Arya Samaj

Shishya · Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 10:09 pm Post subject: Manifest Your Real Nature

Manifest Your Real Nature
by
Jai Maha Dev

What is My Real Nature?

We are all souls. The soul has no sex, no color, and no religion. But the soul does have its own nature (Dharma). In ancient times (i.e., before 5000 years ago—which is not really so long ago), there was no religion—there was only Dharma. All of the various religions—including Hinduism—came into existence after the time of the Mahabharat War (about 5000 years ago). In ancient times, Dharma was a way of life—that is, it was a natural way of life to live with self-discipline, integrity, high character, responsibility, honesty, etc. These (and other) noble traits or characteristics are the nature of the soul—they are your nature.

As embodied souls (i.e. souls wrapped in body and mind) we manifest our nature through our lives, i.e., through the process of living. However, the instruments with which we are working—the mind and body, and all the things of this world of Prakriti—have their own nature, too.

Depending on what we have in mind, and depending on the nature of our body (such as our physical health, species, age, etc.), the nature of the soul is manifested to varying degrees. Generally, human beings manifest better qualities than animals, but as is well known, they can also manifest traits that are more selfish and cruel than any creature ever created.

The nature of the soul does not change. The soul is eternal. The soul is ever-pure, ever-free, ever-enlightened, always united with (i.e., pervaded by) the Supreme Absolute Self (God). Whether the soul is embodied or not, its nature does not change. But the mind is different from the soul. The mind does change. The mind is influenced by its surroundings (including of course, and especially, by its own body).

What is the Cause of the Creation of the Body?

Body is the result of karma, which means action. In other words, the gross physical body, and the subtle body (mind), are the result of actions. Whose actions? Who is the creator of actions? God is the creator of actions, and so, too, are we. God, Para-Brahma, the Supreme Creator, is the creator of actions in the form of the creation, preservation, and dissolution of the universe. Similarly, each and every soul is also the creator of actions. Just as the beginningless, unborn, everlasting Supreme Being (God) has been endlessly creating the universe, over and over, again and again using the beginningless, indestructible, matter or Prakriti, similarly, the beginningless, unborn, indestructible souls (i.e., you, I, and everyone else) have also been performing actions forever (i.e., there was no first action—and there will be no last one either, though, of course, everyone would love to have a 'vacation' from time to time in the form of Moksha, or Liberation).

[‘From time to time’ is a very, very long time—Pranrakal—which, for all practical purposes, can be considered as eternal.]

We Fashion Our Own Fate

God is the author of humanity, but each and every soul is responsible for their own mental and physical state. In other words, God creates this universe, and by His power the soul is embodied (i.e., Purush is united with Prakriti), but each of us is the architect of our own destiny. The actions that we do and the thoughts that we hold are very important—they shape our lives. That’s why no one should act or speak carelessly. Everything that we say, think, and do sets into motion invisible forces—we are constantly interacting with subtle natural forces which are shaping our lives.

[Forget everything you have heard about gods and demons, and all that fanciful fairy tale stuff—these descriptions are only for the sake of those who cannot grasp the subtle but simple scientific facts. In other words, they were for those who lived in the past and not for those who are living in the modern times.]

Whether we like it or not, we have to live in this world. Whether we like it or not, we have to live in our body. Whether we like it or not, we have to work (perform actions). It is our nature to be alive and active. We live and work to improve, to make things better. Progress, civilization, arts, industries, and science are the natural outcome of our living, i.e., they are (in varying shades) the manifestation of our beginningless, endless, energy and consciousness.

We Need to Follow Our Dharma

All religions are man-made. On the other hand, Dharma is not man-made. Dharma is our nature, and our nature (our real nature) is eternal. When we ‘form’ our mind to follow our eternal nature, then our life is very beautiful and full. But if the mind takes on the material nature it becomes deformed and deceptive, and our life becomes...incomplete.

To know our real nature we need Wisdom—we do not need doctrines, dogma, and images. To know our real nature we need discipline, we do not need religion. We need to discipline our mind to do what is right, to do what needs to be done. Religion is a 'lazy man’s way out.' Religion makes people lazy. Religion makes people artificial and complacent. That’s not to say that irreligious people are real or genuine, on the contrary, they are just as phony. Most religious people at least mean well—but sometimes they can be very mean and even cruel in their attempts to prove to themselves and others how right they are (as is evidenced by those who try to force others to convert to their religion).

"Do I Need to Convert to a Different Religion?"

There is no need to convert to any religion. First of all, what or who is converted? The eternal Atman, soul, is changeless, ever-real, and can never be converted into something else. It is only in the mind that one thinks oneself to be a Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc. When someone is converted to a Christian, Muslim, or Hindu, presumably one changes from one religion to another, but really the only thing that has changed (if indeed anything has changed) is one’s mental make-up. Changing our make-up is only a cosmetic change, a surface-level change. It does not really change what is inside. To really change our mind, to bring it in alignment with our real nature, is mostly a process of renunciation, of expelling from the mind the misperceptions, the useless images and impressions, and the wrong attitudes and tendencies. This process is the practice of Yoga, which means ‘union with the Absolute’. Specifically, Yoga means ‘to yoke, or to join’. So, Yoga means to take control of our mind (indeed, to take control of our life) and join it with our Essence.

