more than to the Body or the Mind. If we allow our Body to dictate our actions, we would be rather like an animal, guided merely by base instincts. If we allow the Mind to dictate our actions, then there is much greater danger. As the Mind is extra-ordinarily powerful, driven by hatred, one could even become a Hitler or driven by greed, a huge swindler.

If one follows the Mind or Body, it can not only cause harm to the individual, but may affect billions of people as seen recently when a handful of greedy Bankers caused a huge economic collapse and a world recession. The drug problem, terrorism and climate change problem to name a few - all these result when people become slaves to the Body or Mind.

Since the Atma is God or our Conscience, listen and put our Conscience in the driving seat and let It run our life. Our actions will then be virtuous, full of love and compassion. 

FOLLOW THE MASTER, YOUR CONSCIENCE IS YOUR MASTER

 

Spreading the Message of Pure Love in the New World /1 - Prof. G Venkataraman

Concerning the Human Spirit / Soul and its relationship to God

Today, people readily accept the concept of the Soul but mistakenly believe that it is different in each of us. That is not true and it is the first thing we must learn from Swami’s teachings. This is an extremely important point and to appreciate it fully, we must please pay careful attention.

Swami often uses the Sanskrit word, Atma, which means the Universal Soul. This change of emphasis is important - when the word Spirit alone is used, then one may ask: Since each of us has a Spirit and since we are all different, does it mean that there are many Spirits? In turn, does this imply that there are different Souls, one for each person? Swami’s reply (effectively) is:

No, remember that what you call the Spirit is the Soul. There is only one Soul in all, and that Soul is nothing but God. In fact, all of you are nothing but God! It is simple really, since THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD, WHO IS THE SAME FOR ALL! Atma is another name for God, and that is why I sometimes address you as the “embodiments of the Divine Atma.

This subtlety of meaning is all important - once we grasp this, we can be at one with our fellow man and with Mother Nature.

Uniqueness of the Atma

Frequently asked questions:

1. People are very different in their behaviour. At the same time, they are supposed to have the same Atma/ Soul. How is this possible?

2. If God resides in all, why is it that some people are so evil? How come there was a Hitler, and how come we have so many terrorists these days?

Answer:

Every human being is a composite of three different entities, namely, the gross body, the subtle mind and the eternal Atma.

Human Being = Body + Mind + Atma

Which of these three entities should a human being really identify himself or herself with?

Swami’s answers thus:   WHO AM I?

Am I the Body? I am not the Body; I am different from the Body.

Am I the Mind? No, I am not the Mind; the Mind is different from me.

I am not the Body, I am not the Mind; and then who am I?

I am the Atma!

The Atma which is essentially God present as the Indweller.

Spreading the Message of Pure Love in the New World - Prof. G. Venkataraman

This overview is based on extracts from “Spreading the Message of Pure Love in the New World”

We need to understand and link the true nature of the human Spirit with the diversity that we see in the Universe.

One thing unique about a human being is that deep within each one of us there exists an entity called the Spirit. It is this self-same Spirit that has enabled us to go the Moon, South Pole etc. At a slightly higher level, human Spirit expresses itself through extra-ordinary creativity in many dimensions such as art, music, science and so on. If we take it to the highest dimension, the human Spirit gets revealed through noble virtues like compassion, selfless and loving service, amazing forbearance etc.

Throughout history, people exhibiting such qualities; have made a huge difference to humanity as a whole, setting inspiring example by their tireless service and matchless sacrifice. Remember such wonderful people as St. Francis, Father Damien, Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa, to name just a few. These fellow humans like each of us, rose to greatness by invoking the Divinity latent in them through the Grace of God. We also can earn His Grace, if only we decide to and are determined to strive for it. Nowadays, people refer to this Spirit as the Soul.

Musings on Awarenes 9 - Prof. G. Venkataraman

To understand how exactly this happens, we must first start with the three aspects that every human being is a composite of the gross body, the subtle mind and the causal heart.

Three Genetic Sources

It turns out that each entity has its own ancestry and gene.

Gross Body

The gene for the gross body comes from our biological parents and ancestors (physical)

Subtle Mind

The subtle/mental genes that shape our mind are traits acquired in earlier births (behavioural)

Causal Heart (Soul/Atma)

These heart genes are Divine Genes, coming directly from God – Has a moderating influence on the other two types of genes. Divine genes represent the brakes; if this brake fails or gets disconnected, disaster is inevitable.

