Our Relationship with God

We are born as an individual Soul. This Soul resides in our body. God, as Supersoul who is Indestructible, very fine, very subtle & is the omnipresent who is also sitting in your heart as "Antaryamin", one who is witness to all of our actions. Our body is the Temple in which the Divinity of our Soul & Supersoul (God) both live together. In fact, our longest relationship is with God who has been by our side through thick and thin. To better understand this let's first read below a parable from "Mundaka Upanisad".

"Mundaka Upanisad" compares the individual Soul and the Supersoul as two friendly birds sitting on the same tree (your body made of elements of nature). One of the birds who is the individual Soul, is eating the fruits of the tree (enjoying the pleasures of the senses afforded by the material body), while the other bird, the Supersoul (God) is simply watching his friend, the individual Soul. Of these two birds, although both are of the same quality, one is captivated by the fruits of the material tree (this material world) while the other is keeping watch on him only. Although they both are friends, one is the master and the other is the servant. Forgetfulness of this relationship by the individual Soul is the cause of one's changing his position from one tree to another, or moving from one body to another. The Jiva, or individual Soul, is struggling very hard on the tree of the material body, but as soon as it agrees to accept the other bird (God) as the Supreme spiritual master, (as Arjuna agrees to do so by voluntary surrender unto Lord Krishna for instructions), the subordinate bird immediately becomes free from all lamentations.

Below are verses from Mundaka Upanishad explaining that only:

"dva suparna sayuja sakhaya
samanam vriksham praishasvajate
tayor anyah pippalam svadv
atty anasnann anyo 'bhicakasiti"

In the tree of this body, Soul & Supersoul (God), are like two friendly birds sitting on the same tree. One of the birds (the individual atomic Soul) is eating the fruit of the tree (the sense gratification afforded by the material body), and the other bird (the Supersoul) is not trying to eat these fruits, but is simply watching His friend.

"samane vrikshe purusho nimagno
'nisaya socati muhyamanah jushtam
yada pasyati anyam isam asya
mahimanam iti vita-sokah"

Although the two birds are on the same tree, the eating bird is fully engrossed with anxiety and moroseness as the enjoyer of the fruits of the tree. But if in some way or other he turns his face to his friend who is the Lord, and knows His glories, at once the suffering bird becomes free of all anxieties.
Below are few verses from Bhagwat Gita which too explain about the nature of Soul & Supersoul:

"dvav imau purushau loke
ksharas chakshara eva cha
ksharah sarvani bhutani
kuta-stho ’kshara ucyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fifteen verse 16)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, There are two classes of beings, the fallible (this body) and the infallible (this Soul). In the material world every living entity having a body is fallible, and while this Soul is infallible & it never dies.

"uttamah purushas tv anyah
paramatmety udahrtah
yo loka-trayam avisya
bibharty avyaya ishvarah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fifteen verse 17)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, Besides these two (this body & this Soul), there is the greatest living personality, the God, the Supersoul, the imperishable Lord Himself, who has entered the three worlds and is maintaining them."

So now it is very clear, how this little individual Soul is different from the Supersoul (God) in nature. Though Soul is part & parcel of the Supersoul (God) only & both are unborn, imperishable but still one is limited in capacity & power, while the other is Lord of unlimited power. Individual Soul is the enjoyer of fruits of this vast nature, while Supersoul (God) is the provider of all these fruits & simply watches the actions & play of these different Souls. Let's turn our mind towards our friend Supersoul (God) who is sitting in our heart only in the subtle form. Doing so we shall come in His protection & He shall shower us with His divine love & grace always. So once we turn toward the God, we shall become free from all the anxieties & lamentations in life.

Jai Sri Krishna

You & Your God Live in Your Body

As the title suggests, this article deals with Yourself, Your Body & Your God. When we are talking of Yourself, we are talking of You as an individual Soul who is present in your body. When we are talking of Your God, we are talking of that Supersoul who is Indestructible, is very fine, very subtle & is the omnipresent God who is also sitting in your heart as "Antaryamin", one who is witness to all of your actions. When we are talking of Your Body, obviously we are are talking about the external visible body of yours. Your body is the Temple in which the Divinity of your Soul & Supersoul (God) both live together. To better understand this let's first read below a parable from "Mundaka Upanisad".

