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The ancient
rishis in India first studied material science, but
when they could not find real happiness therein,
they progressed in the study of mental science.
Here they made many wonderful discoveries, such as
mind reading, knowing future events, invisibility,
curing diseases and moving outside the body. They
attained many supernatural powers, but ultimately
they found that these powers could also not help
them attain real, eternal happiness. So they
directed all their attention within, towards their
Self, where they attained supreme felicity.
Realising Reality, they exclaimed, "Blessed am I!
Blessed am I!" This sublime Truth is Final Reality
and nothing lies beyond It. It is the origin of the
whole universe and is realised only through
jnana.
The Vedas were composed by those great ones
who realised the real existence of the sublime
Truth. Reality is the source of all knowledge and
is the the enlightenment of everything. He is the
origin of everything and the whole universe, His
creation, is within Him. Jesus preached that "God
is beyond the sky." Sky is complete ignorance,
because nothing existing is known. What exists
beyond the sky, beyond space, is the Final Reality
which knows of even the sky.
All religions describe jnana as "God". The hindu's
describe jnana as "the Seer of all"; "the moving
Spirit of all"; "the Omnipresent witness of all";
"the Perfect One"; "the One without distance"; and
"the One without end." He is known as Brahman
[Reality]. The origin of the universe is He
who has no distance. All things appear to the
material eye at a distance, but in fact from the
very beginning they are situated at no distance. If
the objectiveness of the eye is removed by some
means, then everything will appear within you and
without any distance. Just see that the words you
utter are not scattered away in the wind like
parched rice, and that the sentences you speak are
not broken away in some disorderly manner. All
words are heard at the same time by people in all
directions! On careful consideration of this point
everything becomes intelligible. One must come to
the conclusion that whatever is in existence today
was in existence from the commencement. The rule is
that what exists can only be experienced. Nothing
else. Hence the modern scientists have not
discovered anything new nor have they created any
new things. What exists today always exists and
what appears to be discovered today has always
existed from the beginning. So, is this to be
called a "discovery"? No. What never existed cannot
be created or discovered by any instrument or any
means whatsoever.
The Vedas are the repositories of many
truths. The infiniteness of vedic knowledge can be
imagined if even one of these truths is understood.
Along with this knowledge one would be convinced of
the hollowness and falsity of modern discoveries.
The modern researchers ought not to get inflated by
vanity for their so-called inventions and
discoveries. Because truly speaking they have not
yet known anything about Reality. They have not
realised the true state of the universe and are
still living in delusion. It will not therefore be
improper if we make this subject clear by some
further exposition.
A microscope makes a small object, as small as a
tiny cell, appear to have a big volume. Without
this glass instrument, a tiny cell appears much
smaller to the eye. Then what is the real state of
any object? Does the glass enlarge the volume of
the object or does the eye make the object smaller?
A thing appears larger at one time and smaller at
another. Then what is the fact? Is that thing
really small or really large? What is the true
state of the thing? The tiny cell, which is in fact
small, can never be made larger by any instrument.
No instrument can make it bigger. And similarly, a
large thing can never appear smaller to the eye.
The reason is that neither the microscope nor the
eye can make the thing larger or smaller. Then what
is the cause for one thing appearing smaller or
larger? Deeper thinking on this point would
convince us that the glass does not make a thing
bigger nor does the eye make it smaller. The power
of cognisance coming out of the eye is weak, and so
the thing appears smaller. The glass instrument
intensifies the power of the eye that cognises the
objects in the world and on account of this
intensified power, the same thing appears larger.
Thus, with the help of external instruments we
increase the power of cognisance and as a result
the thing appears to have a larger form. If we
extend this process of increasing the cognising
power, the object goes on assuming a larger and
larger form until it becomes so large that it would
become rarefied and invisible like the sky. In the
end it would appear as if there is nothing at all.
It is common experience that if the power of light
is intensified to a very great degree, the light
becomes invisible or blinding.
An object appearing at a distance would appear very
near to the physical eye if seen through a
telescope. Does the telescope drag the object
closer or does the eye push it further away? It is
neither of the two. The reason that it appears
nearer through a telescope is that the telescope
increases the cognising power of the eye.
Similarly, if this cognising power is intensified
further and further by more and more powerful
means, then the very object would appear within us
and, in the end, would become invisible and
disappear altogether. If our eyes were as powerful
as the telescope, would we have experienced the
distance between things as we experience now? No.