It is All Up To Us and Not Our Religion

Only we (the Atman) can do it. No religion, no prophet, no saint, no man and no woman can do what we, our Self, must do. Our Dharma, our intrinsic nature, compels us to take this responsibility—no religion can take the place of Self-knowledge and make us do what we already know we must do.

Persons who preach religion generally have a vested interest in their particular religion and therefore have the desire to convert others to their religion. But it is only when the mind is divested of all motives that it can become a vehicle of Divine Wisdom. The advice which one receives from anyone with a vested interest is never fully for one’s good. Religion, being man-made, should be carefully examined to distinguish fact from fiction, truth from falsehood, correct conception from misconception—because every religion contains both valid and invalid practices and precepts. If one practices a particular religion without exercising this necessary power of discernment, one is certain to become fixed in ones images, i.e., fixed in half-truths, and consequently unable to realize the Truth (which simply means to see things as they really are, and not just as they are presented by the mind).

Go Beyond Religion

Ultimately, everyone must come to the understanding that religion is a mere artifact of the mind. Art and science are both superior to religion, and superior to all of these is Dharma—your own real nature. Art and science are born of our own true nature, whereas religion is born out of ignorance—that is, ignorance of science and failure to directly perceive the aesthetics (the intrinsic beauty, grace) of life.

Religion is unnatural; it’s a superimposition of the mind, on the mind. Trying to worship God through a religion is like corresponding with your husband or wife by means of email (or letter writing) when the two of you are sitting together on the same bed. It is senseless. In the same way, God (who is all-pervading) is within you and all around you, and you want to worship Him through a man-made image (i.e., mind-made image)—it is ludicrous.

Those who think religion is necessary to worship God are totally mistaken. Yes, discipline is necessary, because the mind is naturally drawn towards the gross material world and must be directed inward in order to realize the vastness of consciousness. Some persons would argue that religion is simply a formalized discipline—but is it really so? The truth is that none of the greatest ‘religious’ teachers and leaders of our times (Ram, Krishna, Buddha, Christ, Mohamed, etc.) were preachers of any formalized religion. Religions have been formalized around their examples and teachings after they departed. Even this statement is not really correct—because, in fact, religions (in general) have been formalized around the images and personal ideas of the followers only.

The only way to experience the Truth is to practice the Truth. The only way to truly pay homage to those who have spoken and lived the Truth is to enter into their spirit. And what is that spirit?—that is Dharma, that is your Real Nature, which is the same as the Real Nature of everyone who lived in the past, everyone living today, and everyone who will live in the future.

This is the ancient teaching, and this is the teaching that is needed today. We need to break down all the artificial barriers constructed by various dogmas and creeds, and we need to begin with ourselves. Let every living being break free from the shackles of the mind and the limitations of the small self (ego). Let us all reaffirm our connection to that Absolute Consciousness, and let us show what we are really made of—let us manifest our Real Nature, our True Self.

NOTE: Kind thanks to Aditya Dham for making this article available.

Prabhat · Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:44 am Post subject:

Namaste,

finaly found time to read it. thank God for nightshifts Cool

So Dharma is more inportant than religion, we can not convert to another religion, because our soul has his own dharma. if we dont have a religion our soul knows what it wants and we will act.

dont get it really. Embarassed

_________________
Namaste,
Prabhat

Shishya · Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:50 am Post subject:

Namaste Prabhat,

I think what the author is saying is that Dharma is the true path of each and every Soul. Religions, on the other hand, are man-made and ultimately lead us away from the path of Dharma. Maybe an example will help:

Christians, Muslims and Hindus all have different ideas of what will happen when they die. Christians - granting that they have been good - expect to see angels or even Jesus and to be taken up into heaven when they die. Muslims don't expect to see anything until the day of resurrection. Hindus - of course, there are many different views here - expect to either go to the realm of the forefathers, or to heaven to be with God, or to be reborn in a new body.

However, all these souls - regardless of whether they considered themselves Christians or Muslims or Hindus while they were alive - will have to face the same reality when it comes to their deaths, for there is only one God and one Law of Nature. When death comes to them, it will no longer matter what they thought or believed about the afterlife. What will matter is reality, which is the same for everyone.

