How can ice in Himalayas be the same as ice in a glass of whiskey? From School, where everything is different, to college to doctorate and then post doc in spiritual journey where everything is same!
- in eternal aum consciousness
- Dec 3, 2024
- 13 min read
Updated: Dec 8, 2024
The word Himalayas invoke the memory of the recent trip to amarnath yatra and
the word whiskey on the rocks, invoke a different memory too of a recent party with friends!
This is the journey to realise that both are the same! If you have an open mind to explore, without any bias, read on.
The words school, college, PhD and post doc immediately bring certain impressions in the mind. Memories and emotions are instant. Let's see how this model applies to the spiritual domain.
When i see various spriritual seekers of different types, i wonder if this is similar to the education system.
The various religions and sects can be compared to different syllabus and boards, taught in different languages. but the essential laws like law of gravity etc. remain the same. They are just explained in different ways to reach out to specific group of people, in methods, some of which were relevant in those times.
This blog is an open, all accommodating approach where everything is seen with a common perspective, without any bias.
Let's explore the education system. I am not going into which system is best, the difference between gurukul and modern education, as the point is different, to show the similarity between education system and spiritual states, rather than comparing different education systems.
First we have a school with uniform and syllabus. This has timings, classes, exams, teachers, a fixed place to go to.
Then comes a college without uniform, but a syllabus. Exams, but you can bunk some classes, join activity clubs.
Then comes a PhD scholar with a goal and a single guide. No timings. Total dedication.
Then comes a scientist who is searching something, and in the journey makes a discovery. Even after making a discovery, the journey continues!
Many people get stuck in the school, with various rituals, some are slightly more liberal, like in college while some go to PhD level, bowing down and surrendering to a guru.
But there is something beyond all this. Is to go on the path of intuition, your own understanding, your own analysis of the mind.
To reach the level of a scientist, one has to pass through all the levels. However, the human tendency is so what is comfortable, keep repeating it, sometimes over a lifetime. So it is naturally comfortable to be in school and not go to college. Be in college and not go to phd and be in PhD under a guide and not become a scientist! That's the way the mind works. But the key is to know that it's your mind and you are now mind!
Just like instead of looking at the finger of the guru, one has to look where it is pointing to! Its pointing to the light of the inner self! one has to get the essence of all teachings, adapt to the unique personality of the self and explore the way ahead.
In Nirvana shatakam, acharya says. "Na gurur naiva shishyam. Chidananda Rupa shivoham shivoham". I am not even the relationship between a guru and disciple. I am the pure and blissful one.
Moving from School to college to doctorate and then post doc in spiritual journey, is a personal choice. There are many who stop after school.. Some complete college. A few go to phd and a 1-2 reach the post doc level.
There is nothing wrong or right in being at any stage. It is not being through or not through. A personal with reasonable intelligence can progress ahead with effort. As dyneshwar mauli says. "Alshi mandmati kevi tare". There is no hope for the lazy and dumb!
I must admit that I am in the dumb state of being in the school. whatever is written here, is an aspiration to reach somewhere, to seek, where there is nothing to seek, only to see, a big smile where all are the same!
Progressing ahead, does open up dimensions, which are otherwise inaccessible, that is for sure. At each stage, newer truths are revealed. At every stage, you are suprised.
The words school, college, doctorate etc are given to drive an example. The organization may be called a school or ashram, yet be doing advanced doctorate level work! Beware of the adjectives! Bihar school of yoga is a yoga school, of extraordinary level, fit for doctorate level, but still called a school. Likewise, there are many, samyama, being one of them.
In fact, in the Vedas, Shiva is an adjective for purity, not a noun for a person sitting on mount kailasa. Both are true, Satya, as one in nirguna Rupa and the other saguna Rupa!
Disclaimer: the understanding shared is on a sensitive subject and it by no means is intended to make any comparison or mean that one stage is better than the other. On specific modalities you could be in college for one and in school for the other, mastering the basics. The topic of spirituality is vast, and this is an attempt to explore one aspect of it. That's all.
