STANDARDS FOR JUDGING ACTION: STEADFASTNESS

STANDARDS FOR JUDGING ACTION: STEADFASTNESS

When we do things questions arise if our actions are correct or not. When these questions arise we are supposed to use one of the three pramanas (bench marks or standards).  These are 1. Sasthra Pramana 2. Shresta Acharana Pramana 3. Atma Pramana (one’s own consciousness).

1.      SASTRA PRAMANA:  This is the scriptural standard for our actions. In similar situations whatever is recommended in scripture is the standard to be followed. Thus scriptures act as a guide for our actions.

2.      SHRESTA ACHARANA PRAMANA: Standard followed by good people in society is the next standard.

yadyad ācarati śhreṣṭas

tad tad evetaro janaḥ

sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute

lokas tad anuvartate B.Gita 3-31

"Whatever action is performed by a great man, all other people will follow”.  

3.      ATMA PRAMANA:  Third and most important pramana (standard) is Atma pramana. This atman is our Consciousness. When our Consciousness tells us clearly, then that overrides all other pramana.

One problem here is how clearly this Consciousness (Atman) is reflecting. The clarity of this reflection is directly proportional to the degree of transparency of mind (chitta suddhi or trikarana suddhi or purity). When this transparency is 100% the Atma pramana is 100% correct. When it is 75% transparent the Atma pramana is 75% correct and so on.

PROACTIVE VS. REACTIVE ACTIONS: Another way to look at this is if our actions are proactive or reactive. Most reactive actions stem from our ego (body-mind complex) hence are fallible. Most pro active actions are based on Intellect which is a reflection of Atman and are less fallible.  Again the degree of infallibility depends on the degree of transparency. All our actions should be guided by our intellect but not by ego. Actions stemming from ego tend to be survival actions not rational proactive actions.

DHARMIC OR ADHARMIC ACTIONS: one way to judge our actions is if our actions are dharmic or not. Then the question that needs to be addressed is what dharmic actions are. Any action that enhances common good is dharmic action and anything to the contrary is adharmic action.  Any action that unites us is dharmic action and the one that divides us is adharmic action.

KARMA: SUKARMA: VIKARMA: AKARMA:  All actions other than nishkama karma produce karmic baggage.  Actions that are good that produce positive karmic baggage is sukarma. Actins that are forbidden that produce negative karmic baggage is called vikarma and selfless action (nishkama karma) that does not result in karmic baggage is called akarma.

When we are doing selfless work (akarma), when our conscious is very clear and have no traces of selfish motives, any derogatory comments by others should not perturb us in continuing that action. In such situations we should not be reactive to the provocative comments. Our conscious (Atma) is the absolute guide in those circumstances.

It is common that even good selfless actions often attract derogatory comments, mostly from the commenter’s own mental status (world is a mirror in front of us) or from jealousy. We should not be affected by such comments and continue our selfless work un perturbed. This is the test for our steadfastness.  Only people with steadfastness reach the destination. Steadfastness is the quality of stitaprajna.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

All animals go through and spend time in the three functions of life, Ahara (eating), Nidra (sleep), Mythuna (mating).  Humans also spend their life with these three functions. Then what is the difference between animals and us. Humans are uniquely endowed with the faculty of Buddhi (Intellect) that discriminates good and bad. This faculty of discrimination helps us seek the purpose and goal of life and living. This sets us apart from animal kingdom. Majority of us  work typically for jeevanopadhi (livelihood) similar to animals. As humans we should also use our intellect and work simultaneously for Jeevana Parmavadhi (purpose of life).

How many of us are working towards this Jeevana Paramavadhi is the question?  Typically in a given society a small percent say 5% of people live a life of absolute laziness and do nothing to contribute either to themselves or to others.  A large portion about 90% are satisfied with jeevanopadhi and their life is centered on themselves and their immediate family. The later 5% are the ones who work for jeevana paramavadhi along with jeevanopadhi.

This 5% is the one that make a difference in the world. These people not only work for themselves, their families, but they also work for greater good of the society.  They try to find salvation through nishkama karma (selfless  action).  World has witnessed  many people come and go that represent this 95%. These does not reap the full benefit of the full potential of human birth. Then what are the principles that help us attain our full potential.  These are as follows:

1.     1“Help if you can always - Even if you cannot help – Do no harm”. The above principle is derived from  Puranas  which are the case history of Vedas. The principle “Help Ever – Hurt Never” is the essence of 18 puranas as Vyasa put it. “Astadasa Puranesu Vyasena Vachanam Dwayam, Paropakaraya Punyaya – Papaya Para Peedanam” means essence of 18 puranas is “helping others is punya and hurting others is papa”.