Following the same line of argument, one would be
faced with the question of whether these things
really exist at all? One must come to the
conclusion that nothing appearing really exists and
whatever appears as existing is only an illusion.
Does it not therefore become evident that the whole
fault lies with the cognising power of the eye and
intellect which [1] gives existence to
non-existing things, [2] creates a distance
between non-existing things, and [3] also
creates a difference in size and volume between
non-existing things?
Then people who take their experience of what they
see and feel as true on account of their weak eye
and intellect must be convinced that the
discoveries, such as flying in aeroplanes,
travelling in trains, driving in motor cars or
hearing sounds on a radio are nothing but an
illusion. Seeing that distance doesn't exist, where
can you go when you fly in an aeroplane? Is this
not all due to the ignorance of the true state of
all things? The sound on a radio is like the sound
of someone speaking so near to you! The object that
appears through a telescope is so near to you!
There is no distance and no difference in size or
volume between anything whatsoever because things
which appear to exist have no existence at all! The
conclusion which we have shown here is only a small
fraction of the many principles contained in the
Vedas. If this one principle is fully
treated, then people will have altogether a
different experience of the true state of things,
and will at once perceive what a huge difference
there is in the knowledge and experience of a
realised being and of an ignorant being. But what
is the use of explaining these principles in full
to those who are solely after materialism?
The origin of all things in this infinite universe
is known as Ishwara, the ultimate Reality, and can
never be realised through fasts, bodily austerities
or various forms of discipline enjoined by various
sects or religions. By realising the Self with the
instruction of a spiritual Preceptor, Reality is
attained. It brings supreme, infinite joy and is
present everywhere and at all times, then why
shouldn't intelligent people make an attempt to
know It? Without Self-realisation, the world will
never have real happiness and peace. It is the only
source of real happiness and peace and is the goal
of all religions. Realising the origin of the whole
universe is true religion.
Present followers or converts of each religion have
not realised the origin, the true religion. A hindu
may be asked, "What have you learnt by following
hinduism? Have you realised God, Brahma, Rama,
Krishna or Shiva?" No! Wearing a dhoti, or a turban
and saying, "Don't touch me, don't touch me", are
these the real principles? A mohammedan may be
asked, "Have you known Khuda or Allah?" No! Growing
a beard, getting circumcised and rejoicing in the
slaughter of animals, are these the real
principles? A christian may be asked, "Have you
known the Father in heaven? No! Putting on a
necktie, boots, pants, a cross around the neck and
moving in society with a wife, hand in hand, are
these the real principles? If change in dress and
food implies you have changed or joined a religion,
then one must admit that many people change and
join religions everyday!
In short, no one has really known or realised any
religion in its real sense, and therefore, no one
belongs to any religion. It is the realisation of
the root Principle of each religion, which is the
Self [the Soul], that defines a true
follower or devotee. Therefore, there can be no two
religions and similarly, there can be no
conversion. Nobody becomes a convert and nobody can
convert another. It is also not correct to say that
the body becomes a convert because there is no
change in the body complexion of a convert, nor in
his bones, flesh, or blood, nor have his mother,
father, or brother changed. His dead relations do
not return to him nor do the living die. It is only
a change in mental belief, that's all. Whatever you
believe, you become. It is only a belief at
work.
Many people say that their religion is better than
all other religions. Such people may be asked,
"What makes any religion superior or inferior? Is
it not confined to a certain kind of dress,
accepting or rejection certain foods, eating many
times during the day, or fasting?" If this is the
meaning of religion, it can be observed in any
religion and in any place. If however realisation
of God is the criterion of real religion as stated
above, then is there any true lover of any religion
who can solemnly declare that immediately on
accepting his religion, anybody would be able to
realise God in no time? If any person makes such a
declaration, then all the present followers of his
religion must have realised God. But experience
tells us that it is not so.
In a major conference in Chicago, Swami Vivekananda
stated that many people propounding the cardinal
principles on religion do not know themselves and
neither do their followers. Such people only talk a
lot, but when some point blank question is put to
them about God, they become tongue-tied. The
Vedas have boldly propounded that by
following the path led by the Satguru, who alone is
the guide and saviour, one can realise God in this
very body. All religions and all scriptures
propound the same thing.
It is stated in a Sanskrit verse that there is some
trouble in withering a fully blossomed flower, but
there is not the least trouble in the attainment of
Paramartha. The seekers of Paramartha are therefore
warned to be very careful not to allow themselves
to be led astray by the pseudo-teachings of
inexperienced impostors. In is on account of
association with such people that Paramartha has
become a difficult problem. It is however not
difficult for those who come in touch with true
guides who have realised the Self.