So let's begin:
Difference between spiritualty and well being:
In one of the many samyama events, guruji clarified that Many are confused about the difference of being spiritual and well-being at physical and mental level. This was in interesting distinction, indeed!
Knowledge of how the mind works, subconscious mind techinques, eating healthy, workout, etc. Takes care of the aspect of well-being.
But it is nothing about spirituality. It is beyond the mind and the body. In fact you could very well be in good health and mental state, without knowing much about spiritualty. I actually see so many people, who have no spiritual inclination, but are happy in life. They have figured out, their formula to be in the domain of body and mind and be happy. It usually centres around family, money and career. Nothing wrong with it. It works for them.
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School of the many: with uniform dress code and syllabus.
A school has a syllabus and a uniform dress code. There are exams that are from the syllabus and levels of hierarchy. Do you see the similarity between religions, which have levels and students compete to reach these levels. You can actually become a teacher in a school, by knowing the subjects of the school well. No need of higher studies, actually!
Here, You study many subjects. This builds the fundamentals, which is necessary. It is essential to go to the right school!
Rituals: This is doing rituals, without understanding things are a deeper level. Driven by fear and greed. Welcome to the school.
Let's see another perspective: What was your score in maths in 5th standard? For most, it was never 100, including me. But it was sufficient to go to 6th standard and then move ahead to clear school and then college? Of course yes. Otherwise you won't be reading this!
What if you decided to master the maths of 5th standard in this lifetime?
This is like giving an exam of maths of fifth grade and scoring 100% marks. All the time, giving it daily, year after year for 30 years! So the comfort of doing something known is very high. But the question is, when will you go to sixth standard? Point to ponder!
So you see many doing the same rituals, years together. The law of diminishing returns sets it. Most remain in school with focus on many.
Understanding level: Let's see another example. You are taught here that nothing can be divided by zero for example. This is perfect as it is what one can understand at this stage. You are not in a position to understand the concept of infinity at all!
Gunas: The objective here is to lower the tamo Guna and increase the satva Guna. The stage is mostly about purification. However, as the mind is attached to the material world, purification is difficult and often is confusing. The principles in the school do not seem to work in real life!
Chanting: a mantra is usually given for chanting here. A number of mantras is told to be chanted every day. Mantra is usually said in loud form or lips barely moving, but minutely audible. You keep a count of the chants done and reach a number of 24 lakh or whatever you want to.
Religions: Here the fear of hell and desire of heaven dwells. This is the place of organized religions of the world.
Most of the religions today are morphed into organizations designed to control and rule. This is similar to rote learning, without thinking. It is the aweful "gift" British have given indians in the school system. it's very similar to the religious sects that run around the world, without questioning from anyone. It appears that the orginal message was changed, added to and portions deleted, to suit an agenda. No wonder there are fights on which religion is better!
The concept of messiah or savior or last avatar comes here. There is hope that someone is coming. This eternal hope keeps the religion going.
The body and mind are never silent here. It is busy, doing rituals, and navigating the World.
There is seeking in the seeker, mostly for decreasing pain and increasing pleasure in wordly matters like health, wealth and relationships. For a person in school, it's more about well-being, at physical and mental level. Almost nothing about spirituality.
Dieties: dieties are super natural beings with super powers, divinity, incarnations of the supreme. You are both afraid of them and desire their blessings to fulfill their wishes.
Guru: here the guru is usually a ritual knowing priest, who has read scriptures and knows more than you.
Business: i read somewhere that organised religion is a 3 lakh crore business in India. That is a very big number. Almost 40 billion dollars, annually. So it makes all the sense for this business to go on and on!
Shiva here is the form with long hair to sitting on kailasa with mata parvati and shiv pariwar. This is the idol worship stage and the manifestation as per puranas.