2.      “Make a difference with your presence”. Our presence should bring in a positive change in the place or people. This should be the case in all places, in all times, in all circumstances.   We should work to make people feel better, to make people happier. When we leave a place that place should be happier than at time of our entrance

3.   “Life is a balance sheet – Have a positive balance sheet – Leave the world with a positive balance”. Life is a running balance sheet. What we received from others and the world on one side to what we have given to others and the world on the other side. At any given point of final departure from the world, one should leave the world with a positive balance sheet.  Unfortunately none of us know when is our departure date. Hence it is prudent to have a positive balance sheet at all times.

4.   “Attitude of Gratitude” should permeate our very being. This attitude is an acknowledgement of the contributions to our well being from all around us.  Various elements and several people contributed for our wellbeing and welfare. This includes more than five trillion cells within our own body.   Usually most people lead a life of entitlement as if everybody owes them and as if the world is indebted to them. Attitude of gratitude help us connect and experience our blessings.

5.      “Experience Connectedness”. We are not alone. We are connected to everything and everyone in the universe. Experience this connectivity. This is the true world wide web (www). Any thought word, action by any one of us has an impact to the totality of universe. As for the law of transformation of energy, the sum total of energy in the universe is constant.  It can neither be created nor destroyed and it can only be transformed from one state to another. This applies to all our thoughts, all our words and actions. So we are connected to everybody and to every thing in the universe. One should be careful on what they think, say or do.  One should think positive, speak positive and do positive things. This experience of connectedness is Visvaroop Darshan or realization. This is also called Constant Integrated Awareness (CIA). Experience the Oneness, we are.

6.     “Don’t Worry - Be Happy”. Be yourself is the motto. We are Sat, Chit and Ananda. We are happiness itself. This is the reason why we crave to be happy. Happiness is being home. We are happiness itself. Be happy always. Be at Home. Most of our life is spent with memories of by gone past and worries about the future. In this process we lose the present. Present is a gift. Enjoy it with your presence.  Be in the present.

7.      “Sacrifice the Limitedness”. Ahankar (ego) is the mind’s identification with the limited body.  Thyaga is sacrifice. True sacrifice is, sacrifice of our limitedness, so that we expand into unlimitedness (infinite). This is what the Upanishads mean when they declared “Thyagenaike Amrutatva Manasu – Only through sacrifice one attains immortality”. Selfless Service  is a good vehicle to expand to our full potential through sacrifice of ego. This is the final frontier in the journey towards self realization. Serve All. Sacrifice what you are not (ego) and be what you really (atma) are, your true self (Atma).

    

DANAVATVAM – MANAVATVAM – DEVATVAM – DAIVATVAM

We are one. This one has two sides, Like in the computer language plus and minus. There is light and absence of light is darkness. We are the combination of good and bad. Good is Atmic reflection. Absence of Atmic reflection is bad.  These two forces, asuric and daivic tendencies and their proportions determine who we are and our character. We can be either Devatas, Humans or Danavas depending on our reflection. We have body, senses, mind, intellect, Atman in us. When we reflect only Body and senses we are Danavas. When our body and senses and intellect and Atman balance each other we are Manavas and when we reflect Atman through our intellect and all our actions are done through this reflection, we are Devatas.

As Danvas we only see our goodness and only see faults in others. Remember that world is a mirror in front of us. We see ourselves in the world. In this state the senses rule the mind and body. As humans we see a balanced world with each person a combination of good and bad, strengths and weaknesses. Our mind and intellect rules the body and senses in this state. As Devatas we see only good in others and see our own weaknesses. We function in the world as humans but our minds are attached to atmic consciousness, oneness and unity. This is a state where our mind is on Himalayas and hands in the world. Here the heart (Atman) rules the mind (thoughts) and hands (action).

While the type nature is partly acquired as samskaras from past lives, it is also partly acquired from spiritual effort in this life. Each one of us has an opportunity to advance through human effort. The task is to sublimate our animal tendencies (survival reactive tendencies) to become humans then by surrendering the ego (body – mind complex) to advance to be Devatas (Daivic sumpathi) and to final merger into Divinity. In this path we can measure and gauze where we are in this process through some mile stones. Those mile stones are:

1.   Aggression, anger, cruelty and finding faults of others, reactiveness, unhappiness, Tamas  - Stage of Danava.

2.      Duality, happiness and unhappiness, restlessness , rajas –  Stage of Manava.

3.      Peace, joy, equanimity, stitaprajnatva, tranquility, balance, seeing only good in others, Satwa – Stage of Devata.

