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Title: Spiritualism


1
Version 07102003
for beginners
Spiritualism
Contact information shanky_andy_at_hotmail.com or
shanky_andy_at_yahoo.com
2
Preface
Before starting, I humbly prostrate to ðYvara
(God), Who is the creator of all of us. I bow to
the feet of sad-gUrU (unattached realized
spiritual guide), who showed me the ultimate path
of spiritualism. Words fail to express my
gratitude towards great sad-gUrU, sages and seers
of India. This presentation is an effort to
reveal very basic concept of spiritualism to
educated people. Facts presented in this
presentation are mere reproduction of spiritual
teaching of great sad-gUrU, which are based upon
veda (ancient accumulated Holy wisdom of great
sages and seers of India). In order to make the
subject simple, at times the explanation in this
material may suffer in depth. There may be some
omissions and mistakes in this work, but I am
sure that your suggestions will improve this work
to a great extent. Kindly send in your
suggestions at shanky_andy_at_hotmail.com or
shanky_andy_at_yahoo.com Peace by means of peace.
3
Content
  • Topic Page
  • Objective.........................................
    ....................................... 04
  • An Advise to the Audience.........................
    .......................... 05
  • Cause and Effect Theory...........................
    ........................... 06
  • Cosmic Consciousness and Its Energy...............
    ............... 10
  • Separated Consciousness...........................
    ........................ 13
  • Axiomatic Truth...................................
    .................................. 15
  • Three Bodies......................................
    .................................... 22
  • Law of karma......................................
    ................................... 24
  • Birth and Death Cycle.............................
    .............................. 26
  • Four Levels of Consciousness......................
    ...................... 29
  • Five Sheath Principal.............................
    ............................... 31
  • Mind..............................................
    .......................................... 35
  • Subtle energy points..............................
    ............................... 44
  • Methodology.......................................
    ................................... 48
  • Religion and Spirituality.........................
    .............................. 60
  • Six Verses to Liberation..........................
    .............................. 64
  • Terminology.......................................
    .................................... 65

4
Objective
Most of the us are at a position where we can
neither accept nor reject God. How do we get
answers for very basic fundamental questions such
as Who is God? Is God a mere concept for
physically and mentally weak people? Why so many
miseries? What is the purpose of this life? Why
death? What is death? What after death? Why is
God so imperfect? Why God is creating problems
for all of us? Who has made Nature? Is everything
pre-destined? What is the role of free-will? What
is religion and rituals? Every religious man has
their own conviction, then who is right and who
is wrong? What is the definition of right and
wrong? Why blood-shed on the name of religion?
How do we meditate and get peace? And most
important question is that who is asking all
these questions? Who I am? What is my origin and
the final destination? In order to get the
answers to these valid questions, one has to step
out of own material self and start contemplating
upon these questions. veda sheds the light on
these questions and helps us to understand the
ultimate reality. An important point which we
need understand is that veda are not confined to
any particular religion, rather veda are generic
knowledge on essential spirituality. veda contain
various techniques and methodologies to realize
Self and reveal Beyond.
5
An Advise to the Audience
  1. Mirror of consciousness will not reveal anything
    if it is covered with the dust of wrong pseudo
    spiritualism and material logic, which is based
    upon five imperfect senses and relativity.
  2. In spiritualism, logic is good to some extent,
    but after that it becomes a barrier.
  3. Have a non-critical, unbiased and inventive mind
    of a Scientist. Prior to an invention, a
    Scientist doesnt have any logic to prove his
    work, but even then he is fully dedicated and
    committed to his work, which eventually makes him
    successful.
  4. Mind is clever and always tries to consolidate
    answers for its convenience. Have quest for
    knowledge and live with questions. Borrowed
    knowledge can serve the purpose to some extent.
    Answers are to be discovered by your own self.
  5. Scriptures reveal themselves when read again and
    again. Read, understand, integrate and then
    implement.
  6. Tons of reading is better than an ounce of
    practice. Theory is supplementary to practical.
    To quench the thirst, water is needed and not the
    theory of H2O.
  7. Get rid of crunches of belief and realize the
    Truth yourself.

6
Cause and Effect Theory
Theoretically, to understand a system, it is
essential to decompose and then again reunite
its components. Apparently, this makes the
system a little more complex, but this process
increases the depth of knowledge at an
intellectual level, which makes the practical
easy. Lets try to analyze an experiment, which
is getting conducted in a laboratory. In this
experiment, a scientist is transforming water
vapors to water, and then water to ice. Through
this experiment we will try to understand the
various stages of transformation and relation
between gross, subtle, cause and source.
7
Cause and Effect Theory
Now this experiment has following four aspects -
Source (Intelligence)
  1. Ice is gross (sthUla).
  2. Water is subtle (sUkSma)
  3. Water vapors are the cause (kAraNa) of water and
    ice.
  4. Scientist is the source, the intelligence behind
    the process.

Cause (Water vapors)
Based upon the above experiment, now we can
establish the following facts
Understanding is from Gross to Source
Manifestation is from Source to Gross
  1. Cause is subtle and effect is gross. Effect is
    the gross manifestation of the cause.
  2. Water vapors and ice are subtle water and gross
    water respectively. Substratum (H2O) is the same,
    and difference is in the forms and names only.
  3. This transformation can happen both ways i.e.
    water vapors to ice and vice versa.
  4. Scientists intelligence is the source behind
    this transformation and not involved in the
    actual transformation process.

Subtle (Water)
Gross (Ice)
8
Cause and Effect Theory
  1. Each effect has a cause, as water vapors are the
    cause of water and ice. Similarly, This (we,
    Nature and beyond) are the effects of That
    (Cosmic Consciousness), and That is the cause
    of This.
  2. Effects are different forms and names (Upadhi) of
    the same cause, as water and ice is the different
    form and name for water vapors. Similarly, This
    is the different forms and names of same That.
    If we drop the idea of forms and names, then
    This becomes That.
  3. An effect cannot exist without its cause, as
    water and ice cannot exist without water vapors
    or H2O molecules. Similarly, This can not exist
    without That. If we take out That from
    This, This also vanishes.