Here intuitions like marriage, what is right and wrong are firmly ingrained.
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College of the few:
no inform dress code, but with a syllabus!
Some from the school go to college with focus on a few. This is inner contemplation. Here there is a syllabus. But no uniform. You have many teachers, in the stream of choice based on gyana bhakti yoga or karma. You pick the path that is interesting and resonates within. You gain some mastery in this. This needs effort as the subjects are tougher than school.
Spiritual Toolkit: More reading about the 5 koshas and it's trascendence with 4 margas.
Topics: This is like study of engineering, art, commerce etc, a path that suits you. This creates a conditioning that allows you to think or say or act in accordance to the training.
Math: Your are introduced to the concept of infinity here. You know that things can be divided by zero.
Karmas: You learn how to burn bad karmas at this stage, by Good thoughts and actions and taking responsibility.
Realm: This is the realm of small ashrams and monasteries. These are away from mainstream religion as the student is now ready to imbibe higher learning.
Chanting: a mantra that was given earlier, for chanting here, links to the breath and is effortless. mantra is not audible now. Usually namasmaran integrates with the breath very well.
Powers: You may get some special powers at this stage, like siddhis and start experimenting with their powers. It's good to know them, but be careful, not to use them, and get entangled in them. Mind has a tendency to get addicted to use powers. This itself is a trap.
Gunas: The objective here to reduce the rajo Guna, the desires and increase satva Guna.
Emotions: in this domain, there is confusion that on one hand, it's told to be detached, while on the other hand, without attachment, one can't set goals! This is the paradox and one is in a confusion stage.
Religion:
Your realise that, actually, the core message of all religions is the same. It is like speaking in different languages, with a common message! Which language is better? The one you understand, which your learnt as a child from you parents! It's that simple. But it's for you. Similarly, for someone, their language is better. Both can not be compared. Neither of them can be forced on anyone. They are mean the same thing!
Domain of the few: The college of spiritualty is the domain of the few, with perseverance to look beyond what is taught in the school and start the path of self discovery. As it involves getting out of the comfort zone, un learning what you learnt earlier, building on some of the core concepts, self study, with freedom of the mind.
Samadhi and meditation. Guided meditations are in this domain. On its own, the mind can not become thoughtless. It keeps drifting.
Dieties: your focus is usually now on a single diety, whom you are chanting the mantra for.
Shiva is the shiva lingam, a symbol of Shiva here.
Here you realise that the role of the marriage, is one of the roles, which has nothing to do, as you see everyone as mata or mother, irrespective of age and relationship.
Purpose of life is realised in the domain of the mind, which you love, are good at, earns you money, and can change the world.
To know your purpose of life in 15 minutes read.
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Doctorate of one: no syllabus. No inform dress code.
A few go to PhD when they focus on one. One samadhi, one diety, one adwaita, one guru, and one homa becomes the goal. Just one. That's all.
Gunas: In this stage, the satva Guna increases. The other two tamas and rajas are subdued. The desires are lower.
Attachments and aversions: attachment and aversions, The drivers of greed and fear are minimised here. This is true spiritual progress.
Meditation:
Sitting thoughtless comes naturally. There are many moments or time periods of the day, which have no thoughts. The mind is at rest.
Seeking: the sense of accomplishment that something is finally achieved in the spiritual path is here.
Samadhi. Sampradnyat or sabeeja samadhi is the state here.
Guru: Here a guide and guru is needed. There is no syllabus and you are seeking the one. The guru finds you. You don't find him. You go with the flow. The true guru can show the path. Not take you on it. You have to walk your own path. The relationship between the guru and disciple is one on one only. Not in a group. Not online, definately! There are no millions of followers.. Only a special one on one bond!
Some get stuck with the guru. Instead of seeing where the guru is pointing toe light, the disciples look at the finger! Hold on to the finger! Describe the finger! Create poems for the finger! Nothing wrong in that, but it's still the finger! Look at the light!
