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In the Name of Shiva, the Most Glorious, the Most Obvious, the |
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SHRI SHIVA RAHASYA THE NINTH LIGHT (Chapter
Nine) 9 Wherein the Transcendental Nature of the Supreme Lord
is established Lord Shiva
said:
1. O you who are followers of Unity with the
Supreme! it will be said by those that lack understanding and wisdom, God may
be Almighty and All-Wise but All-Good He Is not, for He lets the innocent
suffer. To them that speak such
foolish words, answer in this way: Man has two aspects (or parts), a body and
a Soul. The body is born from the mother's
womb, but what of the Soul, which is the true man: where was he before being
born into this World? who were his companions? what deeds did he
accomplish? If you knew, it were
different; but if you know not, how can you speak of innocence or
otherwise? Verily, who knows best, you
or the Lord? Beware! say not things
about God that are sinful and wrong.
2. Verily, I the Lord give not one life unto a
Soul, but eighty-four thousand lives.
I also give him Guidance that he may find the straight path. Then I reward him according to the works he
does in each life. Some are rewarded
straightway, others after a while, and still others in a future life. Each at his own time. For, there is a time and place for all
things. Thus I reward all Souls that
they may steadily grow in wisdom and become Wise.
3. Therefore, know that men are not born
perfect but with defects acquired in former lives, even though you may see
these not. When children have grown,
the defects that lay concealed in their heart come to the fore and are seen
clearly by all. The same is true of
grown men. Some that seem innocent
enough, may be found to be liars, murderers and thieves. Others still are puffed up with pride. I Alone am the All-Seeing and All-Wise. I see deep into all creatures' hearts.
4. Say to the doubter: Does suffering make a
Soul better or worse? If worse, how
can that be? For, what is all-good and
perfect, being free from corruption, cannot become worse even as gold cannot
stain or decay. If better, then
assuredly something good will be achieved through suffering. For it is a known fact that Soul often
grows stronger at those times when the body is weaker and suffering renders
an unyielding heart receptive to that which is right. Verily, as fire harms not but merely
purifies gold, so pain makes a Soul humble, patient, forbearing and
strong. Some learn through pain in one
day what others learn not through pleasure even in a space of hundred
years. A loss makes a man love and
appreciate what he does have: it opens the windows of the mind and the doors
of the heart and gives wings unto the Soul that he may rise above this
World. Therefore, do not doubt the
Wisdom of Him Who Is All-Wise. Beware!
for doubt is the door to the Abode of Discord. He that enters therein shall be a Soul
lost.
5. Say unto the doubter: You may not remember
existing before, but do you remember ever not existing? Do you remember the moment that, having
been non-existent, you came into existence?
Is it not true that deep in his heart of hearts every man knows that
he is a beginningless and everlasting Soul?
Even in this life, man knows that there is life before and there is
life behind. Life has neither
beginning nor end. If the Sky (or Space)
has no bounds, why should life?
Verily, I say unto you, Never is there such time where life is not.
6. As to why he forgets, know that man is born
to ever aspire for things that are higher and not to dwell upon things of the
past. As the nourishing essence of
food is extracted by the digestive fire whilst the rest is discarded from the
body, so the essence of many lifetimes is guarded in man's innermost heart
whilst what is not needful abides enveloped in gloom. I Myself enshroud man in a dark veil of
forgetfulness that he may not be confounded and tormented by a myriad
memories whereof some are pleasant but most are sorrowful and glum. It is for this reason that man
forgets. Thus, I, the Compassionate,
the All-Wise, declare.
7. Even thus, know that whatever seems
forgotten in no way is lost for good.
Every experience leaves its trace upon the Soul and is known by his
heart even though his mind may know it not.
Verily, in unawakened man, heart and mind are not one but abide
asunder; and being asunder, the one never knows the other. But in early childhood man recalls his
former life or portions thereof, awhile.
Only that his senses are overpowered by his new existence and before
long he forgets even as he would forget a dream.
8. As for grown men, they may know their past lives
by the practice of the Great Yoga of Recollection which is known to the
wise. Listen you to this secret
practice. With a concentrated mind,
let the Seeker of Truth take hold of the thought that has just passed through
his mind; then let him grasp the thought that went before and the thoughts
that arose earlier still; thus he will remember all his thoughts of a day, a
fortnight, a month, and a year; proceeding further back he remembers many
years up to the moment of his birth into this World; going further still, he
recalls one by one all his lives up to the beginning of Time. Going even beyond that, he attains to the
Great Life Whereof the World was born.
Verily, such an one is a Knower of Truth and I Myself lift him up in
Glory above all other men. I Always
remember those that remember Me.
Therefore, have faith in the Word of God, for faith is the Stairway to
the Most High. Doubt is a burden upon
the Soul that leads him to the Downward Path.
A fallen man is lost.
9. Of Souls, there are three kinds: those that
know the Truth by their own power of Insight; those that know by the mind's
power of Reason; and those that, having heard My Word, know by the power of
Faith. Therefore, have faith and doubt
not, for I never speak in vain. He
that doubts My Word of Truth shall have no share in My Knowledge. For, doubt is the enemy of Wisdom. He who wilfully chooses to doubt, ever
abides in darkness and sees not the Light that I, the Most Merciful, have
sent him for the Salvation of his Soul.
10. O you who are noblest among men! know that
Evil is not My Creation, but that of men and other creatures that are endowed
with evil inclinations. I Myself give
man the freedom to do works that are good and works that are evil, that he
may learn what is right and what is wrong.
Verily, every man and woman upon Earth has the power to choose between
evil and good. Never is there any
compulsion. And, as man's works are,
so too are his rewards. I am
Compassionate and Just.
