|
'Reaping the fruits of our
past lives' is a difficult concept for me to understand
From: "jagbir singh" <adishakti_org@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri Jan 20, 2006 9:24 am
Subject: 'reaping the fruits of our past lives' is a
difficult concept for me to understand
—- In adishakti_sahaja_yoga@yahoogroups.com, "semirafields"
<semirafields@y...> wrote:
>
> Dear Jagbir,
> Please could you explain some more about what you mention
> below ;'reaping the fruits of our past lives'.
> This is a difficult concept for me to understand, because
> sometimes terrible things happen to small children, for
instance,
> or to people trying to be helpful and kind to others, and
> generally things in the world seem to be totally
unbalanced and
> unfair. I have had trouble with the Christian concept of
this too;
> that all men are born in sin and undeserving, and women
even more
> so, and that the sins of the fathers will be paid by the
future
> generations. This seems to be saying that people deserve
all the
> hardships and suffering that they get, and I have read
elsewhere
> that even some people have mentioned that we actually
knowingly
> choose our experiences.
> It would be nice if you could also explain about karma,
> Love, Semira
>
>
Dear Semira,
It will be impossible to answer your post through
Christianity or
Islam, and that is why they use the "It is God's Will"
escape route.
God is always praised for bringing happiness while terrible
death
and destruction on their communities is conveniently
considered His
Will. Thus we can say that centuries of unimaginable
sufferings,
devastating wars and wanton genocide, according to Islam and
Christianity, is the Will of God.
Nothing is further from the truth. Since fundamentalist
Muslims
and Christians have rejected rebirth despite scriptural
facts to the
contrary this millennia-old severe spiritual handicap has
retarded
hundreds of millions and bound them into ignorance till
today. (That
is why they are waiting for 'graves to open' up during the
Last
Judgment and Resurrection, and will find great difficulty in
comprehending Shri Mataji's explanation that all souls who
inhabited
Earth will be born again to face it.)
The Earth plane is probably one of the lowest realm of
existence. It
is considered a dangerous and violent ghetto by liberated
souls. Few
want to take birth here for the sake of awakening the
ignorant
masses because even Incarnations are subject to its nature -
pain,
disease, death, sorrow punctuated by short bursts of
happiness and
joy. Daily pain, disease, death and sorrow is necessary to
remind
humans to struggle and migrate from this samsara to a better
realm.
But we ignorant humans complain and wonder why terrible
things
Happen in the ghetto, even to innocent children and good
people.
Every day we hear of drugs, prostitution, violence, rapes,
murders,
disease, drive-by shootings, divorces, natural disasters,
poverty,
suffering, alcoholism, gluttony, lust, greed, sloth, wrath,
envy and
pride. Almost all are oblivious and indifferent to human
sufferings
caused and sustained by their karmas.
But such is the nature of the ghetto and if you choose to
live in
it you must also accept the consequences of doing so
...........
unconditionally. As I said before, Earth is probably one of
the
lowest realm of existence, and hence the living conditions.
And how
will we ever desire to migrate to another realm unless
compelled by
samsara to witness endless pain and suffering, whether at
present or
in a future birth? (And since there is no actual death, and
suffering for one's actions is only compassionately brief
when
compared with eternity, the Divine surely works towards our
own
redemption. He too wants His children to enjoy final
liberation.)
We have all eternity to migrate to better spiritual realms
and leave
this ghetto forever. The ceaseless whirling wheel of samsara
- the
endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth; the total pattern
of
successive earthly lives experienced by a soul - will sooner
or
later awaken you to your divine nature. The ceaseless
experience of
the soul through countless transmigration can only be slowed
down
over rebirths and eventually ended by a fortuitous birth
resulting
in Self-realization, a great spiritual awakening that ends
samsara.
All seekers realizing the existence of the Other Shore must
strive
with mind, body and soul to reach it during this lifetime.
Those souls reaping the fruits of their past lives are
always
awakened by the Law of Karma to continue their spiritual
ascent and,
eventually, final liberation from this earthly ghetto and
migration
to a far better spiritual realm. It is imperative that all
self-
realized souls thoroughly comprehend Karma.
"The Law Of Karma
What Is Karma?
Karma means not only action, but also the result of an
action. The
consequence of an action is really not a separate thing. It
is a
part of the action, and cannot be divided from it.
Breathing,
thinking, talking, seeing, hearing, eating, etc., are
Karmas.
Thinking is mental Karma. Karma is the sum total of our acts
both in
the present life and in the preceding births.
