Every spiritual seeker is familiar with the word ‘enlightenment ‘,
and this is what he aims to achieve through his ‘sadhana’ sooner or later. It
is perceived as an extraordinary and absolute state of perfect happiness or
‘Param Ananda’, beyond all duality of the mortal world and not bound by time,
space or the law of causation. It is also understood as a state immeasurable by
thought and thus inexpressible in terms of words and languages. The spiritual masters
point out such an experience as ‘Shunya’ or the Void beyond any known
definition to human beings. As the the
mortal words fails to explain ‘what such a state is’, it can probably be
understood by way of ‘negation’ i.e. ‘what it is not’, referred to as ‘Neti-Neti’
in ancient literature, meaning ‘neither this nor that’ in literal sense. So,
there cannot be an objective definition of enlightenment as such.
Having said this much, then how do we then understand what the
‘truth’ is ? What we are seeking for and what we expect to achieve ? Is there a
method or process to attain such state, which may yield through cumulative
efforts ? These aspects and similar other queries need a due attention if one
has to traverse the ‘said to be but unknown’ path of self quest.
The state of enlightenment can be said to be synonymous with the
‘truth’. The Vedas explicitly declare that ‘the truth is not achievable by any
method’. The truth ‘is’ or ‘is not’. It is the being or the very existence of a
moment ‘as it is’. To see the point in logical way, you may agree that a method
always presupposes some defined action within a prescribed time frame. It is
nothing but a projection of mind into future with a pre-formulated action plan
with pre-assumed expected results, which is generally falling or governed
through the mind’s field of thought. The thought has a natural limitation for
what is known to the mind. Even the imagination and dreams are hit by this
limitation. On the contrast, the ‘truth’ is totality of existence felt in each
and every moment of the life, which is perennial, ever flowing and ever new.
Hence, it is beyond the mind’s field of thought or incomprehensible by way of
thought mapping.
Of course, following a method or ‘sadhana’, will definitely lead us to ‘somewhere’
which is different from an ordinary experience. It may be thus be appearing
attractive yet is a pre conceived thought induced subjective experience only.
To illustrate, a devotee to a particular deity may happen to eventually experience
divine figure and embrace of his beloved deity in the course of his devotion,
as the thought intensifies pre-occupying his mind. In such a case, the thought
becomes so unidirectional that it appears to be real, which may otherwise be a
presupposed projection of the very mind. In a similar manner a Kriya Yogi doing
‘pranayam’ may feel outbursts of energy in his chakras and visual symbols under
closed meditative eyes holding a pre conceived mediation dream projected by the
mind. These all experiences are of the subjective category and in net sum
differ from person to person. Such experiences do not guarantee the
enlightenment to the seeker.
If there is no objective reality, then what one has to seek? Whether the enlightenment is also mind’s another
projection of subjective nature? It seems not to be so, as per the declarations
by the true masters like Lord Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Vivekananda and so on. Then
how we can be sure about it? What test can prove this? The true test has been
attainment of peace, harmony, universal love and compassion, fearlessness and selflessness.
Thus a noticeable behaviour pattern change speaking through selfless action can
be the guidepost for inward journey to self. However, we should also note that
the mind is finite and limited while we set the journey to embark the
immeasurable and infinite.
Let us proceed with this limited & imperfect but the only tool
to explore the self. A little introspection will tell us that we are always
seeking ‘something’. There is a ‘craving’ which never comes to an end. Somewhere
there appears an ‘emptiness’ which never gets fulfilled. We seek and search
this against the event and experiences tagged to love, freedom, happiness and
so on. A further introspection easily points that every living being is seeking
nothing but continuous or absolute happiness, the ‘Ananda’, in the deepest of
their longings. This is the actual goal of every ‘being’, knowingly or
unknowingly, expressed through all the actions undertaken and activities going
around.
The craving in emptiness, however, in the event of having known the
essence of self and the being results in the empty void replaced and filled
with the ever joyful bliss. No duality, no darkness, no thoughtfulness but only
the state of ‘pure being’ is experienced. There are no ways to authenticate but
only to experience; and please remember that to experience that ‘something’, no
method or thought-net is required at all. What is required is that your whole
being gets expressed, ‘as it is’ in a momentary flick of ‘present’, and then
the ‘experience’ occurs simultaneously without any effort. To be ‘aware’ and ‘watchful’
are better keywords in the ‘journey to self’. The aim and purpose of every
living being, in general, and human beings, in particular, on this mortal earth,
is to experience it once. Having experienced this and thus fulfilled the
purpose of life, there is no need to revisit the earthly plain meaning thereby
freedom from rebirths, as claimed by the scriptures of old wisdom.
In such a state, the divinity is manifest and expressed, as the
thought falls to its futility and so is the ego, since there is no one to
present and push forward it after the fall of the thought. Thus, no
confrontation is there and the state of surrender and total acceptance surfaces,
transforming the very being of a persona and bringing changes which reflect the
radiance of truth and selfless action in its own. The individual conscious
merges with the cosmic or universal consciousness, unveiling joyful bliss, love
and compassion. There is no need to do a lot of efforts or bind ourselves to a
methodology for seeking the answer to our constant cravings. To be watchful and
aware to our being is all what is required. Rest will happen automatically and
instantly, filling one’s heart with everlasting joy. The Vedas also declare the
same – “Do nothing, Just ‘be’ with, and the grace of God will bless you with
the truth.”
However, this kind of state should not be construed as state of
inaction. Rather, it is a state of ‘total action’, which is different and
beyond our daily chores and yet filled with spontaneity. In such a state only
the true meaning of phrase ‘work is worship’ gets imbibed into ones persona,
and start reflecting in each and every, small or grand action of such person.
Then by such selfless action or ‘nishkam karma’, which does not bind but leads
to freedom and bliss, the realised soul surrenders or merges to universal one, declaring
‘Thy will shall be done’. In the words of Buddha in such state- “events happen,
deeds are done but there is no individual doer”. He indicates, thus, that the
action is not performed and owned by any individual but driven and owned by the
‘Cosmic Will’.
The crux of enlightenment, therefore, lies in ‘surrender, total
acceptance and total action’. This has been the very foundation of spiritual
teachings around the world from ancient to the modern time, right from Tao to
Prophet Mohammad or the Christ. When this convergence happens and ego falls, a
Chaitnaya starts dancing, a Ramkrishna weeps at the feet of Kali, a
Shankaracharya sets off beyond barriers to unify the country with universal
consciousness. Modern day philosophers like Eckhart Tolle, therefore also,
stresses ‘to surrender to the very present moment before us’, as this is the
only reality against the dead past and progressively projected future. He
preaches- ‘we have to intensify our degree of presence in the present moment,
bringing the pendulum of mind to a standstill’. In the words of the eminent
scholar of twentieth century, Shri J. Krishnamurthy, “Total acceptance of ‘what
is’ is the key to transformation”.
So, we have to cease making ‘efforts’ to ‘attain’, as in fact we are
running away by running after in such a quest. In this world, though we may
continue to perform outwardly actions as usual, inside we need to be aware of
the ‘being’ with total acceptance of ‘It’, which is stated to be ‘Sharnagati’, because “What is .. ‘That’ is..”
(C) Ashok Kumar Pandey,Noida (India)1988-2011