11. A man's works are forever inscribed upon
his Soul, though he may know this not.
The Soul is pure Intelligence, ever happy and content like unto the
Full Moon that passes across the Star-lit Sky at night. Yet due to Shiva's Wondrous Magic that
enshrouds him like a dark Cloud of Obscuration, a desire begins to stir in
man's heart. At first it is only faint
and aimless so that, perceiving it, man asks himself, What might I want? And then, as it grows quite plain and
clear, he thinks, Ah! this is what I should like. This is the subtle form of desire which is
called Impulse (Vasana) by the
Wise.
12. Next, as he nourishes that wish with the
power of his own thought, it grows into a strong desire that captivates his
heart so that he resolves to fulfil his wish.
This longing that culminates in a resolve is called Yearning for a Desired Object
(Priya). Having resolved to fulfil his
wish, man performs the appropriate actions that are needful for the obtaining
of the desired thing. This is called the
Obtainment of the Object of Desire
(Moda).
13. Having obtained the object, man enjoys the
same in peace. This is the Enjoyment of the Desired Object
(Pramoda). The enjoyment thus had,
leaves an impression upon the Soul which is called Essential Imprint (Samskara).
And the Imprint gives rise to a craving for the repetition of the past
Enjoyment. This is called Thirst (Trishna). These, O Sages! are the six aspects of
desire.
14. Every experience leaves an Imprint upon the
Soul. The more actions man performs in
the pursuit of desired objects the more Imprints will be left upon the
Soul. The more an Imprint of the same
kind is repeated the deeper it will sink into the Soul. As the seed of corn springs to life when
the season has come, so the Imprints, the seed of one's actions, come alive
each at their appointed time. As they
come alive, they give rise to a field of desires which man spends a lifetime
to fulfil.
15. At the end of this life, if only man had no
desires, he could easily ascend to the Higher Worlds above. But as he fulfils only a fraction of the
total sum of desires, a great many remain to be fulfilled. Thus he is forced to descend back upon
Earth by the force of his desires.
This repeats itself again and again.
Only when he rises above worldly desires, can man ascend to the Higher
Worlds and not otherwise. This is the
Eternal Law.
16. O noble ones! man acts to fulfil his
desires, both bad and good. As the
desires, so his works too, may be right or wrong. And as his works, so his rewards are
pleasant or painful. Righteous works
that are done in unity with My Law and for the sake of good desires, result
in good rewards. But evil works, done
in disobedience to My Law and for the sake of sinful desires, result in
painful rewards. This is the Law of
Cause and Effect, called Karma by the Wise.
Every creature, whether on Earth or in the Otherworld is justly
rewarded according to its works. I am
Ever Compassionate and Wise.
17. I gave man the Day, that he might wake and
Night that he might rest. I gave him
fruit-giving trees and rich fields of golden grain. I gave him milk-yielding cows and cool
waters full of fish. I gave him
forests and caves for shelter, the Moon that he might measure time, the Great
Stars for direction and the light-bestowing Sun. And I gave him the Law whereby he might live
in abundance and peace. Know that all
these are My Signs (Lakshana).
18. As a King speaks to some of his subjects
face to face but to others through his ministers, envoys or messengers and to
still others through signs, so I, the Lord, at appointed times reveal My Law
unto the World either in Person or through My faithful devotees. They roam the Earth and bring My Word of
Truth to those that wish to hear; who having heard, have the power to
understand; and who having understood are moved to follow that which is
True. And I also reveal My Law through
certain signs that are known to the Wise.
19. The Wise see how the Moon follows the Sun
and the Sun is stationed in the Great Sky.
They see how the young calf follows the mother cow and how the herd
follows the leading bull. They see how
one season follows another, Night follows upon Day and Death follows
Life. They see how parched fields
become green again and how dense jungle turns to dust. In all this there is a sign of guidance and
of warning. To some I reveal My Law
overtly and to some covertly. And to
still others by clear signs that are seen by all but understood only by a
few. Let the Wise take heed. For he who follows My signs shall be rightly
guided. As for the others, assuredly,
indeed, they shall go astray.
20. Thus My Law is made known unto every nation
in the World. Amongst these there are
some that deny My Revelation and stubbornly adhere to their own law. Others accept My Law but then forget It and
follow any false prophet that may come their way. Others again will seek to change the
Truth. As if Truth could be changed
like unto a painting on the wall!
Verily, only a few hold fast unto My Truth. They shall ever be an Eternal Lamp unto the
World and an Abode of Righteousness on Earth.
Amongst the Righteous Nations the Holy Land of India shall ever be the
first. For, amongst her noble sons and
daughters dwell the most faithful followers of Truth. They ever abide by My Law even if the World
were to fall to pieces or be drowned by a great flood.
21. Verily, My Law is heard by every Soul
according to his own Karma. The
righteous ones that on account of their good Karma are born amongst the
Righteous Nations receive My Law in full.
But those that on account of their evil Karma are born amongst the
unfaithful, must content themselves with whatever fragments of My Law they
may come by. For, having done a work
for the sake of obtaining an end, man must reap a reward according to the
nature of his intentions. Thus every
man is born in the land that he deserves on his merits or sins. This is the Eternal Law. I am Ever Compassionate and Just and so is
My Law.
22. Would that at the end of this life, man
remembered My Law! He would fare far
better in the life to come. For this
life is a mere child's play: a rehearsal for the life that is yet to
come. When Death overcomes him, man
who was proud of his possessions, knowledge and strength, sees how his World
vanishes away. His senses grow dim and
his body grows numb. The Five Material
Qualities that constitute his body detach themselves from the same and merge
one into the others in ascending order: Earth merges into Water, Water into Fire,
Fire into Air and Air into Space.