Any deed, any thought that causes an effect, is called a
Karma. The
Law of Karma means the law of causation. Wherever there is a
cause,
there an effect must be produced. A seed is a cause for the
tree
which is the effect. The tree produces seeds and becomes the
cause
for the seeds.
How Karma Is Fashioned
Man is threefold in his nature. He consists of Ichha
(desire,
feeling), Jnana (knowing) and Kriya (willing). These three
fashion
his Karma. He knows objects like chair, tree, etc. He feels
joy and
sorrow. He wills to do this, or not to do that.
Behind the action, there are desire and thought. A desire
for an
object arises in the mind. Then you think how to get it.
Then you
exert to possess it. Desire, thought and action always go
together.
They are the three threads, as it were, that are twisted
into the
cord of Karma.
Desire produces Karma. You work and exert to acquire the
objects of
your desire. Karma produces its fruits as pain or pleasure.
You will
have to take births after births to reap the fruits of your
Karmas.
This is the Law of Karma.
The Working Of The Law
The Law of Karma is one of the fundamental doctrines not
only in
Hinduism, but also in Buddhism, and in Jainism. As a man
sows, so he
shall reap. This is the Law of Karma. If you do an evil
action, you
must suffer for it. If you do a good action, you must get
happiness.
There is no power on this earth which can stop the actions
from
yielding their fruits. Every thought, every word, every deed
is, as
it were, weighed in the scales of eternal, divine Justice.
The Law
of Karma is inexorable.
Things do not happen in this universe by accident or chance
in a
disorderly manner. They happen in regular succession. They
follow
one another in a regular order. There is a certain definite
connection between what is being done now by you, and what
will
happen in the future.
Every action produces a threefold effect. It gives you an
appropriate reward or fruit. It also affects your character.
It
leaves behind an impression in your mind. This impression
will urge
you to repeat the act again. The impression will assume the
form of
a thought-wave in the mind on account of a stimulus, either
external
or internal. An action produces an effect in the world also.
As You Sow, So You Reap
If you put a seed in the earth, it sends up a little stem.
Then
leaves come out of the stem. Then come flowers and fruits.
There are
seeds again in the fruits. Mango seed only produces mango
tree. If
you sow rice, you cannot expect a crop of wheat. The same
sort of
seed produces the same kind of plant. A human being alone is
born
from the womb of a woman, a horse from a horse and a dog
from a dog.
Similarly, if you sow the seed of an evil action, you will
reap a
harvest of pain and suffering. If you sow the seed of a
virtuous
action, you will reap a harvest of pleasure. This is the Law
of
Karma.
Whatever you sow by your actions come back to you. If you
make
others happy through service, charity and kind acts, you sow
happiness like a seed; and it will give you the fruit of
happiness.
If you make others unhappy through harsh words, insult, ill-
treatment, cruel acts, oppression, etc., you sow unhappiness
like a
seed; and it will give you the fruit of pain, suffering,
misery and
unhappiness. This is the immutable Law of Karma.
Your actions in the past are responsible for your present
condition.
Your present actions will shape or mould your future. There
is
nothing chaotic or capricious in this world. You become good
by your
good actions, and bad by your evil actions.
If you entertain evil thoughts, you must suffer the
consequences.
You will be in difficulties. You will be surrounded by
unfavourable
circumstances. You will blame your surroundings and
circumstances.
Understand the law and live wisely. Entertain noble
thoughts. You
will be happy always.
Action - Habit - Character - Destiny
Thought moulds your character. If you entertain noble
thoughts, you
will develop a noble character; and if you entertain evil
thoughts,
you will develop a base character. This is the immutable Law
of
Nature. Therefore, you can deliberately shape your character
by
cultivating sublime thoughts. Thought materialises and
becomes an
action. If you allow the mind to dwell on good, elevating
thoughts,
you will do naturally good and laudable actions.
Conduct or behaviour reveals your character. Conduct also
moulds
your Character. Cultivation of good conduct needs rigorous
discipline and constant vigilance. You will have to watch
every
thought, word and action. You must be extremely careful when
you
conduct yourself with others. With all your good intentions,
you
will be carried away by the force of your previous wrong
impressions, instincts and impulses. Even highly educated
people
lack in behaviour. Good behaviour indicates that you have a
refined
or polished, disciplined mind and real, good spiritual
culture. The
practice of Japa, Pranayama and Mauna (or vow of silence)
will help
you to control the impulses etc.