"Mundaka Upanisad" compares the individual Soul and the Supersoul as two friendly birds sitting on the same tree (your body made of elements of nature). One of the birds who is the individual Soul, is eating the fruits of the tree (enjoying the pleasures of the senses afforded by the material body), while the other bird, the Supersoul (God) is simply watching his friend, the individual Soul. Of these two birds, although both are of the same quality, one is captivated by the fruits of the material tree (this material world) while the other is keeping watch on him only. Although they both are friends, one is the master and the other is the servant. Forgetfulness of this relationship by the individual Soul is the cause of one's changing his position from one tree to another, or moving from one body to another. The Jiva, or individual Soul, is struggling very hard on the tree of the material body, but as soon as it agrees to accept the other bird (God) as the Supreme spiritual master, (as Arjuna agrees to do so by voluntary surrender unto Lord Krishna for instructions), the subordinate bird immediately becomes free from all lamentations.

Below are verses from Mundaka Upanishad explaining that only:

"dva suparna sayuja sakhaya
samanam vriksham praishasvajate
tayor anyah pippalam svadv
atty anasnann anyo 'bhicakasiti"

In the tree of this body, Soul & Supersoul (God), are like two friendly birds sitting on the same tree. One of the birds (the individual atomic Soul) is eating the fruit of the tree (the sense gratification afforded by the material body), and the other bird (the Supersoul) is not trying to eat these fruits, but is simply watching His friend.

"samane vrikshe purusho nimagno
'nisaya socati muhyamanah jushtam
yada pasyati anyam isam asya
mahimanam iti vita-sokah"

Although the two birds are on the same tree, the eating bird is fully engrossed with anxiety and moroseness as the enjoyer of the fruits of the tree. But if in some way or other he turns his face to his friend who is the Lord, and knows His glories, at once the suffering bird becomes free of all anxieties.

Below are few verses from Bhagwat Gita which too explain about the nature of Soul & Supersoul:

"dvav imau purushau loke
ksharas chakshara eva cha
ksharah sarvani bhutani
kuta-stho ’kshara ucyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fifteen verse 16)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, There are two classes of beings, the fallible (this body) and the infallible (this Soul). In the material world every living entity having a body is fallible, and while this Soul is infallible & it never dies.

"uttamah purushas tv anyah
paramatmety udahrtah
yo loka-trayam avisya
bibharty avyaya ishvarah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fifteen verse 17)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, Besides these two (this body & this Soul), there is the greatest living personality, the God, the Supersoul, the imperishable Lord Himself, who has entered the three worlds and is maintaining them."

So from the above it is very clear how this little individual Soul is different from the Supersoul (God) in nature. Though Soul is part & parcel of Supersoul (God) only & both are unborn, imperishable but still one is limited in capacity & power, while the other is Lord of unlimited power. Individual Soul is the enjoyer of fruits of this vast nature, while Supersoul (God) is the provider of all these fruits & simply watches the actions & play of these different Souls. Let's turn our mind towards our friend Supersoul (God) who is sitting within our heart only in the subtle form. Doing so we shall come in His protection & He shall shower us with His divine love & grace always. So once we turn towards the God, we shall become free from all the anxieties & lamentations in life.

Jai Sri Krishna

Hidden God

Let's see few things which are not present directly in Nature but can be produced by little effort & logic. Butter & Clarified butter (Ghee) are not directly present in Nature but can be made by churning the milk. So butter is already present in milk in the hidden form which can be produced by little effort. Similarly Mustard oil is not directly present in Nature but can be made by crushing the Mustard oil seeds. So Mustard oil is already present in it's seeds in the hidden form. Similarly, the Divine God is present in subtle omnipresent form in this universe & is hiding here in everything, just like Butter is hidden in milk & Mustard oil is hidden in it's seeds. Only thing is that we need to churn our mind & should have faith in God, then we shall be able to know Him, just the way we are able to dig & discover the water under dry riverbeds.