23. When Earth sinks into Water, the body loses
its firmness and grows lifeless and limp.
When Water sinks into Fire, the blood, saliva and other fluids begin
to dry up and man feels a burning and a dryness in his limbs, nose and
mouth. When Fire sinks into Air, the
body begins to grow cold. When Air
dissolves into Space, all awareness of the body disappears and man breathes
his last.
24. Having left the body, the Five Qualities
merge back into the Primary Sensations whereof they were born, and these
merge into their respective Senses: Sound merges into the Faculty of Hearing,
Touch into Feeling, Colour into Seeing, Flavour into Tasting and Scent into
Smelling. And the Senses merge back
into the luminous Mind whence they came.
The Mind (Manas) merges into the Higher Mind (or Intellect, Buddhi)
and that into the Soul. Thus, Light
merges into Light. For what is born of
Light must return unto Light. This is
the Eternal Law.
25. At that moment, man feels as if sinking
back into a bottomless well and becomes unconscious. He abides in that state for a few moments
or a few days, according to his Karma.
But to his kinsfolk that are watching him die, he is a dead man: a lifeless
corpse to be discarded. When he
emerges from the darkness of that unconscious state and the light of
consciousness returns to him, all the links with his earthly body have been
severed and he sheds his mortal coil as a serpent sheds its skin. Unencumbered by the body, he passes like
through a veil, a cloud or sheet of water into the Otherworld which is the
Abode of Disembodied Souls.
26. There the Soul is received by his guardian
and guide appointed him according to his Karma. In the case of ordinary men it is their
departed parents, kinsmen or such companions or friends as they may have
known on Earth. But in the case of
Yogis, it is their own Guru or one of the Immortals. He is then led by his guardian and guide to
the
27. At this time the Soul being divested of a
material body, he is a mere Orb of Light consisting of three parts: the outer
part shimmering like as the Moon, is the Lower Mind which is the seat of the
Five Senses and Five Powers of Action; the inward part blazing like the
Midday-Sun is the higher Mind which is the seat of Reason; and the innermost
core resembling a brilliant Fire that ever burns with an unworldly glow, is
the Soul proper which is the seat of Memory and Self-awareness. Thus he shines like a Star.
28. Because his Mind is now his outer covering
or body, as it were, all his thoughts, fears and desires are plainly seen by
all. For in the Otherworld nothing is
secret or hidden. As everything is
made of Light, every thing shines with its own radiance, even inanimate
things. Only that the brightness of
some is greater than that of others, according to each thing's power of
awareness. Therefore, nothing is kept
hidden or concealed away but is revealed openly like in the clear light of
Day.
29. On his way to the Mount of Truth, the Soul
is given a drink from the limpid water of the
30. First, to the righteous who are free of sin
I shall show My Blissful Mean. Verily
and without doubt, those endowed with good Karma, who have worked good deeds
(satkarma) and faithfully have followed My Law, pass through the Flame of
Justice as easily as through an open door.
For, the Flame is not scorching to the Righteous Soul but soothing
like the cool rays of the Moon. Having
come to the Tree of Life they are given to eat of its heavenly fruit and with
a Soul thus refreshed by the Flame and invigorated by the sweet Fruit of Life
Eternal, they go up to the Higher Worlds by the Radiant Path of the Immortal
Gods.
31. But those that are burdened with evil Karma,
who have failed to work good deeds (satkarma) and have rejected the Holy
Dharma, are overcome with shame and fear.
Much as they try to pass through the Flame, they are scorched by its
great heat and they draw back in pain.
A Voice that comes out of the Flame summons them to confess their evil
deeds. But the Soul, being accustomed
to concealing the Truth, denies all his misdeeds against his better
knowledge.
32. The Voice then grows louder and speaks: I
have given man a World of things. And I gave him the Law whereby he might
live in abundance and peace. To some I
reveal My Law overtly and to some covertly.
And to others still I reveal It by clear signs that are seen by all
but understood by only a few. You have
seen the newborn babe sucking at the mother's breast. You have seen the youth being instructed by
his Guide. You have seen that some men
are afflicted with disease and others are hale. You have seen that some die before time and
others live to a ripe old age. You
have seen how the once-dead cornfield comes back to life in spring. And you have seen the wise Yogi roaming the
Earth or sitting still in contemplation: ever serene, ever content and ever
in Unity with Myself. But when Death
overtakes him, man denies all this.
33. O Soul! will you not confess even now? Who, having seen My signs, can claim that
he knew not? Surely, his words would
be but a lie! And he that follows the
Lie cannot walk upon the Straight Path that leads to My Abode of Truth. For the Lie itself leads him astray like a
bound beast or a captive slave. Even
thus you shall be led away.
34. At the sound of those words heavy with
Truth, the Soul will remember all the good things that were done for him or
given him on Earth. Righteousness will
dawn upon him and strike him like a bolt of lightning so that he will sink to
his knees even as a tree felled by the woodman's axe. With tears streaming from his eyes he will
pray for his fathers and for all the kinsfolk and friends that are long dead
and forgotten. His heart will burn
with shame and remorse. This shall be
his just reward, unless he has committed
worse. Verily and
without doubt, a Soul's plight shall be
equal to his works.
35. No sooner will he have recovered from his
shock, than he will be taken down by the Path of the Fathers to those
quarters of the Otherworld that were allotted him. Therein he is given various tasks, some
pleasant, others painful, that are needful for the perfecting of his Soul: each
Soul according to his own Karma. Even
the most painful tasks that seem to last forever in truth last only
awhile. I am Compassionate and Just
and so is My Law. But those tasks that
are best performed in the Earthly World are saved for a future life and given
unto him when he returns to Earth at the appointed hour. For no creature that is born imperfect can
become perfect in a single lifetime.
