The Paradox of Life and Death

Namah Shivay, I always had this question in my mind about the apparent paradox in various Spiritual books like the Vedas, Upanishads etc and also among the various schools of Vedanta like Advaita, Dvaita, etc. The Question is: Some books says that on Death Consciousness(Atma) leaves the body and goes to either heaven or hell and takes birth etc and some say that the Self(Atma, Consciousness) is everywhere. Now, if Self is everywhere then it must also be in the Dead Body which means it is alive. Then why does the body becomes lifeless and rotting process starts. If Self is the only true being and there is only 1 Self and it is present in Living as well as lifeless objects like mountains, stones etc. as per Advaita then how come it is not in the dead body. That means there is atleast 1 place where Self/Consciousness does not exists and all spiritual books are lying. But then atoms are vibrating even in a dead body….how? what is truth? How can I resolve this Paradox? So I asked this to my Guru, our beloved Babaji once in my Meditation and here is what I got to know:

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“The Self or the Consciousness is everywhere incl. non-living objects like stone, water, paper etc. But it still does not mean it is alive…alive as in moving, breathing the way living beings are. For you, alive means it must move or grow but that is your definition and not of nature. This is the prime distinction which helps us know that XYZ thing is a living thing or no. Besides the Consciousness, there is also a key tatva called the Mind(which I often refer to the Divine Mind in my blog). This Mind dictates everything that an object does including its life span, emotions, events, karma etc. ”

Further, Babaji elaborated that “it is only when the Consciousness and the Divine Mind meet that anything can be formed. Thus from this union, the World that we know of is formed incl. you and me and all and everything around us. Now coming to dead body, see when a person(or any living being for that matter) dies, it is this Mind body that leaves the attachment to that body thereby starving it of any action, movement, life force energy which eventually results in stiffening and later into rotting of the body if not burnt or buried quickly(under normal circumstances). The Mind that I am referring to is the Divine Mind.

You can say it is the same for you as well as the whole Universe and beyond(There is no duality). In order to accomplish its wishes, the Divine Mind, created numerous objects(living or non-living) to satisfy itself. Since the Divine Mind is Infinite, so are its forms. Moreover, the Divine Mind, creates numerous layers of Mind which we refer to say Manomaya kosh, Universal Mind, Ego-Pure and adulterated Ego, Super Conscious mind, Sub-Conscious mind, conscious mind etc.. The Mind never dies and this is what leaves the body. The Consciousness remains everywhere. This drama of coming and going is only for this Mind till the time, it realized the futility of this tour and merges with the Self which is what is called as Self Realization.”.

“The Mind can gain peace only when it learns to concentrate about itself on its Self. There comes a moment when it realizes its fallacy of Ego and automatically merges with its Self and attains the Divine Peace or Happiness-Sat Chit Anand”

“This Consciousness is referred to in Shastras as Shiva and Divine Mind as Shakti. Shakti has numerous forms and moods and so is the variety in Nature. She is Infinite and so are forms, events, etc in the Universe. Shiva is the soul of Shakti. Without Shiva, Shakti cannot do what it can do. Even if she tried, it would be destroyed the very moment it is created. Shakti requires aadhar which is Shiva. Shiva is aadhar of All-Living and Non-Living being.

Thus if you see, there is no Paradox.”…and I come out of Meditation…relived.:)

Dear Readers, did you ever have such questions in your mind?

Namam Shivay

Self is ever evident-Like fruit in your hand

Today I present one of the most Profound and my personal favourite text called ‘Hastamalaka Stotra‘. Hastamalaka(name given later by Adi Shankaracharya) was 8th Century CE disciple of Adi Shankara and the first Jagat Guru of Dwarka Petham.