Now let's see few things in our day to day life, which though are hidden or invisible from our eyes but are still present there. All of you might be using the mobile phone, getting internet through Wi-Fi technology, listening to radio, seeing the television through dish technology etc. All these are using a wireless technology in which subtle, radio or micro waves are transmitted by the Transmitter (broadcaster) through the INVISIBLE space & we receive these waves in our Mobile phone, Laptop, Radio, Television etc. Have anyone of you seen these waves travelling through the space with your eyes, but it is a reality that these invisible rays travel always through an invisible medium called Space & do wonders.

Isn't it amazing? Yes, it's amazing & proves the existence of invisible space & invisible rays. If this invisible medium called SPACE is doing wonders practically in our lives then can't you think of another Invisible medium called GOD which is also creating wonders in our lives. Yes, its true that "Invisible GOD" which is present within this invisible space, is always looking at our lives & controlling our lives but we don't see & realize that. Here below is a Verse from Bhagwat Gita which exemplify this very loudly.

Yathakasa-sthito nityam
vayuh sarvatra-go mahan
tatha sarvani bhutani
mat-sthanity upadharaya (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 6)
"Sri Krishna says in Gita: Just like the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, rests always in the sky, so do all created beings rest in Me i.e. in God, who in its unmanifest aspect always rests within this all pervasive space."

From the above verse it is very clear that God gets seated himself always within this all pervasive Space & sees all our activities & controls this whole universe. So Let's start wondering about this Space & the God who is seated within this space in the invisible form. Once we realize this, then it shall be very easy to see GOD all around us & shall be able to feel the omnipresent nature of God. That Supreme God is only called Brahmn.

Here below is a "Hymn to that Universal, Omnipresent Lord". It is from "Svetasvatara Upanishad":

"O Lord, You are the Ancient One & the Lord of Shining Light,
O Lord, You dwell beyond all darkness and the night;
O Lord, knowing You alone can a man cross over death,
O Lord, There is no other path for him to take."

"O Lord, All heads are Your heads, all faces Your faces,
O Lord, You dwell inside the heart & also in all hidden places.
O Lord, Through the whole universe, You have extended Yourself.
O Lord, You are Shiva, the auspicious, the ever-present Lord."

"O Lord, With hands and feet everywhere, eyes and ears
Everywhere, heads and mouths everywhere,
O Lord, You have filled up every corner of the space.
O Lord, Smaller than smallest and larger than largest."

"O Lord, Present are You in the depths of our heart.
O Lord, When free of desires and unshaken by sorrow, we
Seek for You only, then by Your grace,
O Lord, Your Form and Your glory stand clearly before us.

"O Lord, You are the woman and You are the man,
O Lord, You are the youth and the maiden, too;
O Lord, The old one tottering there with his cane
Is You, who are born here again and again.

"O Lord, You are the bird of dark-blue hue and the parrot green
With bright red eyes; You are the thunder-cloud's black sheen,
O Lord, You are the seasons and the seas. Beginning less and
Endless, You are He from whom all worlds are born.

"O Lord, Can men ever roll up space like a skin?
Then, unless they have known You without and within,
O Lord, How can they cross over sorrow and death?
O Lord, whose light needs no other light.

"O Lord, Creator of even Brahma, the creator,
Revealer to him of the knowledge called Veda,
O Lord, To You, I come in my longing for freedom;
O Lord, To You, for refuge, with reverence, I come!"

Happiness

Here below is a story from "Chhandogya Upanishad" where a son is questioning his father regarding happiness:

"Father, everyone is looking for happiness. But what is meant by happiness?" This was one of the questions a wise boy in India, Sveta-ketu, put to his father many centuries ago.

"Son, one of the signs of happiness, is that a person who has it becomes active in life. A person who does not find happiness does not feel like being active in life. His mind is cramped, his will is weak. What is vast and infinite brings happiness. There is no true joy in what is small or finite. I can tell you that the Infinite alone is happiness; but you must desire to understand this Infinite, my son."

"I want to understand it, Father," said Sveta-ketu.

"Good," said his father. "Then you must listen carefully to what I say and think deeply about it:

"When a person sees that Brahmn/God pervading everywhere and that no one is separate from Him, that he is one with all the people, animals, and objects in the universe, when a person sees and hears and knows nothing else -- that is the Infinite.

