Spiritual Journey - Nature of the Soul

A Human being is the most superior menifestation of a Soul on this planet earth. It is in this manifestation that a Soul gets the required means to start its journey for truth, to cleanse itself from all impurities and finally realizes itself and get connected to the source of all creations in this universe. The power to discriminate (right or wrong, truth or lie, good or evil), to think, to question are the means which have been given to the soul through a human body. No other species on this planet have all these powers and so no other insect, plant or animal can aspire to find the truth or get on to the spiritual path to realize the Soul inside. All other species are just bound to spend their lives in completing their daily chores and eventually die and subsequently enter a new body to menifest the Soul again.

Though we humans are so much superior than other beings still we live in ignorance and never try to explore the spiritual path to find truth which is the actual purpose of existence of human beings on earth. We are not more than any other living species on this earth if we are not using the powers given to us. Yes, we used fraction of these powers in development of science, social structure which helped humans to get continuosuly evolved and get advanced but that did not answer any of the questions related to the ultimate truth. Questions like life after death, creation of the universe, purpose of life can not be answered or found by scientific theories.

The nature of the Soul is such that it always has craving to find its source i.e. to reach the ultimate goal, cleanse itself from all impurities i.e. to attain a stage of perfection. Since human is an intelligent being therefore he is capable to give actions to these two characteristics of a Soul. So, all the activities in our lives are guided by these two objectives. Any person doing any kind of work in this world is being guided by these two very objectives at the core. If we closely observe we always evaluate ourselves in life on these two parameters. We always ask ourselves where we are? where we stand? and we always ask how better we are? how much we have improved?. So these questions lead to comparisons we do in terms of where we have reached and how much good we are at our work. Goals which we set and achieve by doing karma in material world are ephemeral and temporary and so we are always resetting our goals after one is attained. It is because the nature of your soul is to always make efforts to achieve something or to reach somwhere.

By above discussion it should not be interpreted that material world is not required. What we saw is that soul has to perform two things. First it has to cleanse itself from all impurities to become a perfect soul and while doing that it has to explore and find its destination i.e. its has to find the truth, its source. The sould can cleanse itself by performing positive karma as guided by Lord Krishna by means of Bhagvadgita. Since, karma can be performed in a material world by means of this material body so material world is needed to move up on karma index and to cleanse ourselves. Also, one has to perform karma to carry out his duties towards his family, society and nation. The crux of the problem today is that we only set materialistic goals and all our karma are guided by cravings of the senses of our body. We should always perform our karma with a sense of perfection like a true karmayogi without worrying much about the results. Its imperative that if we perform our karma with a sense of perfection, dedication and honesty then results are bound to be amazing attaining the set goals(materialistic goals). We do have materialistic goals in life which are temporary but those should not be our ultimate goals. We should not set goals of our life like to hoard lot of money or to build a house in most posh location or to look most handsome or beautiful or to attain maximum power. Even these life objectives are temporary. Also, achievement of these goals are not going to give you peace, sense of satisfaction because achieving such goals are not going to stop the craving of your soul. It is because these were not the actual goals of your soul. So, our goal of life should always be to find truth, to reach god. To start this search one has to perform activities of spiritual world. One needs to medidate to realize the self, be free from greed, lust, proud, anger, sin and ego, attain purity of thoughts, to remember the creator and worship him. One would say that setting materialistic goals is good for the progress in life. That is correct but one should ask himself that what he would do with loads of money, big house, great power or fragile body in end days. One has to leave everything material here itself even their bodies. Every material you achieve over here is perishable so what are you running after all your life is temporary and so it is a lie.

Only human beings can differentiate between good karma or bad karma, only human beings can perform higherdeeds other than the daily chores what other living species do and it is only human beings who can use their intelligence to find truth or search the secrets of their creation and existence.  All those who have born as humans have covered many manifestation before and now its time for them to take the spiritual path and start their search of truth.