This is the effect of That and That is the
source of This. If one drops of the relative
perspective of This and That, then This is
That and That is This. In other words,
cause is subtler effect, and effect is grosser
cause. Cause of causes is Cosmic Consciousness
(ðYvara) and rest all are Its manifestations. In
the infinite ocean of Cosmic Consciousness,
innumerable waves (Self as a Separated
Consciousness) emerge and then finally merge back.
9
Cause and Effect Theory
AuM () is the sacred symbol and is the
representation of Cosmic Consciousness and Its
manifestation i.e. creation. AuM is the
combination of following sequence of root sounds -
  1. A-kArA is the sound of A (as pronounced in up),
    which represents gross manifested form of Cosmic
    Consciousness.
  2. U-kArA is the sound of U (as pronounced in
    put), which represents subtle manifestation of
    Cosmic Consciousness.
  3. mA-kArA is the sound of M (as pronounced in
    mother), which represents cause of Cosmic
    Consciousness.
  4. Sound of silence, the vibrations and pause after
    mA-kArA represents the Source i.e. Cosmic
    Consciousness Itself. Sound of silence or
    emptiness is the substratum, which acts like a
    canvas on which painting with A-kArA, U-kArA and
    mA-kArA is made.

3
4
2
1
10
Cosmic Consciousness and Its Energy
The whole Universe is infinite river of energy.
Where energy is condensed, it becomes visible in
the form of mass, as whirlpools are visible in a
river. This energy is known as Nature
(prakRti). Energy can convert itself into gross
form, which is called mass and vise versa. Mass
is gross energy and energy is subtle mass. In
the scientific world, Wave/Particle Duality of
Light is an interesting example, where minutest
known substance, has two contradicting properties
of wave and particle. Essentially this means that
sometimes a wave acts like a particle and vise
versa! From scientific perspective, this is
illogical because, wave is a process of an energy
whereas particle is a mass.
Energy
Conversion
Mass
11
Cosmic Consciousness and Its Energy
But Energy (prakRti) itself is not intelligent.
Some Intelligent Principle behind the scene is
controlling this Energy. This Intelligent
Principle, the Universal Law behind the process
is known as Cosmic Consciousness (ðYvara). That's
why Cosmic Consciousness is Immortal, Formless,
without Limbs, Action-less, All-pervading (thus
Immovable), Unchanging, Second-less, Indivisible,
Infinite, Eternal and without Attributes
(nirguNa).
Sustain
Cosmic Consciousness has manifested Itself in
Its Energy (Nature), and from this perspective,
Cosmic Consciousness is with attributes (saguN)
also. Its like same electricity is getting
manifested in various electrical equipments such
as bulb, fan etc. Natures cycle does create,
sustain and absorb (to re-cycle and re-fresh)
its creation. Cosmic Consciousness is the
Source, and Nature is Its effect. Nature depends
upon Cosmic Consciousness, but inseparable from
Cosmic Consciousness, the way a nail is
inseparable from its finger and Sun-light from
Sun.
Create
ðYvara
Absorb
12
Cosmic Consciousness and Its Energy
  • Nature has two powers
  • Power to veil (AvarNa Yakti) Nature is untrue
    existence and true appearance, thus called
    illusion (mAyA). For example your image in the
    mirror is there, but not real.
  • Power to distract (vikSepa Yakti) is of three
    types a. Power to know (jJAna Yakti).
    b. Power to desire (IcchA Yakti).
    c. Power of doing action (kiryA Yakti).
  • You get the knowledge of an apple through the
    power-to-know (jJAna Yakti). Then a desire arises
    in the mind to possess that apple, which is the
    power-to-desire (IcchA Yakti). Then you exert to
    obtain that apple with the help of
    power-of-doing-an-action (kiryA Yakti).
  • Nature has trinity essences (triguNAtmik Yakti)
  • sattva Saint like tendencies such as sentient,
    goodness, light, purity etc.
  • rajas King like tendencies such as kinetic,
    mutative, passion etc.
  • tamas Negative tendencies such as static,
    inertia, ignorance, darkness, dullness etc.

sattva
rajas
ðYvara
tamas
13
Separated Consciousness
Apparently, Free will Separates Individual
Consciousness (Atman or Soul or Self) from Cosmic
Consciousness. The Separated Consciousness has
two natures
  1. Conditioning through Natures veil
  2. Original form (svarUpa) sat-chitta-Ananda -
    a. sat is existence i.e. truth. b.
    chitta is consciousness. c. Ananda is
    bliss.

Cosmic Consciousness
For example, while watching a movie, one gets
associated (gets conditioned) with the false
environment created by the movie. When one
witnesses (Yakshi) that it's projectors beam,
which is making false impression on the inert
screen (and not onto himself), he gets
disassociated with the false environment and
becomes established in his own self
(svarUpa). Nature acts as a veil between
Separated Consciousness and Cosmic Consciousness.
Environment outside and inside of a pot is the
same. When pot (veil of Nature) is broken then
the environment inside (Separated Consciousness)
becomes one with the environment outside (Cosmic
Consciousness) of the pot.
Nature as veil
Manifestation
Understanding
Separated Consciousness
14
Cosmic
Consciousness, the Substratum
Body

Separated Consciousness
All the objects, except Separated Consciousness,
under Nature are temporary and thus unreal.
Cosmic Consciousness is real, Nature is unreal,
and apparent Separated Consciousness is Cosmic
Consciousness only. Separated Consciousness is a
fraction of Cosmic Consciousness only, and thus
above and beyond Nature.
yogA means union between Separated Consciousness
and Cosmic Consciousness. Separated Consciousness
is ever pure and divine, but the veil of
ignorance made of tamas, rajas and sattva makes
the Separated Consciousness limited and finite.
Veil
Cosmic Consciousness
Separated Consciousness
sattva is superior to rajas, and rajas is better
than tamas. Objective is to morph ourselves from
tamas to rajas, rajas to sattva and then
transcend sattva too, which is known as
guNatIta. The sculpture (Separated Consciousness)
already exist in the rock, only unnecessary rock
(veil of Nature) is to be chipped off to get the
sculpture out of the rock. That is already
there, only veil between This and That is to
be dropped. Thats why we always pray Reveal
Thyself.
15
Axiomatic Truth
  1. That is sat (Truth), the only nameless
    substance, one without second (non-dual), with no
    beginning or end.
  2. Two aspects of Sat, are chitta and Ananda. The
    interplay of these two aspects of divinity causes
    creation. chitta is love, attraction and Cosmic
    Consciousness. Ananda is will, enjoyment and
    Nature.
  3. The Cosmic Consciousness and Nature in its aspect
    of repulsion and attraction vibrates. This
    process emanates a sound known as Pranava (AuM).
  4. praNava (AuM) manifests the idea of a. Time
    (kAla). b. Space (AkaYa). c. Units (aNu).
  5. These four ideas of praNava, time, space and unit
    lay down the foundation of creation, which
    together act as a veil reflecting the spiritual
    rays of the Cosmic Consciousness.