The Higher Mind

To attain the realm of the higher mind, would depend on an individual's Gunas or qualities. These can be managed and shaped through sense and mind control with lots of hard practice and much effort.

Most prevalent traits in individuals who attain the realm of the higher mind are compassion, love, forbearance, spirit of sacrifice etc. These are divine qualities and those who possess them lead truly enriching lives. Only then can one experience the awareness of the Omnipresence of God – being conscious of God's presence everywhere in everything, all the time.

simplelivinghigherthinking@gmail.com

Musings on Awareness 8 - Prof. G. Venkataraman

God and Evil

If God is omnipresent, why is there so much evil? Recall that God is present in humans in three forms: the gross, the subtle and the causal. Humans have no control over the presence of God at the first two levels. However at the third and highest level, humans can shut out the Divine Effulgence. If that effulgence is allowed to shine, the person becomes a saint. If, on the other hand, that effulgence is shut out and darkness prevails, then that person can become the very devil.

So, God is present in the heart of a murderer too, but unfortunately, that person chooses to be guided by his misguided mind, ignoring God within. God does not and will not thrust Himself  upon us. He will certainly make Himself available but if we decline this opportunity, we have only ourselves to blame.

For better understanding, imagine a big river across which there is a huge dam. Water gets stored in the dam when the sleuths are closed. Downstream, one may see a dry riverbed, but that is because water is not allowed to flow. If the sleuths are opened, then the river will not run dry at all. In other words, God is present even in a murderer, but that person is not allowing the latent Divinity to manifest itself. There is much evil in this world because humans are too busy to allow the Divinity a chance to express itself.

The Mind

All human decisions are governed by two choices; the first is to consult our mind and the other is to consult our conscience (heart). When the Mind takes instructions from the Heart, this is the path of Righteousness. But when decisions are made by the Mind which functions as the ego, then bad advice is given based on all evil tendencies lurking inside. This is the cause of most problems we face daily in our lives. This is the tragedy of man, with so many things to distract his attention.

The mind is extraordinarily powerful and the source of all amazing creativity; it receives its creative power from God. However, God did not program the mind of humans to automatically and always follow the path of right conduct. You have been given freedom by God to use the powers of the mind in any way you want, but at a price. You would be held accountable for your actions. If you do good, you will receive suitable credit and Grace but if you use the mind to do evil, then you have to “pay heavily”. The mind can be your best friend or your worst enemy. 

Mind and Senses – Partners in Crime

Why cannot a man with an alcohol addiction give up drinking?

Because he has become a slave to his senses

God in His infinite mercy has endowed us with five important sense capabilities that enable us to experience the outer world through the sense of sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. These senses operate through organs that act as input devices in a modern computer. They gather information from the outer world and transmit it “inside” to the brain where it is processed and also stored.

The senses and the brain help us to move about in this world, take care of ourselves and perform numerous functions efficiently. However, where does spirituality come into all this?

The Crown of Creation

The brain of a human being is a vast expanse and in spiritual terms, comprises of three regions:

The lower, middle and higher mind

The lower mind performs functions that relate to existence and survival in the external world – seeking shelter, getting food, avoiding danger and self-preservation instincts.

The middle mind has enormous capabilities and also extra-ordinarily powerful. It is this that is the repository of all logical capabilities, reasoning power, and creative skills. Thus if we have made enormous progress in the arts, literature, sciences and technology, it is all due to the immense power that God has packed into the middle mind. The middle mind is not only powerful but also deadly, when not handled with care. The middle mind can mislead dangerously if the individual's ego is not kept “in check”.

The higher mind enables us to be in touch with God within. It is only when the higher mind is active that the human qualities like love, compassion, forgiveness etc. manifest and enable humans to adhere to Truth and Righteousness.

Lord God, while blessing man with the middle mind and its wonderful capabilities, also attached a price tag. God gave man this great power on condition that he takes orders from the higher mind. Then God warns man; “If, however, you switch off the higher mind, then this very middle mind that can take you to great heights would also plunge you into the deepest of abysses! Beware!!”  

To understand how exactly this happens, we must first start with the three aspects that every human being is a composite of the gross body, the subtle mind and the causal heart.