The Unknown Journey of our soul

Is my life only a story, starting from my birth and ending with my death? Won't there be any future of myself after I die? Is my life a spark, or a wave in ocean, or a breeze of air or a storm which originates and gets vanished forever? Being a person living in modern era of science I wish I could believe this. But, the moment I get a slightest feeling of this kind I start feeling all unimportant, start losing a sense of purpose, start feeling a meaninglessness, stop getting a feeling to reach somewhere and just get a horrible feeling of myself existing in an isolation. Myself just doesn’t allow itself to believe that it was not existing before it took birth and it won’t be there at all after it dies. A slight feeling of a kind of connection from past and a slight belief of being there forever actually makes me feel all alive. I don’t believe that I would die one day but, in fact, I know I would. Don’t know if I would ever exist after I die but don’t believe that I won’t.

So, I can’t prove my existence before birth and after death but when I contemplate deeply then I start feeling myself in a journey from my past into my present and from this life into my future. Bhagvadgeeta states that body perishes but soul is eternal and is never destroyed. We are always in an illusion to identify ourselves as a body. But, if I believe about my existence before birth and after my death, when my body could not exist, then there must be some form of myself which is not destroyed or created but, only takes shelter for this lifetime into my body. Try to feel that “I” or “My”. The feeling is as same today as it was when you had your first memories from childhood. It means there is something inside you which never changes with time. Whether you are a child, a young or an old person that feeling about yourself is always the same. So, the power , the spark, that unseen or unknown which, keeps us running is known as soul. For e.g. our body is like a machine which is dead unless a current is passed to start it. It is like an automobile engine where as long as spark exists inside the engine it produces power and keeps the engine running. In case of an automobile, engine is the source of power but it is actually the spark which keeps running the engine. Similarly, our heart is the source of power and it is the soul which keeps it running.

When this journey of the soul originated or why it originated is not known. Can’t say exactly where it is destined to but as it is said it is destined to meet its source which is the supersoul. Our soul is all powerful and works under a universal law of karma. It can decide or choose where it wants to go. The nature of this soul or the easy state is to live in an eternal bliss or happiness. It doesn’t want or doesn’t like to be in sorrow. Therefore, we are always making a constant effort to make ourselves happy and peaceful. We are living under a constant effect of illusion. In this world gripped by ‘Maya’ every pleasure or happiness is inevitable to be followed by sorrow. There is nothing which gives us eternal happiness. Why don’t we live in bliss always or why do we feel sorrow at all? What would we get after which we can say we would always be joyous, full of happiness. This is because of our mistake that we are trying to get that eternal peace and happiness in the material objects which are temporary and so our happiness which, is attached to those ephemeral objects.

In our life we are doing some act which results into reaction. This world is under constant effect of our deeds and in the same way we are under a constant effect of the deeds being done by this world. From each of our acts or acts done by others we draw few learning. So, we are always in that self correction mode where we are trying to get the learning and apply then in our lives to achieve a state of perfection. Few times we are lucky to get a chance to apply the learning to situations in a single lifetime. For e.g. If due to some of our mistake or wrong act we bear big loss in life or we get filled up with a sense of guilt then our soul gets burdened with this. It is under a constant effort to apply the learning again to get free from that burden as part of the effort to reach towards the state of perfection. If suppose one doesn’t get that chance to free up the burden and he dies along with those burdens then the soul chooses to be in the circumstances where it can apply those learning. Purpose is to free up the soul with any kind of burden and keep it in an as easy state as possible. All these unfinished learning get reflected as natural tendencies, interests during our next lives. All strong feelings of love, hatred, enmity, greed, guilt, undone deeds, regret etc leave karmic impressions which our soul needs to clear out in next birth. This is due to its tendency to be in eternal peace and happiness. So, in every life we are here for some purpose.

Analogy: Suppose I take a train from Mumbai and I need to reach Calcutta. Condition is that on each station I need to get down and again catch another train for Calcutta. I would be able to catch another train only if I know why I got down at that station and where I was headed to. Unless I know that I would be unaware about my purpose to be on that station. I would probably catch a train which would lead me to wrong destination and so I would get lost in a maze and would keep wandering always.

