The vedas acknowledge divine karma as the origin of all creation, preservation, and destruction. However, since God does not have desires, unlike humans, he is not constrained by them. In the first chapter of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1.6.1), we discover that karma is one of the three main causes of diversity, alongside name and form. The variety in names is a result of speech, and the variety in forms is a result of the eye, while the mind and body are the sources for the variety in actions. For every action, the body serves as the source, the controller, or the lord. Within the body, the mind, speech, breath, organs of action, and organs of perception are regarded as the primary deities who receive sustenance from the body and carry out their respective functions. Nevertheless, we cannot solely depend on them to combat the impurities and the malevolent forces that can infiltrate our body, as they are susceptible to evil and demonic influences, thoughts, desires, temptations,...
This is the second part of the blog where the second verse is being commented. The last blog showed how we are separate from the universe and only our consciousness is true self but in this blog there's a paradox where Ashtavakra's second verse says that the universe is within us and we are that pure consciousness which makes all those things come and go like a light in a room it doesn't come or go with us as we enter or exit it just shows the thing it itself experiences.
Three ideas are present in this verse. The first one is that the Self is the cause of life as well as creation. The second one is that universe belongs to the Self. The third one is that the Self has manifested and unmanifested states. In the former he has materiality and in the latter he has nothing. Let us examine them in some detail.
In spiritual life, worldly success has significance mainly as a teacher. Life teaches us many lessons, and success teaches its own. Through success and failure, we realize the impermanence of life and the importance of detachment and renunciation. By conquering our mind and body through self-discipline and inner purification, we conquer the universe. The Self is the true emperor of the universe. When we are one with it, we become the true lord, Isvara.
The Self illuminates our bodies. It's illumination is directly reflected in our consciousness and intelligence. To the extent we are pure, the illumination of the Self will be bright. If we are covered in the impurities of sins, the illumination of our Self may not be visible much, as it will remain subdued by its darkness. Hence, there is so much emphasis in Hindu spirituality on the importance of self-purification and cultivation of sattva.
The verse makes another important declaration that the Self is the true owner of the universe. We hear the same in the Isa Upanishad. Brahman is the true inhabitant of all that exists here. Since it pervades all, it is the true owner of all that is here. The implication of it is that we should not claim ownership of anything because we neither create it nor own it. Since it belongs to nature, we should not claim what does not belong to us.
The world has two states, the visible and the invisible states. What creates the difference is the presence or absence of illumination. The same is true with the whole existence. It has two states, "is" and "is not." The first one arises when God projects into it, and the second one arises when he withdraws from it.
Creation of existence is an illusion.
🙏🙏
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