You sow an action and reap a habit. You sow a habit and reap
a
character. You sow a character and reap your destiny. Hence,
destiny
is your own make-up. You have built it. You can undo it by
entertaining noble thoughts, and doing virtuous actions, and
changing your mode of thinking. Now you are thinking that
you are
the body, Mr. So and so. Now, start the anti-current of
thought.
Think that you are all-pervading, immortal Brahman. Brahman
you will
become. This is an immutable Law.
The Three Kinds Of Karma
Sanchita, Prarabdha and Agami
Karma is of three kinds, viz., Sanchita (accumulated works),
Prarabdha (fructifying works) and Kriyamana or Agami
(current
works). Sanchita is all the accumulated Karmas of the past.
Part of
it is seen in the character of man, in his tendencies and
aptitudes,
capacities, inclinations and desires, etc. Tendencies come
from
this. Prarabdha is that portion of the past Karma which is
responsible for the present body. That portion of the
Sanchita Karma
which influences human life in the present incarnation is
called
Prarabdha. It is ripe for reaping. It cannot be avoided or
changed.
It is only exhausted by being experienced. You pay your past
debts.
Prarabdha Karma is that which has begun and is actually
bearing
fruit. It is selected out of the mass of the Sanchita Karma.
Kriyamana is that Karma which is now being made for the
future. It
is also called Agami or Vartamana.
In Vedantic literature, there is a beautiful analogy. The
bowman has
already sent an arrow and it has left his hands. He cannot
recall
it. He is about to shoot another arrow. The bundle of arrows
in the
quiver on his back is the Sanchita; the arrow he has shot is
Prarabdha; and the arrow which he is about to shoot from his
bow is
Agami. Of these, he has perfect control over the Sanchita
and the
Agami, but he must surely work out his Prarabdha. The past
which has
begun to take effect he has to experience.
There is another beautiful analogy also. The granary
represents the
Sanchita Karma; that portion taken from the granary and put
in the
shop for future daily sale corresponds to Agami; that which
is sold
daily represents Prarabdha.
The whole lot of Sanchita Karma is destroyed by attaining
Knowledge
of Brahman or the Eternal. It can be greatly modified by
entertaining lofty, divine thoughts, and doing virtuous
actions.
Agami Karma can be destroyed by expiatory rites or
Prayaschitta; and
by removing the idea of agency through Nimitta Bhava
(attitude that
one is an instrument in the hands of God) and Sakshi Bhava
(attitude
that one is silent witness of the actions of the senses and
of the
mind).
The Supremacy Of Free-Will
You are the master of your own fate. You are the architect
of your
own fortune. You are responsible for what you suffer. You
are
responsible for your present state. If you are happy, it has
been
your own making. If you are miserable, it has also been your
own
making. Every action bears a fruit sooner or later. A
virtuous
action produces pleasure as its effect. An evil deed causes
pain.
You have no Bhoga-Svatantrya (freedom to determine the
result of
action), but you have Karma-Svatantrya (freedom to determine
the
course of action). That is the reason why the Lord Krishna
says: -
Karmanyeva Adhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana - Thy business
is with
the action only, never with its fruits. - Janaka and others
attained
to perfection by action. You can change your character, your
thoughts and desires. Mans will is ever free. Through
selfishness
his will has become impure. He can render his will pure,
strong and
dynamic by getting rid of his base desires, and likes and
dislikes.
Every soul is like a husbandman who has got a plot of land.
The
acreage, the nature of the soil, the conditions of weather
are all
predetermined. But the husbandman is quite at liberty to
till the
earth, manure it and get good crops, or to allow it to
remain as a
waste land.
What you are now at present is the result of what you
thought and
did in the past. What you shall be in the future will be the
result
of what you think and do now. You find an environment which
is best
suited to the tendencies you acquired in a former life. You
can
create better conditions for the future. You can make your
Karma
what you choose. You can rise to a very high state of
perfection.
You can become an Indra or you may become a perfect Yogin.
You can
change your character, thoughts and actions. Therefore
Bhishma and
Vasishtha have placed Purushartha or exertion, above
destiny.
A boatman without oars, rudder and sails is carried away
helplessly
by the winds and currents; but a clever boatman with oars,
sails and
rudder, ably directs the boat in any direction he likes and
reaches
the other shore safely. Even so, he who knows the Laws of
Nature -
the law of thought, the law of Karma, the law of cause and
effect -
can sail fearlessly in this ocean of Samsara and reach the
other
shore of fearlessness and immortality quite safely. He will
utilise
the helping forces to his best advantage and neutralise the
opposing
forces skilfully, with the help of the knowledge of the
Laws.