36. Those that are burdened with grievous
defects are sent back to Earth sooner.
For in their case there will be much perfecting to accomplish in many
a lifetime. But those that are stained
only by slight imperfections abide in the Otherworld for longer. For only few lifetimes remain for them to
dwell upon Earth. And what is one year
in the Otherworld is a hundred upon Earth.
37. Those that are nearly Perfect are endowed
with full knowledge of their past and future.
They return to Earth at will and enter their mother's womb whilst
fully conscious. But those that are
still imperfect, have scant knowledge of their future and even less of their
past. On their way down to Earth they
are given a drink from the
38. Even thus, no Soul that sojourns in the
Otherworld is left in complete darkness.
He is granted a brief glimpse of his life to come. He can see his future place of birth,
country, nation, family and parents.
If he is to be born a man, he feels an attraction for his future
mother; if the Soul is to be born a woman the attraction will be for the
father.
39. When his future parents are about to beget
offspring, the Soul draws near to the mating couple though they see him
not. For the disembodied Soul clearly
perceives what passes in this World even from a distance, but Earth-dwellers
perceive him not. As he draws closer,
his Senses and Powers of Action that in the Otherworld are radiant and
mightier by far than in his earthly life, so that he can see far and travel
faster than the wind, are once again dimmed.
His light of consciousness is overcome by a darkness that envelops him
like as a veil. Then, at the moment of
conception, when the two bodily essences mingle and unite into one, the Soul
to be born enters the woman's womb and his links with the Otherworld are cut
off. Thus he is trapped within the
womb wherein he must abide until such time as has been appointed for him to
see the light of day, which is usually at the end of nine months. Then he is reborn into this World, each
Soul according to his own Karma.
40. Verily, as a perishable plant sheds its
leaves, withers away and turns to dust only to spring back to life year after
year, so the Soul does shed his body and dies, only to be reborn again in
future lives. Though the plant itself
may perish, the seed will survive, ever ready to start a new life. Whilst the perishable body is like the stem
and the leaves, the deathless Soul is like the imperishable seed. As the seed carries within itself the
distinctive features of its kind, so the Soul carries both the defects and
perfections of his past lives.
41. As a lake gives birth to various things
such as the fish, the frog, the lotus and the reed, even so children born of
one womb differ in intelligence, temperament and bodily frame. Some things in a child are passed on to him
by his parents and some are from his past Karma. But even that which is from the parents as
well as which parents he is to be born to, is determined only by his own
Karma. For no Soul needs to bear
another's burden but only his own. I,
the Great Life and Creator of all living things, am Ever Compassionate and
Just. And so is My Eternal Law.
42. I do not create evil, but man himself does
so, when he chooses another path instead of following My Law. Evil (Adharma) is a force that arises from
opposition to what is right (Dharma).
It enters the sinner's heart and takes hold of his life. Thus he suffers until he takes to the right
path. He that follows My Law, shall
never suffer except for his own good.
For until Perfection is attained, (the experience of) pain may still
be needful for the perfecting of the Soul and the mending of his life. But when man has become Perfect neither
pain nor Death shall ever touch him.
As for the others, who are unfaithful to My Law, they shall each fare
according to his Karma. This is the
Eternal Dharma.
43. Dharma is Righteousness Itself. It is the World Order whereby Truth governs
everything that It creates and whereby It makes everything abide in Unity
with Itself. Dharma manifests Itself in all things that are true, just,
beautiful and good. In those that are
not thus, It is dormant and unmanifest.
It is by the following of Dharma that good works (satkarma) are done
and good rewards are enjoyed in return.
Those that follow It not, shall abide in the shadow of Discord. Their works shall come to naught and they
shall suffer an ill fate. But he that
follows My Eternal Dharma shall not be harmed by evil Karma. Dharma is the World-Supporting Law.
44. Therefore, know that there are two kinds of
pain suffered by man. That which is a
punishment for evil deeds and that which is for a good end. For sometimes man himself willingly goes
through hardships to attain a desired end.
But in the end both kinds of pain are for the perfecting of the
Soul. I am Ever Compassionate and
All-Wise. Doubt not My Wisdom, for to do so is a great sin. Follow not in the footsteps of the
weak-hearted. If doubt enters your
heart, know that it is doubt itself that is to be doubted and not Truth.
45. O you who are Tigers amongst men! in this
World some laugh and others cry. But
the wise Yogi is ever serene and content.
For he is endowed with Knowledge that others reject. Amongst all nations on Earth, the Righteous
ones ever follow My Law. They shall
prosper and thrive, but the others will surely go astray. Those nations that have forgotten My Law
will say, There is no Afterlife. Say
unto them: You may go your own way but, remember! we shall meet again. For all Souls come from the One and unto
Him they shall return.
46. Others will proclaim that dead men lie
asleep in their grave and will be brought back to life in their former bodies
even if these have turned to dust.
Heaven forbid that such falsehoods be true! Deluded as they are, they are blind to the
Truth and in their madness they deny even the facts of life. For the body that was committed to earth,
water or fire, or was left to decay in the open air, seldom remains
undisturbed but is eaten by worms, fish and other such creatures. These are themselves eaten by others of
their kind and at times even by men.
And what to say of him that is devoured by the lion, the tiger or a
serpent, even whilst still alive?
47. Now, the substance of one body having
passed into other bodies and having become their very sustenance and
strength, can hardly be returned to the original without being removed from
its present place of abode, thus depriving many a body, both dead and living,
of a limb or even more. Assuredly,
this would be unjust and repugnant to Dharma, as even a fool can see. Therefore, know that it is a sin for
thinking men to believe such foolish things.
