Saturday, May 4, 2013
Who Is God ?
Creation of anything involves two causes : the intelligent cause and the material cause . In simple words , there is a maker and a material in a creation . The intelligent cause is here is the maker who has the knowledge and skill to create the object . The material cause refers to the material from which the object is made . For example , in the creation of a clay-pot , the intelligent cause is the pot-maker and the material cause is the clay . Both causes must be present for creation to occur . With just the pot-maker and no clay , the clay-pot cannot be made and vice-versa .
The intelligent cause and material can exist independently or rest within the same being . In the case of pot-maker , the material cause (clay) exist independently of the intelligent cause (pot-maker ) . But , if you take your dream as example , then both the causes rest within the same being . Your memories and thoughts (material cause) build your dream world and you control your dream world (intelligent cause)
When one looks at the world , one sees that everything is in order . Planets don't go clashing each other ; they move in their respective orbits . Everything that goes up comes down because of gravity . Nothing is without purpose So , one comes to see that there is an intelligence present that governs and maintains this order . We acknowledge this intelligent cause to be God .
However , we know that intelligence alone is not enough for creation to occur . What is the material used to create this world then ? Where would this material be ? Does it exist independently from God or is it within God ? Say the material exist independently , then who created it ? Say another God created it , then from what did that Lord make the material form ? Eventually , one would end up in infinite regression looking for the first material . In fact , when I ask , " Where would this material be ? " , the word "where" indicates space . But , space itself is part of the creation . Since there is a world that you and me can see , means creation has took place . The only way possible that this happened is because the material cause is within God . In fact , the material cause is God .
Being all-knowing or omniscient (intelligent cause) , the unmanifest God expresses himself as the world using his powers of maya . The one who is both the intelligent cause and the material cause of the creation (world) is Isvara ( or God or the Lord or The Supreme Being ) .
Signing off ,
~Dhesegaan~
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Hari Om,
ReplyDeleteConclusion of chapter 3 (gita) : One may not give up work and prescribed duties all of a sudden, but by gradually developing Krishna consciousness,one can be situated in a transcendental position without being influenced by the material senses and the mind.
My question is does this mean that in order to attain self realization, one does not need to abandon his work or become yogis but continue our lives following the gita and eventually we will be able to conquer this materialistic world?
If that is so, then why are there some people who choose to renounce the world (family,bonds, responsibilities etc.)when there is an alternative?
And what does it mean to be free from attachment and worldly desires? Born into this world,we have countless desires and we often yearn to attain many things. As such, how can we detach ourselves from all these? Can you give me an example as I am often confused with this phrase.
Please correct me if I am wrong guru.
Sri Swamiji :
ReplyDeleteFor the 1st question ,
One need not give up one's prescribed duties . One can continue doing what one is in and at the same time , understanding your own nature which is free from a lacking person , a wanting person , a frustrated person , a demanding person and so on by doing your duties with the attitude of karma-yoga . Karma-yoga is offering all your actions to Isvara and having the readiness to accept the results of your actions as prasada . What do I mean by offering your actions to Isvara ? It is by understanding that Isvara is in the form of universal order and the results also come from Him . You are the author of your actions and not your results . By this , you won't develop a reacting mind and developing an attitude of acceptance . For further details , please read the Arsha Vidya Nilayam blog on the posts with the title "Karma-Yoga" .
For the 2nd question ,
In Chapter 3 , Verse 3 ,
lokesmindvividha nistha , pura prokta mayanagha
jnanayogena sankhyanam , karmayogena yoginam
"Arjuna , in the world , two courses of Sadhana (spiritual discipline) have been enunciated by Me in the past . In the case of the Sankhyayogi , the Sadhana proceeds along the path of Knowledge ; whereas in the case of the Karmayogi , it proceeds along the path of Action . "
So , here , the Lord Himself gives a choice . For those who are have the desire to attain moksa but he also has other desires to fulfill , he can choose the path of karma-yoga . For those who have seen the limitations of wordly desires and decides that his only desire is to attain moksha , then he lives a life of renunciation and chooses the path of knowledge . He dedicates his entire life to understand the truth about Himself and once he understands , if he wants , he can become a guru and helps others gain moksha . Renouncing a world and living as a sannyasi is not running away from responsibility but taking up everybody's responsibility .
For the 3rd question ,
Generally , we have 2 types of desires . One is binding desire and the other is non-binding desire. Binding desires are desires whereby having fulfilled them , it comes back again . Non-binding desires are desires that help you to grow out your sense of limitation . For example , one person requests a walk-man and another person requests a scientific calculator . Eventually , the person who bought the walkman will continue to desire to buy more CDs whenever there are new albums out in town . The desire to get a walk-man is a binding desire . Whereas , the person who bought the scientific calculator uses it to pass his exam and further his studies . The scientific calculator did not make him spend more money to buy anything else nor did it disturb in other aspects of his life . So , the desire to get a scientific calculator , in this case , is a non-binding desire .
Freedom from attachment and worldly desires means to grow out of these binding desires that one has .
Desire is an embellishment . We need not give up desires but at the same time , do not allow the desires to overpower you . By learning to manage your desires , you can become a successful person . A good example will be the chariot . The chariot is your body , the horses pulling the chariot are your sensory organs / senses , the charioteer is the intellect(buddhi) and the reign used by the charioteer to whip the horses to move them is your mind .
When you are driving , if you allow the mind(reign) to be distracted in unnecessary ways , then your senses(horses) will go haywire and the charioteer(you) will not reach your destination . If you can control your mind , then your senses will be in control and you will reach your destination . You are welcomed to bring forward more questions if you still have any more doubts .
Hari Om Tat Sat !