Knowledge is a torch-light. Hence, knowledge is absolutely
indispensable. Ignorance is the greatest sin. An ignorant
man
becomes a victim or a slave of nature.
The Glory Of Selfless Work
Selfish Karma leads you to rebirth and rebirth generates new
Karma
while working off the old. Get rid of Karma if you wish to
get rid
of the miseries of rebirth. Selfless work will not bind you.
It will
purify your heart and lead to the descent of the divine
light and
grace. Understand the Law of Karma and the law of cause and
effect.
Think rightly. Act nobly. Meditate regularly and attain
eternal
bliss and immortality.
The Doctrine Of Reincarnation
The doctrine of reincarnation or transmigration of souls is
a
fundamental tenet of Hinduism. The word reincarnation
literally
means embodiment again, coming again into a physical body.
The
individual soul takes again a fleshy covering. The word
transmigration means passing from one place to another -
passing
into a new body.
The Sanskrit term Samsara is derived from the Sanskrit root
Sr,
which means - to pass -. The prefix Sam means - intensely -.
The
individual soul passes repeatedly through this world and
other
subtle higher worlds. This repeated passing of souls -
Samsriti - is
what is really meant by the term Samsara.
Samsara exists in order that the individual soul may learn
to
realise itself.
Man contains within himself infinite possibilities. The
magazine of
power and wisdom is within him. He has to unfold the
divinity
within. This is the object of living and dying.
Enunciation Of The Doctrine In The Hindu Scriptures
You will not cease to exist after death. Before this birth,
you have
passed through countless lives. The Lord Krishna says in the
Gita: -
O Arjuna, both you and I have had many births before this;
only I
know them all, while you do not. Birth is inevitably
followed by
death, and death by rebirth. As a man casting off worn-out
garments
taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, casting off
worn-out
bodies, entereth into others that are new. -
The Upanishads also declare: - Just as a caterpillar which
has come
to the top of a blade of grass, draws itself over to a new
blade, so
also does the soul draw itself over to a new body, after it
has put
aside its old body - (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad). - Just as a
goldsmith, having taken a piece of gold, makes another form,
new and
more beautiful, so also, verily the Atman having cast off
this body
and having put away Avidya or ignorance, makes another new
and more
beautiful form - (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad). - Like corn,
does a
mortal ripen; like corn, does he spring to life again -
(Kathopanishad).
Karma And Rebirth
The doctrine of rebirth is a corollary to the Law of Karma.
The
differences of disposition that are found between one
individual and
another must be due to their respective past actions. Past
action
implies past birth. Further, all your Karmas cannot
certainly bear
fruit in this life. Therefore, there must be another birth
for
enjoying the remaining actions. Each soul has a series of
births and
deaths. Births and deaths will continue till you attain
Knowledge of
the Imperishable.
Good Karmas lead to incarnation into higher spheres and bad
Karmas
into lower. By virtue is obtained ascent to higher planes
and by
vice, descent to the lower. From wisdom results beatitude,
and
bondage from the reverse. So long as Karmas - whether good
or bad -
are not exhausted, men do not attain Moksha or the final
emancipation even in hundreds of Kalpas. Both good and bad
Karmas
bind tight the Jiva in their chains. One is a chain of gold
and the
other is that of iron. Moksha cannot be attained by man, so
long as
Knowledge of the Eternal is not attained.
Proofs For The Existence Of Previous Births
A new-born child manifests marks of joy, fear and grief.
This is
inexplicable unless we suppose that the child, perceiving
certain
things in this life, remembers the corresponding things of
the past
life. The things which used to excite joy, fear and grief in
the
past life, continue to do so in this life. The memory of the
past
proves the previous birth, as well as the existence of the
soul.
A child, just born, drinks the breast of its mother through
the
remembrance that it did so in the previous life, as a means
of
satisfying hunger. The childs desire for milk in this life
is caused
by the remembrance of its experience in the previous life.
This
proves that the childs soul, though it has abandoned a
previous body
and has taken on a new one, remembers the experiences of the
previous body.
You do not come into the world in total forgetfulness and in
utter
darkness. You are born with certain memories and habits
acquired in
the previous birth. Desires take their origin from previous
experiences. We find that none is born without desire. Every
being
is born with some desires which are associated with the
things
enjoyed by him in the past life. The desires prove the
existence of
his soul in previous lives.