The power of right thinking was given to man that he might think
rightly and not foolishly believe what is repugnant and wrong. Verily and without doubt, those who follow
My Eternal Path shall be given deathless bodies of light and not mere shells
of lifeless dust.
48. Other deluded mortals, wishing to raise
themselves above others, will proclaim false religions and say, Follow me and
you shall go to Heaven. How perverse
they and their followers are! Can they
not think? How can he who is unripe
and imperfect gain admission to the Abode of the Perfect? Can a mere bird fly into the Sun? Can a fly come near a burning lamp? Is
grain harvested before its time? They
are only deluding themselves.
49. From God all things do come and unto Him
they shall return. This is the Eternal
Law. Having descended from Heaven down
to Earth, the Soul must return to God.
And how else is he to return if not by the very same path whereby he
came? Verily, let those that follow
the Truth not be deceived. God
converses not with the imperfect save to call them to the Path of
Perfection. When, in due time, they
have become Perfect, then they
shall be called to Him and not a moment before. Therefore, let no man speak things about
God that are sinful and wrong.
50. Perfection is attained by abiding in Unity
with Truth. I Am that Truth. I create the Soul out of Myself by
enveloping him in Six Veils (Avarana).
The Sixfold Veil of Maya is what separates man's Soul from the Perfect
One. Six multiplied twofold, two being
the mark of Duality, gives twelve. And twelve multiplied seven thousandfold,
that is, one thousand veils to each of My Seven Worlds, yields eighty-four
thousand. Thus the Soul is covered in
eighty-four thousand veils that separate him from My Supreme Self. And he returns to My Supreme and Perfect
Self by shedding one veil in a lifetime.
51. Forty-two thousand veils are shed in as
many a lifetime passed in inanimate form such as stones, rocks and other
things that are made of earth, water, fire, air or space. Fifteen thousand are shed in the form of
half-sentient things such as plants and trees. Twelve thousand are shed as a sentient
thing such as insect or worm. Nine
thousand as land, water or airborne creatures. And six thousand in human form. When, after eighty-four thousand lifetimes
he has shed the last veil, the Soul goes beyond Maya and is born only three
more times: once as a Yogi and twice as a God.
52. O you who are ever
wise! man's fate is determined by his Karma. Karma brings two Souls together
or asunder; it brings health, fame and possessions and also takes them
away. Good Karma depends on good deeds
(satkarma). But whether man abides in darkness or rises up to the Abode of
the Great Light, that depends upon naught but My Own Will. Therefore, the
Soul attains Perfection at the appointed time and not a moment before. When, having received My Revelation, man is
moved to follow My Law and enters upon the Righteous Path of Unity, then the
Great Goal is not far. It is through
Unity with Me that Perfection is attained. Only he that abides in Unity with
Me, goes beyond the Veil of Maya. For
he alone is a Man of Unity (Yogi) and a Perfect One (Siddha).
53. The joys of the mind are greater by far
than those of the body, and the joys of the Soul are greater than those of
the mind. But he who attains
Perfection knows the Highest Joy of all. The Pure Ones who through righteous
deeds and a pure heart deserve to be lifted up beyond Maya, go to the World
of Pure Vision wherein dwell all Souls who do good works (satkarma) for the
benefit of all. Being endowed with clear sight, they see the World as it
really is and no longer hanker after bodily joys. They have also conquered the cravings of
the Mind. Their only craving is to act
in Unity with the Lord.
54. Being pure-hearted, whatsoever their Soul
desires is presently fulfilled without the need of material things. For in that World, all things are made of
Spirit and naught else. The Pure Ones
abide in that Abode of Pure Sensations in the company of Beautiful Souls like
themselves. Thus they pass countless
ages. A just reward for those that
work good deeds (satkarma). Once in
five hundred years, their ruler descends to Earth to reveal My Truth and
guide the righteous. For he is a Mighty
One who has seen the Lord and knows His Secrets. The others only see Me from afar, like the
first light of Dawn. But as they feed
upon that Divine Light, they begin to leave behind the World of Pure
Sensations and pass to the World of Pure Thought.
55. In that World, otherwise named the World of
Higher Vision, they pass countless ages absorbed in righteous thoughts for
the welfare of the Worlds. Their sustenance is the Light of God Whom they
perceive as being nearer than before, like unto the rising Sun. As they feed
upon that Light they become one with the Thought of God and pass to the World
of Pure Will. They are ruled by one
who is near Me and Mightier than he of whom I spoke before. He descends down to Earth to reveal My
Truth and guide the righteous at the beginning of each World Age.
56. Having risen to the next Higher World,
otherwise known as the World of Perfect Vision, the Perfect Ones pass many
ages absorbed in righteous intentions for the welfare of the Worlds. Their sustenance is the Light of God Whom
they behold face to face, like unto the blazing
57. Verily, the Light of God is the food of
Yogis and Gods. For earthly food is
for the body but Spiritual Food is Nectar for the Soul and the Food of the
Immortals. By feeding thereupon, the
Soul grows mighty and wise: a Radiant God he becomes! Having thus been nourished by the Light of
God and having fully grown in Wisdom and Might the Enlightened Souls are
Perfect like unto God. Having attained
Perfection, they pass to the Supreme Abode of Shiva (Maha Shiva Laya) Whom
they perceive like unto the Boundless Sky and with Whom each and every Soul
is One.
58. I am that Supreme Shiva. I am Formless, Unmanifest and Divine. Being Self-Luminous, Supreme and First
among all else, I dwell in the Sky of Consciousness, the Highest Heaven. That is My Eternal Abode. I am the Self dwelling therein: the
Unmanifest and Unseen, the Origin of all things. I am known only by means of Pure Knowledge
to those that abide in Unity with Me.
