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Manifestation of
Divinity is the Ultimate Thing
Times of India
“It
wondered me immensely right from childhood as to how the entire universe
moves in such a perfect and orderly fashion. Who is that Cosmic Mind
behind all this? Knowing Him in elemental and metaphysical form became
the primary objective. This inquisitiveness prompted me to read revered
scriptures. Reading of holy books further exhorted me to meet holy men
and seek answers to my questions. Al these holy men, if I may say so,
kept repeating that man is essentially divine. Repeated oral dose in
these words-"religion is manifestation of inherent divinity already in
man"; completely stirred my being and made me more determined to search
and meet someone who is capable of revelation of my innate divinity in a
practical way.
Like they say,
where there is a will, there is a way. Truly, God affords ways and means
provided there is strong urge in one's heart. This write up is in honour
of my preceptor Sh. Ashutosh Maharaj who has practically made lakhs of
people undergo supersensuous experience of manifestation of inherent
divinity. Holy books of all religions testify the fact that realization
of God is possible only with the benediction of a Sadguru- a perfect
spiritual master of the time. Manifestation of inherent divinity is the
crucial thing. It is central to treading the path of spiritual quest.
Spiritual blindness can not be wiped out with theoretical narration of
scriptural texts. The need is to listen to the clarion call made by
Mahapurushas and the exhortation hidden in the revered scriptures. All
have stressed the revelation of inherent divinity. By implication, it
means to know our real Self to get over the pangs of mortal world and
return to the abode of eternal bliss.
Human birth is a
rare opportunity to attain perfection. All revered scriptures
uniformally declare so. We have a whole lot of theologians and
ecclesiastical giants who too say this with great ease and alacrity.
Alas! mere verbal instructions in the form of sermons and discourses do
not do the need full. If scriptural reading, recitation and verbal
education could play the trick, there was no need for Lord Krishna to
bestow transcendental knowledge and bless Arjuna with divine eye.
Physical eyes can just see the outward form. Soul - the inner of the
inmost can be perceived by the eye of the spirit only. The celestial
vision is not a mental construction but the revelation of the
metaphysical truth that is beyond the finite mind and intellect. It is
only on seeing the cosmic vision through third eye that our horizon
widens and we go beyond the earthly tumults which torment us daily.
Though,
fundamentally divine but the divinity in man is veiled by the incessant
chain of thoughts and desires. The Upanishads envisage removal of
encrustation of maya - delusion by unraveling of inherent divinity of
man. It is only on practically perceiving the indwelling spirit within
that our compulsive habit of identifying ourselves with gross body, mind
and intellect stops. Simply telling people that the supreme spirit
dwells in all beings as Atman is not sufficient. It is the vision in
practical sense which would arouse unflinching faith. Spiritual
discourses followed by practical truly confirm, affirm and solidify the
abstract truth that is sought to be instructed. We, thus, need someone
who can give the abstract metaphysical truth a visible reality. A
sadguru who has himself known and seen the metaphysical Truth by
unraveling the profoundest mystery alone fits the bill. The spirituality
contained in Vedantic treatises is not merely the delight and ecstasy of
academicians and philosophers. The domain of Vedanta is the metaphysical
world of ultimate reality. A sadguru imparts the aspirants the eternal
technique of delving deep into the inner world.
Our inner realm is
beyond comprehensions of sense organs, gross body, subtle mind and
intellect. The ground on which a physical science claims superiority
over other streams of secular knowledge is that its theories are based
on and verifiable through laboratory tests. A student of Chemistry
cannot master his field of study without experimenting and verifying in
lab the theoretical narration of chemical equations. Likewise, a genuine
spiritual master possesses the power of transmission, which becomes self
- evident when he reveals your inherent divinity. In Yoga- vashista we
come across example of King Shikhidwaja who retired to the forest
leaving behind all his possessions for God -realization in order to
attain perfect peace and poise. Despite intense austerities, he could
not attain the goal till his wife Chudala (she was an enlightened soul)
disguised as a saint appeared and blessed him with knowledge of spirit -
Brahmjnana.
In Brahm-sutra,
Adi Sankara exhorts the spiritual aspirants to inquire into the
transcendental form of Supreme Brahman by taking shelter of a perfect
master. Krishna tells Arjuna in Gita (XI - 48/53) that my cosmic form
can neither be seen by study of Vedas, nor by rituals, acts of charity
and austere penances. Saint Kabir said "cosmic vision is not accessible
by telling beads of a rosary, recitation of mantras in ambrosial hours
and rites and rituals. Only a self-realized soul who has attained
zenith of human perfection, can help us see this Visions." It is upon
perceiving the cosmic vision that one comprehends the quintessence of
the cosmic process and the duality goes off. All doubts are cut asunder
and we enter the realm of Oneness of all. Just as lions are not found in
herds, swans in queues and precious pearls in sacks, a Saint who can
impart this supra-mental experience is one in crores.”
MANIFESTATION OF
DIVINITY IS THE ULTIMATE THING
Times of India
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