Commentaries by Vee Jay Attri during the Book Study – Secrets of Karma
Let us continue with our study. This is from the Secrets of Karma. We were reading on the game of cycles. The concluding word was Moksha or liberation. We were talking about the hundredth square on the snake and ladder which normally is about liberation. So, you are liberated. As a matter of fact, many of the spiritual aspirants are actually aiming for Moksha, also called Nirvana or Liberation. Not a very wise thing!
Unfortunately, you are actually having a sense of selfishness in accomplishing Moksha. That is why, some of the saints do not aspire for Moksha. They want to serve till the time the humanity is fully awakened.
What is the purpose in me having moksha and liberation alone, leaving behind the suffering humanity, leaving behind people in ignorance, leaving behind my own brothers and sisters in utter darkness, pain and misery. This is not very useful. The ideal level of Moksha or liberation is experiencing it while you are in an embodiment.
Sometimes, we refer it as Jivanmukti. Jivan is in an embodiment or life, mukti is liberation and therefore while you are in an embodiment, you experience liberation, moksha or nirvana. That is the ideal state.
So, for that you have to do a lot of effort; bahut kal ki abhyaas, practicing it for a long time, your spiritual Sadhanas or practices but two important things that are very necessary for experiencing liberation or nirvana while you are an embodiment: No1. Detachment! Extremely important. Practicing detachment!
After having done whatever that you could do in any given situation, you are now detached. No2. Sakshi Drishta, learning to be an observer. You remember the story that we share. That is so important to understand. If you are not able to learn to be an observer, in the coming times, it is going to be a challenge.
Over and over again, I hear about people’s inability to practice these two important aspects of spiritual life; detachment and a state of being an observer.
If you do not do that, for example, you are actually seeing the suffering of your near and dear ones and you are in deep pain, which is very natural because we are humans. However, you are not only a human, you are a spiritual warrior.
The job of a warrior is to radiate peace, courage and faith in the atmosphere, in the lives of people who are connected with us. If you yourself are having so much of pain, sorrow and suffering, looking at the sufferings of others, what kind of energy you are radiating to the people? This is very important to understand.
You see, there was a time when my mother was having so many ailments. She was in deep pain. For number of years, she was suffering. She had to, of course, neutralize her own package. The people who were coming to her, they were in deep pain, especially the close ones, they were shedding tears, they were in pain, they were suffering, which is very natural. When I used to go to see her, I used to make a joke. I would just talk something very light. Then, after talking to her for some time, she will say, “You know, every time you come near me, I feel good. I feel a sense of peace. I feel a sense of assurance!”
Now who is contributing more, a person who is detached or a person who is utterly attached? This is a very important question you should ask yourself and that is the reason why, as far as possible, practice detachment. It is in detachment that you practice the highest version of love.
Pure love is radiated only from a state of detachment, only from a state of observer. Even if you do not understand this now at least, contemplate on that. Understand in different situations, what did you contribute, what kind of radiations, what kind of energies have been radiated through you?
These are all the important self-analysis you have to make. Then, you will understand that the solution for the people’s problems lies in practicing detachment and sustaining a state of being an observer. Very important! Alright, let us continue with our study.
Law of Impermanence
There is a very profound quotation from the Holy Bible.
“This too shall pass.”
Holy Bible
That means every moment, everything will change. It is also called the law of impermanence. Let’s read!
We are in a dynamic universe where change is the law.
This aspect of creation helps us to develop detachment as any form of attachment karmically binds and blocks our spiritual development.
Be it pain or pleasure, sorrow or happiness, poverty or prosperity, all are bound to change.
That means, when you are at the bottom of the cycle, remind yourself this too shall pass. It will change. Grand days will come. Brighter days will come. That is the law! What is down has to go up. Very simple and straightforward.
The Buddha called this ever-changing nature of life the Law of Impermanence.
Even your feelings towards people change. An Indian proverb states: “The new has nine days!”
That means, if something is so pleasurable to you that you are so attached to it, gently remind yourself that this may also pass. So, when you are telling somebody: “I love you so much, I cannot live without you,” a wise person will think, “Yes, it is very beautiful for me to express my love towards somebody.” But, at the same time, to expect the person to be the same all the time is not going to help you because people will change, their feelings towards you will change. The same is with you. You will also change and and your feelings towards people will also change.
That is bound to happen. Nothing stays forever as it is. If it is so, then it is not an evolving universe. Evolution happens with the power of this most important law called the Law of change. So, that means, that I learn not to be too attached to anything.
Neither I am attached to pain, suffering, sorrow nor I am attached to happiness or pleasures, understanding that as per the law, everything is bound to change. It doesn’t mean that when good things are happening, you need to keep thinking, “Oh, I am going to lose it!” No!
That is not the way. We learn to practice moment to moment activities of awareness in our life. At this moment, I am so happy. I don’t have to think about the next moment. It can be different, it can be the same. Why should I have concern about what is going to happen the next moment? This moment I am very happy, that is important.
And also, many at times, people keep on worrying and worrying and worrying, having all kinds of fear, whereas 99% of the time, their worries and fears never come true. Unfortunately, they missed this present moment of being content and happy with themselves or with the people around.
So, law of change is not asking you to live in a state of so much of dry and indifferent life. When it is possible, enjoy the moment. If you’re having an ice cream, enjoy that ice cream. Don’t think that tomorrow you will not have this ice cream.
That is not what is actually the application of what we are learning now. So, do not be indifferent nor be a dry person. At the same time, when everything is beautiful, don’t be so attached to it. That is the most important message. Even your feeling towards people change. An Indian proverb states, “The new has nine days!”
So, when you get a new car, a new job, a new boyfriend or girlfriend or anything that excites you and puts you in heaven, gently remind yourself that, “This too shall pass.”
Moreover, what was responsible for your pleasure can become the cause for your pain as well and this happens even when people win a jackpot.
Same is true when people give you so much of pain and you learn to transmute the pain, not accepting the pain and not reacting, even the enemy becomes your closest friend or a well wisher. Either way, it is true.
So, no need to add only a negative connotation to all that we are reading. Even in the worst of the worst experiences, there is something greater good that will emerge. That is exactly what we mean by “this too shall pass.” Hence, do not be too attached to anything.
When life is good, take full advantage of it to generate good karma. Enjoy it but keep a balance between your material and spiritual sides of life.
Take the opportunity of good times to grow spiritually stronger so that when the cycle of descent begins, you are well equipped to face the challenges.
Further reading, Secrets of Karma, Page 123