World is a Stage
How often we wonder the reason for taking birth in this world. These are the questions that haunt me. Why are we in this earth amidst of suffering and joy? Why are working and toiling so hard to fill our stomach and finding happiness? Why are there a limited supply and an excess demand? What are we trying to find out? What is birth and what is death?
So many questions we are yet to find an answer. Wait did I say, yet to find an answer? Sorry, we have all these answers in hand but we are ignorant enough or smart enough to accept the answer. Some people are not aware of the concept and some, even though aware are hesitant to accept it or trying to prove the concept. Let me make this discussion in a form of conversation between a Student and teacher.
Student: What does “I” stands? Does “I” refer to my body or my soul?
Teacher: Good Question. Let’s think practically first. I call you by your name Raghav. You turn around. But if I go and call a dead corpse by its name, does it respond? Then how can I refer to the body. I can only refer to the soul.
Teacher: Let me tell you what Sri Ramanuja, a great philosophical Guru mentioned about this. He had a debate with one another Guru regarding the relationship between the soul and the body. He asked one question to the opponent. Let’s say you call the body or Sarira by its name. Which part of the body will he refer to? Therefore, there must be something that should direct these body parts to do an action. This controller is called Atma or Soul. This concept is called as Sarira-Athma Bhava in Vishishitadvaitha.
Student: Thank you sir. But we have read that the Atma suffers in hell/heaven because of the action performed by the body. Why should Atma suffer instead of the body?
Teacher: Well For answering your question, I need to extend the concept that I told you for the last question. Atma directs the Body to do an action. In this case, Atma is the master or called as Sesha and Body is a performer or called as Seshi. It is the Atma which operates this body and therefore responsible for the action it performed. That’s why Atma is suffering instead of the body.
Student: What is the exact nature of this Atma?
Teacher: The exact nature of Atma or Jeevatma is explained in Upanishads, Gita etc. Atma doesn’t have a beginning or an end. Atma cannot be killed or cannot be destroyed. The ideal nature of atma is divine bliss. This bliss has been shadowed by the Karmas the Atma perform.
Student: What is the main goal of Atma?
Teacher : The main goal of Atma is to meditate upon the divine. Due to the Karma, the atma performs it takes birth in this world and the goal is to reach the ultimate Brahman.
Student: Do we have proofs for these concepts?
Teacher: The concept of Atma and the goal of creation are well explained in Vedas. Vedas are Apurusheya, meaning no-one created Vedas, not even Brahmam. It always exists.
Student: We haven’t seen this creation or Brahmam through our eyes? How do we believe them?
Teacher: Well, in order to counter your point, let me tell you are scenario.
While walking in a desert, you see a mirage. Don’t your eyes fool you by making you to think that there is water? This is called Eye –witness or Pratyaksha Pramana. So, you cannot come to a conclusion using what you see. So Pratyaksha Pramana need not be taken as proof in order for a thing to exist.
You see a white smoke coming from the mountain which you can infer it as a fire but it is just a cloud that is passing by. This is based on inference or Anumaana Pramana. Here too, you cannot come to a conclusion on what you infer. Therefore, Anumaana Pramana need not be taken as a proof in order for a thing to exist.
But there is another one concept called listening or Sabda Pramana. This can be taken as a proof for a thing to exist. Vedas are passed down generations after generations by the Guru-Sishya parampara by just listening and therefore, can be taken as a proof.. Vedas define Brahman and the characteristics of Brahman
So many questions we are yet to find an answer. Wait did I say, yet to find an answer? Sorry, we have all these answers in hand but we are ignorant enough or smart enough to accept the answer. Some people are not aware of the concept and some, even though aware are hesitant to accept it or trying to prove the concept. Let me make this discussion in a form of conversation between a Student and teacher.
Student: What does “I” stands? Does “I” refer to my body or my soul?
Teacher: Good Question. Let’s think practically first. I call you by your name Raghav. You turn around. But if I go and call a dead corpse by its name, does it respond? Then how can I refer to the body. I can only refer to the soul.
Teacher: Let me tell you what Sri Ramanuja, a great philosophical Guru mentioned about this. He had a debate with one another Guru regarding the relationship between the soul and the body. He asked one question to the opponent. Let’s say you call the body or Sarira by its name. Which part of the body will he refer to? Therefore, there must be something that should direct these body parts to do an action. This controller is called Atma or Soul. This concept is called as Sarira-Athma Bhava in Vishishitadvaitha.
Student: Thank you sir. But we have read that the Atma suffers in hell/heaven because of the action performed by the body. Why should Atma suffer instead of the body?
Teacher: Well For answering your question, I need to extend the concept that I told you for the last question. Atma directs the Body to do an action. In this case, Atma is the master or called as Sesha and Body is a performer or called as Seshi. It is the Atma which operates this body and therefore responsible for the action it performed. That’s why Atma is suffering instead of the body.
Student: What is the exact nature of this Atma?
Teacher: The exact nature of Atma or Jeevatma is explained in Upanishads, Gita etc. Atma doesn’t have a beginning or an end. Atma cannot be killed or cannot be destroyed. The ideal nature of atma is divine bliss. This bliss has been shadowed by the Karmas the Atma perform.
Student: What is the main goal of Atma?
Teacher : The main goal of Atma is to meditate upon the divine. Due to the Karma, the atma performs it takes birth in this world and the goal is to reach the ultimate Brahman.
Student: Do we have proofs for these concepts?
Teacher: The concept of Atma and the goal of creation are well explained in Vedas. Vedas are Apurusheya, meaning no-one created Vedas, not even Brahmam. It always exists.
Student: We haven’t seen this creation or Brahmam through our eyes? How do we believe them?
Teacher: Well, in order to counter your point, let me tell you are scenario.
While walking in a desert, you see a mirage. Don’t your eyes fool you by making you to think that there is water? This is called Eye –witness or Pratyaksha Pramana. So, you cannot come to a conclusion using what you see. So Pratyaksha Pramana need not be taken as proof in order for a thing to exist.
You see a white smoke coming from the mountain which you can infer it as a fire but it is just a cloud that is passing by. This is based on inference or Anumaana Pramana. Here too, you cannot come to a conclusion on what you infer. Therefore, Anumaana Pramana need not be taken as a proof in order for a thing to exist.
But there is another one concept called listening or Sabda Pramana. This can be taken as a proof for a thing to exist. Vedas are passed down generations after generations by the Guru-Sishya parampara by just listening and therefore, can be taken as a proof.. Vedas define Brahman and the characteristics of Brahman
To be continued....
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