I am realised in their heart by the Wise who are not possessed by a
false Thought of I and who are forever absorbed in meditation.
59. O noble ones! it is impossible to see Me
otherwise. There is no other way
whereby the Supreme Self is realised.
Only by means of Higher Knowledge that arises from within can I be
known to the Sages. Worldly knowledge,
being under the spell of Maya and obscured by ignorance, must be regarded as
worthless in this respect. That
Knowledge which is immaculate, pure, free from doubts and undivided is My
Divine Self. Thus I, the All-Wise,
declare.
60. Whether My devotees perceive Me, the
Highest Principle, the Lord, as either One or Many, they are to be known as
Identical with That. For they behold
their True Self, the Supreme Lord full of Undying Bliss beyond all doubts,
Reality Incarnate. This is the
Truth. They who are thus established
in their Own Self Which lies beyond the manifested World, attain to Peace and
enjoy the Supreme, All-Pervading Bliss that arises from the awareness of
one's Identity with the All. Verily,
this is the Greatest Liberation: the Excellent Identity with My Divine
Self. It is variously known in the
Scriptures as Extinction of Conditioned Existence (Nirvana), Identity with
the Supreme (Shivatva) and Absolute Oneness (Kaivalya).
61. I, the Greatest God, am the Only Eternal
and Infinite Being and the Supremely Auspicious One (Shiva literally means,
Auspiciousness, Goodness, as well as Purity).
By realising Me, Who Am one's Higher Self, one is liberated. O you who are deserving of the Highest
Heaven! he is a true Yogi who is One with Me and who perceives the World as
one with himself. As an ordinary man
perceives his head, hands and other limbs as one with himself, so the Yogi
looks upon moving and unmoving things as one with himself.
62. He is a true Yogi who knows that I, the
Supreme Being Alone Exist as God, Soul and Mind. Looking heavenwards, the Soul knows Me, the
Infinite Sky of Consciousness. Looking
earthwards, he sees the Mind. Verily,
there is naught else to see beside.
When the Mind is animated by the Soul's power of outward attention, it
brings forth the sense perceptions that make up the objects of the
World. Sound, Touch, Colour, Flavour
and Scent combine to give rise to Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. This Group of Five constitutes what is
perceived objectively. Perceiving
them, the ignorant mind forgets That Which Ever Is.
63. O Sages! many are those who are deceived by
the delusions of this World. An old
rope lying in the grass is easily mistaken for a snake. And not everything that shines is
gold. Which means, that not all things
are what they at first appear. Verily,
the ignorant are easily deluded by the objects of the World. Indeed, for them this whole World is an
Abode of Delusion. But the wise Yogi,
knowing that I am the Source of All, knows that everything springs forth from
a higher source. As Mist rises from
Water and Waves rise from the Sea, as Lotus-Flowers rise from a Lake and
Dreams rise from the dreamer's Mind, so the World rises from Me, the Ocean of
Universal Consciousness, the All-Powerful, the Ever Free.
64. All things reflect this Truth. As the Sky reflects in Water and the Moon
reflects the Sun, so the World reflects the Consciousness Which creates all
this out of Itself. As Earth through
her firmness supports all that stands upon her, so Consciousness Which
created Earth is the Immovable Supporter of all things. As Water through its moisture nourishes and
makes grow, so Consciousness Which created Water is the Life-Giver of all
things. As Fire by burning consumes,
so Consciousness Which created Fire is the All-Consuming Power that
annihilates all things when their time has come. As Wind by its power moves things though
itself is never seen, so Consciousness Which created Wind is the Unseen Mover
of all things.
65. As Ethereal Sky envelops and pervades
Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, as well as Sun, Moon and the Stars, so
Consciousness Which created the Sky is That Which Envelops and Pervades all
things. As the Human Mind perceives
all this, so Consciousness Which created the Mind is That Which Knows and
Understands all things. Thus I, the
All-Enveloping, All-Pervading, All-Creating Universal Consciousness reign
supreme.
66. For I am the Sun that blazes in the Sky and
the Fire that burns upon Earth. I am
the Lightning that flashes amongst the Clouds and the Moon that shines
amongst the Stars. I Myself am also
the imperishable Light of Consciousness that illumines the thoughts of
men. It is by My Divine Light alone that
everything is seen. As things that are
unseen in the dark are seen when the Sun shines upon them, even so all things
that were previously unseen become visible when My Light of Consciousness
falls upon them. Verily, all things
come into being and exist when I the Great Unseen see them and not
otherwise. For I am the Seer, the seen
and the act of seeing, too. I Am
everything and all.
67. He who understands that everything is made
of Consciousness, knows everything. He
who understands that Consciousness Alone exists, knows the Highest
Truth. He knows both himself and all
other things. He becomes the
All-Knowing Truth. Such an one is the
One who Sees and is Awake while all others are asleep. Verily, when Consciousness is asleep, It
knows not Itself. Therefore, know that
Sleep is a form of Ignorance and the greatest impediment on the Path. For he who sleeps can never be Awake and he
who is Awake sleeps not. Beware
therefore of Sleep for Sleep is like unto Death.
68. Having descended down into the earthly
World from the Abode of Life, the once-Watchful Soul is overcome by the
multitude of worldly things and falls pray to the slumber of nescience. In that state he deems himself Awake and
calls his condition Waking. Yet in
that state he is neither Awake nor truly Alive. He who knows this, enters upon the Path of
Awakening. He is like unto a man who
first stirs in his sleep, then awakens and opens his eyes to the clear light
of day.
69. O noble ones! one State is known to all men
and Three to Yogis. But the Fifth is
known Alone to the All-Knowing One.
Listen you now what these States are.