To map it to the journey of our lives each station is one lifetime during which we need to catch the right learning and identify our right purpose to continue our journey. Destination is to become a perfect soul in peace, and eternal bliss. So, our deeds should always be aimed at making ourselves a perfect soul and earn no negative karmic expressions. Under illusion we keep catching wrong trains and keep wandering always in our lives with no knowledge of our existence, purpose and our destination.

Detachment - A way towards real happiness, peace and truth

Detachment is the way to achieve peace, satisfaction and happiness which, is real in the sense that it is not followed by inevitable sorrow. Happiness through material objects is ephemeral and it soon gets eclipsed by sorrow.

The journey of spiritualism starts with detachment from both materialistic thinking and practice of sense gratification. A person in today's world can’t go and live in jungle but in his thoughts he can be ascetic. One may be out of this material world even when he lives into it. He may use everything available but for a purpose or need. But, one should refrain from gathering things just to pacify his greed, ego, proud and just for gratification of senses. He should strive to fulfill his minimum needs so that he can live with peace, can perform his duties well, can serve others and can keep himself healthy and calm. He should not cling to those things which are with him, should try to shed the feeling of ownership and should not hold them too tight. If he does hold his possessions too tight then he invites big sorrow and pain as and when all his possessions get destroyed which is inevitable and universal. It is due the law of nature that no material object is eternal. Their destruction is sure to happen.

The tendency of people to get attached to things stems from a sense of ownership or sense of belonging which is totally false. In fact, there is nothing like a permanent owner. Owner of any material object changes all through its life. For e.g. I manufacture a toy. I would say that toy is owned by me. I get attached to the toy. But, after some time I sell the toy and the person who buys it becomes the owner. Again, when the toy gets destroyed it is thrown in the scrap. Now, the scrap owner owns the toy. Despite all these facts an owner holds that toy too tight and always apprehensive about losing it and at times gets proud about the ownership. He is so ignorant of the fact that he has just got the toy from someone temporarily and tomorrow will be owned by someone else. So, he should not feel proud or show it off because tomorrow someone else will be displaying the same toy to him with proud. Even our beautiful bodies about which we feel so proud are not permanent and not owned by us. We have got it from nature for few years and will have to give to back to nature one day. But, human tendency is to shy away from bitter truths and run after sweet lies.

It is known to every one of us that pleasure from any material object is followed by sorrow and pains. Simplest example is the pleasure of possessing huge cash is followed by fear of losing it or worry of securing it. Pleasure of possessing an expensive vehicle is followed by stress, fear which results from damage to the vehicle. So, even before one gets pleasure from a material possession that pleasure gets hijacked by the fear of losing the object and pains from the damage that might occur or has occurred to the object. Even pleasure of holding some high post in job is followed by pains of bearing more responsibilities, less time to yourself and loss of peace of mind. But, since we are talking about to be in the world in a detached and spiritual way we need to find a way out of all these sorrows and pains and we simply cannot leave everything. The way clearly is detachment. To get that way one should start shedding the sense of ownership on his possessions and start looking at them like they are the means provided to him so that he can carry out his responsibilities, duties, and purpose of life in a comfortable manner. One should remember that these material objects were with someone else yesterday; they are with him today and will go to someone else tomorrow. One should always be modest about his achievements, free from proud, sensitive about others' needs and problems and aware about his ultimate end even if he possesses great material wealth.

The wealth of a rich person may play a positive role in bringing the person towards detachment but it may prove to be a bottleneck also. Similarly, it’s easier for poor people to get detached but it may be difficult also because of their adversities. A rich person experiences the fact that all material possessions could never give him eternal peace and happiness and instead invited more problems and pains. This understanding would make it easier for him to get detached from the feeling of possession. But, at the same time since he has too many material possessions he would find it difficult not to think about them and losing the sense of ownership. It’s like rich people are in a sea of material possessions and its difficult to swim through a sea. In case of a poor, his basic needs are still not fulfilled and so he would still be dreaming and working hard to acquire those material possessions. On the other hand, since, he has nothing much to lose and less possessions it’s easier for him get detached. It’s like poor people are in a pond of material possessions. As compared to sea it’s easier to swim through a pond. So, the class of people who are at greatest advantage are the ones who do not have many worldly possessions which can make them proud and more apprehensive about losing them but at the same time they have enough means available which fulfill their needs of a comfortable life in a minimal way.

