The Philosophy of Soul and Matter
About the Author
Mrs. Indira Gandhi once said, “Muni Chitrabhanu looked very much like what one would imagine Christ to be and gave me an impression of deep peace.” This view is shared by Munishree’s numerous follower, admirers and friends all over the world.
SENSE BEYOND THE SENSES is a compilation of talks given by Gurudev Chitrabhany in the United States. His lectures aim at kindling awareness of the Self within all- his philosophy is that of reverence for all life. One of the spiritual leaders of India’s four million Jains, Shree Chitrabhanu is the first Jain master to leave his country. He has traveled extensively throughout Europe and East Africa to acquaint people with the principles of non-violence and the belief that the unfolding of spiritual consciousness is the birthright of every individual.
Gurudev first arrived in the USA in 1971 as a representative of Indian spiritual culture for the Third Spiritual Summit Conference held at Harvard Divity School and Princeton University. He has lectured throughout the USA and was keynote speaker at the Quaker Conference on World Peace at Ithaca College in June, 1974. Shree Chitrabhanu is the Founder, Prsident and Director of: Divine Knowledge Society, Bombay, the World Fellowship of Religions and the Jain Meditation International Centre (J.M.I.C.) in New York City under whose auspices he leads retreats and gives weekly talks.
About the Book
In the lightning-fast World of ours, I believe remaining happy has to now be added to the To-Do list of people, so as to remind them every morning at 9:00 AM that one of their tasks is also to be happy and enjoy the day. Such is the misery that the World has to now be taught ways to keep itself happy and cheered up. However, there are numerous ways listed which have always failed to please me individually, for they were directed to seek the happiness and bliss through outer means, either through someone, or through something, or somewhere. Always had it happened that the ways suggested like going for a walk, talking with friends, going for a movie or even taking therapy fail at a longer run. It was while reading this book that I found the actual answer to this enigma.
The answer to attaining this ever-lasting and ever-joyful bliss is through the awakening of the sentient energy. In much simpler words, the answer lies with our own selves and it is this concept of sentient energy which I came across in detail through the pages of this book.
It has been observed that for few people, their aura is so positive that at their every entry in a room, the mood lightens up and people feel positive in their presence. This concept is related to the concept of Positive Vibrations. It has been said in the book that one should always be in the presence of positive healthy vibrations. These vibrations are even felt at some places, in doing some activities and even while meditating. These vibrations are so strong that they have strong beckoning influence on a soul that the experience of these vibrations itself makes the soul forget the difference of initiator and response, between outer and inner. In the book it has been described to be the merging of a drop of soul into an ocean of vastness. It is these vibrations which have been equated with the sentient energy in this book. It is the sentient energy which exists at the backdrop of all the animate forces and is the indestructible energy which exists at the heart of such forces. The sentient energy once awakened allows the soul to be master of our own destiny and conqueror of all mental weakness, progressing that soul towards free will and move towards the true nature of our existence.
Knowing the Sentient from Insentient Energy
“No weapon can cut it
Nor any fire burn it
No water can make it wet
Nor any wind dry it
It is atma, immortal”
Then there is an atom. An atom is the most basic unit of all structures in the World and a bunch of atom together create a molecule and when these molecules are grouped together, they construct the forms found in the universe. These atoms are the insentient energy or unconscious energy. They are the fundamentals of energy and in our Atomic Science, we have studied that the fission of an atom of uranium, is so strong that it is capable of electricity production. Like the nature of an atom, even the insentient energy is always in a statement of constant flux, continuously undergoing change in motion. It is when these atoms bump against one another that they create a vibration.
Together the Atma (Sentient Energy) and Atom (Insentient Energy) make up the structure of the entire universe. A striking observation has also been made in the book that how the West has always been keen to know the secrets of the Atom and how the East has been exploring the secrets of the Atma. However, the two can infact be studied and mastered together. With the knowledge of the Atma, Atom can be understood and vice versa. By differentiating between the sentient and insentient energy, one shall be able to actually work in direction of attaining complete awareness of itself.
So now how does one starts the process of differentiating the sentient from the insentient? Well the process starts from leaving one’s mind aside. It true! Our minds are trained in such a manner that it observes only that which makes sense to it. The mind is find of labelling everything, categorizing everything. In short, the mind wants to give sense to this World in a codified way which makes us fail to observe the beautiful un-describable and in-explainable observations. When the mind stops is where the process of an actual seeker begins and one starts introspection.
Further, once we understand the difference between the sentient and the insentient, we shall understand that the two are actually co-dependent. The sentient energy works through the insentient. It is the sentient energy inside us which functions through insentient energy of our brain. However, the actions and ours and the experiences of ours are influenced by the vibrations of the insentient energy and since 5000 years, it has been believed that these vibrations of the insentient is nothing but our karmas which finally decide our experiences, our actions, our inactions. Therefore for one to say that they are suffering by the hands of someone else would be wrong for the karmas are attracted because of one’s own passion.
