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The Inconvenient Truth

A few days back I was reminded of a deeply insightful quote, that I had not heard in a while; “there are three things that cannot be hidden, the sun, the moon and the truth” (Buddha).  The quote is remarkably true.  Several noteworthy quotes about the truth come to mind, many of which are deeply profound, factual and illuminating.  “A speaker of truth has no friends” (African Proverb).  “The truth is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it.  Let it loose.  It will defend itself” (St Augustine).  “From falsehood lead me to truth, from darkness lead me to light, from death lead me to immortality” (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad).   “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).  “And confound not truth with falsehood nor hide the truth, knowingly” (Holy Quran (2:43)).  

 

A Dreaded Adversary

The Merriam Webster dictionary, defines the word truth as “the body of real things, events, and facts, the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality; sincerity in action, character, and utterance”.  The truth is not necessarily about exposing a lie but simply about revealing fact or living in a manner that is  authentically true. It is also perhaps one of the most feared, dreaded adversary.  Almost instinctively most people would prefer to avoid, ignore or dismiss facing the truth.  Admittedly the truth can sometimes be inconvenient, uncomfortable or unpleasant.  There are multiple reasons why people choose to hide or dismiss facing the truth; some of which could be the need to protect themself or loved ones, avoid offending or upsetting others, to please others, avoid conflict or to control and manipulate.  Whatever the reason it is fundamentally rooted within the perceived loss of something significant which would inevitably change their existing status quo.  Therein lies the complexity of life.  

 

A Self-Sabotaging Choice

More perturbing than shrouding the truth from others and the world however is concealing the truth from oneself.  It is probably one of the most damaging, injurious self-sabotaging choice one can make.  One can justifiably blame others for several impediments in their life but as adults, opting to live authentically is our choice and responsibility.  Surface level observation of modern life reveal the struggles, challenges and trappings that perpetuate the need to live inauthentically at an exorbitant cost.  Short term gain is never a good thing.  Confronting the truth is not aimed exclusively to those that are brave, strong or courageous; on the contrary it is imperative for those who need to develop such qualities.  Failure to consider or engage a process to live authentically often results in the universe instigating such a move.  If unaware or oblivious; meditation, contemplation and introspection are reputable mechanisms that inform us of which areas of our life require work, adjustments, restoration or refinement.  If intentionally avoidant the alternative of having the universe compel it, often arises when least expected, not on your terms, and can be perceived as more intense and challenging.

 

The God of Illusion

We have already established that life on earth is driven by maya, the god of illusion,  which keeps us away from our true self.  It is therefore counterproductive to live within an illusion and create a further illusion around oneself  by not living authentically.  Being true to oneself makes it easier to navigate out of the illusion toward the true self.  The lessons around truth may differ from person to person relative to one’s soul’s requirement.  My observation of the truth in recent times has left me sad but informed.  The concept of truth is not confined to people and souls; its impact can be observed around global affairs, economic sectors,  political manoeuvrings, communities, friends and family.   People however reflect  struggle, resistance, torment and pain when  truths eventually catch up with them.  Is living truthfully and authentically impossible or unrealistic or is it oversimplified?   It may be viewed as impossible if the perceived  fear of loss, prospect of pain and aversion to drop control or desires are insurmountable.  

 

Benefits of Awareness and Mindfulness

 It is far from being oversimplified however living a simple life in awareness and mindfulness supports a life of authenticity; it further improves one’s health, elevates the quality of life, facilitates living meaningfully and brings one closer to realising the  self.  This too is cloaked within the illusion, which must be dropped to traverse to the true self and at the point of death.  It is however a more favourable space than the former consumed by pain, suffering and misery.  

Unseen Miracles: Awaken to Them

An Auspicious Ceremony

It was late December 2015.  We arrived in Coimbatore, India well after dark; to attend an auspicious event at the Agathiyar Gnana Peedam.  We made our way to Mettupalayam the following morning; the small mystical town resting in the Nilgiri foothills.  We reached our destination at around 6am just as the sun was gently awakening and people were beginning to dash about in starting their day. 

Greetings

Greetings with Swamiji, Mataji and others followed with much excitement, enthusiasm and delight.  We spent some time engaged in warm, friendly conversation before Swamiji showed us the new structures and buildings around the ashram which included living accommodation, a prayer hall and a consecrated meditation sanctuary.  He also took the time to enlighten us around the numerous bundles of precious, dried leaves and herbs which were to be offered to a sacred fire later that day.   By that time the sun was smiling down pleasantly revealing the sheer beauty of the surrounding greenery and the rolling hills far into the distance.  

