Free Will

We may wonder why it isn’t blatantly obvious that God exists. How can so many people miss the most important concept? Why is there even a shadow of doubt? Surely such an astounding divine reality would shine out above and beyond anything else. The Vedic teachings offer an alternative perspective. It’s actually an amazing exhibition of God’s ingenuity to create the possibility of atheism. God designs the world in such a way that people can explain Him out of the equation! He leaves room for explanations which (at least externally) seem to coherently explain the universe in purely mechanistic terms. In other words, He doesn’t make it a completely ludicrous proposition to not believe in Him.

There is an element of force in intellectually cornering someone. If you were obliged to believe in something it would be difficult to simultaneously pour your heart into it. Thus, since God is ultimately interested in pure unalloyed loving relationships, He endows us with independence and offers an array of options. Having said that, He does also present a persistent spiritual philosophy which cements His ontological position as God. Ancient scriptures provide an in-depth analysis of creation, consciousness and the workings of Mother Nature. They clearly establish that belief in a higher reality is a scientifically credible option.

However, while one remains on the intellectual platform there will always be a ping-pong of arguments to consider. There will always be an element of doubt. Hesitancy will remain. To become truly convinced one must progress beyond the intellectual. The higher dimensional methodology involves a transcendental exchange with God. Great teachers have documented a sensible process of devotional practice that culminates in divine love. Scientific, calculated spiritual practices (in Sanskrit, sadhana-bhakti) performed with enthusiasm, patience and determination, usher one towards the spiritual reality. Eventually, we are able to relate to God, just as we would relate to anyone around us. That's the real proof that we're all looking for.

Read more »

Down to Earth

They say a little knowledge is dangerous. We can learn a philosophy, but if we haven’t understood it in a mature, balanced and well-rounded way, we can actually cause more harm to ourselves and others. Recently I was speaking to someone about friendship. They frankly told me that they found more integrity, sensitivity and kindness in their previous relationships with family and friends. They hoped that their camaraderie in spiritual circles would be deeper, warmer and more loving. Regrettably, they never really experienced that. Why would 'material' relationships seem more intimate and close than friendships amongst spiritualists? Surely spiritualists should be the best at connecting with others in a deep way.

A major part of the Bhagavad-gita highlights the temporary nature of the world, the futility of material acts, and the transitory nature of relationships. The ancient traditions outline how real satisfaction is found in the ‘other world.’ As we learn of the spiritual reality it’s easy to fall into the trap of neglecting what we may see as temporary, mundane and inconsequential day-to-day dealings. We may begin to see the things and people around us as unimportant in relation to the ‘bigger picture.’ However, should our spiritual outlook reduce our attention to the human experience? Maybe the human experience is the bridge to reaching the spiritual reality. Maybe we prepare ourselves for the ‘other world’ by becoming attentive to and conscious of our dealings in this world.

Great teachers have shown how to be rooted in eternal truths, while being simultaneously sensitive to the world around us. When a young disciple asked Swami Prabhupada how he could identify an advanced spiritualist, he was taken aback by the reply. Prabhupada told him “a spiritualist is a perfect gentleman”. The spiritual world is not an impersonal place – it’s a place of wonderful exchanges, deep friendships and loving interactions. How can we enter that place if we haven’t learnt to be like that here? It’s an art to be detached without being irresponsible, to embody spiritual gravity without being cold and impersonal, to have a philosophical outlook without losing sight of human emotion. It’s an art to transcend the world and simultaneously remain completely ‘down to earth.’

Read more »

Bubble Bath

Imagine being tucked up in a cosy bed on a cold winter morning. Your alarm goes off at 6.00am, and after repeated snoozing you eventually resign yourself to waking up. As you struggle out of bed, you head for the bathroom. Turning the shower knob to deep red you expect hot water, but the initial gush of freezing cold water gives you the shock of your life! Now you are well and truly awake. As the water continues flowing, it slowly becomes warmer and much more comfortable. Gradually your body feels cleansed and completely fresh. By now the experience has become so pleasurable, that you don’t want to leave the shower! Five minutes easily turns into fifteen. You could stay there all day!

We don’t think twice about taking our daily bath. It’s just something you do. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t really feel ready to face the day ahead. Great sages explain that just as we bathe in water everyday to cleanse the body, we should similarly bathe in the words of the wisdom literatures on a daily basis to cleanse our consciousness. That philosophical bath wakes you up to reality, cleans out the negativity and unhealthy qualities, and ultimately becomes a relishable and enlivening activity. It’s absolutely essential for our spiritual health.

We can all make excuses to avoid books like the Bhagavad-gita. It’s not a question of time constraint, rather a question of priority. It’s not a question of intelligence to grasp the knowledge, but simply a question of having the desire. The deep insights help to burst the bubble of mundane existence and give us an eternal perspective. It reminds us not to take the illusion too seriously. As Mahatma Gandhi once said “When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and I see not one ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to the Bhagavad-gita and find a verse to comfort me: and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. Those who meditate on the Gita will derive fresh joy and new meanings from it everyday.” The scriptures are not a spare wheel that we utilise in an emergency, but are actually meant to be the steering wheel of our life.

Read more »