Ascetic people are wiser than others. They understand bitter truth of materialism and get detached in order to save themselves from the inevitable sorrows and pains. They search for the truth, the eternal the permanent. Whatever is permanent is truth and whatever is ephemeral or temporary is a lie. Just try to see around you and identify what is the truth, what is that which is permanent and you would find yourself surrounded by lies and only lies. And then you will start searching for the truth. While on the way to the ultimate truth you will experience peace, happiness and calmness in abundance and which doesn’t get followed by sorrow or pains.

WE ALL ARE LOVED - Don't remember GOD but he will still help you and Don't care for your parents but they would still love you and care for you!!

This world is a family and every creature in the world is the child of that Supreme, the Almighty, the Super Soul, the Ishwar, the God or we say Bhagwan. Ask a father or a mother about who is their favorite child and whom they love most. Suprisingly, they wont have an answer. They equally love every child. How strange?? Parents distribute their love among their children then how come it is always equal with evrey child all the time? In every other thing, we always have a choice, a preference, likes, dislikes but, when it comes to affection of parents towards their children, its unique and difficult to understand or give reason about how parents love and care for each of their children exactly equally. That is the beauty of this relationship or connection which is selfless in its entirety.

Now, we say we all, everyone on this planet are the children of the creator i.e. the God or the Super Soul. Then, its not difficult to understand that our father who is the father of the world loves all of us equally, irrespective of our color, caste, creed, religion, language, wealth, being good, bad, criminal, gentleman etc. Like parents never discriminate that father of all never discriminates.False we think that those who go to Temple, Churches, Mosques, Gurudwaras, Monestaries and worship or follow rituals are more dear to the father. How come father can stop loving his child if the child doesnt remember him? Even if the child is ignorant his father's love is always there which is unconditional and selfless.

Suppose there are three children in a family. One is devoted to parents, caring for them. By being devoted I do not mean that he is worshiping them but taking care of them, he doesnt hurt them and keep them happy. Secod one is  ignorant but a good person. He is not very caring and lives his own life. Third one is degraded person. He does all kinds of bad deeds, doesnt care about the parents at all and has earned a bad name for himself. Now, if I ask you about who would be the favorite child of the parents? Then, I am sure you would say the first one. But, I think here we misunderstand the complexity and beauty of this relationship. As per my observation and experience, I would say parents care most for the third child who is a degraded person. They feel sorrow about him because they want him to come out of all his bad world and lead a happy, prosperous life and earn a good name among people. Parents get pain when their child is called a criminal or a thief. Now, Exactly in the same way, God, who is our father, is most worried for people who are degraded, harming others, wicked, earn bad name and create all kinds of discomfort for others. God constantly makes effort to uplift them, to bring them to the right path. He is not worried about those who are good people. He even loves those who are ignorant of him. But, gets worried and cry for those who are bad.

Now, a question comes that what is the point in getting devoted to parents and care for them when you dont get their love more than those who are either ignorant or those who make them cry?? What did the first child get? Did all his care, devotion go waste? I would say no. None of his efforts got wasted. But, you know, parents get dependent on the first child who is devoted to them. They love the second child, get worried and love the third child but they love and get dependent on the first child for his care, happiness and support. They rely on him when they are in problem or in sorrow. So, reverse happens here that parents get dependent on a child and in a way he gets a dsitinction. Similarly, those who are devoted to God are like the first child and God gets dependent on them. Again, here by being devoted I do not mean people who are religious, follow rituals etc. By being devoted, I mean people who are good humans having a kind and generous heart and those who make God happy by doing good deeds. Whenever the father of the world gets sorrow through his bad children, he gets peace, love and support from his devoted children.These devoted children when get into any problem, God makes an all out effort to get them out of their problems because if they are in problem then how would they peacefully love and care for their father.

So, God gets threatened when his devoted, loving and caring children get into any trouble. But, he loves and cares for all of his children irrespective of who they are, how they are what they do and what they do not do.