Passage Of The Soul Between Death And Rebirth
The soul migrates with the astral body, or Sukshma-Sarira or
Linga-
Deha. This astral body is made up of nineteen Tattvas or
principles,
viz., five organs of action, five organs of knowledge, five
Pranas,
mind, intellect, Chitta (the subconscious), and Ahankara or
egoism.
This subtle body carries with it all sorts of Samskaras or
impressions, and Vasanas or tendencies, of the individual
soul. The
subtle body moves towards heaven. When the fruits of good
Karmas
have been exhausted, it gathers for itself a new physical
body and
reincarnates on this earth plane.
Those whose conduct has been good attain good births and
those whose
conduct has been evil are thrown into sinful wombs or lower
births.
The Devayana And The Pitriyana
When a man who has practised meditation and worship dies, he
first
goes to light, then from light to day, from day to the
bright half
of the moon, from the bright half of the moon to the six
months when
the sun goes to the north, from that to the year, from the
year to
the sun, from the sun to the moon, from the moon to the
lightning.
When he comes to the sphere of lightning, he meets a person
who is
not human. That person leads him to the Karya Brahman or
Hiranyagarbha. This is the Way of the Devas or Devayana.
He who has done works of public utility and alms, first goes
to the
smoke when he dies, from smoke to night, from night to the
dark half
of the moon, from the dark half of the moon to the six
months when
the sun goes to the south; and from that, he goes to the
region of
the forefathers, from the world of the forefathers to the
ether,
from the ether to the moon. He lives there so long as his
good works
will allow. When the effect of the good works is exhausted,
he comes
back to this earth by the same route. He first becomes
ether, and
then air, and then smoke, and then mist, then cloud, and
then falls
upon the earth as rain-drops. Then he gets into food which
is eaten
up by man, and finally becomes his child.
He passes through the various existences of the mineral
kingdom, of
the plant and of the animal realms - the Udbhijja (born of
seed),
the Svedaja (born of sweat) and the Andaja (born of eggs),
before
coming into the Jarayuja (viviparous or of placental
origin).
How To Break The Bond Of Samsara
The chains that tie you to this wheel of Samsara or
Bhava-Chakra or
round of births and deaths, are your desires. So long as you
desire
objects of this world, you must come back to this world in
order to
possess and enjoy them. But, when all your desires for the
mundane
objects cease, then the chains are broken and you are free.
You need
not take any more births. You attain Moksha or the final
emancipation.
You wander in this Samsara as you think that you are
different from
the Lord. If you unite yourself with Him through meditation
and
Yoga, you will obtain immortality and eternal bliss. Cut the
bonds
of Karma through Knowledge of the Eternal and enjoy the
Supreme
Peace of the Atman, thy innermost Self and Inner Ruler. You
will be
freed from the round of births and deaths. Freed from sin,
freed
from passion, you will become a Jivanmukta or liberated
sage. You
will see the Self in the self and see the Self as all.
The Concept Of Avatara
Avatara is the decent of God on earth for the ascent of man.
The
Lord Krishna says: - Though unborn, the Imperishable Self
and also
the Lord of all beings, yet brooding over nature which is
Mine own,
I am born through My Own Power. Whenever there is decline of
righteousness, then I Myself come forth. For the protection
of the
good, for the destruction of the evil-doers, for the sake of
firmly
establishing righteousness, I am born from age to age - (Ch.
IV-6,
7, 8).
The Doctrine Of Grace
The Bhagavatas had their own scriptures called the
Pancharatra
Agamas which expounded the cult of Vasudeva and which were,
therefore, looked upon by them as being equal to the
Upanishads.
Their religion was based on Gods Grace to erring humanity.
It,
therefore, greatly emphasised the doctrine of Avatara or
incarnation
and popularised the immortal stories which were afterwards
collected
together in the Harivamsa, Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata
Purana.
If you study these books, you will clearly know about the
glory of
Lord Krishna.
You can attain God-realisation through worship of Avataras
like
Krishna and Rama. Many have already attained God-realisation.
Tukaram, Ramdas, Surdas, Mira Bai, Tulsidas and several
others have
seen God face to face. Their powerful writings bespeak of
their high
spiritual attainments.