 

Gratitude to Swamiji

Events of the day commenced with a morning prayer, officiated by both Swamiji and Mataji.  Upon reflection, I am enormously grateful for the opportunity to have participated in a sacred ceremony of such a nature as Swamiji is no longer with us.  The day was busy and scheduled with numerous activities.  The number of devotees and supporters grew as the day unfolded.  It presented an excellent opportunity to meet and engage with new people from various parts of the world.   The ashram; in a small, little heard of town unquestionably held a global reach and had attained interest and an audience far and wide.    

 

Secrets of the Forest 

Another prayer followed later in the day which comprised the chanting of several mantras and the enactment of various rituals before a fire.  A significant part of the rituals included the offering of 108 sacred medicinal herbs, leaves, shrubs and bits from the forest into a raging fire.  These items were sought and collected from the forest over a period of weeks leading up to the auspicious event.  Gathering of the items is usually the task of specialists, generally siddha doctors who have the exceptional knowledge of recognizing with precision which item is to be picked based on it’s medicinal properties.   It is held that each herb, leaf, plant or bark of a tree is recognized for its properties to cure every illness currently known to man.  These were secrets known to siddhas and were passed down to a selected few.

 

Sacred Fire

It was a little after noon and the mighty Sun was out in full glory. A sacred fire took center stage.   Numerous devotees encircled it from a safe distance.   Mataji held up each bundle, introduced it by name, provided a brief explanation of its medicinal properties, praised it for its extraordinary value to human life, then chanted relevant mantras to invoke the divine energies and benefits thereof; before graciously offering it to the roaring fire.  Each bundle was devoured by the smoldering inferno, crackling, popping, snapping and finally releasing a strong fragrance.  It is believed the burning of the dried foliage facilitates the release of emissions and fragrance into the air which is to ward off illness and diseases before they arise.  The energies radiated from the blaze, the chanting of mantras, vibrations from devotees around the fire and the participation of the fiery sun was indeed potent enough to literally scorch one’s karma. 

 

Magic, Wonder, Mystery and Surprise

 The day ended with the sun bidding farewell, people gradually taking leave and silence descending to the state it was that morning.  It was certainly a day filled with magic, wonder, mystery and surprise.  I did not expect to leave such an extraordinary energy vortex without something of value.  The event did not disappoint.  That morning, I encountered someone quite by surprise.  I did not see the person approach.   I heard a “hello”, turned around to see a sage looking, ochre clad sannyasi, a renunciate.  It was not unusual as there were others similarly dressed who had attended the event.   However, a distinct characteristic of these individuals is their preference for solitude.  They impose a desired distance from others and tend to maintain silence, either meditatively or through observation.  Devotees, aware of this generally do not disturb them as a sign of respect and reverence.  Hence, being approached by one not only took me by surprise but caught me astonished and somewhat overwhelmed.  He appeared kind, friendly, cheerful and very mysterious.  It was clear to me that he knew more about me than he disclosed.  Our interaction was brief but he shared something which he described in detail and requested that I look out for it.   His words held true as I did come to encounter and experience his grace later that day.  On a different note, when asked about himself and where he hailed from, his warm, candid response was “I move about a lot, I’m usually here, there and everywhere”.

 

Awareness or Oblivion

My introspection and reflection that night was extensive.  Much was out of the ordinary in comparison to my mundane, regular routine activities.  I was extremely appreciative for everything I could recall but also pondered over what I may have missed from not being fully aware.  Therein lies the miraculous power of “awareness”.  We could be missing the magic of miracles every day.  I had to be guided to one by a mysterious entity that day or... I most likely would have missed it.  

 

Self-Reflection

Have you experienced an event, interaction or encounter you believe was something more than what it appeared to be?  More than an “event”?  

 

Did you perhaps dismiss it, rationalizing it was nothing out of the ordinary or did you attribute it to your penchant for over analysis? 

Is the World Real or Is it all an Illusion? Part 2

True Self or Consciousness

We come to  acknowledge the existence of the true self or consciousness and the mind/body or ego self.  The true self is awareness, silence or consciousness, which is real. The ego is mind and body which is not real.  

 

Most of us function from the ego self (mind/body).  We can touch, taste, smell, see objects etc which are real but are sensory experiences of the ego self.  For example we can touch or see a table, tree or an apple. That is the reality of the ego self.  When we function from the ego self (mind/body), we  experience (perceive)  everything as real hence we think the world is real.  However, if we accept that only the true self is real then all the ego self (mind/body) experiences of the world is an illusion (maya) or “not real”.  

 

The true self (consciousness) which is real feels nothing, experiences nothing.  It cannot be described in words but is akin to a space of awareness, silence, peace, bliss. Only this is real.  

