Aug 20, 2002, 12.00am IST
ASHUTOSHJI MAHARAJ.
What you seek as your highest goal depends upon who you think you are. If you think you are a physical creature subject to biological laws, the highest goal you can aim for would very likely have physical limits, says Ramanuja.
You could just end up seeking physical gratification. In other words, human suffering is the result of our own opinions and aspirations.
Scientists tell us that we are the sum of our genes. This simplification of the truth draws its strength from our discoveries of the physical self. It may hold true for the characteristics of the cor-poreal body — but it certainly cannot claim to determine character and behaviour. The genetic code has no impact in determining the two vital traits of human beings: character and behaviour. Human beings have the capacity to adapt, to change, to evolve from one stage of mental evolution to another. The capacity to change is one of the most precious assets we possess. Look at the great men and women of yore who transformed themselves from being angry to compassionate, from insecure to unshakeable and from human to divine. None can deny that you are essentially divine, and that your real self is spirit. Irrespective of your past and the present, you can shape your destiny.
Human beings are privileged to have the freedom of will. Animals do not have this choice. Man differs from other beings as he is conferred with the faculty of discrimination. Enjoying the fruits of past karma, whether bitter or sweet, he can also improve upon and move up in the cosmic order of consciousness.
The broad spectrum of choices available to humans may be categorised into bhoga, roga and yoga. While the first two present a cause and effect syndrome, the latter opens up higher possibilities at the moral and spiritual levels. The practice of yoga can help us tide over the evil effects of indulgence; thus saving us from roga.
Those who opt for bhoga, live life at the animalistic level. The satisfaction of organic needs is their sole concern. Remaining stagnant at this level is the greatest folly one can think of. Living at this level results in pathetic and perilous conditions all around. You need not forego consumption of material objects. Rather, do it in a spirit of detachment. The art of renunciation becomes natural and spontaneous once a perfect sage blesses the seeker with knowledge of metaphysical form of the Supreme Brahman.
An excessive obsession with bhoga leads to roga. Roga refers to physical and mental maladies. Medically too, over-indulgence affects both the digestive and nervous systems resulting in a wide range of diseases. Mo-ral degradation, ethical decline, aesthetic impoverishment and spiritual blindness are natural concomitants.
Yoga is a perfect antidote to bhoga or over-indulgence of biological needs. Yoga here means the ancient yoga — divine knowledge as illustrated in the Bhagavad Gita by Lord Krishna — the one which has been handed down to posterity from master to pupil. The Sanskrit word, yoga, means union with God. The Upanishads declare in unequivocal terms that this eternal knowledge alone puts the seeker on the path of merging the individual consciousness into the ocean of universal consciousness. Armed with ancient yoga the great sages plumbed the depths of the world within. These ‘atmanauts’ studied the infinity of inner space and made dazzling discoveries.
This is the power of true yoga. You, too, might one day, testify like Saint Teresa of Avila: ‘‘It is a world of perpetual light; even the sun and stars borrow light from the light of consciousness.’’ Such is the glory of the human being. You are not only transformed but transfigured. The choice is yours, entirely: bhoga or yoga.
(As told to S K Vasudeva)
SACRED SPACE
Do It Anyway...
People are often unreasonable, Illogical, and self-centred; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are honest and frank, People may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
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If you find serenity and happiness, They may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, And it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway. From the Internet
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