The bhutan observer
February 2018
SPIRITUAL SCIENCE: NEED OF THE TIME
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Bhutan is known by the spiritual inclination of the majority of its population although they lack the clarity in the practice of the Dharma. There are Buddhist temples and a few Hindu temples but seldom do the people know about the real truth they are searching for because there is just a dry cultural pursuit. Had they known the inclusiveness of both the cultural and spiritual dimension, there would not have been such a large-scale violation of human rights in the early nineties that drove about one-sixth of the country's population out of their homes from the land that worships the Buddha. It is envisaged that through the writings I am making here, a more concretized view of the truth may come about and help realize there is one knower, the process of knowing and the known.
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God is not a Christian. He is not a Hindu, neither a Muslim nor a Buddhist. He is above all these religions or cultures. He governs over everything in the entirety. He is the Supreme Will whose manifestation is the vast creation where we find ourselves occupying the multi-microscopic spot on this planet. Under His command, the solar system, the galaxies, the planets, the gravity and all other heavenly bodies perform their duty. He is not up there in heaven. He is everywhere, knows everything and He is the most powerful. One of the world's greatest Scientist Albert Einstein towards the end of his career concluded that 'the more I go on discovering this universe, the more I am convinced that there is a mysterious energy sustaining the entire universe". This is what has been said by our sages thousands of years before him. We know that the person you call yourself is the mind, body, emotions and the life energy. You are a miniature cosmos by yourself which is longing for infinite expansion.
Some 15,000 years ago, talking to his seven disciples in his abode in the upper regions of the Himalayas, Adi Yogi, the first Yogi Shiva instructed the secret of the five elements namely earth, water, air. fire and space. One needs to attain a mastery of these five elements so as to transcend the physical to the spiritual. We also have five senses which are outward bound and they can only comprehend the information outside. That's why the third eye which is not a crack on the forehead but a perception beyond physicality. It allows to perceive things as they are untainted by the five senses or the memories we carry. Many of the times there is a confusion about Shiva. There are two dimensions of Shiva - Sakar and Nirakar. First as I mentioned before is the Sakar or the physically manifest. He is the Adhi Yogi or Adhi Guru who metamorphized in human form and he is called by the name Shiva. He does not have parental lineage. He is the Syambhu or the self-created. The second or the Nirakar literally meaning formless, aspect of Shiva is the eternal being, the vast emptiness or the ever-increasing vastness. He is the supreme Truth, Knowledge and Bliss solidified. Yogis explain Shiva as'That which is not'. The profound science of yoga also says that the Linga means form which is ellipsoid in shape. It is known that creation begins in this form and dissolution too happens in this form. Do you know science too says the galaxies are elliptical in shape? All these implies the process of creation and dissolution is an ongoing process in the eternity.
The world will be a great place if only those who inhabit it are conscious human beings who realize everyone's human values and work for enhancement of this planet. It is a sincere wish that human beings rise above the limitedness by realizing their true nature. We are both materialistic and spiritual. As long as we have this body and mind, materials are required to sustain it and each one of us is spiritual because you are the spirit. You will not be you if there was no spirit. If we realize and take ourselves to the horizon beyond physical, it is no doubt that we will have friendship and brotherhood everywhere. The creation came into being after millions and millions of years of evolution. It was His will to bring the creation into this shape. God has done a great job by this magnificent art. It is now all in our hands how we want to manage or use what is all there. Now, God will not even raise his little finger for you. Do not expect any magic. God is not a magician. Everything that happens is the consequence of your karma. It is your doing. It is your making. You are solely responsible in this game of cause and effect.
It must also be remembered that we as members of the global family have our own distinct language, culture and traditions which are valuable to us. They represent the identity and the land we belong. With due respect to this feeling of oneness, there is also no bar at all to pursue self-realization in the truest of the terms. We just need to see the difference between culture and spirituality. For example, Hindu is not a religion. It is a geographical and cultural identity of the people living between Himalayas in the north to the Indian Ocean in the South. It is not a land of believers rather a land of seekers. Besides it can rightly be said that the spiritual science finds its highest expression in this land. At the same time, there is a colorful cultural expression where ever you go. It is said that in India, there are 12 months but 13 festivals. In the northern border of India is Bhutan. It is marked by such festivities which is a sight to see. It is my hope that I have been able to relay my message to the people of my country of origin Bhutan in whatever small way possible. Such beautiful cultures are spread all over the world and they truly represent unity in diversity. They should be preserved and promoted in full measure.