sat Cosmic Consciousness
chitta
Ananda
attraction repulsion vibration emanates AuM
sound
\
16
Axiomatic Truth
  • This veil is composed of three essences (guNa)
  • Then the state of equilibrium of the three
    essences gets disturbed. As a result energies get
    polarized and chain of deformation occurs.
  • As a consequence of deformation of sattva, Self
    (Separated Consciousness) manifests, which is
    also known as mahtattva.
  • Self further gets deformed and manifests as false
    ego (ahaMkAra), which causes repulsion and
    separation of Self from Cosmic Consciousness.
  • The three essences, although distinguished by
    their distinctive features, are the conglomerates
    of the same three essences in differing
    proportions. This manifests five fundamental
    essences, called paJca-tattava i.e. sattva,
    sattva rajas, rajas , rajas tamas and tamas.
  1. sattva Saint like tendencies such as sentient,
    goodness, light, purity etc.
  2. rajas King like tendencies such as kinetic,
    mutative, passion etc.
  3. tamas Negative tendencies such as static,
    inertia, ignorance, darkness, dullness etc.

17
Axiomatic Truth
  1. Five fundamental essences (paJca-tattava) consist
    casual body (kAraNa Sharir), which is cause of
    subtle body (sUkSma Sharir or lingadeha) and
    gross material body (sthUla Sharir).
  2. From the sattva component, the five knowledge
    senses (jJanendriya) evolves a. Ear
    (Yrautra). b. Skin (tvacha). c. Eye
    (ckShu). d. Tongue (jihvA). e. Nose (Yrautra).
  3. rajas give rise to five subtle organs of action
    (karmendriya) a. Speech (vak). b. Hand
    (pAni). c. Feet (pAyu). d. Genital
    (upasth). e. Anus (pAyu).

18
Axiomatic Truth
  1. rajas components manifest as five major prANa
    (subtle life force) a. prANa breathing. b.
    apAna - excretion of waste and urine. c. vayAna
    - circulation of blood. d. udAna - deglutition
    or swallowing of food. e. samAna - digestion of
    food.
  2. From tamas components, five rudimentary
    principles of the elements (tanmAtra) are emerged
    a. Sound (Yabda). b. Touch (sparSa). c.
    Form or color (rUpa). d. Taste (rasa). e. Smell
    (gandha).
  3. Five rudimentary principles of elements further
    gets deformed and evolve themselves as five gross
    elements (paJca-mahabhuta) - a. from Sound to
    Space (Space). b. from Touch to Air (Space
    Air). c. from Form to Fire (Space Air Fire).
    d. from Taste to Water (Space Air Fire
    Water). e. from Smell to Earth (Space Air
    Fire Water Earth).

Subtle to gross
Subtle to gross
19
Axiomatic Truth
  1. These five gross elements has a tendency to
    grossify (paJcnIkarna) i.e. split itself into
    half (50), and rest of the half (50) further
    gets divided into four equal parts (12.5), and
    then gets unified with other four half (50)
    gross elements. Below is grossification process
    for five gross elements

Space Air Fire
Water Earth
1st Step Split 50
2nd Step Split 50 in 4 parts i.e. 12.5
Grossification
3rd Step 12.5 gets merges with other 50
3rd step is the manifested form of Space, Air,
Fire, Water and Earth. Together these five gross
elements constitute the gross material body.
20
Axiomatic Truth
  1. Fine subtle body consist of following nineteen
    elements - a. Five organs of knowledge. b.
    Five organs of action. c. Five prANa. d. Inner
    subtle equipment (antaHkaraNa) - i.
    Emotional Mind (man). ii. Intellect
    (buddhi). iii. Chit is basic faculty through
    which mind operates i.e. combination of
    conscious, subconscious, unconscious,
    memory and more. iv. Ego (ahaMkAra).
  2. With the three bodies - casual body, gross
    material body and subtle body, having been
    formed, the play of repulsion comes to a halt and
    attraction of the Cosmic Consciousness becomes
    evident.
  • An object has five aspects
  • Name (nAma)
  • Form (rUpa)
  • sat (Asti)
  • chitta (bhati)
  • Ananda (priyA)
  1. Thus whole macrocosm is within microcosm.

Belongs to Nature and varies
She (Nature) loves Him (Cosmic Consciousness) so
much that She tries to capture Him, by
constructing nine door temples (human bodies) and
establishes Him in it.
Substratum is the same
21
Axiomatic Truth
sat
Self
Gross body
chitta
Ananda
Subtle body
\
Ego
Sound
Space
Speech
Ear
prANa
Chit
Touch
Air
Hand
Skin
apAna
Time
Space
Unit
Intellect
Form
Fire
Feet
Eye
vayAna
rajas
sattva
tamas
Taste
Water
Tongue
udAna
Genital
Emotion Mind
Smell
Earth
Nose
samAna
Anus
sattva
tamas
sattva rajas rajas rajas tamas
prANa from rajas
Gross elements from tamas
organs of action from rajas
Rudimentary principle of the elements from
tanmAtra
Casual body
Organs of knowledge from sattva
Self inner subtle equipment from sattva
22
Three Bodies
  • Three bodies are -
  • Gross material body is what we see and feel.
  • Subtle body drives gross material body.
  • Casual body is based on ignorance (avidyA) and is
    the cause of the gross material and subtle body.

The shell of a Mango corresponds to gross
material body. The pulp represents subtle body
and seed corresponds to casual body. Binding
elements for casual, gross material and subtle
body are
1 Casual body causes
  1. Body (deha).
  2. Action (karma).
  3. Love (rAga).
  4. Hate (dveSa).
  5. Egoism (ahaMkAra).
  6. Non-discrimination (Aviveka).
  7. Ignorance (AjJana).

Ego is the main binding element
3 Gross body
2 Subtle body drives
23
Three Bodies
Gross material body has nine (and two hidden)
gates 1. Left ear. 2. Right ear. 3. Left
eye. 4. Right eye. 5. Mouth. 6. Nose. 7.
Navel. 8. Genital. 9. Anus. Gross material
body goes under Five modifications 1.
Potential existence. 2. Born. 3.
Grows. 4. Matures. 5. Decay. 6.
Dies.
Gross material body is made up of seven primary
essences (saptadhAtu) 1. Chyle. 2. Blood.
3. Flesh. 4. Fat. 5. Bone. 6. Marrow.
7. Semen. Fine subtle body consist of following
nineteen elements 1. Five organs of knowledge.
2. Five organs of action. 3. Five prANa
(subtle life force). 4. Inner subtle equipment
- a. Emotional Mind. b. Intellect.
c. chitta. d. Ego.
24
Law of karma
Because of karma (past and present mental and
physical actions), Separated Consciousness
becomes conditioned and goes through the
purification process created by Nature. Types of
karma are
  1. Negative.
  2. Positive and negative.
  3. Positive.
  4. Neither positive nor negative Only yogI can
    achieve this type of karma.

