28th October, 2007, Sunday
Kartik Krishna Dvitiya, Vikram Samvat 2064, Ravivar


Beings have both lower (material, jada, aparaa) nature (prakriti) and higher (spiritual, consciousness, chetan, para) nature. Both are part of nature. Egoism is lower nature, while embodied soul (spirit, jeev) is higher nature. The relationship between matter and spirit is called "chjjadagranthi" (unreal).

"Jada chetan hi granthi pari gayi. Jadapi mrshaa chootatkathinayi." (Manasa 7:117:2)

This relationship is illusory, not real, because matter and spirit possess entirely opposing and antagonistic nature.

Spirit is luminous, while matter is the object to be illumined.
Spirit is without any changes, where as, matter is constantly changing.
Spirit never ceases to be, while matter never lasts.
The spirit is the illuminator and supporter of matter. The real is the bedrock of the unreal.

Both are distinct in nature, yet they are not enemy to each other. The quest to know the real (divinity) is inimical to the unreal (matter) because this intense inquiry into the real, breaks the relationship with matter. Therefore in one respect, inquiry into the truth, anticipation, and expectation of that essential nature is superior. The desire for enjoyment of things and actions connects us with the unreal (matter), while, quest and inquiry into the truth, breaks the relationship with them. In the desire for pleasure, there is predominance of matter (ego), while in inquiry there is importance of spirit. The point is, that , that when man gives importance to matter, he desires mundane pleasures and things. And when there is predominance of spirituality, he develops a desire for salvation and God realization.

Until that time that a man continues to give importance to and remains immersed in worldly pleasures and things, till that time he can never attain eternal peace and joy. Even if he attains the status of Brahma, he cannot experience peace. How can the changeable, provide peace to the unchangeable? How can the unreal satiate the real ? But when a man gives higher value to the spirit, renouncing matter, then his ego will be eradicated and pure self will remain. With the effacement of relationship with matter, attachment totally vanishes. With attachment being rooted out, he attains perfection i.e. nothing remains to be done, to be known and to be attained.

In realty. perfection is axiomatic, but attachment to matter does not allow experience of perfection. As soon as attachment is totally wiped out, perfection is automatically realized. But this realization is only when there is ardent inquiry and longing for God realization or Self realization or for God's love or vision. It means intense inquiry will specially arouse discrimination, which will cut asunder attachment to matter. This attachment will root out egoism, which will automatically root out the sense of mine and thus the untainted Self will be realized. Thus for Self realization, no instrument (kaarak) will be of any use.

From "Sahaj Sadhana" in Hindi pg 33, in English pg 36 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

Ram Ram



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