                                                                                                                         to be continued 

Musings on Awareness 7 - Prof. G. Venkataraman

Pure Consciousness = Formless God

Cosmic Omnipresence pervades the Universe at three levels

 . at the gross level, cosmic energy resides in atoms which are everywhere

 . next, cosmic energy operates in living systems as “Life force”

 . at the highest and subtlest level, cosmic energy exists as Primary Consciousness

                                                          Pure Consciousness is Supreme:
                                                  It exists by itself during creation and dissolution of the Manifest Universe

^

Consciousness latent in Humans

^

Life force in Living Beings

^

Energy in Atoms

^

Omnipresence of Formless God

One should not imagine that when the Universe is created, the primordial background of Universal Consciousness disappears. The latter continues to exist, acting as a backdrop in the Manifested Universe. This backdrop acts rather like a physical field driving evolution of living species in the direction where consciousness flowers fully, just like a fruit bud growing and ripening into a sweet fruit. Where evolution of life is concerned, that fruit is the human being.

The Conscience or the Divine voice in our Spiritual Heart

During a solar eclipse, something comes between us and the Sun, completely blocking the light, even if only for a short time. Yet, even such a bright object as the Sun can be covered up, plunging the Earth into darkness.

So too, in each of us, there is our spiritual heart, the seat of God. God shines brilliantly from the heart, even brighter than a thousand suns. However, a lot of evil lurks in the darkest corners of the mind using lust, greed, jealousy, anger, hate, pride, arrogance as its principal agents, creating an eclipse blocking out this light, sometimes altogether.

Although God resides in the heart of all, the mind can easily make man forget this vital fact. Unfortunately, that happens often, and is the root cause for most of the problems facing humanity today.

When we forget God, we need to seek and submit to a spiritual teacher, who will help remove spiritual ignorance. These “Gurus” help us develop spiritual discrimination or intellect, then the clouds of ignorance disappear and we able to see God within and also listen to His voice, ever ready to convey advice. The voice within is the voice of the conscience, as it is sometimes referred to. 

The perpetual restlessness of the Mind and its never-ceasing random thoughts generate internal “noise”, drowning out the voice of God within. Quieten the Mind by ever remembering the name of your Lord. Train the mind to dwell on God. Make the mind your servant and not the master.

The conscience present in different individuals is all a part of One Universal Consciousness, from which our universe and everything in it came into existence. In other words, individual conscience and Universal Consciousness are one and the same.

                                                                                             to be continued

Musings on Awareness 6 - Prof. G. Venkataraman

Awareness of Existence

God's greatest miracle is the human body. Although everything that exists is made up of atoms, a living being has the capacity for consciousness and self-awareness whereas inert matter does not. Scriptures say this capacity is characterised by a force, popularly termed as the “Life force”.

We all take our bodies for granted not realising what flexibility we have. Just watch a tennis match, ice skating or a ballet performance – amazing flexibility everywhere. Again, consider the human fingers. They can knit, paint, sculpt, perform surgery, and play all kinds of musical instruments, to name a few. The famous scientist Newton once exclaimed, “The thumb alone is enough to prove that God exists”.

We agree that the human body is packed with innumerable wonders; but in what way does that prove the omnipresence of God. This is where evolution comes in. The universe is a constantly evolving system and as far as we are concerned, there are three distinct stages of evolution that matter. We will concern ourselves with the third stage. About three billion years ago, life first appeared on Earth. Life slowly evolved from lower forms like plants and insects to more complex forms like fish, birds and animals. And, at the end, came man.

For every species of life form, there is a “gene”. At the molecular level, the gene holds all the information about the species and the particular individual in the series. For example, in the human being, the human genome not only holds all the characteristics that identify the being as human, but also the characteristics of the individual, such as the colour of the skin, eyes, facial features etc. This molecular arrangement can be disturbed by many factors, including radiation, and when that happens, we say the gene mutates. It could happen that the mutated gene could be the beginning of an entirely new species, evolution of species at a molecular level. Mutation is widely believed to be a random process. Charles Darwin said of evolution that “only the fittest of the newly emerging species survive, and evolution is thus a sequence of species that survive, coming one after the other”. This became better defined once the structure of the DNA was unravelled. 

                                                                                                          to be continued