First, Waking: that State wherein the Conscious Soul perceives the
outer things of the World and perceiving them becomes caught in the mesh of
feelings and thoughts aroused by the things perceived, is called the
Waking-State. For therein Soul is
awake to the World of objects even though he is asleep to himself.
70. Second, Dreaming: that State wherein the
Soul perceives not the outer World but is absorbed in mind-created dreams is
called the Dream-State. Therein Soul
is awake to the World of Dreams but asleep to both himself and the outer
World. Third, Sleep: that State
wherein the Soul perceives neither the objects of the outer World, nor the inner
World of Dreams, nor yet himself as a Conscious Soul, is called Sleep. For therein Soul is unmindful of all things
but abides in a state of blissful slumber.
71. Fourth, Awakening: that State wherein Soul is
awake to himself as a Radiant Being of Light who is endowed with great Wisdom
and Might, who is freed from the delusions of the inner World of mind, and
freed also from the dark torpor of Sleep, is called Awakening. For therein the Soul is Awake to himself
and to the Abode of Spirit wherefrom all Souls come and unto which they all
return.
72. I have proclaimed to you the first Four
States wherein the Soul abides in the various stages of life. But that State wherein the Soul, having
overcome the Worlds of Matter, Mind and Sleep awakens to the World of Spirit;
and having awakened to the World of Spirit beholds the Effulgent Lord of Life
face to face and is lost in his Master's Infinite Embrace, that, O Sages! is
the State beyond all states. Therein Life
lives in everlasting Oneness, Peace and Bliss.
73. Verily, I say unto you, what is waking in
the World of men is sleep in that of the Awakened Ones (Buddhas). And what is like unto sleep to men is
waking to those who are Awake.
Therefore, so long as the Yogi abides in that State called Waking by
men, he shall be an Unawakened (Abuddha).
And when the Yogi pierces the veil of Dreams and becomes aware of
himself, then he is an Awakened One (Buddha).
But he who conquers Sleep is a Great Yogi and a Well-Awakened
(Prabuddha). He is a Great Hero (Maha
Vira) and a Vanquisher of Death.
Verily, he who conquers Sleep, conquers Death too. For what is Death but a kind of sleep?
74. He who has conquered Death is a Fully
Awakened One (Suprabuddha), a Perfect Being (Siddha Purusha) and an
Immortal. He attains the
75. The Awakened Yogi knows that when Earth has
dissolved in Water, when Water has been consumed in Fire, when Fire has been
quenched in Wind, when Wind has merged into the Sky and the Sky becomes one
with the Mind whereby it is perceived, all that remains is the Light of
Consciousness Which has created all this out of Itself and illumines
everything by Its Self-Effulgent Light.
For him who knows this Secret, the World becomes the Abode of
Bliss. In the Fire of his Higher
Knowledge, the World dissolves in Consciousness which is Pure Intelligence
and Bliss.
76. He who knows this, returns to the One of
Whom he was originally born and becomes One with Him. Having become One with Truth, he goes
beyond earthly life, beyond Karma, beyond Death. He attains Immeasurable Wisdom, Unsurpassed
Perfection and Endless Peace. Such an
one indeed is a Free and Perfect One.
77. He is free from imperfections, free from
doubt, free from sorrow, free from sin.
He illumines everything wherever he goes, like the Radiant Sun on his
Heavenly Path. He shines like the King
of Kings and is a true Ruler of the World.
78. He becomes an Enlightener of the
unenlightened and a Vessel for crossing the
79. O noble ones! the existence of no other
Reality save the Supreme Consciousness of Shiva is the Holy Truth of
Yoga. Of this Exalted Truth (Arya
Satya) all other Truths are born.
First, since Consciousness Alone exists, it follows that all created
things, those that breathe and those that breathe not, are the creation of
the Supreme Consciousness, the Unique, Self-Existing, Uncreated One.
80. Second, being born of Shiva, man is
essentially identical with That. As a
spark of fire is identical with Fire, a ray of sunlight with the Sun and a
raindrop with the Sea, so man is identical with the Supreme All-Consciousness
(Parasamvid), the Mind of the Great One God (Mahadeva).
81. Third, the Goal of human life is to realise
this Unity and Identity, called Yoga by the Wise. For Unity is the essence of Life: Life
without Unity would be just Chaos and the Universe would fall apart. Nor can any man live in disunity with God.
82. And Fourth, Unity is to be realised through
the Practice of Yoga and by the Grace of one's Spiritual Master, human or
Divine. For nothing is achieved
without practice nor is any goal in life attainable without a guide. Thus I have spoken the Fourfold Truth of
Yoga by means whereof man goes to My Supreme Abode.
83. In My Abode of Spirit, neither Sun, Moon,
Stars nor Lightning shine, nor yet physical fire. All being Identical with Me, the Immaculate
Supreme Radiance, everything therein shines by the Light of My Own Conscious
Self. That Which is called the All,
Which is Indivisible, Immutable, Pure and Great, That Alone Shines by Its Own
Self-Luminous Light. That Immovable
Reality which the Enlightened Ones permanently see within themselves, is the
Universal Consciousness, My Own Self.
84. All Scriptures declare that I, the Supreme
Self, am Pure, Sweet, Perpetually Blissful and the Embodiment of Truth. Those who have understood this by hearing
My Revelation, meditate upon Me, the Lord, by means of the sacred Sound OM,
as their true Self. Neither Earth, nor
Water, Fire, Wind nor Ether; neither Mind, nor Intellect, nor Vital Breath,
nor indeed anything else shines in the Firmament. Verily, I, Lord Shiva, shine Alone in the
Great Sky of Reality.
85. O you who are worthy of My Grace! know that
those teachings that deny My Truth are false.