Common man does 1st and 2nd type of karma, where
proportion of negative karma are high.
Categories of karma as can be explained via
Bowman's analogy -
  1. Accumulated (saJcita karma) The bundle of
    arrows in the quiver.
  2. Fructifying (prArabdha karma) The arrow shot,
    which can not be recalled.
  3. Current (kriyamAna karma) The arrow, which is
    about to shoot from the bow.

25
Law of karma
We have control over accumulated and current
karma, provided we use fructifying karma
correctly. River of free will can change its
course in the pre-defined plan of
karma. Accumulated karma in the latent form are
called saMskAra, which is the subtle base of our
manifested desires (vAsana). saMskAra further
gets strengthened by ignorance (avidyA), and
because of ignorance one starts considering
  1. the short-lived as eternal.
  2. the impure as pure.
  3. the painful as pleasurable.
  4. the non-Soul (body, mind etc.) as Soul.

Result is worldly afflictions (kleSa). Pain and
pleasure are two faces of the same coin, which is
called Pain. Pleasure and pain are pain only.
Because of this vicious circle, the Separated
Consciousness becomes conditioned through five
senses and as a result emotional mind overpowers
and further traps the Self in karma. Freedom lies
in, in controlling the mind and not getting
controlled by mind.
26
Birth and Death Cycle
Cosmic Consciousness
  • Death is separation of gross material body and
    subtle body.
  • Gross material body merges back into five gross
    elements a. Space. b. Air. c. Fire. d.
    Water. e. Earth.
  • Subtle body a. Five subtle senses merges into
    mind - i. Sound. ii. Touch. iii. Form
    or color. vi. Taste. v. Smell. b. Mind
    merges into prANa. c. prANa merges into
    Separated Consciousness. d. Separated
    Consciousness merges back into Cosmic
    Consciousness.

Separated Consciousness
Dismantler
prANa
Mind
Sound
Smell
Touch
Taste
Form
At the time of death, five subtle senses merges
into mind, and mind into prANa , and prANa into
Separated Consciousness, and Separated
Consciousness into Cosmic Consciousness.
27
Birth and Death Cycle
This is different from Liberation (mokSa). Here
the shell of the small glass (ignorance) doesnt
let the water of small glass (Separated
Consciousness) merge with the water of big glass
(Cosmic Consciousness). Since separated
Consciousness is covered with the veil of
ignorance, it comes back to Nature to exhaust its
accumulated karma. The subtle body along with
Casual body transmigrates, and constructs new
gross material gross material body and again
starts watching the same old movie consisting of
six modification i.e. potential existence, born,
grows, matures, decay and dies.
Ego is the binding element between three bodies.
Casual body is the cause for subtle body and
gross material body. Subtle body drives gross
material body. Separated Consciousness, is
separate from three bodies. For every action
there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Separated Coconsciousness is responsible for
fruits of its karma. Cosmic Consciousness is
just the facilitator and dispenser of the results
based upon karma.
28
Birth and Death Cycle
  • Cycle
  • Death.
  • Transmigration and birth. a. at a higher
    level such as Angels. b. at the same level
    such as human. c. at a lower level such as
    animals.
  • Past subtle impressions (saMskAra).
  • Relation of senses with an object creates
    thought ripplesin the lake of mind (vRitti).
  • Desire.
  • Ego.
  • karma.
  • Result is pain.

1 Death
2 Transmigrationand birth
8 Result is pain
3 Past subtle impressions
Natures vicious circle, the purification process
7 karma
4 Relation with an object
6 Ego
5 Desire
29
Four Levels of Consciousness
  • Four stages of consciousness are -
  • Wake (jAgrata) state, where ego gets identified
    with gross material body and karma comes into
    play, because "I" becomes doer and enjoyer.
  • Sleep (svapna) state, ego gets identified with
    casual body and subtle body. No doer and only
    enjoyer remains.
  • Deep sleep (suSupti) state, ego gets identified
    with casual body and there is neither a doer nor
    enjoyer. Maximum peace without senses and mind,
    with no concept of time, space and unit.
  • 4th satge (turiyA) stage means total absorption.
    It is whole and encompasses all the above three
    states. It is transcendental, non-dual and
    supreme bliss.

These states are experienced by all of us in our
normal day to day life.
This stage is to be discovered in meditation.
Each state exists, but negates other's experience
and objects. Though deep sleep experience is
without mind and senses, but joy of deep sleep is
incomparable to sensual pleasure.
30
Four Levels of Consciousness
AuM () is the sacred symbol and is the
representation of Cosmic Consciousness and Its
manifestation i.e. creation. AuM is the
combination of following sequence of root sounds -
  1. A-kArA is the sound of A (as pronounced in up),
    which represents wake state.
  2. U-kArA is the sound of U (as pronounced in
    put), which represents sleep state.
  3. mA-kArA is the sound of M (as pronounced in
    mother), which represents deep sleep state.
  4. Sound of silence, the vibrations and pause after
    mA-kArA represents the 4th stage. Sound of
    silence or emptiness is the substratum, on which
    the music of A-kArA , U-kArA and mA-kArA is made.

3
4
2
1
31

Cosmic
Conciousness
Five Sheaths Principal
Our internal organs are covered with various
layers made of skeleton, bio-magnetism, muscles
and skin etc. Similarly, Separated Consciousness
is covered with five sheaths (koYa). yogi
transcend all these sheaths one by one.
Food sheath
Gross body

Subtle life force sheath

Mind sheath
  1. Food sheath (annamaya koYa), is made up of the
    essence of food, and finally it returns to food
    i.e. earth or matter. It belongs to gross
    material body.
  2. Subtle life force sheath (prANamay koYa) is made
    of prANa and the five organs of action. This
    sheath controls hunger, thirst, heat and cold.
    The gross subtle life force does the functions of
    breathing, digestion, excretion, circulation
    etc., and subtle life force generates thoughts.