Distinguishing “I” from “Not I”
I believe we all have one point of time come across a moment when we have said this to ourselves when death is the final ending then why not enjoy everything right now itself. This theory makes us concur fear of finality, which eventually leads to loss of peace. Here we come across the concept of eternity. Let us realize that we all are on a sojourn to complete, fulfil or undo something. However, when this mission or journey ends, it will be incorrect to state that all is lost. The sentient energy in every being is eternal. The form may become broken, decomposed but the sentient energy is changeless. If we become aware of this sentient energy in our selves, we shall be able to shed off the load of matter which weighs us down.
Now it is this realization of the sentient energy within us that makes us realize the true meaning of “I”. Until we associate ourselves with the transient state or the present role we play, we shall not be able to enter the experiential level of the sentient energy. Also, it is because of our karmas that we are not able to distinguish between our eternal nature and the transient nature. It is when this realization is achieved that we get the real experience of the sentient atma, when we realize that the sentient energy is the real “I”.
Realizing What You Are
Pratikramana- To step back and see what you are
It is essential for every soul to undergo the process of Pratikramana in order to heal their wounds, which have been bleeding internally. The great souls of our universe have been practicing the process of Pratikramana for experiencing pure bliss and it was their experience our every action is calculated in form of vibration. Based on the way it vibrates, it attracts subtle atoms. These atoms build up our thinking, words and longing. When we realize that we are a microcosm of the macrocosm, when we see that in form we are composed of the same elements as the universe, that we concur that we are a from of the cosmos.
In order to work and adjust to the laws of the cosmos, it is necessary to accept the laws of change. We must understand that it is the truth of the universe that nature is ever-changing and if something new is to be brought forth, the old must be gone. The nature does not resist this change, for it’s a process of cleansing. Similarly for us, if we wish to feel fresh, we must make room for something by foregoing the old, the way trees shed their leaves during fall to make way for the new leaves in spring. This new life, is also nothing but the sentient energy. Our awareness of the fact that this sentient energy is always present within ourselves and will lead to us shedding of the karmic burdens making one feel buoyant.
Recognizing Your Part In The Law Of Karma
What do I want?
What do I really need?
How much do I need?
What pleases me?
What is my unique dream?
Do I share with the World what I need for myself?
The last question is what sets the path for our journey of introspection. But in order to understand the crucialness of the last question, it is necessary to first understand the inter-dependence of the vibrations. Hasn’t this happened with us numerous times that when we meet a certain person we are filled with joy and a certain positivity is felt and there are few whom whenever we meet, we are left with a gloomy and low feeling. This is because of the vibrations these people emitted which we reflected upon. In fact these vibrations are so essential that these can even accelerate one’s growth or degrade it. The next step is to stop blaming others. One needs to start accepting that whatever is happening is a consequence of their own action. Thirdly, one has to also realize that apparently there is no sin. Whatever you see is a consequence of your past actions. Clinging to the past and crying over it is also not a solution. Present should not be wasted away just by looking at the past.
When our heart is longing for something, it chooses and it vibrates in response. It is by becoming aware of my heart’s desire that I acknowledge my dream and thereby discover my mission. Therefore listening to one’s heart becomes even more crucial for it will make you listen to your inner voice. The closer we are to our dream, the more our karmas are reflected upon tasks to make that dream come true and slowly our karmic vibrations are towards achieving this mission.
When we are clear about what we want, we will no longer be tempted by what I do not need. We will be well aware of our quest and when we know our quest, we know other’s quest. We shall then be able to know others and then no longer will be to act as a hindrance or a trouble for their quest. It is when we start reciprocating what we want from the universe and what we love, it is then that we start acquiring the positive vibrations too in return. Soon we will be able to see the World as “I”.
Transforming Your Vibrations
The vibrations which we have till now assessed in detail actually work like a boomerang. The way we transmit them, is the way be receive them in return. Therefore, if we send out positive vibrations, the same should be received in return and if we transmit negative vibrations, then the sender should expect the same in return. Once you absorb these vibrations, they bind you and this is nothing but karma.
Thus, for those who have witnessed the philosophy of vibrations and karmas, they live differently for those who are unaware of it. They are known to the fact that passion creates vibrations which leads to bandha. So they practice samvara i.e. stoppage of the influx of karmas, i.e. you stop before having thought, before speaking, before you act because you are well aware that each act of yours shall have a vibration.
Therefore, in a way when we come across the realization of the self, vibration and karmas, not only do we start clearing the path for ourselves but we also start reflecting positivity to the cosmos, which then becomes an innate part of ourselves. This journey I believe once embarked upon will cause one to start healing from within, a permanent solution rather and will also help that person feel the divine.
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