That is the difference between Religion and Dharma.
_________________
Namaste,

Shishya
ॐ

ॐ सह नावतु । सह तौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
"Together may we be protected. Together may we be profited. Together may we do a hero's work. May we learn intelligently. May we never hate one another."
-Brihadaranyaka & Taittiriya Upanishads

Prabhat · Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 5:20 am Post subject:

oke.
_________________
Namaste,
Prabhat

Shavaun · Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:09 am Post subject:

Namaste,

Shishya · Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 2:45 pm Post subject:

Namaste Shavaun,

Shavaun · Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:10 pm Post subject:

Shishya · Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 12:05 am Post subject:

Namaste Shavaun,

Shavaun · Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 11:06 am Post subject:

Namaste,

Shishya · Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 12:40 pm Post subject:

Namaste Shavaun,

Shavaun · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 5:34 am Post subject:

Shishya · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 12:19 pm Post subject:

Namaste Shavaun,

Interesting answer. Are you a Buddhist, then?
_________________
Namaste,

Shishya
ॐ

ॐ सह नावतु । सह तौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
"Together may we be protected. Together may we be profited. Together may we do a hero's work. May we learn intelligently. May we never hate one another."
-Brihadaranyaka & Taittiriya Upanishads

Shavaun · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:02 am Post subject:

Shishya · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:33 am Post subject:

LoL, Shavaun. I'm honestly trying to help you find an answer to your question - the sincerity of which I am beginning to doubt - and it seems like all you want to do is play some kind of game - an intellectual "catch me if you can" so to speak.

Shavaun · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:29 am Post subject:

Not entirely sure why my comment was funny, but anyway, I am all ears. What are "fundamental truths?" Is it the same as the "noble truths" that I have listed?

Namaste

Shavaun.

Shishya · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:02 pm Post subject:

Namaste Shavaun,

I found your responses humorous due to their rather flippantly defiant nature. Wink

As I said, fundamental truths are axiomatic in nature, i.e. they cannot be denied without implying a logical or epistemological contradiction. The 'Four Noble Truths' of Buddhism are of a different nature. What I'm talking about are the core principles upon which all our knowledge rests. If we can establish those, then we can extrapolate through deduction other principles upon which we can base our actions in the world.

For example, one starting point for the establishment of fundamental truth is our own existence. Ignoring for a moment how we choose to define our existence, we can never honestly deny the evident fact that we exist, regardless of how sceptical or critical we may be. As the French philosopher Descartes put it "cogito, ergo sum", i.e. "I think, therefore I am". This is axiomatically true. Even when we try and deny it, we are proving its verity, for denial is itself an act of thought, which in turn proves the thesis we are trying to disprove. Therefore, our own existence is one of the fundamental truths upon which all our worldly knowledge is based.

Now, this may not seem to be a very important point. However, it is vital for two reasons: 1) It is a sure and solid case of knowledge which itself cannot be denied; 2) It is capable of serving as the foundation for discovering other, similarly fundamental truths.

Another fundamental truth - very similar in nature - is that each instance of knowledge must contain at least two parts, usually referred to as a subject and a predicate. Furthermore, knowledge itself rests in the connection perceived to subsist between these two parts. For example, we say "This apple is red". Here, '(this) apple' is the subject and 'the quality of being red' is the predicate. The knowledge which the statement expresses is contained in the conjunction of the two, i.e. that 'This apple is red'. If we leave out either the subject or the predicate, the isolated statement loses all of its ability to transmit knowledge.

Returning to our previous example, "I exist" is just such a case of knowledge. Here 'I' is the subject and 'the quality of existence' is the predicate. Therefore, the knowledge of the statement resides in the connection subsiting between the 'I' of experience and the perception of its existence. In other words, "I exist" is self-reflective knowledge. This means that, not only do I exist in and of myself, but I also know that I exist. And this - though it may seem trivial - is a very important point.

For, we must ask, what is it that is 'knowing' here? And what is it that is 'known'? This is the starting point for the Vedic Darshanas or Branches of Philosophy. They cover all of the intellectual disciplines necessary for training the mind so that it can find such fundamental truths and put them to practical use.

However, the path of philosophical inquiry is not a necessary one. Yes, it is good for all those who are sceptical by nature and who need to work through each and every problem for themselves in order to arrive at an understanding of truth. Yet, there is also a much easier, faster, and more comprehensive path for those who are free from the fear of 'being proven wrong' which tends to plague the analytical mind. And that path is the study of the Vedas. The Vedas are the expression of all such fundamental truths. However, they are not limited to the dry, formulaic expressions of the rational logician. They are also beautiful poetry which have the power to uplift the Soul and enlighten the mind at the same time. Travelling the path of philosophical inquiry has its value, yet, though it will eventually lead to more or less the same result, it can never compare to the integral nature of the study of the Holy Vedas, for they appeal not only to the intellect of man, but also to his heart, his mind, and his very Soul.

Please reassure me that I am not writing all of this in vain, Shavaun. Wink

_________________
Namaste,

Shishya
ॐ

ॐ सह नावतु । सह तौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
"Together may we be protected. Together may we be profited. Together may we do a hero's work. May we learn intelligently. May we never hate one another."
-Brihadaranyaka & Taittiriya Upanishads

Shavaun · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:40 pm Post subject:

Namaste,

My

Shishya · Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:46 pm Post subject:

Namaste Shavaun,

Shyena · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:46 pm Post subject:

All I found out, is that physical enquiry will ultimately take you to shruti.
To say that birth, disease, old age, death are the fundamental truths, is not true. Many die in young age, there are those without disease. Therefore, old age and disease shouldn't be considered fundamental truths... Buddhistic concepts are simply unpalatable to me.
_________________

Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam meditate

Namaste