Tuesday 27 March 2012

!! Surat, Shabd, Yoga !!



                 My recent interactions with “Sant Mat” – The path of the Higher Truth – has intrigued me well and I’ve been on an exploration. The religious faction started by a loosely associated group of teachers (Sat Gurus) in Northern states of India believes in being at one with the higher truth. As other religions, it is based on the theology of serving a “higher purpose” as well. But I find it a bit more feasible and learned in certain spheres of its knowledge impartation as contrasted to other religious teachings. What distinguishes Sant Mat from the others is an inward, loving devotion to a divine principle they believe in. They don’t believe in Idol/Nature/Animal worship. They believe that delving into oneself and keeping “Yoga” with one’s own “Surat” and “Shabd” will help in attainment of the divine. It preaches to live socially by egalitarianism opposed to the qualitative distinctions of the Hindu caste system.
              I’ve had the opportunity to interact with several people; some have dedicated their lives in following the preachings of the “Sant Mat”, some are institutionalized to the idea of attaining a higher truth, some pure selfish in hunt for Moksha (freedom from the cycle of life) and some clueless people as well who have no idea why they are there. In  short, I got the opportunity to taste the tea from everyone’s cup. Trying aimlessly to fathom the real meaning of Sant Mat, I did what you must’ve done already in course of reading upto this line – I Googled it J. Along came many things and what I saw, read, derived and analysed about them from my experience at Radhasoami Ashram, Beas, Kolkata and what I got to read about Sant Mat and “Surat, Shabd, Yoga” follows…
                The idea of religions provoking strong devotion towards the Almighty is nothing new, atleast in a country like ours. The Sants, or Gurus, were proponents of the new Divine. A religion believing in non-belief of rituals, caste system and other religious dogmas prevailing in the Indian society. There are many ways to look at this. Personally speaking I believe in no religion as each one seems to root from the existence of a supreme being and preaches to be at one with Him. The Sant Mat was nothing new in that regard. The Gurus spread the word of wisdom, they were harbingers of a new faith that disregards idol worship and proposes to look within thyself for ultimate absolution.
                However hard one tries, refraining from worldly affairs is something that is tough yet is the key component in each of the religions’ propaganda. Here’s where Sant Mat stands out. They preach to reach the Astral Realm (Kaal ke parey…) while being dutiful to the worldly affairs one is tied to - “Prem” and “Sadbhaav” being the integral core of their preachings. Kal can neither create nor destroy a soul, neither give Light nor Sound, but he can keep souls traped in the causal and astral realms as well as in the physical region. He captures man’s soul with the chains of worldly pleasures and if a soul wishes to return to its Eternal Home, Kal releases all his powers to prevent this soul from its ascending. But Sat Purush, the Sublime Lord of Love, is the Supreme Godhood and the Creator of all universes. The Perfect Adept of Mysticism is His incarnation, and He can safely guide the soul through Kal’s regions. Immediately before the aspirant reaches the atrium to the causal realms the soul encounters indescribably handsome men and beautiful women in the higher astral regions who offer incredible temptations to prevent the soul from its further ascent. The protecting Shabd-Power of the Adept of Mysticism will make these tempting astral entities invisible to the aspirant. No negative power can approach the charisma of Shabd – the Sound Current – which was given by a Perfect Adept of Mysticism. After the causal realm is attained, the soul needs to further enhance itself for ascent into another realm. This can be passed when he/she goes through a narrow route called Bunk Naal. In verses, Guru Granth Sahib also has mention about this passage. Kabir had described it as a path that is one tenth of a mustard seed when the mind can be compare to an elephant. The realm beyond that is regined by MahaKaal, also known as Par Brahm. The dwellers of this realm (also known as Trikuti) are infinitely happy yet subjected to the physical world. They are not yet liberated from the cycle of birth and death.
                So far so good. The idea of Karma (record of past deeds) holds good here as well. The soul which reaches this level hears a Shabad Current which resembles the mystic Hindu “Om”. The concept further extends to the three cosmic features of harmony, activity and inactivity which have their origin in Trikuti and enable the creation of the astral and physical universes. In Hindu writings, these three features are embodied by Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh(Shiva). Below the bright red sky of Trikuti that reminds of the most beautiful dawn one can experience on earth - the physical world, the Radiating Shape of the Adept of Mysticism (Satguru) is seen in still bigger Glory and the initiated experiences the higher impulses of the heavenly Shabd – Sound Current – in a way that goes beyond all his former experience in the astral and physical regions. The master of Karmas, the one and only master of Karma (soul free of Karmic germs, wrong doings) can be your master to guide you through the tunnel into another realm. The guru/soul who guides you is called Sant Satguru or Sacha Satguru in the Eastern Terminology.
                On this a certain Sant Kirpal Singh, a Sant Satguru, had a beautiful view. His Mission was to fill the human heart with compassion, mercy and universal love, which should radiate to all countries, nations and peoples of the world. To make a true religion of the heart as the ruling factor in one's life. To enable each one to love God, love all, serve all, and have respect for all, as God is immanent in all forms. His goal was that of oneness. He spread the message of oneness in life and living. As he believed this was the way to peace on earth. This was his self-proclaimed mission of life. He said and I quote – “By the Mercy of a Competent Master the lost Word returns to Light and Life and is a free gift to everyone who is chosen by Him. Those are fortunate who were recognized, selected and were initiated into the mysteries of the beyond, by being connected with the Divine Attributes of the Holy Light and the celestial Sound Current.
                My analysis says that whatever any religion says, it should be transparent and should not spread the message of division or "anti-". This to me sounds fair (although dubious in many aspects) and moreover spreading love and brotherhood needs to be given a chance. All I can remember while concluding  this study of “Sant Mat” by me are a few powerful words said by Swami Vivekananda – “You cannot believe in God or any religion, until you believe in yourself.