 

We must be careful not to see the true self (consciousness) and ego self (mind/body) as two separate entities.  That is duality.  We are told repeatedly “we are not the body, we are not the mind”,  hence when we drop the mind and body only the  true self (atman) remains, which is in oneness with Brahman.

 

A Board Game

To improve my understanding of  this, with the grace of the divine, I have articulated this in the following manner.  I see everything before us as manifestations of Lord Brahma, looked on by Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.  Every object such as trees, sand, water, mountains, animals, people are manifestations. Nothing is new, everything was already created before our arrival.  New technology, new inventions etc only emerge when they (the source) is ready to release them.  In my worldview, I see a board game with a playground in it.  I am a participant in this board game.  I see that Lord Shiva has  placed toys (objects, animals, people) in the playground.  The playground holds much of what we need to survive.  We experience this  playground by the ego self, as life.  In addition to what  already exists in the playground Lord Shiva provides more over time by granting our material wishes, desires and wants such as homes, cars, luxuries.  He then carefully observes what we do with these items.  Where material wishes are granted there is generally a tendency to want more.  Furthermore, he watches how we use or interact with his other creations for example interactions between people, treatment of animals, respect for the environment, use of technology or intent behind medical advancements.  

 

Rules of the Game

Viewing the board game,  the playground, myself  in it, operating from the ego self, which is not real, clarified why life often felt like swimming upstream, against the current.  When playing a board game we are typically focussed on winning at all costs. However this is no ordinary game of Trivial Pursuit.   How well did I understand the game, it’s rules, strategies to win, approaches to avoid loss, challenges, traps, intel around maximising winnings, rewards, benefits?. I further felt that I was signed up for a game I knew nothing about.  I had to find a way to make sense of it all and understand every facet of the game to use it in my favour. I realised if there was any chance of winning at this game (the game of life), I would need to understand the rules, the rules  formulated by Lord Shiva himself.

 

A plethora of information and guidance exists on how we should be living and co-existing with others on earth.  There is literature available to suit the needs of people at all levels.  Understanding the basic rules or laws of simple living is imperative to achieving any success at winning the game.  In determining some of these rules I came upon the 7 Laws of Lord Shiva’s Karma:  

 

7 Laws Of Lord Shiva’s Karma

(7 Laws Of Lord Shiva’s Karma, Times of India, 2023)

Truth

This is the first law.  Must follow the path of truth and justice and be true to people all around. Any religion or God has never welcomed dishonesty and Lord Shiva devotees would agree that the truth is imperative to win any war.  The war here  could also refer to conflicts within the self.

 

Knowledge

No single person can have knowledge of everything. Every person has some knowledge about different things.  As per this law, the seed of knowledge is there in us all and we must find that.  After finding that part within, one should pursue their work around it. This could speak to finding one’s purpose here on earth.

 

The illusion

The third law states that everything is an illusion. Irrespective of the life one is living or one’s situation, one’s  happiness should not depend on materialistic things. When this occurs happiness becomes an illusion hence once the materialistic thing is removed, happiness leaves with it.  Happiness should not be attached to earthly objects.

 

Beyond happiness

The world has become self-obsessed, people tend to pay more attention to their own happiness and not to the happiness of  others around them. Lord Shiva does not say that one should  forget about oneself as self-happiness is important but paying attention to the joy of others is equally important. Real happiness is beyond limits, and  can only be felt when we find that seed of knowledge within us.  It is from there (within) that happiness surfaces.

 

Being formless

Sit and observe the person happy around you. The illusion of material comfort does not control the genuinely happy person. Put them in any situation and at any place, and they will remain the same,  calm and content in their mind.  One should be like water; formless.  One should be adaptable, flexible and work according to one’s surroundings.

 

Use of senses

If the heart is at peace and you walk the path of self-realisation, all the senses come together and will be in sync. When this balance is achieved between your existence and enlightenment, the feeling shall be incomparable.

 

• Sight:       The sense that allows us to see the world around us 
• Hearing:   The sense that allows us to hear sounds 
• Smell:       The sense that allows us to smell things 
• Taste:       The sense that allows us to taste food 
• Touch:      The sense that allows us to feel things, such as heat, contact, and                    texture 

 

Other senses 

• Balance:              

The sense that allows us to maintain balance and orientation in space

 

• Proprioception: 

The sense that allows us to keep track of where our body parts are in space

 

• Temperature:       

The sense that allows us to sense temperature

 

• Pain: 

The sense that allows us to sense pain

 

Enlightenment

After following all the 6 laws above, enlightenment will be achieved.  It is the highest form of existence for a human. You get the proper understanding of reality and this can be achieved without letting go of your domestic life.