To read about what and who is a guru...
Release by guru:
A true guru releases a disciple, just like an engineer would allow an apprentice to start an individual practise! It is mostly the ones, who want to control their disciples, and keep playing with the mind, in the realm of experiences, don't release a disciple. If a disciple can't become independent in a certain years, it's upto the disciple to ask the guru to change the method or change the guru itself!
Dieties: the diety from its gross form, dissolves into a subtle form. Read more here
Moving to next level:
The easiest way to transition to next level is by seva. Seva or service in whatever you do, as per duties of your role, in the larger good. This has the power to purify.
Bhakti is when you do seva of everyone, seeing the same consciousness is within them..the rituals of bhakti like puja, bhajans etc are a small part of this mindset. However, today, seva is last priority and displaying bhakti by having grand ceremonies and large places of worship is the style. They do serve the purpose, but they are tools to accomplish seva. Originally temples in India were the central hubs of education, trade, lending, community service etc. Sadly, today, most are government controlled. As dyneshwar mauli says.the Dharma of humanity is the biggest Dharma. This seems to be forgotten and needs to be revived quickly.
In gurukul days, seva was the central theme. Now a days, the spirit to serve is lost to "what is in it for me?".
In this level, the maturity that, any form of any gender does not matter.. It's the same
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Post doc of none: no syllabus. No uniform. Nothing.
In post doc, you realise the meaning of "na gurur naiva shishyam, chidananda rupah, shivoham shivoham". Meaning that I am not even the relationship between a guru and disciple, a reality which many attached to a guru, find difficult to accept... This is realised here.
Your realise that all gurus are the same tattva or element. One guru is not different from the other. they realise they are none. In fact everything is a guru.
Instead of seeking, one sees. And realises...and that is when the truth that none and infinity are the manifestation of the same consciousness. The perfect cosmic dance of Shiva and Shakti. There is no journey, there is no where to go to. One only does what is needed for the roles of this lifetime. There is no need to renounce the world.
The distinction between seeking and seeing was clear in the recent Kashi trip.
This is where one has to leave the knowledge behind, as knowledge is also an impediment to spiritual progress, as knowledge is from the past and the state is now of the present. Read more about it here.
Purpose: The purpose of life is realised as loka kalyanam, while the state of being is free, being jeevanmukta.
More information on both here.
And
Gunas: Here, even the satva Guna also becomes redundant. One of free from the gunas.
Samadhi: nirvikalp samadhi is the state here. From gross to subtle. From idol to face to lips to smile to becoming the happiness behind the smile is the journey.
Mantra: the mantra from the breath has become soham and ultimately only om remains. Anahata naada remains. To know about anahata naada, the master key, read here.
Moksha: this is the state is freedom. There is constant awareness that this is my mind. I am not the mind. This is my body. I am not the body. When there is fever, one is aware that, the temperature of my body is high, the mind is experiencing some discomfort, but as the self is i am perfectly fine!
Karma: there is no karma here. There is no doer, doing and the object on a which the action is performed.
Attachments and aversions: the desire to have moksha also goes away. Who will free someone, who is already free? You only have to realise it, that's all.
Duality: The manifestation of the true self as energy is clear here. So meditation or thoughts, sleeping or waking state, silent it talking, stationary or waking, are all the same. There is no difference. Here is where the 4th shloka of shiv manas puja is manifested.
Shiva is now beyond the formless state. It is dual, everything and nothing at the same time!
Here the souls across gender, status, age and location are all the same. There is no differentiation at all. You truly experience this as you listen to anahata naada.
This is the merging of self into om sound.
To summarise
Conclusion:
Finally one realises that, the ice in the Himalayas and the one that falls in a glass of whiskey are the same! It's h20 afterall. This makes the title of the blog clear as you progress from one stage to another.
Blessing:
In whatever stage you are, blessing you with abundance, as finally the stage is also an experience in the mind. The state is always one, whatever be the stage!
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