Subtle body

Intellectual sheath

Bliss sheath
Casual body

Self
32
Five Sheaths Principal
  • A. Main category of prANa
  • prANa is Yellow in color, located at chest and
    controls breathing.
  • apAna is Orange in color, located at anus and
    controls excretion of waste.
  • vayAna is Rose in color, located in entire body
    and controls circulation of blood.
  • udAna is Violet Blue in color, located at throat
    and controls swallowing of food. It takes the
    Separated Consciousness to rest in Cosmic
    Consciousness during deep sleep state. It
    separates the subtle body from the gross material
    body at the time of death.
  • samAna is Green in color, located at navel and
    controls digestion of food.
  • B. Five sub categories of prANa
  • nAga controls belching and hiccough and vomiting.
  • kUrma controls closing and opening of eyelids.
  • kRkara controls hunger.
  • devadatta controls yawning.
  • dhanaMjaya nourishes the body, decomposition of
    the body after death and ejection of the child
    from the womb.

33
Five Sheaths Principal
  1. The mind sheath (manomay koYa) consists of the
    emotional mind, the subconscious (chitta) and the
    the sense organs of knowledge. This sheath
    controls thinking and doubting, anger, lust,
    exhilaration, depression and delusion.
  2. The intellectual sheath (vijJAnamaya koYa)
    consist of the intellectual and the ego working
    with the help of the five sense organs of
    knowledge. Discrimination and decision or
    determination, agency of doer-ship and
    enjoyer-ship are the functions of this sheath.
  3. The bliss sheath (Anandamaya koYa) gives bliss
    during deep sleep state and at the time of
    experiencing the effect of a sattva deeds. It is
    a modification of Nature and consists of the
    thought ripple in the lake of mind (vRitti)
  1. The joy you experience when you look at an object
    you like (priyA).
  2. The great joy you feel when you possess the
    object you like (mod).
  3. The greatest joy you experience after enjoyment
    of the object you like (pramoda).

You get the knowledge of an apple through
power-to-know of the intellectual sheath. Then a
desire arises in the mind to possess apple, which
is power-of-desire of mind sheath. Then you exert
to obtain apple with the help of power-of-
doing-action of Subtle Life Force sheath.
34
Five Sheaths Principal
  • Sheath and bodies relation
  • Gross material body has food sheath.
  • Subtle body has prANa sheath, mind sheath,
    intellectual sheath.
  • Casual body has bliss sheath.
  • Relation between sheaths and levels of
    Consciousness -
  • All the five sheaths function during the wake
    state.
  • prANa sheath, mind sheath, intellectual sheath
    and bliss sheath function during sleep state.
    Intellectual sheath and bliss sheath function
    partially.
  • Bliss sheath functions during deep sleep state.
  • Six waves in the ocean of this World are
  • Birth and death for the food sheath.
  • Hunger and thirst for prANa sheath.
  • Grief and delusion for the mind sheath.

Separated Consciousness is after bliss sheath.
And beyond Separated Consciousness is the Cosmic
Consciousness the Source.
35
Mind
When we (subject) perceive an object (or an
idea), we first evolve that object with in
ourselves. Then as per our conditioning, we
categories the object as good or bad (duality),
which gives us pain or apparent pleasure. Lets
explode the transaction between an object and
subject. Objects are made of five gross elements
viz Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. These
objects are perceived by five senses i.e. Sound,
Touch, Form, Taste and Smell respectively. For
example we are look at a menu in a restaurant,
our senses (eyes) passes on the perceived menu
items to the mind, which is divided into three
components -
  1. Lower mind (man) Lower mind is directly
    connected with five senses and controls choices,
    emotions and feelings etc. Polluted memory and
    intellect is known as lower mind. Flipping
    through various food menu items is an activity
    carried out by lower mind.
  2. Intelligence (buddhi) Lower mind passes on the
    menu choices to intelligence, which sits between
    lower mind and chitta. Intelligence controls
    discrimination, decision, thought and rationality
    etc. The final selection of a menu item is made
    by intelligence.
  3. chitta chitta is the basic faculty through
    which mind operates i.e. combination of
    conscious, subconscious, unconscious, memory and
    more. Chit controls wisdom (viveka).

Mind
And final action is carried out by ego, and
selected item is ordered from the menu.
36
Mind
And behind this gross and subtle equipments (body
with senses, lower mind, intelligence and
chitta), Separated Consciousness acts as a source
of energy, the way electricity is the life for
various inert electrical equipments. Relation
with an object activates similar accumulated
bubble of past subtle impression (saMskAra) in
the lake of mind. Bubble of accumulated past
subtle impression surface up and burst at the
surface of lake of mind, and create thought
ripples, which are known as vRitti.
Because of thought ripples in the lake of mind,
one gets identified with the multiplicity of the
thought waves, which is created by link list of
thoughts and mind becomes distracted. Thoughts
take multitudes of shapes very similar to your
own distorted reflection in a vibrating surface
of the water and thus one can not see the base
(Separated Consciousness) in the lake of mind.
These thought ripples are linear (one after and
another) and naturally controlled by practice
(abhyAsa) and non-attachment (vairAgya).
37
Mind
Separated Consciousness
Body with 5 senses
Lower Mind Intelligence Chit
Mind
Space
Sound
Air
Touch
Objects made of5 great elements
Fire
Form
Water
Taste
Earth
Smell
tamas rajas sattva
tamasrajas Rajjassattva
Placement of Ego?
Body and Mind growth pattern
1-7 years 7-14 14-21 21-28
28-35 years
Gross Effect Science Material Inertness
Subtle Cause Astrology Spirit Consciousness
Realization
Manifestation
38
Mind
Body and Separated Consciousness are two
complimentary (not opposite) ends, and mind lies
in between. Body and Separated Consciousness is
governed by tamas and sattva respectively. Grip
of law of karma is stronger on tamas and weak on
sattva. Ego can be placed at either end. A
materialistic and spiritual person will keep his
ego at body and chitta (and Beyond) respectively.
While doing a creative (scientists and artists)
activity, one's ego is at chitta. But its
different from spiritualism because still the
energy is being used on external material
world. Energy has a tendency to drain out through
five senses. If we try to block out one channel,
water flows to rest of the available channels.
Thats why blind people possesses extra-ordinary
smelling and hearing powers. Ever since only a
small percentage of mind is used on the external
material world and therefore mind has become
atrophied. Mind is thought, and thought is time.
No thought means no-mind and thus timelessness,
which leads to an experience beyond five senses.
For example deep sleep experience is without mind
and senses. From spiritual perspective,
spiritualism is rational teaching to an
irrational mind. Our knowledge (base of the
logic) is based upon five imperfect senses and
relativity. Thus spiritualism is beyond five
senses and logic.
39
Mind
  • Defects of mind are
  • Impurities Removed by self-less service,
    kindness and mantara.
  • Distraction Distractions are of following four
    types, and can be controlled by surrender
    (upAsanA) and yogA
  • Mad or distracted (kSipta), scattered in 3D.
  • Foolish or dull (mUdh), scattered in 2D.
  • Contemplative or less distracted (vikSipta),
    line.
  • Concentrated (ekAgra), pointed on a dot.
  • Absorbed (niruddha), such as vacuum and
    emptiness.
  • Veil of ignorance Ignorance can be removed by
    study veda and Self. Regulated texts of vedAnta
    (essence of veda) are UpaniShad (YrutI),
    brahmansUtra (nyaya) and bhagavad gItA (samritI).
    vedAntic contemplation is threefold
  • Listen from sad-gUrU (Yravana).
  • Meditate on Yravana (manann).
  • Practice on manann (nidhyAsana) Theory is meant
    to be practiced. And finally, practice too
    automatically gets dropped and it starts
    happening automatically.