At present the Paramartha has become difficult
because inexperienced impostors have thrust into
the Paramartha path many false and misleading
principles, and therefore various sorts of beliefs,
superstitions, sentiments and usages are to be
found which have caused great confusion in
religion. For the removal of such superstitions and
confusion, a follower should only seek to be free
by realising the Self. Realisation frees you from
life's miseries, anxieties, toils and labours, and
brings eternal, perfect happiness. It is supreme
bliss. You have come to this world only to realise
you are That. Everything is That and every action
is performed for That only, including spiritual
salvation. Renunciation, rejection or acceptance of
anything, including body, is for That and That
alone. So, how is realisation secured? Only by the
grace of the Satguru.
Paramartha is the birth right of everybody. The
world is hankering for happiness and everyone is
striving for it. When you strive for It knowingly
and willingly with determination and zeal, It will
be attained permanently. But one who does not
understand what It is and does not even know the
path for Its attainment, makes useless and futile
efforts day and night in order to secure happiness.
Instead of finding happiness, he only becomes
disappointed and miserable. Everyone is unhappy. On
careful consideration of this point one must come
to the conclusion that the methods adopted to gain
happiness are wrong and defective and there is some
serious blunder at the bottom of these methods.
In the civilised countries, nothing but misery is
found. As new discoveries are being made by modern
civilisation, miseries and terror also keep pace
with them. By such discoveries there is a growing
increase in the needs and desires of people, and to
meet these needs people toil and labour more and
more. In order to satisfy the new needs of the
population, the demand upon the resources is
growing everyday. Every new invention makes only
the inventor rich, but at the same time the pockets
of millions of other people are empty because of
the new needs created by his invention. It is
better to suffer from a serpent bite than to
increase a single desire. A serpent's poison can be
cured with one remedy, but needs and desires
require satisfaction throughout one's entire
life.
When a new invention is made, it is widely
advertised and all sorts of tactics are used to
create a demand for it. The goal is to only make
money by exploiting the ignorant. Very often
governments make use of their power in order to
sell new inventions to other countries. Wars have
been waged just to force such inventions upon other
countries. Thus, with the progress of such
inventions, people's needs have increased and
tactics have been created to extort money. In such
circumstances, how can anyone expect real
fraternity or unity? This is nothing but open
enmity. Such robbery and extortion is however
described as the "great progress in civilisation"
and as "increasing universal brotherhood in the
world." Let those who say so rejoice in such
fraternity, but it is certain that the world will
not be made happier through new discoveries. These
discoveries are dragging people to hell! The world
is galloping towards hell! If the world will
continue to advance in such a manner, the result
will be cruelty, bloodshed and horrible warfare.
Nobody can deny that these new manufacturers of
modern science have only increased risks and
dangers in life.
Why is it that in ancient times people could
maintain strict morality and the virtues of truth,
honesty and compassion? The reason is obvious.
People's wants were few and they could secure their
necessities with a slight labour. There was
therefore no reason for people to get addicted to
immorality. Today, the wants are so immensely
increased that they cannot be satisfied even by
hard work, hence rogueries, intrigues, immorality
are rampant and people have gone to the length of
committing thefts.
People are inclined to vices on account of wants.
They satisfy their needs by any foul means. Need is
the mother of all vices. It causes anxiety and
worry. People have no trust in one another and they
adopt unscrupulous and unlawful means. Therefore
fear, unrest and violence prevail everywhere.
Bravo! Such is the power of need. The whole
universe is being dragged into a deep valley on
account of need. In short, the immorality which is
rampant in the whole world at present, is the
result of the ever growing wants. It is on account
of these wants that a man labours. A man having no
need would flatly refuse to work. "What do I care
for", is the expression used by unneedy persons. It
is the need which compels one to labour and stoop
so low to perform immoral acts. It is for the sake
of sheer want that a man suffers humiliation and
indignity. It is said that when times are adverse,
even fools are adored. Necessity knows no law nor
dignity and nobody can preserve self restraint or
respect with their needs staring at them. In these
days of modern civilisation, people are always in
need and are surrounded by difficulties to satisfy
their wants.
As for law! For the due observance of one principle
of law people have to do several unlawful things
secretly. The more the restraint, the more the
immorality. When a straight path becomes
impossible, a man has to resort to any crooked ways
and means. This rule equally applies to all beings.
To say that the world is being made happy by such
reforms and inventions, which are generated by
constant wants, is equivalent to saying that a
house on fire can be extinguished by oil.