By spiritual sadhana one can advance from Danava to manava to Devata and ultimately to Divinity. This moving from sensual life filled with kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matsarya of Danava to life with predominance of mind  and intellect in varying proportions, slowly annihilating the arishadvargas and promoting satya, dharma, shanthi, prema, ahimsa as manavas and to a life of Atmic reflection and ego sublimation (Thyaga of ego) of Devatas and finally merger into oneness, unity and divinity. Each one of us should find out where we are in this transition and advance further to our full potential of Divinity.

NEED FOR CLEANSING OF RELIGION

We take shower every day to cleanse our body. We sleep 8 hours a day to cleanse our mind, we use toilet to cleanse our bowels and bladder daily, we change engine oil in car every 5000 miles. We sweep the floors and cleanse the dishes in our homes daily. We do spring cleaning around the house and remove, discard broken trees and garbage every year.

Similarly our institutions, religions needs to be cleansed periodically. This is usually done by reformers or social activists or concerned citizens. A reformer points to the problem and helps us accept that there is a problem that needs addressing and purging. It is for each one of us to accept that need to change and bring the needed change. This process is a must for any progressive organization or religion. Religions that are static and refuse to change for better decay and die. The ones that accept the problems adapt and change with changing needs for the better,  flourish and live for ever. The purpose of this cause is to bring the issue to focus and stimulate your thinking. Then we will all be witnesses to the unfolding of a change towards the truth and greater good.

How do we decide what  needs to be changed and what needs to be purged is the question? Any thing that is causing disruption of harmony and unity in an  orderly society, dividing the society and causing problems needs to be addressed and purged.

The caste system by birth worked well in yester years of agro based rural India for a long time. However it is causing more harm now by dividing India and destroying unity of its population. It is depriving a sect of population access to knowledge of the scriptures, by saying that Sudras are not permitted to chant Vedas and Gayatri, preventing their entry into temples, forbidding them drinking water from the same wells, not permitting them living next to us. This practice is against the very tenets of our great religion, Hinduism. Hence, it is our responsibility as Hindus to cleanse the body of Hinduism from the divisiveness of caste in our society, hence this attempt. Let us join hands in this yajna of purification. Hinduism is the most inclusive religion in the world that has all the characteristics of a Universal Religion. It proclaims:

“Vasudhika Kutumbam – World is one family”.

“Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu – May all the people in all the worlds be happy”.

“Ekam Sat Vipra Bahuda Vadanthi – Truth id one, learned call them by different names”.

Hinduism believes that all religions are facets of the One Truth (GOD).

It proclaims that different religions are different rivers that ultimately merge into the same Ocean (GOD).

While this is so, it is the mis-interpreted, mis-understood, selfish practices that brought out the human weaknesses to come out and taint this otherwise lofty religion. This accumulation of garbage of mis understandings happens in all religions and it is for the wise in each religion to periodically address these issues squarely and maintain the sanctity and purity of the religion and its practices. This cause is an attempt to do that. This is not to blame others or other religions. This is an attempt at self purification. The need to self purification is not unique to Hinduism. All religions periodically have to do this like dredging and cleaning up the rivers.

Christians who decry caste system are the ones that practiced racism that caused slavery of blacks in USA. Even today the black and white Christian churches in the country are segregated, while Jesus taught Love of each other. The practice of Apartheid by the Christians in South Africa is similar human weaknesses at its worst. Islam has similar problem with mis-interpretation of Jihad that is responsible for most of the terrorist activities in the world.  Buddha was against idol worship, but after his death, his followers are worshipping his idol.

Who has to correct these practices related to human weaknesses in religion?  Leaders of these religions themselves have to correct these practices. The very religions that practice these inhuman practices come to India and exploit weaknesses in our practices and try to convert them into their religion instead of trying to put their house in order by curbing racism. It is not the religion that is at fault, it is the practices that are at fault. It is the human weaknesses that restrict their expansion to experience oneness in creation are at fault.

Having said this, my effort is to set our home in order, refine our practices, and sanctify our religion and to take Hinduism to its true effulgence. When we do that the masses that converted to other religions, because of discriminatory practices in Hinduism and by the incentives offered for conversion will come home to Hinduism by its own attraction and strength. No promotion is needed for this. Hinduism is a lofty Universal religion that is a guiding light for spiritual seekers from all over the planet. It believes in LOVE ALL and SERVE ALL. Let us be ourselves, the pure selves. Let us understand, experience and proclaim that that there is only one caste – the caste of humanity. Please sign the cause and proclaim that WE ARE ONE.