If you want to see a dream, you must sleep. Similarly, if you want to gain spiritual progress, you must meditate. But it must be borne in mind that you never meditate on your own. You need an expert guidance like an established Guru. Otherwise it could be dangerous. As per my knowledge goes, we gain cosmic energy during meditation. We also get some amount of this cosmic energy during sleep.This energy helps the better functioning of the body system and prepares for achieving higher knowledge. The masters of SPACE, in a movie 'Spiritual Reality – A Journey Within' say Meditation is conscious sleep. Sleep is unconscious meditation. Until the time you know the truth, keep moving ahead. Once you know it there will not be anything left unknown. If you feel there is something however little yet to be known, understand that the knowledge of truth has not happened to you.
Some 15,000 years ago, talking to his seven disciples in his abode in the upper regions of the Himalayas, Adi Yogi, the first Yogi Shiva instructed the secret of the five elements namely earth, water, air. fire and space. One needs to attain a mastery of these five elements so as to transcend the physical to the spiritual. We also have five senses which are outward bound and they can only comprehend the information outside. That's why the third eye which is not a crack on the forehead but a perception beyond physicality. It allows to perceive things as they are untainted by the five senses or the memories we carry. Many of the times there is a confusion about Shiva. There are two dimensions of Shiva - Sakar and Nirakar. First as I mentioned before is the Sakar or the physically manifest. He is the Adhi Yogi or Adhi Guru who metamorphized in human form and he is called by the name Shiva. He does not have parental lineage. He is the Syambhu or the self-created. The second or the Nirakar literally meaning formless, aspect of Shiva is the eternal being, the vast emptiness or the ever-increasing vastness. He is the supreme Truth, Knowledge and Bliss solidified. Yogis explain Shiva as'That which is not'. The profound science of yoga also says that the Linga means form which is ellipsoid in shape. It is known that creation begins in this form and dissolution too happens in this form. Do you know science too says the galaxies are elliptical in shape? All these implies the process of creation and dissolution is an ongoing process in the eternity.
The world will be a great place if only those who inhabit it are conscious human beings who realize everyone's human values and work for enhancement of this planet. It is a sincere wish that human beings rise above the limitedness by realizing their true nature. We are both materialistic and spiritual. As long as we have this body and mind, materials are required to sustain it and each one of us is spiritual because you are the spirit. You will not be you if there was no spirit. If we realize and take ourselves to the horizon beyond physical, it is no doubt that we will have friendship and brotherhood everywhere. The creation came into being after millions and millions of years of evolution. It was His will to bring the creation into this shape. God has done a great job by this magnificent art. It is now all in our hands how we want to manage or use what is all there. Now, God will not even raise his little finger for you. Do not expect any magic. God is not a magician. Everything that happens is the consequence of your karma. It is your doing. It is your making. You are solely responsible in this game of cause and effect.
It must also be remembered that we as members of the global family have our own distinct language, culture and traditions which are valuable to us. They represent the identity and the land we belong. With due respect to this feeling of oneness, there is also no bar at all to pursue self-realization in the truest of the terms. We just need to see the difference between culture and spirituality. For example, Hindu is not a religion. It is a geographical and cultural identity of the people living between Himalayas in the north to the Indian Ocean in the South. It is not a land of believers rather a land of seekers. Besides it can rightly be said that the spiritual science finds its highest expression in this land. At the same time, there is a colorful cultural expression where ever you go. It is said that in India, there are 12 months but 13 festivals. In the northern border of India is Bhutan. It is marked by such festivities which is a sight to see. It is my hope that I have been able to relay my message to the people of my country of origin Bhutan in whatever small way possible. Such beautiful cultures are spread all over the world and they truly represent unity in diversity. They should be preserved and promoted in full measure.
If you want to see a dream, you must sleep. Similarly, if you want to gain spiritual progress, you must meditate. But it must be borne in mind that you never meditate on your own. You need an expert guidance like an established Guru. Otherwise it could be dangerous. As per my knowledge goes, we gain cosmic energy during meditation. We also get some amount of this cosmic energy during sleep.This energy helps the better functioning of the body system and prepares for achieving higher knowledge. The masters of SPACE, in a movie 'Spiritual Reality – A Journey Within' say Meditation is conscious sleep. Sleep is unconscious meditation. Until the time you know the truth, keep moving ahead. Once you know it there will not be anything left unknown. If you feel there is something however little yet to be known, understand that the knowledge of truth has not happened to you.
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- DILIP BISHWO, Iowa, USA
Contact the writer at: bishwod@bhutaniowa.org
Contact the writer at: bishwod@bhutaniowa.org
The article presented in this column is the personal opinion of the writer and doesn't represent the opinion of BCI or any other organizations what so ever. The BCI has only offered the medium to the writer for expressing his opinion through this website.