"But, if one sees or feels some other thing, obstructing him, separating him, then that is the finite. He has not yet found the Infinite.

"The Infinite never passes away; it lasts forever; but what is finite will pass away."

In the above story, father is teaching his son to realize that he is a soul & that soul is present in everyone & everywhere. This infinite Super Soul is called Brahmn. God himself is called Brahmn. Whole world dwells in Brahmn. Whole world comes from Brahmn. Whole world goes back in Brahmn. Whole world breathes in Brahmn. Let's worship that Brahmn, the God. Finding & realizing one's identity with the infinite Super Soul is finding the real happiness.

Below are few verses of Bhagwat Gita where God is also telling of His nature to be as described above only:

"maya tatam idam sarvam
jagad avyakta-murtina
mat-sthani sarva-bhutani
na chaham tesv avasthitah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 4)

"Sri Krishna said: By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them."

"athakasa-sthito nityam
vayuh sarvatra-go mahan
tatha sarvani bhutani
mat-sthanity upadharaya" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 6)

"Sri Krishna said: Understand that as the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, rests always in the sky, all created beings rest in Me."

"prakritim svam avastabhya
visrijami punah punah
bhuta-gramam imam krtsnam
avasam prakriter vasat" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 8)

"Sri Krishna said: The whole cosmic order is under Me. Under My will it is automatically manifested again and again, and under My will it is annihilated at the end."

"aham atma gudakesha
sarva-bhutasaya-sthitah
aham adis cha madhyam cha
bhutanam anta eva cha" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Ten verse 20)

"Sri Krishna said: I am the Super Soul, O Arjuna, seated in the hearts of all living entities. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings.

Body & Soul

How many of you see your face & body in the mirror?
How many of you have sometimes closed your eyes & tried to be peaceful?

Now what is the link between the above two questions? When you see your body in the mirror, you are seeing & relating yourself to this body of flesh & bones. When you try to close your eyes & try to be peaceful, you are trying not to link yourself to this body but to something inward inside you where you can find peace. What is that inward thing that you are trying to find where you find yourself to be more peaceful? Yes, It's your Soul. In Soul, there is peace & you are trying to delve into that only in times of closing your eyes or in meditation.

I am remembering an old English song whose two lines are here;

"Faces.......all around different faces I see,
Some are happy, some in misery.............."

On this earth there are more than 7 billion people & each one is having a unique face. In fact God has created a vast variety of human bodies (to create illusion) & it seems that these all people are different only. But if we see closely then we shall find that all the bodies are made of similar nature elements & at Soul level all these are same only. Variety of bodies is external only but on deep analysis it is not so & are the same consequence of few nature elements. As per Bhagwat Gita, at soul level all these people are one only as one all pervasive soul pervades through all these bodies.

"Sri Krishna said:
There is nothing else besides Me,
Like clusters of Yarn-Beeds,
Formed by knots on a thread,
All this world is threaded on Me (universal soul)." (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Seven verse 7)


So a person should not consider himself/herself limited to this body of flesh & bones but should consider himself/herself to be that universal soul only. 

In fact a person's soul is infinite, omnipresent and is diffused everywhere throughout the space. A person's soul is as much same in London or New York as in Bombay, although it can only apprehend and feel and act where the body is. As the soul is subtle so it is not the object of physical perception.

Human body is made of Eight constituents of material nature. These elements are Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego. At death when the body perishes it is dissolved in these elements only but the soul which is indestructible survives. So it's up to you, if you perceive yourself to be a body then one day you shall die but if you consider yourself to be indestructible, infinite, omnipresent universal soul, then there is no death for you & you are immortal.

Here below is a saying from Upanishad which explains about the mortal body & immortal soul:

"It is true that the body is mortal, that it is under the power of death,but it is also the dwelling place of Atman (Soul), the Spirit of immortal life..............when a man is in the joy of the Spirit, he is free from all bondage, the bondage of pleasure and pain."

Same is said in Bhagwat Gita:

"na jayate mriyate va kadacin
nayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyah
ajo nityah sasvato ’yam purano
na hanyate hanyamane sarire" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 20)


"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, The soul is never born nor dies at any time. Soul has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. Soul is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. Soul is not slain when the body is slain."