FOCUSSING ON POSITIVES BRINGS HAPPINESS:

Coin is one but has two sides. World of duality that originated from oneness has both positive and negative sides, like light and darkness. There is  nothing separately as darkness. Absence of light is darkness (negative). What we have in the world is GOD (consciousness - positive) only. Absence of this awareness is Maya, illusion or negative. Focus on the positives in people, places and circumstances and you become positive and attain happiness and bliss. Focusing on the negative makes one unhappy and miserable. One should always see the glass as half full than as half empty. Finding faults in others is putting focus on negative and seeing good in others is focus on positive. In every thing, in every one and in every circumstance see the positive and become positive (GOD). This is the way to unending happiness and joy.

LESSON FROM MOVIE “LIFE OF Pi”

I saw the movie Life of Pi today. To me it reminded me of the Ksheera  Sagara Madhana story in Bhagavata Purana. In this story, the Devas and the Danavas churn the milky ocean, to get the celestial nectar of immortality . Instead of the Divine nectar they got the halahala (poision) first. When they surrendered the halahala to lord Shiva, later on they got the celestial nectar that gives immortality. Devas and Danavas were our own, positive and negative tendencies. When we churn our intellect,  the animal tendencies (halahala) emanates first. When we surrender them to lord Shiva  (Atman) in us the celestial nectar of immortality is attained later. This is the symbolism of Ksheera Sagara Madhana.

The story of life of Pi is similar. Pi (pie) also means part (portion). One can say life of Pi  is also life of part or incompleteness in its quest for fullness or completeness. Here the Pi Patel sails with family in the stormy ocean of life. While others are sleeping to the realities of impending struggle in life Pi was awake (like an alert spiritual seeker) and ready for the challenges of ups and downs of life.

                                  Ya nisa sarvabhuthanam thasyam jagarthi samyami   

                                  yasyam jagrathi bhuthani sa nisa pasyatho muneh  -   B. Gita 2-69

When all beings sleep (unaware) that the realized is awake (aware), When all beings are awake to(worldliness) the realized is asleep (disconnected to worldliness).      -         B.G 2-69

When he was faced  with the life’s struggle in stormy  ocean, he passes through a sequence of events like in Ksheera Sagara Madhana. First he was confronted with his animal nature (survival instincts - reactive mode), Then he makes peace with his animal nature and  subdues his animal nature . Next at one point he totally surrenders his ego at the feet of Vishnu (all pervading divinity- to divine will). With this surrender he loses fear of the tiger (ego – limitedness - animality). He was deluded by an attraction of a safe island (Maya), but soon realizes that it is a trap at night (carnivorous island). He leaves this attachment also and finally the tiger (ego)  in him disappears. When tiger (ego) is gone he becomes full (poorna) and complete. He experience Oneness with totality of creation.

Thus this story is relevancy for each one of us. Upanishad declares “Thyagenaike Amrutatva Manasu”. Only through sacrifice (sacrifice of ego) one attains immortality.  This is similar to the statement in Bible “The meek shall inherit the earth” (meekness is a state of humility attained after sacrifice of ego).

This story depicts the eligibility criteria for this realization of Oneness. Pi Patel has glimpses of this connectedness of all of creation shown by his connection to the wild animal like the tiger. He tried to feed the tiger with bare hands fearlessly. His purity, connectivity (samskaras – vasanas – tendencies) is displayed here. He experiences “Eswara Sarva Bootanam”, “Eswara Sarva Bhootatma” and “Eswara Sarva Bhootantaratma”. This is Buddha’s “Boota Daya”. This is “Jiva Karunya’. This kind of purity is the one that prevented him from drowning in the stormy ocean of life like others and successfully made him reach the shores of Ananda (self realization). As shown in the life of Pi the final step is to let go the ego (tiger). When we do that we realize our true nature of Unity and Oneness.

When the Japanese insurance  adjusters interviewed him,  he narrated them the true story of what really happened, which they did not believe. This is similar to our life’s story. When realized souls tell us that this world of duality in unreal (midhya), we deny their assertions and say this world is real. Similarly when they say all are one, we say that they are different and distinct.  When Pi narrated a fictional account of the same story, they believed it. In this fictional account, he himself was the tiger (Body-mind complex, ego). What ultimately happened is the departure of his ego and his realization of Oneness.

In our own journey of life, which is like a boat sailing in stormy seas, with full of ups and downs, we should always be awake and aware. The biggest enemy is our own limitedness created by our own ego, that makes life fearful and unbearable. Once we tame our ego and finally let go, we expand ourselves to our full potential of Oneness. This is a state of fearlessness and joy. When we attain this state of Unity, the world of duality perceived by others transforms into a beautiful world of Unity.

Man – Ego = God

God + Ego = Man