3D
Achieved with human efforts
2D
Line
Dot
Vacuum
40
Mind
What are veda? Truth was directly revealed to
ancient Sages and Sears in their deep meditation.
Since then this wisdom of Truth was passed on
verbally from gUrU to YhiYhyA (disciple). In
that yuga (era), people were highly spiritual and
thus were able to retain this complex wisdom. At
the beginning ofKkali-yuga (name of an era),
about 5,099 years ago (at the time of
mAhAbhArta), keeping in view the future decline
in the spirituality and limitation of human mind
in the next yuga (era), great Sages, bagwAna
vyAsa, created physical books, which are known as
veda. vedAntic literature is the most ancient
writings in the world and consists of
  • YrutI (heard) YrutI are primary scripture and
    considered to be the divine in origin. Now YrutI
    scriptures include four veda (rig, yajura, sAma
    and atharva) and each veda consists of three main
    parts -
  • Philosophical sections, considered as Head of
    veda and also known as UpaniShad (jJAna kAnda).
  • Considered as Heart of veda (upAsanA kAnda).
  • Deals with actions and known as Legs of veda
    (karma kAnda). Rituals belong to this portion of
    veda. Legs without head and heart becomes
    meaningless.
  • samritI (remembered) samritI is of human origin
    and were written to explain the coded YrutI.
    samritI represents the portion of the veda that
    was authored by various Sages and Seers.

41
Mind
brahmansUtra (nyaya) gives resolution to the
apparently conflicting statements in UpaniShad
and bhagavad gItA. bhagavad gItA is cream of
veda and tells us
  1. Energy of equanimity.
  2. Wisdom of non-doer ship.
  3. Natural functioning of guNa.
  4. Sacrifice all motives.

42
Mind
  • Conflict between being and becoming
  • Past is domain of mind.
  • Present is the point of existence and life.
  • Be in the present activity (i.e. mindfulness)
    and dont let the mind flip around in past and
    future. Past and future are false and are
    extended present only.
  • Objective is not to enjoy the present activity,
    but to train the mind to live in present, which
    can be helpful in Meditation.
  • Future is domain of mind.

Past Present Future
Being
Becoming
Point of existence
Observe yourself and control following six demons
  1. Passion (kAma).
  2. Anger (krodha).
  3. Greed (lobha).
  4. Confusion (Moh).
  5. Pride (moha).
  6. Jealousy (mAtsarya).

43
Mind
The correct hierarchy can be explained by
Chariots analogy-
While morphing the mind (from tamas to rajas,
rajas to sattva and sattva to guNatIta), yogis
mind (sAdhaka), object of achievement (sAdhaya)
and methodology (sAdhana) appear to be the same,
but they are not. Subject and object are two
different things, and thus mind cannot change
itself. Entity who is witnessing (Yakshi) mind,
is the Separated Conciseness.
  1. Objects are grass.
  2. Body is Chariot.
  3. Five senses are horses attached to the Chariot.
  4. Separated Consciousness is the Charioteer
    (controller).
  5. Mind acts as reins.
  6. Cosmic Consciousness is the aim.

4 guNatIta
3 sattva
Human efforts
2 rajas
1 tamas
44
Subtle Energy Points
  1. anAhata is located in heart. It's represented by
    lotus with 12 petals. Its element is Air. Focus
    of bhakti (surrender) yogA.
  2. maNipUraka is located at navel. It's represented
    by lotus with 10 petals. Its element is Fire.
    Focus of karam (action) yogA.
  3. svAdhiSTAna is located at reproductive organs.
    It's represented by lotus with 6 petals. Its
    element is Water.
  1. sahasrAra is located at crown of the head and
    represents Cosmic Consciousness. It's represented
    by lotus with 1000 petals. Focus of jJAna yogA.
  2. AjJA is located at 3rd eye (between the
    eyebrows). It controls nervous system. It's
    represented by lotus with 2 petals. Focus of rAja
    yogA.
  3. viYuddhi is located on throat. It's represented
    by lotus with 16 petals. Its element is Space.

45
Subtle Energy Points
  1. mUlAdhAra is located at perineum i.e. between
    Anus and Genital organ. It's represented by lotus
    with 4 petals. Its element is Earth. kuNDalini,
    three and a half coiled up subtle dormant energy
    resides at mUlAdhAra.

Vibrations of AuM starts at mUlAdhAra and goes up
to sahasrAra chakra. prANa flows through the
subtle energy channels (nAdI). Three main subtle
energy channels are
  1. piGgalA Exhales and brings prANa down. Its
    attributes are Rajjas, Sun, hot, negative and
    mantra is raM.
  2. idA Inhales and brings prANa up. Its attributes
    are tamas, Moon, cold, positive and mantra is
    huM.
  3. suSumnA For common man it is inactive. Its
    attributes are sattva. To awaken the dormant
    kuNDalini, yogi establish prANa in suSumnA.