What is the present social life for people? It is
nothing but dramatic and artificial! It is not that
the ancient sages in India were incapable of making
such reforms and inventions as are now made by the
modern scientists which push the world down into a
deep valley of misery. They were quite competent to
make such discoveries, but the reason they didn't
is that they fully knew it would lead to the total
destruction of peace, happiness and tranquility.
They were convinced that such discoveries would
produce endless misery and worldwide anxiety. The
natural peace and joy enjoyed by the world before
the times of modern civilisation has now completely
disappeared. People today cannot even imagine that
peace and joy is even possible. In those days,
supreme peace reigned and people lived simply with
very few wants. A whole family was easily
maintained by the slight labour of just one member,
and people merrily enjoyed the natural resources
provided by nature. But today can anyone say that
these modern discoveries have installed happiness?
Nowadays, the majority of people in the world are
inwardly drowned in misery and have to struggle
enormously just to maintain the bare necessities,
so much so that one day without work means fasting.
Many cannot afford to keep a house and lie in the
streets like vagabonds on account of their
incapacity to provide for their families. They
can't even provide enough for themselves, let alone
a whole family. Under these circumstances, how can
there be true love, fraternity and universal
brotherhood? This is all just hypocrisy!
God alone knows what is passing within! The revered
great men have proclaimed that it is only that
Paramartha which brings supreme bliss, natural
happiness, mutual love and universal brotherhood.
Without It the world will never be happy. Modern
scientist are not interested in the origin,
considering It as useless, and care only in
producing more and more. The ancient sages realised
the importance of Paramartha, knowing that the
preservation of life depended on It. They renounced
all material objects to the highest degree. If one
is interested only in materialism, how can one find
the time and energy to think of eternal happiness?
The measure of happiness derived from worldly
objects is out of proportion to the immense labour
and trouble required for their attainment. From the
point of view of happiness, this is not at all a
profitable bargain! Happiness is like the size of
an atom and misery is like a massive mountain.
Providence has arranged that what is required for
real happiness can be had everywhere and at anytime
without any cost or effort. He has also arranged
for the automatic and natural production of all
necessary food and drink. These natural products
were enjoyed with great delight by the ancient
sages and are still being enjoyed by the birds and
animals which have no sense of discrimination. Only
man, who is endowed with sense faculties and who
believes that he is wiser and more superior to all,
does not even enjoy the fruits of nature. His
foolishness causes great suffering not only to
himself but to many animals on which he inflicts
unbearable hardships. His foolishness prevents all
beings to independently enjoy their natural bliss.
His foolishness keeps him otherwise occupied in
hard labour trying to discover new things which
only bring misery to all. They labour day and night
like donkeys, full of anxiety and worries, without
ever enjoying the bare necessities of life provided
by nature.
There is a Marathi proverb which says that the wise
eat cow dung while the fools eat sweet meats. Will
you try to see the deeper meaning of this proverb?
Are you not yet convinced that the natural products
are more than sufficient for maintaining life? Are
you still not disgusted with the constant drudgery?
Has the time not yet come to know from the
spiritual Preceptors the means of removing the
burning worries of people? Be it so! It is for this
reason that the ancient sages renounced materialism
and realised the origin of the whole universe. This
is what is meant by Paramartha.
All nations are therefore hereby warned that the
path chosen by them for their progress will
ultimately and surely bring them dreadful
catastrophes. Therefore they should leave aside the
idea of rejoicing in perishable material objects
which are full of bitter poison and should rather
follow the path laid down in the Vedas which
alone will bring them natural and eternal happiness
and create the feeling of universal brotherhood.
They should immediately begin to enjoy, equally and
independently, the natural assets of the creation
and avail themselves of the benefits of endless
powers which are hidden behind the curtain of the
mind.
Is it not the real duty of men who have the best
talents in the world to find out ways and means so
that happiness and joy may be universal, so that
the anxiety for work and the need for income and
accumulation be ended, and that warfare, crooked
policies, politics and intrigues may disappear so
that peace may reign supreme all over the world?
How long can people continue to live in increasing
anxiety? Is the world not yet tired of it? In the
present times, the anxiety and worry of "must work"
like a ghost has taken over the grip of everyone.
Now enough of this! Let all this be put an end to
so that no one has to want anything from anyone.
That will be the Golden Day when the origin of the
whole universe is realised and one's own natural
happiness can be enjoyed without any effort! Let
eternal happiness and supreme peace reign!
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