When Shankara, the Guru of the world, was travelling in the western parts of India and overcoming in debate the expounders of the various schools of thought, he once came to a village known as Srivali. When a brahmin inhabitant of the village named Prabhakara heard about his arrival he went to him with his thirteen year old son. He prostrated before Sankara and made his son also prostrate. He then explained that the boy had been dumb from his childhood, that he had no likes and dislikes, nor a sense of honour and dishonour, and that he was completely inactive. The Guru then raised the boy up and asked him as follows in a cheerful tone:

1.   `Who are you? Whose child are you? Whither are you bound? What is your name? Whence have you come? Oh Child! I should like to hear your reply to these questions. Thus spoke Sri Shankaracharya to the boy, and Hastamalaka replied as follows.

Siddhas say…

On Realizing Me, nothing remains to be gained and nothing to lose, nothing more to realize or know because I am beyond Knowledge & Ignorance, I am that Light which is beyond Lightness and Darkness – Bhagwat Gita

Siddhas say…

He that is in man is the same as He that is in the Sun – Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi

In Conversation with Babaji

Namah Shivay,

From the Master has posted an excellent 6 part Videos of Babaji explaining various aspects about Shivyog Sadhanas like Sri Vidya, Durga Shaptashati, Healing, dos and donts for a Shivyogi. Some of the questions which Babaji has lovingly answered are as follows:

• Should Durga Saptashati should be done with aggression.
• Guidelines for a Shree Vidhya sadhak
• How one creates same vibes of shivirs in daily life.
• What if one goes into “deep sleep” during sadhana.
• Can Durga Saptashati be heard on an ipod while travelling.
• Can Durga Saptashati Sadhana be done in groups.
• Can Durga Saptashati be recited with uninitiated family members.
• Why Babaji prohibits doing Advait Shree Vidhya sadhana in groups.
• Whether initiation (deeksha) is required for Durga Saptashati Sadhana.
• Every shivir sadhana is different. Which one to be followed?
• Can one who wandered off the path get back on track?
• Babaji’s view about the web communications with sadhaks.
• About sadhana at divine places and Jeeva Samadhis.
• Any other sadhana other than Advait Shree Vidhya?
• Can Durga Saptashati be recited in areas of negativity.
• What happens in the places where Durga Saptashati is recited.
• Why Durga Saptashati/Shree Vidhya sadhana were kept in secret.
• In case of mispronounciation during recitation of Durga Saptashati.
• On people from India and abroad practicing Advait Shree Vidhya.
• How the sadhana of Advait Shree Vidhya helps one in life.

The Videos as follows:

Siddhas say…

Q: May one have more than one spiritual master?
A: Who is a master? He is the Self after all. According to the stages of development of the mind the Self manifests as the master externally. The famous ancient saint Dattatreya said that he had more than twenty-four masters. The master is one from whom one learns anything. The Guru may be sometimes inanimate also, as in the case of Dattatreya. God, Guru and the Self are identical.
A spiritually-minded man thinks that God is all-pervading and takes God for his Guru. Later, God brings him in contact with a personal Guru and the man recognises him as all in all. Lastly the same man is made by the grace of the master to feel that his Self is the reality and nothing else. Thus he finds that the Self is the master.

– Ramana Maharishi

Power of Consciousness

Consciousness and wealth- spiritual & material are not just related but rather interwoven as one flowing energy field. When there is peace and harmony, abundance of all good things flow naturally- not just for individuals but also for whole nations.

There has been so much global dynamics springing from the colosal debts USA has and the global politics of economics that shape this.The debt is $14.6 trillion and climbing. That is roughly $47000 debt for every US citizen.

Is there a need to be worried? What will happen next to the nation, the global economics and our own individual reality? What will happen if a rogue nation like China armed with economic strength gains the upper hand to threaten our individual freedom?

These questions and thoughts can be brought to the right perspective if we can understand consciousness to be the wealth that will always gain precedence over any temporary upheavals.

If we can gain insights into the history of consciousness, we know we will not fail. We are consciousness that is victorious. Always!

India had been an economic super power for over 2000 years of history prior to being colonized by the British