kuNDalini at mUlAdhAra awakens and goes up
through major subtle energy channel (suSumnA) and
unites with Consciousness in sahasrAra chakra
i.e. localized divine Energy (Yakti) unites with
Source of Energy (Yiva). This happening reveals
knowledge by knowing which all knowledge becomes
known.
46
Subtle Energy Points
sahasrAra AjJA viYuddhi anAhata maNipUra
ka svAdhiSTAna mUlAdhAra
suSumnA idA piGgalA kuNDalini
47
Subtle Energy Points
  • Seven Worlds (loka) are
  • satyaloka.
  • tapoloka.
  • janaloka.
  • mahAloka, which is also known as 10th door (AuM).
  • suvarloka.
  • bhuvarloka.
  • bhUloka is gross material body, which contains
    seven subtle energy centers.

satyaloka
tapoloka
janaloka
mahAloka
suvarloka
bhuvarloka
bhUloka
48
Methodology
There are four paths to realize Cosmic
Consciousness and they go hand in hand and can be
followed simultaneously -
  • Wisdom (jJAna) yogA Gain wisdom and realize
    Cosmic Consciousness. Wisdom yogA is two folds
  • Indirect wisdom from outside (parokSa) such as
    understanding the theory of H2O at intellectual
    level.
  • Direct intuitive experience from inside
    (AparokSa) such as drinking water and
    experiencing it directly. This gets embedded in
    our saMskAra.
  • Surrender (bhakti) yogA When total surrender
    (not devotion, but unity) happens and one looses
    his own existence to the Cosmic Consciousness.
    For example when a mother is cooking food, she
    always has her children in the background. This
    state is called bhAva, in which mother looses her
    existence in her child. Mother's love for her
    children is from her heart (which is illogical)
    and not from mind (which is logical). Mother will
    even risk her own life to save her child.
  • Action (karma) yogA Serve others, assuming
    others as Cosmic Consciousness, without getting
    attached to the results.
  • Royal (rAja) yogA Physic path, which gives
    power to fry the seeds of accumulated past subtle
    impressions. Fried seeds can never become a tree
    and bear fruits.

49
Methodology
  • Four main goals of the life
  • Liberation (mokSa) is self-realization and
    re-unification.
  • Religion (dharma) is the rightful duty.
  • Meaning (artha) is the rightful way to attain
    material wealth.
  • Work (karma) is the rightful way to desire.
  • Why do we need yogA
  • To have positive attitude and better health.
  • To have happiness, peace and bliss.
  • To be more creative and productive.
  • To reduce dependencies.
  • To increase acceptance.
  • To cultivate Universal love and harmony.
  • To gain higher wisdom.
  • To realize the physic abilities (for spiritual
    practice only).
  • To realize of Self and re-unite with Cosmic
    Consciousness.

50
Methodology
yogA sUtra of pataJjali (also known as aSHAGga
yogA or rAja yogA) is divine science of mind
based upon sound philosophy and deep psychology.
Content are
  • 1st Chapter is known as samAdhi (solution) pAda
    (step) has 51 sUtra i.e. verses containing clues
    to higher subtle wisdom.
  • 2nd Chapter is known as sAdhana (spiritual
    practice) pAda has 55 verses.
  • 3rd Chapter is known as vibUti (sacred ashes, the
    outcome) pAda has 55 verses.
  • 4th Chapter is known as kaivalya (final stage,
    Liberation) pAda has 34 verses.
  • Why yogA sUtra of pataJjali ?
  • Practical.
  • Authentic.
  • Scientific.
  • Well defined and compact.
  • Independent of religion.
  • Generic and Universally acceptable.

Delicate plant of spirituality corresponds to
samAdhi . sAdhana acts as a fence and comes after
samAdhi. vibUti is the fruit of the plant of
spirituality and kaivalya represents the final
enjoyment of the taste of fruit.
51
Methodology
  • Eight limbs of yogA sUtra of pataJjali are
  • Behavioral regulations (yama).
  • Ethical recommendations (niyama).
  • Posture is sitting in stillness (Asana).
  • Breath regulation (prANayAm).
  • Detachment and non-ownership (pratyAhAra).
  • Glimpses of universal intelligence (dhAranA).
  • Meditation without mental activity (dhyAna).
  • Absorption, established in equanimity, neither
    intoxicated nor comatose, but in a state that is
    immune from mental problems (samAdhi samAdhana
    i.e. solution).

samyama
yama, niyama, Asana and prANayAm automatically
leads to pratyAhAra, dhAranA, dhyAna and samAdhi.
Never ignore yama and niyama, as they are the
fundamental base and creates conducive
environment for absorption (samAdhi and not
meditation) to happen. As sleep, absorption also
happens, and is not result of any direct physical
and mental effort. Its like the way an
environment is created to induce sleep and then
finally one automatically glides into sleep. Mind
made still in not still-mind.
52
Methodology
  • Behavioural regulations (yama)
  • Truthfulness (satya).
  • No over-indulgence or addiction (asteya).
  • No acquisitiveness or stealing (aparigraha).
  • No malice or animosity, i.e. non-violence
    (ahiMsA).
  • No sensual or sexual misconduct (brahmAcaryA).
  • Ethical recommendations (niyama)
  • Cleanliness (Yauca).
  • Contentment (saNtoSa).
  • Restraint or austerity (tapa or dama).
  • Giving up borrowed knowledge in order to be open
    to knowing the ego-self (svAdhyAya or dAna).
  • The perception of wholeness or compassion for all
    (ðYvara pranidhAna or dayA).

kiryA yogA
53
Methodology
  • Posture is sitting in stillness (Asana) -
  • Use same separate isolated personal room or
    corner. With time, the place will develop its
    own divine vibrations.
  • Use non-conductor woolen and grass mat, which
    will prevent the draining out of the generated
    energy.
  • Junction (sandhi) of night and day and vice versa
    is the best time to practice meditation. At
    junction time, its neither day nor night and
    duality is weak. It is the time when major subtle
    energy channel (suSumnA) is open and both
    nostrils are working simultaneously.
  • Sit facing towards either North or East or North
    East, so that bodys bio-magnetic field is in
    sync with the Universal magnetism.

54
Methodology
  • Any comfortable posture with erect spine such as
    padamAsana (Lotus pose) or sidhAsana can be used.
    padamAsana is the most comfortable pose to
    practice meditation. Benefits of padamAsana are -
  • Cross legged position diverts the blood flow in
    the upper half of body, where subtle energy
    points are located.
  • Hand on the knees ensures that spine is
    perpendicular to the floor and not tilted
    forward, backward or sideways.
  • Spine is erect and perineum (center of gravity)
    touches the ground. Erect spine ensures that all
    the internal organs/muscles are relaxed and not
    exerting pressure on each other.
  • Most stable, comfortable and safe sitting
    posture.

