Half a Chicken?

Ancient sages tell of a farmer who became quite concerned about his chickens. Seeing them lay an abundance of eggs pleased him very much, but the fact that he had to constantly feed them was annoying. He came up with a ‘master plan’ to cut their heads off and simply keep the useful half. Needless to say, as he waited for the eggs to emerge he was quite disappointed.

Many of us on the spiritual journey may be modern versions of this farmer. Often, we accept and embrace the principles and practices of a particular spiritual path that sit comfortably with us. We have no problems with those things we enjoy and can quite straightforwardly implement into our present lifestyle. However, it’s a little more uncomfortable when we confront the aspects that challenge us and implore changes to our present ways of thinking, feeling and living. Thus, selectively mixing and matching different traditions has become quite popular and trendy.

One may argue that there is genuine spiritual wisdom in different traditions and spheres of life. We totally agree. However, the conclusion that you can take a little bit from everywhere, merge it together and come up with your own personalized philosophy in life, doesn’t sit too well. It’s almost like picking different parts of different recipes in different cook-books, and expecting a succulent cuisine to manifest after you randomly throw it all together.

Great books of wisdom like the Bhagavad-gita do not present an ultimatum of ‘all or nothing’. At the same time, it may be worth considering that the great success of these ancient books in giving people direct spiritual realization lies in the fact that they have outlined a spiritual process which is comprehensive and complete – philosophically and practically.
 

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Digging a Little Deeper

The internet is full of different conspiracy theories. It’s hard to know whether we are living in illusion or reality due to the dubious integrity of our sources of information. Joseph Goebbels, known for his work with Adolf Hitler, undoubtedly knew something about propaganda. He once commented, "You tell a lie loud enough and long enough and people will believe it." The creation of the universe, the origin of life and the evolution of man are the central pillars of science. These scientific theories are taught as irrevocable fact in schools, colleges and universities across the world. The amazing thing is that increasing evidence is being found which directly challenges these popular notions. However, the worrying thing is that such information is usually filtered out from mainstream awareness.

According to such theories, the first human-like primates are said to have appeared about 4 million years ago. Interestingly, we find carved stone tools from the same time period, clearly indicating the presence of advanced humans with dexterous ability. Even worse for the evolutionists, we find a fully "developed" human skeleton in Italy also from that time period. Unfortunately, knowledge filters prevent such information from hitting the headlines. We are told how 2 million years ago along came Homohabilis, and he developed about 1.5 million years ago into Homoerectus. However, even for this age there are also findings of carved shells and detailed clay statues in Nampa, Idaho. The list goes on.

It seems clear from this recently documented evidence that the theory of evolution, and the dates attributed to the appearance of mankind, are on shaky ground. Before submissively accepting such theories, popular as they may be, it may be worth ‘digging a little deeper’. As Sherlock Holmes said, “Don't change the facts to fit the theory, change the theory to fit the facts.”

For more information on this subject visit the forbidden archaeology website

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Zero Tolerance?

Krishna’s opening words of wisdom in the Bhagavad-gita are quite fascinating. Before even discussing the intricacies of God, the soul, the universe and the nature of reality, He mentions a cardinal principle for any aspiring spiritualist. For anyone seeking inner peace and spiritual connection, Krishna explains the absolute necessity of developing unyielding tolerance.

The forces of nature, the laws of the land, and society’s trends – many such factors are beyond our control. The individuals we build relationships with are also quite unpredictable. While we seek cooperation, friendship and support from others, we may be faced with competition, criticism and enmity. Even our own body and mind torments us. Bodily illnesses as well as the numerous obstructive desires which enter our minds on a daily basis can be quite distracting. As we become engrossed in these disturbances, we lose sight of life’s bigger picture and purpose. By tolerating such things and rather investing our time and energy in our own spiritual consciousness, we fix ourselves on a more progressive path of improvement.

To tolerate does not mean to become a passive, inactive observer of reality. One may have to react to situations and instigate change, but tolerance allows one to maintain an internal peaceful equilibrium no matter how provoking the circumstances. On a deeper level, the spiritualist must come to terms with and accept life's 'disturbances' as the will of providence.