Tuesday 13 March 2012

Japanese – Today’s Spartans!!


Well…this is my first article on this blog. Would like to take the opportunity to thanks Shashi bhai for inspiring me to take this on me and try to get back in touch with my left brainJ. It’s a menial attempt to express my hearty reverence to Japan and its people who have been an inspiration for me.


Well, Japan and Sparta – One a country and the other a ci
ty. Both located at the extremes of the monstrous land mass called Asia. Both are known for more than one reasons, the name of Sparta stands the test of time since the mighty-heart King Leonidas(I) fought the Persians, from the day the beautiful Helen of Sparta was abducted which led to the Trojan war and defeat of Troy till the day you read this, the other being a culturally, traditionally, linguistically and scholarly rich race. One being famous from the mighty roar of the “300” and the other being a real life example of the Phoenix rising from ashes.

Why I compare them, what they have in common, you might ask. Behold as the only word that describes their commonality with each other is: “National Character”. Ancient Greece was one of the first civilizations to develop a colony. Man is a social animal, and we might attribute this to the early civilizations, a prominent one of which was Greece. We only owe so much to the Greeks as without them, we’d not have: half the worlds in the English dictionary, different styles of theatre (drama, comedy, tragedy, etc), the Hippocratic Oath, the Olympic Games and (wait for it…) DEMOCRACY!!! The other is no less a warrior state, Japan’s contributions to the world range from the art of self defense (Martial Arts), Instant Noodles, Video Games, Karaoke, Robots to Electronics which are ever abundant in any market of the world and almost an integral part of a majority of people across the globe today.

Why do we need to compare the two, aren't the two milestones in their own rights? Yes and No.

I am not comparing Japan with Sparta here. I mean to bow and respect the Japanese men and women and just add a feather to their already accomplished hat by comparing a few characteristics of the Japanese with those of the Spartans. The Spartans were fierce, brave soldiers who feared nothing but infamy. Death was their cape and fear bowed in front of the glaze of their swords. All in all, tactical people who lived for Pride and Freedom long before it was known to the world. The then society of Spartans was divided into many categories. Majority stake holders in the community were: soldiers, senators, thespians, potters, farmers and helots (a section of society which comprised neither slaves nor free men). The Spartan youth and upbringing was one of the crudest and unfathomable ones ever heard of. As young men and women, the Spartans had to EARN their citizenship. No one but no one was granted a citizenship on the merit of birth to Spartan parents (except for the king’s first son – the heir to the throne). As a high-born Spartan, the welfare of the state is the motivation behind everything you do. If you are male, you will be trained to become a warrior. If you are female, you will produce many healthy children and be an exemplary mother to future warriors and good citizens. The ephorate (an elected body of 5 wise men - ephors) controlled the military and education system. From the ages of 7 to about 18, noble Spartan boys were trained to be soldiers and were taught to survive in harsh conditions.

As much as it saddens me that even though my own country was freed from the British almost at the same time when Japan had faced the heat from WWII Allied Forces, Japan is today the third largest economy (overtook by the People's Republic of China only in 2010) and we're still dealing with poverty, rampant corruption, wide-spread hunger and education system crises, I owe them for the inspiration they've been for the whole world. Japan's education system played a central part in Japan's recovery and rapid economic growth in the decades following the end of World War II. Education is compulsory at the elementary and lower secondary levels. Most students attend public schools through the lower secondary level, but private education is popular at the upper secondary and university levels. The Japanese society, like the Spartans, witnesses a well formed divide, a demarcation of duties of men and women. A man's primary focus is the workplace and a woman's primary focus is her home and family, with particular attention to the proper rearing of children. Though there is a demarcation of labor force within the family, women nevertheless make up almost 40 percent of the labor force. The Japanese tend to accommodate others' opinions rather than speak up all the time. They attach much importance to "harmony". So much so, even the Japanese Corporate policies teach harmony and act to maintain it in workplaces.

The result? - Japan is the world's 2nd largest automobile manufacturing country, has the largest electronics goods industry, and is often ranked among the world's most innovative countries leading several measures of global patent filings (e.g.: Toyota Innovation Model, Kaizen Model, Taguchi methods, Fishikawa). Japan is the world's largest crediting nation, generally running an annual trade surplus and having a considerable net international investment surplus. As of 2010, Japan possessed 13.7% of the world's private financial assets (the 2nd largest in the world) at an estimated $14.6 trillion. As of 2011, 68 of the Fortune 500 companies are based in Japan. The economy of Tokyo is the largest metropolitan economy in the world.

Facing increasing competition from China and South Korea, the manufacturing industry in Japan today focuses primarily on high-tech and precision goods, such as optical equipment, hybrid cars, and robotics.  You might as well put a tag of “evolution” on them, 'coz that's what they do. One has to be amazed when an Archipelago near burnt to ashes, hit by frequent earthquakes, flooded by the oceans, devastated  by tsunamis can harbor humans whose life teaches us how to live, where modesty is the prevailing attitude, where honesty and integrity have not lost their meaning. If I could borrow Rabindranath Tagore's lines and place them here saying “Into that heaven of freedom, let my country awake…” , I’m sure I wouldn't be wrong.
                                                                   ---------x---------

I’d be posting soon with more anecdotes and views, till then…please keep reading and commenting…

May I enjoy life and art, be respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter…
(- excerpt from the Hippocratic Oath).

In case you lose track of time :)