 

Your Discovery

This is not an exhaustive list but it encapsulates and consolidates much of what we may have gathered on any spiritual journey.  The seven laws of karma provide a good blueprint of how we should be living. Following the laws of karma and connecting with nature are failsafe ways to grow and advance on a spiritual path.  The true self can be sought through deep meditation, self-inquiry and spending time in silence.  Constant practice of the above rules (laws)  gradually diminishes the ego self (mind/body) and ultimately reveals the true self.  The ultimate discovery of that “true self” determines one’s realisation of reality and illusion (maya).  It brings us back to the prevailing question  “Is the World Real or Is it all an Illusion?”.  It is of no value if I answered the question compared to the value of your discovery of it, which simply removes all doubt.

 

Searching for One’s Life Purpose

People are constantly seeking and searching, supposedly for their purpose, peace of mind, happiness or something.  This process of self-discovery revealed to me that which we are seeking is actually “the self”, because nothing else exists outside or beyond that. Mastery of this can only come with effort,  persistence and perseverance, hence it is not a destination but always work in progress. 

 

 

Self-Reflection

Please be encouraged to go through a similar process and put things into perspective as you see them and what makes best sense to you.  Practice and persevere until it provides all the clarity you seek.  

 

Is the World Real or Is it all an Illusion? Part 1

Is it all an Illusion?

Temples in India are massive, majestic, extravagant; revealing sophisticated architecture, advanced engineering, superior technology.  Could people have built it?  They appear to be the work of something greater. Manifestation perhaps?  The magnitude of everything around us is mindboggling.  Much of it was present on earth before our arrival and will remain after our demise.  This provokes further questions such as:

·      Could all of this be real?

·      Is the world real?

·      Is it all an illusion?

 

I was confused and puzzled by some of these thoughts, questions and mysteries a short while back.  I took to research and more research which oddly directed me to contemplation, introspection and self-examination.  In short, I came to learn that to understand the mysteries surrounding us we need to go within.  We need to understand ourselves from within  before we attempt to understand anything outside ourselves.  I embarked on yet another search.  A crucial element of this search is “silence”.  Spending time in silence is  imperative to experience progress and achieve results on a journey of this nature.  

 

In addition to the above questions I was also perplexed by something an evolved one left me with some years ago; “never forget” he said “we are all one”.  I think I understood that on a theoretical level, nothing more.   

 

Who am I?

Who am I?.  Much is bandied about around this question.  On the one hand we can justify that we are this or that; on the other hand we are relentlessly schooled around dropping the “I, Me or Mine” identities.  This takes perpetuating an identity crisis far beyond the teenage years.  Through research, effort and a process of self-discovery, I learned the following (this is scribed from a personal perspective):

 

Personal identity or a personal state is a sense or expression of identity and is generally misunderstood.  

 

Whoever I think I am, whenever thoughts arise or when they are spoken; that is not me.

 

That is not my voice, the real me does not have a voice.  

 

The “real me” is simply just aware.  

 

Hence “awareness” is my true identity.  

 

This identity of “awareness” cannot be labelled hence “I, me, mine, my” does not exist.  

 

“I, me, mine, my” makes me a person and as such I function as a person.

 

However, I am not a person, the real me is simply awareness. 

 

The real me (awareness) is required to just “observe”.  

 

When thoughts arise, for example around sadness or misery

 

I am required to see it, observe it, notice it; it needs no words

 

That identity “awareness” does not speak, does not need words and does not say anything.

 

As a witness, it just observes.

 

Hence I don’t know who I am, I just know that I am, so let me just be.

 

This view is supported by the teachings of Maharishi Ramana and Sunny Sharma (Personal Mastery).

 

 

This discovery of “who am I” brings one closer to understanding the concepts of duality and non-duality.

 

Duality and Non Duality

Relative to the questions that bothered me I needed to understand the concept of duality and non-duality from two perspectives.

As per the image above, we come to appreciate the existence of Brahman, hosting or one with souls of all kinds, i.e.  all living beings. We are all within “one” system in the universe. When seeing others we are seeing ourselves in their shapes. There is no separation.  This is non-duality “oneness”.  This clarified and gave credence to the profound wisdom of “never forget, we are all one”.

The image above indicates the existence of the true self and the mind/body as two separate entities, which is fundamentally misunderstood as such.  It is better understood as follows:

There is only the true self, non-duality (one).  

There is no true self and mind/body; i.e. duality.   

The true self is within silence, awareness.

The mind/body ego self from thoughts and voice.

We need to operate from the true self. 

This knowledge around our real identity, the true self and the mind/body brings us closer to grasping the notion of reality or illusion for oneself.  This is explicated in the post that follows

 Is the World Real or Is it all an Illusion?   Part 2.