As I pondered about the greatest sentences in Spirituality, I tried to relate to something most of us are familiar. I also hope that with this article, the scientifically inclined non-believers of spiritual thought will revisit their attitude towards spirituality.
When we look around us, we see things, either living or non-living. What are these things composed of? Primarily they have a "mass", which most science students will readily agree. Now, based on Einstein's theory, is mass any different from energy? Whether we understand or not, we babble that E = M multiplied by the square of C, where E= energy, M = Mass and C is the speed of light. So anything that has mass has an equivalent energy and vice-versa. So, if everything that we see around us has mass, it automatically implies that everything around us is energy. So, if I were to say, that "Everything is energy", I am sure I will not have anyone disagreeing.
Now, let us see what the ancient sages of India said. They said, Sarvam Kalvidam Brahma. This translates to "All of this is Brahman".
As a student of spirituality knows, Brahman here, refers to "consciousness" or the life principle or the "energizing" principle. So, in effect, the sages were saying, All of this is the energizing principle. Is that not exactly the conclusion we as students of science readily agreed earlier?
Now that we agree that everything is energy, let's turn attention to ourselves. What are we? We have a body and the body has mass. Again, anything that has mass is equivalent to energy. So, what does this mean? We are nothing but energy. Well, if we are energy, is this energy different from the energy representing my nagging wife, my nasty neighbor, my obnoxious colleague, my loving girl friend etc? It is the same energy everywhere. So, I am sure, we can agree that the energy that is me is the same as the energy everywhere which we discussed earlier. But unless we are told that, how would we even ponder about this? To a person absolutely illiterate about science, how would he know that he is nothing but energy? So, someone has to explain the energy principle and then say, "You are that energy".
Now, let us see what the ancient sages of India said. They said, "Tat tvam asi". This translates to "That is what you are". the "That" here refers to consciousness and they are telling everyone, You are consciousness. We had agreed that consciousness is the energizing principle. So, in effect, they were saying, "You are the energizing principle". Is this not exactly the conclusion we scientifically inclined reached that "You are that energy" ?
Now there is an intellectual understanding that I am the energy principle which is same everywhere. How does this help me? Well, when that nagging wife nags, I can tell myself, the energy principle in her is same as in me. So, who is nagging whom? It being the same energy principle, I cannot nag myself and be affected! It helps to keep remembering that my energy principle is the same as the universal energy principle.
Now, let us see what the ancient sages of India said. They said, " Ayam atma brahma" which translates to Atman and Brahman are the same. Atman is a local consciousness as though and Brahman is the all encompassing consciousness. So they were saying, "This consciousness(local) is the same as the universal consciousness. Replace consciousness with energy and we get exactly the sentence we say earlier that my energy principle is same as the universal energy principle.
As we keep on telling ourselves that we are nothing but energy and that the energy is same as universal energy, does it not give us a feeling of peace? Why would I want to feel jealous about a friend's lovely wife or plot to ensure that a colleague does not get a promotion? I am the universal energy and my existence is always there and not dependent on anything. Once I reach this conclusion and totally internalize it, does my name, fame, color matter? None of this matters because I know I am the universal energy.
Now, let us see what the ancient sages of India said. They said, "Aham Brahmasmi", which translates to, "I am Brahman". Brahman being consciousness, they are telling, "I am consciousness". Replace consciousness with the energy priciple, they were saying, "I am the energy principle". This is exactly what we concluded with our scientific process.
Just as Einstein's theory cannot be understood by most people, most people cannot understand the message of the Upanishads. Being scientific, we just accept whatever Einstein said and nod vigorously when his equation is told. However, we suddenly become rationalists and vigorously shake our heads and say, the ancient sages and the Upanishads were all meaningless. To
conclude, I would like to submit that our ancient sages were not some
mumbo jumbo people practicing vague rituals. They were mighty and loft
thinkers who understood the nature of the universe and presented it
through the Upanishads much before the current stream of scientists presented their theories of the universe.
As readers may be aware, 3 of my books on spirituality are available on Amazon.com.
I invite readers of my blog to try any of the books and give me feedback so that I can make changes in the next edition.
1. My Humble Understanding Of Spirituality
My Humble Understanding Of Spirituality
2. Attain Infinite Bliss
Attain Infinite Bliss - A Spiritual Guide
3. The Spirit Of Spirituality
The Spirit Of Spirituality
As readers may be aware, 3 of my books on spirituality are available on Amazon.com.
I invite readers of my blog to try any of the books and give me feedback so that I can make changes in the next edition.
1. My Humble Understanding Of Spirituality
My Humble Understanding Of Spirituality
2. Attain Infinite Bliss
Attain Infinite Bliss - A Spiritual Guide
3. The Spirit Of Spirituality
The Spirit Of Spirituality
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please leave comments for me here.