55
Methodology
prANa is an energy, which creates thought ripples
in the lake of mind. By controlling prANa, we can
control the thought ripples in the lake of mind
i.e. the linked thought process. prANa is subtle
energy generated by food (intake through five
senses). sattva food (simple food without liquor,
meat, eggs, onion and garlic etc.) will generate
sattva thought and mind. prANayAm is a switch
from external (gross) to internal (subtle) body.
A complete breath cycle consist of -
  • Inhale (pUraka)
  • Fill in the abdomen by budging out diaphragm.
  • Fill in middle lungs by expanding rib cage.
  • Fill in upper lungs by lifting the shoulders up.
  • Internal Hold (kuMbhaka).
  • Exhale (rechaka).
  • Empty your abdomen by pushing diaphragm in.
  • Empty lungs by collapsing the rib cage.
  • Empty upper lungs by dropping the shoulders.
  • External Hold (kuMbhaka).

a
b
c
InhaleHoldExhale ratio should be 124.
56
Methodology
Purification of subtle energy channels
(nAdIshudhi) by controlling prANa
  1. Close your right nostril with right hands thumb
    and inhale from left nostril.
  2. Close your left nostril with ring finger and
    exhale from right nostril.
  3. Close your right nostril with right hands thumb
    and inhale from right nostril.
  4. Close your left nostril with ring finger and
    exhale from left nostril.

There are various techniques to reduce the
oscillation of the mind -
  • Witness your natural inhalation and exhalation,
    or gap and flip between inhalation and
    exhalation.
  • Alternatively, let the thoughts flow and let the
    Self be a witness, as if you are standing on a
    crossing and witnessing (not moving along with
    the traffic) the movement of thought traffic.
    Dont fight with the thoughts. Accept all noises
    and bodily distractions around you.
  • Or observe the gap between thoughts.
  • Or fix your mind on a divine object, symbol or an
    idea.

57
Methodology
While chanting AuM () sound vibrations starts at
mUlAdhAra and goes up to sahasrAra chakra. Do
complete inhalation as described in previous
slides and while exhalation chant A-kArA, U-kArA
and mA-kArA from abdomen, middle lungs and upper
lungs respectively. At the end of mA-kArA, this
leads to natural external hold. Duration of
mA-kArA should be triple then the sound of A-kArA
and U-kArA.
mA-kArA

U-kArA

A-kArA
58
Methodology
Absorption (samAdhi) is natural state of mind
with no mind, without any duality, where object
of experience, experience and who is experiencing
becomes one. This absorption is different from
sleep, deep sleep, self-hypnotism, hypnotism,
relaxation, concentration, meditation,
hallucination and comma etc. What happens in
absorption can not be explained, because it is an
experience beyond five senses. It is like
explaining a color to a person, who is blind from
birth. But we get a flash of absorption when we
observe a child who is totally engrossed with his
toys and looses the concept of time, space and
unit.
59
Methodology
  • sat-chitta-Ananda attitude
  • sat Pure living through AtithI bhAva. That is
    to live with an attitude of a guest. No body is a
    permanent resident of this world. A guest lives
    without attachment, but with all sense of
    proportion.
  • chitta Pure consciousness through Yakshi
    bhAva. That is to exist as an witness, without
    choice, without converting the consciousness into
    a battleground of competing thoughts. An
    awareness in which equanimity is never
    compromised.
  • Ananda Pure joy (not pleasure) through samApti
    bhAva. That is to have the emphasis on ending and
    not get caught into the trap of the cultivation
    of opposites.
  • Spiritual practice (sAdhana) is fourfold
  • Discrimination (viveka) used between real and
    unreal or good from bad.
  • Dispassion (vairAgya) from unreal and bad.
  • Six virtues (Sadasamapati)
  • Tranquility of mind (sAma).
  • Self-restraint or control of the senses (dAma).
  • Cessation from worldly activity (upArati).
  • Fortitude or power of endurance (titikSa).
  • Deep illogical conviction in Cosmic
    Consciousness, sad-gUrU, Scriptures Self
    (YraddhA).
  • Concentration or one-pointed-ness of mind
    (samAdhana).
  • Yearning for liberation (mumuSutva).

60
Religion and Spirituality
Pearls of wisdom have been integrated in the
thread of stories. For a child (beginner in
spiritualism) it is always easy to understand and
retain the moral (wisdom) through interesting
stories. Various Gods and Goddesses in Indian
religion are symbolic to one Cosmic
Consciousness. It's the way various maps are used
to understand the different parts of one World or
different books by different authors on the same
subject. For example, Yhivalinga represents
four level of orgasms i.e. creation -
  1. At physical level, union between male and female.
  2. In meditation, when mind penetrates the third-eye
    and bliss is released.
  3. At the time of death, when Separated
    Consciousness unites with Cosmic Consciousness
    and body gets released.
  4. Creation of this creation.

61
Religion and Spirituality
Religion is a cup through which one can enjoy the
tea of spirituality. Content are more important
than container. People who are obsessed with
container (religion) becomes ignorant and
fanatic. Ignorance creates duality whereas wisdom
creates unity. Concepts and logics are created
by mischievous mind. Any mental concept (pseudo
religions), which creates division or structure,
is an idea against spirituality. In fact, road of
spirituality starts, where religion ends.
Different religions are like different roads,
leading to the same Truth. In the initial stages,
religion can help us to understand Cosmic
Consciousness, the way a stroller helps a kid to
learn walking. The delicate plant of
spirituality can be fenced by religion, which
enables the plant to withstand with harsh weather
of materialism. Fence without plant is
meaningless.
62
Religion and Spirituality
Rituals too have deep hidden meaning. For
example, in Indian culture, while meeting one
greets other person in the following manner -
  1. Join both palms and collapse ten fingers in front
    of your heart Collapsing of ten fingers
    represents collapsing of ten Indriya (five organs
    of knowledge and five organs of action). This
    represents that may our relation be through our
    hearts (which is illogical) and not through our
    mischievous minds (which works on logic).
  2. Close eyes Meditate on the other person
    treating him as fraction of Cosmic Consciousness.
  3. Nodding the head Mental prostration and
    negating our Ego in front of other person.
  4. Speak namaste Negating one-self, where I
    becomes You, and You becomes I.

63
Religion and Spirituality
sad-gUrUs blessings are must to attain a
meaningful level in spirituality. sad-gUrU can
only show us the seed of spirituality. One has to
sow the seed and cultivate the plant of
spirituality by ones own efforts. At a higher
spiritual level, sad-gUrU is Cosmic
Con
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