In order to achieve this tolerance, Krishna also gives the key philosophical understanding – realize that everything is temporary – the environment you live in, the individuals around you, and your own crazy thoughts and ideas. All such things simply come and go like nature’s seasons, and one should remain unaffected through spiritually inspired tolerance.

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Cosmic Management

Whilst studying for my degree at UCL, I was obligated to read numerous books on effective management. As I browsed some old notes an interesting quote caught my attention. "The best manager is one who manages so well that you can't even see him, and you don’t even know he is there". Krishna, the speaker of Bhagavad-gita, explains in that ancient dialogue exactly how He manages this entire cosmic manifestation. Using the analogy of a necklace, He explains how the universal affairs are actually resting upon Him, just as pearls are strung upon a thread. The thread is the essential binding factor, maintaining the necklace and simultaneously giving it form and shape. Interestingly, however, the thread remains invisible to our eyes.

People like to have a direct experience and perception of things. The fact that we cannot see God at work, that He is not manifest in person before our eyes, seems to be a big sticking point. Show me God, and then I’ll believe in Him, the sceptics posit. However, even according to the management gurus of the 21st century, God would be a pretty average manager if He was frantically running around in front of us directing everything.

If you look at the top CEO’s in the modern business world, they setup a managerial hierarchy and then take a back seat, allowing things to function effortlessly without their direct day-to-day involvement. Instead, you’ll probably find them relaxing at the golf course with their friends. So the fact that we can’t see God creating and maintaining this universe may not be a disqualification, but rather credit to His expert management sense. He manages the material universes remotely, and instead spends quality time in the spiritual realm intimately relating with His devotees.

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Face Off

It’s a common scene when members of different religions cross paths. The pleasant introductions and comments on the weather last for the first few minutes, but what inevitably ensues is a discussion on the subject of the Supreme. In subtle or sometimes quite blatant ways, the doubts, issues or concerns about the other person’s faith are formulated, and one or both parties warm up to get into a full-swing debate. Of course, not all religious practitioners are cereal debaters, but many of us have been in these situations, myself included.

Recently I heard a famous verse from one of our scriptures: “The supreme religion for all mankind is the process by which they can attain to the stage of loving service to God. Such service must be completely unmotivated and uninterrupted in order to satisfy the self”. What an amazing definition of religion. After reading that, a friend commented ‘what is there to actually debate about?’ Religion, its purpose, and the measure of its efficacy are all clearly elucidated in that verse.

Every religious practitioner can do some soul-searching and question their spiritual commitment. To what extent is their practice unmotivated by any material desires and uninterrupted by material affairs and events? To what extent have they developed love for God and genuine love for everyone around them? Maybe this universal measure is the greatest test of ones spirituality, much more than the philosophical arguments which are thrown around in a passionate religious debate. Instead of scrupulously analysing someone else’s spiritual practices, our time and energy may be better spent in examining our own spiritual sincerity and depth.

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Stepping off the Treadmill

I just returned from Germany where we had our annual youth retreat entitled ‘The Festival of Inspiration’. The location was a remote part in the West of the country where we have a temple nestled in the countryside hills. It was extremely isolated. No signal on the mobile phone and internet connections were few and far between. For the city slickers who were brought up with the sounds of motorbikes, police sirens, TV’s, building works, and crowds of people, it was quite a culture shock. The first few days were refreshing, but thereafter I did start feeling a little out of place in such peaceful surroundings. Serenity and calmness forces one to reflect deeper – something we may neglect in our hectic city lives.

The past century has seen incredible technological and economic advancement. Consequently, most of the developed world now lives in a high-speed culture. These are the times of fast food, multi-tasking, conveniences for everything and instantaneous global communication. As soon as people rise, they are ‘on the move’ busily engaged in various activities.

While boarding the ferry back to London I reflected on this. As a hovercraft moves swiftly over water, only skimming the surface, our hurried lifestyles may be preventing us from deeply thinking about the decisions and directions we take in life. Despite the comforts and amenities around us, the anxiety, complexity and feelings of emptiness that many experience cannot be denied. It seems as though urban lifestyle is specifically designed to keep us busy and stop us from thinking too much. With so much focus on the externals of body and environment, are we forgetting to address the needs of the spiritual self? Stepping off the treadmill and regularly retreating to a far and distant place to get some perspective in life may not be a bad idea.

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