They are the mind-created aberrations of the mad and the deluded who
seek to lead the righteous astray. Do
not listen to what they preach but watch their evil deeds: you will see how
they transgress My Law. Verily, in
this World, some are mad and others are sane.
One who is mad with delusion will lead many a Soul astray. Therefore, beware! do not follow false
teachings that promise an easy way to Salvation. The wise know well that everything is for a
price. If gold and precious stones do
not come cheap, is Heaven going to be free?
86. Just think! had I only wanted, I should
have granted Salvation to all. Know
that the faithful following of My Law, and a pure heart, that is the price for a dwelling-place Above. Therefore, be patient and forbearing for
this is the sign of a truly wise man.
Follow not the falsehoods of the misguided, for their works shall come
to naught. Follow the Path of Perfection and you shall not be harmed by
grief.
87. The Soul having become imperfect on his
descent to Earth must become Perfect again to return unto the Perfect
One. For only that which is Perfect
can join Perfection. The imperfect is
doomed to ever abide in separation from Supreme Perfection. Yoga is the means whereby a Soul is made
Perfect and pleasing to the Lord. The
Lord will not embrace those Souls that make themselves repugnant and unpleasant
to behold. By following the Path of
Righteous Unity, Perfection is attained even in this lifetime. There is no other way. He who seeks another way to Heaven is like
the man who digs a well on the banks of the River Ganges instead of drinking
straight from its holy water.
88. O you who are the first among noble Souls!
My Revelation is the Mightiest and Most Great. There is no other one like It. It is Truth Itself. It shall bring to pass the destruction of
false teachings even as the Rising Sun destroys the dark. Those that dread My Revelation will seek to
corrupt It and debar the faithful from following It. Therefore, It shall first be kept secret. But when the time has come It shall be
openly revealed to all. When other
faiths have passed away, Yoga will prevail.
Then Perfection shall rule over the World.
89. There shall be neither poverty nor
ignorance; neither untimely death nor disease; neither cruelty nor yet any
kind of pain. If My Law of Truth
prevail, Happiness shall reign supreme on Earth, even as it reigns in the
Higher Worlds. Verily, Evil (Adharma)
shall be banished from this World.
Every man, woman and child, nay, every creature upon Earth shall be
happy and wise as well as healthy, beautiful and strong. A just reward for the righteous Souls who
live in Unity with God. Let every Soul
follow My Law for there is nothing that cannot be achieved through Holy Unity
with Me.
90. O you who are rays of My Light! so long as
the Sun and Moon endure, you will find no Revelation like Mine, much as you
may seek. As a mighty Bull that leads
the herd, as a Mountain that supports the Earth, as a Star that shines from
afar, even so I am the Supreme Leader of the World. I lead, guide and protect all Souls. He who, having received My Revelation, be
moved by the Love of Shiva to follow the
Path of Truth,
shall attain the Highest
Good. This is the Eternal Law. Commentary to Chapter Nine
3. Know that men are not born perfect but with defects acquired in
former lives: People imagine themselves to be perfect and therefore
entitled to a perfect and easy life.
However, closer investigation will reveal that few humans are
perfect. Most exhibit a number of
defects of which some are obvious to all and some are known to God
alone. In consequence, they cannot
reasonably expect to have a perfect, problem-free life. Rather, in order to have a perfect life man
must make himself perfect first.
Perfection (and perfect life) is attained by living in harmony with
God.
4. Suffering renders an unyielding heart receptive to that which is
right, etc.: Suffering (Duhkha), unpleasant and unattractive to the mind
though it may be, does not actually harm the Soul. On the contrary, it often helps free the
Soul from certain psychological blockages that prevented him from realising a
higher truth. As verse 10:189 says,
the Self is purified by the fire of Wisdom even as gold is purified by the
smelting of ore. Thus an interesting
and instructive story is told of the 12th century South-Indian Sage Allama
Prabhu. He was once a Yogi and Devotee
of Shiva, but because he had neglected his practice he was reborn as an
ordinary man who earned his living as a temple-drummer. Moved by compassion for His faithful
devotee, Shiva designed a plan to help him.
And so, He sent down the Goddess Parvati from Heaven in the shape of a
young village girl. And they say that
her dazzling beauty was so great, that she outshined even the Sun. Allama fell in love with this beautiful
“village girl” whose name was Kamalate (Love's Tendril) and they got
married. Together, they enjoyed the
highest bliss of love. So much so,
that all thought the couple had found Heaven on Earth. Yet the girl suddenly fell ill with a fever
and died. Unable to bear the pain, and
not finding any peace of mind, Allama was roaming the fields and the woods
like a madman. One day, while he was
sitting all alone in a forest grove, he saw something jutting forth from the
ground: it was the golden top of an ancient temple, buried beneath the jungle
floor. Thinking that it must be some
sign from God, he dug up the place and deep down found the closed door of a
shrine. Allama kicked the door open
and entered. Right in front of him he
saw a Yogi, sitting in a trance, absorbed in deep Communion with Shiva,
completely oblivious of the World round him, for whom time and space no
longer existed. The Yogi's eyes and
face were aglow with a mysterious power that was streaming in all directions,
filling the Universe with a magic light.
Even his long locks were glowing and he had a string of Holy Rudraksha
Beads round his neck, while heavy, snake-shaped earrings were hanging from
his ears. Like the Divine
Wish-Fulfilling Tree, he sat there in the heart of the temple. His name was The Ever Awake or He Whose
Eyes Never Close (Animishayya). While
Allama just stood there in astonishment, the Yogi put an Image of Shiva into
Allama's hand and then, having accomplished his mission, left his physical
body to return to the secret place he had come from. In that moment, Allama, remembering his
true identity, became Enlightened and wandered from then on wherever Shiva
called him and wherever Shiva took him.
He became one of |