Degree Of Gods Manifestation
There are Purna-Avataras (full incarnations), Amsa-Avataras
(partial
incarnations), Avesa-Avataras (inspirational incarnations),
etc. The
Lord Krishna has sixteen rays. He is a Purna-Avatara. He
still
exists. There are His Nitya-Lilas in Go-Loka or Celestial
Vrindavana.
It is only ignorant, deluded souls who speak against the
doctrine of
Avatara, who say that the Lord Krishna was a human being
only. They
have not studied properly the holy scriptures. They are
Tamasic
persons with little understanding. They cavil and carp. The
Lord
Krishna says: - The evil-doing, the deluded, the vilest men,
they
come not to Me, they whose wisdom is destroyed by illusion,
who have
embraced the nature of demons. Such is their fate. -
Friends! Worship Rama or Krishna at all times with all your
heart
and with all your mind. Glorify Him in your heart. He will
soon
reveal Himself to you and you will feel His Presence. You
will
attain immortality and eternal bliss. Glory to Avataras.
Glory to
the Lords, Krishna and Rama, the Avataras of Lord Vishnu!
May their
blessings be upon you all.
The doctrine of rebirth is a corollary to the Law of Karma.
The
differences of disposition that are found between one
individual and
another must be due to their respective past actions. Past
action
implies past birth. Further, all your Karmas cannot
certainly bear
fruit in this life. Therefore, there must be another birth
for
enjoying the remaining actions. Each soul has a series of
births and
deaths. Births and deaths will continue till you attain
Knowledge of
the Imperishable.
Good Karmas lead to incarnation into higher spheres and bad
Karmas
into lower. By virtue is obtained ascent to higher planes
and by
vice, descent to the lower. From wisdom results beatitude,
and
bondage from the reverse. So long as Karmas - whether good
or bad -
are not exhausted, men do not attain Moksha or the final
emancipation even in hundreds of Kalpas. Both good and bad
Karmas
bind tight the Jiva in their chains. One is a chain of gold
and the
other is that of iron. Moksha cannot be attained by man, so
long as
Knowledge of the Eternal is not attained."
Swami Sivananda
From: "jagbir singh"
<adishakti_org@yahoo.com>
Date:
Sun Jan 22, 2006 10:37 pm
Subject: Re:
'reaping the fruits of our past lives' is a difficult
concept for me to understand
—- In
adishakti_sahaja_yoga@yahoogroups.com,
"jagbir singh"
<adishakti_org@y...> wrote:
>
> The ceaseless whirling wheel of samsara - the endless
cycle of
> birth, death and rebirth; the total pattern of successive
earthly
> lives experienced by a soul - will sooner or later awaken
you to
> your divine nature. The ceaseless experience of the soul
through
> countless transmigration can only be slowed down over
rebirths and
> eventually ended by a fortuitous birth resulting in Self-
> realization, a great spiritual awakening that ends samsara.
All
> seekers realizing the existence of the Other Shore must
strive with
> mind, body and soul to reach it during this lifetime.
>
> Those souls reaping the fruits of their past lives are
always
> awakened by the Law of Karma to continue their spiritual
ascent and,
> eventually, final liberation from this earthly ghetto and
migration
> to a far better spiritual realm.
>
"Where there is life there is soul. Even the mono-cell
organism is a
jeevatma and the push is upward, toward final destination,
just as
the river originating in the high mountains pushes toward
its
ultimate goal of the ocean. From algae to plant, amoeba to
fish,
bird, crawlers, quadrupeds to bipeds the push is forward
with the
senses added one by one till all the five senses are
developed in
the animals. When the monkey became man the intellect or the
sixth
sense emerged. It is the gift of God to man.
God is the goal of human Life
Biological evolution stopped with man. What remains is his
spiritual
evolution
There are six steps to reach God: self-examination,
purification,
detachment, clarity, awakening and enlightenment. The first
three
steps are to be taken by the individual's own effort. When
clarity
of mind is attained the Soul, God within, is recognized. He
gives a
hand to be lifted up to the highest level of Cosmic
Consciousness
and dissolve into Brahmam. That is the final destination of
jeevatma. If no effort is taken jeevatma has to go through
the cycle
of birth and death over and over again until it is chastened
by
suffering and get enlightened by acquiring the right
knowledge.
Therefore, the only purpose of being born as man gifted with
the
sixth sense is to evolve spiritually, nothing else."
—Swachid K. Rangan
December 19, 2004
The author, Kasturi Rangan is a resident of Chennai. India.
Age 70.
A journalist by profession he has been the New Delhi
correspondent
of The New York Times for over 20 years since 1961.
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